Steam Era: The Lord of 'Puluo' Chapter 1441 645: Smoke Land

Li Banfeng, accompanied by Xiao Yeci, followed Juanzi heading west. Luobo Mountain lies at the periphery of the Three-Head Fork. After a three-day journey, the three of them continued moving towards the central area of the Three-Head Fork.

Xiao Yeci held paper and pen, recording the sights and experiences along the way. Li Banfeng brought her because Xiao Yeci was meticulous and had excellent writing skills, able to capture the essence of the Three-Head Fork's natural and cultural landscape on paper.

The projector also captured many precious images, yet by the third day, not much could be recorded.

The road had lost its villages, and homes became increasingly rare. Initially, there were still some exotic flowers and plants, but after walking for most of the day, the ground was covered with bald, black rocks, not even soil could be seen, let alone flowers.

Around three o'clock in the afternoon, Juanzi pointed at a hill not too far away: "Seventh Master, let's stay in that cave today."

Li Banfeng glanced at his pocket watch: "It's so early; are we bedding down already?"

"Seventh Master, if we go further, we won't find a suitable shelter even if we walk till dawn. This place has particularly abundant Heavenly Light at night."

According to Juanzi, the Heavenly Light varies in different territories within the Three-Head Fork. The area they were traversing was called Black Yellow Beach, characterized by sparse Heavenly Light during the day and abundant at night.

From dawn to dusk, a whole day might pass within a hundred miles without encountering a single beam of Heavenly Light.

But come night, the same territory could be plowed by beams of Heavenly Light.

They had to find a suitable place for the night before darkness fell, and the cave Juanzi suggested seemed quite fitting.

Everyone settled into the cave, Xiao Yeci organized her notes while Li Banfeng asked Juanzi: "What's the origin of the name Black Yellow Beach?"

Black likely refers to the barren black rocks everywhere, but what does yellow denote?

Juanzi was also unsure of the name's origin, after thinking for a moment she said: "Perhaps it's related to the smoke trees."

"Trees? There's not even soil visible, how could there be trees?"

"Black Yellow Beach has a territory known as Smoke Land, which is heavily polluted with smoke, regular trees cannot survive there, only smoke trees thrive,

The leaves of smoke trees remain yellow throughout the year, I reckon that's the source of the name Black Yellow Beach,

We are robust, and when the wind is strong, smoke isn't thick, we can traverse Smoke Land, those less sturdy can be choked to death halfway through."

As she spoke, Juanzi glanced at Xiao Yeci.

Xiao Yeci dismissed it indignantly: "How can you say that? I'm also a Third Layer Cultivator, my physique isn't weak."

Juanzi turned to Li Qi: "Seventh Master, are we really going to Smoke Land? I'm concerned about Seventh Madam..."

"Don't speak nonsense!" Xiao Yeci blushed, "I'm not Seventh Madam, really I'm not..."

Li Banfeng took out canned food and biscuits from his backpack, distributing them to Juanzi, Mengzi, Xiao Shan, and Xiao Yeci.

Xiao Yeci was curious about how much stuff Li Qi had packed in his backpack, with enough food every day for the three-day journey, she even felt she had gained some weight.

Having eaten and drunk to satisfaction, they tidied up briefly, Xiao Yeci and Juanzi slept, while Li Banfeng returned to his portable residence.

He opened Xiao Yeci's notebook and compared it with the projector images, as Li Banfeng began to map the Three-Head Fork alone.

Phonograph glanced and asked Li Banfeng: "Beloved husband, what's this pointy thing you're drawing?"

"It's a mountain."

"And what about these two trees?"

"Trees are just trees."

"Why are the trees drawn as tall as the mountain?"

"Why worry about such details? As long as I can understand it, that's fine."

"Husband is very meticulous, drew a house beside the mountain too."

"Actually, it's not really a house, just a cave to sleep in."

Phonograph sighed: "Ah husband, this map makes sense now, but in a few days it might not be so clear, perhaps discuss the route with Blood-Thirsty, she knows Western drawing techniques, let her help you map."

Blood-Thirsty Pendulum hurried to assist Li Banfeng in drawing, Hong Ying was also adept at painting, but Phonograph didn't like her ink wash painting method, so she merely spectated.

After watching for a while, Hong Ying grew tired, Pendulum's pace was too slow.

Li Banfeng asked: "Have you been worn out these past two days?"

Blood-Thirsty Pendulum wasn't sure how to respond.

Recently, she hadn't exerted herself as much as others, fatigue was unlikely. Yet she did feel more sluggish lately.

After contemplating for a long time, Pendulum explained: "Master, it's inconvenient lately."

Upon hearing this, Hong Ying burst into laughter: "You don't even have a body, what inconvenience can there be!"

In this room, only Hong Ying could genuinely claim inconvenience, her body was truly self-grown.

Phonograph chuckled: "I also sense your inconvenience, Blood-Thirsty lass, you've grown plumper these days."

Pendulum hurriedly clarified: "Lady is correct, during the last encounter with Lai Baifan, I consumed plenty of blood, and haven't fought recently, nursing the body without much activity, I've grown considerably plump, hence my sluggishness."

Phonograph stroked Pendulum twice with the phonograph needle: "Alright, then let's exercise a bit and finish this map."

By late night, the map was three-quarters complete, Li Banfeng went to sleep, and Pendulum rested too.

Around four thirty in the morning, Phonograph awoke, hearing some commotion from the second son.

She wanted to engage Insightful Spirit Sound to listen carefully, the flame at her chest flickered slightly, although slight, it still revealed a change in light.

This was a troublesome matter, for every time Phonograph tried using a technique, the flame changed, and it's difficult to conceal. Ordinary folks couldn't detect it, but the unusual people in the second son definitely could.