He ran to Ma Wu’s plot, where Ma Wu was in the midst of his cultivation, and Yanzi was crying and screaming.
"Little Brother, I caught two worthless women for you! Please spare me this time. Those two worthless women, do as you please with them, show no mercy. Just spare a thought for me!"
Ma Wu’s cultivation was at a critical juncture when Li Banfeng interrupted him, "Old Five, do you know about the Revolving Noble Flower?"
Ma Wu nodded. "I’ve seen it in books, but there were no records of its medicinal effects."
"Where can it be bought?"
"Buy?" Ma Wu shook his head. "That’s a legendary herb. It can’t even last a day. It’s something you can only encounter by chance, not seek out."
Li Banfeng returned to his own plot and set up offerings and Incense Candles. Before long, a green flame appeared above the altar.
"You have special techniques, so speaking with you is effortless. There’s no need for me to transform. Brother Li Qi, are you looking to make your mark?"
"Senior, let me ask you something first. Have you heard of the Revolving Noble Flower?"
"Hehehe~" Shui Yongquan laughed. "You’ve come to the right person. I know where to find Revolving Noble Flowers."
"This matter is of great importance. Don’t deceive me."
"Why would I deceive you? The Revolving Noble Flower is a divine medicine that can cure frailty and restore souls. However, this medicine cannot be consumed directly. A fresh flower, without the slightest sign of wilting, must be refined with a secret technique for thirty years before it can be ingested."
"Senior, where can I find the Revolving Noble Flower?"
"And why should I tell you?"
"Do you really know?"
"I know. I’ll ask you again, why should I tell you?"
"What do you want?"
Shui Yongquan laughed. "I want my territory. I want to defeat Qiu Luoye. If you can help me defend a key transportation route, I can help you pick one."
A blank sheet of paper flew in front of Li Banfeng. The Local Deity continued, "If you don’t trust me, I can make a written pledge on Contract Paper."
"Is Contract Paper effective on you?"
"Hehehe, hard to say. It depends on whether you dare to take the gamble. If you’re a coward, I can’t help you. In any case, I have no reason to help you for nothing. Let’s make the stakes clear: as long as you can help me guard that route, I will get you a Revolving Noble Flower. Do you dare take on this battle?"
Li Banfeng was silent for a moment, then looked at Shui Yongquan and said, "I’ll fight."
"Excellent!" Shui Yongquan was very pleased. "Which do you choose, Hundred Vine Valley or Hundred Leg Cave?"
Li Banfeng sneered. "I’ll pick Hundred Leg Cave. Do you agree?"
A valley and a cave were different; if Shui Yongquan launched a surprise attack in the valley, Qiu Luoye would surely notice.
"Uh," Shui Yongquan looked embarrassed. "Young Brother, I advise you to pick Hundred Vine Valley instead; the terrain there is less complex..."
"I’m not afraid of complex terrain. I choose Hundred Leg Cave!"
Shui Yongquan sighed, realizing that Li Banfeng had probably seen through his tactics.
"Young Brother, Hundred Leg Cave is already well-defended. Let’s negotiate. You pick Hundred Vine Valley, and I’ll add to the reward."
"Since it’s negotiable," Li Banfeng nodded, "give me a hundred men."
Shui Yongquan laughed bitterly. "Those willing to fight for me total just over a hundred. It’s impossible to give you men, but I can give you a Spiritual Object."
"What kind of Spiritual Object?"
CLANG!
Two gates, each over three meters tall, along with their frames, fell in front of Li Banfeng.
"What use is this?"
"This is the Waterfall Gate. Plant it in the ground, douse it with two jins of water, and this Spiritual Object will take root, forming a barrier that blocks the entire valley and halts the enemy forces."
"Just by placing this Spiritual Object in the valley, I can completely stop the enemy?"
"Humph!" Shui Yongquan scoffed. "If it were that effective, would I need you to defend the valley? The Waterfall Gate can only hold for three minutes, after which it will wither. It requires three days of rest before it can be used again. Furthermore, it’s not a Magical Treasure; it has no Spiritual Wisdom and cannot fight on its own. You’ll have to defend alongside it."
Li Banfeng examined the two large gate panels. "How am I supposed to defend alongside it?"
"Just hold up the gate. As long as someone is bracing it, it will hold. If you leave the gate panels, they will open quickly. If the two gate panels open by three feet, the barrier will shatter. If you win this battle, I’ll give you a fresh Revolving Noble Flower and a territory within a ten-mile radius. I’ll also gift you the Waterfall Gate. Let’s draft the contract now. How does that sound?"
"Cut the crap!" Li Banfeng shook his head. "I can’t win this battle at all. You want to use me as bait, to hold off Qiu Luoye while you ambush him from behind."
Since the situation was laid bare, the Ghost Fire flickered twice, its tone tinged with admiration. "Well played. Now that you’ve seen through me, I won’t hide it. If you can hold out for an hour, then you will have won this battle."
"An hour is impossible. At most, twenty minutes."
"Twenty minutes is too short."
"That’s the best I can do."
The Ghost Fire hovered for a long moment, then agreed, "Alright. Twenty minutes it is. But if you flee before that time is up, you die!"