Four hundred thousand contribution points... The life savings of a Nascent Soul array master truly are astronomical.
Li Fan stared intently at the golden Posthumous Bequest, his eyes practically glued to it.
He eagerly picked up the Knowledge Appraisal Sphere and began the array test.
The first test proved simple, only quizzing him on basic knowledge of the array path. Having studied arrays for over a decade, Li Fan naturally passed it without much effort.
Flecks of golden light drifted from the Posthumous Bequest, converging onto Li Fan.
The golden foil dimmed slightly, and when Li Fan checked the Tianxuan Mirror, he confirmed that forty thousand contribution points had indeed been added to his account.
Excited, he immediately began the second test.
Some time later, Li Fan withdrew his consciousness from the Knowledge Appraisal Sphere, his expression grim.
Ten years of arduous study, and I still fall just short of completing the second test? How long will it take to dig out all four hundred thousand contribution points?
A mountain of treasure stood before him, seemingly within reach. Yet his current lack of proficiency in arrays created an invisible barrier, making it visible but untouchable.
It felt like a tiny hand was plucking at the strings of his heart. Under such immense temptation, Li Fan nearly abandoned everything to devote himself entirely to array studies.
Zhang Zhiliang, what a masterful manipulation tactic! The motivational power of vast contribution points is indeed irresistible.
The second test doesn't involve the Unlimited Art yet, so I can still delegate the study of arrays to my avatar. But later tests will require my true self to read and learn the Unlimited Art in the encrypted jade slip. That will inevitably delay my cultivation.
I hope I’ll be able to expand the Brightmoon Palace's operations before then. With the Mountain-Sitting Art's feedback, even if I completely neglect my own cultivation, the advancement in my cultivation progress shouldn't slow down much.
These sixty thousand-plus contribution points should provide some breathing room. But it's still not enough! I need to extract all the contribution points from this Posthumous Bequest quickly!
A sharp glint flashed in Li Fan's eyes.
Driven by tremendous motivation, both Li Fan's true self and avatar began studying arrays together.
Whenever fatigue set in, he would light the silver incense. Refreshed and revitalized, he would continue his studies.
With this doubled effort, Li Fan's array proficiency steadily improved.
Over a month passed in this manner.
Soon, the day Chu Xingyang would crash the wedding arrived.
Li Fan had to divert part of his attention to monitor the life event of Brightmoon Palace's first client.
The outcome, however, left Li Fan caught between laughter and tears.
At the wedding venue, Chu Xingyang descended from the skies, boldly declaring that the bride should leave with him.
The groom could not endure this insult, and his face contorted with rage as he swore to beat Chu Xingyang to death on the spot.
But Chu Xingyang's talent proved remarkable. In just three months, he had not only advanced to the Foundation Establishment realm, but his combat prowess even surpassed even the groom, who had advanced to the Foundation Establishment realm long before him.
After an extended clash, the groom showed signs of defeat even without Li Fan needing to intervene.
Chu Xingyang fought the groom while maintaining effortless composure, shouting triumphantly, "A’Yue, are you seeing this? This Zhang fellow is so incompetent! How could he possibly deserve you? Come with me! I'll definitely make you happy!"
The groom was so enraged he nearly vomited blood, his face flushing a deep purplish red. The murderous glare he fixed on Chu Xingyang was enough to kill him ten thousand times over. From then on, every move he made was borderline suicidal, trading injury for injury in a bid for mutual destruction.
Yet Chu Xingyang always managed to evade his attacks, and there was even a faint trace of mockery in his movements.
Growing increasingly smug, he was just about to speak again when the bride's furious shout cut through the air. "Enough! Chu Xingyang, haven't you caused enough trouble already?"
Immediately after, a cold, brilliant light shot toward him.
Chu Xingyang paled in shock, barely dodging the bride's attack as he cried out, "A’Yue, what are you doing?"
The bride gritted her teeth. "Don't call me A’Yue! I've told you more than once that Zhang Qi and I are deeply in love, that we're willingly becoming Dao companions. There's no coercion involved, and it has nothing to do with cultivation strength!
"As my friend, not only did you fail to congratulate me on my wedding, but you came here to make trouble!
"From this day forward, there's no affection left between us!"
With that, the bride joined forces with her groom, Zhang Qi, launching coordinated attacks against Chu Xingyang.
The bride's words struck Chu Xingyang like a critical blow, draining the color from his face.
He dodged the couple's combined attacks almost reflexively, repeatedly asking "Why?" even as he evaded.
Yet the bride showed no mercy whatsoever. Her moves were ruthless, each strike aimed to kill.
Finally, a beam of light pierced through Chu Xingyang's left shoulder.
Despair filled Chu Xingyang's expression, and his heart turned to ashes. But survival instinct made him grit his teeth and flee into the distance despite his injuries.
After escaping to a hidden mountain cave, Chu Xingyang treated his wounds. As his injuries gradually healed, his eyes unexpectedly regained their fighting spirit.
"It must be that my current strength isn't sufficient.
"If Foundation Establishment isn't enough, then Golden Core. If Golden Core isn't enough, then Nascent Soul.
"As long as I become powerful enough, A’Yue will eventually change her mind someday."
He gazed into the distance, murmuring to himself.
***
With that, the farce finally came to an end.
Beyond the complete loss of face for those involved, the question of how the wedding crasher Chu Xingyang had completed his Foundation Establishment in such a short time became a hot topic among gossipmongers.
Gradually, the name of Brightmoon Palace began spreading among Qi Refinement and Foundation Establishment cultivators.
So it turned out that Brightmoon Palace's claims about lending Curios of heaven and earth and Foundation Establishment techniques weren't a scam, but actually true!
With a living example before their eyes, more and more cultivators began seeking help from Brightmoon Palace.
Of course, with contribution points still limited, Li Fan ordered the Yin sisters to be extremely selective in their choices. An average of just one slot per month was enough. All other applicants were turned away with the excuse of insufficient fate.
Yet Brightmoon Palace's cautious behavior actually deepened its credibility among cultivators.
If just any cultivator could borrow Curios and techniques from Brightmoon Palace, they would have worried that there was some earth-shattering conspiracy at play.
Thus, Brightmoon Palace's reputation spread ever wider.
Final-stage Qi Refinement cultivators from many regions of Yuandao Province traveled great distances seeking to borrow techniques, hoping to achieve Foundation Establishment several years earlier.
As for that 36% annual interest rate, they selectively ignored it.
After all, Foundation Establishment cultivators could earn contribution points at more than double the rate of Qi Refinement cultivators.
Even if they chose the three-year repayment plan, the total contribution points required were still less than double the original amount.
It was worth it!
And so, in Anchor Year 39, Brightmoon Palace's technique transmission enterprise finally began its methodical, systematic launch.
By the time Anchor Year 40 arrived, Li Fan had completed the second test of the Knowledge Appraisal Sphere. With that, his contribution points grew by another forty thousand.
Moreover, every month, repayments from those who had previously borrowed techniques and Curios came in.
Thus, the strain on his contribution points finally began to ease.