Jiao Xiuyuan beamed. "Fellow Daoist, your way of doing things suits my taste completely! As the saying goes, even close brothers keep clear accounts. Though you helped me earn hundreds of millions through your scheme earlier, rules are rules."
After a moment's contemplation, Jiao Xiuyuan said, "I'll slash the price to the bone—just transfer two hundred contribution points to me."
Li Fan chuckled. "Daoist Jiao is too polite!"
Naturally, what Jiao Xiuyuan cared about was not the points, but completing the procedural requirements of a transaction.
Li Fan did not hesitate and transferred the two hundred contribution points directly.
Once the transaction was complete, Li Fan faintly sensed that some indescribable change had occurred within the puppet before him.
Such a phenomenon had never happened before.
Li Fan's heart stirred, and a certain guess sprang to mind.
He asked aloud, "Daoist Jiao, could it be that you are about to break through?"
Jiao Xiuyuan looked somewhat surprised, seemingly not expecting Li Fan, a mere Golden Core cultivator, to perceive any clues.
"Daoist has a keen eye! The ancient Heavenly Mechanism Sect truly lives up to its name."
After sighing in admiration, he nodded. "Indeed. However, the technique I cultivate is unique; my so-called breakthrough is an entirely different matter from an ordinary realm breakthrough. As for the specifics, it is inconvenient for me to elaborate. I hope Daoist will forgive me." Jiao Xiuyuan spoke with rare apology in his tone.
Li Fan nodded to show his understanding.
"Still, I, Jiao Xiuyuan, am by no means ungrateful. Thanks to you, I have made a fortune."
"If you need anything at all, just let me know. I will definitely fulfill it!" Jiao Xiuyuan declared boldly, patting his chest.
"Speaking of which, there is indeed something I need your help with. Does Daoist know of the ancient Medicine King Sect?" Taking the opportunity, Li Fan brought up asking him to help excavate the Small Medicine King Cauldrons.
"I have a premonition that these small cauldrons will involve immense karmic entanglements in the future and are of great importance. However, the old grounds of the Medicine King Sect carry potentially fatal dangers for me, making it inconvenient to go in person. Thus, I can only trouble you."
Jiao Xiuyuan agreed without hesitation.
"By the way, after Chief Lu arrived at Wanxian Island that day, not a trace of her has been seen since. You are well-informed, Daoist, so please help me look into that as well. After all, having personally experienced the incident, I would like to know what impact it has had on the Alliance of Ten Thousand Immortals."
Because of the confidentiality agreement, Li Fan could only phrase it tactfully.
Jiao Xiuyuan readily agreed to this as well.
After thanking Jiao Xiuyuan, the two chatted for a while longer. Only when the crowd of cultivators waiting outside to corner Li Fan had gradually dispersed did he quietly slip away from Thousand Li Hall.
Lu Xichan's lockdown on Wanxian Island had been lifted, and cultivators were now free to move about.
No one knew what she had ultimately discovered, but it was said that even the two Soul Formation Immortal Lords, Ziyun and Hongxi, had been recalled to the Alliance of Ten Thousand Immortals headquarters.
At the same time, sharp-nosed cultivators noticed a series of highly unusual transfer orders issued immediately after. All cultivators at the Nascent Soul realm and above from the Heavenly Secret Hall and Formation Planning Hall were summoned one after another to the Alliance headquarters.
"Such a massive deployment... Are they trying to research and construct the Heavenly Profound Spirit-Locking Formation ahead of schedule?"
"I hope the Five Elders Association steps up their game. I have no desire to see that sickly green sky again in this life."
Li Fan mused inwardly.
While waiting for Jiao Xiuyuan to gather intelligence and report back, Li Fan quietly left Wanxian Island alone. Disguising himself as an envoy of the Myriad Realms Association, he headed straight for the island where the group from the Empire was staying.
He had not forgotten that the ten million contribution points from the Five Elders Association were still in their hands.
Although these ten million contribution points existed in the form of standard spirit stones and could be converted into his own contribution points in the Heavenly Profound Mirror at any time, the circumstances were different now. The sum was staggering and its origin murky. If Li Fan converted it all on his own, it might arouse the suspicion of the relevant authorities, especially since he had already redeemed five million contribution points the last time.
Since he needed to acquire the beast-controlling technique from the Empire anyway, he might as well dump this hot potato into their hands. The Empire had smuggled over a considerable number of Dharma thieves; they should have little trouble laundering this colossal sum of contribution points originating from the Five Elders Association.
Traveling swiftly, he soon arrived in the airspace above the island. Sensing Li Fan's approach, Qing flashed forward to welcome him. Compared to her earlier icy demeanor, she was far more courteous now. It seemed that in any era, the power of money was always beyond imagination.
"Well? Is Daoist satisfied with our Myriad Realms Association's gift?" Li Fan asked with a smile.
"Heh, more than satisfied. It was downright shocking," Qing replied, leading Li Fan into a secret chamber.
"Ten million contribution points—Daoist truly possesses a grand hand. But why send someone to deliver it so abruptly? Didn't we agree to conduct the trade at our next meeting? If the messenger hadn't declared his identity, I would have been tempted to strike." There was a trace of amusement in Qing's tone, mixed with curiosity.
Li Fan shook his head. "There has been an unexpected turn of events. For some time to come, the Alliance of Ten Thousand Immortals will likely tighten surveillance throughout its territory. Therefore, we must conclude our deal as swiftly as possible."
"The reason I delayed my visit earlier was to find a foothold for you all..."
At this point, Li Fan deliberately paused to leave her in suspense.
"I believe we have demonstrated ample sincerity. Next, it depends on what your Empire has in mind," Li Fan said slowly after drinking the cup of tea Qing had prepared for him.
"Hmm? This tea is quite good." As the sky-blue tea entered his stomach, Li Fan remarked with some surprise.
Unlike the spiritual teas he had drunk in the past, it offered no benefits to cultivation, spiritual energy, or divine consciousness. Instead, he merely felt warm currents coursing through his limbs and meridians, nourishing and strengthening his physical body.
Having cultivated the Creation Furnace Technique, Li Fan was naturally intimately familiar with this sensation.
It was remarkably similar to the power of the human body's secret reservoirs.
"This is Supreme Spirit Dragon Whisker Tea. If Daoist likes it, I can simply gift you some," Qing said with a smile.
After handing Li Fan a storage ring, Qing straightened her expression.
"That was a personal matter. What we must discuss next are the terms of the transaction between the Empire and the Myriad Realms Association."
"We believe the Association truly intends to assist the Empire. Thus, returning the favor, the Empire will certainly expand our cooperation."
"First, here is the initial part of our transaction."
As Qing spoke, she handed over another storage ring of unique design.
Carved upon the ring was a qingluan, vivid and lifelike, its eyes constantly shifting.
Looking at the qingluan on this storage ring, Li Fan found it somewhat familiar.
However, most birds under heaven shared many similarities, so he did not dare leap to conclusions right away.
He simply accepted it and examined its contents closely.
To his surprise, his divine sense met resistance, and the inspection failed.
Not until the qingluan gave Li Fan a languid glance and flapped its wings did he finally see what lay inside clearly.
Chapter 466