Under the influence of Formless Killing Mechanism, the school of fish surrounding Zhou Qing'ang turned into a blood frenzy.
Ignoring the oppressive aura emanating from him, they frantically competed to devour his body.
Without the autonomous protection of his soul, a trail of fresh blood stained the surrounding seawater within moments.
Zhou Qing'ang was thus utterly annihilated, with not even a trace of his bones left behind.
A stone-like heart pierced with seven apertures precipitated at the scene of the incident. It shimmered with a rainbow glow, though the light was dim.
With its master's death, this Seven-Apertures Exquisite Heart had lost its status as a Curio of heaven and earth, becoming nothing more than an unremarkable, ordinary stone that sank to the seabed.
Li Fan waited in place for several days. After observing that the abnormal phenomenon surrounding the death had not attracted any other cultivators, he finally returned.
Ignoring everything else, he absorbed the Seven-Apertures Exquisite Heart to recharge Return to Truth.
Afterward, Li Fan quietly returned to Myriad Immortals Island without alerting anyone.
Zhou Qing'ang's disappearance had not yet drawn anyone's attention. It was entirely ordinary for a Foundation Establishment cultivator to be away and out of contact for ten days.
Instead of hastily reporting Zhou Qing'ang for being a spy, Li Fan first immersed himself in comprehending the Seven-Apertures Exquisite Heart.
All things to all people, a heart as deep as the sea; deluding and confusing the people, making truth and falsehood indistinguishable.
Three days later, Li Fan exhaled deeply, an unfathomable light gleaming in his eyes.
Although it is just a mid-grade Curio of Man, offering no special benefits for cultivation, there is likely no better Foundation Establishment Curio for a spy.
Within his dantian, Return to Truth bloomed with a gentle, lustrous light, slowly transforming into the likeness of the Seven-Apertures Exquisite Heart.
Li Fan faintly felt as though he had donned countless layers of deceptive garments; others would no longer easily see through his thoughts.
This object is truly marvelous! Li Fan inwardly praised.
Subsequently, Li Fan examined the accompanying secret technique, Visage Follows the Heart.
This was not a cultivation technique either, but a disguise method specifically created by Zhou Qing'ang's organization for the Seven-Apertures Exquisite Heart.
By mentally envisioning a specific appearance, then activating the Seven-Apertures Exquisite Heart and the secret technique in tandem, one could instantly transform into another person's likeness.
Both physique and facial features would differ entirely from the original. Moreover, it was a genuine transformation, impervious to detection by arcane arts such as Dispel Delusion.
The only shortcoming was that it could not alter one's inherent aura. Hence, every time Zhou Qing'ang transformed his features, he had been exceptionally cautious, making sure to seek remote, uninhabited places to conceal and suppress his aura.
However, once targeted by Li Fan, who possessed Formless Killing Mechanism, no amount of caution could save him.
While studying Visage Follows the Heart in his mind, Li Fan thoughts wandered.
I previously had the idea of using Return to Truth to mimic Foundation Establishment Curios and impersonate others.
Now, with the Seven-Apertures Exquisite Heart and this disguise technique, I will be able to impersonate others even more convincingly.
Furthermore, I possess the Thousand Mechanisms Jade Cosmos Scripture to discern energy mechanisms and the Heaven-Swapping Art to perceive fate.
If I could also imitate and alter both energy mechanisms and fate, it would likely become truly impossible to distinguish real from fake.
If this can be achieved...
Li Fan's thoughts surged, numerous ideas surfacing simultaneously.
Once my avatar obtains the hundred thousand contribution points from Cloudwater Palace in this life, I will be busy indeed.
To test the true effectiveness of the Seven-Apertures Exquisite Heart, Li Fan traveled to Liuli Island via teleportation array.
He Zhenghao's figure was nowhere to be seen, and Li Fan had no idea where he had gone.
Li Fan temporarily paid it no mind, instead transforming into a different appearance and spouting nonsense in front of Manager Zhao.
Manager Zhao's ability to discern truth from falsehood had indeed lost its effectiveness, easily allowing Li Fan to toy with him.
Leaving Manager Zhao standing there in shock, Li Fan headed to a secluded spot and returned to his original form.
He sent a message to He Zhenghao: "Fellow Daoist, where are you now?"
Not long after, He Zhenghao's somewhat weary voice came through: "I've taken on a task to construct a defensive array for a Fellow Daoist's island cave dwelling. What’s the matter, Fellow Daoist Li Fan?"
Li Fan sneered coldly: "You’re still doing tasks? He Zhenghao, do you realize you're about to face imminent disaster?"
He Zhenghao was slightly taken aback: "Why would you say such a thing, Fellow Daoist?"
"This matter requires a face-to-face meeting. Return to Liuli Island immediately. The situation is urgent. Any delay risks complications." Li Fan spoke gravely.
"Alright... Fellow Daoist, please wait for me." Perhaps due to Li Fan's previous performance during the Spirit Mist Grass incident, He Zhenghao held considerable trust in him. At this moment, he showed no doubt whatsoever toward Li Fan's words. With a flustered tone, he abruptly ended the communication.
After a good half of the day passed, He Zhenghao finally arrived, somewhat belatedly. His face was haggard, and his demeanor was weary, as if he hadn't rested properly in a long time. A trace of anxiety lingered in his eyes, though he forcibly suppressed it.
"Fellow Daoist..." He Zhenghao began as he spotted Li Fan. However, Li Fan gestured for him to stop.
With a look of understanding, He Zhenghao activated the Mountain River Constellation Array. Li Fan's serious demeanor made him increasingly uneasy.
"Fellow Daoist He, are you familiar with Zhou Qing'ang, the guardian of Tai’an Island?" Li Fan asked.
He Zhenghao paused, answering truthfully: "Fellow Daoist Zhou? Yes, I’m quite familiar with him. We have a good relationship, and he often consults me about arrays. Why do you ask, Fellow Daoist?"
"Hmph. It’s good that you didn't try to deceive me." Li Fan said coldly, "Had I detected even a hint of a lie just now, I would have turned and left without hesitation."
He Zhenghao grew even more panicked.
Judging the dramatic tension to be at its peak, Li Fan stopped beating around the bush and produced the Image Recording Stone.
He played back the conversation between Zhou Qing'ang and the stone-face.
.....
"And this time, He Zhenghao suffered heavy losses too. I’m asking for these hundred thousand contribution points so I can seize the chance to strengthen my ties with him.
"He’s an expert in arrays who even took part in setting up the island protection array, and he’s completely guileless. With his help, we’re bound to decipher the array much sooner."
.....
Since Zhou Qing'ang wasn't in his usual appearance, He Zhenghao didn’t understand what he was watching at first.
But as the conversation unfolded, He Zhenghao realized what was happening.
When he heard his own name mentioned in the dialogue, He Zhenghao face turned deathly pale. Beads of sweat the size of beans rolled down his forehead as he trembled uncontrollably.
Putting away the Image Recording Stone, Li Fan looked at He Zhenghao with a stern expression: "Fellow Daoist He, exactly how much information about the island protection array have you leaked?"
"Not... not much! Truly not much!" He Zhenghao stammered, defending himself.
"You’re still not confessing honestly? Should I just submit this Image Recording Stone to the Martial Hall and let them interrogate you?" Li Fan roared angrily.
He Zhenghao initially trembled in fear, but then he detected the underlying meaning in Li Fan's words, and hope suddenly sparked in his eyes. He grabbed Li Fan's hands urgently, pleading repeatedly, "Fellow Daoist, save me! You have to save me!"
Li Fan shook him off. "If you truly want me to save you, then tell me everything about this Zhou Qing'ang!"
With a miserable expression, He Zhenghao recounted everything in detail.
After listening, Li Fan felt somewhat speechless. It turned out that a significant portion of the data regarding the array’s outer structure submitted by Zhou Qing'ang actually came from He Zhenghao's contributions.
"He constantly flattered me, boasting about my array skills, and then asked me for guidance on arrays," He Zhenghao explained. "I got carried away by the praise and just... Who would have thought that Zhou Qing'ang, a fellow island guardian of the Congyun Sea, was actually a spy! How could I have been so blinded by his sweet talk?"
He Zhenghao looked ready to burst into tears.
"Whether you knew or not doesn't change the fact that you leaked the Myriad Immortals Alliance's secrets," Li Fan snorted coldly. "Fellow Daoist He, you understand the consequences, don't you?"
He Zhenghao shuddered. "Dismissal, strict investigation, lowering of permission level... They might even abolish my cultivation..." The more he thought about it, the more terrified he became, feeling as though his future was bleak and hopeless.
Compounding this was the fact that he had lost his lifelong savings and had been frantically taking on tasks to reaccumulate contribution points, leaving him physically and mentally exhausted.
Under the weight of these multiple blows, He Zhenghao could no longer hold back. His composure shattered, and he broke down into loud, unrestrained sobs.
"Why is my life so miserable? I've lost all my savings, and now this happens! How am I supposed to go on living?"
Li Fan remained unmoved.
After crying for a while, He Zhenghao noticed that Li Fan showed no reaction and felt somewhat embarrassed. Wiping his tears, he said in a choked voice, "Fellow Daoist, you must save me! This Image Recording Stone absolutely cannot be submitted. Otherwise, my future will be completely ruined!"
Li Fan retorted, "Reporting a spy is a great contribution. Surely you understand that, Fellow Daoist?"
He Zhenghao stammered, "I... I can compensate you, Fellow Daoist."
Li Fan chuckled. "Fellow Daoist, you're penniless now. What could you possibly offer me? I have no shortage of contribution points. Perhaps you haven't heard—during the Spirit Mist Grass incident, I made a profit of six hundred thousand!"
He Zhenghao's eyes widened in disbelief as he stared at Li Fan.
"What, you don't believe me?" Li Fan asked, slanting his eyes.
"I do, I do!" He Zhenghao nodded hurriedly, his expression growing even more envious and regretful. "If only I had listened to your advice back then!"
After a moment, He Zhenghao thought of something and said, "I have half a volume of the Detailed Explanations of the Hundred Veins Array Diagram . It represents my life's—"
Before he could finish, Li Fan interrupted him. "Arrays? I'm not particularly interested. The position of an array maintenance technician is just a stepping stone to me."
He Zhenghao hesitated for a long time before finally forcing out another offer with great difficulty. "I also have a daughter... She's also at the Foundation Establishment realm. I could introduce you to her..."
Li Fan's expression turned stern, and he refused with righteous indignation. "What kind of person do you take me for? Don’t mention this to me again!"
He Zhenghao let out a slight sigh of relief, then furrowed his brow. He could clearly see that Li Fan genuinely intended to spare him. Yet it was equally clear that Li Fan wanted something from him.
But aside from those, what else did he possess? He was utterly destitute.
He pondered for a long while but could find no answer.
Finally, He Zhenghao gave a bitter laugh. "Fellow Daoist, please stop toying with me. Whatever it is you want, just say it plainly."
Li Fan smiled faintly and patted He Zhenghao on the shoulder.
"I want you."
He Zhenghao stared blankly for a moment, then his face went pale. He instinctively leaped backward, eyeing Li Fan with suspicion.
"Heh, what are you thinking, Fellow Daoist?
"What I mean is," Li Fan said, standing before He Zhenghao and speaking slowly, “From this day onward, I want you to follow my lead without question."