Chapter 184: Tai'an Infiltrator

In addition to the Daoist robe uniform and the identity jade disc, there was also a unique communication talisman.

The talisman was circular, intricately engraved with patterns around it, and in the center was the character "万" (Wan).

As his divine sense immersed, it felt as if he were in the midst of a starry sea.

Countless dim stars could vaguely be seen around him.

These were all members within the Wan Xian Alliance system.

The image of He Zhenhao flashed in Li Fan's mind.

In an instant, he found the one representing He Zhenhao among the countless stars.

Li Fan sent a friend request.

After a while, that dim star brightened.

In a cluster of dark stars, it was particularly conspicuous.

"Fellow Daoist acts quickly. Did you succeed in joining? Congratulations!" He Zhenhao's message promptly came through.

"I must thank Fellow Daoist He!" Li Fan replied.

However, there was no further response from He Zhenhao, apparently immersed in the study of the Mountain and River Great Formation.

Li Fan also sent friend requests to Chen Ying, Zhang Zhiliang, Gong Boyu, and others.

Afterward, he withdrew his divine sense from the communication talisman.

In the Tian Xuan Mirror, Li Fan searched for and viewed merit tasks.

Different from tasks that earned contribution points, merit tasks were mainly directly issued by the Wan Xian Alliance.

There were all kinds of tasks, from collecting materials to participating in the daily operations of the Wan Xian Alliance.

A particular type of task was special—reporting spies infiltrating the Wan Xian Alliance, whether from the Five Elders Association or other cultivation organizations.

The merit gained from such tasks depended on the spy's position, and Li Fan's current privilege level was Ascendant One.

Basically, by completing any random merit task, he could ascend to Ascendant Two.

However, there was a limit to the number of merit tasks that could be undertaken.

At most, three tasks could be completed each year.

Li Fan didn't rush to accept any tasks.

Apart from tasks, there were other ways to earn merit.

For example, like He Zhenhao did before, recommending cultivators to join the Wan Xian Alliance.

Alternatively, providing valuable information.

These had no restrictions; the more, the better.

What interested Li Fan the most was that the merit required to advance in privilege levels was not a fixed value but displayed as a progress bar.

This was because the Tian Xuan Mirror would adjust the merit in real-time based on its current value.

For example, a task to submit a certain item, like "Red Cloud Ice," would always exist.

After completing the task, you would consistently gain a lower-grade Third Merit.

However, the value of "Red Cloud Ice" itself fluctuated continuously.

While in most cases, the value of these collected items wouldn't fluctuate dramatically, there had been instances in the history of the Wan Xian Alliance where the value of certain items had sharply decreased.

Therefore, the Tian Xuan Mirror would regulate and precisely control the merit according to its real-time value.

Li Fan focused on a merit task that offered a medium-grade Third Merit.

A small progress bar appeared next to the task description.

Above the progress bar, there was a small number indicating the progress.

One out of forty-three.

This meant that completing this task and gaining the medium-grade Third Merit would raise Li Fan's privilege level by one and an additional forty-three percent.

The Wan Xian Alliance had a total of forty-nine privilege levels, symbolizing the Great Dao's fifty, with forty-nine as the Ascendant level.

Advancement was initially straightforward but became increasingly difficult as one progressed.

After understanding the mechanism of merit and privilege levels, Li Fan then searched for cultivation techniques.

Immediately, he noticed a difference from before.

Some search results were prominently marked with golden fonts.

This indicated that these cultivation techniques could only be seen by Wan Xian Alliance members.

Moreover, such techniques could only be used for personal cultivation after being exchanged and couldn't be given to others.

If "lost" or learned by others, the Law Enforcement Hall would be responsible for recovery, and the original exchanger would be penalized by deducting a certain amount of merit.

Li Fan carefully examined these restricted cultivation techniques.

Among these techniques with golden fonts, some were bright gold, indicating that Li Fan could exchange them at his current privilege level.

Others were dark gold.

These dark gold-tier cultivation techniques required a privilege level higher than Li Fan's current level.

Li Fan could only see their introductions but couldn't exchange for them.

Generally, search results higher than one's own privilege level by three levels were displayed as encouragement.

Li Fan casually checked a dark gold-tier Foundation Establishment stage cultivation technique.

[Geng Metal Nurtures Sword Technique].

Sixty-five thousand contribution points, exchangeable at Ascendant Three privilege level.

"Absorb the essence of Geng Metal, cultivate sword intent within the body. Can be used for flying on a sword and as a magical treasure to defeat enemies."

"The power is indeed much stronger than what I've seen before, and the price is considerably higher."

Li Fan checked several other dark gold-tier cultivation techniques, all with similar conditions.

"Yan Fa Jue undoubtedly works tirelessly day and night to develop incredible techniques. There will certainly be awe-inspiring and extraordinary martial arts."

"It might even surpass the foundational supreme arts of ancient sects and major factions by no small margin."

"If I can't exchange it, even just having a glimpse would be enlightening."

"Unfortunately, the privilege is insufficient."

"Privilege, privilege..."

Li Fan once again recalled the various ways to earn merit.

A figure suddenly flashed through his mind.

Tai'an Island's guardian, Zhou Qing'ang.

This person had left abruptly in the two lifetimes before the arrival of the Crimson Flame.

To Li Fan, this seemed somewhat suspicious.

There were essentially two possibilities.

Firstly, Zhou Qing'ang had a significant backing, a very influential one.

During the tenth era, even the two Nascent Soul Immortal Monarchs of Wan Xian Island failed to detect the imminent arrival of the Crimson Flame.

Zhou Qing'ang did.

This indicated that Zhou Qing'ang's backing was more formidable than Nascent Soul powerhouses.

Which Daoist Ancestor could it be?

Li Fan considered this possibility to be low.

If Zhou Qing'ang truly had the support of a Daoist Ancestor, he could have left directly.

Why would he need to fabricate an excuse to explore outside and find someone to replace him in guarding Tai'an Island?

Then, the second possibility became more likely.

Zhou Qing'ang was a spy planted by another organization within the Wan Xian Alliance.

Li Fan believed that the top experts of this world had probably detected the impending arrival of the Crimson Flame.

Although he didn't know why the headquarters of the Wan Xian Alliance didn't issue a warning for Wan Xian Island in the Sea of Clouds, other organizations should have sensed some signs.

For example, the Wan Hua Merchant Guild had issued an evacuation order for the Sea of Clouds before the calamity struck.

Zhou Qing'ang received a notice from his organization, allowing him to escape the Sea of Clouds in this manner.

Of course, this was currently just Li Fan's speculation.

To confirm this, further investigation was needed.

If the guess was wrong, so be it.

But if Zhou Qing'ang was truly a spy, then Li Fan would gain a lot.

Not only could he harvest a large amount of merit and contribution points, but more importantly, Li Fan wanted to find a way to deceive the Questioning Heart Platform from him.

(End of this chapter)