Chapter 765: Iron Law Sheng (High Energy in This Chapter)

Li Banfeng returned to Lushui City, having arranged to meet Zuo Anna tomorrow at Xiaoyao Dock.

He Yuxiu also returned to Lushui City and happened to run into Li Banfeng on the road.

"Seventh Brother, you're back?"

Li Banfeng looked around. "Xiuer, there's no one else here. You should call me Seventh Brother!"

He Yuxiu blushed and called out, "Seventh Brother."

Adopting an elder brother's air of authority, Li Banfeng asked, "Xiuer, you're now a proper local earth god. Instead of managing your territory well, what are you doing back in Lushui City?"

He Yuxiu replied, lowering her head, "Fifth Brother said something happened at Xiaoyao Dock, so I rushed over to check."

Li Banfeng knew that something significant had indeed happened at Xiaoyao Dock. He was very pleased that He Yuxiu had arrived so promptly. "Xiuer, our bond hasn't faded at all."

He Yuxiu looked up and said, "What kind of talk is that? Xiaoyao Dock is your territory; how could I stand by and do nothing? Also, there's something else I wanted to discuss with you. My territory expanded next to Yesong Bridge and broke the Yesong Bridge railway. This matter needs to be discussed with the Customs and Defense Office, and I haven't been on good terms with them, so..."

Li Banfeng chuckled. "That's no problem at all. I'll just have a word with Liao Zihui and ask him to send people to help you fix the railway."

He Yuxiu thanked him, her face flushing slightly again. "There's another big thing. I want to name my territory 'Seven Beauties City.' What do you think?"

Li Banfeng felt it was inappropriate. "There's already a Seven Autumns City. Now another Seven Beauties City?"

"What's there to be afraid of?" He Yuxiu said dismissively. "Our bond is our business; others can't interfere!"

"Bond is bond, but your territory shouldn't have my name at the front."

He Yuxiu remained persistent. "I think having your name associated with it is quite good."

"No, this name needs careful consideration, not such a hasty decision."

The two arrived at Xiaoyao Dock, where Ma Wu had prepared the meeting hall and recounted the events of the previous day.

Li Banfeng was particularly interested in two details: one was the Weeping Cultivator, and the other was the Great Totem.

"The Weeping Cultivator you mentioned, sent from Neizhou, is named Yuan Youshang?"

Ma Wu nodded. "That's what Lu Xiaolan called him. If she wasn't lying, then his background is far from simple. Yuan Youshang's real name should be Yuan Youshuang. Shortly after I began to remember things, Yuan Youshuang's reputation in Puro State was already very prominent. In his thirties, he had reached the ninth level in both demonic cultivation and weeping cultivation. It was precisely because of him that the Yuan family successively defeated the He family and the Chu family, becoming the foremost wealthy family in Lushui City. However, less than two years later, Yuan Youshuang had a dispute with his family elders and angrily left. From then on, the Yuan family never recovered, and the territories they had just acquired, before they could even consolidate them, were divided up by other families."

Li Banfeng was very curious why a family with such a powerful individual would decline so quickly. "What kind of dispute did he have with his elders?"

Ma Wu shook his head. "I don't know about that. Sister Xiu and Yuan Youshuang are from the same generation; she should have heard of him."

He Yuxiu smiled. "More than just heard of him; we've had a life-or-death relationship."

Ma Wu was surprised. "That close?"

He Yuxiu shook her head. "Close isn't the word. I fought him many times, and each time we went for the kill. Once, He Haiqin and I fought him, just the two of us, and he beat us half to death. Later, I called Lu Dongliang, Lu Dongjun, and Chu Shaoqiang, making it five against one. We almost killed him that time. Wouldn't you say that's a deep relationship?"

Li Banfeng nodded. "You could call it life-or-death!"

He Yuxiu lit a cigarette, took a deep drag, and spoke with a hint of emotion. "Back then, we rather looked down on him. Yuan Youshuang was the Yuan family's pillar, but he held no standing within the family. The Yuan family's rules were very strict, placing immense importance on hierarchy. Yuan Youshuang's generation was too low, so he couldn't even speak on family matters. Furthermore, he wasn't born to the main wife, so he couldn't even sit at the head table during meals."

Li Banfeng was puzzled. "Someone like that had such a great reputation in Puro State?"

He Yuxiu thought for a moment. "He was a highly renowned enforcer; the Yuan family basically treated him as a hired hand. I remember Yuan Youshuang wanted to open a small tavern, but his father wouldn't allow it. Later, Yuan Youshuang saved up money and opened the tavern himself, but his father smashed it in front of him. The Yuan family even set a rule for Yuan Youshuang: if he couldn't train another ninth-level cultivator for the Yuan family, he wouldn't be allowed to advance to the tenth level. All these things piled up, and Yuan Youshuang angrily left. But after two days, Yuan Youshuang regretted it and wanted to return to the Yuan family. Yuan Youshuang's grandfather, the head of the Yuan family, told Yuan Youshuang to kowtow one hundred times, bowing with each step, all the way back home, before he would be forgiven."

"Did he really kowtow?" Kowtowing was the thing Li Banfeng disliked most.

"He did! More than a hundred times," He Yuxiu nodded. "I saw it with my own eyes."

Li Banfeng frowned. "Yuan Youshuang kowtowed more than a hundred times just to return home? If that's true, then he's truly contemptible."

He Yuxiu shook her head. "It wasn't him who kowtowed; it was his grandfather. Yuan Youshuang refused to kowtow, so his grandfather made a harsh declaration, saying that he was dispensable and would never be allowed to return home."

Li Banfeng exclaimed, "His grandfather was that unyielding?"

He Yuxiu nodded. "That old man was indeed very strong-willed. At the time, he told everyone he met that the Yuan family's rules absolutely could not be broken, and that a 'beast' like Yuan Youshuang was better off gone."

Li Banfeng still didn't understand. "Why did someone with so much backbone still kowtow?"

He Yuxiu said, "I sent people to inquire everywhere whether Yuan Youshuang had truly left. Later, I received news that Yuan Youshuang seemed to have advanced to the tenth level and was no longer in Puro State. Once I saw he was really gone, I figured we couldn't be polite anymore. The Yuan family had taken quite a bit of our He family's territory, so it was time to have a word with them. The moment I walked in, I first pushed his grandfather to the ground and slapped him a few times. That old man immediately started kowtowing. Then I pushed his father to the ground and slapped him a few times, and his father also started kowtowing. I found this family quite amusing, so I dragged out every single member of their family, slapped each one, and they all kowtowed together. He Haiqin specifically slapped the old man, and as he hit hard, he slapped the old man to death. Even as he was dying, the old man kept kowtowing, putting his whole heart into it."

So that's how Yuan Youshuang ended up in Neizhou.

Ma Wu said, "Every few years, a group of heroes emerges in Puro State. Families like the Yuan family, who flash like meteors, are not uncommon. The so-called Four Great Families, when you ask about them, all have genealogies stretching back hundreds of years, but the periods when they could truly be called 'heroes' were not long." After asking about Yuan Youshang, Li Banfeng then asked, "What is the origin of the Great Totem?"

Ma Wu shook his head. "I'm curious about that too. He said the circular pattern on the local earth seal is the Great Totem."

He Yuxiu thought for a moment. "Some of my elders mentioned this, but I can't remember the details. I'll go ask them later."

Ma Wu took out a magical artifact and handed it to Li Banfeng. "This is the artifact Lu Xiaolan used to deal with Yuan Youshang. This bottle can scare away vengeful spirits."

The bottle was placed before Li Banfeng. Forget vengeful spirits; even the Scythe beside Li Banfeng shivered. "Ah Qi, this thing is terrifying."

The Scythe was a nascent spirit, with the shallowest foundation and the least experience, so it was the first to be terrified by the vase.

The Tang Saber, having endured many battles, didn't fear the vase, but it was full of hostility.

The Projector was also scared. He secretly glanced at it but couldn't help but exclaim, "Its craftsmanship is exquisite; it's a model of art."

The Glove chuckled. "The craftsmanship is indeed good; it's valuable. When the opportunity is right, I'll take it."

The Judge's Brush found them annoying, rolled over, and went back to sleep.

Ma Wu wanted to give the vase to Li Banfeng. "Seventh Brother, you're always traveling. This vase would be good for self-defense."

Li Banfeng refused to take it. "This is something you obtained; you should keep it yourself."

Ma Wu shook his head. "Xiaoyao Dock belongs to both of us. Anything acquired here must be split fifty-fifty, and I'm giving my half to you."

Li Banfeng insisted on giving the vase back to Ma Wu. "It's inconvenient for me to carry this when I'm out and about. It's much more suitable for you to keep. I suspect it's not just effective against demonic cultivators; you should research it further."

"There are ghosts, ghosts!"

Who was speaking?

Li Banfeng looked at the vase and increased the intensity of his Insightful Spirit Sound.

It was a woman's voice, her age indiscernible. Each word was squeezed from her throat, as if she was too terrified to speak properly.

As Li Banfeng listened carefully, the woman suddenly cried out, causing Li Banfeng's ears to ring. "The ghosts are coming! They're coming soon!"

Was this vase driving away ghosts because it was afraid of them?

Ma Wu picked up the vase and held it to his ear. "Seventh Brother, why do I feel like this vase is a woman, and that she's crying?"

As he listened, he gently stroked the mouth of the vase.

He Yuxiu turned her face away in disgust. "Fifth Brother, at the very least, you should find someone alive."

Li Banfeng returned to his Portable Dwelling and went to the Thirteenth Room to see his wife.

The Phonograph slept soundly all day, showing no visible changes, but the Portable Dwelling expressed some concern. "Her signs of revival are becoming increasingly obvious, yet her body still shows no change. If she only transforms upon awakening, she will suffer greatly."

Li Banfeng asked, "Are there any suitable medicines to prevent my wife from suffering?"

The Portable Dwelling thought for a moment. "There are medicines, but whether they'll be useful to her is unknown. Ah Qi, if Zhao Xiaowan fully revives, she won't be able to be your dwelling spirit anymore. You should plan early for how you'll live together afterward."

"What's there to plan?" Li Banfeng said, carefully wiping the Phonograph's body. "Whether she's a dwelling spirit or not, she's my wife."

After seeing his wife, Li Banfeng then looked at "Beauty Scroll" and "Floating Clouds Inquiry Post."

The "Beauty Scroll" was highly artistic. After reading it several times, Li Banfeng could already conjure the images of the three beauties in his mind, but he had never actually seen them, and the beauties summoned through "Golden House for a Mistress" had no combat power.

"I guess I'll just write my own in the future." Li Banfeng was about to put the "Beauty Scroll" back on the shelf when the Judge's Brush stopped him.

"Learn to read first, then learn to write."

Li Banfeng said, "I've already read it."

"You haven't read it thoroughly."

"Then I'll read it again tomorrow."

He put down the "Beauty Scroll" and picked up "Floating Clouds Inquiry Post." This book seemed to be written in plain language, yet it was even harder to understand than the "Beauty Scroll."

"I arrived at a place and wanted to see the pretty girls there. One glance wasn't enough, so I looked again. Two glances still weren't enough, so I kept staring. After more than two minutes, the girl hit me. After she left, I forgot what she looked like. She was so pretty; isn't it a shame to forget her? I kept thinking and thinking, but I couldn't remember. So I waited and waited on the street, and finally, the girl came back. But I found that she had changed; I didn't know if that was how she really looked or if I had mistaken her for someone else. I felt certain I hadn't mistaken her, but why wasn't she as I had imagined? How wonderful it would be if she were..."

All that rambling just about looking at a girl, writing such a huge chunk.

Li Banfeng flipped through a few pages. The lengthy descriptions of daily trivialities made him drowsy.

"Floating Clouds Inquiry Post" was a very useful book, but the only problem was that one had to find the useful parts oneself.

The next morning, Li Banfeng met Zuo Anna at Xiaoyao Dock.

Seeing Zuo Anna's grave expression, Li Banfeng knew that things were not going smoothly.

"You didn't find the Bandit Suppression Camp's quarters?"

Zuo Anna said, "We found it. The information Seventh Master provided was accurate. The Bandit Suppression Camp's quarters are in Dingye City."

"Then why the long face? We should be discussing our next move now." Li Banfeng had specifically told Zuo Anna that after verifying the information about the Bandit Suppression Camp, they absolutely must not act without consulting him, but instead plan the attack strategy together.

"Seventh Master, we didn't act on our own, because we don't have the capability." Zuo Anna took out a blueprint, which depicted the structure of Dingye City.

Li Banfeng looked at the blueprint carefully. "Is this map drawn by you?"

"Not a map, it's a hypothetical diagram."

"A hypothetical diagram?" Li Banfeng frowned. "You already know the location, why create a hypothetical diagram?"

"Because we simply couldn't get close to Dingye City. After receiving your lead, I immediately led people to reconnaissance, but we couldn't get any closer to the city once we were within ten li of it."

Zuo Anna marked the blueprint. "Around Dingye City, there are dense weapon defenses and numerous patrol boats. They only permit special vessels to enter Dingye City, like the royal passenger ship you discovered."

Li Banfeng shook his head. "That's unreasonable. Dingye City produces a large amount of grain, and this grain needs to be transported to many cities. There must be cargo ships entering and exiting."

"We didn't find any cargo ships."

"Although the people of the Shang Nation rely on coal for energy, they still need grain for nutrition. They wouldn't abandon such an important grain-producing area."

"Seventh Master, please trust our professionalism. During our reconnaissance, I can responsibly say that no other vessels entered or exited Dingye City except for the royal passenger ship. Any other vessel approaching Dingye City risks being sunk at any time. We deployed many reconnaissance devices, but whether for deep diving or stealth, they all malfunctioned around Dingye. This structural diagram was obtained through long-distance observation, combined with historical data of Dingye City, and derived through calculations and inferences."

How much value could long-distance observation from ten li away possibly have? Not to mention historical data; Dingye City must have undergone significant changes by now.

Li Banfeng didn't want to look at the blueprint anymore. Zuo Anna had also prepared a plan. "Even if we could obtain detailed information about Dingye City through reconnaissance, we wouldn't have the capability to attack it. Even if we managed to infiltrate the city, the strict defenses and deployments within the city wouldn't leave us an opportunity for widespread devastation."

"That's not necessarily true." Li Banfeng was very confident about the surprise attack.

"Seventh Master, I understand your thinking. Let me give you an example: if you wanted to successfully bring Cui Tik into the camp, you might be able to annihilate a large number of enemies through plague. However, Dingye City's structure is extremely complex. According to historical records, the city is inhabited by a large number of enslaved people. To prevent them from rebelling, the city is divided into hundreds of independent zones. If one zone becomes infected with a plague, the surrounding zones will immediately seal their entrances. With our current reconnaissance capabilities, it's almost impossible to find the Bandit Suppression Camp's specific zone. If we fail, it would be a futile sacrifice."

Li Banfeng looked at Zuo Anna. "I didn't say I was taking Cui Tik."

"That would be for the best!" Zuo Anna made no attempt to hide her concern for Cui Tik. "Aside from spreading plague, there are many other methods for widespread enemy casualties in Puro State. However, Dingye City has defenses against all of them. Whether using fire, water, or other means, any damage caused would be contained within a single zone and would be very difficult to spread to other areas. If any zone is attacked, Dingye City will activate its defenses and won't let any attacker escape. The White Falcon Alliance has combat records, and the Tufang Nation also has relevant accounts, indicating that all attempts to raid Dingye City have ended in failure. Various forces that tried to ambush Dingye City have paid a heavy price. The Shang Nation has never relaxed its guard concerning their grain storage, and now with the Bandit Suppression Camp, they will further increase their defensive investment. They might even forgo Dingye City's function as a granary. Therefore, we don't have the capability to attack Dingye City, at least not right now."

Zuo Anna's explanation was very clear, which aligned with Qiao Yi's consistent strategy: even if his actions were discovered, they would leave you helpless.

Li Banfeng picked up the blueprint of Dingye City. This city, with its dense grid patterns, looked like a beehive and was unexpectedly sturdy.

No matter how sturdy it was, it had to be attacked. The Bandit Suppression Camp absolutely could not be allowed to fully form.

Li Banfeng put away the blueprint and asked Zuo Anna, "Do you know about the Great Totem?"

Zuo Anna thought seriously for a while. "I know some concepts. The Great Totem is a means used by the Shang Nation for collection and transformation."

"A means? Isn't the Great Totem a real totem?"

Zuo Anna nodded. "There are also such theories. Within the Baiji Alliance, there are different explanations regarding whether the Great Totem truly exists. Personnel have been investigating the Great Totem, but their findings are never disclosed. I only know some of the most basic concepts: the Great Totem's most important function is to achieve the controllable conversion of dark energy. But as for the specific forms and results of this conversion, if you are eager to know more about the Great Totem, I can conduct some investigations."

"I'm eager to know?" Li Banfeng looked at Zuo Anna. "Do you think I'm just curious? Do you think this is an insignificant matter?"

Zuo Anna didn't deny it. "The White Falcon Alliance has been investigating the Great Totem for many years. Although they've kept it very secretive, I estimate they haven't achieved substantial results; otherwise, they wouldn't be so low-key. Furthermore, in both the White Falcon Alliance and Huan Nation, there's a popular belief that the so-called Great Totem is merely a legend of the Shang Nation, or even a means of bluffing."

Bluffing?

Was this Yuan Youshang's purpose for coming here?

Staging such a grand spectacle, even involving Lu Xiaolan, just to spread rumors?

Qiao Yi wouldn't do something so inefficient.

Li Banfeng instructed Zuo Anna, "I really want to know more about the Great Totem. Be sure to tell me if you find any information."

After seeing Zuo Anna off, Li Banfeng went to the Western-style house in Yuanzhu Lane, entered the Dark Dimension, and found Lushui City's local earth seal. A white circle was drawn on the box containing the seal, and the front of the seal itself also had a white circle carved on it. Yuan Youshang had said that this was the Great Totem.

What was so special about this totem?

How could this totem have caused Lu Xiaolan's cultivation to improve so quickly?

The Baiji Alliance understood the Great Totem as a means for collection and transformation. How should this concept be interpreted?

Zuo Anna couldn't explain it clearly. Who could?

Li Banfeng sat in silence in the Dark Dimension for a long time. Then he took out the blueprint Zuo Anna had left him.

The Great Totem needed to be investigated, but the Bandit Suppression Camp matter was clearly more urgent. The White Falcon Alliance lacked the ability to scout Dingye City. Who could possess such a capability?

Li Banfeng left Yuanzhu Lane, clutching the jade pendant A'yi had given him.

It was A'long who welcomed Li Banfeng into the village. "You'll have to be careful when you see the village chief today. Her temper hasn't been very good these past couple of days."

"What's wrong? Did her husband run away?"

A'long looked at Li Banfeng in surprise. "How did you know? Three days ago, Qiu Luoye left the village with the village chief and caught an old man, whom the village chief said was the famous Eighteen Wheels. Qiu Luoye said he had an agreement with the village chief that once they caught Eighteen Wheels, he could leave. The village chief kept her word and let Qiu Luoye go. But who would have thought that yesterday, Eighteen Wheels also ran away? Our village chief thought about it all day and finally figured it out." A'long suddenly stopped.

Li Banfeng turned to A'long. "Figured out what?"

"Eighteen Wheels and Qiu Luoye conspired to bully people, and no man is any good – that's what she said," A'long said, pointing towards the distant sorghum field. "The village chief is over there. Be extra careful."

Li Banfeng entered the sorghum field alone. A breeze swept by, making him shiver. Following the ominous direction, Li Banfeng found A'yi.

A'yi sat in the sorghum field, looking at Li Banfeng expressionlessly.

"Are you a man?"

"Yes."

"Just because you say so?"

"I have proof. I have a wife."

A fierce wind swept by, and a chill spread from his toes to the top of his head.

A'yi's face was grim, her eyes red, as she said, "Speak quickly."

Li Banfeng took Zuo Anna's blueprint from his pocket and handed it to A'yi.

There were no words on the drawing, but A'yi recognized it with just a glance. "This is Dingye City."

Li Banfeng nodded. "Can you help me open a path?"

"You want to go to Dingye City? What for?"

"I need to find the Bandit Suppression Camp."

"The Bandit Suppression Camp is in Dingye City?" A'yi thought carefully. "It's no use going there. It's all grids; you won't find them."

"Even if I can't find them, I still have to go look."

A'yi returned the blueprint to Li Banfeng. "This is too dangerous. The Shang Nation values its granaries greatly and guards them very closely."

Li Banfeng sat down next to A'yi. "I won't ask you to do this for nothing. Name your price."

A'yi looked at Li Banfeng affectionately. "Will you be my wife?"

Li Banfeng shook his head. "I am your brother, and you are my sister. This is not right."

"That makes sense," A'yi mused for a long time before thinking of another price. "I want to watch TV. The Dark Star Bureau has a television set that I particularly like. Can you get it for me?"

"What kind of television set?"

"A floor-standing black-and-white television. It's in a very peculiar spot; I don't know if you can get it."

"I can try." Li Banfeng had seen this television before.

"You try, and I'll try too," A'yi stood up. "Gourd Village was damaged by Eighteen Wheels and can now only operate within Puro State. I need three days to repair it. I once opened a path in Dingye City many years ago, but it hasn't been used. That path needs to be repaired again, which will take seven days. In total, it's ten days. After ten days, bring the television and come find me."

Li Banfeng asked, "You have to tell me what you need this television for."

"I already told you, I just want to watch TV," A'yi said, looking at Li Banfeng with a hint of resentment. "If you change your mind after ten days, I won't hate you. Men are all no good anyway; I'll just consider it my bitter fate."

A'yi waved towards the edge of the sorghum field, signaling A'long to escort Li Banfeng out of Gourd Village.

The television she wanted was in the Dark Star Bureau's stairwell, in the room where the old train was confined. Could he really give her this item?

Li Banfeng also hesitated.

The Portable Dwelling whispered in his ear, "Ah Qi, be careful. That television might be connected to Lai Wuju."

Li Banfeng had also thought of this. But the Bandit Suppression Camp issue had to be resolved; it was a knife at Puro State's throat.

"First, I'll make a trip to Waizhou." Li Banfeng looked up at the clouds on the horizon.

As long as he went to the Peddler's house, he could directly reach the Dark Star Bureau's stairwell.

The Portable Dwelling reminded him, "Ah Qi, don't be hasty."

Indeed, he couldn't be hasty. To this day, Li Banfeng still didn't know who the woman in that house was.

He couldn't go to the Dark Star Bureau through her; he needed to find the most covert route. He had to make sure the woman in the clouds didn't know, nor A'yi, nor the Dark Star Bureau.

Li Banfeng had Ma Wu use someone else's name to procure him a travel permit. That afternoon, he boarded a train bound for Waizhou.

He didn't take a special train, didn't reveal his identity, and only bought a ticket for a single compartment. With Li Banfeng's current cultivation level, no one would be able to recognize him.

Sitting in his compartment, Li Banfeng held the blueprint of Dingye City, trying to find some clues.

Click!

The compartment door twisted open, and a train attendant entered. "Sir, please show your ticket."

Checking tickets after departure was something Li Banfeng had grown used to.

However, the fact that Li Banfeng hadn't sensed the attendant before the door opened, almost exposing the blueprint, was something he couldn't get used to.

He put away the blueprint and took out his ticket.

The attendant, with an icy expression, took the ticket and verified it three times, repeatedly.

Li Banfeng activated his Golden Gaze of Autumn Hairs and Insightful Spirit Sound, trying to see if the attendant was carrying any magical artifacts.

The attendant verified the ticket and turned to leave.

Li Banfeng didn't see any magical artifacts, but he did see some patterns on the attendant's back.

The patterns were dense and difficult to make out clearly.

As the attendant walked out of the compartment, Li Banfeng pushed his Golden Gaze of Autumn Hairs to its limit.

Blood vessels appeared in the whites of his eyes, and Li Banfeng barely managed to discern some details.

It wasn't patterns; it was text.

There was an attendant, named Tie Lusheng.His face like frost-hardened iron,His brows like a broken blade's sharp edge.His steps measured the ground like a ruler,His voice like the solemn striking of a bell.Tickets he'd check three times,Compartments he'd patrol until the fifth watch.Drunk patrons would straighten their collars,Naughty children would shrink their necks and fall silent.