Chapter 703: Blade War God

On Sages' Peak, the grand and majestic former residence of the sages had been transformed into a temple. Wan Jin Xian sat in the center of the temple, scrutinizing every Blade Specter who came to worship.

The Blade Specters were circling Wan Jin Xian, performing an ancient dance. Their movements were monotonous but perfectly synchronized, with every step, posture, and gesture clearly expressed.

Cui Tik danced very earnestly within the group, while Li Ban Feng merely walked in circles with the others.

"Aren't you going to dance with us?" Cui Tik, always worried Li Ban Feng would be discovered, spoke with considerable volume but a very low pitch. This exploited a weakness of the Blade Specters, who were not sensitive to low-frequency sounds.

Li Ban Feng shook his head. "My movements aren't practiced. Making a mistake would make it easier for me to be discovered. Who came up with this dance?"

"I did," Cui Tik said, a little proudly.

"Are you a dance enthusiast?" Li Ban Feng couldn't understand the meaning behind this.

Cui Tik explained, "This is to establish faith. Controlling so many Blade Specters is an extremely complex undertaking. I not only need to establish a survival system for them but also a belief system. Their faith is in the Ancestor of Disease Cultivators and the Blade Specter War God; this is a crucial means to maintain their cohesion and execution capabilities."

Li Ban Feng still didn't understand. "To establish faith, must they dance?"

"Hoo-goo-ga!" Cui Tik and all the Blade Specters shouted together, an expression of praise for the Blade Specter War God.

Maintaining the rhythm and power of his dance steps, Cui Tik earnestly explained, "In modern belief systems, textual carriers like doctrines and creeds are more easily accepted by people, because they can generate deeper thought and comprehension through text. However, Blade Specters have insufficient cognitive ability for text, so modern beliefs are not suitable for them. What suits them is a primitive belief system. Dance is the most common form of expression in primitive beliefs. Firstly, dance is the most intuitive body language; the stories of the Ancestor of Disease Cultivators and the deeds of the Blade Specter War God can all be expressed visually and directly through dance. Moreover, dance has a strong power to influence. In collective dance, people's emotions influence each other, creating an atmosphere of sacred moments and spiritual resonance, thereby further solidifying and deepening the ideals of faith."

Li Ban Feng looked at Cui Tik and asked, "So, have you found an opportunity to ambush Wan Jin Xian?"

"Not yet," Cui Tik shook his head slightly. "The ritual period is not a good time to strike."

"Then why did you have to choose this time to come to the temple?"

Cui Tik said, "According to the rules I previously set, rituals shouldn't be held at this time. Wan Jin Xian changed the rules, and the rituals are clearly more frequent than before. I suspect that now, Blade Specters spend all their time performing rituals, apart from farming, eating, and sleeping. Moreover, these Blade Specters' physiques have evolved; their resistance to miasma is strengthening. I need more time to take them down."

Li Ban Feng was very worried about this. "If even your miasma can't take them down, how will you control them in the future?"

Cui Tik disagreed. "Whether in the Inner Provinces or Outer Provinces, the actual controllers are not necessarily strong fighters. This is the reasonable norm. Puluo Province is a complete anomaly; the existence of the Peddler gave you a mistaken understanding, and you've been too deeply influenced by Puluo Province."

Li Ban Feng looked at the surrounding Blade Specters, observing their bloated bodies, sharp claws and teeth, and their seemingly endless numbers.

"Do you intend to rely solely on faith to maintain control over Blade Specter Ridge from now on?"

Cui Tik was very confident. "Don't underestimate the power of faith. I've conducted very in-depth research on this. Taking these dances as an example, every movement symbolizes a sign, and every sign has a special meaning."

Cui Tik also provided specific explanations for the dance movements:When the Blade Specters spread their hands flat, "This symbolizes the light brought by the Blade Specter War God."When the Blade Specters raise their hands high, "This symbolizes the revelation brought by the Blade Specter War God."When the Blade Specters clasp their hands over their heads, "This symbolizes the wisdom brought by the Blade Specter War God."

A Blade Specter twisted its own head off.Cui Tik pursed his lips. "This is... a new movement."

Li Ban Feng remained calm; he had nothing to worry about. As a fourth-level Residence Cultivator, he didn't fear being easily detected by others. But Cui Tik was in big trouble. He could perfectly blend in with the Blade Specters, but he couldn't detach his head.

Wan Jin Xian's gaze fixed on Cui Tik. All the Blade Specters twisted their wrists, aiming the heads in their hands at Cui Tik.

Cui Tik looked at Li Ban Feng and quietly asked, "What do we do now?"

"Run." Li Ban Feng grabbed Cui Tik and, using his Unhindered Travel technique, burst out of the temple.

"Kuga!" Wan Jin Xian roared. Blade Specters from all over the mountain rushed to intercept them. Li Ban Feng ran all the way down the mountain to Cui Tik's hidden cave, but the shouts from Sages' Peak had not yet subsided.

Cui Tik looked towards Sages' Peak. "I was reckless this time. Wan Jin Xian will tighten his defenses. It will be very difficult to ambush him again anytime soon."

Cui Tik suddenly looked down and noticed a small object attempting to crawl out of the cave.

Li Ban Feng had already noticed the small object. He stepped on it, then picked it up to see a clump of flesh.

Judging by the texture of the flesh, it contained no blood but was full of pus, clearly originating from a Blade Specter.

Cui Tik took the flesh and sniffed it. "This must be Wan Jin Xian's flesh. His pursuit to this point proves he likely has locked onto our location."

As he spoke, Cui Tik began packing his belongings, preparing to escape.

Li Ban Feng continued to observe the clump of flesh. It attempted to escape, but also seemed ready to fight. It showed a slight panic in its struggle but was still quite nimble.

"What exactly is going on?" Li Ban Feng looked at Cui Tik. "Why can a Disease Cultivator control a part of their own limb with such agility?"

Cui Tik looked at the clump of flesh and said, "I've been pondering that question too. But before we reach a conclusion, I suggest we destroy that clump of flesh. Even if my senior brother has already discovered us, we should try our best not to let him find us so quickly."

Li Ban Feng looked at Cui Tik and asked, "Have you tried the medicinal powder Zhang Wan Long gave you? Would that powder bring about the same changes in you?"

"Based on scientific research, I certainly have the courage to consider it. But as for personally practicing it, that's still difficult for me. After all, there's an insurmountable obstacle here: I'm already a Cloud-level cultivator of the Disease Cultivation path. What price would I pay if I chose to also cultivate the Martial path at this point?"

As they spoke, roars echoed from outside the cave. Cui Tik's Blade Specters were giving a warning; Wan Jin Xian's Blade Specters were attacking.

Cui Tik urged, "Let's debate the scientific questions later. First, let's find a way to avoid this battle."

"Why avoid it? Can't you solve them using 'Not a Blade of Grass Grows' or 'Corpses Litter the Field'?" Li Ban Feng had great confidence in Cui Tik.

Cui Tik was very disappointed. "Did you really just say that? We observed, witnessed, analyzed, and researched together, and only after a series of bold attempts did we achieve today's results. After achieving those results, you just washed your hands of it and left. You never fulfilled your responsibility to care for them. And now you're actually telling me to use such cruel methods against them? If we use 'Corpses Litter the Field,' what will be left of us? If we use 'Not a Blade of Grass Grows,' the hope for the entire Blade Specter Ridge will be completely severed! Can you really bear to do that?"

Li Ban Feng blinked. "You make a good point; I really wouldn't want to do that. You fight them here, and I'll go kill Wan Jin Xian."

Cui Tik shook his head. "To kill Wan Jin Xian, we need a better opportunity."

Li Ban Feng pulled down the brim of his hat. "I think now is a good opportunity. Will Wan Jin Xian personally direct the battle?"

"Usually not," Cui Tik said, highly experienced in this matter. "Most of the time, he stays in the temple to deploy troops. The Blade Specters' way of thinking is quite different from humans. I don't know how much human intelligence he still possesses, but he still retains the tendency to hide behind the scenes."

Li Ban Feng said, "Hold out here for a while longer. I'm going to the temple now. If I don't return after an hour—"

Cui Tik nodded gravely. "I will remember you always, my friend."

Li Ban Feng glared at Cui Tik. "What good is just remembering me? If I don't come back, you have to go to the temple and save me!"

Li Ban Feng was not unfamiliar with Sages' Peak to begin with. He had been trapped here for a long time by the Overlapping Peaks Technique in the past. Combined with Cui Tik having led the way once before, he reached the temple without issue.

There was chaos on the mountain, and chaos in the temple as well. All the Blade Specters were in a state of excitement. They knew the enemy had been there before, but they wouldn't overly blame themselves for their lack of vigilance; instead, they were eager for the upcoming battle. Some pushed each other, some roared and howled, and a few gathered to gamble with dice, eager to see their luck for the night.

Li Ban Feng ignored all the Blade Specters and walked directly to Wan Jin Xian's side. The only thing he needed to confirm now was how to kill Wan Jin Xian.

For Cui Tik and most cultivators, Wan Jin Xian was a difficult presence to deal with. But for Li Ban Feng, Wan Jin Xian had no ability to counterattack whatsoever.

His speed was far too slow to keep up with Li Ban Feng, and his claws and teeth were meaningless against Li Ban Feng.

His miasma was his greatest weapon, but making Li Ban Feng fall ill was very difficult. Even if he accidentally got afflicted by his miasma, Li Ban Feng was confident he could neutralize it using his Carefree Sleep technique. Even if not fully neutralized, Cui Tik could help him.

Wan Jin Xian's only real asset was his physique. The only way Li Ban Feng could currently think of to kill him was to have his Wine Gourd set him on fire.

But could the Wine Gourd's fire truly burn him?

Wan Jin Xian, sitting on the altar, felt a slight unease.

When Cui Tik escaped, he saw another person beside him, but that person's movements were too fast for him to clearly see their appearance.

Who was that person? What was their origin? Why were they interfering with Blade Specter Ridge?

To this day, Wan Jin Xian still maintained the habit of thinking one step ahead. What he couldn't have imagined was that Li Ban Feng was standing right beside him.

Li Ban Feng raised an eyebrow, and Wan Jin Xian's four limbs fell to the ground.

He didn't use the Wine Gourd; he used 'Five Horses Quartering.' This move seemed ineffective against Wan Jin Xian; the limbs that had fallen to the ground quickly returned to his torso. From reattaching to healing, it only took a few seconds. Wan Jin Xian quickly returned to his original state, but he still couldn't locate his enemy. He stood up, took a few steps, and found he couldn't stand steadily.

His right leg hadn't fully recovered. His thigh, calf, and all his toes had been detached.

His thigh could reattach, his calf could reattach, but two of his toes wouldn't move.

Li Ban Feng smiled. According to mathematical definitions, Wan Jin Xian could not be infinitely subdivided.

This made things much easier. Li Ban Feng slowly revealed his form, and a halo rippled out from his feet.

Wan Jin Xian let out a cry and led a group of Blade Specters towards Li Ban Feng. The roars in the temple were incessant.

Cui Tik held out in the cave for an hour. Fewer and fewer Blade Specters came to attack the cave, and Cui Tik realized the focus of the battle had shifted.

He ordered a few trusted subordinates to continue directing the battle in the cave. He manipulated his miasma to change his appearance and ascended Sages' Peak.

On the hillside, he encountered many excited Blade Specters, ready to fight to defend the temple. But when he reached the vicinity of the temple, he found the Blade Specters dancing.

They raised their hands high, first bending forward, then tilting their heads back. This was a celebration of victory. Had Wan Jin Xian won? Where was Li Ban Feng?

Cui Tik cautiously entered the temple, only to see Li Ban Feng standing quietly in the center. Scattered at his feet were finely shredded bits of flesh, which should have belonged to Wan Jin Xian; they were not moving.

"Hoo-goo-ga!"The Blade Specters surrounded Li Ban Feng, letting out synchronized shouts and cheering for their new god. What had happened?

Cui Tik wasn't curious about how Li Ban Feng defeated Wan Jin Xian; that was already Li Ban Feng's forte. He was curious about why these Blade Specters had undergone such a significant change.

Li Ban Feng gestured for Cui Tik not to approach yet. He spoke to Cui Tik in an extremely low tone: "Their emotions are unstable. Wait outside the temple for a while, and come in when the time is right."

Cui Tik stepped out of the temple. Large numbers of Blade Specters were still pouring in. They had originally come with battle intent, but after entering the temple, Cui Tik only heard waves of shouts, each louder than the last.

"Hoo-goo-ga! Hoo-goo-ga!"This was exclusive to the Blade Specter War God. Did they now recognize Li Ban Feng as their War God? What about everything done before?

The stories, legends, dances, and totems he had created—did they no longer count? Did the Blade Specters only believe in the strong?

"It's also good to have Li Ban Feng as the new god; after all, he and I improved these creatures together." Cui Tik consoled himself with these words, but still felt unwilling.

"How much did I give for them? How little did Li Ban Feng give? After the first improvement, Li Ban Feng never cared for them again!"

No, the Blade Specters shouldn't only believe in the strong. The Green Water Bow was powerful, yet it didn't gain the Blade Specters' faith. There must be other factors at play, but it's currently unclear whether these factors originated from Li Ban Feng or the Blade Specters themselves.

Li Ban Feng was also pondering the same question. After he killed Wan Jin Xian, the Blade Specters briefly erupted in a furious rage. Li Ban Feng thought he would face a tough battle, but soon after, the fighting ended, and the excited Blade Specters began a ritual around him.

Li Ban Feng wasn't sure of the exact reason, and at that moment, he found it hard to concentrate his thoughts. A strange sensation was repeatedly assailing his mind. That sensation was like having a "Local God Seal" on his head, and popularity energy was surging through his veins.

The amount of popularity energy wasn't vast, but each fluctuation was incredibly clear. As the popularity energy flowed in, Li Ban Feng sensed changes in his body, which reminded him of Pan De Hai's description of its origin.

The quantity of popularity energy, besides depending on the number of people, also depended on a crucial factor: sincerity. Their basic needs were sincere. Love and affection were sincere. Gratitude towards Seventh Master was sincere. Reverence for "Hoo-goo-ga" was also sincere.

Every shout from the Blade Specters was incredibly sincere, so sincere that Li Ban Feng could directly perceive the purity of the popularity energy.

High-purity popularity energy seemed to be directly usable, allowing Li Ban Feng to sense that his cultivation was indeed growing.

Calming his mind to perceive, Li Ban Feng could sense something amidst the shouts, right behind him.

"Hoo-wei! Hoo-wei!"Steam was puffing rhythmically. This feeling was so familiar; it was his Portable Residence. Li Ban Feng sensed his Portable Residence from outside it. He turned his head and could even see the outline of a locomotive.

He pricked his fingertip and sprinkled some blood on the ground.

The Portable Residence had fallen into slumber and could no longer be modified. In this situation, to what extent could he control the 'Closed Doors and Shut Gates' technique?

He lightly tapped the ground with his toe, and a halo slowly rippled out.

It was very bright, and very slow.

The halo passed through a group of Blade Specters. They curiously watched the halo beneath their feet, and some Blade Specters couldn't resist bending down to touch it.

The halo was very hot, making them retract their arms, but it was still within a tolerable range.

Slower, a bit more gentle.

The halo spread out layer by layer. The Blade Specters were not harmed. They regarded this halo as a miracle, and their shouts grew louder and louder.

The light spread to the edge of the temple, stopping around the walls. Not a single Blade Specter was harmed by the halo.

This was controllable!

Li Ban Feng carefully controlled the boundary; he had achieved mastery over the Residence Cultivation boundary. But even he couldn't believe it was real.

A Residence Cultivation boundary could be non-harmful, provided it was controlled with enough precision. The control process was extremely complex. He had to repeatedly contemplate the source of the power, which lay within his Portable Residence. He had to repeatedly visualize the outline of the Portable Residence in his mind, including the details of each carriage.

The halo repeatedly pulsed, and the fervent Blade Specters gradually calmed down.

Li Ban Feng slowly retracted the halo and walked out of the temple. All the Blade Specters stood still, watching Li Ban Feng leave.

From their perspective, they couldn't see Li Ban Feng's appearance, but this didn't affect their reverence for him.

Cui Tik was still waiting outside the temple. Seeing Li Ban Feng emerge unharmed, he quickly stepped forward and asked, "How did you do it? Why were you able to replace Wan Jin Xian and become the Blade Specter War God?"

Li Ban Feng couldn't answer that question for now; there were many details he still didn't understand.

Walking on the mountain path, Li Ban Feng shivered twice. He remembered an important question.

"Where is Green Blossom?"

Cui Tik blinked. "Do you also want to replace the Ancestor of Disease Cultivators?"

Li Ban Feng shook his head. "I cannot replace the Ancestor of Disease Cultivators. Only you can replace him. You need to replace him as soon as possible. Once he revives, things won't be so easy to handle."

Cui Tik thought for a moment. "He shouldn't revive. I'm certain he wasn't exposed to Zhang Wan Long's medicinal powder."

Li Ban Feng stopped walking. "This has nothing to do with Zhang Wan Long's medicinal powder. The reason Wan Jin Xian was able to break through your miasma wasn't because he obtained the powder, but because his cultivation underwent a change."

Cui Tik found this incredible. "He lived like a clay statue; I didn't give him many opportunities to cultivate."

Li Ban Feng didn't agree. "He has always been cultivating, nurturing himself with popularity energy. Before he came to Blade Specter Ridge, he was still a Ground-level cultivator, and at that time, he couldn't absorb popularity energy. After transforming into a Blade Specter, and after a period of change, he gained the ability to absorb popularity energy. Once his cultivation reached a certain level, he broke through your miasma. But Green Blossom's situation is different. He was originally a Cloud-level cultivator. During this time, he has continuously absorbed popularity energy. Now, his strength might have reached an immeasurable state. If he cannot be controlled, the disaster he brings will be far more terrifying than Wan Jin Xian."

Cui Tik pondered for a long time. He was a smart man, and some problems quickly became clear to him. "The popularity energy you spoke of comes from the Blade Specters."

Li Ban Feng nodded. "This is the opportunity you created for them. You molded the two of them into deities, and as a result, they absorbed a large amount of sincerity-rich popularity energy."

Cui Tik sifted through his past memories. "I also fashioned myself as a messenger of the gods, and many Blade Specters are very loyal to me."

Li Ban Feng said, "That's why your cultivation has also increased at an astonishing rate."

Things became clear, and Cui Tik had to adjust his future strategy.

The two walked all the way to the foot of the mountain. Cui Tik said to Li Ban Feng, "If I relied solely on my own exploration and summarization, it would be extremely difficult to get the answers you've given me. Have you also conducted in-depth research on Disease Cultivators and Blade Specters?"

Li Ban Feng shook his head. "I haven't researched them before, but I should thoroughly study them in the future."

Cui Tik smiled. "You didn't have to tell me your research conclusions. You should know how precious this conclusion is to me."

"I told you the truth entirely out of our friendship."

Hearing Li Ban Feng mention friendship, Cui Tik was very moved. "My friend, you've been so frank with me, I shouldn't hide anything from you either. I'll tell you the Ancestor's hiding place right now. Let's go meet him together."

Trying to drag me into trouble again.Li Ban Feng directly refused. "You go see him yourself. I believe this matter is still under your control."

Was it truly under control? To be honest, Cui Tik wasn't entirely certain himself. But at the moment, he couldn't help but feel he owed Li Ban Feng something.

"Do you have anything you want to ask me? I will answer your questions very frankly."

Li Ban Feng thought for a moment