Steam Era: The Lord of 'Puluo'

Chapter 1054 554: Dark Energy User

"Wife, someone has come to our home," Li Banfeng tossed Chu Zikai into the main room, "Help me watch him for now, I still have some matters to attend to. I'll interrogate him slowly when I return."

The wife smiled and said, "Husband, make it quick. I'll start by picking some vegetables for you."

Li Banfeng returned to the side hall of the dance hall and tested with the beggar bowl again but received no response.

How did that old man with blonde hair escape?

It must be thoroughly investigated in the future. Next time we meet, he must not be allowed to leave alive.

There's no time to delay; Li Banfeng carried Shui Yongquan and left Rock Tower Village, heading straight to Flower Lake Park, through New Land, and ran all the way to Qi Qiu City.

Qiu Luoye was eating when seeing Shui Yongquan. The pumpkin in his hand fell to the ground.

"Old Shui..." Qiu Luoye walked up close, staring at Shui Yongquan for quite a while, "Say something, Old Shui."

"He can't talk for now." Li Banfeng explained Shui Yongquan's experiences to Qiu Luoye.

He originally planned to settle Shui Yongquan in Sleepless Town, but Sleepless Town was just captured, its roots were unstable. Feng Daiku and Ma Wu could only help watch over. Ma Wu had to manage his New Land, and Feng Daiku still had to take care of Pants Belt Pit and Soda Kiln. Only Qiu Luoye was left to take care of Shui Yongquan.

"Old Qi, let him stay with me, whether he gets better or not, I definitely won't let him suffer," Qiu Luoye sighed, "Old Shui was cautious his whole life, who would have thought he'd end up like this."

"Big Brother Qiu, people from Snowflake Beach are targeting him, they might come to cause trouble during these days, be extra careful."

"Let them come!" Qiu Luoye asked Old Hu to prepare a house for Shui Yongquan, "It's been a while since I stretched my muscles, my arms are itching. If they come one by one, I'll kill them one by one!"

Li Banfeng wandered around Qi Qiu City, noticing two new restaurants opened on Junyang Avenue. The restaurants had just been established, the prices were cheap, and every seat was filled.

A Seven Nights Pavilion opened on the street, which was actually a dance hall. Ma Wu insisted on such a cultured name, yet few recognized the word "pavilion," with most calling it Seven Nights Dry.

The rumor was, anyone who could battle here for seven consecutive nights would receive a bonus from the store.

Li Banfeng was slightly displeased with Seven Nights Pavilion, but the changes in Qi Qiu City pleased him greatly. A wasteland of New Land and a lifeless small town had finally formed the embryo of a city under full development.

He returned to his residence, hid the key, and entered the Portable Residence.

Chu Zikai's attitude had become much more humble; Hong Ying helped him sort out his bones and muscles; the phonograph helped realign his tendons, facilitating smoother communication between them.

Li Banfeng asked, "Your Snowflake Beach has constantly caused me trouble, can you tell the reason behind this?"

Chu Zikai shook his head and said, "I don't hold a high position at Snowflake Beach, and I don't know much about your matters. If you ask me about the Ferry Gang, I can tell you more."

"The Ferry Gang is a branch of Snowflake Beach in the Outside Provinces, right?"

"That's not accurate, the Ferry Gang doesn't entirely belong to Snowflake Beach; it's an organization jointly founded by Snowflake Beach and Birch Tree Hermit Society."

"What's the background of Birch Tree Hermit Society?"

"Birch Tree Hermit Society is somewhat similar to Chase the Light Group; they are both foreign Dark Energy User organizations. Comparatively, Chase the Light Group's combat strength is clearer."

What does clear mean?

"Isn't Birch Tree Hermit Society's combat strength clear?"

Chu Zikai shook his head and said, "It really isn't clear. They don't have a fixed Taoist Sect, nor do they have explicit levels, so it's hard to gauge their combat strength with clear standards,

Chase the Light Group's members can be estimated and compared using our standards. I know a bishop from Chase the Light Group whose combat strength is equivalent to a Sixth Layer Dark Energy User,

But for those outside Chase the Light Group, it's hard to estimate their combat strength. That person who fought with me earlier, his name is Miglov, he is the president of Birch Tree Hermit Society,

He excels in constructing buildings and searching for hidden spaces. Taking these skills purely, his combat strength can be estimated to be like a Cloud Upper Three Layers Cultivator,

But he was once beaten by a Seventh Layer Martial Cultivator until he couldn't fight back and almost lost his life, which can't be explained by simple Taoist Sect restraint,

His overall ability bears serious weaknesses, making it impossible to estimate his combat strength with the familiar layers, and there are many like him in Birch Tree Hermit Society,

I once encountered a member of Birch Tree Hermit Society who could arrange a special array using herbs and some animal blood. Once activated, the array could destroy several hectares of surrounding buildings,

But preparing the array took him three days or even longer, and besides arranging arrays, he wasn't skilled in anything else. Such a person's combat strength is evidently unclear."

Li Banfeng said, "Why did Snowflake Beach and Birch Tree Hermit Society join hands in establishing the Ferry Gang?"

"For money!" Chu Zikai answered straightforwardly, "Snowflake Beach and Birch Tree Hermit Society both faced severe economic problems. During my battle with you today, I didn't use the dark energy carrier because I had sold all suitable ones."

Li Banfeng frowned and said, "You're that poor?"

"I'm not considered poor; at least I can maintain a glamorous life on the surface. There are poorer individuals in Snowflake Beach who can't even afford clothing and food."

Li Banfeng was skeptical, "That's a bit exaggerated. Wang Zimian is among your members, and his life is still luxurious. Just one ring he has is worth more than two factories."

Chu Zikai smiled bitterly and said, "I can only say each one's pursuit is different, and their loyalty to Snowflake Beach varies. I'm willing to contribute all I have, even if it means eating box lunches and sleeping under bridges tomorrow, I'd do it willingly."