Steam Era: The Lord of 'Puluo'

Li Banfeng had already thought of an excuse. "I'm thinking about reforging the Tang Sword."

CLACK, CLACK, CLACK... HEY!

The Phonograph spoke slowly, its voice like a slow beat, "My dear Husband, heed my words. There's no need to reforge the Tang Sword. This weapon is already formidable. If we add Blue Leaf Poplar to it, it would be like adding wings to a tiger. What if it turns against you in the future? Wouldn't that be a case of nurturing a tiger only to invite disaster?"

Li Banfeng nodded. "My dear, you speak wisely. But the Blue Leaf Poplar was hard-won; we can't let it go to waste."

"Refine your sickle, and also the Iron Ruler and Mandarin Duck Axes. You are fond of these weapons, yet they lack any Spirit Attribute. Reforging them to be stronger would be more fitting for your status."

The Phonograph's words were indeed pleasing to hear.

"I'll listen to you, my dear."

Upon entering the outer chamber, the Tang Sword trembled with fear. It had overheard the conversation between Li Banfeng and the Phonograph.

"Master, I am utterly loyal! Please do not reforge me!"

Li Banfeng sneered. Scared now, are you?

After saying so, he threw the Tang Sword, the Clock Pendulum, the Earrings, and an array of Magical Treasures into the fourth room. He made sure they wouldn't be disturbed as the Copper Lotus Flower opened its petals.

It absorbed the entire Blue Leaf Poplar into its Lotus Heart, including the leaves and branches Li Banfeng had picked up.

To be safe, she also drew in the sickle, shovel, Iron Ruler, and Mandarin Duck Axes.

Li Banfeng returned to the main room and slept. The Phonograph showed no abnormalities, only complaining that the ingredients for today's meal weren't very plentiful.

「The next morning」

Li Banfeng got up and entered the outer chamber, where the petals of the Copper Lotus Flower were now open.

The Seven-Hole Lotus Heart was filled, yielding a total of seven Lotus Seeds.

The first two seeds each burst forth a Mysterious Flame Pill. These pills had been formed from the two men who had burned the tree the previous day.

The third seed revealed Li Banfeng's favorite sickle.

From the outside, the sickle appeared unchanged, but upon feeling its texture, Li Banfeng could sense a resilience he had never felt before.

He dared not touch the blade, for it was now coated with deadly poison.

Then came the shovel, the Iron Ruler, and the Mandarin Duck Axes.

The last Lotus Seed remained in Li Banfeng's hand for quite a while before it burst.

From this one, a total of one hundred seventy-seven blue elixirs exploded out.

Each elixir was about the size of a Gold Yuan Pill. Because they were refined from the Blue Leaf Poplar, Li Banfeng named them Blue Leaf Pills.

Could these elixirs counteract the Pill's Poison of the Gold Yuan Pill?

Li Banfeng trusted the Copper Lotus Flower. They should. Otherwise, the Copper Lotus Flower wouldn't have refined so many of them.

He wrapped the elixirs in foil and stored them in a cloth bag. Then, he took out several weapons to show the Phonograph.

Besides, on the bodies of the two men who had burned the tree, Li Banfeng found a strange weapon: an iron rod with a pointed end, a little more than a foot long, made entirely of iron.

"What kind of weapon is this?"

HISS.

"It's a Judge's Pen," the Phonograph recognized it. "But this Judge's Pen isn't a weapon; it's a Magical Treasure. Listen closely, my dear husband, this thing makes noises."

Li Banfeng could hear sounds from items with a Spirit Attribute.

He listened for over ten minutes but heard nothing. The Phonograph grew somewhat agitated. It instructed Li Banfeng to place the Judge's Pen next to its turntable and then sprayed the pen with a puff of steam, making the entire Judge's Pen red-hot.

The Judge's Pen began to speak. It seemed to communicate very efficiently, but Li Banfeng couldn't understand a word it was saying.

The Phonograph scolded the Judge's Pen, "Anything made by a Lazy Cultivator is just unreliable."

Lazy Cultivator?

What was that all about?

The Phonograph explained to Li Banfeng, "This Judge's Pen can fly. One person can travel a hundred meters at a time, two people can go forty to fifty meters, and three people about ten meters. It can carry no more than three people.

"The method of use is quite simple. Draw a circle on the ground. Those who wish to fly stand inside it, state the direction, and wait for the Judge's Pen to respond.

"However, this item is quite lazy; sometimes it won't respond for a day or two. My dear husband, let's find someone with a Spirit Attribute to reforge it another day."

So the Judge's Pen could fly. That must be how those two crossed the Iron Thread River.

Lazy Cultivator... I've learned about a New Taoist Sect today.

Li Banfeng wanted to ask more about the Lazy Cultivators, but the Phonograph, not wanting to behold these worldly objects any longer, urged him to hurry up and buy groceries.

Li Banfeng sneered. "Just ahead lies the Little Yellow River. Can one even buy groceries from there?"

His question caught the Phonograph off guard.

"Well, my dear husband," the Phonograph replied, "I had a meal yesterday and am not too hungry today. Let's not bother purchasing those groceries."

Li Banfeng turned and left. The Phonograph, fearful that Li Banfeng would come back to "oil its gears" again, didn't dare say more.

「...」

Once out of the Portable Residence, Li Banfeng used his Seek Fortune and Avoid Disaster Skill to find a relatively safe spot in the wilderness. First, he took a Blue Leaf Pill.

After swallowing the Blue Leaf Pill, Li Banfeng then consumed a Gold Yuan Pill.

Do these two kinds of elixirs correspond to each other perfectly?

They should. Otherwise, the Copper Lotus Flower wouldn't have refined so many of them.

After taking the Gold Yuan Pill, Li Banfeng's body began to grow numb, but he had not yet lost control.

The Pill's Poison was still present, but the Blue Leaf Pill was also taking effect.

He tried to take a couple of steps forward, staggering somewhat with difficulty.

After resting for an hour, he could walk normally again.

Three hours later, his Wind Rises on Flat Ground ability had mostly recovered.

It's working!

The Blue Leaf Pill is extremely effective!

Should I take another Gold Yuan Pill to test it?

No.

He still felt some lingering numbness and weakness; the medicinal effects had not been fully counteracted.

This is New Land, and who knows what I might encounter. It's better to maintain a pace of one pill a day for now.

It just means the journey back will have to be slower.

「...」

Lu Dongjun returned to his residence covered in injuries. Wan Jinxian hurried over to inquire about his condition.

Lu Dongjun didn't wish to say much, so his subordinates recounted the incident to Wan Jinxian.

Today, Lu Dongjun had gone to collect debts at a gambling house, not expecting his uncle, Lu Maoxian, to be waiting there. Lu Maoxian was a Seventh Layer Literature Cultivator and, moreover, advanced in years. In theory, he shouldn't have been able to defeat Lu Dongjun.

But he had brought many men with him, and in the ensuing group attack, Lu Dongjun had suffered a disadvantage.

"Damn it!" Lu Dongjun cursed. "What devilry possessed that old fool? To think he'd listen to a few words from Monkey Qiu and actually raise his hand against his own nephew!"

Wan Jinxian sighed. "Master, this is surely not the work of Monkey Qiu alone."

Lu Dongjun nodded. "I know. Duan Shaoxia must have had a hand in this too!"

Wan Jinxian shook his head. "It's not just Duan Shaoxia. Think about it: Lu Maoxian has three sons. With the eldest master out of the picture, if you were also to fall, then among your generation, his sons would have the strongest claim. The position of Family Head would then be uncertain."

Lu Dongjun had a sudden realization. "He's intentionally ruining my reputation because he wants his sons to usurp the position! That old dog! He should take a good, hard look at himself! What are his sons even worth?"

Wan Jinxian brought over a newspaper. "Lu Maoxian is intent on destroying your reputation. This is today's morning edition; the news has already spread. Take a look!"

Lu Dongjun took the newspaper. After a single glance, he was so angry he ground his teeth.

The headline read: *Fratricide! Lu Dongliang in Grave Danger! Orphaned and Widowed, Lady Duan Cries Out, Justice Denied!*

Wan Jinxian said, "I can already predict the next headline for the papers: *The Lu Family Ancestor Steps In! Cleanses the Family Ranks, Upholds Justice, and Reclaims the Lu Family Banner!*"

Lu Dongjun was unable to contain his fury. "That damned Ling Miaowen! Spouting such nonsense and dragging my name into it! It seems he's tired of living! I'll go find him right now!"

Wan Jinxian urged, "Master, we must think strategically. Now is not the time to act in anger. Let us consider our next move. I actually have an idea, if you would hear me out."

Lu Dongjun tore the newspaper in his hands to shreds.

「...」

In Miss Chu Er's estate, Chu Huaiyuan laughed as she read the newspaper.

"The Lu Family is in complete disarray. Hundred Joy Gate will soon be mine! Have the carriage prepared; I'm off to Blue Poplar Village."

Wen Hongyan licked her forearm. "Going to Blue Poplar Village again? Have you taken a fancy to Ma Wu?"

"Fancy him?" Chu Er scoffed. "What's so special about him? With that little bit of nerve he has, he's not my type at all. He just doesn't have that... spark."

Wen Hongyan picked up a coconut, sliced off the top, and sipped some coconut water. "If you don't fancy him, then why go to Blue Poplar Village?"

Chu Er had a maid bring over several dresses for her to choose from. "You don't understand business matters. Hundred Joy Gate is a place that can make a lot of money, but it can also lose a lot. My skills in making money are truly not on par with Ma Junyang's. I need to get him over here to help me manage it for a while."

"Ma Wu is so cunning; he's unlikely to obey willingly," Wen Hongyan commented, opening another coconut.

Chu Er selected a long red dress. "If he doesn't obey, I'll just have him tied up and brought back. I have my ways to make him compliant."