Second Layer?
This had led Li Banfeng to misunderstand, thinking that the House Spirit would only have adverse effects during the promotion process.
But he hadn’t expected that the House Spirit also had methods to promote advancement. The extent of this promotion was so great that Li Banfeng couldn’t believe it was real.
Li Banfeng was very eager for higher cultivation levels. He even harbored the extravagant hope of reaching the Tenth Layer and tripling his lifespan.
Li Banfeng didn’t beat around the bush and asked the Phonograph directly, "You’re giving me Second Layer cultivation level. What do you want me to do in return?"
PFFT.
The Phonograph sang aggrievedly, "We are such a loving husband and wife. Why would my lord say such unpleasant words?"
Li Banfeng curled his lips. "Where did all that love go when you turned on me before?"
HMPH, HMPH.
The Phonograph snorted twice. "Oh, my lord, Little Servant doesn’t like to hear such words. What couple doesn’t bicker? It’s always ’quarrel at the head of the bed and reconcile at the foot.’ Little Servant was just being capricious for a moment. My lord can beat me or scold me, but you mustn’t hold a grudge..."
Li Banfeng got up from the ground and dusted himself off. "Alright, I won’t hold a grudge. Just tell me what you really want. Speak plainly."
"My lord, Little Servant only wants you, nothing more."
"Speak up! What do you want?"
"Little Servant is devoted to you wholeheartedly. How can you turn a blind eye?"
"Hurry up and tell me, what do you want?"
The Phonograph started to cry. "How can Little Servant’s utter devotion not earn even a shred of my lord’s true affection?"
Li Banfeng put on his top hat. "If you don’t tell me, I’m leaving."
The Phonograph stopped crying. "My lord, I’m hungry."
Li Banfeng sat back down on the bed, rubbing his face, speechless for a long moment.
Back in the deep mountains and old forests, Li Banfeng had lured a host of Lost Souls controlled by Luo Yuni. The Phonograph had devoured those Lost Souls and, in return, advanced Li Banfeng to the First Layer.
More recently, Li Banfeng had found quite a few fresh Souls for the Phonograph and had also fed her fifteen cultivated Ghost Servants. The Phonograph had clearly enjoyed her meals, as she had now granted Li Banfeng another layer of cultivation.
"Wife, when will you ever eat your fill? Didn’t you just eat yesterday?"
PFFT.
The Phonograph scoffed, "Oh, husband, what are you talking about? You ate yesterday, so does that mean you won’t eat today?"
Li Banfeng nodded. "Actually, I haven’t eaten at all today."
"Husband is hungry too. Go eat quickly. After eating, hurry and buy groceries, and come back early once you’re done."
"Buy groceries, buy groceries! Where am I supposed to find them so easily? Feeding you Lost Souls every day—do you take me for some kind of murderous maniac?"
PFFT!
CLATTER!
The Phonograph continued to sneer, "Husband, have you killed so few people then?"
Li Banfeng said angrily, "Even so, I’m not a maniac! I’ve reached the Second Layer, so there should be a Technique, right?"
"There is a Technique. Listen to Little Servant explain it to you... in... de-tail... de-tail... de-tail..."
Li Banfeng was taken aback. "Wife, why are you stammering?"
"Husband, Little Servant needs a bit more oil."
Li Banfeng brought the Oil Pot and opened the machine’s cover, only to see the water tank boiling, steam billowing out endlessly, cloud after cloud.
The Phonograph could do anything—clean the house, wash clothes, kill... The only thing it couldn’t do was add its own oil.
"Wife, you can add your own fuel, so why can’t you add your own oil?"
The Phonograph replied, "Fuel is added to the front compartment, which Little Servant can reach. Oil is added to the rear compartment, which Little Servant cannot."
HISS!
The Phonograph exclaimed in surprise, "Husband, that’s not where it needs oil! Husband, don’t touch that water valve! Husband, be more careful with that gear! Husband, that screw doesn’t need oil! Oh, husband... Oh, husband..."
The Phonograph kept calling out.
Li Banfeng closed the cover, sat down beside the Phonograph, and said quietly, "Wife, please tell me the Technique. I’m listening attentively."
Seeing Li Banfeng’s solemn expression, the Phonograph asked, "Oh, husband, why so serious again?"
Li Banfeng nodded. "I’ve always been quite serious."
"Oh, husband, are you satisfied now?"
Li Banfeng nodded.
"Just a few words and you’re satisfied?"
Li Banfeng nodded.
The Phonograph fell silent for a long while, then, to a slow beat, it sang softly, "Husband, do your clothes need washing?"
Li Banfeng nodded. "Of course, they need to be washed."
"HUFF! You crazy man!" Three trumpet mouths started smoking simultaneously as the Phonograph bellowed angrily. "Next time this happens, can’t you take them out beforehand? It’s always such a large load! Don’t you know how hard it is to wash clothes?"
Having changed into fresh clothes, Li Banfeng sat beside the Phonograph and said, "Wife, tell me about the Technique. I’m all ears."
"Don’t come any closer! Don’t lean in like that, or I’ll have to wash another item." The Phonograph repelled Li Banfeng with a puff of steam, then began explaining the Technique.
"The Second Layer Technique is called ’Insightful Spirit Sound.’ It’s a cultivation of the ears."
Li Banfeng picked up the Gold Earring refined from Zhou Yujuan and asked, "Isn’t this just the ’Favorable Wind Ear’? If I learn another ear Technique, won’t that be repetitive?"
"Oh, husband, it’s not repetitive at all. ’Favorable Wind Ear’ allows you to hear from afar; ’Insightful Spirit Sound’ allows you to hear more types of sounds. There are many Spiritual Objects in this world, and they can all speak. It’s just that ordinary people can’t understand them. Husband, as long as you concentrate your mind and listen attentively, you’ll be able to hear the voices of Spiritual Objects."
Li Banfeng liked this Skill a lot.
Li Banfeng pressed his ear to the Phonograph’s casing and listened intently.
HISS...
The Phonograph seemed a bit nervous.
"Husband, what are you doing, pressing your ear to my belly like that? Did you expect me to conceive your child or something?"
Li Banfeng held the Phonograph and listened for a long time but couldn’t detect any Spiritual Sound.
PFFT...
The Phonograph snickered. "Husband, Little Servant can talk to you. You don’t need to use the Technique to listen to me."
Li Banfeng picked up the Copper Lotus Flower and listened intently for a while, but still heard nothing.
"Wife, doesn’t this count as a Spiritual Object either?"
HISS... The Phonograph sighed.
"That slut Red Lotus is indeed a Spiritual Object. But her layer is too high, and she’s rather shy. Husband, you can’t understand her Spiritual Sound yet."
Li Banfeng pressed himself against the wall, concentrated his mind, and listened carefully.
The Phonograph urgently shouted, "Husband, you mustn’t!"
WHOOSH! WHOOSH!
HUMMM...
Li Banfeng heard a low, prolonged hum, and then his eyes rolled back, and he collapsed to the floor.
"This house is truly unusual. No wonder that slut Red Lotus was so cautious, not even daring to fight me head-on. Following this crazy man in here so recklessly might have been a bit rash," the Phonograph mused, a layer of dew, like sweat, forming on its casing.
PS: I picked up the external hard drive filled with valuable data. I can hear it talking to me.
Dear readers, give it a try. You can really hear it too!