Brightmoon Palace.
Unaware of the impending danger, Li Fan read the message from Kou Hong and let out a wry chuckle.
"Brother Li Fan, you have no idea how unlucky Dao Xuanzi and I have been these past few years!
"Last time, we went through all kinds of hardships to get to Cangwu Province. The moment we arrived, news broke that the meteor had already been found. We didn’t even get a glimpse of what it looked like and had to return in frustration.
"This time, Dao Xuanzi and I ventured deep into the Hundred Stones Grotto-Heaven at the border of Shilin Province. After nearly losing our lives, we finally found a technique manual. You might not believe this, but it was actually a Nascent Soul-level technique!
"I was so excited at the time. But when I took a closer look, I realized someone was already cultivating this technique! After some investigation, I found out it was being sold in the Tianxuan Mirror! I nearly coughed up blood in anger!
"Dao Xuanzi and I didn’t even dare glance at the contents of the technique, fearing the Enforcer Hall would come knocking! Who knows if this is fortune or misfortune!"
Hundred Stones Grotto-Heaven... Li Fan didn’t reply to Kou Hong, storing the communication spirit talisman and opening Return to Truth’s panel.
Name: Li Fan
Realm: Late-stage Foundation Establishment
Biological Age: 71/399
Psychological Age: 591/3669↑
Virtualization Charging Progress: 200%
Charging Progress of Next Anchor Point: 2%
Anchor Points In Use: 1
Available Anchor Points: 2
With the help of the Mountain-Sitting Art, his cultivation speed in this life had been unimaginably fast. At just 71 years of age, he had already broken through to the late-stage Foundation Establishment realm.
As his sense of foreboding grew stronger, Li Fan spent the last few years converting his Brightmoon Palace contribution points into tangible assets.
First, he redeemed eight Curios of Man, unlocking the third anchor point of Return to Truth.
However, when he attempted to unlock the fourth anchor point, he discovered that the effect of Curios of Heaven and Earth had become negligible. A single Curio of Man now only increased the progress by 1%.
Unfortunately, Li Fan had insufficient permissions to redeem Curios of Earth. Otherwise, with his ample contribution points, he could have tested the effects of Curios of Earth.
One’s permission level in the Tianxuan Mirror could only be elevated by holding a position within the Myriad Immortals Alliance, such as serving as a guardian of an island or city and earning a certain amount of merit. This was a system that ran parallel to contribution points.
Li Fan recalled that recommending cultivators to join the Myriad Immortals Alliance would not only grant contribution points but also merits.
Recommending an early-stage Qi Refinement realm cultivator would earn one a Grade D merit.
Recommending a late-stage Qi Refinement realm cultivator would earn one a Grade D+ merit.
However, how these merits within the Myriad Immortals Alliance translated into permission levels was something Li Fan could not determine despite his research.
Aside from redeeming Curios, Li Fan had also redeemed another item in large quantities.
Walking over to the Mind Ape Spirit-Startling Array, he gazed at the dense white mist floating around it and smiled faintly. The mist exuded an aura that made one’s heart palpitate, instinctively urging one to stay away. A net woven from golden light firmly confined and anchored this white mist beside the Mind Ape Spirit-Startling Array.
Lifespan-Devouring White Mist. When constructed into the Spirit-Startling Array, it becomes the Lifespan-Devouring Spirit-Startling Array.
It greatly amplifies the white mist's ability to devour lifespan. Even if the opponent is a Dao Unity cultivator, it should be able to hinder them for a brief moment... unless they're truly desperate, willing to have their lifespan devoured just to kill me.
But it's only two million contribution points. It's not like I sheared the wool directly from his back. Surely that wouldn't breed such deep hatred.
Still, after some thought, Li Fan felt a twinge of unease.
What if I run into one or two narrow-minded individuals who can't stand it when others quietly make a fortune? No, I must make more preparations.
If a true powerhouse makes a move, they will inevitably seal the surrounding space. We won't be able to escape through random teleportation.
I need to find a better way.
Just as Li Fan’s brain was running at full steam, pondering a foolproof plan to preserve his life, Yin Yueting and Yin Yuzhen, the two sisters, wore entirely different expressions.
"Sister, you said you've recently had a feeling that something greatly auspicious will happen. Is it true? Why do I still feel so unsettled?" Yin Yueting asked with a puzzled expression. This was the first time she had ever doubted her sister's innate talent.
"It’s not just me, even Xiaomei and Xiao Heng feel the same way," Yin Yueting added, her brow slightly furrowed.
Yin Yuzhen, however, paid no heed and said earnestly, "It's true, Sister! It’s an omen of Great Auspiciousness! Very, very auspicious!"
She gestured exaggeratedly with her hands: "From the day I was born until now, I've never had such a strong feeling! Something wonderfully good is definitely about to happen!" She spoke with unwavering conviction.
Seeing her sister so certain, Yin Yueting finally felt reassured. She unconsciously touched the square silver necklace hanging on her chest.
With this random teleportation necklace Senior gave us, we should be able to preserve our lives even if we encounter some calamity. Yin Yueting could only comfort herself in this way.
***
Brightmoon Palace had halted its technique transmission operations for some time, yet a small number of final-stage Qi Refinement realm cultivators still gathered beside Brightmoon Lake. All of them were hoping to gain an advantage over others once its business resumed.
On this day, the cultivators were chatting idly, discussing the current situation in Yuandao Province.
After nearly seven years of frenzied slaughter, the great war between the Lan Yu lineage and Feather-Burning Alliance was finally nearing its end.
Both sides had suffered heavy losses, almost to the point where they could no longer maintain their positions.
It was said they had already held several rounds of negotiations but had yet to reach a conclusion satisfactory to both parties.
"What is that?" A cultivator gazing at the scenery by the lake suddenly exclaimed in surprise.
Everyone turned to look.
High in the sky, a thin silver thread hung straight down.
In the blink of an eye, it stretched from the heavens to the earth, then rapidly spread outward around Brightmoon Lake.
Within a few breaths, the silvery-white thread completed a full circle, binding the eight-hundred-li Brightmoon Lake like a pair of shackles.
Witnessing this strange scene, some alert cultivators sensed danger and immediately fled into the distance. But most remained frozen in place, unsure of what to do.
After the silvery-white thread completed its circle, it emitted a faint glow. Then, it was as if someone pulled it upward.
Instantly, the earth shook violently, and the lake waters churned.
The group of cultivators stared in stunned silence as the vast Brightmoon Lake was hauled upward, slowly rising into the sky.
Not just the lake waters, but the soil and bedrock beneath, and even the Brightmoon Palace constructed in the lake's depths, were dragged up together.
Yet, it wasn't only Brightmoon Lake.
Across all of Yuandao Province, countless cultivators witnessed a sight they would remember until their dying days:
Throughout the province, numerous great lakes, mountain peaks, and entire cities were being drawn skyward by dozens of slender threads descending from the heavens, steadily pulled upward into the sky.