Chapter 372: New Terrestrial Dawn and Upright Terrestrial Dawn

Could a House Spirit truly become so powerful that even a Local Deity couldn't stop it?

There's no need to doubt it; my wife is a prime example.

If my wife were unleashed, an ordinary Local Deity truly couldn't stop her.

But the question now is, why do Youtao and Xiaofeng believe Li Banfeng can stop this House Spirit named A'xia?

Local Deities possess at least Cloud-level cultivation, while Li Banfeng's cultivation is still at the ground level. How reliable is Xiaofeng's divination, after all?

"Are you really determined to clear this land here?"

Youtao, blushing with shame, said, "Brother Baisha, I know I have no right to ask you for this, but this place is unfamiliar, and I can't find anyone to help. We only need a plot about one li in circumference. We've set out offerings for days and burned several covenants, but the Local Deity hasn't responded to us. We don't know why; we just ask for a word of guidance from you."

The offerings, the covenants—the entire process was fine. There was only one problem: the Local Deity wasn't home.

Now that the Local Deity is home, will they agree to this?

"I'll go find an expert and ask." Li Banfeng brushed them off with a quick remark, then found a secluded spot and entered his Portable Dwelling.

"Wife, someone wants to clear land on my territory. How should I handle this?"

"Don't worry, husband." His wife took out chisels, axes, and saws from the front cabinet, retrieved two pieces of wood, and her two singing needles danced like lightning, quickly fashioning a small stool.

"Husband, have a seat."

Li Banfeng sat on the small stool, pondering the meaning of his wife's action.

Was she showing off her craftsmanship?

"Oh, husband, you are a Local Deity. People wanting to clear land is actually a good thing. Looking ahead, when you ascend to the Cloud-level, every bit of popularity on your territory will contribute to your cultivation. Looking at it in the short term, if someone successfully clears land, Heavenly Radiance will appear on your territory. Gaining Heavenly Radiance is akin to gaining karmic affinity for the Dao. Accumulating more of this affinity will greatly benefit your future cultivation."

"Heavenly Radiance?"

"Karmic affinity for the Dao?"

Li Banfeng wondered, "Wife, I was exposed to Heavenly Radiance when I first arrived in Puro Province. That radiance could indeed accumulate Dao affinity, but isn't it different from the Heavenly Radiance on new land?"

As soon as he finished speaking, Honglian, far away in the Eight Rooms, shivered.

His wife smiled, "The Heavenly Radiance you experienced that time, husband, was likely caused by that wretch Honglian. People call it True Land Radiance. People say True Land Radiance is different from New Land Radiance, but that's a misconception. Their sources may differ, but their nature is the same; True Land Radiance is just more intense than New Land Radiance. True Land Radiance is like a thunderbolt; a single strike can soon kill an ordinary person. New Land Radiance is like a gentle rain, drifting down. People cannot benefit from it, nor can they even perceive it."

Li Banfeng paused, "If people can't benefit from it, doesn't that mean it's useless?"

"Humans can't use it, but your territory, husband, can. The Heavenly Radiance, like a gentle rain, falls upon the land and combines with the unique spiritual energy of new territory, transforming into rare flowers and exotic herbs. These rare flowers and exotic herbs, when refined, become potent medicines for accumulating Dao affinity. If you need Dao affinity, husband, simply consume these medicines yourself."

Li Banfeng shook his head, "I've been exposed to Heavenly Radiance once already; I shouldn't be lacking Dao affinity."

"Logically speaking, one exposure to Heavenly Radiance should provide enough Dao affinity for you to cultivate to the Cloud-level. However, others run one business, while you, husband, have two open. It's always better to accumulate more Dao affinity."

Li Banfeng wiped his brow, "Wife, I'm not quite sure what you mean by 'two open businesses'."

"This servant means that you, husband, are raising two House Spirits. Hongying, isn't that right?"

"Who said he's raising me?" Hongying shyly lowered her spear tip. Lately, her figure had become fuller, and her previous clothes were starting to not fit.

Li Banfeng gave a dry chuckle and didn't dare to respond.

The Player continued, "Even if you don't need the Dao affinity, husband, hunters will eventually come to gather these rare flowers and exotic herbs. The more hunters who come, the greater your territory's reputation will become. Then, more land clearers will arrive, and successful clearing will attract Heavenly Radiance again. Your territory, husband, will become increasingly popular."

This is a complete virtuous cycle.

Li Banfeng grew even more delighted as he listened.

However, his wife also warned him, "Once wild land is cleared, it's akin to acknowledging a landowner. It will be extremely difficult to change ownership again. A territory of one li in circumference is not small, husband. You must carefully assess the land clearers, and not skip any necessary trials. Make sure they don't spoil your land. If the landowner is incapable of managing this land, causing a plot to lie fallow due to neglect, it will be difficult for the entire territory to ever become True Land."

Li Banfeng pondered the entire cycle, and a question suddenly arose.

"Oh, wife, what if this gentle rain-like Heavenly Radiance were to fall on True Land?"

The Player remained silent. Li Banfeng also felt his question was absurd; how could New Land Radiance appear on True Land?

Hongying turned her face from the mirror and said, "Seventh Brother, there really is such a place."

"Wretch, keep your mouth shut!" the Player snapped. Hongying turned her face away and said no more.

"Oh, husband, it's not that this servant doesn't want to tell you the truth, but your temper is impatient, and I worry you might venture into danger again."

Li Banfeng puffed out his chest and said, "I always listen to my wife."

"If you're willing to listen to this servant, husband, I'll say a few more words. If the gentle rain-like Heavenly Radiance falls on True Land, it will merge with the True Land's essence and transform not into Dao affinity, but into cultivation."

"Cultivation!"

Li Banfeng was startled for a moment, and a location surfaced in his mind.

Bitter Mist Mountain!

The Snake-Spot Chrysanthemums on Bitter Mist Mountain can be refined into Snake-Spot Pills, and these pills can be exchanged for cultivation.

Following the thought of Bitter Mist Mountain, Li Banfeng also recalled Xu Han, the Ancestor of Golden Cultivation.

Elder Xu once said that Medicine King Gully had a special place: Bitter Mist Mountain.

It was precisely because of Bitter Mist Mountain's unique properties that the Inner Province was also eyeing Medicine King Gully.

"Wife, is Bitter Mist Mountain such a special place?"

The Player pondered for a moment, "Since you've guessed it, husband, this servant won't hide it. Bitter Mist Mountain is a unique part of True Land, continuously nourished by Heavenly Radiance year after year. The rare flowers and exotic herbs it produces can enhance cultivation. I know you've been to Bitter Mist Mountain, husband, and that you've gathered Snake-Spot Chrysanthemums. The chrysanthemums you collected back then were negligible on Bitter Mist Mountain. But please promise this servant, husband, do not easily return to Bitter Mist Mountain. You haven't yet witnessed the true dangers there."

Li Banfeng promised his wife, then asked, "Now that land clearers have arrived on my territory, and since it's a good thing, how should I respond?"

"That presents a slight difficulty. Your status isn't high enough, husband, so you'll need external help. Hongying, lend him some of your might. Tang Dao, create some killing intent for him. Judge's Brush, take him flying. You need to let him clearly see the territory, one li in circumference."

Hongying and Tang Dao agreed readily. The Judge's Brush snorted, "Me?"

The Player said, "If not you, then who?"

"You said 'fly'?" The Judge's Brush uttered three words.

The Player chuckled, "You understand everything else, so I don't need to say more. Projector, create an impressive display over the territory in a moment. Don't let the land clearers see his true face. Husband, once the aura is complete, to raise your status, you'll still need some real skill. After the Judge's Brush takes you flying, activate your 'Deep Mansion and Grand Estate' technique. Unleash it as powerfully as you can, and this servant will certainly assist you. You must remember, husband, only by firmly believing you possess Cloud-level cultivation can you illuminate the territory. There must not be an ounce of doubt in your heart. This is the most difficult hurdle, so you may need to try several times. Once the plot is illuminated, immediately consume the offerings and establish a covenant with the land clearers. You must agree beforehand whether they will clear the land themselves or hire others. One day later, the trials will begin, and we can discuss a strategy then. It's fine if it doesn't work this time; there will be plenty of other opportunities. Husband, whatever you do, don't lose heart!"

Li Banfeng memorized his wife's instructions. Borrowing might from Hongying and taking Tang Dao, the Judge's Brush, and the Projector, he left the Portable Dwelling.

He first chose a spot at the forest's edge, where the view was open, making it easy to discern the plot's boundaries. He couldn't give them more than a one-li plot.

Then he found a tree, adjusted the angle, and set up the Projector.

Afterwards, he approached the tent. Xiaofeng kept her head down, hiding behind Youtao, who looked at Li Banfeng with eager anticipation.

Li Banfeng first asked, "Do you intend to clear the land yourselves, or hire others to do it?"

On Meng Yuchun's territory, several successful land clearers were managing their plots, and all of them had experience.

Xiaofeng shook her head from behind, "We'll clear the land ourselves. Besides getting water from them, we won't have any other dealings with the people on that land."

Why does she have such hostility towards Meng Yuchun's territory?

Li Banfeng had Youtao move the offering table to the forest's edge, told them to burn the covenants, and prepare all the offerings.

"Just wait here and see if the Local Deity responds today. If not, try again tomorrow morning."

The Projector had already set the scene. Li Banfeng found a hidden spot and took out the Judge's Brush.

"Fly." Li Banfeng gave the command, but after waiting for about ten minutes, there was no movement.

"Fly, then?"

"Wait a moment."

Li Banfeng sighed helplessly. Indeed, one couldn't rush when communicating with the Judge's Brush.

After another ten minutes or so, the Judge's Brush yawned and lifted Li Banfeng into the air.

From mid-air, Li Banfeng had an unobstructed view of the one-li plot.

He activated his 'Deep Mansion and Grand Estate' technique and heard the sound of war drums sent by his wife.

The drumbeats were dense and resounding, making Li Banfeng's fighting spirit soar and his combat power surge.

Tang Dao darted and danced around him, creating an intense aura of killing intent.

Youtao tightly hugged Xiaofeng. Influenced by the Projector, she couldn't see Li Banfeng in mid-air, but under the combined might and killing intent, both felt genuine fear.

At this moment, Li Banfeng felt like an invincible general, capable of repelling an army of thousands with a single roar.

A traveler cultivator has a talent for distance measurement. Li Banfeng maintained his impressive aura, intently watching the boundary of the one-li plot.

After more than ten minutes, the boundary hadn't lit up.

The Judge's Brush asked five words: "Is this going to work?"

Li Banfeng took a deep breath and intensified the 'Deep Mansion and Grand Estate' technique.

The Player continued to exert force, and amidst the rumbling drumbeats, a chant resonated, word by word, making Li Banfeng's blood boil: "Before Dangyang Bridge, a single roar, broke the bridge and made the waters flow backward. His fourth disciple, General Zilong of Changshan, a peerless hero renowned across the nine provinces, saved A'dou at Changban Slope, striking fear into every Cao soldier."

"Wah-yah-yah-yah-yah!" Li Banfeng roared, continuing to watch the plot's boundary.

After the chant finished, the boundary still hadn't lit up.

"Sigh!" The Judge's Brush let out a long sigh; it was truly exhausted.

It swiftly carried Li Banfeng to a higher altitude, startling him and making his pupils contract.

After hovering for a moment, the Judge's Brush suddenly plunged towards the ground with Li Banfeng.

What was it doing?

In any other situation, Li Banfeng would have thought about escaping immediately.

But he couldn't escape today; the Judge's Brush was helping him.

Even knowing that crashing would result in severe injury if not death, Li Banfeng still rushed forward with the Judge's Brush.

This was using the 'Single-Minded Determination' technique to forcibly raise Li Banfeng's level.

Still over fifty meters from the ground, Li Banfeng felt his cultivation approaching the eighth level.

When the distance was less than thirty meters, Li Banfeng's cultivation surpassed the eighth level.

Youtao and Xiaofeng on the ground had their eyes blurred by the strong wind, yet they didn't know where the wind came from.

Less than twenty meters from the ground, Li Banfeng fixed his gaze on the boundary line. His might and killing intent intensely layered, and his wife's chants echoed repeatedly in his ears. Even the Judge's Brush felt Li Banfeng's status was sufficient, yet the territory's edge still hadn't lit up.

The Judge's Brush immediately slowed down, carrying Li Banfeng back into mid-air.

"Your mind wavered." The Judge's Brush sighed, having discerned the root of the problem.

Raising one's status was precisely this difficult. If Li Banfeng harbored even a sliver of doubt, his status wouldn't rise.

But Li Banfeng didn't possess Cloud-level cultivation, so it was impossible for him to be entirely without doubt.

The Judge's Brush was about to bring Li Banfeng back to the ground when it suddenly heard Li Banfeng speaking:

"You are the Local Deity."

"Who said that? How could I have such high cultivation?"

"Let's not talk about cultivation. You have the covenant."

"That covenant was tricked."

"It doesn't matter how it came about, you are the Local Deity."

"You're using the 'Speaking with Conviction' technique, aren't you?"

"Don't worry about what technique I'm using; you are the Local Deity, and the covenant is proof."

Two minutes later, Li Banfeng, clutching the Judge's Brush, rescanned his territory.

The Judge's Brush sensed an unprecedented aura from Li Banfeng.

"It worked!" The Judge's Brush chuckled, then carried Li Banfeng higher to ensure he could clearly see the one-li territory.

The boundary of the plot slowly lit up.

Youtao was delighted, "Feng'er, we did it!"

Xiaofeng nodded vigorously, "Yes, it's done."

Li Banfeng burst out laughing, "Hahahaha, I am the Local Deity! I'm going to eat the offerings!"

The Judge's Brush was also happy, "I'll take you."

"No need! I am the Local Deity, I can fly! Hahahahaha!" Li Banfeng released the Judge's Brush.

"Fly?" The Judge's Brush pondered for a moment. "He can't!"