Steam Era: The Lord of 'Puluo'-Chapter 797 - 491 Gang Xiu_3

"Why do you say that?"

The Phonograph seemed to want to explain but was somewhat reluctant.

Hong Ying said from the side, "Qi Lang, as a Traveling Cultivator who has reached the Ninth Layer of Earth Skin, your speed already far surpasses that of other Taoist Sects. Even if the opponent is a Cultivator Above the Clouds, they would find it hard to outpace you, as long as their level isn’t too high. That’s the good thing about us Traveling Cultivators. Unless we’re caught in a sneak attack, if we want to make an escape, we can always find an opportunity..."

"What’s there to brag about running away!" The Phonograph swung her panel and struck Hong Ying a few times.

Hong Ying slowly massaged her buttocks, took a deep hiss, then rapidly exhaled, feeling refreshed and clear.

After savoring the sensation several times, Hong Ying returned to the mirror and continued with her makeup.

The Wine Gourd could not understand. With Hong Ying’s speed, she should have been able to dodge it. Before, when she couldn’t see, not dodging was one thing. But now that she can see, why doesn’t she dodge?

The Phonograph, his wife, still annoyed, Li Banfeng was thinking about something else.

After a moment of thought, he said to the Phonograph, "Beloved wife, that Local Deity shouldn’t be a Traveling Cultivator. If he had used a Traveling Cultivation Technique, I probably would have been dead already."

The Coachman’s attacks were very monotonous: one was with a towel, the other with a felt hat. I couldn’t defend against either. If he were a Traveling Cultivator and had used the technique Trample Over Thousands of Rivers, I definitely wouldn’t have made it back.

The Phonograph sang softly, "If he’s not a Traveling Cultivator, but still faster than you, husband, then he must be a high-ranking Cultivator Above the Clouds. Had you met him before?"

Li Banfeng thought for a while. "I can’t really say I know him. I’ve seen him once before, but we never spoke. Could he really hold a grudge against me over such a trivial matter?"

"To want to kill you, husband, just because you didn’t speak? Are those Above the Clouds so petty?"

The Gloves said from the side, "Indeed, their tolerance is small, and they love to dispute."

"Love to dispute?" the Phonograph asked the Gloves, "You think he’s a Gang Xiu? How many years has it been since we’ve seen someone from that Taoist Sect?"

The Gloves replied, "Actually, that Taoist Sect is not lacking in followers because the Medicinal Powder for Entering the Path is very cheap."

"Cheap is of no use," the Phonograph said. "The Gang Xiu who survive are indeed too few."

Li Banfeng asked, "What exactly is this Gang Xiu Taoist Sect?"

The Phonograph replied, "A Taoist Sect that cultivates and fights by raising disputes. Without disputing, they can’t achieve anything."

Cultivate and fight by raising disputes?

Li Banfeng thought, "Are you talking about the Virtue Cultivation sect?"

The Gloves wagged its finger. "Boss, these two Taoist Sects are quite different. Virtue Cultivation suppresses others through preaching, while Gang Xiu progress by disputing. I don’t know much about the specifics of how they progress."

Progress by disputing? So, the Coachman has been disputing with me all this time to enhance his own strength?

"Wife, why did you just say that so few Gang Xiu survive?"

"Because they’re too mouthy, especially in Puluo State territory. People like that, upon Entering the Path Gateway, often have more than half their number beaten to death before they can advance in level. Even after gaining levels, Gang Xiu are still considerably inferior to cultivators of the same level, so they’re still fated to be beaten."

"Where do Gang Xiu fall short?"

"Their technique is troublesome to use. The entire Gang Xiu Taoist Sect has only one technique, called Flowering on the Pole."

Li Banfeng blinked. "Is that a phrase from the mahjong table?"

"Oh, husband, this has nothing to do with mahjong. This technique is the lifeline of a Gang Xiu. On ordinary days, a Gang Xiu who hasn’t raised a dispute has no special combat power, almost the same as a regular person."

The same as a regular person? Then what’s the use of cultivating in this Taoist Sect?

"Is it just the lower-level Gang Xiu who are like this?"

"Not at all, husband. Even Gang Xiu Above the Clouds are the same. To fight someone, they must first start a dispute with that person. If they had started a dispute with someone else, they would still have no combat power when fighting you."

Li Banfeng recalled his first encounter with the Coachman. The Coachman had asked if he would take a ride, to which Li Banfeng shook his head. The Coachman started to find fault, asking why Li Banfeng wasn’t speaking. Li Banfeng didn’t respond and prepared to act, but the Coachman left first.

"Wife, if I don’t respond, does that mean the dispute isn’t raised?"

"Exactly, husband. One person talking alone isn’t disputing. If a Gang Xiu wants to fight you, they must exchange words with you and raise a dispute to gain their rightful half of their combat power."

"Only half?" 𝐟𝐫𝕖𝗲𝘄𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝕧𝐞𝚕.𝕔𝕠𝐦

"No wonder this Taoist Sect isn’t flourishing! Arguing with people already makes them easy targets, and their combat power is much less than others. However, if an opponent and a Gang Xiu exchange barbs twice, the Gang Xiu can then wield their full combat power. A Gang Xiu with full combat power is quick, strong, and has a good physique. At that point, they would no longer be at a disadvantage when fighting cultivators of the same level."

Li Banfeng asked, "What if they exchange disputes three times?"

"After three disputes, a Gang Xiu’s combat power doubles. At that point, they are unmatched by their peers and can even fight those above them for a few rounds."

Now it was clear; this Coachman was a Gang Xiu. The first time we met, the dispute wasn’t raised, so he didn’t dare to act because he lacked combat power. Seeing I was angry, he quickly fled. The second time we met, I initiated contact. He raised three disputes in a row, and his combat power doubled, resulting in a crushing battle that left me utterly defenseless. The Gang Xiu Taoist Sect truly has a unique characteristic: success or failure in raising a dispute directly determines the outcome of a battle.

"Wife, if a Gang Xiu wants to fight me, can he first dispute with someone else, raise his power, and then come to fight me?"

"No way. They must dispute with the person they intend to fight. If he disputed with someone else, he would still be powerless when coming to fight you, husband."

Li Banfeng came up with a good strategy. "Tomorrow I’ll get He Yuxiu to come over. I’ll let the Gang Xiu dispute with me, and then I’ll have He Yuxiu take him down."

HEH. The Phonograph chuckled. "The reasoning is sound, but Gang Xiu aren’t fools. If you bring backup, how could he possibly reveal himself so easily?"