When Brightmoon Palace was uprooted by that black-robed Dao Unity powerhouse, many similar organizations had been eradicated alongside it.
Back then, Li Fan had suspected that these groups likely weren’t imitations that had sprouted up after witnessing Brightmoon Palace's thriving technique transmission enterprise.
Rather, these organizations had already been engaged in lending-related businesses. Only after witnessing the enormous annual profits generated by Brightmoon Palace were they unable to resist emulating the model.
If such organizations existed in Yuandao Province, then the Congyun Sea would naturally have similar establishments.
How could one hope to become wildly wealthy without using leverage?
Li Fan intended to seize the opportunity presented by the massive price fluctuations of Spirit Mist Grass to make a substantial profit. Naturally, he would require the assistance of these lending organizations.
Yet both in the past and in this current life, Li Fan had been unable to locate any trace of them despite extensive inquiries. Clearly, this organization operated with extreme caution. Thus, Li Fan went to He Zhenghao to sound him out. As expected, He Zhenghao did not disappoint him.
"Fellow Daoist, you should consider carefully before going to Breeze Hall. They won't just lend you contribution points for free. They demand a high annual interest rate of 18%.
“If you profit, it's fine; you can repay that interest quickly. But if you incur losses..." He Zhenghao's eyelid twitched violently. "You'd probably end up working for those fellows for over a decade without pay."
Li Fan cupped his hands in a salute. "I will remember your advice, Fellow Daoist. But rest assured, I know what I'm doing. I won't impose on you any further; let’s continue our conversation another time."
With that, Li Fan took a teleportation array to return to Myriad Immortals Island and headed straight for Breeze Hall.
He found it tucked away in a corner of the outermost region of Myriad Immortals Island. It was utterly inconspicuous, indistinguishable from any ordinary small shop.
Li Fan activated a Form-Concealing Talisman and entered.
A rather slovenly-looking old man lay sleeping on a recliner behind the shop counter. Even though a customer just entered, he didn't open his eyes. He continued rocking his chair, eyes shut.
Following He Zhenghao's instructions, Li Fan produced that dark green jade token.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
The dark green jade token emitted a faint glow, forming a shimmering door.
Li Fan glanced around briefly, then stepped through the doorway. His figure vanished, and the green door disappeared along with him.
As for the old man, his posture didn't change in the slightest from start to finish. It was as if no one had ever visited Breeze Hall at all.
Li Fan’s surroundings plunged into darkness, then brightened again. Looking around, he found himself standing beneath a massive tree.
The effects of the Form-Concealing Talisman he had activated were instantly dispelled.
The tree stood lush and thriving, its jade-green leaves shimmering with a gentle glow.
A human face manifested on the tree's trunk. It stared at Li Fan and asked, "Who referred you, and what is your business here?"
Facing the tree-face, Li Fan declared clearly, "I was referred by He Zhenghao, guardian of Liuli Island. I want to borrow something from your Breeze Hall."
The tree-face's reactions seemed somewhat sluggish. A long while after Li Fan finished speaking, it finally replied: "Cultivation at the late-stage Foundation Establishment realm. Maximum borrowing limit: thirty thousand contribution points. Annual interest: 16%. You may choose your repayment method. The maximum repayment period cannot exceed ten years."
The tree-face spoke slowly, explaining Breeze Hall's services to Li Fan one sentence at a time.
When it finished, Li Fan finally responded with clear dissatisfaction. "Only thirty thousand contribution points? That's nowhere near enough.
"I'm a late-stage Foundation Establishment realm cultivator at twenty-nine years old; my potential is limitless. Can't you offer better terms?"
The tree-face strained to widen its wooden eyes and studied Li Fan intently.
After a long time, it finally replied, "You may borrow up to forty thousand contribution points."
Li Fan grew impatient. "Just ten thousand more? How stingy!
"When I was still at the mid-stage Foundation Establishment realm, Brightmoon Palace in Yuandao Province lent me seventy or eighty thousand contribution points at once!
"How is Breeze Hall so far behind them?
"Brother Tree, are you actually authorized to make decisions here? Maybe you should find someone with real authority to negotiate with me."
Li Fan spoke boldly while subtly glancing in a specific direction.
Overhead, branches swayed without wind, their glowing green leaves rustling softly.
The tree-face stared at Li Fan expressionlessly.
Li Fan met its gaze without flinching.
After a long pause, the tree-face slowly declared, "Fifty thousand. Not a point more."
Li Fan put on a deeply disappointed expression, then added, "Oh, one more thing. I don't want to borrow contribution points, I need Spirit Mist Grass. Can you lend me that instead?" He blinked, watching the tree-face closely.
The wind seemed to intensify. Branches and leaves shook more violently.
"Yes. For material loans, we don’t calculate by interest but by quantity borrowed," the tree-face replied gloomily with a muffled voice.
"If repaid within the first year, you must return 130% of the borrowed amount.
"The second year, 160%.
"The third year, 200%.
"The maximum loan term is three years."
Li Fan looked shocked. "That's daylight robbery!"
But seeing the tree-face's unfriendly expression, he immediately fell silent.
He began haggling again. "If I'm borrowing materials instead, can you lend me more?"
The tree-face ignored him.
Seeing this, Li Fan reluctantly gave up.
"So how many stalks of Spirit Mist Grass can I borrow now?" he asked.
"Two thousand seven hundred stalks," the tree-face grumbled.
Li Fan muttered something under his breath, though his words were unclear.
"Fine! I'll take it! What paperwork do I need?" Li Fan seemed to have made up his mind.
A green leaf drifted slowly down from above, landing before Li Fan.
As he picked it up, streams of information instantly appeared in his mind, matching the terms he'd just negotiated with the tree-face.
"If you agree, refine this leaf with your spiritual power."
Li Fan nodded, then enveloped the leaf with his spiritual power.
The leaf was refined instantly, and a barely visible leaf pattern appeared on the inner side of Li Fan's left arm.
"The tree-mark will vanish once your debt is cleared. Wait a moment. I'll bring your Spirit Mist Grass."
After speaking, the face disappeared from the tree trunk, vanishing to who-knew-where.
Li Fan took this opportunity to look up and examine the giant tree.
The tree's power felt strange to him. It was clearly far stronger than a Nascent Soul Eminence, yet somewhat weaker than a Spirit Transformation Immortal Eminence.
Moreover, there were no traces of any arrays in this space, making it appear to have grown naturally.
Li Fan observed his surroundings with keen interest.
After a while, the tree-face reappeared. It opened its mouth and spat out a storage ring.
"The Spirit Mist Grass is all inside. This transaction is complete. You may leave. Remember to repay your debt on time, otherwise..."
Before Li Fan could speak, the tree-face expelled him from the space.
Beneath the great tree, threads of green light gathered, forming a faint green silhouette.
"Borrowing so much Spirit Mist Grass? Interesting."
A clear, melodious female voice emerged from the silhouette.
"Could it be that the price of Spirit Mist Grass will fall even further?
"A’Liu, keep a close watch in the coming days."
The tree-face responded in a muffled voice, "Yes, Miss.
"Miss, that fellow earlier was truly detestable."
The green silhouette let out a soft laugh. "Quite detestable indeed.
"But, which rival business is this Brightmoon Palace? Why have I never heard of them?"