Steam Era: The Lord of 'Puluo'

Li Banfeng gave a shy smile. "I've only just learned it myself."

"Do you have any idea how high my position is? Do you know how important my background is? Do you realize I've killed more people than you've even seen? You dare use a technique on me..."

Sun Tiecheng had indeed been affected by the technique.

His wife had also fallen victim to the technique of the fortune-teller.

The Foolish Cultivation Technique, which could ignore levels of capability, greatly surprised Li Banfeng.

Was this the reason why all the Great Taoist Schools besieged the Foolish Cultivation, trying to wipe them out completely?

Of course, despite his puzzlement, Sun Tiecheng's true strength hadn't changed. If Li Banfeng were to fight Sun Tiecheng, he would still have no chance of winning.

...

After much deliberation, Sun Tiecheng agreed.

"The First Layer Technique is called 'Words Carved in Stone.' It makes what you say seem credible to the other person.

The techniques of the Foolish Cultivation Sect require some finesse. It's not as simple as saying something and having the other person believe it. For 'Words Carved in Stone,' you need to know how to 'carve,' which means you must add a touch of clever scheming.

A statement that is entirely false is hard for someone to believe. But if you mix in even a shred of truth, the technique becomes much more effective.

It's like with that fortune-teller; he told you some truths, so you found it very easy to believe him."

Li Banfeng thought back on his interaction with the fortune-teller. "He started with the truth. I indeed came for revenge, and he predicted it very accurately."

"That's because I told him beforehand that you were looking for revenge."

Li Banfeng was speechless.

"The key to the First Layer Technique lies in absolute conviction; you must firmly believe your own lie to deceive others."

After Li Banfeng learned the essence of the technique, Sun Tiecheng mentioned the matters of Fool's City. "Now that you've learned a technique of our sect, you should be able to adapt to life in Fool's City. You must take over some territory there; choose a place for yourself."

Li Banfeng didn't want to go picking a place in Fool's City, so he said casually, "Just pick a shop for me."

"What kind of shop?"

"Anything is fine."

"How about a place that sells flesh?"

"Sure, that counts as a legitimate business."

He agreed to anything; getting away was his priority.

Sun Tiecheng nodded and said, "The Changsan Book Residence in the east of the city is yours."

"Book Residence? A bookstore?"

"Didn't I tell you? It's a place that sells flesh."

A place that sells flesh called Book Residence—what an elegant name.

Li Banfeng said, "I've got work to do outside; I can't manage the business here."

Sun Tiecheng had anticipated this. "You don't need to worry about the business in Fool's City. I'll find someone to manage it for you."

He waved towards the distance, and the man selling plasters came over. "Master, what are your orders?"

"His name is Tang Changfa. From now on, he'll follow you. Changfa, call him Seventh Master."

Tang Changfa scrutinized Li Banfeng. "You want me to follow him?"

Sun Tiecheng glanced at Tang Changfa. "Is there a problem?"

Tang Changfa bowed his head. "No problem."

Sun Tiecheng added, "The Changsan Book Residence will be under your management."

Tang Changfa looked up. "I'm to manage that place?"

"Got a problem with that?" Sun Tiecheng gave him another look.

"No problem!" Tang Changfa turned and went back into the city.

Watching Tang Changfa's departing figure, Sun Tiecheng sighed. "He needs to replace that flesh of his soon; he's nearly falling apart as he walks."

Li Banfeng, curious about this, asked, "If they're all Lost Souls, why do they need to clad themselves in flesh and blood?"

Sun Tiecheng sighed. "Because only then can they convince themselves that they're still alive."

Li Banfeng looked towards Sun Tiecheng. "Did you deceive them?"

Sun Tiecheng shook his head. "They have deluded themselves. The crucial point of the First Layer Technique is absolute conviction. Self-delusion is difficult; one needs flesh and blood, as well as a livelihood, to truly believe one is alive. Foolishness is one thing, deception is another—these are two different matters. If one day they stop believing they are alive, their souls will scatter, the Lost Souls will become Ethereal Spirits, and the Taoist Sect of Foolish Cultivation will cease to exist."

Li Banfeng said emotionlessly, "Their flesh and blood are made up of tens of thousands of people."

Sun Tiecheng shook his head. "Those people deserved to die. They had no real skills yet wanted to make a fortune on the Old Land. They thought the Lost Souls of the Old Land were like wild grass, ripe for their picking.

They forgot that Lost Souls were once people. They obtained some Talisman Paper from the Nightmare Cultivators and despoiled everything, whether living beings or Ethereal Spirits.

Seeing so many Lost Souls in Fool's City, they wanted to barge in. They thought this entire city of Lost Souls was like banknotes on the ground, easily picked up.

After they broke into the city, I advised them to leave quickly, but they didn't listen. They brought death upon themselves. When you entered the city, I advised you as well.

But if any of them managed to survive, it meant they truly possessed skills and deserved a reward.

You have three rewards; I've given you two, and there's still one left."

Li Banfeng was curious about what the remaining reward was. Sun Tiecheng pulled a package from behind him and handed it to Li Banfeng. "I don't know what grudge you have against Iron Sheep Mountain, but you deal with this as you see fit."

Li Banfeng took the package, opened it, and found a human head inside.

Sun Tiecheng smiled. "The head of Rong Yeguang, the Big Dipper from Iron Sheep Mountain. It's yours."