Zhang Haobo looked at Li Fan with an expression of reverence mixed with delight.
He had heard that Elder Li had already cleansed all the miasma from his body and would soon become an immortal master admired by all.
Naturally, seeing him now filled Zhang Haobo with both awe and fear.
"So it's you." Li Fan had a decent impression of the man and gave a smile. "Come to think of it, we haven't seen each other in several years. How have you been lately?"
Not daring to be disrespectful, Zhang Haobo honestly replied, "Thanks to you, Elder Li, the fleet's profits these past few years have been truly excellent. Especially how you always hauled back vast amounts of treasure whenever you went to sea—that has continuously attracted crowds of young people eager to join the fleet.
"Our pay and status on the island have risen as well. Who knows how many people envy us."
Halfway through, Zhang Haobo paused, hesitating as if holding something back.
"Speak your mind," Li Fan said, gesturing for him to continue.
"Well... the brothers on the Cangyuan have been discussing leaving Liuli Island recently. I've also had this vague thought myself."
"Oh?" Li Fan was somewhat surprised. "Where do you plan to go?"
"Truth be told, Elder Li, we haven't decided yet," Zhang Haobo said with a touch of trepidation.
Li Fan's interest was piqued. "Since your days are going well, why would you suddenly think of leaving?"
Zhang Haobo scratched his head. "I'm afraid Elder Li will laugh at me, but... there's just a faint unease in my heart."
"Unease? Tell me the details," Li Fan instructed.
Zhang Haobo fell silent for a moment, seemingly organizing his thoughts.
After a short while, he glanced left and right, then lowered his voice. "To be frank, Elder Li, my brothers and I have run into all sorts of strange things when going out to sea lately."
"Such as?"
"These last few voyages, whenever we cast a net, we'd haul in over a thousand jin of fish, packed to the brim. Nine out of ten casts were like that, and there were all kinds of fish."
"Isn't that a good thing?"
"It's certainly a good thing on the surface, but I've fished the seas for over a decade, and I've never seen anything like this before." A glimmer of confusion and dread flashed through Zhang Haobo's eyes. "It's as if all the fish across the seabed are fleeing for their lives, clustering together."
"What else?" Li Fan pondered for a moment and continued asking.
"We brothers have lived on Liuli Island since childhood and know the surrounding reefs intimately. But recently, we discovered that more submerged reefs around the island have become exposed," Zhang Haobo said with a solemn tone.
"You mean... the water level is dropping?" Li Fan understood immediately.
"Water levels fluctuate every year, but this year's change seems unusual. The brothers are all quite worried," Zhang Haobo said.
"A month ago, we reported this matter to the Liuli Mansion, but they clearly didn't pay it much mind, saying it was merely routine water level fluctuations," Zhang Haobo added.
"There's another matter that worries us even more. Over the past three years, not a single wind calamity has occurred. Not just in the waters around our Liuli Island, but across the entire Congyun Sea.
"We've spoken with fleets from various islands, and there's no doubt about it. Over these three years, wind calamities have vanished completely from the Congyun Sea." Afraid Li Fan might not believe him, Zhang Haobo hurriedly pressed on.
Not knowing what this signified, Li Fan remained silent.
"Ever since the day I was born, wind calamities have never ceased. In heavy years there would be more than a dozen, and even in mild ones there would still be two or three. For decades, it has always been that way.
"Yet now, three whole years have passed without a single wind calamity. Some people on the island are clapping and cheering, saying it's the blessing of the immortal masters. But my brothers and I don't see it that way.
"This is far too abnormal. Something monumental is bound to happen," Zhang Haobo said with conviction.
"Perhaps the weather ahead will merely become a bit hotter," Li Fan said, offering comforting words after a moment's thought. "The island is sheltered by the Island-Protecting Grand Formation, and Immortal Master He is presiding here. Even if something happens, they should be able to handle it."
"What Elder Li says makes sense, of course. Many of the brothers on the ship think so too. But I just have this nagging unease in my heart, and I can't set my mind at ease no matter what." Zhang Haobo smiled wryly.
"That's why I've decided to leave—to leave the Congyun Sea." Zhang Haobo's gaze gradually turned resolute.
Seeing this, Li Fan could only say, "Leaving your home is no easy matter; you should think it over carefully."
Zhang Haobo nodded.
Li Fan said no more. Bidding farewell to Zhang Haobo, he strolled through the market for half a day before finally returning home.
Thinking it over carefully, Zhang Haobo wasn't just worrying over nothing.
All kinds of signs did indicate that something strange was bound to happen in the Congyun Sea.
Perhaps a colossal wind calamity was quietly gathering strength;
or perhaps a severe drought was taking shape in the shadows.
Still, none of that was a big deal.
After all, Zhang Haobo was merely a mortal. When a great disaster struck, he had no power to protect himself and could only leave his fate to heaven.
It was only natural for him to worry and fear.
Li Fan, however, already had one foot through the door of immortal cultivation. As long as he broke through to the Qi Condensation stage, he could head to Wanxian Island.
Immortal cultivators gathered there in droves, so there would be no need to fear such disasters.
Even taking a step back, if a disaster truly occurred that even immortal cultivators could not withstand, worrying would be useless anyway.
Therefore, what Li Fan needed to do right now was simply cultivate the Five Spirits Qi-Sensing Method in peace.
Oh, right—regarding Wanbao Pavilion, he could inform Yin Yuzhen so she could make preparations early.
***
This small episode quickly passed, and Li Fan resumed his devoted cultivation.
Time flowed on.
Another year went by.
Half a year ago, Zhang Haobo had ultimately chosen to leave the Congyun Sea alongside a portion of the crew from the Cangyuan. The matter had caused a stir on the island at the time, and people had grown worried as well.
Yet the past half-year had been entirely calm and peaceful, without the slightest sign of any great disaster, so people ended up laughing the matter off as a joke.
Yin Yuzhen had finally gathered enough strength to return in high spirits to Yelan Island. After a series of twists and turns, she successfully reclaimed her position as Head Manager at Tianbao Pavilion's headquarters.
With affairs on Yelan Island newly settled, many chores still needed tending to. To prevent petty schemers from reversing things, Yin Yuzhen would have to stay on Yelan Island for the next few years and could not return. She merely dispatched someone to convey the good news to Li Fan.
He Zhenghao sent no more visitors either. In He Zhenghao's eyes, Li Fan taking nearly four years just to draw qi into his body meant his potential was clearly exhausted, and he was no longer worth expending effort to monitor.
Xiao Heng, on the other hand, occasionally sent letters inquiring about Li Fan's recent circumstances.
It was said that Xiao Heng had advanced with astonishing speed and had already reached the middle Qi Condensation stage.
***
The mundane world remained turbulent, but Li Fan looked on with cold detachment like a mere passerby.
He simply cultivated with patience.
On this day, a stir rose within Li Fan's heart.
Having accumulated enough Five Spirits fuel, the Root of Heaven and Earth was finally about to take shape!
An illusory silhouette appeared within Li Fan's dantian. A moment later, Li Fan felt a faint yet immensely tight connection form between himself and heaven and earth.
Like a waterwheel drawing water from a river to irrigate parched fields,
strands of spiritual qi from heaven and earth flowed gently into Li Fan's dantian along the Root of Heaven and Earth, quickly spreading throughout his entire body.
In his seventh year since entering the cultivation world, Li Fan finally entered the Qi Condensation stage.
Chapter 44