Who Will Be Ye Song Bridge's Local Earth God?

"Ye Jianhuang, shouldn't we settle our old scores from before?" The seemingly honest man...

He had been squatting on the ground, but now he stood up, still with his hands clasped together, and gave Ye Jianhuang a simple and honest smile.

Chu Shaoqiang didn't recognize the middle-aged man, but he could see the fear in Ye Jianhuang's eyes.

Ye Jianhuang are indeed a concern.

This is Sun Tiecheng, the Fool's City once struck fear into the hearts of all.

Ye Jianhuang filled his pipe with tobacco leaves, lit it, and said while smoking, "I wasn't the only one who started this."

Sun Tiecheng laughed and said, "I have to settle accounts with more than just you. I just happened to run into you today, so I'll start with you."

Ye Jianhuang exhaled a puff of smoke, and under the shroud of smoke, he wanted to turn his own body into smoke as well.

This is one of the most difficult methods to deal with when using smoke repair. Once the smoke is successfully dissipated, many attack methods will be ineffective against smoke repair.

Sun Tiecheng waved his hand, clearing away the smoke in front of him, and coughed twice, saying, "Can't you smoke something better? This smoke is killing me."

"This damn tobacco will kill you sooner or later. And when you're dead, you'll be burned and turn into smoke!"

As the smoke dissipated, the Ye Jianhuang failed to turn into smoke.

Because Sun Tiecheng had said before that once Ye Jianhuang died, he should be burned and turned into smoke.

On the other hand, if it turns into smoke, does that mean the Ye Jianhuang mean the plant is dead?

Ye Jianhuang shook his head vigorously.

No, that's not right.

This is Fool Cultivation Skill, Reversing Cause and Effect.

The Ye Jianhuang can turn into smoke because it is a smoke cultivator, which has nothing to do with whether it is dead or not.

But Sun Tiecheng kept grinning at Ye Jianhuang: "Try turning into smoke, see if you die, see if you can turn back!"

After a brief standoff, Ye Jianhuang dared not turn into smoke. He took another puff of smoke and blew it onto Sun Tiecheng, intending to turn Sun Tiecheng into smoke.

He knew it would be difficult, but even if he only used a portion of it, or only used it for a short while, it would give him the upper hand.

Sun Tiecheng waved his hand; he didn't turn into smoke, but coughed twice more. "Are you smoking tree leaves, you son of a bitch? If you blow smoke at me again, I'll sew your mouth shut."

"With your meager skills, you think you can turn me into smoke? Whoever turns into smoke today will die here!"

Gambling Cultivation Technique, All or Nothing.

Sun Tiecheng and Ye Jianhuang made a bet.

If Ye Jianhuang could turn Sun Tiecheng into smoke, Sun Tiecheng would pay with his life.

If the Ye Jianhuang were to turn into smoke, Ye Jianhuang lose its own life.

This effectively cuts off the escape route for the Ye Jianhuang.

Would Sun Tiecheng Gambling Cultivation Technique?

Ye Jianhuang was uncertain, but Ye Jianhuang dared not gamble. He wasn't sure if Sun Tiecheng had also practiced other Daoist arts.

He couldn't be sure which of Sun Tiecheng's statements were true.

He himself dared not turn into smoke, nor could he turn Sun Tiecheng into smoke. So how should they fight next?

Ye Jianhuang was in a panic, and accidentally knocked his pipe onto the cement platform, scattering ash everywhere.

He also possessed many other skills; he could transform smoke into deadly poison, into weapons, and even into prisons.

Trapped the opponent.

But would this be of any use to Sun Tiecheng?

With his ability to dissipate into smoke gone, Ye Jianhuang had given up on fighting and wasn't even sure if he could escape.

Sun Tiecheng, with his hands behind his back, slowly said, "Ye Jianhuang, didn't you call yourself a 'Three-Pot Tobacco Pouch'? You've only smoked one pack. You haven't reached your full potential yet. Keep smoking, and try some better cigarettes. I'll wait here."

The Three-Pot Tobacco Pouch, with its Ye Jianhuang, Smoke Cultivation Grandmaster. Without much effort, he put away his pipe and respectfully bowed to Sun Tiecheng.

"City Lord Sun, I wronged you back then. You spared my life, and I will do with you as you see fit."

Sun Tiecheng laughed, "Do with it as I please. Do you want it turned to smoke or to ashes?"

Ye Jianhuang could understand: turning into smoke meant death, turning into ash meant being reduced to ashes and disappearing without a trace, leaving not even a soul behind.

"City Lord Sun, I beg you to spare my life!" Ye Jianhuang pleaded again.

"Is this your life?" Sun Tiecheng grabbed at Ye Jianhuang from afar, Ye Jianhuang felt as if something was missing from her body.

Sun Tiecheng pinched a ball of air and rubbed and played with it in his hand.

What kind of technique is that? He's taking his life away!

Ye Jianhuang sensed something in that mass of air; if Sun Tiecheng crushed it, he would be dead.

"City Lord Sun, please show mercy."

Sun Tiecheng nodded. "Go to Fool's City and wait for me. Don't go into the city, just wait at the city gate."

Ye Jianhuang said, "I haven't been to Fool's City for many years. I don't know where Fool's City is now..."

Sun Tiecheng smiled and said, "Go ahead and look for it. You're Smoke Cultivation Grandmaster, so this is no difficult task for you. You'll definitely be able to find it."

Ye Jianhuang didn't dare say anything more and left with his pipe.

Without using any smoke or any special techniques, he proceeded just like an ordinary person, step by step, carefully.

We left the abandoned factory.

Sun Tiecheng looked at Chu Shaoqiang: "Whose side are you on?"

Chu Shaoqiang said, "Either is fine."

This answer sounded very cold, but it truly came from Chu Shaoqiang's heart.

Sun Tiecheng smiled and asked, "Where did Red Lotus go?"

Chu Shaoqiang picked up the briefcase from the ground and presented it to Sun Tiecheng with both hands.

Sun Tiecheng frowned and said, "You think you can fool me with this bag?"

Chu Shaoqiang quickly reached into his bag and took Red Lotus out.

The Red Lotus is protected by layers of magic arrays, but even a stranger would not dare to touch it lightly.

Sun Tiecheng, however, showed no fear and directly took Red Lotus with his hands.

Chu Shaoqiang left a mechanism on the magic array, so he could use his skills to break it at any time.

After breaking the magic array, Sun Tiecheng had directly come into contact with the Red Lotus, Red Lotus would soon attract the light of day.

Sun Tiecheng was not afraid. He held the Red Lotus in one hand and admired it for a long time, not worried at all that Chu Shaoqiang would take any action.

"I'll take this." Sun Tiecheng tucked the Red Lotus into his sleeve. Chu Shaoqiang thought his sleeve wasn't that big and wondered how Sun Tiecheng had managed to tuck it in.

After putting away the Red Lotus, Sun Tiecheng said to Chu Shaoqiang, "Tell that soap seller that this thing is with me. If he wants it back, he can come to me to get it."

Chu Shaoqiang nodded repeatedly.

Sun Tiecheng pointed to the ladder below and asked, "Isn't there a crucian carp down there?"

There was indeed a crucian carp below. Chu Shaoqiang said, "He is the person guarding the passage in Inner State."

Sun Tiecheng picked up a steel bar from the ground, bent it into a hook with his hand, and called over Shi Gongxing, asking him to sharpen the tip of the hook.

Having made the fishhook, Sun Tiecheng took a steel beam from the factory, used it as a fishing rod, attached a rope, tied the hook, threw it into the water, and leisurely sat by the pond to start fishing.

Do you think the crucian carp will take the bait?

Chu Shaoqiang quickly replied, "I don't know how to fish, and I don't know the methods here."

Sun Tiecheng was very confident. "I've already set the bait, how can he not take it?"

Chu Shaoqiang replied, "Well—not every time you cast your line, a fish will bite."

Sun Tiecheng added, "This hook is so big, it was specially prepared for him. How can he be so ungrateful?"

Chu Shaoqiang said, "He does look a lot like a crucian carp, but he's actually a person, from Inner State— "

Sun Tiecheng then asked, "After he takes the bait, I'll cook him up. Would you dare to eat him?"

What should Chu Shaoqiang say?

This crucian carp belongs to someone from Inner State. How do you expect him to eat it?

"Senior, I don't like eating fish."

Sun Tiecheng laughed, "You feel sorry for this crucian carp?"

"I really don't like it—"

"You have to eat it whether you want to or not, this fish is very nutritious!" As soon as he finished speaking, Sun Tiecheng his fishing rod and pulled a huge crucian carp out of the pond.

The crucian carp struggled fiercely on the iron hook, breaking the ladder and cracking the wall, seemingly determined to fight Sun Tiecheng to the death.

But Chu Shaoqiang couldn't understand one thing: why would someone from Inner State bite a fishhook?

Could it be that because he's been in the water for too long, his intelligence has really degenerated into that of a fish?

Even now, Chu Shaoqiang has not fully grasped the power of the Fool Cultivation Skill.

"Fish is delicious, but it has to be cleaned before eating!" Sun Tiecheng threw the big crucian carp on the ground, tore off a large piece of sheet metal from the lathe, used it as a knife, and scraped off the fish scales in a few strokes.

Next, the fish was gutted and its internal organs removed, and that's how a crucian carp was prepared.

Chu Shaoqiang suspected that this man from Inner State had really turned into a fish. Throughout the entire process, the crucian carp did not make any other effective counterattacks except for thrashing its body.

Sun Tiecheng inserted the fishing rod into the fish's mouth and then turned to instruct Shi Gongxing to start a fire.

Shi Gongxing didn't dare say another word. He brought over a pile of scrap wood from outside, used it as firewood, and dismantled the machine tool.

Once the frame was set up, they grilled fish right there in the factory.

The fish was cooked in no time.

Sun Tiecheng tore off a piece of fish and gave it to Chu Shaoqiang: "Eat it."

Chu Shaoqiang took a bite of the fish, his feelings were very complicated.

He recalled his visit to Pro State last year.

He was entrusted with an important task by the Inner State to handle important matters in Pro State.

He once swore that as long as he had a breath left, he would go through fire and water for the sake of the Inner State, even at the cost of his life.

He once publicly stated that the kindness he received from the Inner State could never be repaid in his lifetimes.

Now he has eaten his benefactor...

This process is very confusing.

How did things get to this point?

Chu Shaoqiang felt a pang of sadness, yet his mouth tasted strangely sweet.

This crucian carp is absolutely delicious!

Sun Tiecheng tore off another piece of fish for him.

What should we do?

Despite his inner pain, Chu Shaoqiang forced himself to eat the fish.

After finishing his meal, he looked at Sun Tiecheng with a deep sense of guilt.

Sun Tiecheng frowned and said, "Do it yourself. Don't always make me serve you!"

Chu Shaoqiang nodded and tore off a piece of fish for himself.

Shi Gongxing brought out two jars of wine, and the three of them spent the entire afternoon eating the big crucian carp.

Chu Shaoqiang and Shi Gongxing both have special techniques that can expand their stomachs, but after each ate several hundred kilograms of fish and meat at once, they felt somewhat bloated.

Sun Tiecheng didn't feel bloated. He was still somewhat unsatisfied and scraped all the fish meat off the fish bones, leaving only a beautiful fish skeleton.

"Do you two know? This fish is still alive."

Shi Gongxing dared not speak, and Chu Shaoqiang did not understand Sun Tiecheng's meaning.

Sun Tiecheng stroked the clean and tidy fish bones. "He is really alive, because he wants to live. He can still move. Big crucian carp, if you want to live, try moving."

The fishbone trembled slightly.

Sun Tiecheng touched the fish's gills again. "It can still breathe, it's definitely alive. Try breathing it yourself."

The fish's gills flickered twice, as if it were panting.

"It can bite." Sun Tiecheng touched the fish's mouth, and the crucian carp opened its mouth and shook its head, as if it really wanted to bite.

Thump!

Sun Tiecheng picked up the fish bones and threw them into the pool.

The fish bones swam around in the pool twice before sinking to the bottom, just like they were alive.

Sun Tiecheng poked Chu Shaoqiang's forehead with his finger. "Remember what you should remember, and forget what you shouldn't remember. You can go now."

Chu Shaoqiang left.

He walks slowly because his legs are too short.

Sun Tiecheng told him not to worry, to eat more meat and bones, and his limbs would grow back quickly.

After Chu Shaoqiang had walked away, Sun Tiecheng turned to Shi Gongxing and laughed, "Remember what you should remember, and forget what you shouldn't. You still have to stay here. If anyone wants to go to Inner State, let them go. Go down into the pond and feed the fish."

After saying that, he poked Shi Gongxing with his finger. Shi Gongxing shuddered, picked up a wrench, and crawled under the machine tool.

Off to work.

Sun Tiecheng smiled and slowly walked out of the abandoned factory.

Ye Song Bridge, Smoke Cloud Tower, and Li Banfeng invited Zheng Siyi to dinner.

Zheng Siyi naturally dared not neglect the invitation and brought a gift with him to the banquet. The two enjoyed their meal and drinks in a very harmonious atmosphere.

After a few rounds of drinks, Li Banfeng got down to business. "I invited Brother Zheng here today because I need your help with something. There's a pavilion on Shuiyun Road with a special spot there that I'd like to go in and take a look."

After Liao Zihui left, Zheng Siyi sealed off the area around the pavilion and assigned someone to guard it.

Those few people couldn't stop Li Banfeng, but Li Banfeng couldn't find the entrance to that special place.

Zheng Siyi said, "According to General Envoy Liao's deduction, that Stealth Space is the dwelling place of Ye Song Bridge's Local Earth God — 'Stealth Space'?"

Zheng Siyi explained, "Stealth Space is a special space below the normal dimension. Because it is difficult to find the entrance to the space by ordinary means, it is called Stealth Space."

Li Banfeng asked, "Are there any spaces outside of normal dimensions?"

"Yes," Zheng Siyi nodded. "I'm a straightforward person, so I'll tell you everything I know. There's a type of space that doesn't exist in the dimensions we're familiar with. That dimension can't be observed by ordinary means; we call it Dark Dimension Space. I can't say much about Dark Dimension Space because I don't know much about it either."

Seventh Master wants to see the dwelling place of the Local Earth God. I can recall my men at any time to facilitate this for Seventh Master. However, there are two things I must tell Seventh Master first. First, there's not much good stuff left in this Stealth Space. General Envoy Liao went there once, and General Envoy Xia went there once as well. They took almost everything useful.

The second thing is that I can't open the Stealth Space. Only the main headquarters has special personnel who can do that. There's a man named Fu Qingguang by General Envoy Liao's side. He's very special; he can open the Stealth Space using techniques.

I have no dealings with Fu Qingguang. If Seventh Master can find him, this matter will be easy to handle. If Seventh Master can't find him, there might be someone from the same Daoist sect as him who can also get this done.

"What sect does this person belong to?"

"I have indeed inquired about it. In Outer State, they call these people 'Magnetic Sensor,' while in Pro State, they call them 'Electric Cultivator.' This kind of sect is very rare. Among fellow disciples, there is contact and mutual support. Outside of the sect, very few people know about them."

Magnetic Sensor? Electric Cultivator?

Could Luo ZhengNan be associated with this Daoist sect?

As Li Banfeng was pondering, Zheng Siyi took out a box from his pocket, opened the lid, and said, "Seventh Master, would you please take a look and tell me what the quality of this is?"

Li Banfeng took the box and saw that it contained a Profound Essence Pill.

He recognized the item, but in front of Zheng Siyi, Li Banfeng didn't speak rashly, "Brother Zheng, this must be a very precious elixir, right?"

Zheng Siyi lowered his voice and said, "These pills are extremely valuable, but we can't use them. They'll only be useful to the cultivators in the clouds. We found three in total at the dwelling of the Local Earth God. General Envoy Liao handed over two and gave me one."

I figured this thing wouldn't be of much use to me, so I might as well do him a favor and give it to Seventh Master.

Li Banfeng waved his hands repeatedly, saying, "I can't accept something so valuable."

Zheng Siyi laughed and said, "I heard from General Envoy Liao that Seventh Master is acquainted with the Local Earth God of Seven Autumn City, and also knows many Cloud Above Cultivators. This kind of pill is truly worth its price in Seventh Master's hands!"

Li Banfeng shook his head and said, "I can't accept something without having done it right. I really can't accept this."

Zheng Siyi said, "To be honest, I also have a favor to ask. I've been working in Pro State since I graduated from university, and I've settled down Pro State. If I go back to Outer State, I can't even sleep soundly."

"I share the same idea as General Envoy Liao: to retire and live out my days in Pro State. If I encounter any problems in Pro State in the future, I will need Seventh Master's help."

Li Banfeng repeatedly declined, but Zheng Siyi insisted on giving it to him, and in the end, the Profound Essence Pill was given to Li Banfeng.

Back at the mansion, He Yuxiu was discussing something with Li Banfeng: "Seventh Brother, I really don't want to do Ye Song Bridge's business anymore. There's not much money and a lot of work involved. I plan to hand over the entire business to Chunying."

Lu Chunying remained silent. She didn't want to take on this business either, but since Sister Xiu had spoken, she couldn't refuse.

Li Banfeng said, "Leave the business to me. I quite like this area."

"Then it's settled." He Yuxiu completed the transaction that same day.

Li Banfeng handed the business over to Ma Wu, Ma Wu also felt troubled, but he couldn't say anything since Seventh Brother had promised.

Five days later, Ma Wu and Luo ZhengNan arrived at Ye Song Bridge together. Ma Wu resumed his business, Li Qi greeted Zheng Siyi, and then led Luo ZhengNan to find the residence of the Local Earth God.

His deduction was correct; Luo ZhengNan was indeed Electric Cultivator, and upon arriving near the pavilion, he quickly discovered the anomaly.

Luo ZhengNan didn't have Fu Qingguang's good equipment. He made all his own equipment. It took Luo ZhengNan almost a whole night, until four in the morning, to barely open an entrance. He couldn't go in himself and had to guard the door from the outside.

"Seventh Master, hurry up, I estimate I can only last about ten minutes."

Li Banfeng squeezed through the entrance and entered the Stealth Space, which contained a three-story Western-style building with a small courtyard.

Looking up at the sky, you can see the night sky and stars; looking down at the ground, you can see the dew on the flowers and grass.

This is a courtyard located on Shuiyun Road, but it cannot be observed through normal means.

Li Banfeng crossed the courtyard, entered the Western-style building, searched the living room, then went up to the second and third floors before leaving the Stealth Space.

As long as he has gloves, finding things won't take too much time. Zheng Siyi had said before that all the good stuff had been taken. Li Banfeng didn't want to look for magic weapons or pills; he just wanted to find the Local Earth God's contract.

But the gloves couldn't detect anything, and Li Banfeng couldn't find any clues either, so the sedan chair carrier probably didn't bury the contract at his residence.

That makes it harder to find.

Xiao Yeci once read in a book that some Proper Land Local Earth God did not bury the deeds in their dwellings, which was a relatively cautious choice. Now Li Banfeng truly understands the significance of this caution.

The sedan chair carrier is dead. Unless the Contract Guardian Spirit the contract is found, the contract may be lost forever.

He was a sedan chair carrier. What kind of existence was the Contract Guardian Spirit?

Li Banfeng and Luo ZhengNan left Shuiyun Road and walked to the riverbank. Li Banfeng saw a newly opened bookstore with a sign that read "Lu Family Bookstore".

Boss Lu's business is growing bigger and bigger. I'll have to come and take a look another day to see if the layout of this store is the same as the previous ones, and whether Boss Lu happens to be in the store.

Back at the mansion, Li Banfeng sat by the lotus pond in the backyard, having a meeting with himself.

Banfeng Yi: "The Contract Guardian Spirit of the sedan chair carrier must be another sedan chair carrier. The sedan chair carrier profession should be based on pairs."

Banfeng Bing: "But we didn't see another sedan chair carrier before."

Banfeng Ding: "That proves that the other sedan chair carrier is well hidden, but as long as we grasp this clue, we will have a chance to find the other sedan chair carrier."

Banfeng Wu: "I think you've oversimplified this matter. Who says that the Contract Guardian Spirit of a sedan chair carrier is necessarily another sedan chair carrier? If the two are so closely related, I don't think there's any need to set up this Contract Guardian Spirit at all."

Banfeng Ji: "We have no better choice now. If we want to find the contract, we can only follow the lead of the sedan chair carriers."

Sun Tiecheng: "I don't think we necessarily have to investigate further. I've already obtained the contract. If you want it, I can give it to you."

Ban Feng Fengjia announced the end of the meeting, stood up, and said to Sun Tiecheng, "Brother Sun, when did you arrive?"

"I just arrived. I saw you were quite busy, so I didn't want to bother you. You can continue discussing your business. I'll sit for a while and then leave."

Li Banfeng shook his head and said, "That's just my habit. When I'm thinking, I sometimes talk to myself."

Sun Tiecheng looked at Li Banfeng and asked seriously, "You don't always do this, do you?"

"No, occasionally, just occasionally."

Sun Tiecheng smacked his lips and said, "What are we going to do? I only took in these two disciples. You killed one of them, and the other one is a madman."

Li Banfeng shook his head and said, "I'm not crazy. I've seen doctors, and they all said I'm not crazy."

Sun Tiecheng sighed and took out two arched iron certificates, "These are the deeds to the land of Ye Song Bridge. That Bartering Cultivator is dead, and I've changed his name to Li Er. Do you think that's appropriate?"

Li Er?

Are you talking about me?

Sun Tiecheng nodded.

Why is he Li Er?

Sun Tiecheng said, "You are my second disciple."

Li Banfeng shook his head and said, "No, I want to be the eldest disciple."

"My eldest disciple has found someone!"

"Isn't he dead?"

"Even though he's dead, he was still the eldest disciple; that title still applies to him."

Li Banfeng scooped his hands up, squatted down, and said, "No, I want to be the eldest disciple!"

Sun Tiecheng frowned and said, "Why are you being unreasonable?"

"Who's being unreasonable!" Li Banfeng roared. "Your previous disciple colluded with the Inner State, plotting a rebellion in Fool's City, and even tried to kill me!"

"If I hadn't fought him to the death, Fool's City would be finished, and our Daoist sect would be wiped out. You still want to give him a proper title? Doesn't that break my heart?"

These words left Sun Tiecheng speechless. After hesitating for a long time, Sun Tiecheng sighed and said, "Alright, then let's change the Li Yi! But you have to accept the name Li Yi!"

Li Banfeng said, "Of course I approve of it; this name definitely sounds better than Li Er!"

Sun Tiecheng shook his head and said, "This isn't about whether it sounds good or bad. I'm writing your name on this deed not to give you a place to settle down, but to let you jump to the clouds!"

As expected, Sun Tiecheng's idea was the same as Li Banfeng's. He also didn't want Li Banfeng to go to Inner State. He wanted Li Banfeng to skip the Tenth Layer and ascend to the clouds.

Li Banfeng shrugged and said, "Isn't this thing in the clouds still a long way off?"

1

Sun Tiecheng smiled meaningfully, "I think it's not far off, otherwise your senior brother wouldn't have died at your hands. I've changed the contract for you, and I'll find a suitable place to bury it. Whether you can keep it or not depends on your fate."

Li Banfeng asked, "It seems that Ye Song Bridge's territory is not easy to defend?"

Sun Tiecheng stood up and said, "This is the Proper Land. Once you ascend to the clouds, a huge number of people will be waiting for you. Who wouldn't want such a good place?"

If things had been done discreetly, it would have been fine, but now that the Outer State people have made such a big fuss, the whole of Pro State has been alerted. Anyone who wants a piece of this pie will have to reach in.

I'll help you out for a while, and catch up with some old friends. But I can't help you forever. Once I've dealt with these old friends, you'll have to rely on yourself.

Li Banfeng was caught in a dilemma.

It wasn't that Sun Tiecheng used any techniques; it was just that the current situation was genuinely perplexing.

Li Banfeng had his own territory, and Sun Tiecheng sent Ye Song Bridge over as well.

One's own territory is secluded, but the benefits are limited.

Ye Song Bridge reaped substantial profits, but too many people coveted them.

P. S.: I'm about to be promoted to Cloud, what should I do?

Thank you to Alliance Leader Lonely Little Wen and Alliance Leader Mu Bai Jin Yu for your great support.