Chapter 220: Level-Five Ability of a Homebound Cultivator

Ma Dingfu can't explain Zhou Juan's background?

Li Banfeng thought.

"Are you being insincere?" Li Banfeng asked as he slashed Ma Dingfu's face again.

Ma Dingfu gasped, struggling to breathe. "I really don't know. Ever since I went to Flying Eagle Mountain, Zhou Juan was already the Fort Lord of Iron Gate Fort. I even heard he once led people to attack Flying Eagle Mountain. He used to be our mortal enemy.

"But one day, our chief summoned me back to the mountain and told me to go to Iron Gate Fort. That's when I learned Zhou Juan was actually a friend of our chief.

"He said Fort Lord Zhou was an extraordinary figure. He said that Fort Lord Zhou's cultivation was unfathomably high and that his schemes were beyond comprehension. He told me to follow Fort Lord Zhou from then on and that I should do whatever Fort Lord Zhou asked me to do."

"And did Fort Lord Zhou tell you to sleep with his wife?"

Ma Dingfu said, "Our chief basically described him as someone who was capable of doing anything. I have always held very deep respect toward Fort Lord Zhou. When I first arrived at Iron Gate Fort, he made me his attendant. To outsiders, he claimed I was a Homebound Cultivator and even arranged a house for me.

"At first, he valued me greatly. He even discussed some confidential matters with me. But one time, he had an argument with Yu Hequan in the fort, and everything changed."

"How did it change?"

"Yu Hequan was a level-two Homebound Cultivator. He had just arrived at the fort, young and hot-blooded, and he spoke to the Fort Lord without respect.

The Fort Lord didn't take offense, yet he pushed his luck. While speaking, he even shoved the Fort Lord. I don't know if he meant it, but he used quite a bit of force. The Fort Lord staggered back half a step and nearly fell.

"At that moment, I was the only one by the Fort Lord's side. No one else was around. The Fort Lord simply smiled it off. But once we returned to the residence, Fort Lord Zhou ordered me to kill Yu Hequan."

The group of Homebound Cultivators listened, fury burning in their eyes. Many of them knew Yu Hequan. The young man had died not long after arriving at the fort.

They hadn't cared much back then and barely remembered him. But they clearly remembered what the Fort Lord had said. He claimed Yu Hequan had left the fort without permission and was killed by bandits.

So it had all been a lie. Yu Hequan had actually died at Ma Dingfu's hands.

Just how much blood was on Ma Dingfu's hands? How many Homebound Cultivators had died at the hands of Zhou Juan and Ma Dingfu? These two inhumane bastards!

Some spat at Ma Dingfu, while others cursed loudly.

Li Banfeng signaled for everyone to quiet down. He still had something important to ask.

"How did you kill Yu Hequan?"

Killing a Homebound Cultivator inside their own home was extremely difficult. Even with a higher cultivation level, it was hard to succeed.

Ma Dingfu said, "Fort Lord Zhou said he understood Yu Hequan's intentions. The way he spoke without respect was actually to show himself off. He wanted to earn the Fort Lord's favor."

He continued, "He told me to trick Yu Hequan. He told me to tell Yu Hequan that the Fort Lord had a task for him and that he should go outside the fort to handle it."

"Yu Hequan believed me. The moment he stepped out of the fort, he walked straight into my ambush. I cut off his head... and afterward, I told everyone that he had been killed by bandits."

"At first, I couldn't understand it. Yu Hequan was quite loyal. Even if he didn't know the rules, he could still be useful if he was taught a lesson. Why did he have to be killed? At first, I thought Yu Hequan shouldn't have been killed, and that the Fort Lord regretted it and took his anger out on me.

"After many days, I finally understood. It was never about Yu Hequan. It was that stumble that happened when Yu Hequan pushed him.

"Yu Hequan wasn't a high-level cultivator, yet he managed to push the Fort Lord back a step. So what exactly does that tell us about the Fort Lord's cultivation level? Because of Yu Hequan, it became unclear and that maybe it's just not as unfathomable as it seems. Yu Hequan was already dead, and no one knew about this except me.

"Sometimes I even wondered... if I killed Fort Lord Zhou one day, would the position of Fort Lord become mine? I only ever thought about it. I never let it show. But I guess...he still found out."

There was no need to guess. Fort Lord Zhou had definitely noticed it. Despite being a liar with no cultivation, he had ruled Iron Gate Fort for decades. Nothing could stay hidden from his eyes.

Ma Dingfu looked up at Li Banfeng. "Good hero, you killed Fort Lord Zhou and exposed me as well. From now on, you are the Fort Lord of Iron Gate Fort. I, Ma Dingfu, will obey you in all things. I will brave fire and water and die ten thousand deaths without regret!"

Li Banfeng smiled faintly. "Do you take them for fools, or me for a fool? You think I would spare your life just because you said that you would brave fire and water and die a thousand deaths for me?"

"Good hero, tell me what to do. As long as I can keep my life, I will do anything!"

"Sure. We will talk alone later," Li Banfeng said. He then turned to the group of Homebound Cultivators and said, "Stop standing here. "Stop standing around. Search the fort. See if any of Zhou Juan's or Ma Dingfu's subordinates are still hiding. Drag them out and deal with them.

"Summon everyone from this residence here. As for Zhou Juan's wives and servants, give them some money so they can settle down, then send them away. They are never allowed to step into Iron Gate Fort again.

"No one is allowed to go to the auxiliary building in the east. Do you even know where that is? Once you have cleared everyone out, leave the residence immediately. Then go to the main gate and make sure it's properly shut.

"After that, head halfway up the slope. There's a platform on the cliff. Check if there's an ambush there. From now on, that platform must be guarded at all times. Take turns keeping watch.

"When I say platform, do you understand what I am talking about? Do you know how to get there?"

"Yongchao! Bring me the roster. Send a team up to the platform first. If Flying Eagle Mountain attacks before we're ready, it'll be too late!"

***

The group split up at once to carry out his orders.

Just moments ago, they had been ready to beat this "Peddler" to death on sight. Yet now, for some reason, they followed his commands without the slightest hesitation.

Li Banfeng grabbed Ma Dingfu, found a secluded corner, and stepped into his Pocket Dwelling.

"Heyaaaa~ Husband dear~ You are back from grocery shopping. What quality ingredients did you bring this time?"

"A level-three Physique Cultivator. Good stuff!"

"Level three..." Wifey let out a soft sigh. "I guess it's just good enough to eat."

Li Banfeng raised a brow. "My dear wifey, you are getting picky with your food. It's a level-three cultivator, and you call that just good enough?"

Wifey chuckled. "I don't mind. Those bleating little lambs from before were passable too. However, that wretch Crimson Lotus hasn't had a proper meal in days."

Li Banfeng tossed Ma Dingfu in front of the Gramophone. Ma Dingfu was scared out of his wits.

Crackle... pop...

The Gramophone let out a soft laugh. "Heyaaaaa~ Husband dear~ This humble one won't hold back then."

"Wifey, wait. Let me ask him a few more questions first."

Ma Dingfu cried out, "Hero, I will answer whatever you ask. Just spare my life! I know where Zhou Juan hides his money. I know where all his enchanted artifacts are hidden. I even know his wives. I know who is good in bed and who's the prettiest... I know it all!"

"Since you know so much, then go through it one by one. Make it clear."

Ma Dingfu recounted everything he knew in detail. However, when Li Banfeng asked about Old He, Ma Dingfu couldn't say much. He didn't know much about Old He. Only that Old He was a Homebound Cultivator who lived in the eastern auxiliary building, a place no one was allowed to enter.

Li Banfeng already knew that a dwelling spirit resided there, but as for its true nature, Ma Dingfu had no idea. Since he knew nothing, there was no point pressing him further.

"Wifey, time to eat!"

Ma Dingfu screamed hoarsely, "I told you everything I know. Why are you still killing me?"

"You still owe me five hundred."

"I repaid it..."

Li Banfeng shook his head. "That was five hundred, with interest piling on. Do you think a few words can settle that debt?"

After finishing her meal, the Gramophone gave the corpse to Crimson Lotus, then turned to Li Banfeng and asked, "Husband dear~ What is the origin of that dwelling spirit you mentioned earlier? Why does it concern you so much?"

Li Banfeng recounted his encounter with Old He. Wifey listened without much reaction, as though nothing in the story struck her as unusual.

"Some dwelling spirits are like that," she said lightly. "They never allow their Homebound Cultivator to leave their sight for their entire life. This Old He likely met a miserable end at the hands of his own dwelling spirit. They must have signed a contract long ago."

"Sight?" Li Banfeng doesn't quite understand. "Old He's residence is in the eastern auxiliary building. The dwelling spirit should be inside that building. What exactly is the extent of this 'sight' you are talking about? Does everything the dwelling spirit can see count as within its sight?"

"Not so. When I speak of sight, I don't mean what it sees with its eyes, but the reach of the dwelling spirit's power."

Li Banfeng is even more confused. "A dwelling spirit's power can extend beyond the residence?"

"Yes. When a dwelling spirit's power extends beyond the residence, it is usually due to two situations. First, the dwelling spirit is extremely strong, while the Homebound Cultivator is extremely weak and unable to control it. That gives the spirit the chance to stretch its claws beyond the house."

"That slut Hanxue was like this when she was alive. Her Homebound Cultivator was only at level one, while she herself had already reached the sixth. Of course her power could extend beyond the house.

"Even so, it's not that simple. For that power to reach outward, two conditions still have to be met. The first condition is that the house must allow it and the second condition is that the spirit has to borrow strength from others.

"Luo Yuni was the former owner of that house. She lived there for years and even died inside it. With a bond like that, the house would naturally give tacit approval to her actions."

"But what about borrowing strength from others?" Li Banfeng asked the pendulum directly.

The pendulum replied in a dazed voice, "I do not remember any of what Madam speaks of."

Her soul had been extracted, leaving behind only spiritual essence. It was only natural that she wouldn't remember anything.

The Gramophone Wifey knew the answer to that question. She let out a soft laugh. "The way that a dwelling spirit can borrow strength from others would be those vengeful spirits. Those vengeful spirits back then weren't fresh at all, but they were enough to fill my stomach."

The Gramophone Wifey was talking about those vengeful spirits hanging from the tree back then.

So that's what it means to borrow strength from others?

Li Banfeng thought. He stared at the Gramophone for a while before asking, "Wifey, when we first met, your cultivation was so high, while I wasn't even at the level one. The gap between us was huge. Did you never think about extending your power beyond this dwelling?"

"Hmph!" Wifey was displeased. "What kind of person does my husband take me for? Without your permission, this humble one wouldn't step out of the main gate, nor cross the inner threshold!"

"That's my good wifey!" Li Banfeng was deeply moved. He pulled her close and lingered in that warmth for quite a while.

The Crimson Lotus wanted to spit at the Gramophone.

Vile woman. You did want to go out back then... but did this dwelling agree?

The Gramophone continues, "The second situation is when the Homebound Cultivator uses a level-five ability called Deep Court Domain. Once a Homebound Cultivator reaches level five and successfully performs this ability, they can draw part of the dwelling spirit's power out of the dwelling and into the courtyard."

"The courtyard I speak of is not actually the space within the courtyard walls. It is really anywhere within the dwelling spirit's reach. The higher the cultivator's level, the better their harmony with the dwelling spirit. Also, the more familiar they are with the dwelling, the more power they can draw out.

"As for that Old He you fought, he brought out quite a bit of power. He might have been at level six or above. Perhaps he was really powerful because he was extremely familiar with the dwelling."

That matches!

Li Banfeng thought.

That must be Old He's ability! He really was very familiar with the dwelling and courtyard.

So his dwelling spirit's power had spread across the entire house and courtyard... No wonder the fight was so difficult. And that was only a portion of its power.

If I had stepped into the auxiliary building and faced the dwelling spirit at full strength, I would have lost my life already!

Crackle... pop...

The Gramophone let out a long, airy sigh. "Husband dear~ Old He went to quite a bit of trouble trying to lure you into his dwelling. He meant to let the dwelling spirit deal with you. Once the door shuts, that's it. The spirit kills. It's a very common trick among Homebound Cultivators... and a rather nasty one."

Li Banfeng scratched his head and gave a small, awkward chuckle. "Well... it's not that nasty, is it?"

Wifey continues, "Moreover, from the abilities it used, we can piece together a few clues about that dwelling spirit. When you first entered the building, there were stairs... and then they vanished. A door appeared at the end of the corridor out of nowhere. That should be the ability known as Waycleaving.

"And when you reached the courtyard, stones shattered and filled the sky. That should be Treading Through Ten Thousand Rivers. Taking everything into account, Old He's dwelling spirit is most likely a high-level Wanderlust Cultivator."

A Wanderlust Cultivator!

Li Banfeng was startled and asked, "Wifey, that ability you mentioned, Waycleaving... What kind of ability is it?"

The Gramophone went very quiet for a moment. Then it spoke in a soft, lilting voice. "Husband dear~ why are you so interested in the tricks of Wanderlust Cultivators? Nasty things, the lot of them. Best to kill them all."

Li Banfeng quickly put on a serious face. "I stand with you against a common enemy. Only by knowing both ourselves and our enemy can we remain undefeated in every battle!"

"Oho~ listen to you!" the Gramophone chimed, sounding rather pleased. "With words like that, I'm already ninety percent confident! Now tell me! Husband dear~ Are you brave?"

Li Banfeng straightened at once, back stiff, chin up. "I am!"

"Do you dare lure that dwelling spirit out?"

Li Banfeng puffed out his chest... paused... and then said very firmly, "I do not!"

"Do not fear! Husband dear~ I have a foolproof plan!"

***

Ling Miaoying took a deep breath, opened the wooden box, and took out a telephone without a cord. He dialed a number.

The call connected quickly.

"What is it?" He Jiaqing's voice came from the other end. He had been woken from sleep, and his mood was not good.

"Jiaqing, it's like this. On the Iron Gate Fort side, the hook has broken."

"When did it break?"

"It should have been within these past few days..." Ling Miaoying couldn't give an exact time. He hadn't been paying attention to the hook lately.

He Jiaqing fell silent for a moment, then suddenly shouted, "Do you know how important that hook is? Do you know how important that soul is?"

Ling Miaoying did not answer.

The hook had belonged to Ling Miaowen before, and Ling Miaoying knew very little about the secrets tied to it.

He Jiaqing calmed down a little. "This isn't entirely your fault. I suspect that old liar Zhou Juan discovered the hook. Don't act against him for now. I'll find a chance to warn him, and then you can reattach the hook."

The two ended the call. Ling Miaoying was drenched in sweat as he wondered whether he should report everything to He Jiaqing from now on.

He Jiaqing rubbed his forehead. Lately, everything that had been happening was starting to give him a headache.

***

"That really damn hurts." Luo Zhengnan, Hall Master of the Medicine King Hall of the Jiangxiang Gang, pulled an antenna out of his skull.

"So that soul is in Iron Gate Fort," Luo Zhengnan said with a smile. "I'll have to report this to the Boss Xiao. The value of that soul isn't any lower than Crimson Lotus. Shouldn't that earn me a spot as deputy gang leader?"

Author's Note:

PS: Can a single soul be as valuable as the Crimson Lotus? This has to be a joke, right?