"Dig, Brother!"
"Dig, Boss!"
Li Banfeng and the gloves worked together, their hands digging into the hidden compartment revealed on the ground.
After digging for a solid half-hour, it was Li Banfeng who first unearthed a seal.
He held the artifact, feeling its texture and weight carefully for an extended period.
Unable to see within the confines of the Dark Dimension Space, he had no choice but to rely on his touch. It took Li Banfeng a full two minutes before he could confirm it was indeed the Land Seal.
"Brother!" Li Banfeng exclaimed, his voice filled with excitement.
"Boss!" The gloves echoed his enthusiasm, digging out two pieces of arched Iron Tokens from beneath the Land Seal.
The Contract Book of Greenwater Bay was then unearthed by the duo.
Li Banfeng desperately wished to know the contents of the Greenwater Beggar’s Contract Book, but the darkness of the Dark Dimension Space rendered it impossible to read.
"Boss, we may not be able to see what's written, but that doesn't prevent us from accepting it!" The gloves suggested that Li Banfeng should first absorb the Contract Book and the Land Seal.
"Right!" Li Banfeng placed the Land Seal upon his head and began to absorb its human energy.
Human energy, once acquired, should be promptly assimilated to circumvent potential complications.
This location, Greenwater Bay, stood as the most populous city within Puluo State. How many individuals would surely covet the human energy found here?
The human energy needed to be absorbed swiftly, lest it grow cold; this was the proper method.
As the human energy flowed continuously into his head, Li Banfeng could distinctly feel his cultivation level ascending.
The sheer volume of human energy contained within this Land Seal was astonishing; it released for over a minute, exceeding the combined total from Bridge Yesong and Li Furong’s New Land.
There was still more to come, as the human energy from the Land Seal had not yet been fully depleted.
Another minute elapsed, and the human energy continued its relentless flow from the Land Seal.
After a full ten minutes, the human energy still poured forth from the Land Seal.
Twenty minutes later, Li Banfeng’s eyes rolled back, and he succumbed to the ground, unconscious.
"Boss!" The gloves quickly removed the Land Seal and desperately called out to Li Banfeng. Only after a considerable time did he finally flutter his eyes open.
"Where is my Land Seal?" Li Banfeng fumbled around, searching for it.
"Boss, there's no need to rush!" The gloves advised. Their initial intention was to continue searching Green Flower's dwelling, but Li Banfeng's steps were far too unsteady, and walking proved a significant challenge for him. Consequently, they made haste to depart the Dark Dimension Space.
Despite his wobbly gait, once Li Banfeng broke into a run, movement became surprisingly effortless. He sprinted with remarkable speed towards Xiaoyao Lodge.
After securing the hidden key and entering the Portable Residence, Li Banfeng immediately collapsed onto the bed, his legs beginning to tremble uncontrollably.
This sensation in his legs was not entirely unfamiliar. Before every Traveler Cultivator advancement, a similar leg trembling would occur, signaling Li Banfeng’s urge to run without cessation.
Yet, the feeling pervading his body was entirely new. Li Banfeng found himself utterly unwilling to move, feeling as if he were glued to the bed, stuck fast to the mattress.
The phonograph, observing Li Banfeng's peculiar state, extended its stylus to test his pulse. "Husband, just how much human energy did you absorb?"
Li Banfeng responded with surprise, "Beloved wife, you could discern that?"
The phonograph replied, "How could I not? Husband, your pulse is in utter chaos due to the human energy. Where did you acquire such a potent source?"
The gloves chimed in, "How can you call it acquiring? It was taken openly and honestly. The boss only took from Green Flower."
"Could one family possess such a vast amount of energy?" His wife expressed her doubt.
"Isn't Greenwater City renowned for its overflowing human energy? There was still some residual energy left within the Land Seal!" The gloves then passed the Land Seal to the phonograph.
The phonograph weighed it in its hand and exclaimed, "How long has this Green Flower not been consuming human energy?"
Li Banfeng questioned, puzzled, "Without consuming human energy, what did he rely on for his cultivation to grow?"
The phonograph meticulously examined Li Banfeng's condition, stating, "Beloved husband, with both 'doors' open for business, both parties were fully satisfied. Only half of the Land Seal's human energy was utilized!"
Li Banfeng was equally stunned, "Can a single Land Seal truly hold that much?"
The Wine Gourd remarked, "Indeed, a Land Seal can indeed hold a substantial amount of human energy. But why would this beggar accumulate so much?"
"No wonder this beggar proved so troublesome. Perhaps he no longer requires human energy..." The phonograph pondered for a moment before declaring, "Husband, I shall now impart the Home Cultivation Technique 'Above the Clouds' to you."
Li Banfeng, still trembling, replied, "Wife, in this condition, I fear I am incapable of learning the technique."
"First, learn the technique, then cleanse your meridians and prepare for advancement."
"Advancement?" Li Banfeng struggled to sit up. "I just reached the Cloud Top First Layer. Advancing again so soon?"
"It’s precisely because your monstrous appetite consumed so much human energy that you are already teetering on the brink of the Second Layer!" The phonograph lamented with a hint of weariness, yet felt a pang of affection. It used its steam to gently lay Li Banfeng down, tenderly advising, "My beloved husband, please keep your body still and your mind tranquil. Think of nothing and entrust yourself entirely to your Little Servant."
As it spoke, the phonograph slowly drew Li Banfeng into its horn. Within its warm embrace, Li Banfeng felt his eyelids grow heavy, and he drifted into a deep sleep.
He awoke with no idea how much time had passed. Li Banfeng opened his eyes.
His body felt remarkably light, and the trembling in his legs had vanished.
Li Banfeng sat up with newfound ease. His gaze first fell upon the phonograph to his right. "Beloved wife, have I mastered the technique?" he inquired.
His wife responded, "Husband, you have indeed learned it."
Li Banfeng then turned his attention to the shadow on his left. "Have I truly learned it?"
The shadow inclined its head in acknowledgement to Li Banfeng.
Seated on the bed, Li Banfeng addressed the shadow. "From my understanding, shadows typically manifest on surfaces like the ground or walls. Yet, here you are, seated beside me. How do you account for this?"
The shadow directed its gaze towards the phonograph.
The phonograph felt compelled to explain to Li Banfeng, "Husband, the cultivation technique of the Home Cultivation Technique Above the Clouds is referred to as Shape and Shadow Suspension..."
"Let us set aside discussion of the technique for the moment," Li Banfeng stated. After a brief period of silent contemplation, he abruptly stood. "Are you Ban Feng Yi?"
The shadow also rose to its feet, poised to confront Li Banfeng!
"You have indeed manifested!" Li Banfeng swiftly reached for his sickle.