Chapter 376: How Big Do You Want It?

Li Banfeng, still groggy from sleep, opened his eyes in his portable dwelling. He heard his wife murmuring in his ear, "Oh, my dear husband, managing two businesses at once is truly difficult."

Hong Ying put down her eyebrow pencil and asked, "What exactly are these 'two businesses'? Are they connected? Does Seventh Master know about them?"

"You tramp!" his wife exclaimed, picking up a rag with a phonograph needle and throwing it at Hong Ying's spearhead. "Always overthinking things, day in and day out! Have you no shame?"

After washing up, Li Banfeng affectionately hugged the phonograph for a while, noticing that it felt slightly thinner.

This wouldn't do. He had just managed to fatten up his wife, and she had lost weight in just a few days.

The phonograph comforted Li Banfeng, "My dear husband, I've been practicing crafting techniques these past few days, swinging hammers all day. It's been quite draining, so I've gotten a little thinner. But I'm not hungry at all, truly."

What a considerate wife.

What woman would be so fierce!

The popularity gained from strange beings was far less than that from living people. If the strange beings couldn't grow in scale, it proved this path was unfeasible.

"My cultivation is a bit lacking at the first level. Can I do some odd jobs instead?"

"Come to my place; I'm in a hurry."

"This place isn't suitable. Let's find another spot. First, tell me how big you want it!"

Li Banfeng looked at You Tao, his gaze slightly chilling.

"So urgent, Brother Seven..."

"More popularity is good, and more strange beings are also good; they can help husband advance his cultivation."

Oh, excellent!

"Now that we have divine light, it's time to sow some good seeds that can lead to spiritual affinity."

As she spoke, You Tao looked at Li Banfeng, a blush creeping onto her cheeks.

You Tao considered this, found it reasonable, and put her knife away.

He had also wondered where this lamb came from. If it was from the new land, could it be poisonous?

He Yuxiu was stunned.

Never mind, let's go check on You Tao's plot first.

But the chef told Li Banfeng to eat without worry; no matter where the lamb came from, as long as it was food, he could remove any toxins from it.

Upon reaching Li Banfeng's territory, Li Banfeng said, "Little sister, choose a plot!"

"What's unbearable about this? Aren't you a martial artist?"

He Yuxiu said to You Tao, "Please fetch me some water; I want to wash up."

The young man untied the bucket and casually picked up the ladle.

She thought Li Qi's words made a lot of sense; to avoid disaster in the new land, one needed their own plot.

"If we ever go to war with other local deities in the future, we'll rely on these strange beings for charging into battle. We must not treat them poorly."

Li Banfeng handed You Tao an iron shovel, "Try digging and see if there's water."

"It's not that I don't trust you, but land reclamation can be unpredictable. What if we encounter a wandering monster? It doesn't hurt to be well-prepared."

Some local deities, knowing they couldn't cultivate popularity, simply focused all their efforts on recruiting strange beings from all sides. By slowly accumulating them, their cultivation could also advance.

"Husband is still far from reaching the cloud realm. It's always good to build a solid foundation. Even if we don't rely on the popularity brought by these strange beings, they are still valuable combat forces under Husband's command."

However, so far, only You Tao had come to reclaim land. Relying on her to clear a hundred plots would be very difficult.

This wasn't the Mountain Lord's fault; even the number of strange beings in this remote area was very limited.

Li Qi had sent her.

"Yes, living people bring popularity, and strange beings similar to humans can also bring popularity. However, compared to living people, strange beings bring much less popularity."

He Yuxiu was startled, "Brother, when we're out here... we should at least put something down as a cushion; this is really prickly!"

But who else could be relied upon to reclaim land in this place?

You Tao sighed, "Cultivation depends on destiny. If there's no suitable person, then who am I supposed to cultivate with?"

She can still blush?

Two men were clearing land. One middle-aged man said, "Brother, we still need to make some preparations. Although a one-mile plot isn't difficult, it's always good to be cautious."

Li Banfeng stared at He Yuxiu for a long time, then grabbed her hand and said, "Little sister, come with me."

Li Banfeng smiled approvingly.

"There's a crazy old woman who came to Miss Meng's territory, saying she's looking for you. She's extremely fierce."

The chef shrugged his eyebrows, "I'm going to cook."

Yet, she was still wearing the loose men's clothing Li Banfeng had bought for her.

He Yuxiu grabbed a python and asked, "Did you hear what I just asked you? Has a man been here?"

Li Banfeng wanted to ask Meng Yuchun for some seeds, but the chef had already prepared them.

Li Banfeng was happy, but then felt a series of heart palpitations.

But this was a duty that local deities absolutely had to perform.

Li Banfeng considered for a moment and said, "How about three miles?"

He didn't have the heart to say it directly, but given You Tao's current state, she was indeed far from reaching the second level.

Ma Wu had reached the third level of cultivation after a year and a half of practice; he never discriminated among people.

Li Banfeng wasn't greedy; he didn't expect all ten thousand plots to light up quickly. Even if only a hundred or so lit up, it would make the territory look more presentable.

The chef nodded repeatedly, "I'll prepare a couple of dishes in a bit, and we can have a good drink."

He Yuxiu was taken aback, "Girl, do I know you?"

The chef's cooking was truly excellent. Li Banfeng ate a lot, then put the leftovers into his portable dwelling to save for the next meal.

Look at this woman's figure, how impressive!

Look at her shoulders, her back, her arms, her waist, and then her 'peach'!

Such a beautiful woman with such a fine figure, not reclaiming land—isn't that a waste?

Li Banfeng suddenly remembered He Yuxiu and quickly went to Meng Yuchun's territory.

You Tao, blushing and with a pounding heart, ran out.

But spirit was one thing, and strength was another. You Tao lacked the power to reclaim land and had only managed until now with the chef's help.

He didn't discriminate, whether they were human or not.

"How is it not prickly?" He Yuxiu's tone was a bit aggrieved. "If you don't believe me, try lying down."

He Yuxiu threw down the python, clapped her hands, and said, "Brother Seven, this place was really hard to find. Have you finished what you needed to take care of?"

A jar of sorghum wine and a roasted whole lamb. Li Banfeng didn't usually eat this much, but He Yuxiu had bought them from the chef.

He Yuxiu said in shock, "Measured in miles?"

"We can't try now. If you attract a local deity now, wouldn't the chef and I become invaders?" Li Banfeng gave a reasonable explanation.

A cloud of steam enveloped Li Banfeng. His wife said softly, "My dear husband, you really don't need to worry about me. Today marks the third day, and you should go check on the plots."

"Yes, anything too big can't be sustained either."

Li Banfeng's territory was even less, probably not even ten percent.

The market for this territory is looking up!

This wasn't something to ask lightly, but since You Xuetao came to He Yuxiu herself, it was appropriate for her to state her background.

Li Banfeng arrived near the plot, and indeed, someone had set up an altar table.

Someone else came to reclaim land!

Xiao Feng's incident had deeply affected her, but the chef's cooking was also a great temptation. The chef was right: as long as one's stomach was full, there truly was no knot that couldn't be untied.

You Tao was extremely excited, "Brother Baisha, Chef Brother, it's done! I've reclaimed a plot; I have land!"

After leaving his portable dwelling and surveying his territory, Li Banfeng realized a practical problem.

He Yuxiu smiled, "Alright, what school of Taoism are you from, and what's your cultivation level?"

Compared to Shui Yongquan's territory, the number of strange beings in Meng Yuchun's territory might not even be 20% of his.

"Good!"

The chef had been a great help this time, so Li Banfeng gave him three Profound Crimson Pills. After planting the seeds, Li Banfeng and You Tao watched in silence.

A checkered shirt, a beige suit, her hair coiled inside a top hat—she still looked handsome and dashing.

"You can leave this matter to me. I wouldn't dare boast, but I've never failed to reclaim a one-mile plot. I've already prepared all the materials."

"Besides, this is a place recommended by our Seventh Master, so the number of strange beings isn't too many."

She wanted to wash up.

With He Yuxiu there, reclaiming ten or eight plots wouldn't be an issue.

Huang Die wasn't looking for You Tao; she was looking for Li Banfeng.

"A martial artist... this place isn't suitable either."

"My name is You Xuetao. A friend named Li asked me to come and lend a hand."

Li Banfeng went to Meng Yuchun and explained, "This is my little sister. Please accept my apologies for any offense she may have caused."

Could it be that Li Qi wasn't a wandering cultivator, but a body cultivator?

He Yuxiu pondered for a moment and said, "Little sister thinks a slightly larger one would be better."

He would have to find a way to solve this problem in the future.

A hundred-mile territory contained ten thousand one-mile-square plots.

You Tao wasn't interested in Huang Die at all; to be honest, Huang Die's appearance made her feel somewhat uncomfortable.

Success!

Li Banfeng was getting anxious; the more he looked at He Yuxiu, the more anxious he became.

"When did you enter the Taoist sect?" Li Banfeng asked.

Li Banfeng didn't know how to answer.

Li Banfeng touched the ground and said to He Yuxiu, "It's very smooth; it's not prickly."

Seeing Li Banfeng's displeased expression, You Tao lowered her head. She thought of Xiao Feng again and felt a touch of sadness.

"Is that divine light?" You Tao could hardly believe it.

"I'm a Joy Cultivator, at the first level."

"Go by yourself!"

After noon, the assessment ended.

Li Banfeng waved his arms and flew over excitedly. Halfway there, the Judge's Brush threw him onto the ground.

Li Banfeng felt a pang of heart palpitations.

"You're right," Li Banfeng nodded, then added, "But it can't be too big either."

Li Banfeng asked in surprise, "Why lie down?"

If he let her try it now, the situation would become complicated. How would the local deity come over?

The more his wife said this, the more uncomfortable Li Banfeng felt inside.

You Tao looked up at the sky and saw the divine light faintly appearing.

Li Banfeng reminded her, "Your cultivation has been interrupted for three days. You need to find a partner soon."

You Tao was gnawing on a lamb leg in the plot. She had endured these three days.

Meng Yuchun watched in the shadows, slowly clenching her fists.

Logically, a local deity shouldn't interfere with such minor matters, but she had a quick temper and couldn't stand He Yuxiu acting wildly in her territory.

"Can more strange beings also increase cultivation?"

"If the plot isn't cleared successfully, husband doesn't need to get annoyed. Don't forget to reward the strange beings with some cultivation."

This was a bit troublesome; Li Banfeng couldn't stay here indefinitely.

"So urgent?" He Yuxiu was surprised. "Well, brother, I've been walking all this way and I'm quite sweaty. Wait for me to find a place to wash up."

Meng Yuchun snorted coldly and turned to leave. Li Banfeng went to He Yuxiu's side and asked, "You arrived so quickly?"

You Tao, with tears in her eyes, said, "From now on, this will be my land. If anyone bullies me, I'll shed blood, and the local deity will protect me, right?"

She still knows shame?

You Tao smiled, "I started at sixteen, and now it's been eight years. I'm not far from the second level."

Li Banfeng said, "Your cultivation is progressing too slowly. You don't seem to put much effort into your usual practice, do you?"

Her attitude towards cultivation was simply wrong!

After returning to Greenwater City, He Yuxiu managed to acquire a considerable sum of money.

You Tao didn't know He Yuxiu. She rarely read newspapers, and figures of He Yuxiu's status were beyond her reach.

He Yuxiu paused, "How can you ask how big *I* want it? It depends on how big Brother Seven is!"

It was rare for the Judge's Brush to speak so loudly; he was truly angry.

Li Banfeng, hanging onto the Judge's Brush, first lit up the plot, then waved his hands and went to the altar table, eating the offerings.

He Yuxiu looked dazed for a moment; she roughly understood Li Banfeng's meaning.

A friend named Li.

In the three-mile territory, He Yuxiu set out offerings and burned the contract.

"If the plot is cleared successfully, husband should ask Meng Yuchun for some good seeds and plant some herbs that can accumulate spiritual affinity."

"Go where?"

Li Banfeng dashed over like lightning, "Genzi, put the bucket down!"

"It's fine. Wash at my place; I have water there."

Li Qi, in his capacity, reclaiming land for Li Furong?

This act was too absurd; it could lead to a backlash from the contract.

As they spoke, Huang Die flew over. Li Banfeng thought she was a good candidate, but he wasn't sure if Meng Yuchun would agree.

Yes, if only they could clear a few more plots, Li Banfeng also hoped to see more divine light.

His wife was right. In such a remote place, recruiting more strange beings might indeed be a way out. If the Mountain Lord had realized this back then, he wouldn't have exhausted himself and fought Meng Yuchun in desperation.

He Yuxiu hadn't made many preparations. A three-mile plot wouldn't be difficult for her, as long as no special circumstances arose.

"No!" Li Banfeng quickly stopped You Tao.

"I have all sizes!"

He Yuxiu said, lowering her head, "Not lying down is fine, but my palms and knees can't take it either."

The chef nodded, "Those are the rules of the new land."

The python was so scared it turned green. He didn't know which man He Yuxiu was referring to.

"It's so good to have my own land," You Tao said, her eyes full of hope. "It would be even better if I could have a few more plots."

"I've made plenty of preparations. I can show them to you right now."

You Tao's enthusiasm didn't wane. She dug with the iron shovel for an hour and saw water gushing out.

What does "all sizes" mean?

Isn't there just one of those?

She wanted to find a place to rest, and You Tao had already set up a tent.

"Alright!" You Tao nodded vigorously, occasionally sneaking glances at He Yuxiu. This woman was so heroic, looking even more beautiful dressed in men's clothing.

In terms of combat strength, Shui Yongquan and Qiuluo Ye were also superior to Meng Yuchun. The disparity in the number of strange beings led to differences in their cultivation levels.

"Yes, one mile, three miles, five miles—you choose one. Don't choose ten miles for now; one person simply can't handle that much."

Li Banfeng was still pondering when You Tao excitedly pulled out a knife, aimed it at her palm, and exclaimed, "I'll try it right now!"