Just as the cultivators of the Divine Brush Sect were plunged into despair, an incident occurred that incensed them even further.
Their Sect Master, Chu Youhong, showed utter disregard for the lives of his disciples. Taking the supreme treasure, the Brush of Heavenly Depiction, along with numerous collections from the sect treasury, he tore through the void and fled.
Although his flight did draw away a fair amount of the Dianhua Gate's firepower, for a leader of a sect to be so entirely devoid of responsibility fueled boundless resentment among the surviving Divine Brush Sect cultivators still fighting desperately for their lives.
Had their enemies not been so vicious and intent on leaving no survivors, they likely would have surrendered on the spot and defected to the Dianhua Gate.
In that battle, apart from Chu Youhong and a lucky few who managed to escape with their lives, virtually the entire Divine Brush Sect perished.
Though the Dianhua Gate failed to seize the Brush of Heavenly Depiction, they annexed vast swathes of the Divine Brush Sect's lands and resources, vastly boosting their strength and vaulting into the ranks of the premier sects in the surrounding region, renowned far and wide.
As for Chu Youhong, he seemed to have vanished completely from the face of the world along with the Brush of Heavenly Depiction.
Twenty years later, a surviving cultivator of the Divine Brush Sect happened to cross paths with Chu Youhong and furiously demanded why he had fled alone back then, leaving his sect members to die.
Yet Chu Youhong showed not the slightest trace of shame. Instead, he uttered words that would be passed down through the river of history in the Xuanhuang Realm to this very day:
"Even if every last one of you died, it wouldn't matter.
"As long as I live, the Divine Brush Sect lives on.
"Before my master died, he entrusted the Divine Brush Sect to me, so I must never allow it to be destroyed in my hands."
Chu Youhong spoke with complete conviction, as though it were the most natural thing in the world.
Hearing this, the cultivator was left dumbfounded. He wanted to retort, but though his mouth opened and closed, nothing came out.
He even forgot his resolution to avenge his sect at the cost of his life, merely watching in utter bewilderment as Chu Youhong drifted away.
Because this declaration was so thoroughly outrageous, it quickly spread throughout the cultivation world of that era.
Some mocked it with contempt; others experienced sudden illumination, venerating it as profound wisdom.
There were even those who found Chu Youhong's conduct so detestable that they sought to pay him a visit and teach him a lesson in person.
Yet after that incident, the man seemed to vanish into thin air, never seen by anyone again.
It was not until the Great Cataclysm descended and the Dianhua Gate inexplicably collapsed overnight that some began to suspect whether it might have been his handiwork.
...
"Supreme selfishness disguised as devotion to the collective—truly behavior beyond the grasp of ordinary mortals."
After savoring the tale, Li Fan could not help but sigh with emotion.
"Perhaps the reason the Dianhua Gate spy chose to rebel and seize it by force—despite already rising to the position of Eldest Senior Brother—was precisely this.
"Having seen through his master's true face, he realized that inheriting the Brush of Heavenly Depiction through normal channels was a pipe dream. Left with no choice, he resorted to this desperate measure.
"Against such an eccentric oddity, there really was no better way."
Li Fan gave a slight shake of his head and searched for the word "Nanming."
He did turn up scattered bits of information regarding the "Nanming Demon Mountain."
However, when he tried to look deeper, he found his clearance level was insufficient.
"Demon Mountain..."
"It seems to have some connection to the demon beasts scraping by in the world."
Li Fan's eyes flickered, making a mental note of it for now.
Time slipped away, and in the blink of an eye, it was Anchor Year 10.
Throughout this year, aside from occasional minor skirmishes between the border provinces and the Five Elders Association, all the other provinces remained peaceful.
The Congyun Sea was no exception.
As a Martial Practice Hall Special Executive, Li Fan did not have to carry out specific missions.
He only needed to make time to drop by the Martial Practice Hall, sip some tea, and check in.
If he truly lacked the time, he could also spend a few contribution points to commission another cultivator to handle it on his behalf.
Thus, he lived quite a leisurely life.
After transferring the 15 million contribution points raised in the third round—which came to a total of 23 million contribution points, principal and profit combined—to He Zhenghao, He Zhenghao stared at the astronomical sum of contribution points, completely stunned on the spot.
A good half day passed before he came back to his senses, his eyes bloodshot.
In that fleeting instant, the thought of absconding with the funds had inevitably crossed He Zhenghao's mind.
Yet the moment he thought of the owners of these contribution points, a sudden shiver ran down his spine, instantly sobering him up.
Unless he defected straight to the Five Elders Association, he would have the life to steal it, but not the life to spend it.
His sanity restored, He Zhenghao began contacting everyone who had participated in the investment and returned their contribution points one by one.
The cultivators who reaped the profits were overjoyed.
However, He Zhenghao's next words left them feeling rather vexed and disappointed.
"Due to force majeure, Master Li's fundraising initiative must be put on hold."
He Zhenghao gave a faint sigh. "Please return, everyone! Once the heat dies down and Master Li decides to reopen fundraising, I will notify you all."
His words were ambiguous.
Yet the more nebulous the phrasing, the more fertile the ground for rampant speculation.
Force majeure? The heat dies down?
This Master Li was someone who could literally drown Nascent Soul cultivators in money until they died.
And now, he was forced by circumstances to suspend the fundraising.
"It must have stepped on someone's toes. *Hiss*..."
The cultivators present showed expressions of sudden realization. After exchanging glances, all kept their mouths firmly shut.
Even as they felt angry at no longer being able to hitch a ride to fortune, they also felt indignant on Li Fan's behalf.
"Once everything returns to normal, be sure to notify me first."
They all said as much to He Zhenghao in private.
Having received plenty of gifts and pocketed a tidy sum, He Zhenghao naturally agreed with lavish promises.
Li Fan's decision to pause the fundraising this time was partly because the total pool of contribution points was ballooning too fast, showing signs of spinning out of control, and he wanted to tap the brakes.
Yet he had also indeed received a quiet reminder from within the Alliance of Ten Thousand Immortals.
"Just as well. Let their appetites be whetted a bit. I will restart the plan before the Crimson Flame Burning Sea."
Li Fan did not care much about the matter.
When the cultivators who profited from the fourth investment began spending their contribution points to elevate their strength, streams of fed-back cultivation surged into Li Fan's dantian like a hundred rivers returning to the sea, unending and continuous.
Even without actively cultivating, his cultivation increased steadily every single day.
Not to mention that Li Fan had maintained the dual boost of Spirit Enlightenment and Dao Comprehension Pills almost without interruption.
In just a single short year, his gains rivaled several decades of bitter cultivation for an ordinary cultivator.
Li Fan felt that Golden Core perfection was already in sight; in all likelihood, it would not be long before he could prepare to form his Nascent Soul.
Throughout this year, every three months, he made a trip to Shenhua Island to extract some Kunpeng blood essence from Ye Feipeng for his research.
His understanding of the power of the Kunpeng bloodline deepened day by day.
In between, Li Fan also entered the Fallen Immortal Realm once more.
Xu Ke had received a commission from Lu Ya to deliver a wooden box to Nanming.
This wooden box was exceptionally important, sealed with several distinct kinds of power.
Li Fan even sensed the aura of the Longevity Beast, Di Sanmo, emanating from it.
Thus, for the entire duration following that, Li Fan rode along with Xu Ke upon the back of the qingluan bird.
The land of Nanming seemed unimaginably distant from the Beast Taming Sect.
Right up until his time ran out, they had still not reached their destination.
This excursion into the Fallen Immortal Realm could only end abruptly.
Just like that, time arrived at Anchor Year 11.
In this year, the long-sealed Cloud Water Heavenly Palace was destined to reappear in the world.
Chapter 480