"Not seizing such a rare opportunity to gild their family scions..."
"Could it be that they really treat everyone equally, remaining fair and just?"
A trace of doubt flitted through Li Fan's mind.
However, given what he knew of the Alliance of Ten Thousand Immortals, things might not be so simple.
"Looking at it from another angle..."
"Perhaps this so-called Thirty-Three Immortal Chosen isn't a good thing after all. That might be why those clans intentionally steered clear of it."
Li Fan's eyes flickered.
This conjecture happened to align with his premonition regarding Wei Qizheng's ultimate fate.
"Thirty-three Dao Integration cultivators... As long as Longevity Heavenly Venerables do not intervene, that is definitely a force capable of swaying the course of the war."
"What on earth is the Alliance trying to do?"
Li Fan could not help feeling intrigued.
From the information he currently possessed, Chuanfa had likely left the Xuanhuang Realm temporarily for some reason, leaving behind only a sliver of consciousness.
Only if Chaos erupted or the Xuanhuang Realm teetered on the brink of destruction would he rush back.
On the surface, the Alliance of Ten Thousand Immortals and the Five Elders Association appeared evenly matched.
In reality, without the deterrence of Dharma-Transmitting Heavenly Venerable, the Alliance was at an absolute disadvantage against the Five Elders Association, which possessed five Longevity realm powerhouses.
"Just like how Lifetime 114 attempted to create the Profound Net to contend with the Longevity Heavenly Venerables..."
"The Thirty-Three Immortal Chosen of this lifetime must also be tied to 'creating a force capable of countering the Longevity realm.'" A flash of understanding crossed Li Fan's mind.
"Both sides have placed their pieces. Now we shall see how this game of chess unfolds!"
Earlier, the Five Elders Association had attempted to contact him again, but Li Fan had ignored every attempt.
The resources obtained from the Five Elders Association were sufficient for now.
Li Fan decided to observe how the situation developed before making his next move.
He firmly committed the details of the three hundred-odd cultivators on the list to memory.
Then Li Fan crushed it to dust, once again casting his divine sense over the Five Elements Great Grotto-Heaven.
By now, he had successfully reached the Golden Core completion stage, and he formally commenced the process of devouring the Five Elements Great Grotto-Heaven.
Tentacles formed from the Root of Heaven and Earth snaked along the chasms between the grotto-heavens, creeping into each elemental grotto-heaven to lie dormant for the time being.
The Five Elements Great Grotto-Heaven was simply too vast. His only option was to first accumulate strength and cultivate enough rootlets from the Root of Heaven and Earth before swallowing the grotto-heaven in a single stroke.
There were no shortcuts; it demanded only patient, painstaking grinding.
The only saving grace was that the Five Elements Great Grotto-Heaven had not yet birthed anything resembling a Heavenly Dao consciousness.
Even its instinctive resistance mechanisms were feeble.
Thus, Li Fan's infiltration proceeded exceptionally smoothly.
Across the five vastly distinct elemental grotto-heavens, dense webs of rootlets spread slowly like an apocalyptic storm cloud.
Time flew by.
The avatar Ji Shaoli's outlay of over a million contribution points indeed did not go to waste.
On the day the final appointments were announced, a joyous atmosphere once again filled Haixuan Island.
"Tianyun Province, Formation Planning Hall."
He Zhenghao felt an overwhelming surge of excitement, thousands of thoughts racing through his mind.
Although it was merely the lowest-ranking in-service formation master position, Tianyun Province lay in the central heartland of the Immortal Alliance. Neither the compensation nor the prospects could be mentioned in the same breath as being a garrison in the Congyun Sea.
"Joining the Congyun Sea Mutual Aid Association back then was truly the most correct decision I have ever made in my life."
"Even if it's only a small step, I've finally taken it! One day, I will return to Tianyu Province in glory and triumph!"
"Ruoshui..."
Just as He Zhenghao's emotions surged, Ji Shaoli appeared before the group once more.
Knowing that Ji Shaoli had undoubtedly exerted tremendous effort during the allocation of their posts, the crowd hurried forward to bow and express their gratitude.
"Hehe, we are all family here; no need to be polite," Ji Shaoli said, waving his hand.
"However..."
Then, shifting his tone, he continued, "Now that everyone is about to leave the Congyun Sea, there are some matters I no longer need to keep hidden."
The crowd's hearts tightened. Knowing that the veil over the mysterious Mutual Aid Association was about to be lifted, they listened intently.
"The Congyun Sea Mutual Aid Association is merely a small local branch of the Xuanhuang Mutual Aid Association in the Congyun Sea region."
"Our association's influence spans every corner of the Xuanhuang Realm. So even if you travel elsewhere, you need not worry about losing touch with the organization."
The crowd had long anticipated this.
After all, how could a tiny regional outfit have managed to acquire the grand examination questions in advance?
Ji Shaoli's gaze swept over them, and seeing how calm everyone remained, he nodded in satisfaction.
"However, I must clarify that some degree of competition exists between the provincial branches. And all of you joined through me. Therefore, for the next ten years, your status within the organization will still belong to the Congyun Sea branch."
"For this reason, heads of other regions will not contact you for the time being. Until that period expires, I will remain your direct liaison."
"It may be a bit cumbersome, but it is necessary to prevent unhealthy competition," Ji Shaoli explained calmly.
Hearing this, none of them displayed any overt reaction.
Only one Golden Core cultivator named Yu Hongjian could not hold back from asking, "Fellow Daoist Ji, if I may ask, what was the original intention behind founding the Mutual Aid Association?"
"Surely it can't really be just about helping one another, can it?"
With those words spoken, the same doubt surfaced in everyone's eyes.
"Indeed. Ever since joining, we have continually received aid from the organization, yet we have never contributed anything in return..."
"It truly leaves one feeling somewhat ill at ease," Yu Hongjian murmured faintly.
Ji Shaoli smiled faintly. "Rest easy. At present, your strength is still too weak. Just concentrate on cultivating diligently."
"There will come a day when the organization needs you."
Even though Ji Shaoli was merely at the Golden Core realm, not a single person present took issue with his words that their strength was still too weak.
After all, everyone there had witnessed cultivators who were faintly Dao Integration powerhouses acting utterly deferential before him.
Ji Shaoli was evidently far from as simple as he seemed on the surface.
Likewise, while Ji Shaoli's words appeared comforting, in truth they left them feeling even more unsettled.
Everyone knew there was no such thing as a free lunch in this world.
The aid the Mutual Aid Association had provided them was practically equivalent to giving them a second life.
Though no missions had been assigned so far, if the day came when the association required their help...
The cultivators exchanged subtle glances with one another.
Yet things having come to this, there was no turning back.
They buried their unease deep down, not daring to let the slightest hint show.
Instead, they merely discussed and analyzed the scrutiny they might encounter upon taking up their posts.
Time flowed on.
Within ten days, the five took their leave and departed one after another, heading off to assume their duties in their respective provinces.
For a time, Haixuan Island grew somewhat quiet and deserted.
Meanwhile, Ji Shaoli looked at a piece of news, an expression of surprise appearing on his face.
Zhong Shentong, whom he had been keeping an eye on, had inexplicably made a breakthrough.
Chapter 851