The Overlord of Puluo

Could a dwelling spirit really become so powerful that even a land deity could not stop it?

There was no reason to doubt it. Wifey herself was proof enough. If he were to let his Wifey out, an ordinary land deity would stand little chance against her.

The real question was why Nectarine and Feng believed that Li Banfeng could stop the dwelling spirit known as Xia.

A land deity possessed strength equivalent to at least the first Cloudborne Layer, while Li Banfeng had not even advanced beyond the Terranean Realm. How reliable could Feng's fortune-telling ability really be?

"You really intend to activate land here?"

Nectarine lowered her head, looking thoroughly embarrassed. "Brother Bai Sha, I know I have no right to ask this of you, but we do not know anyone in these parts and have no one to turn to.

"We only need a plot with a radius of about half a kilometer. We have laid out offerings for days and burned contract after contract, yet the land deity has never responded to us. We have no idea why but we just begged that you point us in the right direction."

There was nothing wrong with the offerings, the contracts, or any other part of the process. The only problem was that the land deity had not been home. Now that the land deity was back, should he say yes to this?

"I will ask someone who knows more about this." After brushing the two of them off, Li Banfeng found a secluded spot and entered the Pocket Dwelling.

"Wifey, someone is trying to activate a plot of land in my territory. How should I handle it?"

"Husband dear, fret not," the Gramophone said. She reached into the front cabinet and brought out an adze, a chisel, an axe, and a saw. Then she fetched two pieces of wood. Her two needles darted back and forth like silver lightning, and before Li Banfeng had time to blink, a small wooden stool stood neatly on the floor.

"Husband dear, sit."

Li Banfeng sat on the stool and wondered what was the point of making this stool. Is she showing off her carpentry?

"Husband dear, you are a land deity. When people come to activate land in your territory, it is actually a good thing. In the long run, once you advance to the Cloudborne Layer, every human within your territory will contribute to your cultivation.

"As for the immediate benefits, whenever someone successfully activates land, Heavenly Light will descend upon the territory. If you get a burst of Heavenly Light, you will gain Dao affinity. The more Dao affinity you accumulate, the more it will help your cultivation in the future."

Heavenly Light? Dao affinity?

Li Banfeng stared at her in surprise. "Wifey, I was once struck by Heavenly Light when I first arrived in Puluo Province. That Heavenly Light did help me accumulate Dao affinity, but surely it would be different from the Heavenly Light that appears in New Land?"

The moment he finished speaking, Crimson Lotus trembled in the eighth room, which was the furthest away.

Huff~

Wifey laughed. "The Heavenly Light my dear husband received back then was probably caused by that wretch Crimson Lotus. People call it the Heavenly Light of Proper Land.

"Most people say that the Heavenly Light of Proper Land and the Heavenly Light of New Land are different, but that is not true. They come from different sources, yet they are of the same nature. The Heavenly Light of the Proper Land is simply much more violent.

"The Heavenly Light of Proper Land strikes like a thunderbolt. An ordinary person who suffers a direct hit will not live for long. The Heavenly Light of New Land, however, falls like a gentle rain. People cannot absorb it and might not even notice it at all."

Li Banfeng was shocked. "If people cannot absorb it, does that not make it useless?"

"People cannot absorb it directly, but your land can. When Heavenly Light falls upon New Land, it merges with the earth energy found only there and causes rare flowers and herbs to grow.

"Those plants can then be refined into pills that increase Dao affinity. Whenever my dear husband needs more Dao affinity, you can take the pill yourself."

Li Banfeng shook his head. "I have been struck by Heavenly Light before. I don't think I need more Dao affinity."

"A single encounter with the Heavenly Light of Proper Land would provide enough Dao affinity to take my dear husband all the way to the Cloudborne Layer. However, other people only run one business, while my dear husband has two. It never hurts to gather a little extra Dao affinity."

Li Banfeng wiped the sweat from his brow. "Wifey, what do you mean by two businesses? I am afraid I don't quite understand."

"What I mean is that my dear husband has two dwelling spirits to look after. Hong Ying, wouldn't you say so?"

"I never asked him to look after me," Hong Ying said. She lowered the tip of her spear in a rather shy manner. She had grown noticeably fuller in recent days, and her old clothes were beginning to fit her far too snugly.

Li Banfeng gave a couple of awkward laughs and didn't dare to say anything.

The Gramophone continued, "And even if my dear husband has no use for Dao affinity, hunters will eventually come to gather these rare flowers and herbs.

"The more hunters your territory attracts, the more famous it becomes. Once word spreads, more people will come to activate land here. Every successful activation will bring a burst of Heavenly Light, and before long, there will be more and more human auras on your territory."

It was a complete cycle, each step feeding naturally into the next.

The more Li Banfeng heard, the more delighted he became.

Wifey did, however, offer a warning. "Once a plot of land has been activated, it has effectively acknowledged a landowner. If you want another landowner for that plot of land, it will not be easy.

"A plot with a radius of half a kilometer is no small piece of land. My dear husband must choose the land-activator carefully and put them through a proper test. You must not let someone ruin your own territory.

"If the landowner lacks the ability to manage the plot of land and causes the land to become a neglected wasteland, it might make it difficult for the entire territory to transform into Proper Land in the future."

Li Banfeng thought through the entire cycle, then suddenly noticed a question he had overlooked.

"Wifey, what would happen if this Heavenly Light that is like gentle rain fell upon a plot of Proper Land?"

The Gramophone fell silent.

Li Banfeng also realized how absurd the question sounded. How could the Heavenly Light of the New Land possibly appear over a plot of Proper Land?

Hong Ying turned away from the mirror. "Darling Qi, a place like what you describe really does exist."

"You wretch! You talk too much!" the Gramophone scolded.

Hong Ying turned away and fell silent.

The Gramophone continued saying, "My dear husband, it is not that I refuse to tell you the truth. You are simply too reckless, and I am afraid you will go looking for danger again."

Li Banfeng puffed out his chest. "But I always do as Wifey tells me."

"If my dear husband is willing to listen to me, then I will explain a little more. When Heavenly Light as gentle as rain falls upon Proper Land, it harmonizes with the energy of the land. What it produces is not Dao affinity, but cultivation."

Cultivation! Li Banfeng froze in astonishment as a place crossed his mind.

Mount Bitterfog!

The Speckled-Snake Chrysanthemums that grew there could be refined into Speckled-Snake Pills, and those pills could be exchanged for cultivation. Upon remembering Mount Bitterfog, Li Banfeng remembered Xu Han, the founding cultivator of Gold Cultivation.

Old Mister Xu had once told him that there was a special place in Medicine King Gully and that place was Mount Bitterfog. It was precisely because of Mount Bitterfog's unique nature that the Inner Provinces covet the ownership of Medicine King Gully.

"Wifey dear, is Mount Bitterfog one of those special places?"

The Gramophone fell silent for a moment before speaking again. "Since my dear husband has already guessed the truth, there is no point in hiding it any longer. Mount Bitterfog is one of the special places found within Proper Land. Year after year, it has been nourished by Heavenly Light, and the rare flowers and herbs that grow there can enhance a person's cultivation.

"I know my dear husband has been to Mount Bitterfog, and I also know that you once gathered Speckled-Snake Chrysanthemums there. However, when compared to the other plants that exist on the mountain, the flowers you picked back then were nothing

"Still, my dear husband must promise me one thing. Do not return to Mount Bitterfog lightly. You have yet to witness the real dangers hidden there."

Li Banfeng gave Wifey his word, then returned to the matter at hand. "Now that someone has come to activate land in my territory, and this is supposed to be a good thing, how should I respond?"

"It is slightly difficult. My dear husband's standing is not yet high enough, so you will need to borrow strength from others. Hong Ying, lend him some of your imposing presence. Second Saber, give him a touch of killing intent. Judge's Brush, carry my dear husband into the air. He needs to see the entire half-kilometer radius clearly."

Hong Ying and the Tang Saber agreed at once while Judge's Brush gave a disgruntled snort. "Me?"

The Gramophone responded, "WHO ELSE?"

"FLY?" The Judge's Brush said just one word.

The Gramophone laughed. "You understand the rest well enough, so I will not waste time explaining it.

"Film Projector, when the time comes, make the whole territory look suitably impressive. And do not, under any circumstances, let the land activators see my dear husband's face.

"My dear husband, a grand display will help, but this alone will not raise your standing. You will need to show some real power as well. Once the Judge's Brush carries you into the air, activate the Deep Court Domain with everything you have. Make yourself seem as fierce as you possibly can, and I shall lend you my strength when the moment comes.

"But remember this. You must believe, absolutely and without a flicker of doubt, that you possess the cultivation of the Cloudborne Layer. Only then will the plot of land light up. That is the hardest part, and you may need several attempts before you succeed.

"The instant the plot of land lights up, eat the offerings and form a covenant with the pioneers. You must settle beforehand whether they intend to activate the land themselves or hire others to do it. Their test will start one day later, and we can decide what to do after that.

"And if you fail this time, it does not matter. There will be other chances. Whatever happens, my dear husband, do not let your confidence waver."

Li Banfeng carefully memorized Wifey's instructions. After borrowing some of Hong Ying's imposing presence, he took the Tang Saber, the Judge's Brush, and the Film Projector with him and left the Pocket Dwelling.

He chose a spot near the edge of the forest, where the open view would make it easier to mark out the boundaries. They had asked for a plot extending half a kilometer in every direction, and he meant to give them exactly that much. He then found a suitable tree, adjusted the Film Projector to the right angle, and secured it in place.

Once everything was ready, he went back to the tent. Feng stood with her head lowered, hiding behind Nectarine, while Nectarine looked at Li Banfeng with an eager, hopeful expression.

Li Banfeng, hidden by the Film Projector's illusion, first asked, "Are you planning to activate the land yourselves, or will you hire someone to do it?"

There were some people who successfully activated lands in Meng Yuchun's territory and they were experienced land activators.

From behind Nectarine, Feng shook her head. "We will do it ourselves. Apart from fetching water from their land, we cannot have any dealings with the people there."

What do you have against Meng Yuchun's territory? Li Banfeng thought. He then had Nectarine carry the offering table to the edge of the forest. Then he told the two women to burn the contracts and prepare all the offerings.

Then he said, "Wait here and see whether the land deity responds today. If nothing happens, try again first thing tomorrow morning."

The Film Projector had already set the scene. Li Banfeng found a hidden spot and took out the Judge's Brush.

"Fly," Li Banfeng ordered. Yet, even after waiting more than ten minutes, the Judge's Brush did not move.

"Fly?"

"Wait."

Li Banfeng felt so helpless. However, when it came to a conversation with the Judge's Brush, he really couldn't rush. Another ten minutes passed before the Judge's Brush finally yawned and carried him into the air.

From above, Li Banfeng could see the entire plot, stretching half a kilometer in every direction. He activated the Deep Court Domain and heard the pounding of war drums made by Wifey.

The rapid, ringing beat of the drums sent Li Banfeng's fighting spirit soaring, and his strength surged with it.

The Tang Saber darted and flew around him, filling the air with a dense killing intent.

Nectarine wrapped her arms tightly around Feng. Because of the Film Projector, they couldn't see Li Banfeng. However, the combined weight of his imposing presence and killing intent still filled both women with genuine fear.

At this moment, Li Banfeng felt like an unstoppable general. He felt like if he made a roar, thousands of soldiers would flee.

Wanderlust Cultivators had an innate talent for judging distance. Keeping his imposing presence steady, Li Banfeng fixed his gaze on the boundary of the plot, which extended half a kilometer in every direction.

More than ten minutes passed, but the boundary around the plot of line still didn't light up.

The Judge's Brush finally asked, "CAN?"

Li Banfeng drew a deep breath and poured even more power into the activation of Deep Court Domain.

The Gramophone continued to lend him strength. Amid the thunderous pounding of war drums, she began to sing and each word sent his blood surging.

"A roar sounded before Dangyang Bridge. It shook the bridge apart and turned the river's flow.

"Then forth rode Zhao Zilong, the hero of Changshan, a peerless warrior renowned throughout the Nine Provinces!

"Across the blood-soaked slopes of Changban, he rescued young A Dou and cut through Cao Cao's army until every soldier wailed in fear!"

"RAW-ya-ya-ya-ya!" Li Banfeng let out a tremendous roar and kept his eyes fixed on the boundary of the plot.

The song came to an end, but the boundary still refused to light up.

The Judge's Brush, feeling absolutely exhausted, gave a long, weary sigh.

Without warning, it carried Li Banfeng high into the air, making his eyes widen in alarm. After hovering there for a moment, it suddenly plunged toward the ground with him.

What is the Judge's Brush doing?

Under any other circumstances, Li Banfeng's first instinct would have been to escape. This time, however, he could not escape as he knew that the Judge's Brush was trying to help him. He knew that if he struck the ground, he would either die or suffer terrible injuries. Even so, he continued plunging downward with the Judge's Brush.

He used the ability Stubborn step and forcibly pushed his cultivation to a higher level.

With more than fifty meters left before impact, Li Banfeng felt himself displaying power close to that of an eighth-level cultivator. By the time he was less than thirty meters from the ground, his cultivation power had surged beyond the eighth level.

The fierce wind on the ground stung Nectarine and Feng's eyes, but they had no idea where the wind had come from.

When Li Banfeng was less than twenty meters from the ground, he fixed his eyes on the boundary of the plot. While Wifey's song thundered over and over in his ears, his imposing presence and killing intent surged together. Even the Judge's Brush believed his standing had risen high enough, yet the boundary still refused to light up.

The Judge's Brush slowed at once and carried him back into the air.

The Judge's Brush let out a sigh and said, "Your resolve wavered."

He could tell what the problem was.

Raising one's standing was just that difficult. If Li Banfeng had even the slightest doubt, he wouldn't be able to raise his standing. However, it was impossible for him not to have any doubt as he really didn't have the cultivation level of Cloudborne Layer.

The Judge's Brush was about to carry Li Banfeng back to the ground when it heard him muttering to himself.

"You are the land deity.

"Says who? My cultivation is nowhere near that level."

"Forget cultivation. You have the contracts.

"That was a lie.

"It does not matter how you got them. You are still the land deity.

"Are you using Words Chiseled in Stone?

"Never mind what ability I am using. You are the land deity, and the contracts prove it."

***

Two minutes later, Li Banfeng tightened his grip on the Judge's Brush and surveyed his territory once more.

At this moment, the Judge's Brush sensed an aura from him unlike anything before.

"It's done!" the Judge's Brush cried with a laugh. It carried Li Banfeng a little higher, making sure he could see the entire plot.

The boundary around that plot of land gradually started lighting up.

Nectarine's face lit up. "Darling Feng, we did it."

Feng nodded hard. "Yes, we did."

Li Banfeng threw back his head and laughed. "HUEHOHOHOHO! I am the land deity! I am going to eat the offerings!"

The Judge's Brush was very happy too and said, "I take you."

"No need! I am the land deity. I can fly! Huehohohoho!"

With that, Li Banfeng let go of the Judge's Brush.

"Fly?" The Judge's Brush thought for a moment. "But you cannot!"

Author's Note:

PS: Flapping his arms wildly, Li Banfeng "flew" all the way down.