Stay together Above the Clouds.
Am I becoming Above the Clouds?
Li Banfeng waved his arms, adjusting his flying posture in the cold wind.
Where is this?
Is this the Cloud Frontier?
Why is it pitch black?
The Judge’s Pen said: "Don’t move around, open your eyes, then it won’t be dark."
Li Banfeng opened his eyes and found himself flying out of the Portable Residence, now soaring above the courtyard.
Xiao Yeci was drying clothes in the yard, and although there were many maids around, she was used to doing some things herself.
Miss Xiao, please don’t look up.
If she looks up and finds Li Qi flying in the sky, who knows what Xiao Yeci would do.
Li Banfeng tried to flap his arms even harder, aiming to fly higher.
The Judge’s Pen angrily said: "Stop moving, or I’ll reclaim my investment!"
It was only then that Li Banfeng realized he was still attached to the Judge’s Pen.
"I’m already Above the Clouds, and I still can’t fly?"
"You need to learn." The Judge’s Pen lifted to a greater height, guiding Li Banfeng in repeated circles above Pine Bridge.
Ascension was successful.
Li Banfeng had undergone a multi-layer ascension, his body severely exhausted, now on the brink of life and death.
Yet he couldn’t recuperate in the residence.
This is the cost of forcefully reaching Above the Clouds. He must now operate within his own territory, stabilizing his soul through the territory and position.
To be honest, Li Banfeng found it difficult even to keep his eyes open now.
The Pulling Strings Earrings reminded: "Master, Lady just mentioned, our Cheap Pen can only take you flying for a short while, most of the journey still needs you to walk by yourself."
Still have to walk...
An hour later, the Judge’s Pen put Li Banfeng down.
Li Banfeng was unsteady, he barely walked two steps before his legs gave way, nearly falling into Yanyun Lake.
Even though he is a Cultivator Above the Clouds now, in such physical condition, falling in would certainly lead to drowning.
The Wine Gourd prepared some warm wine: "Little brother, take a sip to calm your nerves."
The Teapot hurriedly intervened: "Nonsense! At a time like this, you can’t drink wine; you should drink some clear tea instead."
"Don’t drink anything," the Tang Sword leaped out from the waist, "Master, hold onto me, let’s move forward."
The Tang Sword acted as Li Banfeng’s cane, guiding him forward step by step.
Thanks to the talent of Home Cultivation still intact, Li Banfeng was easily overlooked by others. Otherwise, his current way of walking would certainly scare the nearby passersby.
After an entire day’s journey, Li Banfeng’s soul was stabilized, but his speed did not pick up; his Traveling Cultivator basic technique, Wind Rises on Flat Ground, had not yet recovered.
Reaching Lu Family Bookstore, Sun Tiecheng came out, assisted Li Banfeng, and sat him down at the tea table.
"You’ve ascended to Above the Clouds so quickly?"
Li Banfeng nodded: "Weren’t you saying the sooner the better? I naturally listened to you."
Sun Tiecheng sighed: "Still a bit hurried, you’ll probably need more days to recover."
As they spoke, Gui Jianchou, the Smiling Ghost King, brewed a pot of tea, poured it for both of them, then grabbed a cloth to clean the bookshelves.
Li Banfeng asked: "Who is this?"
Sun Tiecheng said: "He is Ah Gui, I recruited him for some work. Ah Gui is diligent and taciturn, if I don’t ask him to speak, he won’t utter a single word."
Li Banfeng chuckled: "Are you really planning to do business here?"
Sun Tiecheng sighed: "If only it could be that way; there’s a pile of things in the city waiting for me to manage."
Li Banfeng said: "I’ll follow you to Fool’s City for some quiet recuperation; it’s safe there."
Sun Tiecheng shook his head: "It’s not the time yet; your soul is still drifting, you must stay within your own territory until your soul is completely steady,
this bookstore needs to continue operating, as long as it’s open, my few old friends dare not come easily,
During this time, your body is weak, be extra cautious, surviving fierce storms, let’s not capsize in the quiet waters."
Sun Tiecheng left, Li Banfeng leaning on the Tang Sword, struggled for a long time to stand up, then slowly made his way back to the mansion.
Seeing Li Qi returning, Xiao Yeci was overjoyed but didn’t expect Li Qi could barely stand.
"Benefactor, what’s going on?"
"Caught a chill in the New Land..." Li Banfeng was drenched in sweat, rested in the courtyard for a while, then found a chance to return to Portable Residence.
"Husband is weary, rest for a while, in two hours, still have to return to the territory."
Li Banfeng said helplessly: "Still have to walk on the territory?"
The Phonograph sang softly: "Husband’s soul is stable enough, not walking is fine, but must stay in the territory, the Earth Skin forcefully reaching Above the Clouds, causing great changes in physique and soul, all must rely on territory and position to stabilize."
Covered by steam, Li Banfeng managed to catch his breath, lay flat on the bed for a while, then asked: "Wife, am I considered Cloud Top First Layer now?"
"Husband, it’s considered Above the Clouds now, but not yet the First Layer, much like when you entered the Taoist Sect back then but haven’t reached the next stage."
"Then how long is my lifespan now?"
"Lifespan, it’s still the original lifespan..." The Phonograph didn’t dare to speak too loudly, given husband has endured so much hardship, but still hasn’t achieved even triple the lifespan.
Li Banfeng was quite calm: "How long to reach Cloud Top First Layer?"
"First depends on when the physique recovers, second depends on when the soul stabilizes. Cultivators Above the Clouds ascending in Inner State directly adhere new physique to their soul, naturally needn’t worry about recovery and stabilization.
Husband has preserved your physique, this hurdle must be endured through by you, some people can’t pass it even in ten or eight years, some never pass it in a lifetime."
"A lifetime?" Li Banfeng was startled, struggling to sit up.