Dark Energy Users

"Wife, someone's here," Li Banfeng tossed Chu Zikai into the main room, "Keep an eye on him for me."

I still have some things to take care of. I'll interrogate you properly when I get back.

The Wife smiled and said, "Husband, hurry back. Let me help you pick some vegetables first."

Li Banfeng returned to a side room of the dance hall and tried again with the begging bowl, but received no response.

How exactly did this blond old man escape?

We must investigate this thoroughly in the future, and next time we meet, we absolutely cannot let him leave alive.

There was no time to waste, so Li Banfeng carried the Shui Yongquan on his back, left Yanlou Village, and went straight to Flower Lake Park. He then traveled through Xindi and all the way to Seven Autumn City.

Qiu Luoye was eating when she saw the Shui Yongquan, and the pumpkin in her hand fell to the ground.

"Old Water——————"

Qiu Luoye walked closer and stared at the Shui Yongquan for a while. "Say something, Old Water."

"You can't speak yet." Li Banfeng told Qiu Luoye about his experience with the Shui Yongquan.

He originally intended to place the Shui Yongquan in Sleepless Town, but Sleepless Town had just been captured and its foundation was unstable. Feng Daiku and Ma Wu could only help look after it. Ma Wu had to manage his new land, and Feng Daiku also had to take care of Belt Ridge and the Soda Kiln.

The only things left to tend to the Shui Yongquan are the fallen Qiu Luoye.

"Seventh Brother, leave him with me. No matter if he recovers or not, I promise I won't let him suffer," Qiu Luoye sighed. "Old Shui has been cautious his whole life, who would have thought he'd end up like this?"

"Brother Qiu, the people from Snowflake Port have their eyes on him, and they might come looking for trouble in the coming days. Be very careful."

"Come on, let them come!" Qiu Luoye ordered Tiger to prepare a house for Shui Yongquan. "It's been a while since I've stretched my muscles, my arms are itching. One of them comes, I'll kill one!"

Li Banfeng strolled around Seven Autumn City and saw two newly opened restaurants on Jun Yang Avenue. The restaurants were newly built, the prices were cheap, and they were packed with customers.

A dance hall Seven Nights Pavilion opened on the street; it was actually just a dance hall, Ma Wu gave it such a cultured name.

But not many people know the word "Xuan", and others just pronounce it as Qiyegan.

It is said that whoever can fight here for seven consecutive nights will receive a red envelope from the shopkeeper.

Li Banfeng was slightly dissatisfied with the Seven Nights Pavilion, but Li Banfeng was very satisfied with the changes in Seven Autumn City. A new land full of wilderness, plus a lifeless town, had finally taken the shape of a city after all his efforts.

He returned to his residence, hid the key, and went into his Portable Abode.

Chu Zikai's attitude became much more humble. Hong Ying helped him sort out his body parts, and the record player helped him reorganize his meridians, making their communication much smoother.

Li Banfeng asked, "Your Snowflake Port has been causing me trouble. Can you explain why?"

Chu Zikai shook his head and said, "My status in Snowflake Port is not high, and I don't know much about your affairs. If you ask me about the Ferry Gang, I can tell you more."

"Is the Ferry Gang a branch of Snowflake Port located in Outer State?"

"That's not accurate. The Ferry Gang doesn't belong entirely to Snowflake Port; it's an organization jointly established by Snowflake Port and the Birch Hermit Association."

What is the origin of the Birch Hermit Association?

"The Birch Hermit Association and the Chasing Light Group are somewhat similar; both are foreign Dark Energy User organizations. However, the Chasing Light Group's combat strength is more clearly defined."

What does "clear" mean?

"Isn't the fighting strength of the Birch Hermit Association clear?"

Chu Zikai shook his head and said, "It's indeed unclear. They don't have a fixed sect or a clear hierarchy, so it's difficult to use a clear standard to measure their combat strength."

Members of the Light Chaser can be estimated and compared using our standards. I know a bishop of the Chasing Light Group whose combat strength is equivalent to that of a level six Dark Energy User.

However, the combat strength of those outside the Chasing Light Group is difficult to estimate. The man who fought alongside me just now was Miglov, the president of the Birch Hermit Association.

He excels at constructing buildings and searching for hidden spaces; comparing these two skills alone, his combat strength can be estimated as that of a cultivator at the Third Layer Above the Clouds.

However, he was once beaten so badly by a seventh-level martial arts practitioner that he was unable to fight back and even almost lost his life. This cannot be explained by the simple incompatibility of different Daoist sects.

His overall abilities have serious shortcomings, making it impossible to estimate his actual combat strength using the levels we are familiar with. Such individuals are commonplace within the Birch Hermit Association.

I once met a member of the Birch Hermit Association who could create special magic circles using herbs and animal blood. Once activated, these circles could destroy buildings within several hectares of the surrounding area.

However, it takes him three days or even longer to set up a single magic array, and besides setting up magic arrays, he has no other skills. Therefore, his combat strength is clearly unclear.

Li Banfeng asked, "Why did Snowflake Port and the Birch Hermit Association join forces to establish the Ferry Gang?"

"For money!" Chu Zikai answered directly. "Snowflake Port and the Birch Hermit Association are facing serious financial problems. During my fight with you today, I didn't use Dark Energy Carrier because I sold off all the suitable Dark Energy Carrier."

Li Banfeng frowned and said, "Have they really gotten this poor?"

"I'm not poor. At least I can maintain a respectable lifestyle on the surface. There are people in Snowflake Port who are poorer than me and can't even afford food and clothing."

Li Banfeng was skeptical. "Isn't that a bit exaggerated? Wang Zimian is one of your people, yet he still lives a very luxurious life. Just one of his thumb rings is worth more than two factories."

Chu Zikai smiled wryly and said, "I can only say that everyone's pursuits are different, and everyone's loyalty to Snowflake Port is different. I am willing to give everything I have, even if I have to eat boxed lunches and sleep under bridges tomorrow, I will do it willingly."

Li Banfeng laughed and said, "Have you ever slept under a bridge?"

Chu Zikai shook his head. "This is just a metaphor to express my loyalty to Snowflake Port."

"I still don't understand. Snowflake Port is able to mint coins from Pro State. From any perspective, you shouldn't be short of money."

Chu Zikai countered Li Banfeng's question, "Do you know what the quantity theory of money is? Do you know what the theory of money demand is? Do you know what the monetary equation is?"

Li Banfeng shook his head. "I really don't understand these things."

Chu Zikai said, "I don't understand these things either. I only know that money cannot be minted casually. It must conform to economic laws. The economic situation of Snowflake Port cannot be saved by minting coins. It needs to be saved by us members."

Li Banfeng said, "So you went so far as to sell all your magical treasures and Spiritual Object, even going bankrupt?"

"Those aren't all magical treasures and Spiritual Object," Chu Zikai didn't elaborate further, "This is my loyalty to Snowflake Port, my unwavering loyalty."

"What has Snowflake Port given you that makes you so loyal?"

Chu Zikai asked, "Do you know about my past?"

"I've read some things online. It's said that you were born into an ordinary working-class family and achieved your current success in the music industry through your own efforts."

Chu Zikai said, "You're half right. My parents are indeed ordinary workers. They did everything they could to let me study music, but I failed the music academy entrance exam three times in a row. I thought it was because I wasn't capable enough, but later I found out that I missed a tutoring class before the exam. The tuition for that tutoring class, just for one lesson, made my dad tremble all over."

I attended ten lessons in total, but didn't learn much. However, I found a mentor, and with that mentor, I successfully got into the music academy.

After graduating from music school, I went to work for a music company. It wasn't a big company, and I held many different positions. But every time I mentioned wanting to sing, I was rejected. They said my voice lacked quality.

So I went to the Black Market, bought Guiding Agent, and became a singer. But when I sang in front of them, they still said my delivery was lacking, even though I used techniques. They still said I wasn't good enough.

I started to have doubts about the whole thing. Was it the song that was bad, or me, or did the company just think I was incapable?

So I contacted a friend, a friend even worse off than me, who was very talented. He wrote the song "I am Your Guokui).

To pay next month's rent, he sold the song to me for three thousand yuan. I had someone make the instrumental version, recorded it as a single, and released it within a small online circle.

People in this circle have a certain level of musical literacy; they can tell it's a good song. With their recognition, I feel that's enough.

Li Banfeng frowned and asked, "What does this have to do with Snowflake Port?"

"Yes!" Chu Zikai said, "There's a member from Snowflake Port in this small circle who pointed out that this is an excellent song."

He's willing to provide me with operating capital. I understand the process; it's very simple, it just requires burning through cash.

Money should be burned like paper.

I couldn't afford that, but he said he was willing to take it for me. He promised to push me to the top of the list, and he only made one condition: that I join Snowflake Port.

Did you know what Snowflake Port did back then?

"I didn't know, and I didn't want to know. I agreed. For me at the time, this opportunity was too good to pass up, and I had nothing to lose."

That person kept his promise, making me number one on the charts. I became famous, I released my first album, held my first solo concert, experienced glory I had never known before, met people I never dared to aspire to, and gained wealth I never imagined I would ever acquire.

That's just how pop music is. The popularity of "Guokui" lasted for a while, then gradually faded. People still remembered my name and were waiting for my new songs, but I couldn't come up with anything better.

I didn't write "Guokui," and I can't write a better song because I've realized I'm not good at songwriting. Li Banfeng said, "Then go find someone who's good at songwriting. What about the guy who wrote 'Guokui' for you before? Give him more money, and he'll definitely sell you more good songs."

Chu Zikai shook his head and said, "He went back to the north, and in the winter he couldn't afford coal, so he froze to death while hugging his guitar."

But Snowflake Port didn't abandon me. They hired many songwriters and tried every means to maintain my popularity. At the same time, they gave me a new path. They hoped that I would become an excellent cultivator, not just Dark Energy User, but a true cultivator.

Li Banfeng chuckled, "What's the difference?"

Chu Zikai said, "The difference here is huge. You don't actually think that Wanderers are all Travel Cultivator, do you? And you don't actually think that Singers are all Voice Cultivators?"

"Isn't that right?" Li Banfeng found it strange. The essence is the same, just different names. The difference between Dark Energy User and cultivators is the difference in perception between Pro State and Outer State. This is the most basic common sense.

Chu Zikai laughed, "Of course not. You haven't been in the Outer State long enough, Outer State understanding of the Dark Energy User there isn't deep enough. At lower levels, a certain gap has already emerged between Dark Energy User and cultivators."

After several attempts, you'll discover the gap. The overall abilities of Dark Energy User are far inferior to those of a cultivator. Once Dark Energy User reaches a certain level, they will encounter a bottleneck and cannot advance further. This bottleneck is generally at the seventh level.

In Outer State, people always say that the limit for Dark Energy User is seven levels. You might think they're lying, but they're actually telling the truth.

Li Banfeng looked back at the record player, which remained silent, as it was also unfamiliar with the Outer State.

Chu Zikai said, "I know you don't want to believe me, but you can verify this for yourself and find the answer quickly."

Dark Energy User are a product of Outer State technology; they are attempting to create a dark energy system specific to their Outer State, using the cultivation rules of Pro State.

However, the Guiding Agent manufactured Outer State were far inferior to the Peddler's Entry Medicine Powder; they could only be considered low-quality imitations.

To become a true cultivator, one must purchase medicinal powder from Pro State; aside from the private stashes of wealthy families...

The Peddler's medicinal powder is the only correct way for a cultivator to begin their practice.

There is a fundamental difference between the Dark Energy User from Outer State and the cultivators from Pro State.

Could this be the reason why the Dark Star Bureau lacks combat power?

"Where did the medicinal powders that wealthy families kept as their private stashes come from?"

"You really want to know?" Chu Zikai stared intently at Li Banfeng. "Spare my life, and I'll tell you the truth. I can also tell you many other truths you don't know."

Li Banfeng laughed and said, "You think you can buy your life with just a lie? There's no such thing as a free lunch."

"If you don't believe me, that's fine," Chu Zikai continued. "After becoming a voice cultivator, I spent some time in Pro State and learned a lot of valuable knowledge. With the help of Snowflake Port and through my connections in Outer State, I made quite a few deals."

"What kind of business?"

"I have a business dealing in Ghost Servant, as well as magical artifacts and weapons. I know how to run a business and I know who to spend money on. I have made a lot of money for Snowflake Port. Snowflake Port has provided me with a large number of pills, pills with almost no side effects."

Li Banfeng asked, "You mean there's no Pill Poison?"

"To be precise, the Pill Poison is extremely small. Do you know where these pills come from?"

Li Banfeng shook his head.

Chu Zikai said, "It comes from the Mystic Life Crimson Lotus. Snowflake Port once possessed the Mystic Life Crimson Lotus and left behind a large number of high-quality pills. It was with the help of these high-quality pills that I spent ten years accumulating my cultivation to the Cloud Realm. Now that the Red Lotus is in your hands, you should know this process better than I do."

Did Snowflake Port once control the Red Lotus?

Is this true?

You can ask Red Lotus to verify, but Red Lotus may not be willing to tell the truth.

According to official data, Chu Zikai is 34 years old this year. He became famous 13 years ago. If his description is true, his promotion speed is indeed a bit fast, faster than the heads of the major Lineage in Pro State.

Chu Zikai sighed, "But it was precisely during these years of dedicated cultivation that Snowflake Port's economic situation fell into crisis. This should be related to Red Lotus's disappearance. Snowflake Port changed my life, and it is my bounden duty to fight for Snowflake Port. I spent all my savings to keep Snowflake Port running. In order to further expand the business, I contacted Miglov."

Together they formed the Ferry Gang.

Through him, I was able to expand some of my business overseas. I became a true Boat Boss, delivering valuable goods all over the world.

Looking at Chu Zikai's expression, Li Banfeng smiled and said, "You're very proud."

"Isn't that something to be proud of? I maintain long-term contact with more than thirty foreign organizations with dark abilities. Do you want to know about them? Spare my life, and I can tell you everything. I can even introduce them to you."

Li Banfeng asked, "You've built such a large business overseas, why haven't you sold your Shui Yongquan abroad?"

"Foreign psychics generally don't acquire battle spirits from Pro State; the communication barriers are simply too great."

Those with dark abilities abroad have a higher regard for magical artifacts and Spiritual Object —I'm referring to magical artifacts and Spiritual Object, not Dark Energy Carrier. Dark Energy Carrier from Outer State cannot be compared to the magical artifacts and Spiritual Object of Pro State.

You can't imagine how much profit is involved. If you choose to join forces with me, you will possess unimaginable wealth.

"Unbelievable to me?" Li Banfeng patted Chu Zikai's face. "How much do you think that is?"

Chu Zikai knew Li Qi wasn't easily swayed, but with life and death at stake, he still had to try to persuade Li Qi: "I know you have a strong foundation in Pro State, but your vision is too narrow. You know nothing about things outside of Pro State."

Release me, and I can open the door to the entire world for you. You will see the true impact of Dark Energy on this world, and you will know where the pinnacle of power truly lies.

Li Banfeng shook his head and said, "That's too far away. Let's talk about something more immediate. Where does Miglov live? I need to speak with him."

"Are you scared?" Chu Zikai smiled deeply. "You certainly have reason to be scared. Miglov knows your identity, which means the entire Birch Hermit Association knows your identity. They won't let you go."

If you want to find out Miglov's whereabouts and take appropriate precautions, you'll still have to rely on me. I can maintain contact with Miglov, and I can use my identity as Ferry Gang to act as your informant.

"Rest assured, I have done more than enough for Snowflake Port. As long as you release me, I will become your most loyal subordinate."

Li Banfeng frowned slightly and said, "I asked you where Miglov lives, why are you telling me so much?"

Chu Zikai looked towards the door. "Let me out first. Once I'm out, I'll answer whatever you ask me."

Li Banfeng stood up and said, "So you don't want to talk about it now?"

The record player came to Li Banfeng 'Li Banfeng side and gently stroked his back with a puff of warm steam. "My dear husband, don't be angry. You don't need to do this little thing."

"I know what you want to ask, my Little Slave. Leave the rest to Little Slave. As long as it's something he knows, I'll definitely get the answer. My Little Slave, why don't you go find some friends, have a drink, and relax?"

Li Banfeng left Portable Abode, and a cloud of scalding steam swirled around Chu Zikai's body. Chu Zikai, enduring excruciating pain, cried out, "Without me, Li Qi can't survive! Birch Hermit Association let him go? Will Snowflake Port let him go? You'll all be collecting his corpse!"

The record player laughed and said, "I'm sick of hearing that. Yingying, you should teach him some manners."

Hong Ying, holding a small knife, made a cut on Chu Zikai's face. "Didn't I teach you manners before? Have you forgotten so quickly?"

"Let me go! Let me leave this house before I tell you the truth."

Hong Ying slashed his face again. "You have to speak properly, pay attention to the order of things. Let's start with that Luo Fu. Didn't Seventh Son ask you where he lives?"

Li Banfeng did not linger in Seven Autumn City. He immediately returned to Yuezhou and found Jin Shunying through Yin Siniang.

Jin Shunying was terrified. She had originally planned to take a flight to Yuezhou the next day, but Li Banfeng warned her, "Even if you leave Yuezhou, you may not be able to escape the Birch Hermit Association."

Jin Shunying looked blankly at her. "What is the Birch Hermit Association?"

Li Banfeng said, "I don't know much about this organization either. I'll get you a Travel Permit. Go to Green Water City. Someone will pick you up at the station. You can hide there for a few days."

Jin Shunying thought for a while before asking, "Which province is Green Water City in?"

"Green Water City is in Pro State."

"Pro State?" Jin Shunying stared in disbelief. She knew the concept of Pro State and had even seen Ghost Servant from Pro State, but the name was still somewhat vague to her.

"That's a good place; it might be able to help you become a true cultivator."

"Cultivators? Aren't those Dark Energy User?"

Li Banfeng wasn't sure what the relationship was between cultivators and Dark Energy User: "I'll explain this to you later. Hurry up and pack your things; I'll take you to the station."

Jin Shunying packed her luggage and followed Li Banfeng to Platform 96.

Upon seeing the Steam Train, Jin Shunying extremely nervous. "Boss, are you going to—"

Li Banfeng glanced at the carriage number on the ticket. "I never intended to sell you, nor would I ever harm you. Going to Pro State would definitely be a good thing for you."

"I know it's a good thing," Jin Shunying said, biting her lip with tears in her eyes, "but how much will this cost? Prices in Pro State aren't low! I don't have much money on me—"

Li Banfeng said sincerely, "I'll cover your food and lodging, and I'll even pay you a salary. Get in the car quickly."

Jin Shunying wiped away her tears and boarded the train with a hopeful smile.

Nothing will happen on the train; the Birch Hermit Association n't dare to make a move on the train, as that would cross the line for Outer State.

Upon arriving in Green Water City, they first had Lao Luo settle her in Carefree Dock. Li Banfeng really didn't believe they would dare to ask Carefree Dock for anything.

Upon returning to the Dark Star Bureau, Li Banfeng asked Tangyuan to help him find some information about the Birch Hermit Association.

Tangyuan only found a few documents. "Seventh Master, I don't have much information about the Birch Hermit Association. The information that our bureau can access is also very limited. But someone has a lot of relevant information, but I don't know if his source is accurate."

Li Banfeng: "You're not talking about being Chuunibyou), are you?"

Tangyuan nodded. "It's him. He's particularly interested in these kinds of organizations."

Li Banfeng called Chuunibyou over, as he actually had quite a bit of information. "From the early to mid-20th century, some literary works have already recorded the Birch Hermit Association, which was referred to in the documents of that time as the Birch Gang, Birch Gate, White Birch Hair Yi School, and White Birch Hair Temple Society."

Li Banfeng asked, "How do you know these gangs refer to the Birch Hermit Association? Just because their gang names are related to birch trees?"

"Not only the names, but also the descriptions of these gangs perfectly match the characteristics of the Birch Hermit Association."

In these literary works, the corresponding gangs are all composed of Mao Yi or Mao Sha people, which was the common and even official term for foreigners at the time, specifically referring to foreigners whose hair and skin color were different from ours.

Chuunibyou showed Li Banfeng the information he had collected one by one, Li Banfeng slowly sorted out the clues.

"The Birch Hermit Association has a great influence," Chuunibyou, taking out several more case files. "In several cases related to Dark Energy enthusiasts, the Birch Hermit Association did not appear directly, but the Dark Energy enthusiast organizations involved were more or less connected to them, including the Chamomile Wizard Association before."

The Chamomile Wizard Association brought Lu Dongjun out of the Inner State, which almost led to a disaster and nearly caused Li Banfeng to fall into a trap. This matter is still unresolved.

Li Banfeng collected the materials and asked Chuunibyou, "What level have you reached now?"

The Chuunibyou student looked around and was worried that there might be surveillance equipment nearby.

Li Banfeng said, "With me, you don't need to worry about being monitored."

The Chuunibyou lowered his voice and said, "Director Li, I'm already on the second and a half floors, and I reckon I'm not far from the third floor."

Li Banfeng calculated the progress. "Have you finished all the Harmonizing Agent' the bureau gave you?"

"Not yet, I got some more from the Black Market myself."

"You've got some nerve, kid!" Li Banfeng chuckled. "Don't leave after work. I'll take you somewhere to see your cultivation level."

After work, Light Bulb drove Li Banfeng and Chuunibyou to a wild lake on the outskirts of the city.

Li Banfeng picked up a pebble and said to Chuunibyou, "Use this as a weapon and spar with me."

The pebble was perfectly rounded with no sharp edges. It was wet and slippery, making it difficult to grip. After observing it for a while, Chuunibyou shook his head and said, "Director Li, you've stumped me. This pebble is really not suitable for making a weapon."

Li Banfeng grabbed a clump of mud from the lakeside and handed it to Chuunibyou: "What about this?"

Holding the mud, Chuunibyou shook his head repeatedly, saying, "This is even less suitable."

Li Banfeng thought back to his past experiences, "In the Garden Community, you once fought with a bundle of straw mats, and you could use any piece of tile you picked up as a weapon."

Chuunibyou said, "Tiles are different; they have edges and corners, making them easy to grip, and they're sharp enough to be used as weapons."

Li Banfeng pondered for a moment and said, "Have you always been so picky about weapons?"

The Chuunibyou didn't see anything wrong with it. "Choosing the right item as a weapon is a required course for fighters."

That's not right.

PS: Chu Zikai probably didn't lie about this.