"What about Master Ji? Did he lose his mind as well?" Li Fan asked, having keenly caught the crux of the matter.
Huangfu Song glanced at Li Fan and cleared his throat. "Dean Ji's cultivation is unfathomable. Naturally, it was impossible for him to lose his self-will.
"Regrettably, those accompanying cultivators were by no means weak either. When they joined forces, even Dean Ji found them somewhat difficult to parry for a time.
"Forced to protect himself, Dean Ji had no choice but to kill them all."
Huangfu Song wore an expression of deep regret.
Hearing this, Li Fan and the others could not help but freeze slightly.
Then, as if coming to a realization, they dared not dwell on the thought.
"That truly is too perilous. No wonder it had to be temporarily sealed off," Li Fan agreed deeply.
Huangfu Song swept a warning glare at Li Fan and transmitted his voice: "Brat, I've told you what should be told. Don't push your luck."
Li Fan merely pretended not to hear.
"Tomorrow I depart for other territories to oversee formation construction.
"If any of you have requests, you may come find me before then," Huangfu Song said with a smile to Xue Mu and Jiang Qigui upon reaching the Eternal Immortal Bastion.
As for Li Fan, he did not spare him a single glance, flicking his sleeves and striding away.
Li Fan did not mind in the least.
Years of painstaking toil had yielded success in a single stroke.
The first thing everyone did upon returning to Broken Palm Immortal City was check their rankings on the Gold Ranking.
Over those five days, the points leaderboard had undergone earth-shattering changes.
Jiang Qigui's contribution had skyrocketed because he oversaw the integration of the Heavenly Profound array hub.
Li Fan was only slightly ahead of him in total points thanks to his prior lead.
Yet both of them had tumbled out of the top ten, nearing twentieth place.
"Looking at it this way, quite a few places have completed the Heavenly Profound Spirit-Locking Formation over the past few days. Some unfamiliar faces have even appeared at the top of the leaderboard."
"I actually find it a bit unfair. Constructing a formation above Chizha Abyss is far more difficult than in ordinary provinces. Master Li and the others should have received more points."
"Could it be that the points already account for a difficulty bonus? After all, as dangerous as Chizha Abyss is, it might not be the most perilous place in the Alliance of Ten Thousand Immortals."
...
"Fellow Daoist Li Fan, look! That Guo Yezhong has actually shot up to three-hundredth place!" Xue Mu prompted via voice transmission amid the crowd's discussions.
"Yes, I noticed as well. What do you think, Fellow Daoist?" Li Fan asked.
"Everyone's points aren't static—they're rising at every moment. Under these circumstances, Guo Yezhong could still come from behind.
"What's more, this explosive surge came only after numerous formations had finished construction.
"I think he might have taken part in the initial design of the Heavenly Profound Spirit-Locking Formation."
Though Xue Mu appeared dull and reserved, he was by no means stupid.
At this moment, he analyzed calmly, "Dean Ji once said that the points awarded are determined based on one's contribution to the completion of the formations.
"And as a creator of the formation, naturally a share of credit goes to him every time one is completed.
"Only that explains the current situation."
Li Fan recalled Guo Yezhong's appearance when he saw him back in Cosmos Courtyard.
"Back then, he was merely a Golden Core formation master. Is that really possible?" he asked with a smile.
Hearing this, Xue Mu also grew hesitant.
"Perhaps he simply contributed an idea?" he ventured uncertainly.
"Dwelling on it won't help. We need only do our own parts well," Li Fan advised.
Looking at the ancient, weathered Li Fan, Xue Mu's expression turned solemn, and he nodded in agreement.
'Participating in the initial design of the Heavenly Profound Spirit-Locking Formation, then sitting back to reap the rewards without lifting a finger.
'Not only can one rake in massive points out of thin air in this competition, but once the Spirit-Locking Formation is universally adopted, one's status and standing will surely rise to another tier entirely.
'What a great method!'
After parting from Xue Mu and returning to his room, Li Fan could not help thinking this way.
'If time were turned back thirty years, there probably wouldn't be anyone in this world who understands the Heavenly Profound Spirit-Locking Formation better than me.
'Splendid! I just have to be careful about pacing when revealing it...'
Li Fan's thoughts wandered leisurely.
When night fell, Li Fan quietly came to Huangfu Song's quarters.
As if anticipating his arrival, a bowl of spiritual tea had already been placed on the table, waiting for him.
"Azure Dragon Whisker. It can extend your life by ten years—barely enough to keep your little life hanging on," Huangfu Song said with mild mockery.
Li Fan did not stand on ceremony and drained it in one gulp.
He smacked his lips and glanced at the True Reversion panel.
It had only increased the upper limit of his physiological age by one single year.
"That really is barely keeping it hanging on." Li Fan shook his head, looking distinctly unimpressed.
Huangfu Song was almost moved to exasperated laughter, but he did not dwell on the matter, instead cutting straight to the point: "Tell me, as a dying man, why are you pushing yourself so hard?
"Wouldn't it be better to spend the rest of your days in leisure?
"Still trying to vie for the rankings? What are you thinking?"
Before Huangfu Song, Li Fan no longer put on the selfless, noble front seen by outsiders, adopting a different line of explanation.
"Precisely because my time is drawing near, I must fight all the harder.
"Only thus can I seek life from death and reclaim a glimmer of hope," Li Fan said with ringing conviction.
"Oh? How so?" Huangfu Song grew interested.
"Being trapped in the demonic sound tide and the Essence-Devouring White Mist was purely an accident. Exhausting almost all my lifespan to call for help was also beyond my expectations.
"I haven't even been in this world for a hundred years. To perish and see my cultivation turn to ash—how could I accept that?
"Naturally, I want to live.
"Yet life-extending treasures are far too precious for me; I likely couldn't obtain a single one even if I spent the rest of my days trying.
"If I wish to survive, I naturally have to find another route, taking a roundabout approach to save myself.
"While there is no absolute certainty, it is well worth gambling on."
The sharp glint in Li Fan's eyes was completely at odds with his decrepit appearance.
Huangfu Song became even more curious. "Gamble? Gamble on what?"
Li Fan's expression turned solemn, and he enunciated each word: "I wager...
"That the Alliance does not shortchange those with merit!
"Especially when it comes to constructing the Heavenly Profound Spirit-Locking Formation!"
Huangfu Song stared blankly at Li Fan, drinking down the Azure Dragon Whisker tea before him.
Li Fan continued relentlessly, speaking with plausible eloquence: "Both you and I know the importance of the Heavenly Profound Spirit-Locking Formation.
"And the story of how desperately I fought to construct the formation has spread across the realm.
"Needless to say whose doing that was.
"Before all the formations are completed, would it be better to let a 'paragon for the realm' like me die a miserable old death, or for the Alliance of Ten Thousand Immortals to step in and save my life?
"Compared to inspiring formation masters across the entire realm to toil with devotion, a few life-extending treasures shouldn't count for much, should they?
"So for now, not only do I not fear dying of old age, I even feel I have too much lifespan left!
"Senior Huangfu, that cup of tea you just offered almost ruined my plans.
"How will you compensate me?"
With that, Li Fan quietly looked at Huangfu Song.
Chapter 370