Steam Era: The Lord of 'Puluo' Chapter 941 - 526: Appointment (3)

"Yes, husband," the phonograph replied, finding curse cultivation not overly burdensome. "Among the myriad skills, each possesses its own merit. Home cultivation offers some resistance to curse cultivation. Should you be afflicted by a curse, returning home suffices; one can rely on the domicile and its spirit to endure it.

Similarly, virtue cultivation acts as a counter to curse cultivation. During confrontations, if the situation turns unfavorable, virtue cultivation compels the curse cultivator to reveal the truth, exposing their methods and the secrets to breaking the curse.

Peeping cultivation holds the greatest restraint over curse cultivation. Those who practice it can perceive the very origins of curse techniques, enabling them to eradicate them entirely and even pinpoint the curse caster. Curse cultivators falter in direct confrontations. Once discovered, their defeat is all but certain.

Naturally, this is also contingent on cultivation levels. A low-level peeping cultivator would struggle against a high-level curse. Only when the cultivation realms of both parties are relatively matched can a true mutual suppression occur."

Li Banfeng lightly touched the earrings, murmuring, "Eat more, grow strong, and assist me when I encounter curse cultivators in the future."

"Rest assured, master!" The earrings, deeply moved, burrowed into An Zongding's body, consuming their fill with gusto.

Li Banfeng desired to broach a subject with his wife. "I intend to visit Green Flower's abode, lure Feng Chongli and Mu Yuejuan inside together, and have you deal with them."

The phonograph expressed surprise. "Husband, by what means do you plan to lure them?"

Li Banfeng responded, "The most straightforward approach: a frontal assault. I shall place a lock on Green Flower's door; these two will be unable to depart for the time being.

Shortly thereafter, I will remove the lock and then deploy the portable residence, awaiting the moment the two rush in."

The tactic of a direct lure was hardly novel. Li Banfeng had employed it on multiple occasions, becoming quite proficient.

Hong Ying chimed in from beside him, "An excellent plan, Qi Lang. I shall stand guard at the entrance; whoever arrives, I shall dispatch, thereby saving considerable trouble."

The phonograph contemplated for a moment but did not concur. "Husband, if the adversary hails from the mortal realm, your methods are suitable. However, if they originate from realms beyond the clouds, this door-to-door strategy will barely suffice.

These two hail from celestial realms. A single misstep could lead you into their carefully laid trap. This method is absolutely inadvisable.

Cultivators from above the clouds possess techniques and abilities beyond your current comprehension. We have already secured a victory today, husband. You must not squander this advantage through underestimation."

Heeding his wife's counsel, Li Banfeng abandoned the pursuit of Feng Chongli and Mu Yuejuan.

His inaction directly led to their escalating predicament.

They desperately sought any means to escape the Dark Dimension Space. Feng Chongli found the lock impenetrable, leaving Mu Yuejuan's paintings as their sole viable option.

Mu Yuejuan possessed the ability to traverse between her painted realms, a renowned artist whose works were widely collected. As long as a connection existed between her creations, she could infiltrate another painting.

However, Mu Yuejuan was hesitant to utilize this method. It was not due to the technique's demands but rather her aversion to bringing others into her painted domains, which would inevitably expose numerous secrets.

Yet, with no other recourse, Mu Yuejuan swiftly produced an ink painting. With a few decisive strokes, a landscape materialized before them.

Mu Yuejuan guided Feng Chongli into the painted landscape, embarking on a journey down a gentle river.

Their passage lasted for an hour.

After an hour of rowing, Feng Chongli's impatience surfaced. "Is this merely a painting? Must we take it so literally? Do you truly expect me to row diligently in earnest?"

Mu Yuejuan's brow furrowed. "Why the complaint? Do I not need to locate a landing spot?"

The destination she sought was not within the current scroll but a nexus connecting to another. This nexus could lie within a depicted cave or at the edge of a forest, depending on which painted realm Mu Yue Juan could sense.

A significant barrier separated the Unnameable Place from the conventional world. Typically, locating an exit point would take mere moments, yet after a full hour, they remained unsuccessful.

A subtle breeze and a gentle drizzle signaled an imminent connection. Mu Yue Juan rejoiced, urging Feng Chongli to row with greater speed as they entered a serene lotus pond.

This lotus pond was a scene depicted in one of Mu Yue Juan's paintings, later acquired by He Jiaqing, serving as their communication hub. Mu Yue Juan attempted to disembark but found only scorched earth depicted on the canvas.

What could have happened? Mu Yue Juan's painted realm had been immolated by He Jiaqing. With the painting destroyed, the courtyard it depicted was naturally reduced to ashes, rendering that passage utterly useless.

Mu Yuejuan and Feng Chongli continued their quest for the subsequent passage. After more than eight hours of navigation, their modest vessel glided into a lake, igniting a fresh glimmer of hope within Mu Yuejuan.

However, just as they were nearing the shore, Mu Yuejuan's spirits plummeted once more.

This particular depiction had also been consumed by flames—a self-portrait she had crafted for Ling Miaoying, an oil painting set beside the tranquil lake.

He Jiaqing had been unaware that this artwork hailed from Mu Yuejuan's own hand; had he known, he would never have preserved it until this very juncture.

Feng Chongli inquired, "Is there any alternative route?"

"If you possess a solution, why don't you propose it yourself!" Mu Yuejuan retorted with palpable irritation. "If you've nothing to offer, then keep rowing!"

...

Within the confines of their portable abode, the family had concluded their repast, entrusting the post-meal cleanup to the Red Lotus.

An Zongding possessed three mystical artifacts. Since the Red Lotus did not subsist on uncooked sustenance, these three artifacts were presented to the phonograph.

The phonograph commenced its examination of the initial mystical artifact, which turned out to be an incense burner. Upon the phonograph's gentle tapping with its needle, the incense burner promptly grasped its purpose and exhibited its inherent technique.

It initiated by igniting the incense, and amidst the gracefully ascending tendrils of smoke, it morphed into an elegant long sword, pirouetting through the air. A gust of wind accompanied the blade's swift movements, and Li Banfeng could discern that this sword possessed a tangible form and was of exceptional sharpness.