Ji Shiwen retrieved a golden command flag and cast it onto the ground.
In an instant, a circle of formations materialized beneath the three men's feet.
Chu Zongyin looked excited, while Li Fan's expression remained unchanged.
Amid the flashing brilliance of the array, they transformed together into beams of light, shooting like reverse-flying meteors straight from the market to the city of spirit stones in the sky.
In just a few breaths, the three were standing upon pavement forged from spirit stones.
"Wuu..." The density of spiritual energy in this sky city had reached an appalling degree. It surged madly into the body, causing the circulation of spiritual energy to clog. Chu Zongyin's face flushed purplish-red, like a mortal being choked by the throat, unable to breathe.
It was only when Li Fan struck him forcefully on the back with a palm that Chu Zongyin was saved.
"Cough, cough..." Once back to normal, Chu Zongyin still greedily drew in the pure spiritual energy around them, amazement plastered across his face.
Leading the way, Ji Shiwen caught sight of this and a flash of smugness crossed his eyes. But upon seeing Li Fan's utterly placid face, his complexion instantly darkened again.
Passing through the city of spirit stones, Li Fan was finally led to a garden in its center, where he met the Ji Clan's ancestor.
Contrary to the aged appearance one might imagine, Ji Wangxian looked to be a young man in his early twenties.
With shoulder-length hair and handsome features, his eyes seemed to twinkle with starlight.
Had Ji Shiwen not respectfully bowed and called out, "Greetings, Ancestor," Li Fan and Chu Zongyin would have found it difficult to believe the identity of this "young cultivator" before them.
"You are the ones who wish to see me?" Ji Wangxian asked softly.
Even without any deliberate exertion of pressure, the aura inadvertently radiating from him made both Li Fan and Chu Zongyin feel a tightness in their chests.
Chu Zongyin nodded repeatedly, about to explain everything.
But Li Fan stopped him once more.
Looking at the biological father of his current body, Li Fan said placidly, "Success hinges on secrecy. With this man present, it is not convenient to speak."
Ji Shiwen flew into a rage. "You insolent wretch—"
Before he could fully erupt, Ji Wangxian held up a hand to stop him.
Ji Wangxian chuckled softly. "You little fellow are quite intriguing. Shiwen, step down."
How could Ji Shiwen dare disobey the ancestor's command? With fury burning in his eyes as if he wished to slice Li Fan into a thousand pieces, he lowered his head and departed in resentment.
"Well? Can you speak now?" The smile faded from Ji Wangxian's face.
Chu Zongyin's heart trembled. He immediately blurted out everything—how the Heavenly Sword Sect required vast amounts of Taiyuan Fine Gold to forge the Boundary-Splitting Divine Weapon, and how whoever resolved the matter stood to become the next sect master.
"Senior Ji, with the immense strength of your World Chamber of Commerce, if you take part, the sect master's position is practically guaranteed. Once our Heavenly Sword Sect departs, the fertile land within ninety thousand li around Heavenly Sword Mountain will all belong to Senior..." Chu Zongyin urged with all his might.
Yet unlike what he had imagined, Ji Wangxian was completely unmoved.
Instead, he remarked with a sigh, "All the world knows that the position of Heavenly Sword Sect Master is merely a figurehead. The true wielder of power in the Heavenly Sword Sect is 'Senior Brother' Situ Yao.
"Taiyuan Fine Gold is exceedingly rare and priceless. A Boundary-Splitting Divine Weapon...
"Even with the wealth of our World Chamber of Commerce, satisfying what is required to forge such a divine weapon would cost us dearly. And all we would gain in return is an empty title..."
Ji Wangxian suddenly looked at Li Fan. "Your name is... Ji Zhaoxuan, right? This should be your first time returning home since leaving. Having traveled thousands of li back, do you think this matter is feasible?"
Li Fan shook his head slightly. "Not feasible."
Chu Zongyin was instantly stunned. "Junior Brother Ji..."
Li Fan continued, "However, it is worth a gamble."
A brilliant light flashed in Ji Wangxian's eyes, and he burst into loud laughter. "Good! You have a touch of my younger self.
"You are right! The uncertainty of this matter is far too high; the risks and returns are out of proportion. When the time comes, the Heavenly Sword Sect can simply pat their robes and walk away scot-free, leaving us without even a debtor to track down.
"However, it is indeed worth a gamble!
"The foundation of the Ten Sects of the Immortal Dao. If our World Chamber of Commerce could swallow it..." With his hands behind his back, Ji Wangxian turned his head and gazed into the distance, his tone unreadable.
In an instant, the tide had turned.
Hearing this, Chu Zongyin was overjoyed.
With the ancestor's approval, what followed proceeded with surprising smoothness, beyond Li Fan's expectations.
Under Ji Shiwen's disbelieving gaze, Li Fan and Chu Zongyin returned with three thousand jin of Taiyuan Fine Gold from the World Chamber of Commerce's reserves.
Furthermore, Ji Wangxian stated that the World Chamber of Commerce would do everything in its power to acquire Taiyuan Fine Gold moving forward, supporting "Ji Zhaoxuan" in his bid for the position of Heavenly Sword Sect Master.
It was remarkably generous, and he did not demand a single promise from Li Fan.
Had Li Fan not known that this body had previously acted on its own beyond his control, he almost would have been moved by such unconditional trust.
"It seems the Ji Clan is brimming with confidence about their ability to control these spies dispatched to the various sects," Li Fan sneered inwardly while pondering a way to break through this constraint.
Upon returning to the Heavenly Sword Sect, Li Fan handed over three thousand jin of Taiyuan Fine Gold and indicated that a continuous supply would follow.
This instantly caused a sensation throughout the entire sect.
One had to realize that all the disciples had gathered during this period, combined with the sect's existing stockpile, amounted to just over one thousand jin in total.
Li Fan alone had procured more than three times that amount.
After presenting Situ Yao with several flagons of fine wine brought back from the Ji Residence, the Eldest Senior Brother of the Heavenly Sword Sect beamed with delight, praising Li Fan on the spot as an exemplar among the junior disciples of the Heavenly Sword Sect.
And with Chu Zongyin's active promotion, Li Fan's background in the World Chamber of Commerce gradually spread.
For a time, the area before Li Fan's residence was bustling like a marketplace, with an endless stream of fellow disciples arriving to pay visits and curry favor.
Most cultivators in the Heavenly Sword Sect came to believe Li Fan was a strong contender for the next sect master.
As subsequent shipments of Taiyuan Fine Gold arrived from the World Chamber of Commerce, everyone grew even more certain of their judgment.
Right at this juncture, however, Li Fan paid a quiet visit to the current sect master of the Heavenly Sword Sect, Huo Yuzhu.
"Oh? If it isn't the pillar of our Heavenly Sword Sect, the designated successor to the sect master? For what purpose do you seek me out?" Huo Yuzhu said with a smile, though a flicker of mockery gleamed in his eyes.
Li Fan looked composed as he stated candidly, "I have come for the position of sect master."
Huo Yuzhu's expression shifted. "Junior, do not think that just because—"
"Does Sect Master Huo truly wish to surrender his position to someone else on a silver platter? Even as a figurehead, the authority of a sect master is intoxicating, is it not?"
Detecting the subtext in Li Fan's words, Huo Yuzhu's face darkened and brightened erratically. "What exactly do you mean?"
"I know of a place with vast quantities of Taiyuan Fine Gold. Far more than what our Ji Clan can gather," Li Fan said in a deep voice.
Huo Yuzhu looked at Li Fan with some surprise, unable to fathom his intent.
"I wish to trade the position of Heavenly Sword Sect Master for my complete freedom. I wonder if Sect Master can help me?" Li Fan asked with a smile.
Chapter 734