Chapter 585: Universal Celebration

Li Banfeng waited for most of the day at the gates of Fool’s City, but neither Mr. Kong Fang nor Du Wenming, nor even Sun Tiecheng, appeared.

The city’s inhabitants were still fully preparing for battle, showing no slackness. Although their usual actions might seem absurd, when it came to survival, no Foolish Cultivator hesitated.

Li Banfeng checked his pocket watch; it was already late into the night.

He was considering whether to return to his Portable Abode.

Staying home for a while would allow him to accumulate some luck using his 'Living in Peace and Working with Joy' skill.

Moreover, his wife had been in the laboratory for a long time, and Li Banfeng was feeling a bit uneasy about it.

He wondered if there was a way to bring her back.

However, no one knew when Mr. Kong Fang would arrive, and Li Banfeng had to remain in Fool’s City until Sun Tiecheng returned. To pick up his wife, the old man would have to figure out a solution. Would he be accommodating?

"Toot, toot!" Li Banfeng suddenly heard two horn blasts.

At this hour, the Portable Abode should have been asleep; just moments ago, Li Banfeng had heard its deep snores.

Why did it suddenly sound an alarm? What had it seen?

Had someone arrived?

Li Banfeng looked towards the thick fog in the distance. The mist was hazy, and no one was visible.

Out of the corner of his eye, he caught a glimpse of a figure passing by. When Li Banfeng turned to look again, a man had already entered the city gate.

The man simply walked in, right under Li Banfeng's nose, without Li Banfeng even noticing.

"Stop!" Li Banfeng called out.

The man paused, surprised that the gatekeeper had noticed him. People near the city gate also heard Li Banfeng's shout. In any other place, they would have been startled, wondering how an enemy had suddenly appeared at the gate.

But the old Foolish Cultivators of Fool’s City remained calm. Old men continued buying vegetables, children continued buying sweets, and a few idle people leaning against the wall continued their casual chatter.

The man turned back, smiling at Li Banfeng, "Are you calling me?"

Li Banfeng scrutinized the man's appearance. He seemed to be over seventy years old, definitely weighed less than seventy pounds, and appeared to be under 1.3 meters tall. He had thin eyebrows, small eyes, high cheekbones, thin lips, pointed teeth, and a goatee.

"What are you doing here?" Li Banfeng replied casually, his tone making it sound as if he had known the old man for a long time.

In reality, Li Banfeng was very tense. His Whispering Silk Earring was constantly monitoring the surroundings, the Tang Saber and Scythe stood guard on either side, and the Projector was on watch from the battlements. Although Li Banfeng occasionally zoned out, he never let his guard down.

Yet, this old man had passed right before his eyes, and Li Banfeng hadn't noticed him.

What kind of skill was this? Was this old man a master of House Cultivation?

Even the 'Seeking Good Fortune and Avoiding Calamity' skill taught by the coachman hadn't worked. To what level had this old man's cultivation reached?

Seeing Li Banfeng so calm, the old man also heightened his vigilance. He chuckled, "I've come to see an old friend."

"Who is your friend?" Li Banfeng asked this question with genuine sincerity, without any technique or ulterior motive.

But the old man didn't see it that way. This was Fool’s City, where every action had to be taken with extreme caution. He looked at Li Banfeng and said, word by word, "City Lord Sun is my old friend."

Li Banfeng continued along the same line, "Have you met City Lord Sun?"

What did that mean?

The old man scrutinized Li Banfeng from head to toe. "I haven't seen him in many years, so I don't know what City Lord Sun looks like now. Could the City Lord really be guarding the gate himself?"

This was also the truth; the old man hadn't seen Sun Tiecheng in many years and had mistaken the person in front of him for Sun Tiecheng. It was quite logical that Sun Tiecheng would have noticed him entering the city gate. Li Banfeng continued, "How can this be called guarding the gate? This is hearing an old friend has arrived and personally coming out to welcome the guest."

The old man looked at Li Banfeng and asked, "You knew an old friend was coming?"

Li Banfeng nodded. "Not only do I know, the whole city knows."

The old man glanced into Fool’s City. The residents were still strolling around as if nothing was amiss, but he could tell they had all prepared weapons.

Li Banfeng called out again, "Qing'er, the guest has arrived! Serve them well with good food and drink!"

Yan Qing'er was already waiting near the gate. Hearing her master's call, she quickly stepped forward, extended a hand, and said, "Honored guest, please come in."

A restaurant owner from the city came out and said, "Honored guest, have you eaten? Our small dishes here are cheap and affordable."

The innkeeper next door shouted, "Honored guest, do you need a place to stay? We just happened to have a superior room open up today."

Yan Qing'er added, "Honored guest, why don't you first come to our courtesan house to listen to some music? I'll have the restaurant send over food and drinks, and you can stay the night here at our courtesan house."

All the shops in the city came out to solicit business:

"Honored guest, please come see our small shop. We have famous calligraphy and paintings, all genuine."

"Honored guest, we have everything—oil, salt, sauce, vinegar, pots, pans—all good quality and inexpensive."

"Honored guest, try our pickles. If they're not good, you don't pay."

"Honored guest, look at this pill of mine; it cures all diseases."

"Honored guest, I can teach you a trick! If you want to learn, give a reward. If not, just enjoy the show."

The old man felt a dizzy spell, forgetting why he had come to Fool's City.

Oh, right, he was here to visit an old friend.

He was here as a guest.

Didn't they all call him "honored guest"? It wasn't wrong.

Coming into the city as a guest, there was nothing truly amiss.

"Honored guest, I can pop a wart!"

"Honored guest, I can dig out corns!"

Amidst the rising and falling calls, the old man stumbled groggily into the city.

He truly hadn't expected that Fool's City was in full battle preparation today. Despite his high cultivation, if he truly entered the city, it would be difficult to get out again.

In a daze, the old man suddenly stopped in the city gate's archway.

After all, he was a sect patriarch. His mind was no longer obeying him, but a sliver of consciousness remained, stubbornly resisting.

He couldn't enter the city. If he heard a few more shouts after entering, his life would be over.

But what could he use to resist now?

Li Banfeng had already come up behind him, ready to strike. In a one-on-one fight, Li Banfeng would definitely not be his opponent, but given the old man's current state, any move Li Banfeng made might be enough to overwhelm him.

Near the city gate, more and more people gathered, and the shouts grew denser.

The old man took a deep breath and suddenly burst out laughing.

"Hahahaha—"

The laughter was shrill, drilling straight into the brain through the eardrums.

Yan Qing'er's cheeks twitched. She tried to endure for a moment, but ultimately couldn't hold back and began to laugh wildly with the old man.

The few people gathered under the city gate, chatting idly, who had been the first to prepare for battle, also couldn't help themselves. They held various weapons in their hands but were breathless with laughter.

Shopkeepers, assistants, and customers in every shop were clutching their stomachs, laughing.

Li Banfeng wanted to use 'Trampling Ten Thousand Rivers' to ambush the old man. His right foot was halfway out, its tip trembling uncontrollably, and his chest and abdomen convulsed. Li Banfeng, too, was about to burst out laughing.

He couldn't laugh. He absolutely couldn't laugh. Once he started, he wouldn't be able to stop.

He pinched his cheeks, forcing himself not to laugh, and tried to make the Tang Saber and Scythe ambush the old man.

The Scythe and Tang Saber were shaking; they too were laughing, their blades losing control from the mirth.

Li Banfeng took off his Whispering Silk Earring. Not only was it amplifying the old man's laughter, but it was also constantly laughing at Li Banfeng's ear.

The old man turned back, laughing, and said to Li Banfeng, "City Lord Sun, you go for a killing blow the moment we meet! I didn't expect you to still be so malicious after all these years. Today, I'll stake my old life here. Even if I laugh myself to death, I'll drag you along!"

The old man's laughter grew louder. Li Banfeng saw blood at the corners of his mouth.

It was clear that the technique the old man was using had a significant destructive effect on himself.

Li Banfeng thought, "I'll stall him for a while, wait until he can't take it anymore, then strike to end his life."

The idea was good, but it wasn't easy to execute. The old man's laughter repeatedly tugged at Li Banfeng's nerves, forcing him to laugh.

The moment Li Banfeng showed a hint of a smile, the old man's laughter abruptly ceased. Changing his stance, he suddenly appeared close to Li Banfeng.

He wore a strange ring on his right hand, with a sharp spike on top.

As the spike was about to stab Li Banfeng's neck, Li Banfeng, affected by the urge to laugh, was unable to dodge.

A sharp pain shot through Li Banfeng's chest, and the urge to laugh vanished instantly.

The glove twisted at Li Banfeng's chest, saving his life.

Li Banfeng quickly dodged, evading the old man's ring, and vanished in an instant. Using 'Riding a Horse to View Flowers,' he struck the old man, causing him to spit out a mouthful of blood.

"You're not Sun Tiecheng?" The old man wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth. He knew Sun Tiecheng was not a Journey Cultivator.

"You have my disciple on you?" The old man sensed the glove and was about to pursue Li Banfeng.

Because the laughter stopped, the people in Fool's City also stopped laughing. Yan Qing'er quickly tried to smooth things over, "Honored guest, our City Lord is waiting for you inside the city."

Others chimed in, "Honored guest, please come in. Come check us out first."

The rising and falling shouts once again poured into the old man's ears. The old man gritted his teeth, endured the pain, and continued to laugh loudly.

His technique was truly formidable. The shrill laughter not only interrupted the Foolish Cultivators' techniques around the city gate but also revealed Li Banfeng, who was waiting for an opportune moment to ambush.

This time, the old man was truly fighting for his life. Even if he couldn't defeat the Foolish Cultivators of the city, he had to kill this gatekeeper. This gatekeeper was truly hateful. If it weren't for him, the old man would surely have snuck into the city, and perhaps even gotten what he came for.

As the old man exerted more force, the volume of his laughter increased. Li Banfeng could no longer hold back and joined everyone else in laughter.

The old man laughed as he raised his right hand, his ring repeatedly grazing Li Banfeng's throat.

Li Banfeng laughed as he dodged, each evasion proving extremely difficult.

"Heheheh—" A low chuckle echoed, disrupting the old man's shrill laughter.

The old man was startled. He looked into the distance and saw a man with a pale, smiling face emerging from the thick fog.

The Smiling Ghost King, Gui Jianchou?

The old man was shocked, stopped his laughter, and fled.

Li Banfeng's laughter faded, and he gave chase right behind him.

Gui Jianchou also chased after him, shouting to the old man, "Smiling Thousand Hands, I knew you weren't dead! What are you doing in Fool's City? Did you find something good?"

Smiling Thousand Hands turned back and said, "Old ghost, I heard you became Sun Tiecheng's lackey. I didn't believe it at first, but seeing it with my own eyes today, I know it's true."

Gui Jianchou said, "It's a long story. Don't be in such a hurry to leave; I'll tell you slowly."

"What is there to talk about with you? Whether you're a poodle or a lapdog, what does that have to do with me?" Smiling Thousand Hands indeed didn't dare to waste time with Gui Jianchou. Gui Jianchou's presence proved that Sun Tiecheng was nearby.

After running for a moment, Smiling Thousand Hands suddenly quickened his pace, his figure growing more distant.

Gui Jianchou let out a few "heheheh" chuckles behind the old man.

Smiling Thousand Hands clutched his chest, vomiting blood repeatedly.

Although severely injured, Smiling Thousand Hands didn't stop, continuing to run wildly. Li Banfeng could barely keep up with the old man, but Gui Jianchou couldn't.

He motioned for Li Banfeng not to chase anymore and to return to the city quickly.

Li Banfeng truly didn't want to go back, but on his own, he couldn't defeat the old man either.

Back at the city gate, Li Banfeng asked Gui Jianchou, "Where's Senior Brother Sun?"

"He went to change the city gate entrance. Let's go to the mansion and wait for him first."

"Who was that man just now?"

Gui Jianchou said, "The Patriarch of Thief Cultivation, Smiling Thousand Hands."

Patriarch of Thief Cultivation? So this person came to steal something.

"When he entered the city gate, I didn't even notice him. I thought he was a House Cultivator."

Gui Jianchou shook his head. "That's a Thief Cultivation technique, 'Hiding Shadows and Concealing Form,' which is different from House Cultivation methods."

"When he laughs, others have to laugh with him. Is that also a Thief Cultivation technique?"

Gui Jianchou still shook his head. "That's not a Thief Cultivation technique; that's a Laughter Cultivation technique. Smiling Thousand Hands is a master of Laughter Cultivation, but when it comes to Laughter Cultivation alone, I'm not much worse than him."

"There's a Daoist sect called Laughter Cultivation?"

"Yes, there is. That sect used to be quite large. Many people who loved to laugh studied it, and there was even a Laughter Cultivation Gang back then. It's just that this sect was difficult to cultivate. The Laughter Cultivation Gang had too few high-level cultivators, so the gang gradually couldn't sustain itself and eventually dispersed. Once the gang disbanded, Laughter Cultivators became fewer, but the sect has always existed. The Laughter Cultivation technique Smiling Thousand Hands used just now is called 'Universal Rejoicing.' This technique is formidable. Even if an enemy has an army of thousands, they'll have to laugh along when they hear his laughter. However, this technique causes severe self-harm. When performing it, the internal organs are damaged, and the body becomes extremely clumsy. Therefore, Laughter Cultivators only use this method as a last resort."

Talking as they walked, they reached the mansion. After a short wait, Sun Tiecheng returned.

"Seventh Brother, what happened? Everyone in the city is carrying weapons, as if they're about to go to war."

"It's precisely because we're about to go to war!" Li Banfeng recounted what had happened.

Gui Jianchou let out a long breath. "Thankfully, Seventh Brother came, or Fool's City would have suffered a disaster."

Sun Tiecheng sneered, "Don't you want Fool's City to suffer?"

Gui Jianchou chuckled, "There's a time and place for everything. We're on the same side now."

Sun Tiecheng looked at Li Banfeng. "Seventh Brother, was the 'Three Gates, Three Openings Array' at the entrance set up by you?"

Since Senior Brother Sun had mentioned the array's name, Li Banfeng saw no need to conceal it. "Yes, I set it up. I learned this array from an expert who didn't reveal their name."

Gui Jianchou blinked. "Was that expert a man or a woman?"

Li Banfeng answered truthfully, "A woman."

Gui Jianchou stopped smiling. "Old Sun, if she comes, you must make it clear to her that I'm truly on our side now."

Sun Tiecheng ignored Gui Jianchou. Li Banfeng asked, "Senior Brother Sun, do you know that senior?"

After a long silence, Sun Tiecheng replied, "'Three Gates, Three Openings Array' was created by my daughter."

Daughter?

The Ninth Chamber Young Lady was Sun Tiecheng's daughter?

Sun Tiecheng's expression was somewhat complex. He quietly asked, "Is she... still alive?"

Li Banfeng didn't know how to describe it. "It's not exactly living, nor exactly dead."

"Then she's like me," Sun Tiecheng sighed. "Seventh Brother, when you meet her again, please convey a message for me: if she no longer hates me so much, ask her to come back and visit."

Gui Jianchou chimed in, "Seventh Brother, you help me convey a message too: I'm really on our side now."

Li Banfeng asked Sun Tiecheng, "Senior Brother, why does she hate you?"

"Because..." Sun Tiecheng gave a bitter smile. "Why talk about that? It'll just make you laugh at me anyway. Just pass on the message. If she doesn't want to come back, don't force her. She has a bad temper, and if you anger her, you'll be in danger too."

Gui Jianchou nodded repeatedly. "Indeed, a bad temper, but we're all on the same side, so things can be discussed."

Sun Tiecheng asked Gui Jianchou, "What kind of person is this Mr. Kong Fang exactly? I only know he's the second boss of Snowflake Port, but I've never met him."

Gui Jianchou said, "It's a good thing you haven't met him. More than half the people who have met him are dead. Many old acquaintances of ours have died by his hand. Today, we didn't let Kong Fang into the city, and we even stopped Smiling Thousand Hands. Seventh Brother has done a great deed today; you must reward him!"

"Reward? Of course, I'll reward him. A'Gui, go tell everyone in the city that they don't need to fight for now. Tell them to go home and get some sleep. Give them double their usual allowance this month."

Gui Jianchou quickly left with his ghost servant to carry out the task, leaving only Sun Tiecheng and Li Banfeng in the mansion.

Sun Tiecheng unbuttoned his top, revealing wounds all over his chest and back.

Li Banfeng was appalled. "Senior Brother, who did this?"

Sun Tiecheng chuckled, "One person certainly couldn't have done it, could they? Is there anyone your Senior Brother fears? But with too many people, it gets a bit overwhelming. Those bastards heard Red Lotus was in my hands and all came after me."

Li Banfeng looked at Sun Tiecheng's numerous wounds and remained silent for a long time.

He had long understood some things, which shouldn't have been said directly, but this time Li Banfeng couldn't help himself. "Senior Brother, are you taking the blow for me?"

He had taken Red Lotus into his hands, but then spread the news that it was with Sun Tiecheng. Now, both Prolific Province and the outer provinces believed Red Lotus was with Sun Tiecheng. No one suspected Li Qi, nor Li Banfeng.

Sun Tiecheng laughed, "What nonsense are you spouting? You don't have Red Lotus, so why would I take a blow for you? Your helping me guard the city today shows that Fool’s City is in your heart, and I'm very pleased. But don't do this again next time. I don't know what kind of character Mr. Kong Fang is, but I'm familiar with Smiling Thousand Hands. That old dog is tough to deal with. You're lucky to have kept your life. You're the sole heir of our Daoist sect. Even if Fool’s City perishes, you cannot suffer any mishaps. Do you understand?"

Li Banfeng remained silent. Sun Tiecheng frowned. "Stubborn brat, you don't listen to anything I say. And about my daughter, you must remember that too."

"Don't worry, I'll deliver your message."

"Delivering the message isn't the important part. What's important is that her temper is really bad. If you see her about to get angry, run quickly! She's also a Journey Cultivator; you might not even be able to outrun her!"

The two chatted for a while, then Sun Tiecheng said, "Stay in the city tonight. It might not be safe outside."

Li Banfeng really wanted to stay in the city for a night, but his wife was still in the laboratory.

"Senior Brother, I have urgent business outside. If you hadn't returned tonight, I would definitely have stayed guard at the city gate. Since you're back, I should go."

"Alright then, go handle your business. When my injuries heal, I'll teach you some techniques." Sun Tiecheng escorted Li Banfeng outside the city. As they passed the city gate, the original gatekeeper came up to complain to Sun Tiecheng.

"City Lord, this man said he wouldn't let me guard the city gate; he stole my job!"

Sun Tiecheng frowned. "Can you blame anyone else? You lost money just guarding a gate; what else can you do? Every time I think about this, it makes me feel terrible!"

The gatekeeper bowed his head and said, "I've been doing this for so many years, even if there's no merit, there's hard work, right?"

Sun Tiecheng waved his hand. "Fine, go squat there!"

The man smiled and happily squatted by the gate.

Sun Tiecheng said to Li Banfeng, "This person has no cunning. He can't succeed at any business. He's just an honest man, quite like I was in my younger days. Giving him this job at least ensures he has food to eat."

When A'Chun and A'Se conveyed the message to Li Banfeng, through the false Zhang Gunli, Li Banfeng also learned some of Sun Tiecheng's past.

The two chatted all the way to outside the city. Sun Tiecheng told Li Banfeng the new entrance. Before leaving, Li Banfeng repeatedly urged, "Mr. Kong Fang will definitely return. He has Du Wenming with him, a Cloud-Dancing Cultivator who is also difficult to deal with. Other people from Snowflake Port might also rush over. You must be extremely careful and prepared."

Sun Tiecheng nodded. After Li Qi left, he thoroughly checked the area near the entrance.

He saw no sign of Mr. Kong Fang or Du Wenming, not even a trace.

Where had the array sent those two?

Greenwater City, Hundred Joys Club.

Mr. Kong Fang was drinking in a private room.

He wasn't wearing a bamboo hat or a money-patterned robe. His hair was slicked back, he wore glasses, and he looked like a disillusioned scholar, holding a wine cup, listening to music, and pouring himself drinks.

He had been sent to Greenwater City by the 'Three Gates, Three Openings Array.' To be honest, this place wasn't far; one could walk directly from Lanyang Village New Land to the Wild Grass Marsh.

But he wasn't in a hurry to return.

Ever since he discovered the 'Three Gates, Three Openings Array,' he hadn't really wanted to go to Fool’s City. He had reconsidered repeatedly: he couldn't defeat the father and daughter duo on his own.

As for Du Wenming's whereabouts, he currently had no plans to search for him, nor would he necessarily care in the future.

He had saved Du Wenming several times and didn't want to be burdened by him.

After drinking two cups in the private room, Mr. Kong Fang believed no one would recognize him because his face was covered with layers of disguise.

But then he noticed some changes in the oil painting in the private room. It seemed an acquaintance had come looking for him.

"Come out," Mr. Kong Fang picked up another wine cup from the table and poured some wine.

The oil painting depicted a woman picking flowers. The woman picked a chrysanthemum into her flower basket, then stepped out of the frame and sat opposite Mr. Kong Fang.

This woman was Mu Yuejuan, the Hundred Flowers Painter. Although she held a high position in Prolific Province, she still respectfully bowed to Mr. Kong Fang.

Mr. Kong Fang stared at the oil painting for a moment longer, then picked up another wine cup from the table.

He poured another cup of wine. "You come out too."

He Jiaqing stood up from among the flowers, first bowed to Mr. Kong Fang, then stepped out of the frame and sat next to Mu Yuejuan.

Mr. Kong Fang raised his wine cup and said, "Are you looking for me?"

Mu Yuejuan remained silent, but He Jiaqing spoke first, "We have an important matter we wish to discuss with you, Senior."

Mr. Kong Fang chuckled, "It had better be truly important. I'm not in a very good mood today."

Before leaving, Mu Yuejuan had also warned He Jiaqing that meeting Mr. Kong Fang required extreme caution.

He Jiaqing, however, was fully confident. "Senior, we've come to you to discuss a business deal—the business of the introductory medicinal powder."

Mr. Kong Fang smiled. "You must have a death wish. Do you know who I am?"

He Jiaqing said, "You are the head of Snowflake Port."

"Nonsense," Mr. Kong Fang's smile vanished. "The head of Snowflake Port is the Peddler. I am the Peddler's subordinate. The introductory medicinal powder is our head's livelihood. You dare to discuss the introductory medicinal powder business with me? Are you saying you have a death wish?"

As he spoke, the wine cup in Mr. Kong Fang's hand gently swayed.

Mu Yuejuan was terrified, but He Jiaqing remained completely calm. "Senior, your gambling agreement with the Peddler expires this year. But Snowflake Port's reputation is almost shattered. When the day comes, even if the Peddler says he won the bet, you'll have no temper left."

Mr. Kong Fang tapped the wine cup with his fingertip and asked, "How do you know about this?"

He Jiaqing smiled, not directly answering Kong Fang's question. Instead, he asked, "What you truly want is the Daoist sect. Is the outcome of a bet really that important? Rather than being controlled by others, why don't we get the medicinal powder ourselves? Aren't you searching for Fool's City precisely to find the method for refining the powder?"

The wine cup spun in Mr. Kong Fang's hand. Mu Yuejuan was truly afraid that a copper coin or something similar might suddenly fly out of it.

But Mr. Kong Fang didn't seem to harbor any murderous intent. He took a sip of wine and showed a hint of a smile. "Continue."

He Jiaqing took out a jade bracelet from his sleeve and hung it on the private room's doorknob, effectively creating a magical array on the door.

"Senior, I've been researching the medicinal powder for some time. Red Lotus can only complete the first process, which is extracting the iron tendons from the bamboo. And I can even do this process without Red Lotus. The true key to making the medicinal powder lies in the second process. This second process determines the powder's properties and changes. To understand the second process, we need to find someone."

As he spoke, He Jiaqing handed Mr. Kong Fang a photograph.

Mr. Kong Fang looked at the photo and said, "Is this person from an outer province?"

He Jiaqing nodded. "A university professor from an outer province."

Mr. Kong Fang looked more closely. "I've seen this person. He has dealings with one of my subordinates."

He Jiaqing said, "If we can find this person, we can find the key steps of the second process."

Mr. Kong Fang smiled again. "We'll talk after I find that subordinate of mine."

Rain poured down. Du Wenming had walked for an entire day in the wilderness. He was from an outer province and hadn't been in Prolific Province for very long, so there were many places he wasn't familiar with. The place before him felt utterly alien.

Ahead, he vaguely saw some buildings. The exhausted Du Wenming quickened his pace.

When he reached the buildings, he found it was an ancient manor.

Judging by the extent of its damage, the manor had been abandoned for many years. However, both the stone steps at the entrance and the pathways inside the gate were impeccably clean.

Was someone still living here?

Du Wenming entered the manor. He knew it was risky, but he needed help. He at least needed to know where he was; he didn't want to be trapped in this wasteland indefinitely.

Upon entering the front courtyard, Du Wenming felt that many of the buildings seemed familiar.

Had he been here before?

When he reached the first garden, Du Wenming recalled some special information.

Entering the main courtyard, Du Wenming finally remembered where he was.

Prince Chun's Manor, Prince Chun's Manor on Carefree Plateau.

He had seen photos of Prince Chun's Manor in some confidential Prolific Province archives. Du Wenming found many of the iconic furnishings from those photos here in reality.

He had actually been sent to Carefree Plateau. This place was very close to Cheapskate Ridge, and the Blade Ghost Ridge was right there.

Fortunately, the Blade Labor Ghosts couldn't leave Cheapskate Ridge for now, so Carefree Plateau was relatively safe.

According to the information, Prince Chun's spirit had remained in the manor. If he could get his help, he should be able to find a way out of Carefree Plateau.

Du Wenming searched for Prince Chun's traces in various rooms. When he reached the East wing of the main courtyard, Du Wenming heard a slight scratching sound.

Upon entering the room, he saw a wind-up phonograph. The needle had already reached the end of the record, and the record on the platter was spinning idly. The scratching sound came from the platter's bearings.

Someone had wound the phonograph. Since the winding hadn't run out, it meant that person hadn't gone far.

Du Wenming felt a surge of secret delight. Where could that person be?

Hoo! Hoo!

Du Wenming heard a panting sound. He turned around and saw a human-like creature at the entrance of the East wing, sprawled on the ground, head raised, seemingly watching him.

This creature had no eyebrows or eyes, but a terrifyingly huge mouth on its face. Its limbs were short, thick, and swollen, and it was covered in sticky pus.

Blade Labor Ghost?

Had a Blade Labor Ghost left Cheapskate Ridge?

Hoo, hiss hiss.

Calls rose and fell. Du Wenming quickly slid into the courtyard, preparing to escape, but found hundreds of Blade Labor Ghosts densely packed throughout the entire main courtyard, blocking his path.

He was a Cloud-Dancing Cultivator; he firmly believed he had the ability to break out of the manor.

But he didn't know how many more Blade Labor Ghosts were outside the courtyard.

"Friend, don't do anything foolish." Cui Tik, with golden hair and blue eyes, walked over from the back garden. "First, introduce yourself, then tell me your purpose for being here. If you don't deceive me, I might consider giving you a way out."