Chapter 426-430: He Zhenghao's Involvement (7k+ words)

"Regret? Ridiculous! I, Li, have always been a man of my word," Li Fan said arrogantly.

"It's settled then. If I lose, I'll willingly give up practicing 'Sitting Mountain Technique.' If you lose..."

Li Fan coldly looked at He Zhenghao. "I won't make it difficult for you. Besides immediately changing your cultivation method, you also have to share half of your wealth with me!"

He Zhenghao's face changed dramatically. "This...this..."

"Elder! This is not how bets work!"

"Hmm?" A hint of killing intent flashed in Li Fan's eyes, intimidating He Zhenghao into immediate silence.

"Now, in the current Wan Xian Alliance, are there any documents, such as contracts or agreements?" Li Fan casually asked. "We can't just rely on words, right? What do you think?"

He Zhenghao dared not say otherwise and reluctantly purchased a commercial contract from the Tianxuan small mirror.

Li Fan took the contract, feigned a thoughtful expression upon studying it for the first time, then wrote down the agreed terms and handed the contract to He Zhenghao.

He Zhenghao hesitated as he looked at the extremely strict terms on the contract.

"In seven or eight days, turning fifteen thousand into twenty-five thousand. It's almost an impossible task. My chances of winning are quite high."

"Now that we're at the point of no return, let the gamble begin!"

He Zhenghao's expression changed continuously, but eventually, he reluctantly wrote his name on the commercial contract.

Two golden lights were cast, entering the bodies of Li Fan and He Zhenghao.

The contract was now sealed.

Li Fan said, "Alright, kid. Quickly bring out the fifteen thousand!"

He Zhenghao was puzzled. "What fifteen thousand?"

Li Fan glared at He Zhenghao, saying matter-of-factly, "It's your fifteen thousand contribution points! I just woke up, not one of your Wan Xian Alliance folks."

"Where would I get so many contribution points to fulfill the bet?"

"Naturally, you will borrow some contribution points from you."

He Zhenghao was momentarily stunned, then completely panicked.

He knew that if he only lost the bet, at most, he would lose half of his wealth. But if the investment failed, even losing everything was not impossible! This was a lesson he had learned over many years through blood and tears.

Even facing Li Fan's substantial killing intent, he stubbornly shook his head, refusing.

He Zhenghao was certain of this; as long as the commercial contract was not completed, the two parties couldn't harm each other.

Taking advantage of this, he refused to take out his hard-earned wealth.

He originally thought Li Fan would turn hostile, but unexpectedly, Li Fan put on a smiling face.

"Kid, rest assured. During the bet, I'll stay right here with you and won't leave."

"Moreover, I won't handle your contribution points. I'll just provide suggestions for the operations."

"In the end, it's up to you to take charge. If you feel it's inappropriate, I won't force you."

Li Fan's words seemed to have a kind of bewitching charm, causing He Zhenghao to unconsciously relax his guard.

"According to what he's saying, the final decision is mine. So, there's really no risk."

In this way, not long after, He Zhenghao, who was regretting his impulsive decision, hastily cashed out all his scattered investments.

Due to the hurried decision, he incurred some losses.

In the end, he managed to get a total of 148,500 contribution points.

When he snapped back to reality, it was too late for regrets.

"Alright, He kid, watch my skills."

As He Zhenghao was lamenting, he saw Li Fan suddenly burst out with an inexplicable energy fluctuation, his clothes fluttering without wind.

Li Fan closed his eyes and pinched his fingers, seemingly sensing something.

He Zhenghao stood silently on the side, not daring to disturb.

Li Fan spent a full three days on this calculation.

His complexion gradually became pale, but his aura continued to strengthen with the passage of time.

Although He Zhenghao couldn't quite understand, he realized that Li Fan must be at a critical juncture.

Now, he didn't dare to breathe and stared at Li Fan intently.

"Done!"

Chapter 426: He Zhenghao Enters the Fray

Li Fan suddenly let out a low drink and pointed towards the sky.

He Zhenghao saw a purplish mist breaking through the grand array and soaring into the sky.

"What kind of supernatural power is this?" he wondered in surprise.

After a moment, Li Fan suddenly opened his eyes, a hint of a smile appearing on his lips.

"Got it!"

He Zhenghao was puzzled. "What got it?"

Li Fan countered, "Does the Wan Xian Alliance currently possess something like the 'Wu Gu Obsidian'?"

"Wu Gu Obsidian?" He Zhenghao frowned and searched for it in the Tianxuan small mirror.

After a while, he replied, "Yes, there is such a thing. It's a rare refining material, precious but not widely used."

"Why are you asking about this, Elder?" He Zhenghao felt a bit confused.

"Fifteen contribution points, buy all of it!" Li Fan decisively stated.

He Zhenghao was astonished. "Why?"

Impatiently, Li Fan said, "The celestial secrets must not be revealed. Just buy it! You can earn a lot with this fifteen thousand contribution points. It all depends on this move!"

He Zhenghao finally reacted and couldn't believe it. "Is this your investment strategy, Elder?"

Li Fan glanced at him with disdain and coldly laughed. "Kid, when I was cultivating 'Sitting Mountain Technique,' you didn't even know where you were! Now, you dare to question me?"

He Zhenghao opened his mouth, but under Li Fan's coercion, he dared not refute.

As a qualified investor, He Zhenghao did not hastily follow Li Fan's urgent purchase. Instead, he silently examined the information about the 'Wu Gu Obsidian.'

"The biggest and only use of this stone is to create the 'Wu Gu Boat,' allowing free travel within the earth's veins."

"The quantity in existence and circulation is relatively small, and the price fluctuations are minimal."

"Although it might not necessarily be profitable, the risk should be relatively low."

"I'll listen to him for now. There are still four days until the end of the bet. I don't believe this thing can skyrocket in such a short time."

Seeing Li Fan getting impatient on the side, He Zhenghao contemplated for a while and made a decision in secret.

"Alright, since Elder insists, I'll follow through."

The price of Wu Gu Obsidian was 280 contribution points per kilogram.

While purchasing, He Zhenghao said to Li Fan, "Elder, after being in a deep sleep for so long, you should know that the world has changed from ancient times."

"We, the Wan Xian Alliance, have treasures like the Tianxuan Mirror to regulate the market. Prices are often very stable."

"Although there may be slight fluctuations, Elder, relying on such methods to get rich quickly..."

He Zhenghao shook his head slightly.

Li Fan snorted, "Why are you so talkative? Just wait and see!"

"A mere Foundation Establishment cultivator, how could you understand the divine arts of my Tianji Sect!"

He Zhenghao was dissatisfied but kept his mouth shut.

He harbored resentment, waiting to see Li Fan's failure.

Until two days later.

To his astonishment, he witnessed the price of Wu Gu Obsidian skyrocketing.

(End of this chapter)

Chapter 427: He Zhenghao Convinced

In just half a day, the price of 'Wu Gu Obsidian' doubled.

Due to the demand exceeding supply, the upward trend showed no signs of stopping.

"How is this possible?"

He Zhenghao looked at Li Fan in shock once again.

However, Li Fan, with a serious expression, continued to calculate with his fingers, ignoring him.

He Zhenghao had to look back at the Tianxuan small mirror.

The number representing his contribution points was continuously jumping.

Three hundred and eighteen thousand.

Three hundred and twenty-eight thousand six hundred.

...

His wealth was visibly increasing at an astonishing speed.

He Zhenghao pinched himself hard to confirm he wasn't dreaming.

His long-cherished wish for many years had been effortlessly fulfilled?

For the first fifteen thousand, he had struggled and saved for decades.

For the second fifteen thousand, it took less than five days.

Was this the investment strategy of Elder Li Fan?

If only I could learn this skill...

He Zhenghao felt an unprecedented excitement, eager to show off to his group of brothers.

At this moment, Li Fan's voice suddenly sounded, pouring cold water on his excitement.

"You should take your profits and stop now! Sell immediately!"

He Zhenghao was stunned, "But the price is still rising..."

"Hmm?"

Li Fan glanced over.

He Zhenghao's breath paused.

With great reluctance, He Zhenghao sold all his 'Wu Gu Obsidian' at a price of 630 per kilogram.

Three hundred and thirty-three thousand nine hundred contribution points!

"I'm rich!"

He Zhenghao, now suddenly wealthy, stared at the Tianxuan small mirror, murmuring to himself.

In his mind, he began to fantasize about how to spend this huge sum of money.

"Hmph, I told you it's not that easy. You didn't believe me, did you?" Li Fan's voice interrupted He Zhenghao's daydream.

"Alright, the bet is over, and you lost. Hurry up and change to another cultivation technique!"

He Zhenghao woke up.

Opening the technique exchange list and looking at the 'Hidden Dragon Technique' he had been longing for, he was about to exchange it. Suddenly, he remembered the more than three hundred thousand contribution points, and half of it was guided by Li Fan.

So, he asked cautiously, "Elder, what about the more than a hundred thousand..."

Li Fan waved his hand impatiently and said, "That's the profit from your initial investment. I just gave advice. Why would I ask for it back from you? Besides, I'm not a member of your Wan Xian Alliance."

"Moreover, with 'Sitting Mountain Technique,' you changing to a new technique contributes half of your contribution points, which is equivalent to receiving my favor..."

Li Fan said up to this point, and He Zhenghao suddenly understood.

Then he was overjoyed.

He expressed his gratitude to Li Fan, then exchanged for the 'Hidden Dragon Technique' and immediately erased the cultivation of 'Sitting Mountain Technique' in one go.

To show his sincerity, He Zhenghao voluntarily signed a covenant, completely forgetting the content of the 'Sitting Mountain Technique.'

Li Fan was very satisfied with his performance, patted his shoulder, and was about to leave.

"Elder, take care!"

Watching Li Fan, who had already flown into the air, He Zhenghao suddenly came to his senses and quickly shouted.

"What's the matter with you again?"

Li Fan stopped, frowning.

"Elder, after a thousand years of slumber, why not join our Wan Xian Alliance?"

"Although I'm not qualified to recommend Elder, I know many Yuanying cultivators..."

Li Fan squinted his eyes, seemingly contemplating.

He Zhenghao was delighted and continued to persuade, "Nowadays, things are different. Without joining the Wan Xian Alliance, wanting to be a lone cultivator is extremely difficult."

"Moreover, I've mentioned the benefits of joining the alliance to Elder before. Elder has just witnessed the convenience of the Tianxuan Mirror..."

...

Chapter 428: He Zhenghao Persuaded

After He Zhenghao's unremitting efforts, Li Fan finally showed interest and agreed to temporarily join the Wan Xian Alliance.

He Zhenghao immediately used a communication spirit talisman to contact him.

After busy work for nearly half a day, He Zhenghao finally breathed a sigh of relief.

"Please wait a moment, Elder."

"After my friend is ready, Elder just needs to go to Wan Xian Island and pass the verification."

"How troublesome!" Li Fan snorted, looking displeased.

He Zhenghao could only force a smile.

After a moment of silence, He Zhenghao couldn't help but ask tentatively, "Elder, how did you know that the price of 'Wu Gu Obsidian' would skyrocket?"

"I studied it, but there were no signs at all!"

As if bored with waiting, Li Fan explained to He Zhenghao quite contentedly.

"The Qi of Heaven and Earth is constantly changing, and ordinary people may find it difficult to perceive."

"But disciples of my Tianji Sect can insightfully see it through secret techniques."

"The same goes for the path of wealth."

He Zhenghao's eyes lit up as he listened. "Such divine abilities? Being able to double the wealth so easily, if one could use it a few times in a year..."

Li Fan chuckled, "It's not that easy."

"While cultivators peek at the secrets of the heavens, the heavens and earth are also watching the cultivators."

"Sensing the secrets of the heavens doesn't work every time."

"And you have to face the backlash of the will of heaven and earth. The number of uses can't be too many."

"And it can go smoothly this time only because I haven't used this technique for a long time."

Hearing Li Fan's explanation, He Zhenghao couldn't help but feel regret.

However, he quickly became excited again. "Even if it's only once a year, it's still incredible!"

Thinking about the more than eighty thousand contribution points he had left after buying the technique, an idea made his heart pound.

But he worried about offending Li Fan and hesitated.

"What are you thinking?"

Unexpectedly, Li Fan seemed to see through him and asked directly.

He Zhenghao decided not to hide it and cautiously asked, "Elder, after you join the Wan Xian Alliance, can you spare some time to guide me again?"

Li Fan looked at him with a smile that wasn't a smile.

He Zhenghao knew that his request was a bit excessive, but for the sake of contribution points, he still said with a timid face, "It's truly amazing, Elder, your divine abilities. It's so incredible to be able to profit so effortlessly..."

He Zhenghao flattered Li Fan in various ways.

However, until he received the notice to go to Wan Xian Island for the membership procedures, Li Fan showed no intention of agreeing.

Watching Li Fan's disappearing figure, He Zhenghao was full of regret and sighed.

However, thinking about the 'Hidden Dragon Technique' he had already exchanged and the surplus contribution points he still had, he couldn't help but feel a bit proud.

"It's really a blessing in disguise. Who could have expected that a calamity would turn into such a great opportunity for me?"

Feeling more and more pleased with himself, he even forgot about cultivation and went to boast to his friends who usually discussed investment strategies with him.

...

In the depths of the Wan Xian Dao, in the Political Affairs Hall.

In the space filled with numerous large red wooden cabinets where Li Fan had been before.

Li Fan stood on the white jade questioning platform, listening to the questioning of the old man with white hair in front of him.

"You said you are an ancient disciple of the Tianji Sect and accidentally slept until now?"

Li Fan nodded, "Indeed."

(End of this chapter)

Chapter 428: Ancient Cultivator Arrives in the Future

"Indeed!"

Li Fan's loud voice echoed in this space.

The white jade questioning platform remained silent, showing no response.

The old man carefully scrutinized Li Fan again and continued, "I wonder where the friend was sleeping before? Approximately when did you wake up?"

Li Fan showed a displeased expression but still replied, "On the periphery of the Congyun Sea, in an underground cave. As for the time, it should be about twenty-six days ago."

"Please wait a moment, friend," the old man smiled and said before closing his eyes.

Li Fan patiently waited on the questioning platform.

A full day passed, and Li Fan began to show signs of impatience.

"Isn't it done yet, old man?!"

"It's really not as good as the old days. When we selected disciples for the Tianji Sect, it wasn't so troublesome..."

He muttered to himself.

After a while, the old man opened his eyes.

"After confirmation, it is true that a cultivator flew out of the Bai Shi Cave a few days ago."

"However, friend, don't be in a hurry; there is still one last procedure to go through."

The old man apologized with a smile. As he spoke, an ancient bronze mirror appeared above Li Fan.

A faint green light shot out, enveloping Li Fan.

"Here it comes..."

Li Fan's heart moved slightly, but he was calm and unafraid.

In the past, the 'Melting Furnace All Things Technique' combined with the 'Heaven Covering Single Hand' secret technique was enough to conceal the upgraded version of the Tianxuan Mirror called 'Mystic Net.'

Now, with the added blessing of the Seven Orifice Exquisite Heart, the one coming to verify was just a clone of the Tianxuan Mirror.

The possibility of exposure was minimal.

As expected, after a moment, the Tianxuan Mirror retracted its green light and disappeared.

The old man's expression became even more friendly, "Welcome, friend, to join our Wan Xian Alliance!"

"As time passes, everything changes. Many major events have happened in the world during the years you were asleep."

"If you have any needs, our Wan Xian Alliance can assign a specialist to assist you in adapting to the current life as soon as possible."

Li Fan waved his hand, "I appreciate the kindness! But before coming here, I had some interaction with He Zhenghao from the Lulidao. I already have a good understanding of many matters of your alliance."

The old man nodded, "That's even better. Your identity information has been recorded, and you are free to act now."

Upon hearing this, Li Fan stepped away.

"Oh, friend, please remember, in the future, you should change your way of addressing us. It's no longer 'your alliance' but 'our Wan Xian Alliance,'" the old man said with a meaningful smile.

Li Fan's steps hesitated slightly. Without saying anything, he walked away directly.

Leaving the central area of Wan Xian Island, he came to the Tianxuan Mirror.

Staring at the seemingly ordinary and harmless mirror in front of him, memories of the green giant net that once covered the entire Xuanhuang Realm flashed in Li Fan's mind.

After a long gaze, Li Fan took a deep breath and walked into the mirror.

"Ancient cultivator Li Fan, welcome to the future!"

The familiar mechanical voice of the Tianxuan Mirror sounded.

Then came a series of introductions about the Tianxuan Mirror.

Li Fan pretended to listen attentively, trying out each function.

After a long time, the voice of the Tianxuan Mirror disappeared.

Li Fan looked at his contribution point balance.

"10,000 points."

"It's unexpectedly generous. I remember when I was in the late Foundation Establishment stage, they only gave 1,000 points."

"Or is it that the surrender of the ancient cultivator receives additional benefits?"

Shaking his head inwardly, he dismissed this trivial matter.

After searching the list of cultivation techniques in the Tianxuan Mirror, Li Fan took out a pile of jade slips from his storage ring to sell.

These were various cultivation techniques he had obtained from the Bai Shi Cave Heaven.

Fortunately, these techniques were all single copies.

Originally, there were twenty Foundation Establishment techniques and ten Core Formation techniques in total.

Li Fan kept three of each for future use.

The rest were all for sale.

The Tianxuan Mirror offered an average purchase price of 13,000 contribution points for each Foundation Establishment technique and 85,000 contribution points for each Core Formation technique.

Li Fan didn't mind and directly made his move.

In an instant, Li Fan's account balance turned into 826,000 contribution points.

"It's still quicker to buy and sell techniques, making money effortlessly. It's almost comparable to what I gained over the years from the Mingyue Palace's teachings."

"Truly indispensable."

Li Fan couldn't help but sigh.

"With over 800,000 contribution points, it should be enough for a while. But it's still not sufficient..."

Li Fan was currently at the mid Gold Core stage. In eight years, by the 16th year, the Five Elements Grand Cave Heaven would be discovered, subsequently relocating to the core area of Wan Xian Alliance.

By the 36th year, the void over Tianling Prefecture would reveal the reappearance of the Five Elements Grand Cave Heaven, once again attracting the attention of Wan Xian Alliance.

In other words, Li Fan had only 20 years left.

Time was pressing, and within eight years, Li Fan had to advance to the late Gold Core stage. Only then would he qualify to plan for the void space in Tianling Prefecture.

Eight years to progress from mid Gold Core to late Gold Core was a bit challenging for Li Fan given his cultivation aptitude. Therefore, he naturally needed to use some means.

Li Fan looked at his reflection in the mirror.

Not his original appearance at the age of twenty, but that of a middle-aged man in his forties or fifties.

Transformed through the 'Wonderous Mystic True Spirit Change.'

"Wearing a disguise provides a unique sense of security in this crisis-ridden Xuanhuang Realm. If things are exposed, I can simply change my identity."

Li Fan smiled faintly and purchased the materials needed for refining a clone through the mirror.

After that, using the teleportation array, he arrived at Tai'an Island.

Securing Tai'an Island with the Indiscriminate Killing Intent, Li Fan identified Zhou Qing'ang, who was also a spy for the Five Elders' Council.

Pretending to leave Tai'an Island, he lurked underwater not too far away.

After waiting for over a month, Li Fan finally seized the opportunity when Zhou Qing'ang went out to sea alone.

Following him closely, Li Fan trailed him to a desolate sea area.

Activating the Bind Insect technique suddenly, he captured Zhou Qing'ang.

Taking him to the seabed and digging a secret chamber as usual, Li Fan didn't waste words. With a light tap of his index finger, he activated the Cloud Water Illusory Dream Technique.

Zhou Qing'ang immediately fell into a deep sleep.

Based on his experience from the previous life, Li Fan knew that Zhou Qing'ang's soul contained a special restriction from the Five Elders' Council. If forcefully probing his soul, it would trigger the restriction, causing his soul to scatter.

So this time, Li Fan adopted a different method. By constructing a false dream world, he could peer into the depths of Zhou Qing'ang's secrets.

Slowly, a smile appeared at the corner of Zhou Qing'ang's mouth within the dream.

In the dream, he diligently infiltrated Wan Xian Alliance for hundreds of years. Starting from the grassroots level, when he broke through to Nascent Soul cultivation, he finally became the lord of Wan Xian Island.

Later, with his inside and outside collaboration, the Five Elders' Council launched a massive attack, sweeping through the Congyun Sea in just a few days.

And Zhou Qing'ang, having completed his meritorious service, returned to his hometown with high spirits.

...

"The Country of Gentlemen?"

Li Fan looked at Zhou Qing'ang, who was deeply immersed in the dream, with contemplation.

(End of this chapter)

Chapter 429: A Bold Request

Based on Zhou Qing'ang's memories, under the Five Elders' Council's rule, it was divided into five major "Heavenly Realms," each under the jurisdiction of different Celestial Lords. Each "Heavenly Realm" had distinct characteristics that set it apart from other places.

His hometown was called the "Country of Gentlemen," named so because everyone inside couldn't tell lies. Of course, this was the self-proclaimed title within the "Country of Gentlemen." Cultivators from other regions under the Five Elders' Council preferred to call it the "True Country."

Regardless of the name, it didn't affect its essential beauty. There, people always treated each other candidly, consistently revealing their true selves. Although occasional conflicts were inevitable, compared to the outside world filled with lies, Zhou Qing'ang loved his homeland.

To the north of the "True Country" was the dreamland of countless cultivators, the "Land of Carefree Bliss."

As for the other three realms, Zhou Qing'ang, being young when selected for spy training, didn't get to know about them.

...

The dream was about to shatter, and Li Fan replayed the dream once again to ensure the accuracy of the information. He repeated this process three times.

Taking some physiological materials from Zhou Qing'ang, Li Fan began refining a clone using him as a template.

Several days later, a body exactly like Zhou Qing'ang appeared. Li Fan nodded slightly, then replicated the process. Using the 'Wonderous Mystic True Spirit Change,' he transformed himself into the appearance of Zhou Qing'ang.

A somewhat eerie scene unfolded in this small underwater secret chamber. Three bodies with identical appearances but different expressions.

"Wonderful, wonderful!"

Li Fan nodded in satisfaction.

Looking at the still unconscious Zhou Qing'ang, who had a smile on his lips, Li Fan's eyes flashed with a hint of peculiarity.

"I won't kill you in this life. It's better not to reveal any flaws."

"Forever immersed in the dream might be a good thing for you."

Using the surrounding materials, Li Fan created a stone coffin for Zhou Qing'ang. After placing him inside, he scattered a pile of spirit stones to sustain his vitality.

Li Fan then arranged a formation using the 'Cloud Water Illusory Dream' as the core, capable of maintaining the illusion for at least twenty years. He sealed the stone coffin with a giant rock and buried it deep under the sea.

"This way, besides me, no one in the world should discover that you've disappeared."

After handling all traces, Li Fan's gaze seemed to penetrate the seabed, seeing the sleeping Zhou Qing'ang in the dream. He said with satisfaction, "I did this inspired by the 'Eternal Immortal Wall' in the future 'Xuan Web' timeline."

After a Xuanhuang Realm cultivator dies, the world will sense it, revealing anomalies in the sky. Li Fan currently hadn't mastered a method to avoid these anomalies.

Moreover, he couldn't let others discover the real Zhou Qing'ang's death yet.

So this method was quite suitable.

After completing everything, the clone returned to guard Tai'an Island, and the main body headed towards the rendezvous point mentioned in Zhou Qing'ang's memory.

Zhou Qing'ang knew very little about his superior. The contact had always been one-way, and the meeting place changed every time.

Li Fan arrived at an uninhabited island and searched. Sure enough, he found an ordinary-looking stone. However, in specific positions, there were a few inconspicuous small holes.

These small holes represented the "coordinates" from the Cloud Sea.

Li Fan calculated the coordinates and determined the meeting point.

After crushing the stone, he flew directly towards it.

One day later.

Chapter 429: A Bold Request

In the depths of an underwater ruin, Li Fan found his target—a seemingly ordinary broken stone. He covered it with his hands, simultaneously activating a secret technique that made his palms emit a yellow light. In an instant, the broken stone emanated a similar faint yellow glow, rapidly scanning Li Fan's entire body. After verification, the light returned to the broken stone. Before long, the stone's surface became as smooth as a mirror, revealing a blurry image of a person's face.

"What are you doing? Didn't I tell you to lie low and not contact me recently?" The person on the other side had a cold tone, reprimanding.

Li Fan mimicked Zhou Qing'ang's tone, "Boss! I have important information to report this time, so I made an exception to contact you!"

"Important information?" The other person clearly didn't believe it and had an unfriendly tone. "Tell me about it."

Lowering his voice, Li Fan leaned in and said, "I made friends with a fellow cultivator who claims he can obtain the test questions for the upcoming entrance exam of the Wan Xian Alliance."

The face first paused, then immediately scolded, "Which scammer is it this time? You believe such outrageous things? And you specifically contacted me to report it?"

"Zhou Qing'ang, oh Zhou Qing'ang, you've been in the Congyun Sea for too long, has your brain been flooded?" Li Fan immediately put on a very wronged expression. "Boss, this time I really can't afford to be truthful! I guarantee it!"

The person's face, looking at Li Fan's earnest appearance, became somewhat hesitant.

"What's the story?"

Li Fan said, "This friend of mine has connections! I previously reported to you about making friends with the town guardian of Liuli Island, He Zhenghao. Like me, he's at the Foundation Establishment level. Not long ago, he complained to me that accumulating contributions was difficult, and he didn't know how long it would take to change his cultivation method."

"Who would have thought that after a few days without seeing him, he changed to the Yuan Ying cultivation method!"

Li Fan exaggeratedly recounted, "This abnormality naturally caught my attention. I went to great lengths to inquire and found out..."

The person's face was now somewhat intrigued.

Seeing him suddenly create suspense, he immediately scolded, "Just spill it!"

Li Fan chuckled, "This He Zhenghao is no simple character!"

"On the surface, he seems like an ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivator. In reality, his background is quite remarkable!"

"He has a daughter named He Xinxin. Hmph, actually, she should be called Heng Xinxin!"

"Wan Xian Alliance's Heng Family in the Tianyu State. Have you heard of it?"

"Their jewel, the young and already a Yuan Ying Weaver, Heng Ruoshui, is surprisingly He Zhenghao's old lover!"

"Who would believe this? But it happens to be true!"

"Previously, it seemed that because He Zhenghao's cultivation was too weak, he was forced to sever ties with the Heng Family. So, he lived a somewhat difficult life."

"But recently, it seems that things have taken a turn."

Li Fan paused, looked at the face on the screen, and continued, "He Xinxin is already an adult. Knowing how poor her old father is, she feels extremely reluctant. However, if she openly helps him, she's afraid of being discovered by her family."

"So, she had to find another way to quietly pass on the information she overheard."

"It turns out that relying on her daughter's help, He Zhenghao completely turned the situation around!"

"He got advance notice of the surge in Wuguyao Stone prices and invested all his savings, making a huge profit."

"After the prices doubled, he immediately sold them."

"In one go, he earned over a hundred thousand contribution points!"

"Over a hundred thousand! Boss! That's enough for me for many years!"

"He Zhenghao was afraid of leaking the news and causing harm to his daughter. So, he fabricated a set of nonsense about relying on the guidance of an ancient Tianji Sect cultivator, and spread it around."

"Pah! Really treating us as fools!"

"Boss, fortunately, I was clever. I pestered him in every possible way, and with both soft and hard tactics, I finally got the truth out of him."

Li Fan looked satisfied and said, "The source of the leaked entrance exam questions also comes from He Xinxin."

"Boss, do you think it's reliable?"

Chapter 429: A Bold Request

This time, the figure on the broken stone didn't get angry but remained silent, seemingly searching for something.

After a long time, the voice from the face came intermittently.

"Heng Ruoshui indeed has a daughter, but her father's identity has always been a mystery."

"However, many years ago, she once returned home with a young man. But not long after, this young man disappeared without a trace."

"Let me take a look at his appearance..."

"Sure enough, it's He Zhenghao!"

The face on the other side was shocked.

"Also, before the surge in Wuguyao Stone prices, there were unusual trading records. Someone was aggressively buying, and later sold at the peak."

"The timing was just too perfect, making it hard to believe it wasn't insider information."

"The buyer..."

"Is also He Zhenghao!"

A sound like forcefully slamming a table came from the face.

"So, it's highly likely that the leaked entrance exam questions for the Wan Xian Alliance are real?" The other person's breathing became rapid.

Li Fan nodded continuously, "That's why I hurriedly came to find you, boss! You should know that the entrance exam is about to take place."

"If we could get the questions in advance before then..."

"We can nail down more key positions in the Wan Xian Alliance!"

The face obviously understood the seriousness of the matter and quickly asked, "What did he say?"

At this moment, Li Fan suddenly became somewhat hesitant.

Stammering, he said, "Boss, He Zhenghao set a rather high price this time..."

The face angrily rebuked, "Just spit it out! It's just a few spirit stones, how can it compare to the entrance exam questions?"

Li Fan extended his hand, gesturing, "He wants this amount?"

"Fifty thousand contribution points? It's not impossible..." The face hadn't finished speaking.

Li Fan quickly shook his head, interrupting him, "No, it's five million."

The face immediately stiffened.

"Five million? Is he crazy?!" His voice trembled a bit.

But soon, the face reacted.

His expression suddenly darkened, and a hint of killing intent was present in his voice, "Did you expose yourself?!"

"Faced with a mere individual, just a Foundation Establishment cultivator, he absolutely wouldn't offer such an outrageous price unless he already knew there was an organization behind you."

The image on the broken stone fluctuated, seemingly on the verge of disappearing.

The face stared at Li Fan, waiting for his answer.

Li Fan was somewhat speechless, "Boss, do you really think so unprofessionally of me?"

"I just told him that there are people behind me, that's all."

"Anyone working in the Wan Xian Alliance has connections. You can't get a job there without some personal ties."

"Rest assured, boss, even if He Zhenghao has some suspicions, he won't think I'm a spy."

"In fact, He Zhenghao is just casting a wide net. He knows the risks of selling entrance exam questions, so he only makes one deal."

"He only deals with one party, and even limits it. The number of people who know the questions and participate in the entrance exam won't exceed ten."

...

Listening to Li Fan's explanation, the face gradually eased.

The image became bright and clear again. After careful analysis for a while, the face said, "Fifty thousand per person, although the cost is a bit high, it's still acceptable."

"However, the amount is huge. If these questions from He Zhenghao turn out to be fake..."

Li Fan shrugged it off, "He Zhenghao said, anyway, the entrance exam lasts for seven days. He can give us the first day's questions for free. After confirming their accuracy, we can proceed with the final transaction."

Hearing this, the face couldn't help but feel excited.

(End of this chapter)

Chapter 430: Morning Wind and Strange Beast Transformation

However, five million contribution points were not a small amount, and the face did not make an immediate decision.

After pondering for a moment, the face cautiously said, "This matter needs careful consideration. Let's meet again seven days later."

After giving Li Fan a set of coordinates, the face quietly disappeared.

But in an instant, he reappeared.

"By the way, no matter what, He Zhenghao has a high value for us to cultivate."

"Make sure you maintain a good relationship with him. Even if the exam questions turn out to be fake, just based on his connection with the Heng family in Tianyu Zhou, it's worth investing heavily."

"I heard from your previous reports that he is most fascinated by formations?"

"Perhaps we can start from this aspect."

After a few more instructions, the face finally left.

After glowing with a yellow light, the smooth broken stone gradually shattered, falling to the ground.

Li Fan approached and checked, finding that it had been completely destroyed.

Standing in place and pondering for a moment, Li Fan, still wearing the appearance of Zhou Qing'ang, quietly flew away.

After flying far enough and confirming that no one was following or monitoring him, Li Fan transformed back into the middle-aged man's appearance.

"The bait has been set; now let's see if the Five Elders take it."

While flying, Li Fan recalled the memories related to the Five Elders from Zhou Qing'ang.

"Wuyou Joyful Land..."

"I suppose the one controlling this heavenly domain is the Longevity Celestial Venerable who can make people forget disasters."

"But what about the Realm of Truth? The principles of Wuyou Celestial Venerable should cover the entire Xuanhuang Realm."

"But 'Unable to Lie' clearly does not have an effect outside a specific area, only taking effect in certain regions."

"Zhao Shijie's 'Unity in Diversity' seems to be the same."

"Wuyou and Transmitting Methods should be on a higher level than these two..."

"No wonder the Five Elders are guarded even though they are Celestial Venerables. They are extremely cautious even in probing actions."

Li Fan contemplated.

Getting involved with the Five Elders was not a spontaneous decision for Li Fan.

In addition to maximizing profits by using the Wan Xian Alliance entrance exam questions, balancing the Five Elders would be crucial in the future to prevent the Tianxuan Locking Spirit Formation from purifying towards the direction of the Black Web.

Having a clone as a spy in the Five Elders would make future actions much more convenient.

Next, Li Fan did not return to Wan Xian Island but flew towards the southeastern sea area of ​​the Congyun Sea.

The remote small island located in the center of the sea was Li Fan's destination.

After half a day, Li Fan saw the compound courtyard on the island from a distance.

In the courtyard, five cultivators were meditating.

An old man with red hair and white beard, looking very spirited, was pacing back and forth around the cultivators.

He kept saying mysterious and difficult-to-understand words.

This late Foundation Establishment cultivator was the "Foundation Establishment Master" Li Fan had encountered years ago.

Including the gatekeeper Li Chenfeng and the man named Xiao who acted, these three were all thieves who had sneaked in from the small world.

Their hometown, a small world named the "Empire," was attempting to break free from the Xuanhuang Realm's constraints through the joint efforts of a whale group consisting of a hundred thousand boundary-splitting whales.

They were tasked with the heavy responsibility of stealing immortal cultivation scriptures in Xuanhuang Realm.

Using ordinary means, it was foolish for Foundation Establishment cultivators to accumulate enough contribution points to exchange for high-level Dao techniques.

So, they took risks, accumulating wealth through fraudulent methods.

Li Fan came to find them not because of the meager contribution points they had but to leverage the "Foundation Establishment Master's" popularity among many Qi Refining cultivators.

Li Fan smiled faintly, transforming his appearance once again into an unfamiliar face.

Boldly landing in front of the Foundation Establishment Master.

"Calm your mind, concentrate, and carefully contemplate..." The Foundation Establishment Master was shaking his head and swaying, repeating his speech like chanting.

Seeing Li Fan descending from the sky, the words suddenly stopped.

"Golden Core cultivator?"

In an instant, various thoughts surged in the Foundation Establishment Master's mind.

However, years of undercover life made him pretend to be calm, "I don't know, senior..."

Li Fan lightly waved his hand, causing the other four Qi Refining cultivators present to faint.

Only the actor named Xiao and the Foundation Establishment Master remained, and then Li Fan said casually, "It's you two, sneaking in from a small world?"

A single sentence changed the expressions of the two drastically.

The Foundation Establishment Master was about to explain but felt as if a net suddenly entangled him.

His body lost control, and he couldn't even speak.

He couldn't even end his own life.

A hint of despair flashed in the Foundation Establishment Master's eyes.

Li Fan was about to speak when he suddenly felt something rapidly approaching from behind.

He teleported, dodging in place.

Turning around, Li Fan's eyes narrowed.

A figure about two zhang tall stood, and looking at the appearance, it was unexpectedly Li Chenfeng, the Qi Refining cultivator.

However, at this moment, his appearance had changed dramatically.

His body had expanded several times, and the surface had grown a keratinous shell like that of a strange beast.

Behind him, two pairs of transparent wings rapidly flapped, keeping him suspended in the air.

The positions of his hands were replaced with a pair of sharp dark golden giant claws.

His face also seemed to be covered with a mask resembling the makeup of a strange beast, revealing only two pairs of eyes.

The whole person seemed like a combination of human and strange beast. Under the sunlight, there was a strange and beautiful feeling.

"Interesting. What is this?"

The change in front of Li Fan was beyond his expectations.

He stared at Li Chenfeng and found that his beastly transformed body could achieve a certain degree of spiritual consciousness shielding.

The giant two-zhang figure, when sensed with spiritual consciousness, appeared to be the size of a small flying insect.

"Senior, spare us a way out. Pretend you didn't see anything, alright?"

Li Chenfeng's words, mixed with two layers of modulation, echoed.

Before Li Fan could answer, his massive body disappeared from where he was.

He reappeared behind Li Fan.

With his giant claws raised, he was about to tear Li Fan's head apart.

Li Fan's expression changed slightly.

Because he found that the Insect Binding Technique had lost its effect on Li Chenfeng.

This was the first time since he learned it from his insect junior brother.

Although surprised, Li Fan didn't panic. In an instant, he laid down several formations around him.

Turning his hand, he confronted it head-on.

The azure giant palm and the dark golden giant claw collided, creating a thunderous roar.

Taking advantage of this opportunity, Li Fan distanced himself. At the same time, a blue water sword illuminated the heavens and earth.

The Congyun Sword pierced through the middle of Li Chenfeng's body, splitting him in half.

Countless blood rained down, but Li Fan remained vigilant.

Because the body of Li Chenfeng, who was cut in half, actually healed the wound in an instant.

Then, he attacked from both the left and right towards Li Fan.

At this moment, the formations Li Fan had set earlier quietly activated.

After flying forward for a while, Li Chenfeng seemed to be frozen in mid-air, unable to take another step!

(End of this chapter)