Steam Era: The Lord of 'Puluo' Chapter 934 - 525: An Zongding, You’re Here

He Jiaqing conjured a fiery orb on his fingertip, consumed by flames, Mu Yuejuan’s painted work. Mu Yuejuan was still in a discussion with Feng Chongli, and every word He Jiaqing spoke to her was the unvarnished truth. The initial visit to the Greenwater Beggar’s dwelling was necessitated by an ambush. The moment he stepped inside, he indeed found the Greenwater Beggar lying in wait near the entrance. He genuinely has no knowledge of whether the Greenwater Beggar remains alive or has met his end; all he knows for certain is that Li Banfeng was the one who dispatched the Greenwater Beggar. However, even truth can be a tool for deception. Sun Tiecheng’s most senior disciple, Gu Rusong, declared Tang Changfa deceased, a statement that held accuracy; Tang Changfa had indeed passed away long before. This specific declaration struck a nerve, highlighting Tang Changfa’s vulnerability and perfectly embodying the core principle of the Foolish Cultivation Technique: exploiting others’ strengths and weaknesses. He Jiaqing was not particularly adept at the Foolish Cultivation Technique itself—it was solely the facet of exploiting others’ strengths and weaknesses that he managed with some proficiency, enabling him to pinpoint Mu Yuejuan’s vulnerabilities. The first weakness identified was avarice. Mu Yuejuan harbored a strong desire for the Greenwater Beggar’s territory. Despite having no need for human essence, the territory held immense significance in her heart, prompting her to take considerable risks and bend the rules under the watchful gaze of the Peddler. The second weakness was carnal desire. Had Zhang Gunli been the one to deceive Mu Yuejuan, the endeavor would have been substantially more arduous. Zhang Gunli possessed a formidable appearance and an aura synonymous with the rough-and-tumble marketplace. In contrast, He Jiaqing presented a handsome visage and the refined demeanor of a wealthy young master. By skillfully leveraging these two distinct weaknesses, the technique of exploiting others’ strengths and weaknesses proved remarkably effective. Regrettably, this particular technique had been pilfered, rendering its application restricted. He Jiaqing initiated contact with several individuals affiliated with the Brotherhood Alliance, tasking them with the continuous acquisition of intelligence concerning Gu Rusong. His ultimate objective was to secure another opportunity to reclaim the stolen technique. ... "I must admit, the insights provided by those sassy hooves are indeed quite useful!" The Phonograph, eyes fixed upon Teacher Song’s meticulous notes, proceeded to enhance the Greenwater Beggar’s begging bowl. Originally equipped with a solitary spoon, it now contained three distinct implements: one crimson, one golden, and one azure. "Husband, you must engrave this into your memory: the yellow spoon signifies direction, the blue spoon unlocks passages, and the red spoon secures them. Never mistake one for another." The Phonograph, aware of Li Banfeng’s somewhat impetuous temperament, feared he might resort to the wrong methods at a crucial juncture. Thus, she meticulously assigned the three unique functions of the bowl to the three separate spoons. Li Banfeng was not idle either; he had, in fact, uncovered another hidden Dark Dimension Space within Greenwater City. This particular space was situated on Fortune Avenue, within the vicinity of Round Bamboo Square. Round Bamboo Square represented an ancient district nestled in the southern reaches of Greenwater City. In the city’s nascent stages, it stood as its most flourishing commercial hub. However, as Greenwater City experienced expansion and its central focus shifted, Round Bamboo Square gradually fell into disuse by prominent households, transforming into a shadowy haven for vagrants and ne'er-do-wells. Li Banfeng acquired a three-story residence in Round Bamboo Square. Though aged, the mansion offered ample space. Due to years of neglect, the expansive grounds had become thoroughly overrun with untamed vegetation. The interior chambers were vast; the walls, displaying a mottled and dusty facade, seemed to amplify every footstep and spoken word—a place that evoked a palpable sense of unease when visited alone. His primary motivation for purchasing the mansion stemmed from the discovery of the Dark Dimension Space’s entrance, precisely located adjacent to the closet in the second room situated on the mansion’s second floor. Designating this specific chamber—the second room on the second floor—Li Banfeng, feeling a certain affinity for the number two, christened this particular Dark Dimension Space the "Second House." The internal environment within the Second House was not completely devoid of light, yet it presented a distinct divergence from Green Flower’s dwelling. In Green Flower’s abode, the external panorama was clearly discernible, but the objects within its confines bore striking differences from their external counterparts. Similarly, the Second House offered an unclouded view of the surroundings, yet the items within its dimensions were incongruous with those found outside. Furthermore, individuals’ spatial perception within the house experienced a complete inversion. Upon entering the Second House, Li Banfeng noticed a chair positioned to his left. Intending to ascertain its corresponding element within the Dark Dimension Space, he began to reach out towards the left. After an extended period of fumbling, he encountered nothing. The reason for his failure was that Li Banfeng had misperceived the direction, inadvertently finding himself on the right side. This mishap was not attributable to Li Banfeng’s own shortcomings; not only was he incapable of discerning direction, but even the gloves seemed disoriented, leading him astray towards a location beneath the bed while he was seeking treasure near the flowerpot. Li Banfeng attempted to step forward with his left foot. As he lifted his leg, he instead extended his right foot, resulting in a sudden loss of balance and a stumble. At that critical moment, the Tang Sword moved to offer assistance, inadvertently causing confusion between the sword’s hilt and its tip, nearly impaling Li Banfeng.

By sheer luck, this Dark Dimension Space was not overwhelmingly large, comparable to the dance floor at Xiaoyao Lodge. After a few hours, Li Banfeng's party, through their clumsy stumbling and bumping, began to get accustomed to the environment.

Initially, Li Banfeng perceived the layout of this Dark Dimension Space as exceedingly intricate due to its inverted orientation. However, upon further exploration, he discovered it to be quite bare.

The very emptiness of the place made it a considerable challenge to select an appropriate location for interring the deed.

With no better options, Li Banfeng used the external environment as his guide, excavating a deep pit beneath the desk situated in the sixth room on the second floor.

First, he applied his blood to the Iron Token. Following this, he drafted a Paper Contract, which he also soaked in his blood.

Shortly thereafter, an inscription materialized on the Iron Token: "Li Qisheng Zhao Nongbao, obtains the entire realm.".

In this manner, Li Banfeng officially assumed the mantle of the Local Deity of Greenwater Bay.

After interring the Contract Book and covering it with a layer of soil, he was about to retrieve the Land Seal when an oppressive sensation suddenly bore down on his chest, making it difficult to breathe.

"Young brother, no need to hurry; have a sip first," the Wine Gourd urged, offering Li Banfeng a taste of wine directly from its mouth.

Imbibing the liquid brought him a significant sense of relief.

This was a special medicinal liquor concocted by the Wine Gourd under the Phonograph's guidance. The Phonograph understood the immense weight associated with the Greenwater Bay's status. It recognized that Li Banfeng, at his current cultivation level, might find it overwhelming to bear such a significant responsibility.

Once he regained his breath, Li Banfeng felt the oppressive pressure on his chest gradually subside. He then carefully placed the Land Seal into its box, finally burying both beneath the earth.