Chapter 339: The Calamity Formation

"Who is Sangmenxing?"

Yao Lao replied, "He is the Local God of Huangtu Bridge. No one remembers his real name. They only know he's a mourning cultivator, possibly the head of a sect. Everyone who knows him calls him Sangmenxing, which means 'Bringer of Misfortune.'"

Mentioning Sangmenxing, Yao Lao felt it was ominous and also somewhat apprehensive. "He's sent all his disciples here, intending to ruin Yaowang Valley."

Li Banfeng asked, "Why does he want to ruin Yaowang Valley?"

Yao Lao sighed, "He used this very tactic to seize Huangtu Bridge back then. Huangtu Bridge originally belonged to Old Train. Ever since it fell under Sangmenxing's control, its condition has worsened day by day. I just didn't expect it to become like this."

"Old Train?"

"Grandpa Train?"

Li Banfeng deliberately asked, "Who is Old Train?"

Yao Lao said, "Old Train is the Grandmaster of Wanderer Cultivators and Artisan Cultivators."

"Is a Grandmaster the same as an Ancestral Master?"

Yao Lao shook his head. "Grandmasters and Ancestral Masters are different. Those who founded a Daoist sect are called Ancestral Masters. Neither the Wanderer Cultivation sect nor the Artisan Cultivation sect were founded by Old Train. However, his achievements in both these sects are the highest, surpassing even their Ancestral Masters, which is why he is called the Grandmaster of both paths."

"Why is he called Old Train?" Li Banfeng wanted to confirm how many people knew about the matters concerning Suishenju.

Yao Lao said, "He loves trains, always researching them, and even pretending to be a train, running erratically on the railway tracks. This man is a madman, but incredibly capable. Huangtu Bridge, Heishi Slope, Qingyan City, Baiqiao Long, Qishui Kiln—they all used to be his territories. But this old fellow couldn't settle down anywhere. He handed all these territories over to his disciples. The disciple at Huangtu Bridge was useless; he couldn't defend against Sangmenxing and lost the territory. That disciple has been searching everywhere for his master, hoping to reclaim the territory. Nobody knows where Old Train ran off to."

Li Banfeng knew that Grandpa Train had gone to Neizhou. But Li Banfeng didn't understand what purpose Sangmenxing could have in sending his disciples to Yaowang Valley.

Yao Lao sighed, "Fifteen mourning cultivators arrived at once. He's sent all his disciples here, intending to destroy my cultivation base."

Li Banfeng still didn't understand.

Yao Lao, without reservation, explained the truth: "I have a third-level cultivation base, not tied to the land itself. Sangmenxing also has a third-level cultivation base. He sent the mourning cultivators to disperse the people's morale and ruin their popular support in my territory. My cultivation will then drop. Once it falls to the second level, he'll make his move against me."

Li Banfeng asked, "Then, when Old Train handed over all his territories, did his cultivation not drop?"

"His cultivation is no longer at this level; he no longer relies on popular favor," Yao Lao said. "Wait here for a moment; I'll go back inside and make some preparations." Yao Lao returned to his room, going to do something unknown.

According to Yao Lao, for a Local God, more popular favor means higher cultivation, and less popular favor means lower cultivation. This was completely consistent with Meng Yuchun's explanation. However, while the principle seemed clear, there was a serious logical flaw regarding this specific matter.

Li Banfeng asked Qiu Zhiheng, "Huangtu Bridge is already so desolate; how much popular favor could possibly be left? How could Sangmenxing still have a third-level cultivation base?"

Qiu Zhiheng knew far more about Local Gods than Li Banfeng. Since they were in Yao Lao's courtyard, and Yao Lao could hear everything he said, Qiu Zhiheng no longer held back, "The cultivation methods of Local Gods are different. Yao Lao uses 'living water,' while Sangmenxing uses 'dead water'."

"Living water? Dead water?"

"What do those concepts mean?"

Qiu Zhiheng looked at the wine pot and explained, "It's like Yao Lao's wine pot. To us, it just looks like a wine pot, but in reality, this pot is connected to a wine vat. If the wine in the vat is deep, the pot has more wine. If the wine in the vat is shallow, the pot has less wine. The popular favor of Yaowang Valley adds to Yao Lao's cultivation, and Yao Lao uses his cultivation to bring good fortune to Yaowang Valley. They complement each other. When the popular favor in a territory is high, the Local God's cultivation increases. When the popular favor in a territory decreases, the Local God's cultivation drops. This is 'living water' cultivation, a method used by most Local Gods.

"However, a small number of Local Gods don't use this method. They only collect popular favor and don't dispense good fortune. When the popular favor in their territory is high, their cultivation increases. When it decreases, their cultivation remains unchanged, unless the territory transforms from a 'proper land' into 'desolate land.' Only then do they lose their level. Huangtu Bridge is extremely desolate and already shows a tendency to become 'desolate land.' Sangmenxing fears losing his level, so he wants to scheme against Yao Lao's territory."

"Scheme against Yaowang Valley?"

Li Banfeng said, "He only collects popular favor and doesn't dispense good fortune. If he continues to operate this way, wouldn't any territory he controls eventually become desolate land?"

Qiu Zhiheng didn't speak. He didn't know much about Sangmenxing either.

"That dog-sired Sangmenxing is just like that! Who knows how many good territories he's ruined!" Yao Lao walked out of the room, wearing a three-pronged purple-gold crown, draped in a red brocade robe embroidered with a hundred flowers, his feet shod in lotus-silk cloud-treading boots, and holding a three-pointed double-edged blade. Most notably, four flags were inserted into Yao Lao's back. In traditional opera, these four flags are called *kaoqis* or back flags, symbolizing a martial general's authority and prestige.

Old Yao strode menacingly towards the door, singing as he went:"First drum roll, prepare battle meals,Second drum roll, tighten battle robes,Third drum roll, draw swords from scabbards,Fourth drum roll, engage the enemy,Advance, and each shall be rewarded; retreat, and a blade awaits!"

His singing was powerful and resonant, shaking mountains and rivers. Li Banfeng praised him, "Well sung! Yao Lao, what are you going to do?"

Yao Lao dramatically declared, "I'm going to slaughter every single one of those dog-sired mourning cultivators! Waa-ya-ya-ya-ya!"

"Why are you dressed like this?"

Yao Lao said, "You don't understand. Killing mourning cultivators brings bad luck. My battle attire and weapons can suppress this bad luck. That way, when I face that old dog Sangmenxing again, I won't lose my fortune. You two, come with me. You don't need to fight; just point out those scoundrels. Waa-ya-ya-ya!"

Qiu Zhiheng wasn't sure if Yao Lao's attire would be effective. He glanced at Li Banfeng, also unsure if Yao Lao had truly sobered up.

But as Yao Lao reached the doorway, Li Banfeng suddenly felt a tremor in his heart. It was just a single tremor, and then everything immediately returned to normal. What was happening? Was this an omen of danger?

"Yao Lao, please wait a moment."

Yao Lao continued to stride out, seemingly oblivious, maintaining his powerful aura.

"Yao Lao, wait."

He kept walking out; his momentum was unstoppable.

Li Banfeng roared, "Stop right there!"

His intention was strong, and his momentum fierce. Could he tolerate being yelled at like this? Yao Lao suddenly turned around, snarling, "What do you want?"

Qiu Zhiheng was terrified. He didn't understand why Li Banfeng was yelling at Yao Lao. Among Local Gods, Yao Lao was certainly considered benevolent, but he wasn't someone to be casually spoken to disrespectfully.

The Wine Gourd jumped out from beside Li Banfeng, positioning itself between the two, "Yao Lao, please calm down. Our young brother surely has something to tell you."

Li Banfeng indeed had something to say. Although lacking in common knowledge, Li Banfeng had quite a bit of contact with Local Gods. In particular, having experienced two wars between Local Gods, the current situation reminded him of Shui Yongquan.

"Yao Lao, is it possible that Sangmenxing is already here?"

Yao Lao was stunned. "What do you mean?"

"Yao Lao, he sent mourning cultivators here. Is it possible he just wants to trick you into leaving, so if you go out, he'll come into your home?"

Yao Lao asked, "To do what in my home?"

"What do you think?"

After a moment of eye contact, Yao Lao calmed down. He immediately returned to the courtyard, propped up his three-pointed double-edged blade, and looked at Li Banfeng, "Does that old dog want to dig up my Deed of Covenant?"

Li Banfeng nodded slightly.

Qiu Zhiheng secretly marveled that Li Banfeng, having not been in Puluo Province for long, could figure this out. He didn't know what Li Banfeng had experienced before. Previously, Shui Yongquan and Qiu Luoye had used this very tactic in their conflict. Moreover, Li Banfeng had just sensed danger. Given Sangmenxing's cultivation level, if he wanted to conceal his malicious intent, Li Banfeng shouldn't have been able to sense it. But the moment Yao Lao stepped out, Sangmenxing was likely excited. He must have been thrilled; as soon as Yao Lao left the gate, he would succeed! That momentary excitement couldn't be hidden and was detected by Li Banfeng.

Yao Lao stood in the courtyard, silent as a clay statue for a long time. He picked up the wine pot from the table and gulped down its contents. By the sound, it seemed he had drunk one and a half to two and a half liters. Old Yao wiped his mouth and said, "My two brothers, come on, let's go down the mountain with me!"

Li Banfeng was taken aback. "Why are we still going down the mountain? Didn't you say you couldn't leave this courtyard?"

"Hide here? Until when? Until Yaowang Valley loses all its popular favor, my cultivation drops, and then I wait for Sangmenxing to finish me off?"

As he spoke, Yao Lao smiled, raising his three-pointed double-edged blade and twirling it twice in his hand. The four flags on his back fluttered in the wind. "Even if it means I stop being a Local God today, even if it costs me my old life, I won't let that old dog ruin Yaowang Valley!"

Qiu Zhiheng stepped forward and stopped Yao Lao. "You have shown me kindness. Don't worry about the mourning cultivators in town; I'll deal with them."

Yao Lao shook his head. "Little Qiu, you are a good child. You shouldn't be entangled by bad luck for the rest of your life. Li Qi, you don't need to say more either. You are both good children; I cannot involve you. I'll handle this myself. I'll leave a clone here, along with a few magical treasures to guard the house. Even if Sangmenxing truly comes, they can hold him off for a while."

Yao Lao had a clone. Then this matter was easily resolved. Li Banfeng said, "How about this: your true body stays here, and you let your clone go kill the mourning cultivators? Wouldn't that be the best of both worlds?"

"No, that won't work," Yao Lao replied. "A clone can't suppress bad luck. If I use a clone to kill the mourning cultivators, I'll still suffer misfortune, and in the end, I'll still be at Sangmenxing's disadvantage!"

Yao Lao exhaled a mist of wine, which transformed into his clone, instructing it to stay and guard the house. The clone looked exactly like Yao Lao, also dressed in battle robes, adorned with flags, and wielding a three-pointed double-edged blade. Because he had drunk a bit too much, the clone's consciousness was somewhat hazy the moment it appeared, unable to distinguish if it was the clone or the true body. It shouted at the two, "Brothers, let's go down the mountain!"

Yao Lao's true body got angry and snapped at the clone, "What mountain are you going down? I told you to stay here and guard the house!"

The clone also got angry and raised its long blade at the true body, saying, "What are you? When is it your turn to be in charge?"

Li Banfeng and Qiu Zhiheng knew that Yao Lao was accustomed to being humorous, so they didn't take it seriously. To their surprise, the clone was very serious and began shoving and fighting with Yao Lao. The true body fighting its clone should have been more than sufficient; Yao Lao could have easily dealt with the clone. However, unexpectedly, someone in a nearby ditch was burning paper money, sending a message to Yao Lao. This distracted Yao Lao. In that moment of distraction, Yao Lao's true body was slashed by the clone. The three-pointed double-edged blade cut into his skull and remained lodged there.

Qiu Zhiheng was startled, not expecting the clone to genuinely try to kill him. Li Banfeng was momentarily stunned, inwardly praising the clone's excellent martial skills.

The clone stopped, realizing its mistake. With the blade still lodged in his head, Yao Lao asked Li Banfeng and Qiu Zhiheng, "Does this count as attracting bad luck?"

Does it? This should be considered an accident, right? Was this unexpected situation caused by bad luck?

Yao Lao pulled the long blade out of his head, looked at the two, and said, "Just now, that girl Yunan told me that the previous mourning cultivator died at the train station."

Yu Heshun died? Who did that?

Yao Lao wiped the fresh blood from his face and continued, "This mourning cultivator just died, and then I got slashed by my own clone. Could it be that Sangmenxing set up a 'Doom Gate Formation' in Yaowang Valley beforehand? As long as a mourning cultivator dies in Yaowang Valley, I can't escape this bad luck? If that's the case, then these mourning cultivators... can't be killed?"