Buzz...
A dull drone resonated endlessly in his ears, and the scene before his eyes spun incessantly, blurring beyond recognition.
Only after a long while did Li Fan finally recover from the disorientation.
"It's always like this the first time you ride a teleportation array. You'll get used to it," He Zhenghao explained offhandedly.
Li Fan grunted in acknowledgment and took in his surroundings.
They appeared to be in an immense plaza.
At the very front of the plaza stood a colossal statue.
It depicted an old man with a long beard wearing a tall crown.
Beneath the statue, the plaza was filled with tens of thousands of stone sculptures of all shapes and sizes.
Without exception, every single one of those tens of thousands of sculptures looked up with reverent gazes at the long-bearded elder.
The teleportation array Li Fan had just emerged from was situated right in front of one of these statues.
"This is the Dharma Transmission Plaza. It was built to commemorate the Immortal Venerable's preaching of the Dao back then. Every stronghold of our Alliance of Ten Thousand Immortals has a plaza like this," He Zhenghao explained.
Recalling the scene described in the Five Spirits Qi-Sensing Method where the Immortal Venerable assumed a colossal form to preach the Dao to all living beings, Li Fan gazed at the elder's statue for a long time, nodding silently.
"Flying isn't prohibited on Wanxian Island, but remember never to exceed the height of the Immortal Venerable's statue. Otherwise, you'll trigger an attack from the Ten Thousand Immortals Grand Array. Even a Nascent Soul expert would perish body and soul in an instant," He Zhenghao warned with a solemn expression.
A chill ran through Li Fan's heart, and he firmly committed the warning to memory.
"Even though flying isn't forbidden on the island, I advise you not to fly around casually if you have no reason to. Cultivators from the entire Congyun Sea gather here, including no shortage of Golden Core and Nascent Soul powerhouses. If you fly over their heads and offend them, they might hold a grudge.
"Once you leave Wanxian Island, they could easily follow and strike you down, and you wouldn't have anywhere to plead your case."
He Zhenghao led Li Fan along, quietly laying out the rules and precautions for Wanxian Island as they walked.
Since it was a matter of life and death, Li Fan etched every detail into his mind.
After walking for a while, the two passed through a corridor formed naturally by woven vines and arrived at a lush, secluded grove.
In a clearing within the grove stood a massive, archaic mirror.
From time to time, hurried cultivators stepped through the mirror's surface, vanishing to unknown destinations.
Other cultivators emerged from the mirror and walked straight away.
"This mirror is our Alliance of Ten Thousand Immortals' Heavenly Profound Mirror.
"Legend has it that before the Immortal Venerable preached the Dao, this Heavenly Profound Mirror was merely an ordinary mirror. Later, as the Immortal Venerable taught the Dao, the mirror reflected his divine form and somehow birthed a wisp of its own consciousness. Afterward, it learned to cultivate like a cultivator, gradually evolving from a mundane object into the numinous treasure of heaven and earth it is today.
"Most administrative matters for cultivators in our Alliance of Ten Thousand Immortals are handled by this Heavenly Profound Mirror. It is said that this fellow is quite vengeful, so be careful and watch your tongue," He Zhenghao whispered a warning to Li Fan.
Then, He Zhenghao pulled Li Fan into the mirror with him.
What greeted Li Fan's eyes was an isolated space, devoid of any other cultivators.
It was as if they were suspended in the void, surrounded on all sides by nothingness and darkness.
"This person is a newly initiated cultivator who has come to Wanxian Island to join our Alliance of Ten Thousand Immortals," He Zhenghao said, pointing at Li Fan.
"Recommending one early Qi Condensation cultivator: recorded as Medium Grade-D merit, converted to 50 contribution points. Current total contribution points: 920 points," a voice rang out within the space.
He Zhenghao's expression remained calm.
Li Fan looked thoughtful.
Having received his contribution points, He Zhenghao wore a look of satisfaction.
"Little friend, now that you've reached this place, my mind is at ease. If you have any questions, feel free to ask the Heavenly Profound Mirror. Generally speaking, it will answer you in detail. I still have island guard duties to attend to, so I won't keep you company any longer."
With that, He Zhenghao departed in a hurry.
Li Fan was left alone within the Heavenly Profound Mirror.
A light flashed in the surrounding darkness before extinguishing once more.
"Divine sense fluctuation recorded."
"Independent space generated."
"Cultivator, please state your name."
A somewhat peculiar voice rang out.
"Li Fan," he replied.
"Cultivator Li Fan, welcome to the Alliance of Ten Thousand Immortals. As a welcome benefit, you are granted twenty contribution points free of charge. You may use contribution points to exchange for spirit stones, cultivation methods, magical treasures, and more.
"You may earn contribution points by submitting supplies, completing missions, trading with others, and other means.
"Likewise, if you encounter problems you cannot solve on your own, you may expend contribution points to issue a bounty.
"Your current total contribution points: 20.
"As a newly joined cultivator of the Alliance of Ten Thousand Immortals, you may reside within the Heavenly Profound Mirror for thirty days free of charge. After thirty days, you must pay contribution points to continue residing here.
"The residence fee is: 10 contribution points every thirty days.
"Of course, you may also choose to spend contribution points to purchase your own cave dwelling on Wanxian Island."
...
The Heavenly Profound Mirror tirelessly briefed Li Fan on general knowledge for living within the Alliance of Ten Thousand Immortals.
"If I can't get by in the Alliance of Ten Thousand Immortals, can I choose to leave and join the Five Elders Association?" Li Fan asked suddenly after listening for a long while.
As if its throat had been grabbed, the Heavenly Profound Mirror abruptly fell silent.
After a moment of silence, the Heavenly Profound Mirror continued, "Those who have joined the Alliance of Ten Thousand Immortals cannot join the Five Elders Association. The reverse also holds true.
"Any violation will result in being hunted down jointly by both factions."
Now it was Li Fan's turn to fall silent.
"I don't recall agreeing to join your Alliance of Ten Thousand Immortals yet?"
"Once you step into the Heavenly Profound Mirror and your divine sense is recorded, you are deemed to have voluntarily joined the Alliance of Ten Thousand Immortals."
"Can I defect from the Alliance of Ten Thousand Immortals, refrain from joining the Five Elders Association, and choose to become a rogue cultivator?" Li Fan asked again.
The Heavenly Profound Mirror fell silent once more.
Only after a brief pause did it respond.
"You may. However, if you choose to leave, all items previously obtained within the Alliance of Ten Thousand Immortals will be forcibly reclaimed. Please choose prudently."
"Can gold and silver be exchanged for contribution points?"
"Yes. Detailed exchange rules can be found in the exchange manifest."
...
Tirelessly, Li Fan questioned the Heavenly Profound Mirror one inquiry after another.
Only after a long while did he finally stop.
"I have no further questions for now."
"Very well, cultivator. If you have new inquiries, you may call upon me at any time. You may also consult the records directly using your divine sense."
The space fell quiet once more.
As Li Fan manipulated it with his divine sense, this dark void transformed into an archaic room.
The interior furnishings were identical to those in his Grand Preceptor Manor back in Great Xuan.
Li Fan reached out and touched the decorations and items in the room. They felt almost entirely real, without any perceptible difference.
*The Heavenly Profound Mirror truly is an extraordinary treasure,* Li Fan thought silently to himself.
Through the question-and-answer exchange just now, he had gained a rough understanding of the Alliance of Ten Thousand Immortals.
Opening the method exchange menu with his divine sense, Li Fan saw that even the simplest Qi Condensation cultivation method cost a thousand contribution points.
Opening the mission board and filtering for tasks an early Qi Condensation cultivator could accept, he found that every reward in sight was merely five or ten points.
*Cultivating immortality, yet reduced to a beast of burden.* A strange, indescribable emotion slowly welled up in Li Fan's chest.
"You have a new visual transmission. Please check it promptly," the Heavenly Profound Mirror's voice suddenly echoed once again.
Chapter 46