Listening to He Zhenghao's rambling explanation, the figure before Li Fan's eyes gradually merged with the cultivator he had encountered in his previous life upon first entering the cultivation world—the one who had rescued the group from the Li Realm.
*Well, well, so you're the one playing thief while guarding the vault! No wonder Tianbao Pavilion ran its smuggling business right under your nose without ever getting caught. In my last life, rumors of Tianbao Pavilion smuggling mortals were known across the entire island, yet it never caused any trouble.*
On closer thought, it made sense.
With a character as money-grubbing as He Zhenghao, how could he possibly let such juicy meat by his mouth slip into someone else's hands?
It was only logical.
Li Fan felt somewhat speechless, but he quickly accepted the reality.
"So what does Fellow Daoist He propose?"
Seeing that Li Fan had no objection, He Zhenghao immediately brightened. "It's simple. I just need you to make a trip to the Li Realm for me and bring back the supplies I had the people there gather ten years ago.
"Once we sell off those materials, we'll split the contribution points fifty-fifty.
"I have to guard Liuli Island and can't step away. I was originally going to find someone else to partner with, but just then, you sent me a message, so I decided to reach out to you instead."
Thinking it over, there really was little risk in this.
Over a thousand contribution points for thirty days' work was far beyond what ordinary missions offered.
"How long would a round trip take?" This had to be clarified beforehand; Li Fan had no intention of missing the opening of the Cloud Water Heavenly Palace.
"Rest assured, twenty to thirty days at most. It won't delay your cultivation," He Zhenghao promised.
"Good. Then I accept."
He Zhenghao smiled in satisfaction, then produced a small wooden boat and handed it to Li Fan. "Once you collect the supplies, give this to the mortals of the Li Realm. You won't need to worry about anything else."
Li Fan took it and examined it. The wooden boat bore some resemblance to the Taiyan Boat, though it was nowhere near as exquisite.
"It's just an ordinary wooden boat inscribed with a few array formations, not an artifact. Still, it's sufficient to protect those mortals as they cross the Immortal Severing Formation to arrive here," He Zhenghao explained.
"Of course, the array's strength only supports a single crossing. Once they reach the cultivation world, the arrays on the boat will run out of energy and dissipate on their own.
"That's just to prevent those mortals from trying to copy it."
"Fellow Daoist He has truly thought of everything," Li Fan said insincerely.
He Zhenghao laughed heartily, not minding at all.
He took out another spirit talisman and, somewhat reluctantly, handed it to Li Fan.
"No matter what, helping mortals smuggle themselves in cannot see the light of day. If another cultivator runs into you, not only would you lose face, but you might also face questioning from the Alliance of Ten Thousand Immortals. To be safe, Fellow Daoist, you should carry this Form-Concealing Talisman with you to avoid being recognized."
Li Fan naturally nodded and took it.
"This Form-Concealing Talisman conceals both body and aura, serving as an advanced version of the Qi-Concealing Talisman. Once used, not even Golden Core realm cultivators can see through it. It is truly ideal for murder—"
He Zhenghao paused, then corrected himself: "—truly an essential item for us cultivators when traveling outside." He sighed with slight regret, adding, "It's just a pity that the Spirit Mist Grass required to draw this Form-Concealing Talisman is rather scarce, so the talisman's price has stayed consistently high.
"A single one costs fifty contribution points.
"However, if you ever need more in the future, you can go to Wanxian Island and look for a cultivator named Jiao Xiuyuan. He has a large quantity of defective Form-Concealing Talismans, supposedly rejects from Wanxian Island's Talisman Hall. Though called defective, they can still be used normally. The effect just isn't as good—they only fool Foundation Establishment cultivators.
"Still, the upside is that they're cheap—only twenty contribution points. If you travel outside in the future, young friend, you might want to prepare a few." He Zhenghao tirelessly continued educating Li Fan.
Afterward, He Zhenghao explained in detail the precautions for traveling to the Li Realm and the various situations Li Fan might encounter.
With all preparations complete, Li Fan prepared to set off for the Li Realm, aiming to make it a swift round trip.
Before leaving, however, Li Fan could not resist asking, "Fellow Daoist He, there is something I've been wondering about, though I don't know if I should ask..."
He Zhenghao was taken aback, then said, "Speak freely."
"You are a Foundation Establishment cultivator holding the post of Liuli Island's guardian, Fellow Daoist, and a master of array formations. Reasonably speaking, you shouldn't be so short on contribution points. Why..."
"...do you still seem rather strapped for funds?" Li Fan hesitated for a moment before asking tactfully.
He Zhenghao assumed Li Fan was worried about his own future in the Alliance of Ten Thousand Immortals.
With a bitter smile, he explained, "You misunderstand. In the Alliance of Ten Thousand Immortals, while Foundation Establishment cultivators aren't completely free with their contribution points, they are certainly never like me."
"Oh? Does Fellow Daoist have some difficulty you can't speak of?" Li Fan asked, surprised.
"To tell you the truth, I have my eye on a Nascent Soul technique that matches my Foundation Establishment wonder exceedingly well. If I can switch to cultivating that technique, I will certainly achieve the Golden Core stage within a century, and even the Nascent Soul realm would be practically guaranteed." A flicker of longing flashed through He Zhenghao's eyes.
"Unfortunately, a Nascent Soul true technique is far too precious. Even after saving for so long, I am still short by a wide margin.
"So, in daily life, I can only scrimp and save wherever possible." He sighed. "Even so, I have no idea what year or month I will finally be able to redeem it.
"And who knows whether someone else will redeem the technique I've been yearning for before I can?"
He Zhenghao lamented.
Then, recalling something, he said to Li Fan, "Right, you are already at the late Qi Condensation stage. When choosing a Foundation Establishment technique, if circumstances permit, remember to choose one whose affinity aligns with your Foundation Establishment wonder. Doing so will not only yield twice the results with half the effort in future cultivation, but it will also bring many other benefits. Because of restrictions from the Heavenly Profound Mirror, I can't tell you too many specifics. Just keep this in mind, and you can't go wrong."
"An affinity between the Foundation Establishment wonder and the cultivation technique..." Li Fan murmured, nodding slowly.
Yet he heard He Zhenghao sigh again: "Actually, the technique I currently cultivate is also extraordinary. It was something I obtained by chance in my youth while exploring an unnamed cave estate. It contains all sorts of miraculous methods.
"It's just a shame that cultivating it is a bit too difficult; advancing a single minor realm easily takes decades or even centuries.
"The Foundation Establishment stage is already this difficult. If I were to stubbornly keep practicing this technique at the Golden Core stage, my lifespan would inevitably run out and my Dao would perish before I could ever break through.
"Switching techniques is truly an act of helplessness." Having said his piece, He Zhenghao fell into deep silence.
Hearing this, Li Fan cupped his hands in farewell and headed straight for the Li Realm.
Watching Li Fan's receding figure, He Zhenghao sighed internally once more.
There was actually something else he hadn't said.
It was true that the Mountain-Sitting Formula could reap feedback and nourishment from helping junior cultivators, but...
Cultivating the Dao was simply too difficult.
Over the years, he had cast his net far and wide, mentoring and aiding juniors.
Yet the vast majority perished inexplicably before long, without even reaching the Foundation Establishment stage.
To run into a genius like Li Fan, already in the late Qi Condensation stage at such a young age, was already a blessing from Heaven.
After all, how could there be so many geniuses in this world for him to casually stumble upon?
Chapter 70