Chapter 478: Saints Muster Troops

Li Banfeng named his price, and Chu Shaoqiang felt a bit uncomfortable. He had used five Heavenly Core Stones to guide Dao Gui Ridge towards Sage Peak, and was almost there when the Heavenly Core Stones were snatched away. Those were priceless Heavenly Core Stones given to him by the Sage. He lost five, yet was only offered two in return, and even had to pay to redeem them. No matter how he thought about it, the situation felt incredibly unjust.

But there was nothing he could do about the injustice; he was the one who lost the items. Chu Shaoqiang said to Li Qi, "Since the items are with you, why don't you name a price?"

Li Qi shook his head. "First, these items are not with me. With my capabilities, I couldn't possibly have stolen the Heavenly Core Stones from you; I don't have that kind of power. Not only me, but even the local deity of this area doesn't have the power to do that. The one who stole the Heavenly Core Stones is clearly a master."

Every word Li Banfeng spoke was true; there was no deception in his statement. To speak convincingly, one must first speak some truth.

Chu Shaoqiang believed him implicitly. "I'm very curious to know which master stole the Heavenly Core Stones? And how powerful are they?"

Li Banfeng said, "I certainly can't tell you his identity. As for his power, I'd say it's about as high as the Peddler's."

Chu Shaoqiang shook his head. "That's a bold claim. As far as I know, no one who walks on the ground—whether in the Inner Province, Outer Province, or Puluo Province—dares to claim they are as powerful as the Peddler."

Li Banfeng raised an eyebrow, looked at Chu Shaoqiang, and remained silent.

Chu Shaoqiang paused for a moment, seemingly understanding Li Banfeng's profound implication. If no one on the ground dares to compare themselves to the Peddler, could this person be the one from the heavens? But there's been no news from the one in the heavens for many years. How many living people have ever seen him? What would someone of his status want with stolen Heavenly Core Stones? Or perhaps the one who stole the Heavenly Core Stones *is* the Peddler himself?

Whether it was the one from the heavens or the Peddler, both were figures Chu Shaoqiang couldn't afford to provoke. What he initially felt was injustice now turned into a touch of lingering fear. But was Li Qi telling the truth? Would someone of such high status need to steal a few Heavenly Core Stones?

Li Qi added, "Dao Gui Ridge has been here for days, and the local deity of this place hasn't dared to do anything besides intensify monster patrols. Can't you discern the identity of this master?"

Chu Shaoqiang lowered his head in silence. He still had doubts, but those doubts were no longer important. What truly mattered was determining the price necessary to facilitate this transaction.

Li Qi said, "I wouldn't dare name a price for this. I don't have the insight to know what kind of valuable item would impress that great figure. This matter concerns you. The Sage cannot be offended, and the situation cannot be publicized. It even relates to your life and death. You should think carefully about it."

Chu Shaoqiang lit a cigarette and paced back and forth, meticulously pondering what price he should offer. Money was out of the question; this transaction itself couldn't be measured by monetary value. Should he offer a few enchanted artifacts in exchange? That definitely wouldn't work. Enchanted artifacts were not equivalent in value to Heavenly Core Stones, nor were they befitting the master's status.

Thinking it over, nothing Chu Shaoqiang possessed seemed worthy of such a master. Could this business even be done? Yes, it could. The first rule of business is to understand who you're dealing with. Chu Shaoqiang had never met the great figure Li Qi spoke of, regardless of their true nature, and the deal wasn't with that great figure. He was doing business with Li Qi, and the bargaining chip he offered only needed to impress Li Qi.

After finishing his cigarette, Chu Shaoqiang took out a yellowish-brown scroll and handed it to Li Qi. Li Banfeng unrolled the scroll and examined it, unable to discern its material. It certainly wasn't paper, nor did it resemble cloth or animal hide. The material could be ignored for now, but the crucial point was that the scroll was blank, with no writing or drawings. What was this thing for?

Chu Shaoqiang explained, "This is a map of the Inner Province."

"Did you pick up the wrong one?" Li Banfeng picked up the scroll and shook it in front of Chu Shaoqiang, indicating there was nothing on it.

Chu Shaoqiang said, "A map of the Inner Province only reveals itself within the Inner Province. You can take this map and show it to that master. If he recognizes its value, he should be able to distinguish its authenticity. I believe that master knows the worth of an Inner Province map; it's definitely valuable enough for two Heavenly Core Stones."

Upon hearing this, Li Qi accepted the map. He looked up, and the sky had already brightened. "Let's meet here at noon. I'll give you an answer then, whether it works out or not. If the matter isn't settled, the map will be returned to you as is."

Chu Shaoqiang nodded. "I trust you. I'll wait for you right here."

Li Banfeng returned to the Portable Dwelling and handed the scroll to the Phonograph. "My dear, do you recognize this?"

The Phonograph ran its needle over the scroll for a moment, then exclaimed in surprise, "This is from the Inner Province! It contains Inner Province craftsmanship."

"Chu Shaoqiang says this is a map of the Inner Province. Do you think it's authentic, my dear?"

"I can only tell it's from the Inner Province, but I can't tell if it's a map. Craftsmanship is something I've only recently begun to learn, so you'll have to ask the Old Man about this."

Li Banfeng took the scroll and headed for the third room. His dear wife reminded him, "My husband, the Old Man isn't in a very good mood, so please be careful with your words."

Why wasn't he in a good mood? Was it because he was tired from repairing the station?

Entering the third room, Li Banfeng greeted him, "Old Man, are you busy?"

After a long wait, he suddenly heard the Old Man sniffle, "Are you here to get stones from me?"

"What's wrong, Old Man?" Li Banfeng asked. "Didn't we agree? Five stones, three for repairing the station, and the remaining two for sending Dao Gui Ridge away."

The Portable Dwelling sniffled again. "Those were my stones."

That comment. How did they become *his*?

"The stones were found. We found five and kept three. That's already a huge profit."

The Old Man sobbed, "They were all originally mine..."

The Glove slipped out of Li Banfeng's pocket and sighed, "My boss, you don't know how hard it is for us. In our line of work, it's incredibly painful to give away something you've just acquired."

"I'm not in your line of work!" The Portable Dwelling cried disconsolately, yet didn't forget to curse at the Glove.

Li Banfeng took out the scroll and placed it on the ground. "These two stones aren't being given away for free. They're being exchanged for something."

"I won't exchange them! Why should I? What could possibly be worth such excellent Heavenly Core Stones? How could you just..."

His crying abruptly stopped. The Portable Dwelling took the scroll, and his tone returned to normal. "A-Qi, where did you get this?"

Li Banfeng said, "The person who lost the Heavenly Core Stones wants to use this scroll to exchange for two Heavenly Core Stones and take Dao Gui Ridge away."

"Only two for it?"

"That's what we agreed, just two."

"Hehehe!" The Portable Dwelling suddenly laughed. "A-Qi, it's not a loss at all! Forget two, even if we gave him all five, it wouldn't be a loss!"

The Glove said, "Old Man, you were the one who said that the Heavenly Core Stones used to repair the station couldn't be taken out. Now you're saying give him all five? That doesn't seem right..."

A broom handle smacked the Glove to the ground.

The Portable Dwelling said, "Tell that person that tonight, he'll find two Heavenly Core Stones at the place where he lost them."

Li Banfeng asked, "Is this scroll really a map of the Inner Province?"

The Portable Dwelling replied, "It's real, absolutely no doubt. This item is truly rare."

Li Banfeng understood. "Old Man, when you go to deliver the stones, please be extra careful not to leave any traces that could lead them back to us."

"A-Qi, you still don't trust me to handle things? Hehehe..."

Hong Ying, who was grooming herself outside, couldn't help but complain, "It's a good thing I'm brave. This Old Man cries one moment and laughs the next. See how creepy he is? Anyone else would be scared out of their wits."

The Phonograph stared at Hong Ying for a moment. "How many times have I told you not to apply lipstick so thickly? It looks unrefined."

"Then what do you call refined? I didn't use things like *this* back then!" Hong Ying washed off the lipstick from the gun tip and redrew her mouth.

Upon receiving Li Qi's message, Chu Shaoqiang went to the place where he had lost the Heavenly Core Stones that night, set up his enchanted artifacts, and waited quietly. He waited until midnight when his enchanted artifacts finally responded. He pulled a shovel from the hem of his trench coat, plunged it into the soil, and the shovel began digging downward on its own. After digging over seventy feet, the shovel emerged from underground. Two Heavenly Core Stones were down there, and Chu Shaoqiang smiled. With these two Heavenly Core Stones, he could use his craft to transport Dao Gui Ridge to Sage Peak.

The Portable Dwelling said two were enough. Why was it also two for Chu Shaoqiang? How could it be such a coincidence? It wasn't a coincidence. The principle was simple: two Heavenly Core Stones could form a straight line, which was sufficient to guide Dao Gui Ridge. Why had he used five in the first place? This was because Chu Shaoqiang didn't want to expose himself. With five Heavenly Core Stones, two would lock the direction, and three would allow for subtle adjustments. Chu Shaoqiang could simply leave it alone, letting Dao Gui Ridge automatically move to Sage Peak. In that scenario, even if the Inner Province discovered Dao Gui Ridge had reached Sage Peak, it wouldn't be connected to Chu Shaoqiang.

But now, it was different. Two Heavenly Core Stones could only set the direction; Chu Shaoqiang would have to handle the fine adjustments himself. Although there was a risk, Chu Shaoqiang couldn't afford to worry too much; he had to quickly complete the task the Sage had assigned him. He proceeded cautiously along the way. If Dao Gui Ridge were discovered by the Inner Province's informants, Chu Shaoqiang would be in serious trouble. He believed his craft would work, but the condition of Dao Gui Ridge was somewhat unusual. During the journey, faint roars, very similar to those of Dao Lao Ghosts, continuously emanated from Dao Gui Ridge. However, there was no rain in the mountains, which was inconsistent with Dao Lao Ghosts' habits. Perhaps the changing environments along the way made the Dao Lao Ghosts somewhat unaccustomed.

Upon reaching Jianren Ridge, the commotion on the mountain gradually subsided, and Chu Shaoqiang felt a little more at ease. Once the Heavenly Core Stones were in place and Dao Gui Ridge settled beside Sage Peak, Chu Shaoqiang went to the Sage's residence to report his completion in person.

The Sage was reasonably satisfied with Chu Shaoqiang's attitude. "Although there were complications along the way, the task was ultimately completed. Shaoqiang, I have noted your contribution. I will handle Ge Junma's matter myself; you no longer need to worry about it."

Chu Shaoqiang thanked him, adding an extra caution before leaving, "Dao Lao Ghosts have strange temperaments, Sage, please be extra careful."

The Sage smiled and nodded slightly.

Chu Shaoqiang added, "The climate changed somewhat along the way, so the Dao Lao Ghosts' habits might have changed too. Sage, please pay close attention."

The Sage said nothing, showing no other expression.

Chu Shaoqiang further cautioned, "Dao Lao Ghosts are fierce and cruel, almost impossible to tame. If you intend to turn them into an army, Sage, you must think twice."

His intentions were good; he felt the Dao Lao Ghosts' condition was abnormal. But the Sage was displeased. "Aren't you thinking a bit too much?"

Chu Shaoqiang remained silent. Instead, the Sage reminded him, "Ge Junma's matter no longer concerns you, nor does the matter of Dao Gui Ridge. Make sure you understand that clearly."

Why did Dao Gui Ridge no longer concern Chu Shaoqiang? Because this matter was tied to the Sage's reputation.

Chu Shaoqiang descended the mountain and walked through Jianren Ridge, quickly understanding the reason. A new peak had suddenly appeared next to Sage Peak, something the residents of Jianren Ridge couldn't possibly miss. How did this mountain peak appear? Sage Peak needed a plausible explanation, and the Sage's explanation was that he had moved it there. "The root of heaven and earth begins with the Sage's heart; the changes in heaven and earth begin with the Sage's will." The Sage's disciples in Jingde Village said, "Heaven and earth can be turned upside down with a single thought of the Sage. What is moving a mountain? The Sage merely blinks, and the mountain appears." The common people believed this implicitly. Every day, they would first burn incense and kowtow towards Sage Peak, then kowtow again towards Dao Gui Ridge. Dao Gui Ridge *had* to be unrelated to Chu Shaoqiang; it was all attributed to the Sage's power.

Cui Tik discovered Dao Gui Ridge was gone and was extremely annoyed. "Li Qi, we agreed on three days for the investigation. Only two days have passed, and Dao Gui Ridge has just vanished! You're clearly trampling on our friendship!"

Li Banfeng explained, "Dao Gui Ridge inexplicably left, just as it inexplicably arrived. I truly don't know the reason, and you can't blame me."

Cui Tik didn't believe him. "I think you've deceived me!"

Li Banfeng said, "Think carefully, do I have the ability to control Dao Gui Ridge?"

Cui Tik pondered for a moment and said, "Judging by your personal abilities, you probably don't."

"If I can't do something, then I certainly didn't do it. Isn't that perfectly clear?"

Indeed. Not only was it perfectly clear, it seemed impeccable.

Cui Tik sighed. "Wherever Dao Gui Ridge goes, it will cause a disaster. I wanted to witness this disaster firsthand, but now I can only wait for news from others."

Li Banfeng said, "As long as one doesn't go onto Dao Gui Ridge, they won't encounter Dao Lao Ghosts. This disaster should be controllable."

Cui Tik shook his head. "I thought about it all night yesterday, and the situation might have changed."

Li Banfeng frowned. "What new changes?"

"This change stems from their inherent habits," Cui Tik said, drawing on the ground with a twig. "Dao Lao Ghosts rarely leave Dao Gui Ridge. The origin of this habit likely has two sources. The first source is that Dao Lao Ghosts prefer the environment of Dao Gui Ridge, which in Puluo Province is called 'dense yin energy.' What exactly yin energy is, I haven't yet fully understood. The second source is that Dao Lao Ghosts suffer from impaired vision and severe cognitive difficulties, which cause them to only live within familiar territories. However, thanks to our combined efforts..."

"Hold on!" Li Banfeng had a bad feeling. "This was your effort alone; I have no intention of taking credit."

Cui Tik insisted, "Your contributions are part of this achievement. Even if I write an autobiography in the future, I will definitely mention you, because the potion we developed caused a visual mutation in Dao Lao Ghosts, their range of activity might expand."

Li Banfeng took a deep breath. "How much has it expanded?"

Cui Tik couldn't give a precise answer. "This would require extensive biological knowledge, as well as a great deal of observation and experimentation. However, Dao Lao Ghosts still depend on Dao Gui Ridge's yin energy, so they won't stray too far from it. Previously, they could operate within two or three *li* of the mountain. Now, they might appear twenty or thirty *li* away, and at most, no more than one hundred *li*."

Li Banfeng pulled down the brim of his hat. Jianren Ridge was about to face a major crisis.

Two days later, at nine in the morning, the weather at Jianren Ridge was clear and sunny. On Sage Peak, the Sage bathed, burned incense, changed into a long robe with yellow background and cloud patterns, and boarded his palanquin. A palanquin is a very special mode of transport, which can be understood as a highly luxurious sedan chair. From its appearance, the Sage's palanquin could easily be mistaken for a house, complete with a front hall, a bedroom, a ridge, and doors and windows. Twenty-eight disciples carried the Sage down Sage Peak. Along both sides of the road, a line of seekers knelt, their foreheads pressed to the ground, not daring to glance up. Behind the palanquin, eighteen more disciples carried a bronze cauldron down the mountain, while the remaining disciples, formally dressed, followed close behind.

Upon reaching the foot of Dao Gui Ridge, ten disciples went ahead to scout the mountain. In fact, they had already scouted it several times. Three groups of disciples had ascended the mountain previously, but none had found any Dao Lao Ghosts. If some of them hadn't been to Dao Gui Ridge before, they might have even suspected it was fake. Where had all the Dao Lao Ghosts gone? Chu Shaoqiang's previous conjecture was correct: the change in environment indeed made the Dao Lao Ghosts uncomfortable. Initially, they were fearful, then agitated, and finally, they burrowed underground and fell into a deep sleep.

Once it was confirmed there was no danger on the ridge, the disciples first carried the bronze cauldron up the mountain and set up the magical array at the pre-selected location. Once all preparations were complete, the remaining disciples carried the palanquin, escorting the Sage up the mountain. Halfway up the mountain, the Sage stood upon his palanquin, gazing at the clear sky, then surveyed his disciples. All the disciples knelt on the ground, performing kowtows to the Sage. The Sage issued his command: "Rise, my subjects, and muster the troops!" For all the Sage's disciples, this was a command of profound significance. From the day they left the Inner Province until now, the Sage finally had an army at his disposal. This was the first step for the Sage to regain control of the land!

The eighteen disciples performed their respective duties: first adding water to the cauldron, then placing offerings into it, then starting a fire beneath it. As the soup in the cauldron boiled and steamed, dark clouds gradually gathered in the sky. This cauldron was an enchanted artifact, a powerful one capable of altering weather within a certain range. It could bring a thunderstorm to the entire Dao Gui Ridge within twenty minutes. Thunder rumbled, and heavy rain poured down. From the previously silent Dao Gui Ridge, roars erupted one after another. "Screech!" Several Dao Lao Ghosts appeared nearby, flickering in and out of sight among the tall grass and bushes. The Sage and his disciples all swallowed medicinal pills. The pills they took were to hold their breath, as the poisonous mist sprayed by Dao Lao Ghosts could also cause poisoning, necessitating strict precautions.

Ten thought cultivation disciples took action first. Their task was to control the movements of the Dao Lao Ghosts through their minds. If they succeeded, the plan to tame the Dao Lao Ghosts would be more than halfway accomplished. After five minutes, the Dao Lao Ghosts, who had only been observing, began to attack the group. The thought cultivation disciples failed to control them; instead, they infuriated them. This was the cognitive difference Cui Tik had mentioned. Thought cultivation disciples could perceive and penetrate the Dao Lao Ghosts' thoughts. However, the Dao Lao Ghosts' cognition had undergone severe mutation; in their minds, the thought cultivation disciples were already engaging them in real combat.

With the failure of the thought cultivation disciples, the insect cultivation disciples immediately stepped in. Would insect cultivation be effective against Dao Lao Ghosts? This wasn't the Sage being reckless; it stemmed from research findings from years ago. When the Sage was in power, he had sent people to investigate Dao Gui Ridge and obtained many findings. One of these, once approved by the Sage, suggested that people who became infected with a certain parasite on Dao Gui Ridge would transform into Dao Lao Ghosts. If insect cultivation disciples could control parasites, they might be able to control Dao Lao Ghosts. This was the Sage's carefully planned strategy.

After another five minutes, the insect cultivation disciples also failed. The number of Dao Lao Ghosts grew, and they became increasingly agitated. Many disciples were splattered with the Dao Lao Ghosts' venom. They wore water-resistant soft armor, and the Sage also had water-resistant enchanted artifacts, which could partially prevent poisoning. However, there were simply too many Dao Lao Ghosts, and some disciples had already sustained fatal injuries. The Sage remained unconcerned and ordered the third group of disciples to act. The third group of disciples were nightmare cultivation practitioners, and they had also prepared based on previous investigation results. One investigation finding suggested that Dao Lao Ghosts, as their name implied, were the ghosts of poisoned individuals. Since nightmare cultivation practitioners could control deceased spirits, dealing with ghosts would naturally be straightforward for them.

After another seven or eight minutes, the nightmare cultivation practitioners also failed. Dao Lao Ghosts from all over the mountain gathered nearby, forming three layers around the group, completely surrounding them. The Sage was not worried at all; this outcome was within his expectations. Transforming Dao Lao Ghosts into an army seemed preposterous to ordinary people. It was an extremely difficult task, and a first failure was entirely reasonable. Although this attempt was unsuccessful, it at least yielded three pieces of experience: thought cultivation, insect cultivation, and nightmare cultivation were ineffective against Dao Lao Ghosts. The movement of the Dao Lao Ghosts remained in the Sage's control. Once the thunderstorm ceased, according to the Dao Lao Ghosts' habits, they would immediately return to their lairs, allowing the Sage to depart at his leisure. As for the injured disciples, those who could be healed naturally would be. Those who couldn't and transformed into Dao Lao Ghosts would still serve in the army in the future. In this way, everyone would be put to good use.

Twenty minutes quickly passed. The heavy rain stopped, and the thunder disappeared. Everyone prepared to retreat, but the Dao Lao Ghosts did not withdraw; they seemed even more excited. The Sage was somewhat surprised by this and ordered his disciples to hold their ground, not to panic, and to delay for a while longer, as the Dao Lao Ghosts would surely leave. After another twenty minutes, the number of Dao Lao Ghosts continued to increase. About ten of the Sage's disciples had been killed; they weren't poisoned but torn apart by the Dao Lao Ghosts. Black mist permeated the surroundings, making it impossible to see one's hand in front of their face. The pills the disciples had taken were also quickly losing their effect.

The Sage ordered a retreat, but the disciples still intended to carry the palanquin. The Sage himself abandoned the palanquin. He used joy cultivation techniques to suppress the Dao Lao Ghosts' excitement and weaken their fighting spirit, thereby seeking an opportunity to escape. However, the Dao Lao Ghosts' cognition was different. After consuming Cui Tik's potion, their perception had undergone even greater changes. Their fighting spirit did not diminish; instead, a different kind of urge rapidly expanded and took over their consciousness. Amidst the fierce battle, disciples were dealt with one after another by the Dao Lao Ghosts—the living were done to death, and the dead were further tormented. As for the Sage, who had employed joy cultivation techniques, the Dao Lao Ghosts showed an exceptionally strong interest.

At dusk, the Sage, clad in tattered clothes, rushed down Dao Gui Ridge with a dozen or so disciples. Given his cultivation and his subordinates' strength, if they had immediately descended the mountain after discovering the Dao Lao Ghosts, the outcome would certainly not have been this disastrous. However, his goal was to control the Dao Lao Ghosts, and even after being heavily surrounded, he refused to retreat. Now, he had suffered heavy losses, and he himself almost lost his life.

Back at his residence, the Sage was still shaken. Only today had he personally experienced the horror of Dao Gui Ridge. A previous plague had caused him to lose more than half his disciples, and now the remaining ones were almost wiped out at Dao Gui Ridge. Sage Peak was severely weakened, and the Sage couldn't help but feel waves of anger.

His disciple, Song Deke, advised, "Master, the art of leading an army prioritizes strictness. To tame such vicious monsters, you must lure them down the mountain, kill more than half of them, and only then can you subdue them!"

The Sage nodded. "I entrust this matter to you."

Song Deke quickly explained, "This disciple is not skilled in warfare..."

The Sage looked at Song Deke, who lowered his head and remained silent.

Du Xiangwen interjected to smooth things over, "Dao Lao Ghosts do not easily leave Dao Gui Ridge. Luring them down the mountain for capture might not be appropriate. This matter should be planned carefully in the long term."

"Screech!" A roar came from outside the residence.

The Sage was greatly startled and asked Du Xiangwen, "Is that the sound of a Dao Lao Ghost?"