Steam Era: The Lord of 'Puluo'

It might not work at critical moments.

This wasn't good.

Li Banfeng recalled his fight with Huang Guangshi. He had been stabbed in the cheek with an Iron Ruler and, despite planning to escape, had failed.

At that time, he might have wanted to use the Traceless Short Step, but in a life-or-death situation, he lost his composure. This technique truly tests one's mindset!

Intent guides the feet.

I'll steal a step, Li Banfeng thought.

He took a step forward. Unsuccessful.

I'll steal another step.

Still unsuccessful.

Watching Li Banfeng stumble forward, Ma Wu frowned. "Brother Li, you're overthinking it. You only started a few months ago, and you're already pushing for the Second Layer?"

"I'm just preparing, so I won't be lost when I reach that level. Brother Ma, do you know the Third Layer Technique of a Traveling Cultivator?"

"That, I don't know. Techniques from the Taoist Sects generally aren't recorded in books, especially those above the Third Layer. Few Cultivators know them, and they wouldn't easily reveal their techniques. If such a book did exist, it would be priceless and likely not even in the Ma Family Library."

As they spoke, they reached the bog and soon found the lump of Glue Mud.

This lump of Glue Mud was truly hard to distinguish; it looked almost identical to the common muck found everywhere in the swamp. Ma Wu, knowing the properties of Glue Mud, lowered his voice and said to Li Banfeng, "Glue Mud has a layer of black edges. In watery areas, you can see these black edges moving."

Li Banfeng looked closely and saw something trembling on the edge of the lump of black adhesive clay.

Overall, this lump of Glue Mud looked somewhat like a rotten jellyfish.

"Brother Li, be very gentle," Ma Wu said, pulling on gloves. "Glue Mud is an outlier, possessing a Spirit Attribute. If you make too much noise, it will flee. You hold the can; I'll get this Glue Mud." He took two steps into the swamp but unfortunately stepped into a mud pit, and one foot began to sink.

He scrambled to pull his foot out, but his other foot also sank into the mire.

This isn't right; the swamp has changed! It's different from when I was here before, Ma Wu thought.

He didn't dare struggle further and turned to Li Banfeng with an embarrassed look.

Li Banfeng, holding the iron can, stood silently on the bank, watching Ma Wu sink deeper and deeper into the swamp.

「...」

After hauling Ma Wu out of the bog, Li Banfeng put on gloves and approached the lump of Glue Mud.

A Traveling Cultivator had a natural advantage in a swamp. With each step, Li Banfeng could sense the fortune or misfortune of the next, greatly reducing the risk of sinking into the mud.

When he was about five steps from the Glue Mud, there was a loud SPLASH; he'd made too much noise with that step.

The Glue Mud noticed, its surrounding edges beginning to tremble rapidly.

Ma Wu frowned; the Glue Mud was about to flee.

He didn't dare rush Li Banfeng, fearing a misstep in haste.

Li Banfeng quickly took another step.

The Glue Mud's body suddenly rolled, trying to retreat beneath the muck.

I underestimated its speed, Li Banfeng thought.

He took another step.

The Glue Mud's body had already submerged into the muck.

Li Banfeng bent down, plunged his hand into the muddy water, and scooped out the entire lump of Glue Mud, swiftly placing it into the iron can.

"We almost came all this way for nothing," Li Banfeng smiled.

Ma Wu was astounded. "Brother Li, you just stole a step!"

"What do you mean, stole a step?" Li Banfeng looked puzzled.

Ma Wu didn't know how to explain.

When the Glue Mud had submerged, Li Banfeng was three steps away from it.

Three steps—a little over two meters.

Unless Li Banfeng practically lay flat in the water, he couldn't have reached the Glue Mud.

In the instant he bent over, he had stolen a step—a large one.

The distance had shrunk to one and a half steps, barely allowing him to reach the Glue Mud.

When Li Banfeng emerged from the swamp, Ma Wu couldn't help but ask, "Brother Li, what's your cultivation level?"

Reviewing his actions in retrieving the Glue Mud, Li Banfeng also realized there was something strange about the distance.

"That's why I say it's good to prepare in advance," Li Banfeng explained calmly. "One never knows when they might suddenly advance."

Ma Wu asked no more.

He had always refrained from asking too much about Li Banfeng's affairs.

Including how he could kill First Layer, or even Second Layer, opponents. How he could dispose of corpses without a trace after killing. Why he had suddenly gone to Greenwater City to buy a Phonograph, only to discard it later. How he had managed to escape the Straw Moth Lady. And why he hadn't paid after eating noodles.

Ma Wu didn't ask about these things; he knew he shouldn't.

But this current matter was almost too much for him to bear.

He and Li Banfeng had found the Peddler on the same day and entered the Taoist Sect on the same day. He had just passed the First Layer, and Li Banfeng was already at the Second Layer?

Impossible! Even if he took a Snake-Patterned Pill every day, it wouldn't be feasible. Not to mention Snake-Patterned Pills, even if he took a Mysterious Flame Pill every day, he couldn't achieve this! What in the world is the reason? Could it be because he was exposed to Heavenly Light? To survive exposure to Heavenly Light unscathed... could this be what they call a person of extraordinary talent?

"Brother Li, what method do you use for cultivation? Could you give me some guidance?" Ma Wu asked earnestly.

Li Banfeng thought for a moment and replied, "Cultivation mainly depends on one's mindset. When the mindset is right, the cultivation level will follow."

Mindset? Ma Wu wasn't familiar with the term. It should be similar to one's mental state, right? Am I not devout enough in my cultivation? Li Banfeng's journey from Medicine King Valley to Greenwater Bay might not have been just to avoid the Lu Family; he was cultivating! Crossing the Border Line must have involved countless dangers, and a Traveling Cultivator can accumulate more lifespan in perilous situations. He must be doing this for his cultivation. His mental state is far more devout than mine. My obsession with Lust Cultivation seems strong, but can I truly be as dedicated as him? I can't afford to slack off any longer.

「...」

The two returned to Blue Poplar Village. They had barely entered when Tang Tianjin, Old Master Song's steward, confronted them.

Three men followed him; Ma Wu recognized them as the Song Family's enforcers.

What's this about? Are they looking for trouble? Ma Wu wondered.

"Young Master Wu, hunting in the New Land again? Did you bag anything good?" Tang Tianjin stroked his beard and smiled at Ma Wu.

Ma Wu pointed to the stinking fish on his shoulder. "Fishing for peaches. Luck wasn't on my side; the peach tree didn't show up."

Tang Tianjin laughed. "If you use too little bait, the peach tree naturally won't come."

Ma Wu gave a wry smile. "There are only two of us. We wanted to carry more stinking fish, but we couldn't manage it."

Tang Tianjin nodded. "It's been hard on Young Master Wu. Seeing you work so hard, our master feels for you. How about this: tomorrow, we'll send a few more men to help you out?"

"No, thank you. I don't deserve such kindness. I'm just trying to pick a few peaches to make a living. I wouldn't dare trouble Old Master Song."

"How could it be a bother? Business is all about negotiation. I must ask you two to come with me. Our master is waiting for you at the Granary."

Ma Wu sensed trouble. He glanced at Li Banfeng, signaling him to be ready to run, then turned back to Tang Tianjin with a smile. "Steward Tang, please tell Old Master Song that my brother and I are just trying to scrape by. If we've caused any offense, we'll come to your residence another day to apologize."

"You don't want to go?" Tang Tianjin's face darkened. "Today, you're coming whether you want to or not!"

Hearing this, Ma Wu turned to leave.

But though his body turned, his legs refused to obey.

Go with him, go with him! A persistent thought churned in his mind, slowly taking control of his intentions.

Ma Wu walked towards Tang Tianjin step by step.

Damn, this is a Mental Cultivator! He's using Telekinesis to control me!

Subconsciously, Ma Wu was still resisting, but it was futile.

His primary thought had been commandeered.

Everyone has many thoughts, but one is usually dominant, determining their actions. Mental Cultivators can seize this dominant thought, thereby controlling a person's movements.

Tang Tianjin smirked at Ma Wu, then turned his gaze to Li Banfeng.

He didn't know who this person was. He knew Ma Wu had a helper, but because Li Banfeng was a Home Cultivator, he had always overlooked him.

Strange, Ma Wu has come over, so why is he motionless? Could his cultivation level be high enough to break my mental control? If that were so, why is he still suffering alongside Ma Wu? What is he doing there? It seems like he's talking?

Li Banfeng was indeed speaking, but Tang Tianjin couldn't make out the words. It didn't matter; Li Banfeng wasn't talking to him anyway. An internal debate was raging:

"He's asking you to come over, why aren't you moving?"

"Why should I go? I don't even know him."

"But I think I should go."

"If you want to go, then you go."

"How can I go if you're standing still?"

"How long are you two going to argue? Can't you see there's a fight going on?"

Tang Tianjin was dumbfounded.

He didn't understand Li Banfeng's situation.

Like any normal person, Li Banfeng had many thoughts.

But Tang Tianjin couldn't find the dominant one.

He had never encountered such a situation, but he was confident in his Technique.

As a Second Layer Mental Cultivator, he refused to believe he couldn't handle such a youngster.

He intensified his Technique, only to be struck by a splitting headache.

Countless thoughts clashed in Li Banfeng's mind, their arguments transmitted through Telekinesis, seeping into Tang Tianjin's own mind.

This man truly is different. He has no dominant thought, Tang Tianjin realized.

In Li Banfeng's mind, thoughts weren't primary or secondary; they were all equal.

Just as Tang Tianjin tried to withdraw his Technique, Li Banfeng was suddenly upon him.

Short Step? A Second Layer Traveling Cultivator...

Before Tang Tianjin could react, Li Banfeng slashed his throat with a sickle.

The three enforcers charged forward together, Tang Swords unsheathed. With a slash for each, two of them were swiftly cut down.

The last one turned to flee. Ma Wu suddenly looked up and met his gaze.

Having passed the First Layer, Ma Wu had learned the Technique of Confusion. The enforcer shivered, lost his footing, and stumbled. Li Banfeng raised his sickle and hooked it into the man's skull.

"Brother Ma, look around for any ambushes."

Ma Wu understood, knowing Li Banfeng preferred privacy when dealing with corpses, and quickly went to scout the surroundings.

Li Banfeng moved the four corpses into the Portable Residence. His wife yawned and sang, "Dear husband works so hard. This servant will prepare the ingredients right away. These need to be dealt with promptly; I can see they won't last much longer."

Li Banfeng said, "Should I get them some herbal medicine?"

"No need for such trouble. The faster this servant eats, the better," she replied.

Li Banfeng exited the Portable Residence, found Ma Wu, and they prepared to return to their cabin.

Ma Wu said to Li Banfeng, "Brother Li, we need to go back and pack quickly. We can't stay in Blue Poplar Village any longer. The Song Family won't let us off. We need to find a new place."

"Are there other places to go?"

"Plenty. The Lu Family is in disarray and not focused on you. We can find a peaceful town near Greenwater City to settle for now. However, those places aren't close to the New Land, so we'd have to find a new livelihood."

Li Banfeng considered for a moment, then shook his head. "Such a good business, I'm really reluctant to give it up. Perhaps one more deal... That old man mentioned the Song Family's Granary. What's that place?"

Ma Wu's eyes widened. "Brother Li, what are you planning to do?"

Li Banfeng's expression was very calm. "I'm just asking. Does their Granary have anything good?"

PS: Finding an opponent's core thought is the essence of a Mental Cultivator's technique.