"If you're worried about insufficient security, you could spend some money to find a backer.
"At worst, take a thirty percent share. It's still far more profitable than selling privately.
"Since you cultivate the Myriad Puppets Dao, you needn't worry about your safety when dealing with these powerhouses. You can contact several before making your decision."
Li Fan spoke with the fluidity of a flowing river, elaborating about the precautions Jiao Xiuyuan should take in detail. He then analyzed how to handle unexpected situations should they arise. Every minute detail was covered, as if he had truly experienced it all firsthand.
Jiao Xiuyuan listened, completely captivated.
Even after Li Fan finished speaking, he remained lost in thought for a long time, unable to snap out of it.
"Haha, with this, are you still worried about not being able to sell these Mini Medicine King Cauldrons, Fellow Daoist?" Li Fan asked with a smile.
Jiao Xiuyuan jolted from his contemplation and sighed in admiration. "Fellow Daoist, your talent is rare in this world. You have so many ingenious ideas about commerce that I've never even heard of.
"Listening to your words is as good as decades of bitter cultivation! The value of your strategy alone is a hundred times greater than those mini cauldrons.
"Fellow Daoist, I'll give you the Medicine King Cauldrons you need this time for free. If I truly profit from your strategy regarding the Mini Medicine King Cauldrons in the future, I will definitely share a portion with you!" Jiao Xiuyuan promised, pounding his chest.
By that time, this avatar of mine will likely have already returned to the heavens. Li Fan thought to himself, but his expression remained unchanged as he calmly accepted the four Mini Medicine King Cauldrons Jiao Xiuyuan handed over.
He then concluded his conversation with Jiao Xiuyuan.
It will take some time for Jiao Xiuyuan to set up his scheme and for the situation to ferment.
Though fabricated, this strategy is grounded in truth; I'm not afraid that it will fail.
I can't keep this body. If the prophecy comes true, this avatar will be investigated, so I must send it to its death before anything unfolds.
Hmm, I could take this chance to observe firsthand how the joint operation to eliminate Crimson Flame in this lifetime differs from the previous ones.
And when Anchor Year 15 arrives, when the meteorite falls into Cangwu and the Medicine King Cauldron truly returns to the Xuanhuang World...
I imagine many in the cultivation world will be able to connect the meteor with the Medicine King Cauldron.
The competition and slaughter in this lifetime should arrive earlier as well.
I can't guarantee that cultivators above the Nascent Soul realm won't join the fight, so I won't keep the Medicine King Cauldron on my person.
Perhaps I can distribute them among the kids in the Immortal Avengers if they're strong enough by then...
I am genuinely curious about this cauldron-ship that broke through the skies thousands of years ago.
The children can serve as my eyes as they explore the true Medicine King Cauldron. If there truly is some great opportunity inside, I can seek it out in later lifetimes.
The seeds had been planted. Now he only needed to wait for them to blossom and bear fruit.
This avatar's mission is complete. I should consider going to the Wanfa Trade Association in Jiushan Province to purchase some techniques.
With this in mind, Li Fan's avatar began searching for companions within the Tianxuan Mirror.
Things proceeded smoothly. Seven days later, a team consisting of one Nascent Soul cultivator, three Golden Core cultivators, and over a dozen Foundation Establishment cultivators was successfully formed.
When the day of departure finally arrived, Li Fan met the other team members. After some casual conversation, he discovered that the Nascent Soul cultivator leading the group was actually an acquaintance.
Of course, it was a one-sided acquaintance. Li Fan recognized him, but he didn't know Li Fan.
This person was none other than Eminence Qingmu Huasheng.
He had transformed from the mastermind behind the Spirit Mist Grass incident into a participant in this world's affairs.
Like many others, Eminence Qingmu Huasheng had suffered heavy losses. Coupled with the premature exposure of the wood attribute grotto-heaven, Qingmu's livelihood of medicinal herb cultivation was severely impacted. His income had been halved, then halved again.
Utterly helpless, Qingmu had no choice but to pivot to a new profession. He was a Nascent Soul Eminence who could accept various missions after all.
Over the past few years, after numerous attempts, Qingmu had actually found a relatively easy way to earn contribution points. That was buying low and selling high, profiting from the difference.
He would travel to the Wanfa Trade Association in Jiushan Province to purchase supplies, then bring them back to the Congyun Sea to sell privately. Each round trip yielded substantial profits.
Jiushan Province was a rather chaotic place, with minimal oversight from the Myriad Immortals Alliance and frequent threats of attack. Still, with his Nascent Soul strength, he had little trouble ensuring his own safety.
Thus, having tasted success, Qingmu adopted the principle of “earning whatever extra he could” and began leading group expeditions.
For a certain number of contribution points, one could join Qingmu's team and receive his protection along the journey.
Foundation Establishment cultivators paid one thousand, Golden Core cultivators six hundred.
Each trip earned Qingmu nearly twenty thousand contribution points.
After promptly paying his contribution points, Li Fan departed with the team.
To avoid excessive cost, the group didn't take cross-province teleportation. Instead, they first teleported to the border of the Congyun Sea, entering Shilin Province. Then they took Shilin City's teleportation array to Xuanshi City near Jiushan Province. Afterward, they flew from Xuanshi City all the way to Jiushan Province.
Jiushan Province was named after the nine mountain ranges within its borders.[1] Each mountain range stood upon the earth like towering city walls. Moreover, each of these nine mountain ranges possessed its own mysteries.
Cultivators below the Nascent Soul realm who didn’t possess grotto-heaven domains couldn't fly over the mountains. They could only pass through like mortals, traveling along mountain paths between peaks.
Every year, skeptical cultivators who attempted to fly over the nine mountains would crash directly into cliff faces and die.
The Wanfa Trade Association was located on the final mountain, Tianchang Mountain.
Li Fan's avatar followed the team toward their destination.
Meanwhile, after three months of secluded cultivation, his true self suddenly awoke. He had sensed that Ye Feipeng was starting to grow restless.
His perspective shifted to the deserted island.
Ye Feipeng was secretly watching Xiao Heng practice his killing technique, Water Dragon's Roar.
The spectacular sight of thousands of water dragons dancing as one made Ye Feipeng's eyes gleam with envy.
Although the technique I cultivate, Treading Waves Across the Sea, also has a move called Treading Waves to Defy Heaven with considerable power, it ultimately lacks the domineering presence of Xiao Heng's technique. Its effectiveness in practical combat also seems slightly inferior.
Ye Feipeng's eyes darted around as he pondered secretly.
This won't do. My technique can't match Xiao Heng's, and my cultivation talent falls short too. If this continues, I'll truly be left completely behind.
The day Zhang Haobo obtains his opportunity will soon approach...
Ye Feipeng made his decision instantly.
While Xiao Heng remained immersed in cultivation, Ye Feipeng quietly slipped away from the desolate island by himself.
He flew toward Liuli Island, following the coordinates in his memory.
Li Fan smiled faintly, arriving at Liuli Island one step ahead through the teleportation array.
To ensure events unfolded according to his wishes, Li Fan needed to be physically present.
***
Seven days later.
Zhang Haobo, still a mortal, led the Cangyuan on yet another fishing expedition across the sea. Naturally, he remained completely unaware that a pair of eyes was watching his every movement from above.
And Ye Feipeng, who was monitoring Zhang Haobo closely, failed to notice another pair of eyes observing them from even farther away.
Aboard the Cangyuan, Zhang Haobo seemed somewhat distracted. As he scanned the surrounding waters, a strange sense of familiarity suddenly washed over him.
Suddenly, he spotted a vaguely recognizable reef ahead.
His spirits lifting, he ordered his crew to drop anchor and moor the ship there. Then, relying on his excellent swimming skills, he plunged into the sea.
In these relatively shallow depths, Zhang Haobo searched around, guided by some inexplicable premonition.
Before long, a skeleton resting peacefully on the seafloor caught his attention.
He surfaced for air.
However, when he dove back down to investigate further, Zhang Haobo discovered to his bewilderment that the skeleton he'd just seen had abruptly vanished.
He didn't witness Ye Feipeng, not far away, retrieving the jade slip from the skeleton's embrace with trembling excitement.
Ye Feipeng studied it intently.
A palm strike that shakes the heavens, upon turning over, creates the boundless sea...
All things and living beings possess consciousness. The Congyun Sea is no exception...
So that's how it is, that's how it is...
A flash of profound understanding dawned in Ye Feipeng's eyes.
1. Jiu Shan 九山 just means “nine mountains” ☜