The celebratory cheers of the cultivators only began to subside once Li Fan flew into Congyun City and personally opened the entrance to the protective grand array.
"From this day forth, everyone, this is our new home," Li Fan said with a smile.
The assembled cultivators chimed in with enthusiastic agreement.
"All facilities on the island remain as they were, including the teleportation array, the Heavenly Profound Mirror, and more. You may all experience them at your leisure; I will not waste your time with redundant demonstrations," Li Fan announced in a clear voice.
Just as several cultivators were eagerly turning to depart, Li Fan watched them with a faint smile, then spoke up again.
"Would the following fellow Daoists please accompany me to the Administration Hall for a moment: He Zhenghao, Gao Yuan, Zhou Qing'ang... Fang Weihou... Jia Jun..."
Like rattling off a grand banquet menu, Li Fan reeled off over a hundred names in a single breath.
The cultivators who had been about to leave halted in their tracks. As understanding dawned on them, their expressions grew tense, and they listened with bated breath.
Those whose names were called were naturally beside themselves with joy.
Those whose names were not called dared not show any discontent either, looking at the chosen ones with undisguised envy.
Having latched onto the coattails of Li Fan—who was a Secret Script Emissary on the surface, but effectively the Acting Island Master—their future prospects would truly be limitless.
Once he finished speaking, Li Fan led the hundred-odd people in a grand procession toward the Administration Hall at the center of the city, leaving behind only the divine senses of the cultivators, buzzing in clandestine exchange.
"What is he acting so smug about? As they say, fortune is fickle. He might hold sway now, but once Island Master Hongxi returns, it will all amount to nothing."
"I wouldn't be so sure. Lord Secret Emissary clearly has backing of his own. Otherwise, how could a windfall like parachuting in as ruler of a province ever fall into his lap?"
"Isn't that obvious? Could an ordinary cultivator stomp a Soul Formation puppet beneath their feet? If you ask me, even if the two Island Masters, Hongxi and Ziyun, come back, they would still treat Lord Secret Emissary with utmost courtesy. Fellow Daoist Zhu, I advise you to recognize the situation for what it is. It's best not to antagonize Lord Secret Emissary."
"Hmph! You might fear him, but I, Zhu Yongshou, do not fear any Li Fan!"
Conversations like these took place in every corner of Congyun City. No one could be liked by everyone in the world, and Li Fan was naturally no exception. But as for the chatter among the cultivators of the Congyun Sea, Li Fan did not care in the slightest.
Presently, he assigned the predetermined vacant posts to the designated people, then submitted the personnel appointments to the Alliance of Ten Thousand Immortals headquarters. Once approval was granted, Li Fan, after a long day of bustling activity, finally had some free time.
He had his capable assistants, such as He Zhenghao and Gao Yuan, to thank for their support; otherwise, managing the city's administrative affairs would never have been so effortless.
Sitting upright in a room specially prepared for him within the Administration Hall, Li Fan closed his eyes slightly and felt several streams of feedback cultivation, varying in strength, surging into his dantian from all directions.
A look of mild surprise appeared on his face.
*To think someone among my subordinates broke through so quickly.*
*Then again, most of these people were originally destitute cultivators of the Congyun Sea. After following me through six months of hard work, they finally realized their dreams, ascending to the heavens in a single step. Not only have they entered the Alliance establishment, but the positions they received are by no means low.*
*Amid such surging emotions, a breakthrough in cultivation is only natural.*
*As the saying goes, when one attains the Dao, even their chickens and dogs ascend to heaven. Every one of them relies on my patronage and has received my favor. Therefore, it is only natural that the Mountain-Sitting Art produces feedback cultivation.*
*And the potency of this feedback...*
Li Fan sensed it carefully, the delight in his heart growing by the moment.
*Although it cannot compare to the debt of gratitude for bestowing cultivation techniques, it is practically a second chance at life all the same.*
*Moreover, compared to imparting techniques, this path of cultivation is far safer and more discreet. What's more, sheltered by the structure of the Alliance of Ten Thousand Immortals, it is completely legitimate and open.*
*And I am merely a minor Secret Emissary who switched paths halfway and possesses no deep foundation. If one were a true sovereign of a province, with proteges and former subordinates spread across every corner of the Alliance... the benefits would be unimaginable!*
Li Fan's eyes shone brightly; he had faintly discovered a brand-new path of cultivation.
*As long as I sit securely in the post of Secret Script Emissary, I can rely on these hundreds of trusted subordinates to advance my cultivation by leaps and bounds. I can now set my sights on forming a Nascent Soul.*
*The Five Elements Great Grotto-Heaven...*
Thinking of his original goal, Li Fan frowned slightly.
The developments in this lifetime had far exceeded his expectations. The trajectories of many events diverged wildly from his previous life. The Battle of Tianling Province, which had originally forced the Five Elements Great Grotto-Heaven to relocate, might not even take place anymore. If there were no all-out war between the Alliance of Ten Thousand Immortals and the Five Elders Association, fishing in troubled waters during peacetime would be far more difficult.
*To train an army for a thousand days is to use it for an hour. It is time to send you out into the field again, Fellow Daoist Zhou Qing'ang.*
After pondering for a moment, Li Fan smiled faintly, and his attention instantly focused onto Zhou Qing'ang.
At that moment, Zhou Qing'ang was surrounded by a circle of cultivators. Anyone with eyes could see that Zhou Qing'ang, who shared deep ties with He Zhenghao and was heavily favored by Li Fan, was destined for a meteoric rise. If they did not seize this final opportunity to curry favor, when else would they? Thus, a steady stream of cultivators came by to pay their respects.
It took "Zhou Qing'ang" considerable effort to finally extricate himself from the crowd. Deep into the night, he slipped quietly out of Congyun City and headed straight for the rendezvous point.
***
"Administration Hall, Provincial Disciplinary Inspector. Boss, what do you think of this post? Its authority is vast—patrolling every corner of the territory, dealing severely with any unlawful acts. Compared to being the garrison of some tiny island, it is far more prestigious! What's more, all kinds of secrets that were out of reach before can now be easily obtained. You could say I've truly infiltrated deep into enemy territory! Boss? Hm? Boss, why aren't you speaking?"
Seeing that there was no response from the other side, "Zhou Qing'ang" asked with a puzzled look.
There was still deathly silence.
A bad premonition suddenly welled up in Li Fan's heart, and he fell silent as well.
After a long time, the face on the broken stone finally spoke, its voice grim and brimming with killing intent.
"You are not Zhou Qing'ang. Who are you?"
Li Fan's heart sank.
Even so, he feigned bewilderment. "Boss, what are you talking about? Look at this face—genuine and unaltered! How could you suspect me? I've rendered tremendous service to the organization! The Alliance induction examination questions, the top-secret information about Xuanhuang united as one..."
Zhou Qing'ang rattled off his merits with an aggrieved look.
"So you replaced him that early on... Impressive!"
The face on the broken stone was not swayed by Li Fan's sophistry in the slightest, its voice as cold as ice.
The frantic "Zhou Qing'ang" calmed down instantly. As if turning into an entirely different person, he asked indifferently, "Oh? Where did I slip up?"
"Hmph!" The stone face sneered. "Your disguise is flawless. But clever as you are, you overlooked one crucial detail. When Zhou Qing'ang first took on the mission of infiltrating the Alliance of Ten Thousand Immortals, he had an ultimate directive: the moment he secured a position of real authority within the Alliance, he was to immediately abandon his former undercover identity and lie completely low. He was forbidden from contacting us again to avoid discovery and undoing all his hard work—until the organization chose to activate him at a critical juncture. Therefore, someone who rushed to contact me the moment he took office could never be Zhou Qing'ang himself," the face said in a low, heavy voice.
Chapter 540