"This million contribution points didn't come easily, and there's no telling how long it will take for this backlash of fortune to blow over.
"I need to be prudent."
After a moment's contemplation, Han Yi decided that hearing about something was nothing compared to seeing it firsthand. In any case, he had encountered setback after setback here in Yuandao Province, so he might as well return to the Congyun Sea to conduct a proper inspection before making a decision.
And so Han Yi, who had traveled to Yuandao Province on an impulse, set out for his old stomping grounds purely because of news he had overheard by chance.
Upon his return to the Congyun Sea, he discovered that the fervor among local cultivators discussing Lord Secret Emissary's fundraising initiative far exceeded his wildest imagination.
While not everyone believed in it blindly, Li Fan possessed a vast legion of loyal followers.
Believers and skeptics viewed each other as fools, both sides determined to talk the other round.
Amid the nonstop debates, the topic's popularity only surged day by day.
This in turn drew in a massive influx of cultivators who had originally chosen to sit on the sidelines.
Yet as he watched this bustling, oil-fed blaze of a scene, a faint chill inexplicably flashed through Han Yi's heart.
However, before he could delve into the source of his unease, a piece of news swept through the entire Alliance of Ten Thousand Immortals in an instant. It brought a collective sigh of relief to countless cultivators while propelling discussions of Li Fan's fundraising initiative to an all-time peak.
A truce was being declared between the Alliance of Ten Thousand Immortals and the Five Elders Association.
Li Fan—Master Li's prediction had come true once again!
Ever since Li Fan had leaked the matter that day, people had constantly pulled strings to investigate the truth of the rumor, and public discourse had churned in a fierce frenzy.
Yet there had never been any definitive answer.
Until today, when the prophecy was fulfilled once more!
To be sure, discerning observers could see that the alliance authorities seemed to be seizing the opportunity to back down gracefully.
Nevertheless, that did not stop Li Fan's divinatory prowess—already reputed to be miraculous—from being elevated to unprecedented heights.
Many cultivators who had previously been utterly convinced that a fundraising campaign of such immense scale was merely Li Fan's scheme to haul in one final fortune before fleeing now felt their convictions waver.
And those who had originally chosen to wait and see opted to join the ranks of the fundraising crowd in the face of these ironclad facts.
Jumping on the bandwagon was human instinct.
Han Yi had still been hesitating because of that lingering unease.
Suddenly, however, another rumor cropped up.
Word had it that because the cultivators were so enthusiastic, the contribution points raised had exceeded the original target.
Consequently, it was very likely that the fundraising campaign—which had originally been promised to have no upper limit—would be brought to an early close.
No one knew who had started the rumor, but it was presented in vivid, convincing detail, instantly throwing those who had yet to hop aboard into a panic.
Although He Zhenghao, representing the Secret Emissary, immediately stepped forward to issue a righteous and stern rebuttal, it did nothing to change the fact that the rate at which he processed contribution points was steadily slowing down.
To the crowd, this seemed to corroborate the truth of the "rumor."
As a result, the cultivators grew even more frantic in an instant.
At this point, Han Yi could hold out no longer.
Swept up in the sweltering fervor of the scene, his head grew hot, and he handed over every last one of the 910,000 contribution points he had left.
Only when the icy sea breeze blew across him, clearing his head and bringing him back to his senses, did a pang of regret set in.
"No matter what, I should have at least kept some in reserve,"
Han Yi muttered in chagrin.
Yet by now, second thoughts were futile. Both parties had already signed a covenant; once handed over, the contribution points could not be withdrawn during the five-year lockup period.
If one truly needed contribution points urgently for a life-or-death emergency, one would have to pay thirty percent of the principal as a penalty.
Furthermore, the promised high interest would become forfeit.
The loss was simply too devastating. Barring dire necessity, virtually no cultivator would ever choose that path.
According to He Zhenghao, such stringent regulations were put in place to prevent malicious sabotage by underhanded individuals.
Li Fan's high-profile fundraising campaign had accumulated an enormous pool of capital, which had already made certain figures green with envy.
They were doing everything they could to smear Li Fan's name in hopes of supplanting him and claiming a slice of the pie.
"So many cultivators have joined in, and Li Fan is currently the supreme administrator of the Congyun Sea. Nothing should go wrong, surely."
The hollow, melancholy feeling in Han Yi's chest lingered stubbornly. After pondering for a long time without finding what was amiss, he had no choice but to comfort himself with such thoughts.
Penniless once again, Han Yi felt somewhat at a loss. Not knowing where to go, he drifted aimlessly across the Congyun Sea, his mind wandering.
After an unknown amount of time had passed, Han Yi suddenly snapped to his senses.
He quickly surveyed his surroundings, feeling a distinct sense that he had been to this place before.
"This sensation..."
"Strange. This should clearly be my first time here." A flicker of solemnity passed through Han Yi's eyes.
Yet having cultivated the *Heavenly Fortune Scripture*, his spiritual intuition was exceptionally sharp, so he did not dismiss this fleeting sense of déjà vu.
Slowly channeling his cultivation technique, he glanced around.
"Huh?"
A moment later, his gaze locked onto a particular spot in the firmament.
Every living being in this world possessed its own fortune.
Yet in Han Yi's vision at this moment, an area that appeared completely empty was exhibiting a distorted, anomalous phenomenon.
"Something is hidden here!" Han Yi felt an instant surge of excitement.
Believing his luck was turning and that he had stumbled upon an opportunity, Han Yi first discreetly checked whether any other cultivators were in the vicinity.
After confirming he was entirely alone, he carefully flew up into the high altitude, reached that peculiar pocket of space, and inspected it closely.
"There really is something abnormal!"
After nearly half a day, Han Yi confirmed his suspicion.
Yet no matter how he tried, he could not find a way to enter this concealed space.
The longer he lingered here, the higher the chance that other cultivators would discover it.
How could he share such a monumental opportunity with anyone else?
Gradually, Han Yi grew impatient.
Right at that moment, another blurry scene flashed across his mind.
Han Yi froze.
Without stopping to ponder where this spark of inspiration had come from, he narrowed his eyes and mimicked the movements of the cultivator in the vision.
First, he pulled back some distance. Then, accelerating to his absolute limit, he hurled himself straight toward that concealed space in the sky.
A black light flashed across his body.
The next instant, Han Yi caught sight of two presences standing quietly within the space.
The Azure Wind.
A broken sword.
His eyes turned bloodshot in an instant, and his mind fell into absolute chaos.
Han Yi nearly lost all control, about to lunge straight toward the anima of Heaven and Earth.
Just then, the Feather of the Profound Bird inside his dantian came to his rescue once more.
A dusky radiance enveloped Han Yi, allowing him to momentarily regain a sliver of reason.
A look of resolve flashed in his eyes. Turning his head away, he refused to look any longer upon the bizarre scene of the Azure Wind confining the sword.
Instead, unleashing his full cultivation, he fled toward the outside world.
Before long, Han Yi escaped that eerie space.
Blood spurted continuously from his mouth, and the Feather of the Profound Bird was severely damaged, its plumes curled up and thoroughly listless.
Chapter 576