Chapter 586: Cloud Summit

Li Banfeng went to the laboratory, expecting his wife to be furious because he was late. To his surprise, she was so engrossed in her experiment that she had completely forgotten the time.

"My dear husband, please wait a little longer; I'll be done soon." His wife was unwilling to leave. Li Banfeng wanted to help, but the experiment was very complex. Since he had arrived halfway through, he couldn't jump in, and he wasn't as useful as a pendulum or a Mendeleev tube.

Since he was waiting anyway, Li Banfeng returned to his portable residence to distribute rewards for the recent battle.

The greatest credit had to go to Miss Ninth Chamber.

Although there was still a lingering animosity between Li Banfeng and Ninth Chamber, merits and demerits had to be clearly distinguished.

Without the Three Gates, Three Open Formations, Fool's City definitely couldn't have been defended this time. A reward was certainly due.

Furthermore, Sun Tiecheng had a message for Ninth Chamber. Li Banfeng entered Ninth Chamber, moved Honglian aside, and first expressed his gratitude to Ninth Chamber.

Ninth Chamber replied, "You shouldn't thank me; I should be thanking you. You were the one fighting for your life out there. Without you, Fool's City would have suffered greatly."

Li Banfeng asked, "Do you miss Fool's City that much?"

"Yes, I really do," Miss Ninth Chamber said, her tone calm but her words clearly from the heart.

Li Banfeng pondered for a moment. "I'll go talk to the Old Master," he said. "If he agrees, I can take you to see Fool's City."

"Really?" Miss Ninth Chamber was visibly excited.

Li Banfeng continued, "But if the Old Master doesn't agree, you can't blame me. Also, taking you out is just for a look. You'll have to come back afterward, and you can't reveal anything about our home."

"I'll sign a contract! If I don't return on time, or if I reveal anything about our home, whether intentionally or unintentionally, I'll willingly accept severe punishment from you!" Ninth Chamber's voice was no longer calm; it trembled slightly at the moment she saw hope.

"Senior Brother Sun also really hopes you'll go back," Li Banfeng conveyed Sun Tiecheng's message. "He said if you don't hate him as much, you should go back and see." Li Banfeng turned to leave, but Miss Ninth Chamber called out to him.

"Wait a moment," she said. "I don't want to go to Fool's City anymore."

Li Banfeng was taken aback. "Why don't you want to go anymore?"

"If I don't hate him, I should go back and see him. But if I actually go, wouldn't that mean I don't hate him?"

What kind of logic was that? Was she reversing cause and effect?

Miss Ninth Chamber's voice suddenly turned low and husky:

"Why shouldn't I hate him? How can it be that easy? I've resigned myself to never going back in this life, and I'll hate him for eternity!"

Li Banfeng asked, "How deep is your animosity?"

"Hmph," Ninth Chamber sneered. "Junior Brother, please bring Honglian back. Life isn't bad with this sister by my side."

Li Banfeng carried Honglian back to Ninth Chamber. Miss Ninth Chamber's mood softened slightly.

Then Honglian teased, "Sister, tell me, what kind of disposition do the people in heaven have?"

Honglian replied, "How many times have I told you? I really don't remember."

"But there are some things you must remember. Was the heavenly light that fell to the ground truly released by someone from heaven?"

"What benefit did that madman give you for you to keep prying me for information every day?"

"Sister, I'm not trying to trick you; I'm genuinely curious."

Since Miss Ninth Chamber refused the reward, it was time to honor the second most meritorious contributor.

Today's second most meritorious contributor was the Glove. At a critical moment, if it hadn't helped Li Banfeng, he likely would have fallen into the hands of the Grandmaster of Thieving Cultivators.

Li Banfeng took the Glove from his embrace. "Brother, you did a great service today..."

"...Brother, what's wrong?"

Li Banfeng called out for a long time. The Glove managed to move a finger with difficulty, then stopped responding. This terrified Li Banfeng. The Portable Residence sighed and said, "A'Tao was injured by that old dog, Thousand-Handed Smile. He must be that old dog's disciple."

"How could Thousand-Handed Smile hurt him? He didn't even touch the Glove."

"He placed curses on his disciples. I'm not sure of the exact method."

Indeed, during his fight with Thousand-Handed Smile, the latter had mentioned sensing a Daoist disciple.

"The Glove has become a magic artifact. Can curses still affect it? Is Thousand-Handed Smile's cursing art that advanced?"

The Portable Residence said, "Thousand-Handed Smile himself doesn't know cursing arts, but he has an expert beside him who does. His curses are difficult to break."

Li Banfeng put the Glove back into his embrace. "I'll go find Song Qianhun. He has a renowned doctor named Kang Zhenchang under him. He should be able to cure the Glove."

The Portable Residence said, "A'Qi, you don't seek a doctor for curses. A wrong move can cost a life. Knowing A'Tao is cursed, it's best not to consult a medical cultivator. If a medical cultivator misunderstands the curse's mechanism, it will only make things worse and cost A'Tao his life."

"Then what method should I use to break the curse?"

"The best way to break a curse is to find the one who cast it, but you definitely can't approach that old dog, Thousand-Handed Smile. There's another good method, a Cloud Cultivation skill called 'Peace of Mind,' but unfortunately, you haven't learned it yet."

Li Banfeng said, "I'll go learn it from my wife right now."

The Portable Residence cautioned, "A'Qi, don't rush this. To learn a technique, you must first advance, but you're advancing too quickly; your body simply can't handle it. Listen to what your wife has to say first."

His wife was still busy in the laboratory. Li Banfeng said, "Wife, I want to learn a technique."

"My dear husband, it's only been a few days, and you're already thinking about advancing again."

"This is for our Glove." Li Banfeng handed the Glove to his wife.

His wife was surprised. After inquiring about the cause of the Glove's injury, she understood the purpose of Li Banfeng's visit.

"My dear husband, you want to learn the 'Peace of Mind' technique?"

Li Banfeng nodded. "The Old Master said this technique can break curses." His wife, the Phonograph, said, "The 'Peace of Mind' technique can indeed not only break curses but also heal injuries and cure illnesses. It's truly a great technique for Cloud Cultivators. But there are many other excellent techniques in Cloud Cultivation. Wouldn't you like to see more, my husband?"

Li Banfeng replied, "Let's learn 'Peace of Mind' first. We can learn other techniques later."

"My husband, you can't learn any other techniques after this. Cloud Cultivation's third layer is already the peak. Beyond that, it's 'Beyond Cloud Cultivation'."

"'Beyond Cloud Cultivation'?" Li Banfeng was dumbfounded. "Wife, the ground cultivation has ten layers. How can Cloud Cultivation only have three?"

"My husband, that's just how the cultivation path works, which is why I advise you to be extremely cautious."

The brevity of Cloud Cultivation was hard for Li Banfeng to accept.

"Then, what... if I reach 'Beyond Cloud Cultivation,' can I no longer learn Cloud Cultivation techniques?"

His wife shook her horn. "Once you reach 'Beyond Cloud Cultivation,' you can no longer learn techniques from the Daoist school. The techniques of 'Beyond Cloud Cultivation' are all original creations by the cultivators themselves. For cultivators 'Beyond Cloud Cultivation,' the concepts of levels and techniques no longer exist, and popularity is also useless. My husband, you'll no longer find a clear path for cultivation; you'll have to rely on fate and experience to explore your way. My husband, listen to my advice: don't easily step 'Beyond Cloud Cultivation' before fully understanding the mechanisms of the Daoist school, otherwise, your future cultivation will be difficult to advance."

Li Banfeng looked at the dying Glove and pondered for a moment. "I want to advance to Cloud Cultivation's third layer and learn 'Peace of Mind.'" His wife said, "There are several other very powerful techniques in Cloud Cultivation, my husband. Let me tell you about them. There's a move called 'Connected Bridal Chamber,' which..." "My dear wife, please don't say anymore. You're making me restless. I don't want to learn any other techniques; I just want to learn 'Peace of Mind.' The Glove is in this state entirely because of me. If he had stayed still, Thousand-Handed Smile might not have seen him. He could even evade Zhao Lanmeng while asleep. I owe him for this, and I must save him no matter what."

His wife sighed and said, "Then I'll do as you wish, my husband. First, give the Glove to me; I'll stabilize the curse. I've consumed many ingredients these past few days, so helping you advance won't be difficult. For the next few days, you need to absorb more popularity, get plenty of rest, and take your pills on time."

In Green Water City, at Lu's Bookstore, Boss Lu went up to the second-floor storeroom and examined the equipment Yu Yaoming had finished building.

Outwardly, it looked like a long tube with two wheels, somewhat resembling a cannon.

In terms of size, this cannon lay on the ground over a meter high, with a barrel diameter of nearly thirty centimeters. It would be extremely difficult to take it onto the street.

Boss Lu went downstairs, took an old newspaper from the stand, and brought it to the storeroom. "Xiao Zhenggong once created something called a 'Magnetic Shock Cannon,' but it became a joke. Both he and his cannon were trapped within the boundary. Your device shouldn't be like his, should it?"

Yu Yaoming took the newspaper and glanced at it, then told Boss Lu, "I don't know Xiao Zhenggong, nor do I know the origins of his so-called Magnetic Shock Cannon. I can assure you my device will not cause similar changes to the boundary." Boss Lu looked at the massive device Yu Yaoming had built, his expression somewhat grave.

Yu Yaoming was slightly displeased with Boss Lu's attitude. "My device has a remote control, so even if something goes wrong, we can leave the scene immediately. I believe this safety measure should be enough to reassure you. I think there should be at least a basic level of trust between us."

"My trust in you is far from 'at least basic'," Boss Lu said, taking a book from the shelf.

It was a thread-bound copy of "Tianxiang Ci Hua" (Adding Fragrance to Ci Poems). Its appearance was simple, but the paper and craftsmanship were exquisite. Most remarkably, every page in the book featured a beautiful illustration.

The illustrations were drawn by the great artist Shan Yougui and printed from blocks carved by the renowned craftsman Su Guangrui. Very few copies circulated on the market, and this book alone was worth hundreds of silver dollars.

Not to mention, this book also contained Boss Lu's special techniques.

Boss Lu opened a page. The illustration on this page was magnificent, depicting the book's male and female protagonists consummating their relationship in a desolate wilderness after resolving their misunderstandings. The man appeared somewhat arrogant in his unrestrained manner, while the woman, despite her shyness, exuded tenderness. The entire painting vividly brought the scene to life.

Boss Lu raised an eyebrow at Yu Yaoming. "Looks good, doesn't it?"

"Yes!" Yu Yaoming nodded vigorously.

Boss Lu said mysteriously, "It gets even better later."

"Really?" Yu Yaoming wanted to take the book and examine it closely.

Boss Lu waved his hand. "No rush. You can look at it after we've finished our business."

He lifted "Tianxiang Ci Hua" and placed it on top of the cannon.

The entire cannon vanished.

While Yu Yaoming was still in surprise, Boss Lu showed him the illustration.

In the desolate wilderness, besides the man and woman, there was now a cannon.

Even more remarkably, the male and female protagonists in the painting were both staring at the nearby cannon, their expressions utterly horrified.

Yu Yaoming was speechless for a long time. He looked at Boss Lu and asked, "What kind of technique is this?"

Boss Lu smiled. "In Puluo State, you don't ask about other people's techniques, unless they bring it up themselves."

Yu Yaoming knew he shouldn't ask, but his curiosity persisted. "I've read many books in your shop. You call people with special abilities 'cultivators,' and you define cultivation into different levels. You must be a 'Beyond Cloud Cultivation' cultivator, right?"

Boss Lu sighed. "Don't just look at these things. You should also observe the customs and traditions of Puluo State. Not only should you not ask about techniques, but you also shouldn't ask about cultivation levels."

Yu Yaoming was somewhat displeased. "If I'm not allowed to ask anything, how am I supposed to live in Puluo State in the future?"

Boss Lu thought for a moment. "That's a fair point. Let me tell you the truth: I am not a 'Beyond Cloud Cultivation' cultivator."

"Then when will you reach 'Beyond Cloud Cultivation'?"

Boss Lu shook his head. "I will never reach 'Beyond Cloud Cultivation'."

"Is it because your talent isn't good enough?"

Boss Lu frowned. "Are you always so impolite outside of this state? Can you really talk like that? I don't want to go 'Beyond Cloud Cultivation' because I've taken a different path. Even someone from 'Beyond Cloud Cultivation' might not be my match."

After putting away the book, Boss Lu had just led Yu Yaoming downstairs when he suddenly heard the bell on the front door ring, signaling a customer had entered the bookstore.

Yu Yaoming turned, intending to run upstairs, but Boss Lu motioned for him to stay still and stand by the second bookshelf.

Boss Lu walked around the third bookshelf and approached the bookstore entrance, where he saw He Jiaqing walking in.

"Young Master He, haven't seen you around much lately," Boss Lu greeted him, then quickly instructed an assistant to brew tea.

He Jiaqing waved his hand. "No need to trouble yourself. I just came from the teahouse and had plenty to drink. I just came to see if you have any new books."

Boss Lu chuckled. "There are new books on all the shelves. Please take your time browsing."

He Jiaqing walked past each bookshelf one by one. When he reached the second bookshelf, he paused for a slightly longer time.

He sensed the person he was looking for was nearby, but despite using various methods, he couldn't see their figure.

After circling the store, He Jiaqing bought a set of "Xiushuang Collection."

"Xiushuang Collection" was a story anthology of twenty-seven volumes, compiling over six hundred popular folk tales. People often said one could endure three copies of "Tianxiang," but not even one of "Xiushuang," which attested to the book's power.

Boss Lu teased from the side, "Young Master He, you're not short of ladies by your side, yet you still enjoy this set of books?"

He Jiaqing shook his head. "Boss Lu, you're an expert. The sentiment in these books can't be found in real ladies."

The two exchanged knowing smiles.

The twenty-seven volumes were too heavy for He Jiaqing to carry, so he left an address for Boss Lu to deliver them.

Boss Lu agreed. After seeing He Jiaqing off, he waited for about ten minutes, then circled back from the third bookshelf and found Yu Yaoming by the second bookshelf.

Yu Yaoming was also looking at "Xiushuang Collection," his hands trembling slightly as he read.

Boss Lu said, "We should go now."

Yu Yaoming shook his head slightly. "How about we go another day? I want to do some research in the bookstore today."

"Finish our important business first, then come back to study. My bookstore is full of knowledge; you wouldn't know where to start or how long it would take."

The two took "Tianxiang Ci Hua" and left the bookstore, emerging onto the street.

Yu Yaoming lowered his voice. "Could you at least give me some makeup? Coming out like this, I'm a bit too conspicuous."

Having come from outside the state to Puluo State, Yu Yaoming had changed into a Zhongshan suit and black leather shoes. He had tidied his hair, but there was no other makeup on his face.

Boss Lu shook his head. "I've thought about this carefully. The people looking for you are not ordinary folks. If you wear makeup, they'll see right through it. It's better if we don't conceal anything at all; that way, we might not attract attention."

Boss Lu's idea was correct, but today, the situation was unique: they were being watched by an ordinary person.

Qin Tianjiu was handling matters at the jewelry store across the street.

This jewelry store belonged to Shen Jinzhong, the Grand Golden Seal of the Three Heroes Sect. Business had been good, but recently, it had been plagued by thieves.

Earlier, a female food cultivator had brazenly robbed the place. Although her clothes and pockets were burned, she still managed to steal several pieces of jewelry. The items weren't recovered, nor was she caught, which greatly angered Shen Jinzhong.

A couple of days later, several thieving cultivators swept through the jewelry store again. At first, no one noticed anything missing until the thieving cultivators sent a letter of thanks. Only then, after taking inventory, did the staff realize what they had lost.

This group of thieving cultivators was so brazen that Shen Jinzhong not only lost money but also his reputation, infuriating him to the point of almost closing the jewelry store.

If he had actually closed it, it would have been simpler, but Shen Jinzhong thought it over and couldn't bear to part with the business. He then turned to pressure Qin Xiaopang.

Out of respect for Li Qi, Shen Jinzhong didn't dare to overly trouble Xiaopang, but Xiaopang himself couldn't stomach refusing, so he could only stay near the jewelry store to keep watch.

Today, he happened to see Boss Lu leaving the bookstore with a man. At first, Xiaopang didn't pay much attention, simply assuming the man was Boss Lu's assistant.

But after a second glance, Qin Xiaopang felt something was off. He seemed to have seen this man somewhere before.

Where was it...?

Qin Xiaopang remembered Li Qi showing him a photo of this person, named Yu Yaoming. He was from outside the state, and Li Qi suspected he had come to Puluo State. Li Qi had instructed him to pay close attention and, if he found anything, not to tell anyone but to immediately contact Luo Zheng'nan, who would then inform Li Qi.

He had searched for this person many times in Green Water City but never found a trace. He never expected him to be right there in the bookstore across the street!

Qin Xiaopang took out his simple phone. Just as he was about to dial, he saw Boss Lu leading Yu Yaoming into an alley.

Where were they going?

Boss Lu had left with the man, and it was uncertain if they would return. By the time Brother Qi received the news and arrived, the two might have already gone somewhere else.

Boss Lu was just a bookstore owner, and Yu Yaoming didn't seem to have high combat ability. Qin Tianjiu was already a fourth-layer food cultivator, so following these two shouldn't be too difficult.

He decided to follow them for a while, at least to figure out what they were up to, before sending a message to Brother Qi.

Qin Tianjiu told his subordinates to watch the jewelry store while he himself followed Boss Lu towards Goat Horn Garden.

A lot had been happening in Goat Horn Garden recently. Liao Zihui had activated the surrounding boundary, sealing off more than half of the garden.

A section of the boundary ran through the garden's forest. The boundary itself was invisible, but its effects were obvious: no grass or plants grew around it.

Boss Lu opened "Tianxiang Ci Hua," turned to the previous illustration, and gave it a shake.

The cannon Yu Yaoming had built silently appeared before them. The expressions of the man and woman in the illustration also returned to normal.

"The cannon won't be too loud, will it?"

Yu Yaoming shook his head. "There's no cannon sound."

After connecting all the equipment, Yu Yaoming stood at a distance with the remote control and pressed the firing button.

There was no bright flash, no sound. From start to finish, only some parameters on the dashboard changed.

Boss Lu looked at Yu Yaoming. Yu Yaoming carefully compared the parameters before and after firing and told Boss Lu, "It's done."

"That's it?"

Yu Yaoming nodded. "In the direction the cannon was aimed, there's now a passage leading into a wormhole."

"Did you create this wormhole?"

"Of course not. This wormhole already existed. I merely captured an entrance at a specific location and altered its shape. From the parameters, the entrance is two meters high and two meters wide, large enough for a person of normal build to pass through." Boss Lu remained silent. Yu Yaoming said, "If you don't believe me, I can go try it."

He started to walk forward but was stopped by Boss Lu.

Boss Lu opened "Tianxiang Ci Hua" again and found an illustration.

The illustration depicted a bustling street with a middle-aged man carrying a birdcage and strolling with his bird.

Boss Lu reached into the illustration, opened the birdcage, and, under the man's stunned expression, took the bird from the cage.

He placed the caged bird in his palm, stroked its head, tickled its chin, and whispered a few words to it.

The bird chirped in response and flew directly towards the boundary, vanishing the instant it passed through, leaving only a trace of dust.

Boss Lu looked at Yu Yaoming. Yu Yaoming said, "Don't worry, it will come out soon."

After waiting for over ten minutes with no sign, Yu Yaoming said, "Perhaps your little bird got disoriented in the wormhole."

Boss Lu shook his head. "I've trained this bird for years; it's much smarter than an ordinary person."

"That's impossible," Yu Yaoming shook his head. "The principles of human thought are different from those of birds. This dictates that some things can only be accomplished by humans."

Boss Lu sighed, "Why be so stubborn? This bird clearly crashed into the boundary and turned to dust."

Yu Yaoming said, "If it passed through the boundary by ordinary means, the bird would indeed turn to dust. But it won't happen when traversing the entrance via the wormhole." Boss Lu frowned. "Didn't you see the dust just now?"

"That dust is different. It didn't come from the bird. I've experienced similar things. At the time, I also thought the dust came from the experimental subject. But in reality, these ashes come from the dust at the wormhole entrance. These dust particles possess some fundamental characteristics of the wormhole and are very different from the residues left after a normal object is destroyed."

Boss Lu no longer wished to argue; he found talking to this man exhausting.

Yu Yaoming was very stubborn. "Birds easily get disoriented in unfamiliar environments. After all, they aren't human and lack human adaptability and responsiveness."

"Are you saying if I put a person in there, they'll come out?"

"In principle, yes."

"Good!" Boss Lu pulled a rope from the book and swung it. The rope flew into the bushes, tying up Qin Tianjiu.

Qin Tianjiu tried to break free, but it was futile. The rope was tightly wrapped around him, leaving him no room to struggle.

Boss Lu pulled the rope, drawing Qin Tianjiu in front of him.

Qin Tianjiu tried to shout, but Boss Lu raised his hand and wrote the character "Ban" on Qin Tianjiu's face, making him unable to utter a sound.

"This is a living person. If he goes in and comes out, it proves you're right." Boss Lu flicked his hand, and Qin Tianjiu, still tied with the rope, was sent hurtling towards the boundary opposite the cannon.

A cloud of dust drifted by, and Qin Tianjiu vanished without a trace.

After waiting another half an hour, Qin Tianjiu still didn't reappear. Boss Lu looked at Yu Yaoming and asked, "Do you have anything else to say?"

Yu Yaoming lowered his head, glancing at the cannon. "Perhaps there are still some areas that need improvement."

"Improvements are fine; we can take our time. Why stubbornly cling to your pride?" Boss Lu opened "Tianxiang Ci Hua," put away the cannon, and the two left Goat Horn Garden.

"'I frantically shook the branches, grabbed a handful of sand, and tossed dust! I have no old grievances or recent grudges with you, I implore the elder to redress my wrong!'" Luo Zheng'nan had brewed a pot of tea and was sitting in a lounge chair, listening to 'The Story of the Black Basin,' when he suddenly heard a static noise in his ear.

Sizzling...

Luo Zheng'nan adjusted the antenna's position. The static disappeared for a moment but soon returned.

He pulled the antenna from his skull and examined it carefully.

"Should this thing be replaced? The main problem is, it's not easy to buy."

After adjusting it back and forth several times, Luo Zheng'nan felt something was off about the static. It sounded noisy and harsh, yet it seemed to have a pattern. This didn't sound like ordinary radio static.