Chapter 525: Appointment

Li Banfeng revealed his true appearance, and An Zongding realized he was Li Qi.

Li Banfeng asked again, "Why are you investigating me?"

An Zongding shook his head repeatedly. "We've never investigated you—"

The Old Teapot poured a kettle of water, scalding An Zongding, who writhed on the ground.

Having followed Li Banfeng for so long, the Old Teapot knew what to do without being told.

Looking at An Zongding's pathetic state, the Old Teapot sighed, "Even among Cloud-level cultivators, a demonic cultivator's physique is truly subpar."

Li Banfeng smiled at An Zongding. "Still not going to tell the truth?"

"Alright, I'll talk," An Zongding gasped after a long pause. "This was Master Feng's order."

"Which Master Feng?"

"Master Feng Chongli. His status at Snowflake Harbor is higher than mine. I had to follow his orders."

Li Banfeng's heart tightened. Why would Feng Chongli investigate him?

His only interaction with Feng Chongli was buying a pair of iron rulers from him. Those rulers were actually the tracks for the Portable Dwelling.

Could it be that Feng Chongli knew the purpose of the iron rulers, and that's why he targeted him?

Thinking this way, the situation became terrifying.

Up to this point, the Portable Dwelling and everything within it were fundamental to Li Banfeng's existence. If someone targeted the Portable Dwelling, that person had to be eliminated. If an organization targeted it, that organization had to be eliminated.

Li Banfeng asked An Zongding, "Where is Feng Chongli?"

An Zongding answered truthfully, "At Green Water Bow's residence."

"Why is he going to Green Water Bow's residence?"

"To dig up Green Water Bow's deed. Hundred Flowers Painter Mu Yuejuan sent him the information."

Hong Ying, standing by, interjected, "I know Hundred Flowers Painter. She's the vixen who conned my second brother. Qilang, bring that wretch home. I'd like to see how charming she really is."

Li Banfeng actually intended to do so.

"What cultivation sect is Feng Chongli from? What's his cultivation level?"

An Zongding honestly replied, "Feng Chongli is a Merchant Cultivator. His cultivation is already beyond the Cloud level."

"And Mu Yuejuan?"

"Also beyond the Cloud level."

This complicated matters.

Considering Feng Chongli's age, he should be under sixty. Reaching beyond the Cloud level at that age was quite remarkable.

"What do they want at Green Water Bow's residence?"

"To find Green Water Bow's deed and seize the territory of Green Water Bay."

"Why do you want the territory of Green Water Bay?"

An Zongding explained, "Green Water Bay is the most prosperous place in Prozhou. For so many years, it has been wasted in Green Water Bow's hands. It's like cooking a crane and burning a zither, casting pearls before swine, destroying precious treasures. Truly, it's a great misfortune for Prozhou."

Li Banfeng kicked An Zongding. "Don't speak in riddles!"

An Zongding translated, "Green Water Bay is such a good place, but given to Green Water Bow, it's like a fresh flower stuck in cow dung.

"We want to give Green Water Bay a better future, and also give Prozhou a better future. That's why we want to reclaim Green Water Bay from Green Water Bow."

"Nonsense!" Li Banfeng kicked An Zongding again.

Green Water Bay was never a "fresh flower"; it was a gathering place for beggars.

It was true that Green Water Bow was Li Banfeng's enemy, but Li Banfeng had never questioned Green Water Bow's capabilities.

"So, you're taking over Green Water Bay just for money?"

An Zongding shook his head. "We're not short on money. Snowflake Harbor has never lacked funds."

"Then why are you selling the souls abducted from Prozhou to other states?"

An Zongding sighed. "These souls knew things they shouldn't have. They shouldn't have remained in this world. However, they committed no major crimes, and we couldn't bear to let them turn to dust. Sending them to other states was a way to give them a path to survival. This is what we call 'thunderous means with a bodhisattva heart'."

Li Banfeng told the Teapot, "Scald his heart out!"

The Teapot began to heat water, and the Scythe stepped forward, ready to disembowel him.

An Zongding shouted, "Everything I said is true!"

Li Banfeng kicked him in the face. "What you're doing is no different from human traffickers! And you talk about a 'bodhisattva heart'?

"Since you're from Snowflake Harbor and manage the coin-minting business, why are you still selling souls for money to other states? Do you understand my question?"

An Zongding pondered for a moment. "Snowflake Harbor doesn't lack money, but sometimes *we* do. We have to make a little extra for ourselves—"

According to him, he was just working for Snowflake Harbor.

The Snowflake Harbor organization itself didn't lack money, but its members needed to earn a little extra. This reason was plausible.

"Is Chu Zikai also from Snowflake Harbor?"

An Zongding feigned surprise. "Who is Chu Zikai?"

Li Banfeng frowned. "Do you believe I can turn you into a flatbread?"

"You're talking about that Sound Cultivator from another state," An Zongding recalled. "He's also from Snowflake Harbor. We have quite a few people in other states."

An Zongding intended to use Snowflake Harbor's influence to intimidate Li Qi, but Li Qi wasn't concerned about their power; he was focused on Chu Zikai's condition.

As a member of a secret organization, he shouldn't have been such a high-profile singer.

And judging by his personal involvement in black market transactions, it wasn't as simple as needing a little extra income.

Were the working conditions at Snowflake Harbor so poor?

Li Qi looked at An Zongding. "Are you telling me the absolute truth?"

An Zongding nodded repeatedly. "Every word I've said is true; there's no deception whatsoever."

Li Banfeng took out a blank sheet of paper and a pen and handed them to An Zongding. "Write down all the Snowflake Harbor members you know.

"Write them all on this paper."

An Zongding looked at the paper and pen and nodded silently.

He picked up the pen, secretly glancing at Li Banfeng.

"Young man, you still lack foresight. Can you just hand over paper and pen to a cultivator so carelessly?"

An Zongding's pen flew across the white paper, writing rapidly. It seemed he was writing a list, but he was actually drawing a talisman.

A talisman was completed in an instant. Before Li Banfeng could examine it closely, An Zongding suddenly performed a trick, conjuring a ball of flame at his fingertips and setting the paper alight.

Flames shot up, and An Zongding blew, sending the paper ash towards Hong Ying.

From the two kicks he had just received, An Zongding clearly judged that this unnamable spectral being possessed immeasurable combat power. If he could control it, he could definitely defeat Li Qi.

Of course, controlling a spectral being of that level was extremely difficult, but given An Zongding's current situation, this was his only chance to survive.

The paper ash drifted onto Hong Ying; An Zongding's spell had hit its mark.

However, the spell failed to control Hong Ying; it merely singed a strand of her hair.

The Phonograph had been startled for nothing. "I thought something serious happened! It was just a little hair burning. Yingying, it's nothing major. Yingying, sit down first. Yingying, be good, I'll comb your hair. Yingying, don't beat him to death!"

An Zongding could never have imagined that a single strand of hair would be so important to Hong Ying.

Because he truly didn't know that, in this entire house, besides Li Qi, only Hong Ying possessed real hair.

The enraged Hong Ying stepped forward, delivering several punches and kicks. An Zongding lay on the ground, barely alive.

Li Banfeng retrieved a fresh sheet of paper and forced the pen into An Zongding's hand. "No more tricks! Write down the list!"

An Zongding dared not play any more tricks. He diligently wrote down the first name: "Feng Chongli."

After writing, An Zongding's right hand exploded into a bloody mess.

Li Banfeng was alarmed. An Zongding's reaction was identical to someone struck by the "Riding Horse Through Flowers" technique.

The explosion of his hand wasn't the end of it; his wrist, then his arm, continued to explode inch by inch upwards.

An Zongding was now speechless, his face purplish-blue, as if suffocating.

"My dear, it's time to eat."

An Zongding couldn't hold on any longer.

He had triggered some kind of spell and was about to die.

The Wife quickly devoured An Zongding's soul. The whole family waited, chopsticks in hand.

The last time Li Banfeng brought back the Centipede Workshop, he only brought back souls, not bodies, so everything ended up benefiting the Phonograph.

This time, he brought back a complete Cloud-level cultivator, but this person had been afflicted by some evil spell, and his flesh and blood were constantly exploding.

If he exploded into too many pieces, these magic treasures couldn't be eaten, and they would all end up benefiting that wretch, Red Lotus.

As soon as the Phonograph consumed An Zongding's soul, the explosions immediately ceased.

The family came forward to eat. Li Banfeng asked his Wife, "Why did the person stop exploding after his soul was eaten?"

The Wife replied, "Because this person was afflicted by a curse. Curses generally dissipate upon death, but a few can continue to be effective even after the person dies."

Li Banfeng remembered Qiu Luoye, who had been harmed by a curse after defying Inner State's will. "Which cultivation sect uses curses?" he asked.

"It's the Curse Cultivation sect. Their cultivators are among the most insidious of the hundred sects in the world. When they fight, they may seem incompetent, and some might even treat a fifth or sixth-level Curse Cultivator like a helpless lamb, beating and manipulating them at will.

"But that person doesn't realize they've been cursed. After a few hours, days, or even months, when the curse erupts, they'll no longer be able to find the caster. Unless a high-level cultivator comes to their aid, that person is doomed."

Li Banfeng considered the process and felt that Curse Cultivators seemed impossible to guard against. "My dear, does the cursed person have no sensation at all when a Curse Cultivator casts a spell?"

Hong Ying chimed in, "Our 'Seek Fortune, Avoid Misfortune' ability can sense it, but it depends on the caster's technique. Some casters don't use deadly curses, only minor ones. These minor curses seem harmless and not very malicious, so it's hard for us Journey Cultivators to detect them. But if these minor curses erupt at a critical moment, the losses can be significant."

Fearing Li Banfeng wouldn't understand, Hong Ying gave an example: "Once on the battlefield, I encountered a Curse Cultivator. As soon as we exchanged blows, I felt something was off, as if my wrist had been pricked by something.

"But the person I was fighting against had excellent martial arts, and I didn't dare to be careless or think too much about it at the time. In fact, at that moment, I had already been hit by one of his minor curses.

"This minor curse wasn't very harmful; when it erupted, my body would just shake a little, like a very strong shiver."

Li Banfeng asked, "Then what's the use of that curse?"

Hong Ying explained, "It depends on the timing. The next day during a battle, my opponent used that curse. I shivered, startling Xiaowan's warhorse, and Xiaowan charged single-handedly into the enemy formation."

Li Banfeng hugged the Phonograph. "What happened then?"

Hong Ying pouted and said, "She fought her way back from the enemy lines, and then she gave me a hundred military lashes. Thinking about it still makes me upset!"

The Phonograph was furious. "You wretch! I was almost hacked to death by the enemy, and you're still feeling upset!"

Hong Ying sobbed, "I was cursed! It wasn't intentional to harm you!"

The Phonograph retorted angrily, "If you're cursed and don't even realize it, you deserve a beating! It's not unfair!"

Li Banfeng still felt that Curse Cultivators were too difficult to deal with. "Besides the Journey Cultivator's 'Seek Fortune, Avoid Misfortune' technique, are there no other ways to counter Curse Cultivators?"

"There are, husband," the Phonograph replied, not finding Curse Cultivators particularly troublesome. "Among the hundred sects and hundred arts, each has its strengths. Home Cultivators aren't too afraid of Curse Cultivators; if cursed, they can just go home early and rely on their dwelling and house spirits to endure it.

"Virtue Cultivators also have a way to counter Curse Cultivators. During a fight, if they sense something is wrong, Virtue Cultivators can force a Curse Cultivator to tell the truth, revealing the method of casting the curse and how to break it.

"Insight Cultivators are the strongest counter to Curse Cultivators. They can see the root and origin of curses, uproot them, and even locate the caster. Curse Cultivators are not skilled in direct combat; once found, they are usually dead ends.

"Of course, this also relates to cultivation levels. A low-level Insight Cultivator certainly can't see a high-level curse. They can only restrain each other if their levels are not too far apart."

Li Banfeng stroked the Earring. "Eat more, grow stronger. You'll have to help me if we encounter any Curse Cultivators in the future."

"Don't worry, Master!" The Earring was very touched and burrowed into An Zongding's body, devouring it heartily.

Li Banfeng wanted to discuss something with his Wife. "I want to go back to Green Water Bow's residence, lure Feng Chongli and Mu Yuejuan into the house, and then let you deal with them."

The Phonograph smiled pleasantly. "Husband, how do you plan to lure them?"

Li Banfeng said, "The simplest way is door-to-door. I added a lock to Green Water Bow's door, so those two shouldn't be able to get out for now.

"Later, I'll unlock it, then open the Portable Dwelling, and wait for them to rush into it themselves."

The door-to-door tactic wasn't new; Li Banfeng had used it several times and was quite adept at it.

Hong Ying said from the side, "Good idea, Qilang! I'll guard the entrance. One comes, I'll kill one. It saves a lot of trouble."

The Phonograph pondered for a while, then disagreed. "Husband, if they were opponents on the ground, whatever you did would be fine. If they were Cloud-level opponents, this door-to-door method might barely work.

"But these two are beyond the Cloud level. Even a slight misstep, husband, and you'll fall into their trap. This method absolutely cannot be used.

"The techniques and means cultivators at that level can use are beyond your prediction, husband. We've already won a victory today; you mustn't jeopardize such a good situation by underestimating them."

Li Banfeng listened to his Wife's words and did not go looking for Feng Chongli and Mu Yuejuan.

He didn't go, but those two suffered for it.

They exhausted every method to leave the dark dimensional space. Feng Chongli couldn't open the lock, and now the only solution they could think of was Mu Yuejuan's paintings.

Mu Yuejuan could travel back and forth within her own paintings. As a renowned painter, many people collected her works. As long as there was a connection between paintings, Mu Yuejuan could intrude into another artwork.

However, Mu Yuejuan was reluctant to use this method.

It wasn't because the technique consumed a lot of energy, but because she disliked traveling through paintings with others, as it would expose many of her secrets.

But with no other options, Mu Yuejuan immediately painted an ink wash painting. In a few quick strokes, a landscape appeared before them.

Mu Yuejuan led Feng Chongli into the landscape painting. They paddled a small boat, moving downstream.

They traveled for a full hour.

Feng Chongli, having rowed for an hour, grew impatient. "Isn't this a painting? Why are you taking it so seriously? Are you really making me honestly row a boat here?"

Mu Yuejuan frowned. "What? Don't I need to find a place to land?"

The "place to land" she spoke of wasn't somewhere found within this painting, but a passage connecting to other paintings.

This passage could be in a cave ahead, or in the woods by the shore; it depended on which painting Mu Yuejuan could sense.

There was a clear barrier between the unnamable place and normal space. Usually, it took less than a minute to find a passage, but today, after an hour, they still hadn't found one.

A gentle breeze brushed their faces, and a fine drizzle fell. This meant she had a sensation.

Mu Yuejuan was delighted and urged Feng Chongli to paddle faster. They rowed into a lotus pond.

This lotus pond was part of a residence Mu Yuejuan had painted, a painting later bought by He Jiaqing, and it was the very painting they used to communicate with each other.

Just as Mu Yuejuan was about to step ashore, she saw that the scene was scorched earth.

What was the reason for this?

Because He Jiaqing had burned Mu Yuejuan's painting.

With the painting burned, the residence was naturally also burned, and this passage was effectively destroyed.

Mu Yuejuan led Feng Chongli to search for the next passage. After more than eight hours, their small boat entered a lake.

Mu Yuejuan felt another surge of joy.

But as they were about to land, Mu Yuejuan's eyes lost their sparkle again.

This painting had also been burned. It was a portrait she had painted for Ling Miaoying, an oil painting of her meditating by a lake.

He Jiaqing hadn't known this painting was by Mu Yuejuan before; otherwise, he wouldn't have kept it until today.

Feng Chongli asked, "Is there any other way?"

"If you have a way, then think of it!" Mu Yuejuan snapped impatiently. "If you can't, then just keep rowing!"

Inside the Portable Dwelling, the family finished their meal, leaving the rest for Red Lotus to clean up.

An Zongding had three magic treasures on him. Red Lotus didn't eat raw, so she handed these three treasures to the Phonograph.

The Phonograph first examined the first magic treasure, an incense burner. The Phonograph tapped the incense burner twice with its needle, and the burner immediately understood, demonstrating its technique.

It first lit the incense. Amidst the ethereal smoke, a long sword materialized, dancing in mid-air. The wind whistled with the sword's movements. Li Banfeng could sense that this sword was tangible and extremely sharp.

The long sword could be maintained for about ten seconds, capable of slashing and thrusting—a proper weapon. Once its magical energy dissipated, the sword would turn into smoke and disperse with the wind, while the incense burner would then prepare another long saber, ready to continue fighting.

This incense burner was An Zongding's long-range weapon. As long as incense continued to burn, the smoke could continuously transform into weapons, used to restrain enemies.

The second magic treasure was a small ceramic medicine bottle.

The medicine bottle contained about a dozen pills, all highly poisonous. In combat, if the enemy was close enough, the bottle could project the pills into their body, poisoning them. It was An Zongding's close-combat weapon.

The third magic treasure was a golden bead. Li Banfeng had already witnessed its power: it allowed An Zongding to run as fast as an eighth-level Journey Cultivator.

The three magic treasures were placed on the Phonograph's tray stand. The golden bead spoke first: "Master is a Journey Cultivator. I am of the same sect as you. If Master ever gets tired from walking, I can take over. If Master dislikes me, you can also give me away."

This bead was the least useful to Li Banfeng, and it seemed aware of this, being the first to request to be kept.

The medicine bottle, feeling it had a good chance of being kept, said unhurriedly, "Master, I have fought in battles for many years. I dare not claim great martial prowess, but whenever I'm deployed, I've never missed my target.

"In the future, Master won't have to worry. Just place me in your pocket or sleeve. When it's my turn to act, I can eliminate enemies on my own."

This was nothing new to Li Banfeng; all the magic treasures in his house could kill enemies on their own.

The incense burner also deemed itself useful: "Master, I dare not claim countless kills, but I am battle-hardened. As long as you allow me to prepare on the battlefield beforehand, no enemy will be able to approach you. A hundred come, a hundred die!"

All three magic treasures referred to themselves as "servants," which sounded very grating to Li Banfeng.

The Phonograph not only found it grating but also detected something else: "My precious husband, these three have echoes on them."

"Having echoes" meant these three items could record sound.

These three magic treasures were likely assigned to An Zongding by Snowflake Harbor, and they probably contained some hidden contingency from Snowflake Harbor.

Such items naturally couldn't be kept. Li Banfeng raised an eyebrow, and his Wife immediately absorbed their spiritual essence.

However, these three items still had their uses, so Li Banfeng handed them directly to the Lotus.

The Lotus looked at everyone and asked, "Who wants to come try something new?"

Trying "something new" with the Lotus was no laughing matter; one could easily end up obliterated.

Moreover, the example of the Glove was right there: its abilities had indeed greatly increased, but now it was covered in black spots, which looked unsettling.

The Pendulum was the first to speak. "Master, I'll try!"

Among the magic treasures accompanying Li Banfeng, the Pendulum was old in service but of humble origin, only slightly stronger than the Earring. Originally, blood absorption was a good technique, but now, in battles, opponents were too formidable, leaving almost no opportunity for the Pendulum to act.

Currently, the Pendulum had become Li Banfeng's painter and makeup artist. This wasn't because the Pendulum wasn't trying hard; its starting point was simply too low.

The Pendulum chose the Journey Cultivator's golden bead. "Refine me along with this one. At least I'll be faster in action."

The Bronze Lotus agreed and drew the Pendulum and the bead together into its lotus heart.

The Earring also couldn't sit still. She chose the incense burner. "Master, I've never been able to fight. Let me have this one."

Li Banfeng agreed, and the Earring and the incense burner also entered the Lotus.

The remaining medicine bottle was unchosen. The slowest, the Music Box, came next to the Lotus.

She could record sound but couldn't speak. Li Banfeng understood her meaning and placed her and the medicine bottle into the Lotus.

The Lotus closed its petals and began to refine the magic treasures.

Li Banfeng took the keys and went to a teahouse under his control, leaving the Projector to guard outside the Portable Dwelling.

Then he slept soundly.

The next morning, Li Banfeng went out, and the Projector reminded him, "Director Qi, someone is looking for you through that simple phone."

The simple phone referred to the one Luo Zhengnan had given Li Banfeng.

Li Banfeng called Luo Zhengnan back. Luo Zhengnan connected him directly to Ma Wu.

"Old Seven, Luo Lijun is back. She's brought the conditions and says she wants you to discuss them in person."

Li Banfeng headed to the New Land, went to the Soda Kiln, and arrived at the factory, where he met Luo Lijun.

Compared to their first meeting, Luo Lijun's attitude had softened considerably. "My clan and I have discussed it. This time, war isn't strictly necessary. As long as Prozhou can provide a guarantee that Outer State will not offend Inner State in the future, this matter can be dropped."

Li Banfeng stroked his chin. "What do you mean by 'Prozhou provides a guarantee'? Prozhou has no leader, so how can it guarantee anything for you?"

Luo Lijun was prepared. "I've had people investigate, and you're considered the foremost strongman in Prozhou. As long as you sign a deed guaranteeing that Outer State will no longer offend Inner State, this matter will be concluded. If there's any reoffense, we will strike Prozhou first."

Li Banfeng chuckled. "What are you and your clan thinking? Are you looking for an excuse to go to war with Prozhou? Your conflict with Outer State has nothing to do with Prozhou. Why should Prozhou provide you with this guarantee?"

"Because Prozhou is situated between Inner State and Outer State. Only by ensuring harmony between Inner State and Outer State can the people of Prozhou guarantee their survival on this land. That is the benefit Prozhou gains from this guarantee!"

Li Banfeng shook his head. "I don't see it that way. The people of Prozhou already have the right to survive on this land; it wasn't granted by Outer State or Inner State. This isn't a 'benefit'."

Luo Lijun said, "Then state your proposal."

Li Banfeng stated, "My proposal is to address the matter at hand. I can guarantee the safety of this entrance. Within the Soda Kiln's territory, I can ensure that Outer State people will not invade Inner State through this entrance. However, this guarantee is not without cost.

"Inner State must pay a price for this."

The Snail Maiden's tentacles twitched continuously. "You're only guaranteeing one entrance, and you still want us to pay a price?"

Li Banfeng nodded. "Yes, I'm only guaranteeing this one entrance. You can choose not to accept my guarantee.

"However, if Outer State invades Inner State through this entrance, Prozhou might stand by idly, or it might even join Outer State in invading Inner State. In that case, what you lose will be far more than just a gatekeeper."

The Snail Maiden was silent for a long time, then asked, "What price do you require us to pay?"

Li Banfeng said, "I want a piece of New Land."

The Snail Maiden thought for a moment. "That's easy. Tell me the territory you've chosen, and I'll inform the local Earth God to follow your arrangements."

Li Banfeng shook his head. "You don't understand my meaning. I don't want a piece of New Land with an Earth God. I want a piece of ownerless New Land."

The Snail Maiden didn't quite understand. "What's the significance of that? Even if we give you the New Land, the Earth God will ultimately still be dispatched by us."

Li Banfeng's expression turned serious. "That's the crux of the matter. The Earth God of this territory will not be dispatched by you. You must hand over two complete deeds to me, together."

"That's impossible!" the Snail Maiden roared. "We will not accept such terms, nor will we tolerate such provocation."

"See? You're getting impatient again," Li Banfeng chuckled. "Go discuss it thoroughly with your clan members. Find some less impulsive ones and take your time discussing. I believe there will always be reasonable clan members among you who will agree to my terms."