CHAPTER 439: CHAPTER 309: NEW PHONOGRAPH TECHNIQUES

An old farmer complained that Xiao Genzi’s Golden Juice wasn’t of good quality.

Xiao Genzi was displeased.

"Old sir, don’t look down on this small spoonful. If you spread it thinly, it can fertilize an acre of land. If you think that’s not enough, I can give you this entire bucket. But to casually claim the quality is lacking, now that I can’t bear to hear. Do you know what sect I belong to?"

The elder laughed. "What sect could you be? Looking at your attire, it’s clear you’re from the Gold Cultivation."

Xiao Genzi was shocked. Gold Cultivation was so rare, yet this elder could recognize it.

"Since you know I’m from Gold Cultivation, how can you say the quality of this is lacking?"

"Lacking means lacking. Your Golden Juice doesn’t even have the slightest scent," the elder said, touching the Golden Juice in the spoon with his hand.

Xiao Genzi quickly retracted his spoon. "Old Man, you mustn’t touch that! It’s hard to wash off once contaminated."

The elder had already touched it. Xiao Genzi hurriedly found some Medicinal Powder to help the elder clean his hands.

The elder waved his hand. "Don’t bother. Smell it yourself. Is there any scent?"

Xiao Genzi smelled the elder’s hand. Indeed, there was no scent at all.

Did I take the wrong Golden Juice? Or does this elder have some other trick up his sleeve? No, there’s no way I took the wrong Golden Juice. Xiao Genzi grew somewhat scared.

The elder put down his hoe and said with a smile, "What’s your cultivation level?"

"That’s none of your concern," Xiao Genzi said, taking two steps back.

The elder said, "Looking at the five buckets you’re carrying, could it be you have Fifth Layer Cultivation?"

Xiao Genzi puffed out his chest. "Yes, I have the Fifth Layer!"

Of course, he didn’t have Fifth Layer Cultivation. During his last encounter with the Peddler, he had bought ten buckets. He carried five on his back. Since he couldn’t carry the rest, he left five behind for later use.

The elder shook his head. "If you truly had Fifth Layer Cultivation, this quality would be very poor. The Golden Juice of the Fifth Layer, even a casual sprinkle, could turn a living person into mud."

With a wave of the elder’s hand, one of the buckets disappeared from Xiao Genzi’s back.

To his astonishment, he watched as the elder took a small spoon from his robe, stirred it in the bucket a couple of times, scooped out a spoonful, and flung it onto a nearby stone.

A series of SIZZLES echoed, and the stone immediately turned into sludge.

Xiao Genzi was terrified. The buckets on his back almost fell to the ground.

With a smile, the elder, holding the little spoon, said, "Tell me the truth, what Layer are you really at?"

Xiao Genzi braced himself and insisted, "It’s the Fifth Layer!"

"Don’t brag beyond your means!" The elder grew angry. "This Golden Juice of yours barely suffices for the Third Layer!"

It suffices for the Third Layer? I’m only at the Second Layer of Gold Cultivation. If I really managed to produce Third Layer Golden Juice, I’d usually be a bit proud. But now isn’t the time for pride; I don’t know where this old man came from.

"The Taoist Sect still has surviving members, and a competitive one at that," the elder chuckled. "When it comes to Alchemy Juice, you can’t just rely on hard work alone; there’s a knack to it. Put down your buckets first and watch my technique."

「Meanwhile」

Li Banfeng, with Cao Zhida, arrived at Blue Poplar Village and began looking for Xiao Genzi.

Many in Blue Poplar Village knew Root. They said he had gone away with his buckets to cultivate, but no one could say exactly where he went. Besides, nobody was particularly interested in watching his cultivation.

This land reclamation couldn’t rely on Xiao Genzi alone, so Li Banfeng asked Cao Zhida to recruit a group of Pioneers in Blue Poplar Village.

The village was home to many hunters, many of whom had previously worked in pioneering. Li Qiqian was offering a high rate, which attracted many sign-ups. However, the rules had to be clearly stated: after clearing the land, they must become landlords.

Cao Zhida said, "Seventh Master, we are pioneering for you. Shouldn’t you be the landlord? We have settled all the money; why are you still letting them have their way?"

Li Banfeng shook his head. "This Local Deity has different rules: the Pioneers must become landlords."

Cao Zhida was stunned. "There’s such a rule? Doesn’t that just benefit these hunters?"

"Whether it’s a benefit or not is another matter."

The next day, Xiao Genzi didn’t return, which was common. When Root went out to cultivate, sometimes he would be gone for days and nights without a trace.

Li Banfeng led more than fifty people to the New Land. He himself could return in less than a day because he was a Sixth Layer Traveling Cultivator.

These people didn’t have the same pace; they had quite a journey ahead of them.

「Elsewhere」

He Haisheng got off the train and casually bought a newspaper at the station.

The newspaper headline read: Lu Family’s Private Train Attacked, Eleven Support members Killed in Action.

Who had the audacity to attack the Lu Family’s private train? This isn’t just targeting the Lu Family; attacking a train also offends the Border Defense Envoy.

After a quick scan, He Haisheng hailed a rickshaw at the station entrance and headed to the He Family Mansion.

He Haiqin was in the dining room gnawing on a pork knuckle when he heard He Haisheng had returned. He quickly went out to greet him in the main hall. "Third Brother, why are you back? Didn’t I tell you to keep an eye on Jia Qing?"

He Haisheng looked around. He Haiqin understood his meaning and led him into the study.

"What happened?"

He Haisheng lowered his voice. "Brother, there’s something not right with Jia Qing."

He Haiqin was startled. "What’s wrong? Aren’t the doctors in the Outside Provinces treating him properly? Has his injury worsened?"

"Brother, it’s not about the injury," He Haisheng said, heaving a long sigh. "I feel he’s hiding something from you."

He Haiqin remained composed and asked, "What is he hiding from me?"

"This is what I found in Jia Qing’s hospital room." He Haisheng produced a wooden box.

He Haiqin took the wooden box, broke the seal, and opened the lid. A strong scent of medicine emanated from it.

"Gold Yuan Pills?" He Haiqin examined the quality of the elixirs.

He Haisheng said, "Superior Gold Yuan Pills, thirty in total. Where do you think these came from?"

He Haiqin looked at the elixirs. "I guess they were made by Red Lotus."

"Wasn’t Red Lotus taken back to Puluo State? Whether by his friend Li Banfeng or his fiancée Lu Xiaolan, he was taken back. So these items shouldn’t be in Jia Qing’s possession. But how did these elixirs appear in the hospital?"

He Haiqin put the elixirs back into the box and asked, "Where did you find these elixirs?"

"In the bathroom. I really needed a smoke that day, so I lit one in the hospital bathroom. The cigarette smoke helped me detect the scent of medicine. Behind the toilet, I found a hidden compartment in the wall with these elixirs inside. Jia Qing surely made that compartment, and he must have hidden these elixirs. Brother, you were right; Jia Qing has indeed been hiding something from us."

He Haiqin fell silent for a moment, then suddenly laughed. His smile held a long-lost sense of relief.

He Haisheng was stunned. "Brother, what are you laughing about?"

He Haiqin laughed and sighed as he spoke. "If he really wanted to hide them, you wouldn’t have been able to find them at all."

"What do you mean by that?"

"He can deceive Puluo State, so how could he not deceive you? He deliberately left these elixirs in the toilet because he wanted you to see them. He wanted you to bring them to me." He Haiqin tucked away the elixir box and returned to the dining room to continue gnawing on the pork knuckle.

His appetite was exceptionally good, and he even pulled out a chair for He Haisheng. "Don’t just stand there, come and eat with me!"

He Haisheng ate two pieces of beef and shook his head. "Brother, I still don’t understand."

He Haiqin smiled. "You don’t need to understand. Just hurry to the Outside Provinces and keep an eye on my son for me."

After eating a bit with He Haiqin, He Haisheng went back to his room to rest.

Full from his meal, He Haiqin also went back to his room, opened the elixir box, and talked to himself, "Though you’re crafty, you still remember to honor your father. I haven’t raised you in vain."

He wanted to eat an elixir but hesitated.

Forget it. I’ll find a Medicine Cultivator tomorrow to check for poison.

「Later」

He Haisheng returned to Yuezhou and arrived at the Third Hospital. He sat by the hospital bed and silently watched He Jiaqing lying there.

He leaned over and whispered in He Jiaqing’s ear, "Third Uncle, you take my place and lie here for a few days. Once I’ve settled my matters, I’ll let you go."

「Back in the Portable Residence」

Inside the Portable Residence, Hong Ying was doing her makeup in front of the mirror.

She suddenly turned to the phonograph and asked, "Xiaowan, do you think my eyes are captivating?"

HAHAHA! The phonograph burst out laughing. "You don’t have any eyes! Those are clearly drawn on with rouge!"

"What does it matter if they’re drawn on? Aren’t they pretty? I have a face now; you don’t even have a place to draw one!"

These days, the tip of Hong Ying’s spear had become smoother and not as cold as before. It even had a slight blush; if you didn’t look closely, it somewhat resembled a human face.

The phonograph snorted coldly. "What’s the hurry? Try it a few more times, and I might succeed too."

Hong Ying laughed. "You’ve tried so many times already. You’ve learned plenty of useless skills but still can’t grow a single hair."

The phonograph was unconcerned. "What’s the use of growing so much hair?"

"How can you say it’s useless?" Hong Ying meticulously combed her hair with a comb. "Without this hair, how could one look like a woman?"

The gloves whispered to the Tang Sword, "A spear doing its hair in front of a mirror, talk about terrifying."

Hong Ying lifted her foot and kicked the gloves against the wall.

The Tang Sword stepped back, laughed awkwardly, and said, "General Hong’s hair looks good! Your subordinate finds it very appealing!"

Hong Ying, still holding the comb, said to the phonograph, "Let me tell you, not only do I have hair on my head, but also elsewhere!"

The phonograph scoffed. "What? Have you grown a beard now?"

"You vile woman, keep spewing venom. Just wait until I seduce your man in a few days, see if your heart aches then."

"Slut, you’d need the ability to do that."

"Why wouldn’t I have the ability? I have everything now. Wait till I grow a mouth, then I’ll be able to eat, drink, and relieve myself—a true living beauty! Much better than a machine like you, right?"

"Let’s see how capable you are! I’ll tear up that face of yours right now!"

Clouds of steam swooshed towards her, scorching the spearhead red.

Hong Ying didn’t back down and started tussling with the phonograph.

Li Banfeng pushed the door and entered. The phonograph quickly twisted its needle, let go of Hong Ying’s hair, and spoke softly and tenderly, "Dearest Husband, you’re back!"

"Back!" Li Banfeng hugged the phonograph, showing affection for a moment.

Hong Ying also stepped forward to greet Li Banfeng, but he dodged her and lay down on the bed.

No matter how much I change, Li Banfeng acts as if he doesn’t see it. I just can’t understand why.

Warm steam circled around Li Banfeng as the phonograph asked with concern, "Beloved Husband, was the journey in the New Land tiring?"

"Not particularly tiring, it’s just..." Li Banfeng didn’t know how to start.

A day’s journey had taken ten days, and they still hadn’t arrived.

At night, when everyone camped in the wild, Li Banfeng found a chance to return to the Portable Residence. Traveling with those who weren’t Traveling Cultivators was a real torment for him.

"Beloved Husband, New Land doesn’t differentiate between day and night. If you stay too long, you’ll forget the passage of time. Some Strange Monsters take advantage of this to harm people. You should take Meng De with you. Look at it from time to time as a reminder, so at the very least, you don’t forget to come home."

"Carry a Month Plate with me?" Li Banfeng looked at Meng De’s size and still found it inconvenient.

"It’s no bother. Little Servant will modify it for you, Beloved Husband."

"What’s Lady going to modify?" Meng De shivered in fear.

"Don’t be scared, it won’t hurt a bit." A cloud of steam enveloped the Month Plate. As the vapors swirled, the Month Plate began to twist and warp.

Meng De screamed in agony. "Lady, please spare me, this is too frightening!"

"You wretched thing! Cry again and I’ll tear your mouth apart!" The Phonograph spent half an hour on the transformation, merging Meng De and Li Banfeng’s pocket watch.

"Beloved Husband, open it and take a look."

Li Banfeng opened the pocket watch and saw Meng De shivering on the dial.

"Beloved Husband, try pulling the watch stem."

Li Banfeng pulled the stem, and the pocket watch expanded, turning back into a Month Plate.

"My Wife, how did you do this?" Li Banfeng was astonished.

CHUCKLE, CHUCKLE~ The Phonograph said with a laugh, "Beloved Husband, these are just Little Servant’s newly learned tricks."

"This doesn’t seem like a small trick; that’s Craftsman Cultivation technique, right?" Li Banfeng was sure that Xiao Chuanzi couldn’t do this.

"Oh, Dearest Husband, Little Servant has learned quite a few new skills, some of which you might find useful."

Hong Ying scoffed and muttered to herself, What’s there to show off? The one thing you most want to learn, you still can’t get it!