Chapter 497: Solidifying the Soul

To stay together forever in the clouds.Have I become a cloud?

Li Banfeng flapped his arms, adjusting his flying posture in the cold wind.Where was this?Was it the clouds?

Why was it so dark?The Judge's Brush said, "Don't move around. Open your eyes, and it won't be dark anymore."

Li Banfeng opened his eyes to find himself already flying out of his Portable Dwelling, soaring above the mansion.Xiao Yeci was hanging clothes in the yard. Although she had many servants, she still preferred to do some things herself.

Oh, Miss Xiao, please don't look up.If she looked up and saw Li Qi flying in the sky, who knows what kind of reaction Xiao Yeci would have.

Li Banfeng flapped his arms with all his might, wanting to fly even higher.The Judge's Brush angrily retorted, "Don't move! If you move again, I'll take back my investment!"

Only then did Li Banfeng realize he was still tethered to the Judge's Brush."I'm already in the clouds, and I still can't fly?""You'll have to learn," the Judge's Brush replied, ascending slightly higher and circling over Ye Song Bridge with Li Banfeng repeatedly.

The promotion was successful.Li Banfeng had undergone a cross-tier promotion, severely overdrawing his body to the brink of death.

Yet, he couldn't rest in the mansion.This was the price for forcibly attaining the cloud realm. He now had to operate within his own territory, using his domain and status to stabilize his soul.

Honestly, Li Banfeng found it difficult even to keep his eyes open.The Thread Earring reminded him, "Master, Madam just said that our lowly brush can only carry you for a short while; you'll have to walk most of the way yourself."

Still had to walk...An hour later, the Judge's Brush put Li Banfeng down.

Li Banfeng could barely stand. After just two steps, his legs buckled, and he nearly fell into Smokescreen Lake.Despite being a Cloud Realm cultivator now, in his current physical state, he would surely drown if he actually fell in.

The Wine Gourd prepared some hot wine: "Little brother, have a sip to steady yourself first."The Teapot quickly interjected, "Nonsense! At a time like this, you can't drink wine. You should have some clear tea."

"Don't drink anything," the Tang Saber leaped from his waist. "Master, hold onto me; let's move forward."The Tang Saber became Li Banfeng's walking stick, guiding him forward step by step.

Thanks to his Mansion Cultivator talent still being active, Li Banfeng was easily overlooked; otherwise, his manner of walking would surely have scared passersby.After walking for an entire day, Li Banfeng's soul had stabilized, but his speed had not recovered. His basic travel technique, 'Wind from Flat Ground,' was still dormant.

Upon reaching Lu's Bookstore, Sun Tiecheng emerged, helping Li Banfeng to a seat by the tea table."You're already in the clouds, kid? That fast?"

Li Banfeng nodded. "Didn't you say the faster, the better? Of course, I listened to you."Sun Tiecheng sighed. "Still a bit too rushed. You'll probably need more time to recover."

As they spoke, the Smiling Ghost King, Gui Jianchou, brewed a pot of tea, poured two cups, and then went off to wipe down the bookshelves with a linen cloth.Li Banfeng asked, "Who is this?"

Sun Tiecheng replied, "He's A'Gui. I hired him to work. A'Gui is diligent and quiet; if I don't let him speak, he won't utter a single word."Li Banfeng smiled. "Are you really planning to do business here?"

Sun Tiecheng sighed, "If only that were possible. I still have a pile of things to attend to in the city."Li Banfeng suggested, "I'll go with you to Fool's City for recuperation. It's safe there."

Sun Tiecheng shook his head. "It's not time yet. Your soul is still adrift; you must stay within your own territory until it's completely stable.This bookstore needs to stay open. As long as it's here, my old friends won't dare to come knocking.You're weak during this time, so be extra careful. We've weathered big storms; let's not capsize in a ditch now."

Sun Tiecheng left. Li Banfeng, leaning on the Tang Saber, struggled for a long time to stand up, then slowly shuffled back to the mansion, step by step.Seeing Li Qi return, Xiao Yeci was overjoyed but didn't expect him to be so unsteady on his feet.

"Benefactor, what happened?""Caught a chill in the New Lands..." Li Banfeng was drenched in a cold sweat. After resting for a moment in the mansion, he found an opportunity to return to his Portable Dwelling.

"My Lord is tired. Rest for a while. In two hours, you'll have to return to your territory."Li Banfeng's face showed helplessness. "Still have to walk in the territory?"

The Phonograph gently sang, "My Lord's soul is relatively stable, so it's fine if you don't walk, but you must remain in your territory. Forcibly seizing the Cloud Realm brings immense changes to both body and soul, all of which must be stabilized by your domain and status."Enveloped in steam, Li Banfeng caught his breath. After lying flat on the bed for a moment, he asked, "My dear, am I considered at the first layer of the Cloud Realm now?""My Lord, you are in the Cloud Realm, but not yet at the first layer, just like when you first entered the Daoist sect and hadn't yet attained a specific tier."

"Then how much lifespan do I have now?""Your lifespan is... still your original lifespan..." The Phonograph spoke softly, not daring to raise its voice, as her lord had endured so much hardship and hadn't even gained triple his lifespan yet.

Li Banfeng, however, remained calm. "How long until I reach the first layer of the Cloud Realm?""First, it depends on when your body recovers. Second, it depends on when your soul stabilizes. Cloud Realm cultivators who ascend in the Inner Prefecture have new bodies directly affixed to their souls, so they naturally don't need to consider recovery and stabilization.However, since my Lord retained his own body, you must endure this trial yourself. Some take ten or eight years to get through this, and some even a lifetime.""A lifetime?" Li Banfeng was startled, struggling to sit up.The Phonograph embraced Li Banfeng with a wisp of steam, whispering softly, "My Lord, don't fret. Rest well first.

This trial is indeed difficult, but we made preparations beforehand. First, take half a pill to strengthen your body.""Why only half a pill? We have plenty of elixirs at home. Why be so frugal? Can't I take a whole one?"

"That won't do. Not even one, half a pill is too much." The Phonograph brought a Profound Cloud Pill, intending to break off a third. After a moment's hesitation, she used a phonograph needle to cut off a fifth and it into Li Banfeng's mouth.Li Banfeng swallowed the pill, and more cold sweat streamed down his body. The Phonograph continuously nourished him with steam, helping him resist the medicinal properties.These medicinal properties were not easy to withstand. Once, Madam had taken a Profound Cloud Pill, and due to her weak body being unable to tolerate the tonic, she nearly lost her life.

Now, Li Banfeng's body was also weak. After taking the pill, his body became so soft he could barely move.In the Portable Dwelling, his body recovered the fastest, but after two hours, Li Banfeng's soul began to drift again.

The Tang Saber brought Li Banfeng back to Xiao Yeci's mansion. Entering the bedroom, Li Banfeng collapsed and fell asleep.The Gloves expressed concern: "If a strong enemy comes, how will the Master defend himself?"

The Wine Gourd said, "Let's stand guard. We'll keep an eye out. If someone comes, we'll block them first, at least to give the little brother a chance to run into the mansion."The Dharma Treasures took their positions, and sure enough, someone arrived.

The Tang Saber was about to act when it realized the newcomer was Xiao Yeci."Benefactor, where did you go just now..." Xiao Yeci was worried about Li Banfeng. She had come to check on him several times earlier and found him absent from the bedroom.Now seeing Li Banfeng sound asleep, Xiao Yeci dared not speak loudly and carefully watched over him from the side.

She wanted to feel if Li Qi had a fever. She extended her hand, then hesitated."You can't just touch him!""But how will I know if he has a fever if I don't touch him?"

Xiao Yeci bit her lip. 'Anyway, no one else is watching, so there's no harm in touching him.'As soon as the thought emerged, it was quickly dispelled."What a foolish thought!""Is this something no one would see?

Men and women should not touch each other!"While she was struggling with her thoughts, Lu Chunying walked in and said to Xiao Yeci, "Sister Xiu is returning to Green Water City. Let's go see her off at the station."

"Nannan, you go. Benefactor is sick; I need to look after him."Lu Chunying stepped forward and touched Li Banfeng's forehead. "He's not hot, but he's sweating a lot."

Xiao Yeci glared. "You just touch him? Aren't you a young lady? Don't you understand the rules?"Lu Chunying snorted. "Are you not a young lady? Is it proper for an unmarried man and woman to be alone in a room?"

"I, I'm doing something proper. I'm taking care of Benefactor. I am..."Lu Chunying left.Xiao Yeci, blushing, muttered to herself, "My conscience is clear."

Li Banfeng drifted in and out of sleep. Xiao Yeci stood by, offering tea and water. "Benefactor, should I find a doctor to check on you?""No need for a doctor. Just get me more water to drink, and tell me about the customs of Ye Song Bridge."

Xiao Yeci whispered in Li Banfeng's ear, stopping quickly when she saw him fall asleep, and resuming when he woke up.After more than two hours of talking, Lu Chunying returned. "Mom, Sister Xiu didn't leave.""What happened?"

"The train station received orders: Ye Song Bridge is closed to all entry and exit starting today."Xiao Yeci tensed. "What's going on?"

Lu Chunying said, "It seems to be something related to the General Hall of Defense. Fifth Brother has already gone to inquire about it."That evening, Ma Wu returned to the mansion. While Li Banfeng was still lucid, he explained the situation: "Xia Shumin is here, and he's here because of the Red Lotus."

Red Lotus?The Red Lotus in my possession?

Li Banfeng's mind wasn't entirely clear. After a moment of tension, he realized Ma Wu was referring to the Red Lotus found at Ye Song Bridge. "I heard Zheng Siyi say that Xia Shumin already took the Red Lotus. What's he doing back here?"Ma Wu explained, "The Red Lotus is lost. Xia Shumin insists it was lost at Ye Song Bridge. Zheng Siyi denied it and produced a video for confrontation. Xia Shumin threw a tantrum, said he must get to the bottom of the matter, and then sealed off Ye Song Bridge."

Li Banfeng frowned. "This trick again?"Cheng Mingke had previously cut off traffic to Black Stone Slope, only to cut off his own supply route.

Ma Wu shook his head. "This time, his methods are different. Xia Shumin has blocked all the entrances to the New Lands from Ye Song Bridge.""Blocked how? I'm going to the New Lands; can he really stop me?" As Li Banfeng stood up, he felt dizzy.

Ma Wu supported Li Banfeng. "It's said that Xia Shumin brought many masters. Let's wait for more information. Now isn't the time to confront them head-on, or it'll be like admitting we're involved with the Red Lotus."Li Banfeng shook his head. "Even if we don't admit it, that scoundrel will still come after me."

Ma Wu suggested, "How about we try to hide first? If not, we'll force our way into the New Lands."Li Banfeng couldn't hide.

What he said earlier was out of frustration. Before his soul stabilized, he couldn't easily leave Ye Song Bridge.In Green Water City, at the Chu family mansion, Chu Er was busy organizing accounts until late at night. The butler, Yang Yanzheng, had prepared a late-night snack. Chu Er swallowed, shook her head, and said, "I won't eat. You can have it."

Granny Ku had instructed that even away from Bitterness Vegetable Village, she shouldn't indulge too much; cultivation couldn't be relaxed for a moment.Chu Er took a sip of cold water and noticed an outstanding debt in her business dealings with Li Qi that hadn't been collected.

"When will this debt be collected? Am I still supposed to go collect it myself?"Yang Yanzheng nodded. "Yes, Miss. You previously instructed that this debt shouldn't be collected, but that you would need to collect it yourself."

Chu Er was taken aback. "Did I say that?"The Branch Attendant, Wen Hongyan, nodded nearby. "You did. When Li Qi sent someone to deliver the money, you wouldn't accept it. You said the account wasn't clear and that you had to speak to Li Qi in person to clarify it."

Chu Er looked at the ledger and nodded calmly. "It needs to be clarified in person. Is Li Qi still at Ye Song Bridge?"Wen Hongyan didn't answer, looking instead at Yang Yanzheng.

Yang Yanzheng nodded. "He's still at Ye Song Bridge. I expect him to return soon."Chu Er thought for a moment. "This debt can't wait. I'll go to Ye Song Bridge to find him."

Yang Yanzheng quickly tried to dissuade her. "Miss, there's no rush. Hundred Delights Gate has made quite a profit this month; let me help you tally it."Chu Er waved her hand. "I've already tallied the Hundred Delights Gate accounts. Go buy me a train ticket. I'm going to Ye Song Bridge tomorrow."

Yang Yanzheng picked up another ledger. "Seven Autumn City also has a return on investment; let's calculate that together.""That small amount isn't urgent. Hurry and get the train ticket."

"Miss, let's discuss the business over at Yellow Earth Bridge again.""What's wrong?" Chu Er frowned. "Why do you keep interrupting? Is there something you're hiding from me?"

Yang Yanzheng hesitated for a moment, then told the truth. "Miss, Ye Song Bridge has been sealed by the General Hall of Defense. Trains have stopped; no entry or exit is allowed."Chu Er was startled. "When did this happen?"

"Just these past two days. They say it's because of the Red Lotus matter."Chu Er had also heard about the Red Lotus, mainly because Xia Shumin had made such a commotion.

"Didn't that person surnamed Xia take the Red Lotus to the Outer Prefecture?"Yang Yanzheng said, "Some news came from the General Hall of Defense. It's said that when it was time for inspection in the Outer Prefecture, the item was found missing. Xia Shumin lost face, brought people back to search, starting from Ye Song Bridge, and now he's sealed Ye Song Bridge."

"Is Liao Zihui just letting Xia Shumin run wild like this?""Liao Zihui is still in the Outer Prefecture, recuperating from injuries supposedly inflicted by the Red Lotus. Currently, the entire General Hall of Defense is under Xia Shumin's command."

Chu Er didn't quite understand. "Xia Shumin lost the Red Lotus, and he's still in charge of the General Hall of Defense?"Yang Yanzheng sighed. "This Xia Shumin's background is not simple. This incident probably won't be minor either."

Chu Er was silent for a moment, then asked, "Will this implicate Li Qi?"Wen Hongyan said, "Li Qi went to Ye Song Bridge for business, and coincidentally, so many things happened there. To say he has no connection at all, I'm afraid no one would believe it."

Yang Yanzheng quickly added, "Master Qi is a clever man; he can certainly clarify things that have nothing to do with him."Chu Er shook her head. "If Xia Shumin sets his sights on Li Qi, it won't matter how much he tries to explain. Besides, Li Qi certainly won't want to say much to them. How many people did he bring with him when he went to Ye Song Bridge?"

Yang Yanzheng said, "As far as I know, he shouldn't have brought many people. You're familiar with Li Qi's temperament; he's accustomed to traveling alone.""What about Lu Chunying?"

"Lu Chunying accompanied Xiao Yeci home for a family visit and only brought a few Branch Attendants.""I heard He Yuxiu also went."

"He Yuxiu went to discuss business. None of them went with the intention of fighting, so they didn't bring many people."Chu Er rubbed her forehead. "I have a feeling something big is going to happen this time. I need to go to Ye Song Bridge and see for myself."

Wen Hongyan said, "How will you go? Ye Song Bridge is sealed off.""I have a way," Chu Er said, standing up. "Go gather some people."

At the General Hall of Defense, Xia Shumin was questioning Zheng Siyi.Xia Shumin had been there for many days, and every day he questioned Zheng Siyi, who had grown accustomed to it.

"Chief Envoy Xia, you've reviewed all the handover materials. The theft of the Red Lotus truly has nothing to do with our hall."Xia Shumin said, "Old Zheng, now isn't the time to assign blame. I came to you this time to confirm three things. First, what was Chief Envoy Liao's purpose in coming to Ye Song Bridge?"

"Chief Envoy Liao came here to inspect our work. I wrote about this in my report.""If it was just a regular inspection, why did he bring combat personnel?"

"That was the Chief Envoy's arrangement; I don't know the specific reason."Xia Shumin continued, "Second, Chief Envoy Liao once engaged in battle with the Boundless Camp of the Chasing Light Group. What was the reason?"

"That wasn't a battle; it was mediation," Zheng Siyi said, prepared for this question as Liao Zihui had previously instructed him. "Members of the Chasing Light Group had a conflict with two influential figures from Puro Province. Chief Envoy Liao brought people to mediate and resolve the matter.""Which two influential figures?"

"He Yuxiu and Li Qi. I don't need to introduce these two; you should be very familiar with them."Xia Shumin nodded. "So, this matter is related to Li Qi."

Zheng Siyi couldn't say it was unrelated, or he'd fall into a trap. His answer was: "I don't know what grudges Li Qi has with the Chasing Light Group. We simply did our duty and prevented the situation from escalating further."Xia Shumin frowned. "The Boundless Camp was almost annihilated. Isn't that a big enough escalation?"

Zheng Siyi replied unhurriedly, "This was a last resort. In this conflict, there were no civilian casualties. Our mediation efforts achieved excellent results."Xia Shumin picked up a fountain pen, which, imbued with spirituality, recorded Zheng Siyi's words verbatim.

"Third, after I left, you sent people to guard the Red Lotus acquisition site. As far as I know, one night, the on-duty personnel weren't at the location."Zheng Siyi was surprised. "Is that true? I need to verify this thoroughly. If it's confirmed, the on-duty personnel must be severely punished, and I also bear some responsibility."

No verification was needed; Zheng Siyi was well aware of this. That night, Li Qi wanted to take a look at the Earth God's residence, and Zheng Siyi had facilitated it.Clearly, Xia Shumin had found leverage. "How did I hear that this matter is also related to Li Qi?"

Zheng Siyi said, "Chief Envoy Xia, why have you been asking about Li Qi all day?The dereliction of duty by the on-duty personnel is my responsibility, and I will investigate it thoroughly.As for Li Qi's matters, you should ask him. I know nothing about them."

Xia Shumin nodded. "You're right; I should ask him. Old Zheng, for now, I want you and your subordinates to remain in the General Hall of Defense. I don't want any news to leak out prematurely."Returning to his office, Zheng Siyi sat in his chair, lost in thought for a while.

He really wanted to send a message to Li Qi, but given the current situation at the General Hall of Defense, it was difficult for him even to leave.Li Qi was a smart man; he should know that under these circumstances, he absolutely couldn't come to the General Hall of Defense. Once he fell into Xia Shumin's hands, any charge could be pinned on him.

However, not coming was also difficult; Xia Shumin was relentless this time.Li Banfeng had recuperated for several days, and his mobility gradually returned, but his combat strength had not fully recovered. While he could manage a minor skirmish, and techniques like 'Roving Gaze' and 'Trampling Ten Thousand Rivers' could be used sparingly, his stamina would be depleted in less than twenty seconds.

Ma Wu went to the General Hall of Defense every day to negotiate, hoping they would allow them to return to Green Water City first.The General Hall of Defense didn't refuse, merely stating that procedures were still underway and telling Ma Wu to go back and wait for news.

At dusk, Ma Wu left the General Hall of Defense and chartered a ferry to return to the mansion. After about ten minutes, the boat reached its destination but didn't dock, continuing downstream along the Azure Sky River.Ma Wu frowned. "Where are you going?"

The boatman replied, "Taking a few guests on their way."Zuo Wugang stepped forward and restrained the boatman. Zhen Jincheng kept an eye on the second boatman and two other boatmen, while Cao Zhida grabbed the oars and steered the small boat straight for the shore.

The boatman showed no panic. As the small boat reached the shore, it suddenly turned intangible, causing several people to fall into the water immediately.The boatman and his group of boatmen jumped into the water. Relying on their excellent swimming skills, they successively trapped Cao Zhida, Zhen Jincheng, and others.

Zuo Wugang reacted quickly enough, grabbing Ma Wu, pushing off the riverbed rocks, and leaping onto the riverbank.As soon as their feet touched the ground, dozens of people rushed from the bank, surrounding Ma Wu and Zuo Wugang.

The leader, dressed like a laborer in a sleeveless jacket and felt hat, smiled at Ma Wu. "Fifth Young Master, we haven't mistaken you, have we?"Ma Wu replied, "Gentlemen, how may I help you?"

The man said, "No advice, merely we wish to climb a high branch and befriend Master Wu. Up ahead is Hundred Delicacies Tower, where we've prepared a banquet. We invite Fifth Young Master for a drink. Would Fifth Young Master be so kind as to grace us with your presence?"Ma Wu cupped his fists. "Thank you for your kind offer. I have urgent matters to attend to today. Please allow me to visit another day."

The other side sneered. "Fifth Young Master, since you won't honor us with your presence, don't blame us for offending you!"Zuo Wugang didn't waste words; he grabbed a bamboo pole from the ground and immediately engaged in battle.

Ma Wu activated his techniques, disrupting the enemy's formation while assisting Zuo Wugang in battle.In the water, Zhen Jincheng, with great effort, knocked down the boatman. Seeing this, Cao Zhida shouted, "Hurry and go!"

Zhen Jincheng said, "Let's go together!"Cao Zhida held back the second boatman. "You go quickly, go back and report!"

Zhen Jincheng climbed onto the riverbank, didn't join the fight ashore, and ran straight towards Xiao Yeci's mansion.Upon reaching the mansion, Zhen Jincheng explained what happened. Li Banfeng wanted to go see for himself, but He Yuxiu said, "Old Seven, you're not fully recovered yet. Stay at home for now. I'll go see who dares to cause trouble for Old Five."

Who could the opposing party be?They definitely aren't river bandits, nor could they be local gangs. Given Ma Wu's status, who among ordinary people would dare offend him?Could it be someone from the General Hall of Defense?

Are they trying to lure Li Qi by using Ma Wu?Li Banfeng instructed He Yuxiu, "Just save Ma Wu. Don't get bogged down in a prolonged fight with them."

He Yuxiu nodded. "Don't worry, I know what I'm doing."Barely ten minutes after He Yuxiu left, the Thread Earring suddenly reported, "Master, there's activity!"

Li Banfeng followed the sound towards the door, just as the gate-keeping Branch Attendant rushed in frantically. "This is bad! The General Hall of Defense has sent people to surround our mansion!"Upon hearing this, Lu Yuanxin scattered a handful of bait into the yard, and swarms of insects gathered at his feet.Li Banfeng listened roughly to the commotion outside. There must have been over five hundred people out there.

Xiao Yeci remained relatively calm, asking softly, "What are they trying to do?"Li Banfeng turned back and said, "Yuanxin, take their mother and daughter back to the room. Do not come out unless you hear from me."

Lu Yuanxin nodded and led Xiao Yeci and Lu Chunying back to their room.Soon after, Xia Shumin, surrounded by dozens of guards, entered the courtyard.

"Li Qi, we meet again." Xia Shumin looked at Li Banfeng with a grim expression.Li Banfeng adjusted his hat brim, glanced at Xia Shumin, and very politely asked, "What was your name again?"

Xia Shumin sneered. "You are truly arrogant, still daring to provoke me now. I suspect the Red Lotus theft is related to you. Please return with us to the General Hall of Defense for investigation."Li Banfeng calmly retorted, "What if I don't go?"

Xia Shumin ordered his men to set up the steam machine guns. "If you resist arrest, I will shoot you on the spot.""You want to shoot me too? Are you serious?" Li Banfeng pulled down the brim of his hat.