251 Chapter 461-465: Ingenious Uses of Universal Tranquil Leaves (6k+ words)
The events that unfolded afterward could be anticipated.
In the chaos caused by cultivators scrambling to escape, the price of Universal Tranquil Leaves plummeted.
Just after surpassing the thousand-point milestone, it cascaded like a waterfall, leaving Jiao Xiuyuan amazed.
"Friend, your divination skills are truly extraordinary! Without your reminder, I might have ended up in a situation similar to theirs. I can already imagine countless cultivators' Dao hearts shattering!" Jiao Xiuyuan said with a touch of schadenfreude.
In Tianshu Province, those who had just completed the transaction, feeling fortunate about their good luck, heard the announcement from the Tianxuan Mirror. Their faces suddenly became vivid when witnessing the Universal Tranquil Leaves they had recently repurchased at the sky-high price of 1300 points per plant, now experiencing a catastrophic collapse.
Many couldn't withstand the blow, spewing blood and fainting directly.
"Friend Dantai!" The still conscious cultivators looked at Dantai Can with a mix of sadness and anger, hoping that the leader of the Dantai family could come up with a solution.
At this moment, Dantai Can's face also turned iron-cold.
From the beginning, this event seemed like an invisible force was manipulating it. The unfolding developments caught him off guard. Subconsciously, he even thought that perhaps this whole thing was a conspiracy against the Dantai family.
Jiao Xiuyuan and the cultivator from the Tianji Sect, Li Fan, might be smokescreens created by the other party.
Various possible targets flashed through his mind, and Dantai Can was actively thinking about remedial measures.
The losses this time were too significant, even if his position within the family had become more stable over the years, he feared there would still be consequences. Perhaps, using this incident as an excuse, his brothers would criticize him.
"No, at least I need to salvage some losses."
Dantai Can gritted his teeth, and an idea appeared in his mind.
"Spread the recent discoveries we made!"
He said in a deep voice.
"What? Unthinkable! Brother Dantai, calm down! We haven't reported this matter to the Immortal Alliance yet..."
The others were shocked and panicked, trying to dissuade him.
However, Dantai Can had made up his mind, and he had the majority of the credit for the discovery of this secret.
They could only cooperate.
Through their respective means, they spread the news to the market.
As a result, Li Fan and Jiao Xiuyuan, who were checking their gains on Wanxian Island, suddenly saw a slowdown in the downward trend of Universal Tranquil Leaves. Although it was still slowly declining, the state of collapse seemed to be gradually passing.
"Hmm? What's going on? The price of Universal Tranquil Leaves is more resilient than I imagined." Li Fan looked at Jiao Xiuyuan.
Jiao Xiuyuan was momentarily stunned, then said mysteriously, "I don't know where the news came from, but it's said that a large quantity of Universal Tranquil Leaves can be used to create artifacts. These artifacts can reduce the amount of lifespan consumed by the 'Element-Eating White Mist' and can also indicate directions in the vast misty realm."
Li Fan was instantly shocked, "Is it true or false?"
"From the market's reaction, it should not be a false rumor," Jiao Xiuyuan said in a deep voice.
Chapter 461: Marvelous Uses of Universal Tranquil Leaves
It seems that Dantai Can, to minimize losses, has released this secret. Unexpectedly, Universal Tranquil Leaves have such a purpose—resisting the Element-Eating White Mist. This can change the entire landscape of the Xuanhuang Realm. Li Fan mumbled quietly, seemingly planning to quietly repurchase Universal Tranquil Leaves.
"So, this is why its price steadily rose in the previous life," Li Fan realized.
Li Fan, who had spent years in the Abyss, was well aware of the terror of the Element-Eating White Mist.
"If I had known about the uses of Universal Tranquil Leaves back then, building the Tianxuan Soul-Locking Formation in the mist would not have been so arduous."
"Moreover, with this item, exploration into the depths of the misty realm becomes possible."
"In the previous life, Dantai Can did not reveal anything about this until after I had transformed my body and the Tianxuan Soul-Locking Formation was fully constructed."
This news was quite shocking.
For a while, both Li Fan and Jiao Xiuyuan fell into contemplation, and the Thousand-Mile Hall became silent.
"Dantai's family is interesting; they discovered such important information but didn't report it in time," Jiao Xiuyuan broke the silence after a while.
"Dantai's family is headed by Dantai Liju, a Dao Integration Immortal Venerable and one of the three giants in charge of the Immortal Alliance's Political Affairs Hall."
"Because they operate discreetly, Dantai's family is usually unknown to outsiders."
"It's only when you reach a certain level that you realize the horror of Dantai's family."
Jiao Xiuyuan explained to Li Fan.
"However, the Political Affairs Hall is not entirely under their control. With such a big oversight this time, he probably has some explaining to do."
Jiao Xiuyuan's tone suddenly became a bit strange, "I thought Dantai Can wasn't such a fool. Why did he resort to such a clumsy move this time?"
"According to reason, the level of danger in this matter could help Dantai's family establish a more stable position."
"Unexpectedly, he threw it away just for a small gain."
After pondering for a moment, Li Fan analyzed, "Perhaps, this person isn't as foolish as he appears. After all, Dantai's family is Dantai's family, and Dantai Can is Dantai Can."
Although the words seemed a bit roundabout, Jiao Xiuyuan, after hearing them, seemed to be lost in thought.
Afterward, the two chatted for a while, agreeing to cooperate again in the future.
Through the secret passage in the Thousand-Mile Hall, Li Fan quietly avoided the crowd of cultivators outside, who were clamoring for an explanation. He returned to the Tianxuan Mirror.
After settling his thoughts, Li Fan began to take stock of his gains this time.
He had acquired three to four hundred Universal Tranquil Leaves, selling most of them to Dantai Can for around 1300 points each.
There were a few transactions in between.
Altogether, he had roughly quadrupled his gains.
Deducting the unexpected losses from purchasing the Misty Cloud Grass earlier, Li Fan's wealth had grown from over five million contribution points to a staggering one million eight hundred and sixty thousand.
However, the present Li Fan was no longer the naive newcomer to the cultivation world. Faced with such a large amount of contribution points, he remained calm and composed. He skillfully opened the shopping list on the Tianxuan Mirror, continuously selecting items necessary for trading with the Empire and those that could be useful for future cultivation.
Unfortunately, his current authorization level was still insufficient, making Li Fan sigh at the wealth he possessed but couldn't spend.
The carefree days of extravagant spending didn't last long.
Soon, as Li Fan anticipated, a voice echoed in the Tianxuan Mirror.
He was required to immediately go to the Martial Arts Hall for investigation. The inquiry concerned whether he engaged in malicious market manipulation and disrupted the stability of the Wanxian Alliance.
(End of this chapter)
Chapter 462: Trial at the Martial Arts Hall
The last investigation by the Celestial Machine Hall due to the Green Bull Pulling Cart incident was still fresh in Li Fan's memory. This time, Li Fan arrived at the central core area of Wanxian Island.
Passing through the Formation Hall and continuing inward, Li Fan stopped in front of a building with a stone monument engraved with the character "武" (Wu) at the entrance.
The moment he saw this character, Li Fan felt a chilling and oppressive atmosphere enveloping him. It seemed as if numerous phantoms appeared before his eyes, ready to attack in the next moment.
"The character is good, but compared to the '乱' character stone I saw before, it lacks a bit of flavor."
Suppressing the instinctive urge to counterattack, Li Fan carefully observed and pondered for a long time.
With a serious expression, he calmly walked into the Martial Arts Hall without changing his expression.
In the Formation Hall that Li Fan was more familiar with, there were many overlapping spaces traversed by teleportation formations. The main spectacle of the Martial Arts Hall, on the other hand, was formed by many floating giant rocks.
Rugged and bizarre stones scattered in space like countless stars.
Looking closely, each stone had a different shape—some resembling creatures, others like mountains or water.
On the giant stones, one could faintly see pavilions, vegetation, and occasionally passing figures.
The flying stone Li Fan stood on at the moment was exceptionally unique.
Bare and smooth like a mirror.
Faint lines of light circulated beneath the surface. The moment Li Fan stepped onto the giant stone, a formation was activated, and he felt himself uncontrollably moved to the center of the flying stone.
A mysterious energy surged from under his feet, like invisible shackles, firmly restraining him.
At the same time, looking up, Li Fan saw the many flying stones around him undergo an inexplicable change.
Originally, the position where Li Fan was located was an inconspicuous corner in the starry sky. However, after being confined, the scenery in the sky changed as if the stars were shifting.
In an instant, Li Fan seemed to have arrived at the center of the starry sky, becoming the absolute focus of this space.
Li Fan also felt that, in that moment, countless gazes hidden behind various giant stones all fell on him.
A true audience of tens of thousands!
Each gaze was as heavy as a mountain. If it were a cultivator who had not seen the world or had poor psychological endurance, they might collapse on the spot with weak knees.
But Li Fan remained calm and composed, showing no sign of unease.
After a brief standoff, a solemn and majestic voice echoed from the stone sea, constantly reverberating.
"Cultivator Li Fan, due to the incident of the abnormal fluctuation in the price of Universal Tranquil Leaves, you are summoned to undergo an investigation."
"As this incident has a significant impact and extremely negative nature, the Wanxian Alliance Headquarters will send a special envoy to supervise the entire process."
"Adhering to the principles of fairness, justice, and transparency, this investigation will not be kept confidential and will be subject to the supervision of all members of the alliance."
...
After a grand introduction, the investigation finally entered the main topic.
"Cultivator Li Fan, during the investigation, you may defend yourself."
"However, you are responsible for the truthfulness of every word you say. If any concealment or deception is discovered, you will be punished according to the rules of the Immortal Alliance, depending on the severity of the situation."
The resounding voice entered Li Fan's mind, and he nodded, indicating that he understood.
"Now, I announce that the investigation officially begins."
"Please, from the Martial Arts Hall, let Jin Chongzhen recount the details of this incident."
A bright light flashed, and a cultivator dressed in the standard attire of the Wanxian Alliance Martial Arts Hall appeared above the flying stone where Li Fan was standing. Positioned above Li Fan and looking down, he began to speak.
"This abnormal fluctuation in the price of Universal Tranquil Leaves originated sixteen days ago from a statement made by Cultivator Li Fan."
"He conveyed the message through Jiao Xiuyuan, stating that the price of Universal Tranquil Leaves would soar. After that..."
Jin Chongzhen succinctly summarized the cause and effect of the incident. Along with his words, images appeared in the sky, depicting the fluctuation curve of Universal Tranquil Leaves' prices, the frenzy of cultivators rushing to buy, and the scene of countless losing cultivators after the Tianxuan Mirror incident.
"Moreover, we noticed that Cultivator Li Fan had already purchased a large amount of inventory before the price of Universal Tranquil Leaves rose. He sold at the peak, earning a substantial profit."
Summing up, we believe that Cultivator Li Fan is suspected of spreading false information, exploiting the psychological tendency of the public to follow the crowd for profit, and maliciously undermining the stability of the Immortal Alliance," Jin Chongzhen added.
With these words, there was silence in the Martial Arts Hall.
Li Fan felt the gaze on him becoming even heavier. If it were an ordinary cultivator, their face might turn pale, and they would confess on the spot.
However, Li Fan spoke out confidently, interrupting Jin Chongzhen, "I object!"
"You say I spread false information? Where does that even start? Yes, I made some profit in this incident..."
Ignoring the faint killing intent in the gazes around him, Li Fan continued, "But seeking profits in the cultivation world is a natural thing. I have the ability to foresee the future, and by using it to gain benefits, what's wrong with that?"
"And the subsequent price trend of Universal Tranquil Leaves is consistent with my predictions. Doesn't this just prove the accuracy of my foresight?" Li Fan stated with conviction.
Whispers filled the Martial Arts Hall.
"Silence!"
"Regarding the legitimacy of using divination for profit, please let Elder Sun Qixuan of the Celestial Machine Hall speak."
A shimmering light, and Jin Chongzhen disappeared from everyone's sight.
In his place, a young scholar in his twenties appeared. Despite his handsome appearance, his complexion seemed a bit gloomy.
"It's him..." Li Fan squinted his eyes, looking at the person and nodding in acknowledgment.
This Sun Qixuan was the cultivator he encountered during the investigation by the Celestial Machine Hall. The mysterious aura emanating from him left a deep impression on Li Fan.
After exchanging greetings with Li Fan, Sun Qixuan coughed lightly and said, "Our stance in the Celestial Machine Hall hasn't changed."
"The results obtained through divination can be used as references for future actions. Otherwise, why would our Celestial Machine Hall exist?"
"We can all do this, naturally there is no reason to prohibit cultivators within the alliance from doing so."
Sun Qixuan's words were very reasonable.
Li Fan nodded repeatedly.
However, at this moment, he changed his tone and stared sharply at Li Fan.
"However, I doubt whether this Daoist Li Fan truly has the ability to foresee the future!"
"If the incident of the 'Universal Tranquil Leaves' price surge was genuinely foreseen by him, we in the Celestial Machine Hall advocate declaring him innocent."
"On the contrary..."
A cold light flashed in Sun Qixuan's eyes.
"If this matter was fabricated out of thin air by him."
"We suggest imposing the death penalty on him."
Chapter 463: Revelation of the Profound Net
Sun Qixuan's killing intent in his tone was undisguised.
"So, please prove it, Daoist friend!" he stared at Li Fan and said sternly.
Now the pressure was on Li Fan.
More and more gazes converged on him from all directions.
"Since Daoist friend claims to foresee the future, please perform here again."
"Since Daoist friend can accurately predict the price fluctuations of specific items, it should be effortless to predict something else casually," Sun Qixuan said forcefully, leaving no room for Li Fan to refuse.
After pondering for a moment, Li Fan had no choice but to agree.
"Then, I'll demonstrate!" Arching his hand, Li Fan took out the prepared Heavenly Dice, closed his eyes, and concentrated, standing still.
The scene fell into silence, and everyone focused on Li Fan's next move.
In the jade slips obtained from the ruins of the Heavenly Machine Sect, there were indeed some divination spells. However, they were all low-level techniques, succeeding only once in a hundred attempts.
After careful study, Li Fan roughly grasped their operation, and using them to show off was not a big problem.
However, it was impossible to truly predict anything.
Facing countless pairs of eyes, Li Fan dared not be arrogant.
He prepared himself to run away immediately once exposed.
At the same time, he activated the "Conceal the Sky with One Hand" technique, and a mysterious aura instantly enveloped his body.
The Heavenly Dice flew to Li Fan and began to spin rapidly.
On the surface of the twenty-sided dice, various fragmented scenes flashed individually.
Li Fan knew that even if these images flashed by, they couldn't escape the scrutinizing gazes of the hidden cultivators present.
So the scenes shown by the Heavenly Dice were not randomly fabricated by him.
Instead, they were genuinely intercepted events from Li Fan's experiences in the previous life.
A mix of truth and falsehood, seeming true yet being false.
This way, he could deceive the cultivators in the Martial Arts Hall.
However, even if it seemed real, Li Fan knew that these fabricated things couldn't withstand careful scrutiny.
So, as the Heavenly Dice spun faster, gradually revealing a pitch-black scene, Li Fan began to control his body, trembling continuously, and his complexion became paler.
The shocked expression on his face intensified.
Employing the "Furnace of Creation Technique," he suddenly spewed out a mouthful of blood, and Li Fan exclaimed, "Heavenly Seal, unifying the profound and yellow realms?"
At this moment, the Heavenly Dice coincidentally seemed to lose all spirituality, as if it had lost all its brilliance and stopped spinning.
Li Fan appeared greatly exhausted, collapsing weakly to the ground.
Within the Martial Arts Hall, a commotion broke out.
The statement "Heavenly Seal, unifying the profound and yellow realms" contained terrifying implications.
A cultivator dressed in black, with an indistinct appearance, appeared in the hall.
He paid no attention to the severely injured Li Fan and instead looked at Sun Qixuan.
"Friend Sun..."
Chapter 463: Unveiling the Profound Web
Obviously, he was asking for his opinion.
In his view, this cultivator named Li Fan seemed to be deliberately mystifying things.
However, since he was not adept in divination, he decided to respect the opinion of this ancient cultivator who was said to have fallen into a deep sleep in the ancient era.
The possibility that ancient methods differed from modern ones could not be ruled out.
Moreover, the conclusions drawn by Li Fan were quite astonishing.
Cautioning himself, he decided to defer to the opinion of the expert.
Sun Qixuan's lips moved, seemingly repeating the phrase Li Fan had just divined.
His expression became increasingly serious.
Before him, a scroll appeared, unfolding gradually.
The canvas was initially blank.
However, as Sun Qixuan waved his hand as if using it as a brush...
The colors on it gradually became richer.
It seemed like some scene was about to take shape.
The act of splashing ink in the painting appeared to be extremely draining, and Sun Qixuan, who already seemed a bit frail, became even weaker during this divination process.
As if carrying a heavy burden on his back, his body gradually hunched over.
His drawing movements also became slower.
Finally, when the scene in the painting was about to become clear, Sun Qixuan's fingers trembled violently.
Encountering tremendous resistance, he couldn't manage to make the final stroke no matter what.
A trace of resentment appeared on Sun Qixuan's face.
He bit his tongue lightly and suddenly spewed out a mouthful of blood.
As the blood sprayed in the air, he clenched his fists and forcefully smashed down.
Using blood as ink and fist as a brush, he completed the painting.
When the cultivators in the Martial Arts Hall, as well as Sun Qixuan himself, looked at the canvas...
When they tried to discern its content...
A dazzling green light suddenly surged from the painting.
It not only engulfed the painting but also swept towards all directions.
The first to be struck was Sun Qixuan.
Forcibly divining had already consumed most of his strength.
Now, facing the assault of the green light, caught off guard, he was utterly powerless to dodge and took a direct hit.
"Ah!"
Sun Qixuan let out a miserable scream, and his body instantly dissolved in the green light.
Leaving only a wisp of ink, it drifted away, disappearing without a trace.
"Oops, backlash from the Heavenly Machine?!"
"Elder Gongsun?!"
...
This sudden turn of events shocked the cultivators in the Martial Arts Hall immensely. However, they soon found themselves preoccupied.
The green light spread outward like a tide, assimilating everything in its path.
The peculiar giant stones, along with the beings on them, vanished as if they were snow melting in water.
The black-robed cultivator's expression changed drastically as he tried to stop the spread of the green light.
However, the green radiance seemed to emerge from nowhere and was unstoppable.
He was forced to retreat.
In just a few breaths, the initial public trial turned into a race to see who could flee faster.
Amidst the countless cries of the cultivators, the scene became increasingly chaotic and terrifying.
Upon seeing the familiar green light emerging in Gongsun Qixuan's divination painting, Li Fan was the first to sense that something was wrong.
Although he didn't know what had happened or why Gongsun Qixuan's divination would trigger the yet-to-be-born energy of the "Profound Web," it didn't prevent Li Fan from making a quick escape.
Following the panicked cultivators, he hastily left the Martial Arts Hall.
The anomaly at the Wuxian Island Martial Arts Hall quickly attracted the attention of other cultivators on the island.
The once majestic building suddenly trembled and then collapsed.
As the green light continued to spread outward, a rainbow light descended from the sky and arrived at Wuxian Island in an instant.
Countless transparent patterns surged from the rainbow light, forming a giant net that captured the overflowing green light.
The crisis was silently averted.
Li Fan, blending into the crowd, discreetly lowered his head.
It was because the newcomer was none other than Lu Xichan, the Chief Formation Master of the Wuxian Alliance!
(End of this chapter)
Chapter 464: Lockdown of Wuxian Island
Lu Xichan looked at the Martial Arts Hall on Wuxian Island, now transformed into a void, with a slight frown.
Threads of green lines appeared, wrapping around her fingertips.
She stared at this familiar yet unfamiliar green light, a hint of surprise flashing in her eyes.
Even in this remote place like Congyun Sea, where not many cultivators knew Lu Xichan's identity, under her pressure, the entire Wuxian Island fell into complete silence.
The cultivators dared not look directly at her, lowering their heads like Li Fan.
Meanwhile, they speculated about the identity of this female cultivator in their hearts.
In the end, two figures flew out from the central Political Affairs Hall on the island to greet her.
A man and a woman, precisely Zi Yun and Hong Xi, the only Nascent Divinity Immortal Monarchs in Congyun Sea.
"Greetings, Chief Lu!"
They both bowed respectfully, with a slightly nervous expression on their faces.
If even the first and second in command of Congyun Sea were treating her with such caution, she must be a formidable figure!
At this moment, the cultivators, who were bowing their heads and lowering their eyes, were shocked and curious at the same time.
They secretly speculated why Chief Lu, such a formidable figure, would visit this remote borderland like Congyun Sea.
Could it be because of this inexplicable green light?
"No need for formalities; let's get down to business."
Lu Xichan glanced at the cultivators below on Wuxian Island, coldly saying, "From now on, Wuxian Island is under lockdown. Without my orders, no one is allowed to leave."
As she spoke, she pointed towards the sky.
Transparent patterns spread from the center and soon enveloped the entire island.
"I have already applied to sever the connection between the Tianxuan Mirror here and the outside world. Ordinary communication methods have also been blocked by me."
"Until the situation is thoroughly investigated, you are responsible for maintaining order on the island."
Upon hearing this, Hong Xi also understood the severity of the situation and nodded in agreement.
Hearing Lu Xichan's words, the cultivators on the island exchanged glances.
It seemed like a major event had occurred!
The entire island was sealed off; no one could enter or leave.
Such a large-scale operation was probably the first time in the history of Wuxian Island!
Li Fan, hidden in the crowd, also felt a bit uneasy.
The development of the situation in this world was far beyond his expectations.
Originally, he just wanted to play the role of a trickster, fooling the Wuxian Alliance's investigation.
Unexpectedly, Gongsun Qixuan was not just a name; he had actually deduced something based on "Tianxuan Locking Spirit" and "Unified in Profound Yellow."
Moreover, it triggered a green energy similar to the Profound Web.
What's even more unexpected is that the disturbance thousands of miles away instantly caught the attention of Lu Xichan.
She directly crossed regions to seal Wuxian Island.
"I can only take it step by step. If I can safely pass through this ordeal, the situation will return to my control." Li Fan squinted his eyes, adjusting his plans accordingly.
After taking control of Wuxian Island, black-robed cultivators arrived on the island through teleportation arrays.
Drenched in an indelible aura of killing intent, they were stationed at various locations on the island, patrolling and monitoring.
The cultivators were divided into batches, undergoing interrogations in sequence.
The first to be scrutinized were the survivors of the Martial Arts Hall incident.
As the initiator of this event, Li Fan became the first target for questioning.
Fortunately, he didn't have to face Lu Xichan herself.
However, he seemed to vaguely sense eyes on him and didn't let his guard down.
With a pale face, he pretended not to have fully recovered from the recent injuries.
Li Fan truthfully explained what happened in the Martial Arts Hall.
"After deducing a sentence, I suffered a backlash from the Tianxuan Mirror."
"As for what Elder Gongsun saw and why he could trigger that terrifying green light, I don't know."
Li Fan coughed, looking innocent, shifting the blame entirely onto Gongsun Qixuan.
The three cultivators in charge of questioning asked for more details before taking Li Fan to a small dark room in the depths of the Political Affairs Hall, where he was detained.
Li Fan cooperated fully from beginning to end.
Inside the small dark room, cut off from the outside world, Li Fan couldn't know what was happening on Wuxian Island.
Li Fan simply closed his eyes and began cultivating.
At the same time, on Taian Island, Li Fan's clone "Zhou Qing'ang" quietly left the island protection array and headed to the agreed meeting place with the Stone-Faced Man.
"Boss, something big has happened!"
Without waiting for questioning, Li Fan preemptively spoke.
"Uh... What's the rush? Take your time!" scolded the Stone-Faced Man.
"It seems like a major incident has occurred on Wuxian Island. Since a while ago, there has been no contact with the cultivators on the island!" Li Fan's anxious tone carried a hint of excitement.
"And, before coming here, I investigated. Before the island was sealed off, someone saw a rainbow light coming from the central area of the Wuxian Alliance, crossing regions and arriving at Wuxian Island."
"This lockdown must be related to that rainbow light!" Li Fan said in succession.
The Stone-Faced Man was also startled by this sudden news.
After a long silence, seemingly verifying the accuracy of the information, he exclaimed, "It's actually true!"
"What is the Wuxian Alliance up to?!"
"Wait... this rainbow light..."
"Lu Xichan!"
The Stone-Faced Man's voice suddenly increased a few degrees.
"Boss, who is Lu Xichan?" Li Fan immediately pretended to be very curious and asked.
"The Chief of the Wuxian Alliance Strategy Hall, a truly remarkable figure. How could she come to Congyun Sea?" The Stone-Faced Man's voice contained both doubt and excitement.
Like a hungry wolf sensing its prey, he keenly perceived that in this event, there must be some earth-shattering hidden existence.
If it could be figured out...
"Boss, is this a perfect opportunity for us to make a name for ourselves?" Li Fan also pretended to suddenly realize, asking in cooperation.
"Yes! We must investigate why she came to Congyun Sea!" the Stone-Faced Man said in a deep voice.
"But now it seems that Wuxian Island only allows people to enter, not to leave. Even communication has been blocked. It's a bit difficult to find out the situation inside..." Li Fan frowned, expressing his distress.
Suddenly, as if remembering something, he looked excited and said, "Boss, I have an immature idea."
"Oh? Let me hear it."
"Do you remember last time when we bought the entrance exam questions from He Zhenghao? Maybe, he has a way!"
"He Zhenghao..." The Stone-Faced Man pondered for a moment and nodded slightly.
"You can go try over there. I will think of other ways as well."
"If there are results, contact me again."
"If he is also helpless, then you should lie low again," the Stone-Faced Man said to Li Fan.
"Understood." As the light on the Stone-Faced Man disappeared, Li Fan quickly left the area.
After going to Liuli Island, having a cup of tea with He Zhenghao, Li Fan returned quickly.
"Boss, there's a chance!"
"What?" The Stone-Faced Man didn't expect "Zhou Qing'ang" to be so efficient and didn't anticipate that He Zhenghao actually had information about the sealed Wuxian Island.
"What did he say?" The Stone-Faced Man asked in a deep voice.
"A fixed price, ten million contribution points!" Li Fan hesitated for a moment and said quietly.
(End of this chapter)
Chapter 465: The Involvement of the Five Elders
"Ten million contribution points?! Is he crazy?" The Stone-Faced Man exclaimed in disbelief.
However, he quickly regained his composure.
"Hmph, his appetite is getting bigger. But is the information about what happened on Wuxian Island really worth that many contribution points?" Li Fan glanced at the Stone-Faced Man's expression and cautiously added, "He has other conditions."
"Payment first."
"And he also said, whether to trade or not is up to us; he won't force it. But he dares to guarantee that the value of this information is definitely more than that. He only offered this price because he's risking his life, and because we're old customers."
Upon hearing these outrageous conditions, the Stone-Faced Man was less excited than before. After careful consideration, he said, "This is a matter of great importance. I'll go seek approval first. You stay here and don't move."
With that, the light on the Stone-Faced Man instantly disappeared.
Li Fan patiently waited in place. In the time it took for an incense stick to burn, the Stone-Faced Man reappeared.
"Agree to his terms!" he decisively said.
"Boss?!" Li Fan was now somewhat shocked by the other's boldness.
"He Zhenghao previously mentioned that the risk of this transaction is too high, and it's inconvenient for him to directly intervene. He needs an intermediary. If we agree to trade, we should send the spiritual stones to this island. Just say we're from the 'Universal Alliance,' and don't worry about anything else. Just give the spiritual stones to the other party." Li Fan provided the coordinates of the island where Li Chenfeng and others from the Empire were located.
"When he confirms receipt of the spiritual stones, he will deliver the information to us." Li Fan quickly added.
"The Universal Alliance? What is that?"
"Could it be..." The Stone-Faced Man seemed to realize something and suddenly fell silent.
"At the latest, the day after tomorrow, the spiritual stones will be delivered. You go watch He Zhenghao; don't let him escape," the Stone-Faced Man instructed.
"Yes, boss," Li Fan replied.
"This is quite a gamble. If we win, we'll certainly gain great merits. If we lose..." The Stone-Faced Man murmured to himself.
Apparently, dealing with such a large sum of money in such an unreliable manner was the first time the Stone-Faced Man had encountered such a situation. It inevitably appeared a bit uneasy.
"Boss, rest assured. Based on my interactions with He Zhenghao during this period, I believe he is trustworthy." Li Fan reassured.
"I hope so. You may go now."
After ending the communication, Li Fan hurriedly returned to Taian Island.
At the same time, through the non-killer method, he sensed the situation on Li Chenfeng's side.
Two days later, a black-robed cultivator arrived above the island where the Empire was located, looking around as instructed.
The woman in green suddenly appeared in front of him.
The two faced each other, both with somewhat solemn expressions.
Following the trade process, the black-robed cultivator self-identified: "I am a cultivator of the Universal Alliance."
After speaking, he threw a storage ring towards the woman in green.
Taking the storage ring, the woman in green, after checking its contents, suddenly contracted her pupils.
"You..."
She was about to say something when she found that the other party actually waved his hand and left directly.
Leaving behind the woman in green, who was full of disbelief, standing there in a daze.
"Holy Master!"
Li Chenfeng sensed that something was wrong and quickly flew over to investigate.
The woman in green handed him the storage ring, and after inspecting it, Li Chenfeng also fell into a dazed state.
"Holy Master, what's going on..." Li Chenfeng felt completely puzzled.
"It seems that our preparations may not be enough this time." The woman in green smiled bitterly.
...
"The Five Elders' side is indeed efficient; they never drag their feet!" Sensing the smooth progress of the trade, Li Fan couldn't help but praise.
Immediately, he set off for Liuli Island, had another cup of tea with He Zhenghao, and then went straight to the meeting point.
Activating the communication with the Stone-Faced Man, Li Fan appeared somewhat lost and apprehensive.
"What message does He Zhenghao want to convey?" Without exchanging pleasantries, the Stone-Faced Man directly asked.
"He has quietly told me already." Li Fan whispered, "In just one sentence."
"Oh?"
Li Fan pressed both palms onto the stone, concentrated his thoughts, and transmitted the message.
"Tianxuan Soul-Locking…"
"Huangxuan Returns…"
"Unification?"
On the Stone-Faced Man's side, there was absolute silence.
After a moment, some chaotic sounds vaguely came from that end, indicating significant activity.
"Transaction completed. Continue lying low. If there are any special circumstances, I will contact you again." Despite his considerable restraint, Li Fan could still sense a hint of fear from the Stone-Faced Man's tone.
The stone shattered completely, and communication was cut off.
"Zhou Qing'ang" still wore a bewildered expression as he returned to Taian Island.
It wasn't until he reached the depths of the uninhabited area protected by the defense array that everything returned to normal.
"With the Five Elders' interference, even if the Ten Thousand Immortals League wants to establish the Tianxuan Soul-Locking Formation in this world, it's probably beyond their capabilities."
"The specific development of events still needs further observation."
Li Fan squinted his eyes, shifting his focus back to the main body on Wuxian Island.
After a period of investigation, Li Fan was released from the small dark room. His confession matched that of the surviving cultivators at the time, showing nothing abnormal.
The main focus of the Immortal Alliance was still on the whereabouts of Gongsun Qixuan, who had disappeared without a trace.
It was his divination that triggered the terrifying green light.
Although Li Fan had deduced some results in advance, the actual dynamics suggested that Gongsun Qixuan's divination ability was superior.
Understanding what he had seen at that time became the most important thing.
Wuxian Island remained under blockade.
However, the cultivators who had undergone interrogation, after signing confidentiality agreements, were free to move around the island.
Although they couldn't specifically mention the events of that day, Li Fan's extraordinary divination abilities during the incidents in Puxian Zhenye's pricing surge and the anomaly in the Martial Arts Hall were clearly witnessed.
As a result, Li Fan had gained many admirers among the cultivators.
Unable to enter the Tianxuan Mirror, and for the sake of tranquility, Li Fan had to go to Qianlitang to hide.
Since the day it was blocked, Qianlitang had not reopened for business, and the main gate remained tightly closed.
Li Fan had to use the secret passage from before to re-enter.
Inside the shop, Li Fan found that although Jiao Xiuyuan was physically present, his expression was vacant, and his eyes were lifeless.
No matter how Li Fan called out to him, there was no response.
It was like the state he was in when the puppet went out of control due to the shattering of the Dao Stone in the previous life, even more severe this time.
After observing for a while, Li Fan seemed contemplative.
"It should be the blockade set by Lu Xixian that caused the puppet to lose contact with its main body."
"The methods of the Chief Strategist of the Strategy Hall are indeed extraordinary."
"However, she couldn't have imagined that there is a divine skill like 'Qi Xuan True Spirit Transformation' in this world."
Li Fan couldn't help but feel a bit triumphant.
With nothing else to do, he strolled around the deserted Qianlitang.
(End of this chapter)
