Chapter 456: Journey Cultivation Level 8 Skill

Li Banfeng sat in the study, engrossed in a book, for an entire morning. The Wild Goose Sands Study certainly held many good books, but they were mostly poetry collections, anthologies, essays, and miscellaneous writings. These books weren't what Li Banfeng was looking for. He wanted to understand why the Demon Land was Puluo Province, and to find clues, he needed historical records.

Li Banfeng paid a hefty sum and scoured all types of stored books. However, the only historical content he found consisted of celebrity biographies and travelogues. The biographies primarily focused on bizarre tales and anecdotes, making it impossible for Li Banfeng to discern a clear historical timeline or understand the broader era. The travelogues, however, proved quite useful. At the very least, they allowed Li Banfeng to glimpse the famous mountains, great rivers, and local customs of many regions. Puluo Province had never truly established a comprehensive history, so finding no dedicated historical texts in the Wild Goose Sands Study was understandable. What was less understandable, however, was Li Banfeng's own physical state.

From his own perception, Li Banfeng felt he had advanced. His physical stamina and speed had both significantly increased. Yet, he felt no desire to travel. From the moment he began his cultivation until now, every advancement had ignited an urge in Li Banfeng to run for hundreds of miles. Due to the limitations of Dwelling Cultivation, he was almost always on the move during the initial post-advancement period, unless he was within his Portable Dwelling. He would continue this constant motion until his cultivation stabilized and he could finally settle. This time, however, he had stabilized immediately. During the day, he returned to the study to read, and at night, he returned to his Portable Dwelling to rest. He felt no physical discomfort, and his cultivation seemed to be progressing steadily.

Could it be that Dwelling Cultivation had completely suppressed Travel Cultivation? Or perhaps, before reaching the clouds, the two cultivation paths had gradually merged? Should he ask Hong Ying? Hong Ying was a pure Travel Cultivator, having only pursued one path, so she likely wouldn't understand this phenomenon. What about asking his Madam directly? His Madam was already well aware of his dual cultivation, but discussing it face-to-face always felt a bit awkward. Perhaps he should wait until he was behind her to bring it up?

After finishing two travelogues, Li Banfeng returned the books to the shelf. He was just about to have lunch when, stepping out the door, he saw Ma Wu rushing towards him in a panic. Ma Wu stared at Li Banfeng, scrutinizing him from head to toe several times before asking, "Old Seven, what happened?" Li Banfeng was taken aback. "I should be asking you," he retorted. "What's all this urgency about?" "Lu Chunying and the others have all returned," Ma Wu explained. "Xiao Yeci seems to have gone through a lot; her eyes were swollen from crying. I asked them what happened, but they couldn't make it clear, so I immediately came to find you."

Li Banfeng smiled. "It's all over now," he said. "Let's get something to eat first." At the restaurant, they ate and talked. Li Banfeng only mentioned that the local deity of Ink Fragrance Shop had been acting strangely, and he had sent Lu Chunying and the others back out of concern for their safety. He didn't elaborate on anything else. "I knew this godforsaken place was trouble," Ma Wu declared. "Old Seven, pack your things quickly and let's leave soon." Li Banfeng chuckled. "Do you dislike Ink Fragrance Shop so much?" "If it weren't for my concern about you, I wouldn't have set foot in this place my entire life."

After lunch, Ma Wu lingered in the study for a moment. Influenced by the local order of this area, he also picked up a book and idly flipped through a couple of pages. "I recall you're quite fond of reading," Li Banfeng commented. Ma Wu genuinely enjoyed reading; he had devoured every book in the Ma family's library. His remarkable business acumen was a blend of inherent talent (three parts), practical experience (two parts), and the remaining half derived from the strategies and lessons he had learned from books. "Reading is good," Ma Wu affirmed. "I dislike Ink Fragrance Shop because it's not conducive to cultivation here."

Li Banfeng pondered for a moment. "Ink Fragrance Shop has numerous pleasure houses," he said. "Perhaps you just haven't found the right kind?" Ma Wu chuckled. "Old Seven, you underestimate me. While I can't claim expertise in everything, there's no way I'd fail to navigate such places. It's just that I genuinely dislike the pleasure houses here. First, you're expected to drink tea, then alcohol, and then compose poetry and couplets. Then, when it comes to the main event: if I'm on top, she claims she can't bear the pressure; if I'm beneath, she says she's too tired; if I'm behind, she calls it immoral. And if I just go through the motions, I'm still met with a torrent of complaints and tears. Throughout all this, if I utter a single wrong word, I won't get a pleasant look from the woman until it's all over. I'm not an insensitive man, but I simply cannot tolerate such theatrical affectation."

Li Banfeng chuckled, then suddenly noticed Little Chuanzi nearby. Little Chuanzi had accompanied Ma Wu and was also reading at the moment. He was engrossed in *Tianxiang Cihua*, a rather classical text. Li Banfeng had read this book before. Its writing was excellent, but the plot was remarkably vulgar. The book comprised three volumes. Ma Wu had once claimed that completing just one volume could account for half a month of cultivation, and anyone who could read all three in one sitting and still endure it would earn almost half a year's worth of cultivation. Li Banfeng had never managed to endure all three volumes. He couldn't even finish one without needing his Madam to 'wash his pants.'

That wasn't the main point, however. The real question was whether Little Chuanzi, given the book's classical style, possessed the necessary reading comprehension to understand it. When Chuanzi first entered the cultivation path, he had intended to pursue literary cultivation, but his illiteracy led him to become an artisan cultivator instead. Later, Ma Wu arranged for a private tutor for him and Genzi. After about a month of study, Chuanzi could barely recognize a few characters. Subsequently, he followed Li Banfeng and Ma Wu, journeying far and wide, exploring new areas. Li Banfeng recalled that when they ran the newspaper office in Black Stone Slope, Chuanzi couldn't even fully recognize the three characters for "night-blooming jasmine" and still struggled with blueprints. How could he now read such a complex text so fluently? Something was amiss.

There might be a hidden order within the Black Stone Slope territory that Li Banfeng wasn't yet aware of. This order was crucial. If Black Stone Slope also possessed a mechanism that allowed people to quickly acquire cultural knowledge, Puluo Province might find a second fount of wisdom and culture. Even if something were to befall Ink Fragrance Shop, the cultural legacy of Puluo Province would not be entirely lost.

Li Banfeng returned to his Portable Dwelling. He had purchased numerous newspapers from Black Stone Slope, all stored in the cabinet of Room Six. He rummaged through the cabinet for half the day. While he found plenty of newspapers from other regions, not a single newspaper or magazine from Black Stone Slope could be found. Not only were the newspapers and magazines gone, but also several short films shot by Bai Qiusheng were missing. It was these very films that had made Chuanzi's projector a bestseller. Where had everything gone? How could things possibly go missing within the Portable Dwelling? Had he simply misremembered, forgetting where he had stored them? With the increased number of rooms now, this was certainly a possibility.

Li Banfeng was searching room by room when he suddenly heard the Glove whisper, "Master, are some things missing?" "How do you know?" The Glove lowered its voice even further. "The projector is experiencing some issues," it explained, "and it might be connected to him. Please don't be too quick to reprimand him; allow me to observe him for a few more days. With our Old Master present, nothing significant should go wrong." Given the significant setbacks, Li Banfeng could understand that the projector might be malfunctioning. But what exactly was wrong? And why would he hide things? The Portable Dwelling must know the truth, and he suspected his Madam had also taken notice. He would find an opportunity to ask them later. The crucial thing was to find something valuable quickly to compensate the projector.

After two days in Ink Fragrance Shop, confirming that the local deity was no longer acting strangely, Li Banfeng decided to return to Seven Autumn City. As a Travel Cultivator, he shouldn't remain in one place for too long, despite his current lack of desire to journey. Ma Wu was still a bit reluctant to leave. He couldn't bear to part with the books in the Wild Goose Sands Study, nor the female clerk at the inn.

"After I'm gone, will you think of me every day?" The clerk, her eyes glistening with tears, replied, "If thinking of you brings only pain, do you truly wish for me to live in agony every day?" "I will think of you every day," Ma Wu insisted, "and no matter how much pain it brings, I cannot bear to live without you in my heart!" The clerk embraced Ma Wu. "I'd rather you forget me completely," she sobbed, "than have you suffer even the slightest bit more for me." Ma Wu embraced the clerk even tighter. "Then I shall never leave you again!" he vowed. "Just hold me like this," the clerk cried, "and no one will ever be able to separate us!"

"I have a way!" Li Banfeng declared, taking out a centipede and placing it on Ma Wu. The female clerk gasped in surprise, pushed Ma Wu away, and fled immediately. Ma Wu stood dumbfounded for a moment, then asked, "Where did this bug come from?" "Lu Yuanxin gave it to me," Li Banfeng replied. "He said this particular insect works wonders on her."

Seven Autumn City was just a single train stop away. Upon arriving, Ma Wu quickly reverted to his usual demeanor, dedicating himself to his business affairs. Xiao Yeci's mood hadn't yet recovered; she still harbored a constant longing for Ink Fragrance Shop. Lu Chunying, unable to withstand Xiao Yeci's persistent pestering, simply said that Li Qi wouldn't allow it. "This is Brother Seven's instruction," she claimed. "Are you not even going to listen to him now? Aren't you his beloved? Aren't you afraid he'll enforce family discipline?" "Nonsense! Who says I'm his beloved?" Xiao Yeci retorted. "I'm going to talk to him right now; I *will* go to Ink Fragrance Shop!" Xiao Yeci found Li Qi, and to her surprise, he actually agreed. Xiao Yeci was diligent and talented; perhaps this was an opportunity for her to advance significantly in her cultivation.

However, if she went to Ink Fragrance Shop, she would need escorts. Li Banfeng arranged for Liang Wu and Liang Cai to accompany her. Liang Wu was willing to go, but Liang Cai had some reservations. "My heart belongs only to Seven Autumn City," Liang Cai mused, "but what if I were to fall in love with Ink Fragrance Shop?" Li Banfeng nodded slightly. "Don't worry," he assured her, "you will absolutely love that place. It's perfectly suited for you."

Having only Liang Wu and Liang Cai as escorts wasn't sufficient. While they were capable fighters, their long residence in the New Land had left them somewhat unacquainted with worldly affairs. Lu Chunying asked Tan Fucheng to go along. Tan Fucheng repeatedly declined; he genuinely did not want to return to Ink Fragrance Shop. Remembering the incident where he almost had his hand severed, Tan Fucheng couldn't even face his subordinates. Li Banfeng personally went to see Tan Fucheng, who was at home, scolding his son. "If your father had enjoyed such favorable conditions back in my day," Tan Fucheng fumed, "Puluo Province would have counted me among its great literary masters! Now I've found you a private tutor, and you're still not studying properly. Do you think that's fair to me?" Hearing that Master Seven had arrived, Tan Fucheng quickly went out to greet him, unaware that Li Banfeng had overheard every word he'd just spoken through his Thread-Pulling Earring.

"Brother Tan," Li Banfeng said, "young people nowadays are thoughtless; don't take it to heart. You lacked the conditions then, but now we have them. I believe you can still become a great literary master of Puluo Province. Pack your things and prepare to go to Ink Fragrance Shop!" Tan Fucheng shook his head repeatedly. "Master Seven, please spare me," he pleaded. "I was just saying that to my son. I genuinely cannot go to Ink Fragrance Shop." "Is that really up to you?" Li Banfeng asked, pulling out a contract. "Let's depart immediately. And bring *The Hundred Family Surnames* with you."

After running several laps around Seven Autumn City, Li Banfeng gradually rediscovered his desire to travel. He wanted to leave Seven Autumn City; he yearned to explore further, and this was the perfect opportunity to visit Black Stone Slope. This time, he had undoubtedly advanced. Li Banfeng felt he couldn't remain idle for even a moment. He decided to return and ask Hong Ying about the eighth-level technique of Travel Cultivation.

Back in his Portable Dwelling, Li Banfeng took Hong Ying's hand and said affectionately, "Yingying, I bought you a gold chain." Hong Ying scoffed in response, "How utterly vulgar!" Li Banfeng pressed the gold chain into Hong Ying's hand. "Feel the weight," he urged. Hong Ying held it in her hand, weighing it a couple of times. It was roughly half a pound. She calmly slipped the gold chain into her bosom, then straightened her attire, and spoke softly, "Seventh Master, why such extravagance? If there's anything, you need only tell your humble servant." Sometimes, Li Banfeng truly couldn't fathom Hong Ying's character. She hailed from nobility, so why did she place such immense value on money?

"Yingying, what exactly is the eighth-level technique of Travel Cultivation?" The Phonograph scoffed from nearby. "Well, Master," it drawled, "you've reached the eighth level already?" Li Banfeng chuckled. "I, I merely came to borrow a technique from Yingying." Hong Ying turned to the Phonograph. "Xiaowan," she said, "some things are implicitly understood. When there's a thin veil, one should simply pierce it. Why make things difficult for Seventh Master?" "Snap!" The Phonograph struck Hong Ying with a flat surface. "You wretch," it spat, "it's just a chain! Why act so cheap? Look at how little ambition you have!" Accustomed to being struck by the Phonograph, Hong Ying rubbed the spot where she was hit, showing no anger whatsoever. She then took Li Banfeng's arm. "Seventh Master," she said, "come with me to paint first."

"Painting?" Li Banfeng felt a flicker of apprehension. The fourth-level technique of Dwelling Cultivation, "Golden House for a Hidden Beauty," required painting. Due to his poor artistic skills, this technique had never advanced until he acquired Zhang Wanlong's essence, which finally allowed it to function. And now, the eighth-level technique of Travel Cultivation also required painting? It appeared this technique was particularly unfavorable for Li Banfeng.

Hong Ying offered no explanation. She unrolled a scroll and quickly painted a landscape. "Ink wash painting emphasizes conveying the essence," she began. "This piece was done rather hastily, Seventh Master, so please bear with it. First, observe these mountains, Seventh Master. Do you know what stands as the highest among them?" Li Banfeng proudly answered, "It's the peak!" His voice was so booming that the Glove nearby actually trembled. Hong Ying nodded. "Seventh Master is correct," she affirmed. "The highest point in the mountains is indeed the peak. Now, Seventh Master, observe this mountain path that leads directly from the lakeside to the summit. How do the sceneries along the way strike you?"

Hong Ying's painting skills were exquisite. The scenery surrounding the mountain path was partly obscured by thick fog, with rocks, withered trees, and wild grasses depicted in varied forms. The lines, dimensions, and proportions deviated from reality, exhibiting the unique exaggeration and distortion characteristic of ink wash painting. Yet, upon viewing it, Li Banfeng felt a profound sense of reality that stirred his heart and mind. "The scenery is truly beautiful," Li Banfeng exclaimed with admiration. Hong Ying then asked, "Seventh Master, has your cultivation advanced?" Li Banfeng carefully assessed his physical state. The urge to travel had suddenly diminished considerably. Hong Ying put down her brush. "Congratulations, Seventh Master," she said. "You have now mastered the eighth-level technique: 'Mind Travels a Thousand Mountains.'"