The potency and quantity of Techniques that can be dispensed by the Deep Mansion Courtyard Technique have seen significant enhancements.
The Shadow Hanging Technique has undergone simplification; prior to summoning a Shadow, if no specialized tactical formations were required, the preparatory phase could largely be bypassed.
On the evening of the seventh day, Li Banfeng journeyed to Rock Tower Village and located Jin Shunying at the local inn.
Jin Shunying had already prepared the necessary bait, meticulously organized her equipment, and gathered some crucial intelligence: "That high-level Fighter has recently been frequenting the construction site east of the village. A few days ago, a group of Hunters engaged him, but despite not securing a victory, they managed to retreat without sustaining any casualties, essentially escaping unscathed."
Li Banfeng surveyed Jin Shunying's gear, expressing his admiration for the young woman's professional diligence.
"What desire did you articulate this time when the Great Deity made its appearance?"
Jin Shunying cast a sideways glance at Li Banfeng. He raised an eyebrow, offering, "If you prefer not to disclose, there's no obligation."
"It's not precisely a matter of inconvenience. My reluctance stemmed from a fear that revealing it might jinx the outcome. However, keeping such a significant wish internalized is also quite burdensome.
Boss, you are entirely correct. If one aims for self-advancement, the pursuit of substantial endeavors is paramount. I am still young and harbor aspirations. My wish was that we would, without fail, apprehend that high-level Fighter this time."
"That is the wish you made?" Li Banfeng's facial muscles involuntarily twitched.
"Is it perhaps too ambitious?" Jin Shunying lowered her head and elaborated, "I recall you mentioning that within this very inn, a woman who had been blind for many years articulated a wish to the Great Deity and, by the subsequent morning, her sight had been restored.
The Great Deity proves exceptionally responsive on this occasion. It is not merely your assertion, Boss; I am confident the Deity will continue to observe from the Heavens and bestow blessings upon us to successfully execute this significant undertaking."
"Continue to observe..." Li Banfeng inhaled deeply.
Jin Shunying appeared somewhat abashed, murmuring, "I was merely speaking my mind."
Indeed, her words were spoken on impulse. The Great Deity operates under specific temporal constraints: its arrival is on the sixth day, and departure occurs on the seventh. As it was already the night of the seventh, how could it possibly linger solely for the fulfillment of Jin Shunying's singular wish?
Nevertheless, Li Banfeng found himself in a state of deliberation. "Let us postpone the operation until tomorrow."
The alteration in the plan was somewhat abrupt, yet Jin Shunying accepted without extensive questioning, readily concurring.
On the night of the eighth day, Li Banfeng and Jin Shunying arrived at the construction site situated to the east of the village.
This particular site remained in the initial demolition phase. The compensation agreements with the villagers had been finalized, and initial work had commenced. However, subsequent financial complications led to the project's halt, leaving the site derelict.
Jin Shunying proceeded to light the Incense Candles. These were personally crafted by her, utilizing premium components. This constituted her exclusive method for Soul Summoning, and it also represented one of the operational costs for a Souls Hunter.
Li Banfeng conducted a perimeter check of the site, finding no other individuals present.
Upon returning to Jin Shunying's vicinity, he observed that a considerable number of Lost Souls had already congregated near the lit Incense Candles.
Considering her earlier casual remarks, her preparation work had, in reality, been exceedingly thorough. The intelligence she had painstakingly gathered was also acquired at a substantial cost. Having received adequate compensation, the seller refrained from disseminating the information, thereby ensuring the absence of rival hunters at the site for that night.
An increasing multitude of Lost Souls gathered around the Incense Candles; Jin Shunying promptly dispersed those who clearly lacked Spiritual Wisdom.
From the remaining Lost Souls possessing a modicum of Spiritual Wisdom, Jin Shunying dispatched two Ghost Servants to conduct a further selection.
The selection process was straightforward: any entity capable of engaging the Ghost Servants in a brief exchange of blows demonstrated palpable combat prowess and was permitted to remain. Those who were paralyzed by fear upon initial contact with the Ghost Servants, or proved incapable of mounting any form of response, were immediately expelled.
Lost Souls that could contend with the Ghost Servants on even terms, or even achieve a slight advantage, necessitated careful handling, as Jin Shunying could not be certain of her ability to maintain control over them.
Observing the exchanges between the Ghost Servants and the Lost Souls, Li Banfeng was acutely aware that the Lost Soul of the high-level Martial Cultivator was definitively not among them.
As the selection process neared its conclusion, only a single Lost Soul maintained a marginal ability to exchange a few moves with the Ghost Servants. Jin Shunying accepted this one; all other Lost Souls were dismissed.
Midnight had long since passed, a fact Jin Shunying noted with a glance at the time. The majority of the Incense Candles had been consumed; any Lost Souls susceptible to this lure should have already appeared. As for the high-level Fighter, perhaps their power rendered them unwilling to reveal themselves, or maybe they were simply not in the vicinity. The meticulously gathered intelligence, acquired at considerable expense, had proven fruitless. Jin Shunying felt a pang of disappointment, realizing the captured Ghost Servant wouldn't even compensate for the cost of the Incense Candles.
Years of experience as a Hunter had conditioned her to such setbacks. Just as she began packing her belongings, intending to depart, she suddenly realized Li Banfeng was missing.
Li Banfeng had detected a sound. Footsteps were approaching the Incense Candles, only to halt abruptly mid-stride. Then, a faint grinding noise of bricks and rubble against earth and stone reached his ears. Though subtle, the Silk-pulling Earrings rendered the sound unmistakably clear.
Following the auditory cue, Li Banfeng discerned a stumbling melody: 'I Am Your Pot Helmet, though cheap as can be, I can still fill your belly...'
"Boss, it's him," the Silk-pulling Earrings confirmed, recognizing the voice with certainty as Chu Zikai's.
Chu Zikai was employing a Sound Cultivation Technique.
Li Banfeng fully engaged the defensive capabilities of his Home Cultivation, augmented by the shielding provided by the Silk-pulling Earrings. This combined effort minimized the Sound Cultivation Technique's disruptive impact. Upon reaching a vantage point where Chu Zikai's form was vaguely discernible, Li Banfeng witnessed the ongoing battle between him and the Lost Soul.
True to his usual style, Chu Zikai was attired as a boatman, complete with a coarse cloth vest, a bamboo hat, and a mask. He utilized his singing to exert control over the Lost Soul amidst the dislodged rubble. The Lost Soul appeared ensnared by the song, its limbs seemingly bound, yet its feet still scrabbled against the debris, producing the faint scraping sounds Li Banfeng had heard. Moving and singing, Chu Zikai produced a cloth bag, preparing to capture the Lost Soul.
It seemed Chu Zikai was indeed in dire financial straits, not only involving himself in this affair but actively participating in the hunt. The cloth bag opened like a maw, extending towards the Lost Soul, whose outline began to subtly warp. The moment of capture was imminent.
Li Banfeng knew he could not permit Chu Zikai to claim the Lost Soul. Clearing his throat and steadying his breath, he unleashed a low, sustained howl. This seemingly simple vocalization was, in reality, quite capable of disrupting a singer's performance. As a Sound Cultivator hailing from Above the Clouds, Chu Zikai should have been resistant to such interference. However, the potent Techniques Li Banfeng had acquired were sufficiently vicious; after two repetitions of the howl, Chu Zikai's singing faltered, hitting a wrong note.
The moment the melody wavered, the binding force weakened considerably. The Lost Soul, previously immobilized, abruptly regained its freedom and hurled a piece of brick towards Chu Zikai.
A resonant hum emanated from Chu Zikai as the projectile shattered into fine dust before him. It was crucial to reduce the brick to such an impalpable consistency; otherwise, any remaining shard could transform into a formidable weapon. The Lost Soul's assault persisted, relentlessly flinging bricks at Chu Zikai, who dared not let down his guard, continuously employing Sound Cultivation Techniques to pulverize the incoming debris.
As the dust accumulated, thickening the air, Chu Zikai perceived a change. The Lost Soul's silhouette vanished. When it reappeared, brick still in hand, it was suddenly positioned right beside Chu Zikai.
Chu Zikai let out an appreciative sigh, "What a formidable Evil Ghost. I never anticipated you possessing such prowess, nor bringing along such a capable assistant." The admiration in his voice was laced with a hint of mockery. Chu Zikai had been observing the brick in the Lost Soul's grasp throughout, anticipating its transformation and prepared to counter any weapon it might become. Simultaneously, he remained vigilant against Li Banfeng lurking in the shadows.
"Who are you calling an Evil Ghost?" the Lost Soul retorted, its ragged clothing suddenly tearing apart. This unexpected development caught Chu Zikai off guard. The unraveling threads shot towards Chu Zikai from all directions. "Do you recognize your Second Master Lu?" the Lost Soul inquired.
Second Master Lu... Li Banfeng recalled the Contract Book employed by the Wizards Association for summoning the Lost Soul. The final inscription had described him as a handsome man from an ancient realm. Perhaps that translation was inaccurate. As Public Security Team Member Zhuang Shuxing had remarked, after multipleInterpretations, the original meaning could become thoroughly distorted.
Instead of summoning "a handsome man," their invocation had brought forth "a man named Jun."
And therein lay the core of the dilemma: how had Lu Dongjun been summoned?
Precisely where had Lu Dongjun's departed spirit resided before that fateful moment?
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