The campfire illuminated his face as Li Banfeng slowly opened his eyes.
The Peddler's face suddenly appeared close by, a seemingly concerned smile on his lips as he gazed at Li Banfeng.
"You're awake? Come, have a bowl of fruit dew. It'll perk you up."
Fruit dew, an old-fashioned beverage, looked like fruit juice but was entirely unrelated. It was made with artificial coloring and saccharine.
This bowl was orange-flavored.
Li Banfeng's mouth was dry and bitter. A bowl of this drink wasn't bad at all.
After finishing the fruit dew, Li Banfeng began to ask about Entering the Path. The Peddler's smile was filled with sincerity. "Congratulations, young man. You have escaped the threat of the Heavenly Light and become a Cultivator, also known as a Dark Energy User in the Outside Provinces."
Why did the Peddler's tone sound so strange? His way of speaking had an official formality that was absent before.
Li Banfeng then asked, "Which Taoist Sect did I enter?"
"Didn't you want to become a Traveling Cultivator? That wish has now been fulfilled!" The Peddler poured Li Banfeng another bowl of fruit dew.
"That's good," Li Banfeng said, taking the fruit dew and drinking a large mouthful. This bowl was pineapple-flavored; the golden beverage carried the strong, unique aroma of pineapple.
Seeing the golden color, Li Banfeng remembered the scene before he fainted. He had seen golden Medicinal Powder, mixed with a hint of a blue-green light halo.
"Just a Traveling Cultivator?" Li Banfeng scrutinized the Peddler anew.
Still smiling sincerely, the Peddler said, "You just asked another guest if one could pursue Dual Cultivation in two Taoist Sects. Let me answer that for him: Yes, Dual Cultivation in two Taoist Sects is indeed possible!"
Indeed! There was indeed a problem!
Li Banfeng asked, "Which two Taoist Sects am I cultivating?"
The Peddler pondered for a moment, then said, "Traveling Cultivation and Home Cultivation."
The blue Medicinal Powder was for Traveling Cultivation. The golden Medicinal Powder was for Home Cultivation.
Li Banfeng was stunned for a long time, then asked, "Home Cultivation and Traveling Cultivation—how can they be cultivated simultaneously?"
The two Taoist Sects clearly held contradictions that made them mutually exclusive.
With patience, the Peddler explained, "The guest earlier said that it is difficult to achieve anything significant when pursuing Dual Cultivation in two Taoist Sects, but I believe this idea is incorrect. If a person is a Dual Cultivator in two Taoist Sects, at the same level, their combat power should be stronger than that of a Cultivator of a single Taoist Sect. Even if they were a level lower than their opponent, they could still rely on the techniques of both Taoist Sects to compete. Isn't this an advantage? Isn't this potential? I think the prospects for a Dual Cultivator are bright!"
Li Banfeng nodded and said, "I also think it's bright. So, how does one become a Dual Cultivator of Home Cultivation and Traveling Cultivation?"
"Let's start with Home Cultivation," the Peddler patiently continued. "Due to its unique nature, Home Cultivation is suited for Dual Cultivation with many other Taoist Sects, like Peeping Cultivation. Peeping Cultivation specializes in spying and tracking. If a Home Cultivator also cultivates Peeping Cultivation, they can stay at home and track someone's whereabouts. Even if their activities are exposed, the Home Cultivator remains very safe under the protection of a House Spirit. Moreover, the House Spirit can enhance Peeping Cultivation abilities, allowing one to chase an enemy for thousands of li, even tens of thousands of li away, or even break through barriers. So, you see, Home Cultivation is very suitable for Dual Cultivation."
Li Banfeng nodded and said, "Very suitable. So, how does one become a Dual Cultivator of Home Cultivation and Traveling Cultivation?"
The Peddler continued explaining, "Now let's look at Traveling Cultivation. It's also very suitable for Dual Cultivation. We don't need to look far; just consider Manager Han from the Hundred Life Medicine Firm in Medicine King Valley. Everyone in Medicine King Valley knows she's a Medicine Cultivator, but few know that Manager Han also cultivates as a Traveler. By crossing thousands of mountains and rivers, she has collected countless rare and exotic treasures, which is how she made the Hundred Life Medicine Firm successful. Tell me, isn't a Traveler suitable for Dual Cultivation?"
"Suitable, very suitable," Li Banfeng agreed wholeheartedly. "So, how does one become a Dual Cultivator of Home Cultivation and Traveling Cultivation?"
"Home Cultivation and Traveling Cultivation are both very suitable for one to become a Dual Cultivator. Putting these two Taoist Sects together, wouldn't that also be very good…" His voice grew softer and softer.
Li Banfeng asked earnestly, "Good in what way?"
The Peddler wiped the sweat from his forehead. "Alright, listen... I'll try to make something up..."
Li Banfeng was still very serious. "Okay, I'm listening. Go ahead."
After a few minutes of silence, a cold wind blew. Sweat beaded on the Peddler's forehead. "I can't make it up."
"And then?" Sweat also beaded on Li Banfeng's forehead.
This was a huge problem.
With a strained smile, as if to comfort Li Banfeng, the Peddler said, "It's impossible to be a Dual Cultivator of Home Cultivation and Traveling Cultivation. These two Taoist Sects are natural enemies. But you can look on the bright side."
"What bright side?"
"The bright side is that you're still alive." The Peddler's smile faded. From that moment on, every word he spoke concerned Li Banfeng's life. "Home Cultivation and Traveling Cultivation have absolutely no common ground; their properties severely conflict. Logically, using the Medicinal Powders of these two Taoist Sects simultaneously should have killed you on the spot. Yet, you're still alive, which proves your constitution is somewhat special. Of course, this is primarily related to your exposure to the Heavenly Light."
"What exactly is Heavenly Light?"
The Peddler shook his head. "This matter is too profound; I'm afraid I can't explain it to you clearly."
"Take your time. What if I understand?" Li Banfeng had to figure out what had happened to him.
After pondering for a moment, the Peddler asked, "Do you know what Dark Matter is?"
"Of course, I do."
Actually, Li Banfeng didn't know. With humanity's current level of technology, no one truly knew what Dark Matter was. But Li Banfeng was an educated man; he had at least heard the term Dark Matter.
"You really know?" the Peddler asked again to confirm.
Li Banfeng nodded. "I know. I've had higher education."
"Well, I don't!" The Peddler puffed out his chest. "I don't know what Dark Matter is, so I can't explain this to you!"