Chapter 523: House Cultivation Cloud Techniques

"Dig, brother!"

"Dig, boss!"

Glove opened the secret compartment on the ground, and Li Banfeng and Glove dug down together inside it.

After digging for half an hour, Li Banfeng first unearthed a seal.

He held the seal, examining it by touch for a long time. Since objects in the room were invisible, he could only rely on his hands. It took Li Banfeng two minutes to confirm that it was a land seal.

"Brother!" Li Banfeng was very excited.

"Boss!" Glove was equally excited. Below the land seal, Glove dug out two arched iron deeds.

The deeds of Green Water Bay had been unearthed by the two of them.

Li Banfeng really wanted to see what was recorded on the deeds of Green Water Bay, but in the dark-dimensional space, he couldn't see anything.

"Boss, even if you can't see it, it doesn't stop us from taking it!" Glove meant that Li Banfeng should absorb the deeds and the land seal first.

"You're right!" Li Banfeng placed the land seal on his head, absorbing the popular energy immediately.

Popular energy, once acquired, should be absorbed without delay to avoid any complications.

This was Green Water Bay, home to Prosa Province's largest city. How much popular energy did the people here possess?

The popular energy received should not be allowed to cool; absorbing it quickly was the correct approach.

A continuous stream of popular energy poured into his head, and Li Banfeng could distinctly feel his cultivation growing.

The popular energy in this land seal was overwhelmingly abundant. It released for over a minute, surpassing the combined total from Ye Songqiao and Li Furong's new lands.

There was still more; the land seal's popular energy hadn't been fully released.

Another minute passed, and the land seal was still releasing popular energy.

After ten minutes, the popular energy from the land seal continued to gush out.

After twenty minutes, Li Banfeng's eyes rolled back, and he collapsed onto the ground.

"Boss!" Glove quickly removed the land seal and called out for a long time before Li Banfeng opened his eyes. "Where's my land seal?" Li Banfeng groped around.

"Boss, there's no rush right now!" Glove persuaded Li Banfeng. They had intended to search Green Blossom's house for a little longer, but Li Banfeng's steps were unsteady, and he struggled to walk, so they quickly left the dark-dimensional space.

Despite his unsteady gait, running was not difficult for him. Li Banfeng ran all the way to Carefree Hamlet, his steps still swift.

After hiding the key and entering his Portable Residence, Li Banfeng lay on the bed, and his legs began to tremble violently.

The sensation in his legs was not unfamiliar; before every cultivation promotion for traveling cultivators, his legs would tremble. This trembling signified Li Banfeng's desire to run and not stop.

But the feeling in his body was somewhat strange. Li Banfeng didn't want to move, feeling as if glue was on the bed, sticking him to the mattress.

The Phonograph observed Li Banfeng's condition and used its stylus to check his pulse. "My dear husband, how much popular energy did you absorb?"

Li Banfeng said in a daze, "My dear wife, you can tell that?"

The Phonograph said, "How could I not tell? Husband, your pulse has been disturbed by the popular energy. Whose popular energy did you take?"

Glove interjected, "How can you call it taking? He acquired it openly. The boss only took Green Blossom's."

"One family's popular energy could be this much?" His wife didn't believe it.

"That's why they say Green Water City has abundant popular energy. There's still some left in this land seal!" Glove handed the land seal to the Phonograph.

The Phonograph weighed it and exclaimed, "How long has Green Blossom not absorbed popular energy?"

Li Banfeng was surprised. "If he doesn't absorb popular energy, how does he increase his cultivation?"

The Phonograph carefully examined Li Banfeng's condition. "My dear husband, both your gates are open for business, and both sides are fully satisfied. This land seal's popular energy is only half used!"

Li Banfeng was also stunned. "This land seal can hold that much?"

The Wine Gourd said, "A land seal can indeed hold a lot of popular energy, but why would this beggar accumulate so much popular energy?"

"No wonder this beggar is so difficult to deal with. He might not need popular energy anymore..." The Phonograph mused for a moment, then said, "Husband, I will now transmit the Cloud-level Home Cultivation Technique to you."

Li Banfeng was still trembling. "Wife, in this state, I'm afraid I can't learn techniques."

"First learn the technique to clear your meridians, then prepare for promotion."

"Promotion?" Li Banfeng struggled to sit up. "I just reached the Cloud-level first layer. Am I promoting again so soon?"

"It's all because you absorbed so much popular energy at once, beyond what your body could handle. You're already on the verge of the second layer!" The Phonograph complained a bit, then felt sympathetic. It used steam to gently ease Li Banfeng back down, carefully instructing, "My dear husband, lie flat, and quiet your mind too. Don't think about anything; just leave it to your humble servant."

As she spoke, the Phonograph slowly drew Li Banfeng in with its horn-shaped mouth. Inside the warm horn, Li Banfeng felt his eyes slowly grow heavy, and he gradually fell asleep.

He didn't know how long he slept, but Li Banfeng opened his eyes.

His body felt lighter, and his legs were no longer trembling.

Li Banfeng easily sat up and first looked at the Phonograph on his right. "My dear wife, have I learned the technique?"

His wife replied, "Husband has learned it."

Li Banfeng then looked at the Shadow on his left. "Have I truly learned it?"

The Shadow nodded at Li Banfeng.

Li Banfeng sat on the bed and said to the Shadow, "As far as I know, shadows are usually on the ground, or perhaps on walls, but you're just sitting beside me like this. What's the reason?"

The Shadow looked at the Phonograph.

The Phonograph was about to explain to Li Banfeng, "My dear husband, the Cloud-level Home Cultivation Technique is called 'Form and Shadow Inseparable'—"

"Let's not talk about techniques first," Li Banfeng sat silently for a moment, then suddenly stood up and said, "You are Banfeng B, aren't you?"

The Shadow also stood up, ready to fight Li Banfeng!

"You really emerged!" Li Banfeng turned and grabbed his sickle.

The Shadow said nothing. In a flash, it suddenly disappeared from Li Banfeng's sight.

Li Banfeng was shocked. "Oh no, 'Galloping Horse Viewing Flowers'!"

He searched for traces of the Shadow everywhere but couldn't find it for a long time. Fortunately, "Galloping Horse Viewing Flowers" also didn't trigger.

The Shadow silently appeared behind Li Banfeng. Li Banfeng suddenly noticed and turned to strike. The Shadow ducked, then kicked Li Banfeng's knee joint.

The kick was solid; Li Banfeng nearly fell. The Shadow prepared to follow up with another kick to Li Banfeng's face, but Li Banfeng dodged and punched the Shadow's knee.

The Shadow reeled from the blow. Li Banfeng stepped forward, preparing to use "Trampling Over Ten Thousand Rivers" to crush the Shadow.

He kicked out, but "Trampling Over Ten Thousand Rivers" failed to activate.

The Shadow turned and kicked Li Banfeng's ankle. Li Banfeng endured the sharp pain and struck the Shadow's crotch.

It was a trade of blows, and the Shadow suffered greatly from this one. Its crotch couldn't withstand the hit, and the Shadow swayed, unable to stand steady, when Li Banfeng snatched a vase and smashed it onto its head.

The Shadow lay on the ground, struggled for a moment, but couldn't get up.

Seeing Li Banfeng kick again, the Shadow suddenly lay flat and shrank at Li Banfeng's feet.

The Phonograph praised, "My husband has excellent martial arts! This Shadow has been subdued by you!"

"It can't be subdued," Li Banfeng shook his head, sat on the bed, and wiped his wounds.

While applying medicine to Li Banfeng, the Phonograph explained the essence of the technique: "A home cultivator, dwelling deeply within their residence, becomes accustomed to solitude. The shadow then becomes the cultivator's companion. When the form stands, the shadow relies on it, fighting side by side. Form and shadow are of one mind. As long as it's properly controlled, in the future, when husband fights others, it will be two against one. Some have called this technique the strongest in adapting to enemies."

Li Banfeng looked at the Phonograph and said, "My dear wife, do you think I can learn this technique?"

The Phonograph beat its drums, encouraging Li Banfeng, "Husband is brave; you will certainly be able to learn it."

Li Banfeng gently stroked the Phonograph and said, "Wife, we should be honest with each other as husband and wife. Do you truly think I can learn it?"

The Phonograph's drums slowed slightly. "Husband's shadow is a bit fierce. There might be some difficulties in using the technique, but there must be a way to overcome them."

Li Banfeng picked up the oil lamp and asked, "My dear wife, why didn't you teach me this technique before? You must tell me the truth!"

His wife stopped her drums and spoke softly, "That's because husband's temperament is a bit special. I'm afraid the shadow would be difficult to tame. Your humble servant worried that since husband just reached the Cloud-level, his foundation would be unstable, and improper use of the technique might harm him instead."

His wife's words were very subtle.

Translated, it meant: Li Banfeng was a madman; he couldn't control himself, nor could he control his shadow. His cultivation had just reached the Cloud-level, and his strength was still very limited. There was a good chance his own shadow would harm him.

On this point, Li Banfeng and his wife were in complete agreement. "If I had known it was this kind of technique, I wouldn't have learned it."

"My dear husband, if you patiently polished it and spent more time solidifying your cultivation foundation, then not learning this technique would be fine. But now you've just reached the first layer and are immediately going to the second layer. Without technique support, how can your body endure it?"

Li Banfeng also couldn't understand what "technique support" meant. It couldn't be explained by words alone. The Phonograph advised, "My dear husband, you just learned the technique and your body is weak. First, take some elixirs to recuperate."

The Phonograph took out a Profound Profusion Elixir, considered it carefully, and cut off a third for Li Banfeng.

Li Banfeng took the elixir, rested for a moment, and asked, "Why couldn't I use any techniques when I was fighting the Shadow just now?"

His wife said, "Husband's Cloud-level foundation is still shallow. After using the Form and Shadow Inseparable technique, most other techniques become unusable."

Li Banfeng sighed, "This Shadow is not only useless, but the cost is also considerable."

"Boss, we can learn the technique slowly. Let's first look at these treasures." Glove took out the land seal and the deeds together.

Having left the dark-dimensional space, these items could now be clearly seen. The land seal had nothing special about it.

Li Banfeng carefully examined the deeds.

Green Blossom's deeds were indeed special. The front still bore the eight characters: "A hundred *li* of land, proven by this."

The back was densely covered with dozens of lines of text. The first line read: "Yuan Shoulou obtains this land."

Li Banfeng asked Tang Dao, "How was this land acquired?"

Tang Dao thought for a long time. "I only remember someone giving me this deed. Who that person was, I can't recall."

The second line read: "Yuan Shoulou defeats Sha Dingzhong, obtains twenty *li* of land."

"Who is Sha Dingzhong?"

Tang Dao thought, "He seemed to be a neighbor who caused trouble on my territory and was driven away by me."

Next were three more lines, all records of Yuan Shoulou's victories. He defeated three local land gods and acquired many territories.

It was clear that when Yuan Shoulou occupied Blossom Bay, he was a very powerful local land god.

The next line read: "Zhao Nongbao defeats Yuan Shoulou; this land entirely belongs to Zhao Nongbao."

"Who is Zhao Nongbao? Green Blossom?"

Hearing the name Zhao Nongbao, Tang Dao seemed to recall something. He paced back and forth in the room for a dozen rounds, then suddenly remembered a phrase: "Go find a place to relieve yourself and gaze at your reflection – that face of yours, covered in large, festering boils."

Li Banfeng asked, "Was that referring to Green Blossom?"

"It should be," Tang Dao was still trying hard to remember. "I think I once paid attention to him. He seemed to be a famous beggar in Blossom Bay, famous because he was always sick and always bullied—"

Hong Ying didn't quite understand. "When he seized your land god position, he was at least a ninth-layer ground cultivator, and also had a martial cultivation foundation. How could such a person always be a beggar and always be bullied?"

Tang Dao couldn't answer. "That phrase definitely referred to Green Blossom. 'Zhao Nongbao' probably meant he had a face full of boils. As for whether his surname was Zhao..."

Li Banfeng said, "Actually, he doesn't know his surname at all. Others always told him to look at his reflection, so he just made his surname Zhao. That should be the reason, right?"

Tang Dao remained silent, and no one else spoke either.

This conjecture was probably correct, because Li Banfeng also didn't know his own surname.

Li Banfeng continued to look at Green Water Bay's deeds. Starting from defeating Yuan Shoulou, Zhao Nongbao went through hundreds of battles.

He never lost.

Green Water Bay's territory was continuously expanding. According to the records on the deeds, Li Banfeng calculated that if one *li* of land counted as one unit, Green Water Bay had over thirty-one thousand units of land. Aside from the original ten thousand-plus units of Blossom Bay, the remaining territory was all conquered by Green Blossom himself.

Not only could he fight, but he was also good at management. He transformed Blossom Bay, Prosa Province's poorest area, into the wealthiest Green Water Bay.

"My dear husband, how do you plan to deal with these two deeds?"

Li Banfeng held the deeds and examined them carefully again. "Take them to Green Water Bay, sprinkle my blood on them, draw up a paper deed, and bury them."

The Wine Gourd said, "Little brother, are you planning to become the land god of Green Water Bay?"

Li Banfeng nodded.

The Old Teapot clinked its lid. "Green Water Bay is a place contested by all heroes. This territory is not easy to defend."

Li Banfeng kept staring at the two deeds. "It can be defended. Green Blossom only had ninth-layer cultivation back then, and he could defend it. Why can't I?"

The Old Teapot said, "Blossom Bay and Green Water Bay are ultimately different."

The Old Teapot was right; not many people would come to seize Blossom Bay, but the number of people who would come to seize Green Water Bay was hard to estimate.

Li Banfeng said nothing. Tang Dao straightened his blade and said, "My lord is more capable than Green Blossom. Your humble general is willing to defend this territory with my lord!"

The Phonograph's battle drums boomed. "Husband, since you're taking Green Water City, you still need to think of a good name for yourself."

Li Banfeng said, "No need to think. Just call me Li Qi."

"My dear husband, is 'Li Qi' too obvious?"

Li Banfeng said, "My surname is Li, but I don't know what it is. I say I'm the seventh in my family, but I don't know if I even have siblings. So let's just call me Li Qi."

The Phonograph pondered for a moment. "That's fine. Anyway, both deeds are in husband's hands, and this matter doesn't involve the Inner Province. The name Li Qi resonates most deeply with husband and has the most stable status. Husband must choose a good place to bury the deeds."

The Projector had a suggestion. "I think burying them in their original spot is best. Green Blossom's residence is the most miraculous place I've ever seen. Others would find it hard to locate, and even if they found it, they couldn't get in. Even if they got in, they wouldn't know where to go."

"Not appropriate," Li Banfeng shook his head. "The number of people who can find that place might not be small. He Jiaqing should know where the entrance is; he just can't open the door for now. Just because he couldn't open it this time doesn't mean he won't be able to next time. We must change the location."

What would be a suitable place?

Carefree Hamlet?

Hundred Joys Gate?

He still had many properties: two restaurants, two teahouses, a bank, two dance halls, a film company, a theater, a silk shop, and several factories.

They all seemed okay, but upon closer thought, none were quite suitable. These two deeds were too crucial, and those who coveted them possessed unimaginable means.

Li Banfeng asked, "Is there only one 'Unnameable Place' in Green Water Bay?"

The Phonograph said, "Your humble servant cannot say for sure about that."

Who could say for sure?

After a while, Portable Residence spoke up. "There must be more than one place. You should be able to find them with that bowl."

***

At Liu Baoge's Calligraphy and Painting Shop in Painting Lane, He Jiaqing was selecting paintings at the counter.

This calligraphy and painting shop was very famous in Painting Lane because most shops in Painting Lane sold paintings, but this shop sold treasures.

In Green Water City, there were two types of painting shops. One type sold genuine works, whether masterpieces by renowned artists or fine works by ordinary painters. In these shops, the origin of every painting was clearly stated. To buy a painting here, one had to sign a deed. If a counterfeit was found, they would pay ten times the price. They sold reputation and brand.

Another type of painting shop sold fakes. They explicitly told you that they didn't sell genuine works. They had finely replicated masterpieces, crudely made inferior pieces, and even many mass-produced prints. Although they were fakes, every painting had a clear price tag.

Treasure-selling shops were special. Like Liu Baoge's calligraphy and painting shop, the calligraphy and paintings inside were a mix of genuine and fake. Whether you found gold or grabbed sand depended entirely on your own discernment. Once a transaction was made, the money and goods were settled, and they would not acknowledge any claims afterwards.

He Jiaqing picked an intricate painting from the easel, depicting an old mansion courtyard with a woman sitting in a wing room, grooming herself before a mirror.

Liu Jinbao, the shop owner, seeing that He Jiaqing had chosen this painting, invited He Jiaqing to the back room, brewed a pot of good tea, dismissed others, and lowered his voice, "My esteemed guest, to be frank, this painting is a genuine piece."

He Jiaqing took a sip of tea and nodded. "I know. This is a genuine work by Mu Yuejuan, the 'Hundred Flowers Painter'."

Liu Jinbao pondered for a moment, then asked, "Since you know the origin of this painting, you should also know its purpose."

He Jiaqing nodded. "Romance and confidantes—which man in the world doesn't love them?"

Liu Jinbao nodded. "You've found the treasure, and I've made myself clear. Just name your price. Whatever you offer, I'll accept."

He Jiaqing gave Liu Jinbao a check. Liu Jinbao looked at the amount, packaged the painting, and the transaction was immediately completed.

After He Jiaqing left the painting shop, Liu Jinbao called a clerk. "Send a message to Boss Feng: He Jiaqing was here and bought Mu Yuejuan's painting."

Returning to his outer residence, He Jiaqing hung the painting in his bedroom and stared at the scroll for about ten minutes. The mansion in the scroll grew clearer and clearer with each gaze.

The bricks on the wall turned red, the tiles on the roof turned green, the willow catkins on the trees drifted, and the girl's eyebrows moved.

He Jiaqing first bowed to the girl, then lifted the hem of his long gown and stepped into the painting.

The woman who was grooming herself paused for a moment, then chuckled.

"Young Master He, you actually dared to come find me?" This woman was indeed Mu Yuejuan, the 'Hundred Flowers Painter'.

Just before this, Mu Yuejuan had been searching for He Jiaqing's whereabouts, never expecting him to deliver himself to her.

He Jiaqing sighed. "If I don't come to Sister, who else can I go to? Others devour everything and then try to take my life. Sister, at least you leave me a bowl of soup to drink."

Mu Yuejuan put down her eyebrow pencil, walked from the wing room to the courtyard, and used her finger to brush a strand of He Jiaqing's hair. "Oh, Young Master, you didn't say that when Sister was looking for you. You even hurt Sister's face."

He Jiaqing squeezed Mu Yuejuan's hand and smiled. "Put yourself in my shoes, Sister. I had just come out of Green Blossom's house, and you were at my doorstep, demanding the deeds without a word. You scared me to death."

Mu Yuejuan chided, "You're afraid of me? Could I eat you?"

He Jiaqing sighed. "With Sister's cultivation and methods, you could devour me no matter how many lives I had. Today I voluntarily came to Sister's territory and will tell you the truth, word for word. Green Blossom's deeds are truly not with me!"

Mu Yuejuan's eyes twitched, and she left an ink mark on He Jiaqing's face. "Young Master He, are you used to playing tricks with other women that you treat me as an ignorant little girl?"

He Jiaqing dared not move. "Sister Mu, if I dared to utter a single joke, I would absolutely not dare to visit your residence today."

This was true. He Jiaqing entering Mu Yuejuan's territory was almost equivalent to cutting off his own retreat.

Mu Yuejuan asked, "Do you dare say you didn't enter Green Blossom's house?"

He Jiaqing said, "I did enter his house, but I couldn't get his deeds!"

Mu Yuejuan glanced at the rouge box on the table.

This rouge box was a virtue cultivation magic artifact. The rouge inside hadn't changed color, proving that He Jiaqing was telling the truth.

Mu Yuejuan asked again, "Why couldn't you get them?"

"When I entered, Green Blossom was waiting at home. How could I get his deeds?"

Mu Yuejuan frowned slightly. "You mean Green Blossom is still alive?"

"Whether he's alive or not, I don't know, but I certainly saw him when I entered."

Mu Yuejuan glanced at the rouge box again; the rouge inside still hadn't changed color.

The level of this rouge box surpassed the Cloud-level. He Jiaqing certainly had no ability to deceive this magic artifact.

He was telling the truth.

Mu Yuejuan poked He Jiaqing's nose. "Since Green Blossom is still alive, why are you coming to me?"

He Jiaqing explained, "I have a grudge against Green Blossom, as Sister should know. I want to kill him, but I don't have the ability myself."

Mu Yuejuan smiled. "You want me to help you?"

He Jiaqing said, "If he can be killed, my grudge will be gone, and Sister will get the deeds. Isn't that a good thing too?"

"It is a good thing," Mu Yuejuan nodded. "But I don't trust you."

He Jiaqing said, "If Sister doesn't trust me, let's go to Green Blossom's residence right now and see if I'm lying to you."

Mu Yuejuan turned and went back to the wing room, picked up the rouge box, and swirled the rouge inside a couple of times; its color remained unchanged. "Since Green Blossom is alive, I cannot touch him. These are the peddler's rules, and I'm not someone who wishes to shorten her life. Young Master He, you should leave. I can't help you."

He Jiaqing stood by the window and looked at Mu Yuejuan. "The one who moves against Green Blossom won't be you, it will be me. If you help me secretly, it shouldn't count as breaking the rules."

Mu Yuejuan chuckled. "You want me to use a trick in this matter? Do you think I can deceive the peddler?"

"I think you have that ability. If you miss such a good deal, you'll definitely regret it." He Jiaqing touched his cheek; a row of rashes had appeared on his face.

Seeing the rashes on He Jiaqing's face, Mu Yuejuan believed that Green Blossom was indeed not dead.

She put the rouge box into her embrace. "Green Blossom and I do have some connection. Since you've asked me, it's not impossible to go to his house and take a look."

He Jiaqing bowed deeply. "Sister, please!"

The two walked out of the painting and together arrived at Dragon Gate Road.

By the lamppost, He Jiaqing twisted his ring, rubbing it up and down the lamppost.

Mu Yuejuan waited for a long time, her brow slightly furrowed. "How long will it take for this door to open?"

"Honestly, I don't know if I can open this door. I suspect Green Blossom intentionally let me in before."

Mu Yuejuan casually looked at the rouge in her hand. He Jiaqing was still telling the truth.

"I'll wait for you for another quarter of an hour. If the door doesn't open, then this matter is off." Mu Yuejuan looked around, feeling that something wasn't right.

Why was she trusting He Jiaqing?

Even if everything he said was true, she shouldn't get involved in this mess.

The situation today felt off; she couldn't pinpoint why, but Mu Yuejuan felt unusually abnormal.

After struggling for ten minutes, Mu Yuejuan shook her head. "You'll have to figure this out yourself. I'm still—"

He Jiaqing was gone.

When did he leave?

Rogue Cultivator Technique: Treading Snow Without a Trace!

Mu Yuejuan realized she had been tricked. She turned and walked away.

Just as she left Dragon Gate Road and turned into Qingji Alley, she suddenly heard a man say, "Miss Mu, I have a business matter I'd like to discuss with you."

"Feng Chongli?" Mu Yuejuan turned around and saw the merchant Feng Chongli standing behind her.

"What business do you want to discuss with me? Are you looking to buy a painting?" Mu Yuejuan smiled charmingly.

Feng Chongli shook his head. "I'm looking to buy the deeds to Green Water Bay."

Mu Yuejuan shook her head. "You've come to the wrong person. I don't have Green Blossom's deeds. My cultivation is beyond the Cloud-level, so naturally, I wouldn't covet Green Blossom's possessions."

Feng Chongli took out a silver coin and rubbed the snowflake on its back. "Miss Mu, I've come to you with sincerity for business, and not just my own sincerity."

Snowflake Cove?

Mu Yuejuan gritted her teeth!

I was tricked by He Jiaqing.