Steam Era: The Lord of 'Puluo'

Among the Four Great Families, the Ma Family was the most fond of acquiring land, owning the most developments on New Land. Ma Wu had also observed the pioneering process, gaining some experience.

But observing and doing were different things. Ma Wu had never truly experienced pioneering. Given his family's strength, it wasn't necessary to risk his involvement; such matters were usually handled by hired Pioneers.

Even now, Ma Wu didn't want to take risks. He preferred to have Zuo Wugang take two Supports to pioneer the new area.

But Li Banfeng disagreed.

This New Land was beneficial not just for cultivation but also served as a sanctuary for Li Banfeng and Ma Wu. Until Zuo Wugang earned complete trust, Li Banfeng didn't want to reveal the location of the New Land to him.

Zhen Jincheng and Cao Zhida couldn't follow either.

Seeing Li Banfeng's firm stance, Ma Wu reluctantly agreed.

In reality, pioneering was mostly a matter of luck. Ma Wu felt the risk was significant, a conclusion he drew from the Ma Family's pioneering experiences. To speak of extreme cases, there had been instances where a First Layer Cultivator successfully pioneered alone.

Besides, in the face of danger, one could simply abandon the pioneering process and still have a chance to escape. The only downside was that one wouldn't be able to pioneer within a hundred miles of the area ever again.

"In Puluo State, as far as I know, the most experienced Pioneer is the private detective Da Boyins," Ma Wu said. "He has helped our family with offerings before. I still remember some of the types and quantities of those goods. These items are easy to procure, but first, we need to choose the right location."

Li Banfeng had two options: one was the wasteland between Gourd Valley and Iron Thread River, and the other was the wasteland between Little Yellow River and Orange Orchard.

In the end, they chose the wasteland between Little Yellow River and Orange Orchard.

This area made it easy to replenish food supplies, and Ma Wu knew that the oranges from the Orange Orchard were edible.

From Li Banfeng's perspective, the owner of the Orange Orchard had a good relationship with him, which could come in handy in critical moments.

Once the location was chosen, the next issue was Ma Wu's cultivation practice.

The girls couldn't be brought along, and Ma Wu had already mentioned that the Gold Yuan Pills he possessed would last him for some time.

Li Banfeng also gave Ma Wu seven Mysterious Flame Pills, which could help Ma Wu hold out for a few more days in an emergency.

With all necessities prepared, Ma Wu picked a pair of shoes with Spirit Attribute. The soles were thick and the tread was deep, nearly doubling his usual speed. Following Li Banfeng, they set off.

Before leaving, Ma Wu entrusted Blue Poplar Village to Xiao Chuanzi and Zuo Wugang.

Day-to-day matters were left to Xiao Chuanzi to manage, while special situations were to be handled by Zuo Wugang.

Xiao Chuanzi was worried, "Master Wu, I hardly recognize any characters. How can I manage the business? Won't I become a laughingstock?"

"This is no laughing matter," Ma Wu said, confident in Xiao Chuanzi. "It's almost the end of the year, and hunters are home for New Year's; business is naturally slow. Besides, you've been with me buying and selling, learning quite a bit. It's time you had some hands-on practice."

Ma Wu truly trusted Xiao Chuanzi but was somewhat skeptical of Zuo Wugang.

Through recent interactions, Ma Wu found Zuo Wugang to be a good Support. Whenever there was trouble in the village, Ma Wu just had to give the order, and Zuo Wugang would quickly settle things down.

But without Ma Wu's orders, things got complicated. Zuo Wugang wasn't very good at making decisions.

Approaching the edge of the village, Li Banfeng noticed Xiao Genzi collecting Golden Juice.

In the freezing cold, Golden Juice was hard to find. Xiao Genzi, sweating heavily with two buckets on his back, was searching all around.

Li Banfeng asked in a low voice, "Has he advanced a layer?"

Ma Wu nodded, "He told me yesterday he feels like he has ascended to the First Layer. With cultivation, you feel when it happens; he must be right."

"Even if he has reached the First Layer, one bucket is enough. It's only at the Second Layer that you carry two buckets—didn't the Peddler say this himself?"

Ma Wu replied, "Xiao Genzi said carrying one more bucket would help him save up more time."

Li Banfeng praised repeatedly, "The boy has a bright future."

Because they took Ma Wu along, their journey was slower, but they faced virtually no obstacles in Gourd Valley thanks to thorough preparation.

Red Mud Mound was also manageable. Li Banfeng had passed it once, finding a relatively safe route. Relying on his Traveling Cultivator's memory for directions, he led Ma Wu safely through the swamp.

Iron Thread River was more of a challenge since Ma Wu lacked any equipment to fly.

Li Banfeng had some—the Judge's Pen given to him by those two ruffians.

With the Judge's Pen, Li Banfeng drew a circle on the spot, and he and Ma Wu waited inside for the pen's response.

After more than half an hour, the tip of the Judge's Pen trembled slightly.

For most people, that would count as a response, but Li Banfeng had the Insightful Spirit Sound Technique. He could not only see the tip trembling, but he could also hear the Judge's Pen talk.

"Where to?"

Just two words, whispered so silently that one could hardly distinguish them without paying close attention.

Is this the Magical Treasure of a Lazy Cultivator?

Li Banfeng pointed the pen tip across the river, and the Judge's Pen went silent again.

Another half-hour passed, and the pen tip trembled again: "Stand firm."

Still only two words.

They waited a while longer. Then, the Earth Skin beneath them began to slowly rise, lifting a cloud of dust that carried Li Banfeng and Ma Wu into the air.

How high did they fly?

Not even two feet.

It was practically a ground-skimming flight.

The entire Iron Thread River was infested with Iron Thread Worms.

Coiling and slithering, the worms were wriggling just below them.

Ma Wu's hair stood on end. "Brother Li, can we trust your Magical Treasure? We can't afford to fall in there. If we do, it's over."

Li Banfeng also didn't dare say whether he could rely on the Judge's Pen. They slowly floated to the other side, and despite the freezing temperatures, both were drenched in sweat.

Ma Wu, still shaken, asked, "Which Taoist Sect's Magical Treasure is this?"

Li Banfeng was about to explain, "Brother Ma, do you know about the Lazy Cultivators?"

Ma Wu nodded. "I know. That sect is special; its profound teachings revolve around the word 'lazy.' They have three mottos that they often recite."

"Which three?"

"First is, 'If you can lie down, don't sit.' Second is, 'If you can sit, don't stand.' And third is, 'If you can stand, don't walk!'"

Li Banfeng was stunned for a while, put away the Judge's Pen, and after pondering for a long time said, "Can this sect be fought?"

"You can't say they can be fought, but you also can't say they can't..." Ma Wu didn't know how to describe it. "Lazy Cultivators are rare. I saw one when I was fifteen. Back then at Hai Chi Ridge, a Lazy Cultivator was going to duel a Food Cultivator to the death. They agreed on a time and place to meet, but the Lazy Cultivator was an hour late. This angered the Food Cultivator so much he was cursing his mother. When the two were ready to fight, the Lazy Cultivator just stared at the Food Cultivator, yawning non-stop."

"Then what happened?"

"The Lazy Cultivator said he didn't want to fight anymore. The Food Cultivator also began yawning and couldn't keep his eyes open. After cursing a few times, he also said he didn't want to fight. Both of them found a spot to sleep, and that was the end of it."

Li Banfeng stopped in his tracks, turned his face to Ma Wu, "You rich folks call this a duel to the death?"

"It wasn't me who said it; they both said they wanted to fight to the death."

There really is such a Taoist Sect in the world!

Li Banfeng was familiar with the road. Ma Wu barely kept up, and after six whole days, they finally reached Little Yellow River.

Ma Wu's shoes did indeed speed up his pace, but his body, weakened by Lust Cultivation, required plenty of rest every day.

Li Banfeng was in no hurry either, setting up two tents for them to rest individually. He ate a Gold Yuan Pill every day and needed time to recover; plus, he had to return to his Portable Residence to spend the nights.

When crossing Little Yellow River, Li Banfeng was very cautious and explained the rules to Ma Wu in detail.

When they truly set foot on the small path, Ma Wu was so frightened he got goosebumps, while Li Banfeng, holding a feather duster, walked with ease as the wind stayed to the south, indicating all was well.

The journey of a hundred miles or so took them over five hours. Overcome by fear and exhaustion, Ma Wu lay on the ground unable to rise for half a day after reaching the wilderness.

After resting for two hours, they continued on their way and selected a spot to pioneer near a pine forest, about thirty miles from the Orange Orchard.

Being close to the Pine Forest would help in scavenging building materials for the future construction of a wooden hut, ensuring no lack of lumber.

The proximity to the Orange Orchard would ease food supplies, but of course, not too close—Li Banfeng didn't want to offend the orchard owner, nor did he want hunters going to the Orchard to notice this New Land.

Ma Wu took out a small table from his luggage and began to determine the position for the altar.

This was a critical step and had to be personally handled by Ma Wu.

A Local Deity controlled the land within a hundred miles; their territories interconnected but the boundaries invisible.

If the altar was not placed correctly and ended up on the border of two Local Deities' lands, attracting the attention of both, trouble would ensue. What kind of trouble, even Ma Wu could not imagine.

Having accompanied his father to select land several times, Ma Wu knew the key points.

He picked up a clump of soil, tested its texture, then moved ten steps to the left and grabbed another clump, carefully kneading it in his hands.

After testing dozens of such spots, Ma Wu had a rough idea.

"Brother Li, these patches of soil are loose and sticky; they must be under the same Local Deity. Let's choose our land here."

Li Banfeng nodded. He joined Ma Wu in setting up the altar and offerings and lit the Incense Candles.

The quantity of offerings came from Ma Wu's past observations. When the Ma Family pioneered a square li of New Land, they used only a pot of superior old wine. Ma Wu prepared the offerings based on this precedent, daring not to add or subtract anything.

Ma Wu took out the Contract Book and read it through once. This type of contract was available in only one standard version and simply stated the intent to establish a residence here, respectfully requesting the deity's permission.

The Contract Book burned to ash and soon a whirlwind swept it up.

Li Banfeng used his Golden Gaze Autumn Hair to look around, wanting to see what this Local Deity Ma Wu spoke of was all about.

After watching for a moment, he suddenly saw a wisp of green flame hovering around the altar. The wine jug wobbled and its contents rapidly diminished.

Ma Wu smiled, "Brother Li, we're successful."

Li Banfeng didn't smile.

The Local Deity is a Lost Soul?

Before long, a blurry halo appeared on the distant ground. Ma Wu said to Li Banfeng, "Brother Li, look carefully, that's the boundary of the land. The Deity has responded to our contract. Brother Li, it's time for you to sprinkle blood."

The one who sprinkles blood on the land would become its master.

Before leaving, the two had agreed that the first plot of New Land pioneered would belong to Li Banfeng.

Li Banfeng took out a Short Knife, cut his palm, and sprinkled his blood on the ground beneath his feet.

"Brother Li, the contract has been completed. Tomorrow at this time, the pioneering will officially start. We can either watch over this land ourselves or ask others to help, but once pioneering begins, no one must step outside the boundary. Just hold out for three days, and the land will be ours!"

Li Banfeng pondered for a moment, "You just said no one can step outside the boundary?"

"Yes, not a single person. That's why we need trustworthy people for pioneering. The number doesn't matter as long as they're reliable. If you have a hundred people pioneering and one steps outside the boundary, the effort fails. That's why I said having too many people can sometimes be a problem."

As long as one doesn't step outside the boundary, there's no problem... Li Banfeng found a loophole in the rules.

If I stay inside my Portable Residence and don't come out, that doesn't count as stepping outside the boundary, right? If I sleep in my Portable Residence for three days, doesn't that count as successful pioneering?

Thinking this over, Li Banfeng suddenly laughed.

PS: Could something so convenient really exist in this world?