"They're selling positions this openly? Doesn't anyone regulate this?" Li Fan feigned shock as he replied.
"Regulate? Who would regulate it? The Spirit Transformation Immortal Eminences?" He Zhenghao snorted. "The two on Myriad Immortals Island conduct this business even more openly than those below them.
"Ahem..." He Zhenghao paused, then explained further to Li Fan. "The Myriad Immortals Alliance grants a high degree of autonomy to each province. As long as no rules are broken and the Enforcer Hall isn't disturbed, headquarters couldn't care less about what happens in the branches.
"After all, all resource transactions and distributions must go through the Tianxuan Mirror. Everything remains under control, so no major chaos can occur.”
Remembering Enforcer Wan, the Foundation Establishment cultivator who had hunted him in his eleventh life, Li Fan inquired, "If that's the case, then the Enforcer Hall holds the highest status? Fellow Daoist, do you know how one might join? I'd be willing to spend extra contribution points."
"The Enforcer Hall personnel for each province are directly appointed by headquarters. Fellow Daoist, it would be quite difficult for you to join it," He Zhenghao tactfully replied.
"Too many cultivators want to become enforcers. The competition is fierce, with waiting lists longer than you can imagine." He Zhenghao sighed.
"The only reliable method is the once-a-decade assessment. I once aspired to become an enforcer myself, but the requirements were too strict, and I failed to qualify. In the end, I had to settle for becoming an island guardian.
"Otherwise, I wouldn't be worrying about techniques now. You must know that Enforcer Hall enforcers can select and cultivate techniques for free." He Zhenghao spoke with immense envy.
"There's actually such a benefit?" Li Fan was rather surprised.
"Of course. Enforcers face all kinds of ruthless technique thieves daily; the risk of death isn't small. It’s only natural that they are offered better benefits," He Zhenghao stated matter-of-factly.
"Actually, being an array maintenance officer isn't bad either, Fellow Daoist. Don’t be too fixated on the enforcer position. You’ll receive fixed compensation yearly and can learn about arrays for free by following array masters. All you need to do is help maintain the island protection arrays across the Congyun Sea’s islands.
"Will you consider it? For just ten thousand contribution points, I can persuade them on your behalf." He Zhenghao asked in a persuasive tone.
Li Fan paused, then asked, "I wonder if Fellow Daoist is familiar with Master Zhang Zhiliang? I've heard he treats others generously and possesses immense mastery in the array path, considered the best in the Congyun Sea. If I were to become an array maintenance officer, I would likely benefit the most from following him."
He Zhenghao seemed somewhat surprised. "Treats others generously? Where did you hear that, Fellow Daoist? This man has a rather peculiar temper.
"However, his skills in the array path are indeed exceptional. Following him would likely yield greater gains.
"I can't guarantee this matter, but I'll do my best," He Zhenghao said honestly.
"Whether you succeed or not, I'll remember this favor, Fellow Daoist," Li Fan replied. "Don't worry about the contribution points either. After borrowing contribution points from Breeze Hall and increasing my position in Spirit Mist Grass, I still have some remaining. That should be sufficient for this matter."
He Zhenghao replied, "Since that’s the case, I shall spare no effort. Please await my good news!"
After expressing his gratitude once more, Li Fan ended the communication. Fellow Daoist He truly is a good comrade.
Free techniques, the decennial assessment... Li Fan pondered for a moment and began searching for related information in the Tianxuan Mirror.
The Myriad Immortals Alliance's official recruitment assessment was held once every ten years. The last assessment had taken place roughly half a year ago.
The content of the assessment varied depending on the candidate’s desired position, and the assessment was conducted within the Tianxuan Mirror, eliminating any possibility of favoritism or cheating.
Results were announced immediately after the assessment, with no lengthy waiting period.
Candidates would lose all memory of the assessment’s content upon leaving the Tianxuan Mirror, preventing anyone from profiting from the information.
How meticulous! Li Fan marveled. When the next assessment begins, I should go and see what it's like.
He searched for impressions of the assessment among those who had taken it and found that "difficult," "absurd," and "rigged" were the overwhelming consensus.
Just as Li Fan was engrossed in reading, the Tianxuan Mirror suddenly alerted him, "You have a new video message. Please check it promptly."
Hmm?
Puzzled, Li Fan opened the message. A man in azure robes abruptly appeared.
"Young friend, I am Chen Ying of the Medicine Hall. Might I ask where you discovered those two stalks of Blueblood Coral you provided last time?
"After successfully refining the Frostwill Severance Pills this time, I found that the pills produced were significantly more potent than previous batches.
"After careful consideration, the only variable was these two stalks of Blueblood Coral. Nothing else had changed.
"So, I tried refining the pill again with other stalks of Blueblood Coral and found that the enhanced potency had indeed vanished.
"The Blueblood Coral you provided was of notably higher quality compared to the common variety.
"I wish to visit their place of growth to investigate further; there may be more to uncover.
"Regardless of the outcome, if you can provide an honest account, I will ensure you are handsomely rewarded."
The message ended.
Li Fan did not reply immediately, falling into deep thought.
Recalling the process of harvesting the Blueblood Corals, he had not noticed anything unusual about the two locations at the time.
Could I have overlooked something? After some consideration, Li Fan decided to make another trip to investigate.
To prevent being tracked by Chen Ying of the Medicine Hall, he specifically purchased a Trace-Eradicating Talisman from the Tianxuan Mirror.
It was an upgraded version of the Form-Concealing Talisman, capable of blocking Nascent Soul realm cultivators from detecting him.
Activating the Trace-Eradicating Talisman, Li Fan returned to the underwater ruins near Mistcrow Island where he had discovered the Blueblood Coral.
With the coral removed, the place had long lost its former vitality. Only an occasional fish or two swam through the gaps in the collapsed rubble and boulders.
Nothing out of the ordinary. Li Fan concluded after a thorough inspection, still unable to find anything special.
He even used Formless Killing Mechanism to lock onto a fish within the ruins, observing carefully from the perspective of heaven and earth.
The result remained the same.
Li Fan then proceeded to the deep-sea trench where he had discovered the second Blueblood Coral stalk.
The result was the same.
A Nascent Soul cultivator of such standing, and an elder of the Medicine Hall at that, surely wouldn't say that for nothing.
So it must be that my cultivation is too low to perceive the reason.
For now, that seemed to be the only plausible explanation.
Thus, Li Fan returned to the Tianxuan Mirror and reached out to Chen Ying.