"At that moment, my mother was about to exact family discipline on me. I just wanted to push her into the garden so I could find a chance to run away. But I misjudged the direction and accidentally pushed her into the outhouse. She plummeted into the pit and nearly drowned. After she emerged from the outhouse, my mother beat me for two full days. "
Li Banfeng comforted, "Ying Ying, don’t cry. You weren’t beaten enough. Tell me more about distinguishing directions."
Hong Ying said, "This matter relates to the ’way back.’ When a Traveling Cultivator uses the Thousand Mile In A Step Technique, regardless of their cultivation level, they’re bound to lose their sense of direction. To regain it, you must leave behind a ’tether’ in advance. This ’tether’ is known as the ’way back’."
"What is this ’tether’?"
"A ’tether’ is like the command flag in a military camp or an anchor on a ship. I can’t explain it very well. But I used to have two ropes. These ropes were rare Magical Treasures and also my most reliable ’tether.’ When going into battle, I would tie one rope around my waist and bury the other in a safe place. After using the Thousand Mile In A Step Technique, the rope around my waist would tighten, resonating with the one buried in the ground. This allowed me to distinguish directions and find my ’way back.’ After sending the enemy away, I would follow this ’way back’ to safety. "
The Phonograph said, "Ying Ying, don’t be sad. One of these days, I’ll make you a chain to wear around your neck."
Hong Ying snorted, "It’s definitely not easy to find such Magical Treasures now. However, there are other ways to establish a ’way back.’ For instance, one could carry a superior communication-type Magical Treasure and find a reliable assistant to send messages at critical moments. This method is quite common. The only trouble is timing. If the message is sent too early, the Technique hasn’t been deployed, rendering the message useless. If it’s sent too late, both sides might not know where they’ve flown off to. Therefore, the assistant must be sharp, and the plan must be thorough."
The Phonograph scoffed, "Well, husband, regretting it now? That Thousand Mile In A Step Technique really isn’t easy to use."
Hong Ying, defiant, said, "Who says it’s not easy to use? Bring out the Ninth Layer Technique of Home Cultivation, and let’s see which one’s better!"
Li Qi said, "Wife, we can’t afford to lose out! Let’s show her the Ninth Layer Technique of Home Cultivation!"
The Phonograph sighed, "Why the rush, husband? Just wait for a few days to recover, and your Little Servant will naturally take you to the Ninth Layer. But once you reach the Ninth Layer, husband, you must be prepared. Will you forsake your physical body to ascend to the Tenth Layer, or will you transcend the Tenth Layer and ascend Above the Clouds?"
Li Banfeng said, "Wasn’t this already decided? I’ve claimed a territory and am posing as a Local Deity precisely to transcend the Tenth Layer and ascend Above the Clouds, haven’t I?"
"That’s true, but husband, you’ve been ascending so fast, your physique might not be able to keep up. If you forcefully pursue the Cloud Top Cultivation, I fear it’s too risky."
Li Banfeng also felt he had risen too quickly. "Then I’ll focus on strengthening my physique."
"Husband, you not only need to recuperate, but you also have to keep this news hidden. Don’t let anyone find out about your ascension to the Ninth Layer."
Li Banfeng knew the importance of hiding his cultivation level, but his wife’s reminder this time felt distinctly different from before.
"Is there anything special about the Ninth Layer?" Lu Dongliang was commonly known to be at the Ninth Layer, and Bao Yingchen of the Three Heroes Gang occasionally hinted to others that he, too, was at the Ninth Layer.
His wife said, "The Ninth Layer represents the elite among people, like dragons and phoenixes. Reaching this stage will attract the attention of the Inner State. Husband, if you plan to go to the Inner State for cultivation in the future, you won’t need to hide; in fact, it’s better to reveal your identity. If you can make some friends in the Inner State, you’ll have some connections to rely on when you arrive."
Li Banfeng shook his head, "I definitely won’t go to the Inner State. Those ’friends’ I made there... I’ve mostly eaten them."
The Phonograph said, "So, husband, you need to think carefully. Anyone who has witnessed your Ninth Layer Technique cannot be allowed to go around spreading rumors."
Currently, the only one who had seen the Ninth Layer Technique was Wan Jinxian.
「Cheap Person Ridge, Songde Village.」
A man’s corpse lay mangled, gnawed by a Knife Labor Ghost.
Cui Tiq approached and frowned, saying, "Senior Brother, how did you come to be like this?"
He wanted to move the corpse, but the Knife Labor Ghost prostrating on the ground let out a piercing cry.
"SQUEAK!"
Cui Tiq still moved the corpse. "Senior Brother, don’t eat this anymore. I have human food here."
He handed the Knife Labor Ghost a can.
The Knife Labor Ghost took the can, sniffed it, and tossed it aside. It clearly disliked the smell of the seasonings.
Cui Tiq picked up the can and lifted the metal lid. "Senior Brother, try it again. See if you can recover some memories."
The Knife Labor Ghost took the can and licked the soup inside with its tongue.
The familiar taste on its tongue seemed to stir some distant memories.
He ate a piece of beef. As he chewed carefully, a flicker of expression crossed his bloated, numb face.
Cui Tiq leaned in closer and asked, "Senior Brother, do you remember anything? How did you get here?"
The Knife Labor Ghost remained frozen in place, like a clay statue.
After a while, it suddenly raised its head and slapped the can—soup, beef, and all—onto Cui Tiq’s face.
"SQUEAK! SQUEAK!" It was expressing that the food was terrible.
This Knife Labor Ghost, formerly Wan Jinxian, scrambled away on all fours, quickly leaving the village.
Outside the village, a female Knife Labor Ghost was waiting for him. The two faced each other, prostrated on the ground. They circled each other twice with piercing howls, then entered the small woods together.
Cui Tiq watched and sighed.
His words had barely faded when Wan Jinxian came scrambling out of the woods, moving with that same brisk pace.
The female Knife Labor Ghost followed behind, her roars seeming to carry a mix of curses and mockery.
Cui Tiq looked at his Pocket Watch and shook his head.
Unable to tolerate the female Knife Labor Ghost’s harassment, Wan Jinxian and she began to fight fiercely.
Cui Tiq watched for a moment and noticed rashes breaking out on the female Knife Labor Ghost’s body.
After Wan Jinxian left, Cui Tiq approached the female Knife Labor Ghost, signaling that he was a superior male.
The female Knife Labor Ghost accepted Cui Tiq.
In the woods, Cui Tiq closely observed her back; individual pustules grew at an alarming rate. This was undoubtedly a Disease Cultivation Technique.
Cui Tiq smiled. If the Knife Labor Ghosts could indeed retain some of their previous cultivation level and Techniques, his plan could proceed ahead of schedule.
Shala has been coughing for days, unable to sleep because of it. Dear readers, please give all your monthly tickets to Shala.