The inexplicable disappearance of the fatty Ye Feipeng had a sobering effect on the people of Li World.
Those who had grown somewhat arrogant after their recent cultivation breakthroughs quickly reined themselves in. Following Senior Skull’s instructions to the letter, they kept their heads down and cultivated in silence.
At the same time, Zhang Zhiliang’s situation felt... off.
No news spread of his successful breakthrough to Spirit Transformation. On the surface, it was as if nothing had happened at all. He remained the same array master as before, wholly absorbed in his research.
Yet Li Fan knew better.
Some scheme was clearly brewing in the shadows.
Surviving the brutal battle of Tianling Province in this lifetime had not simply given Zhang Zhiliang a breakthrough opportunity. It had reshaped his mindset, perhaps even his entire worldview.
Zhang Zhiliang didn’t make much effort to conceal this shift. And because Li Fan interacted with him frequently, and paid close attention, he had noticed it immediately.
Moreover, within the Tianxuan Mirror, the prices of materials used to craft Array Crowns had risen across the board, albeit subtly. To Li Fan, this was quiet confirmation that Zhang Zhiliang was making preparations behind the scenes.
If I remember correctly, this is the year Immortal Eminences Lan Cang and Hao Xuan will coincidentally clash in the Congyun Sea.
We'll know whether Zhang Zhiliang leaked information about Crimson Flame by observing whether Immortal Eminence Zi Yun intervenes when the time comes.
All things are interconnected. One can perceive the whole from a small detail, just as one can glimpse a leopard through a tube.
Though I sit all day within the Tianxuan Mirror, Formless Killing Mechanism illuminates my vision.
By comparing and verifying these details that ordinary people might overlook against the knowledge from my past lifetimes, I can indeed know the world's affairs without ever leaving my home.
The thought brought him a quiet sense of satisfaction.
But shortly after he resumed his arduous cultivation with this rare pleasant mood, his expression suddenly changed and he halted his practice.
He could no longer monitor He Zhenghao through Formless Killing Mechanism.
The lock was still there, yet no images came through. He couldn’t even determine He Zhenghao’s exact location.
Formless Killing Mechanism was an art of Heaven Watches and Earth Listens, borrowing the will of heaven itself.
Across countless simulation cycles, it had failed only a handful of times, such as within Fuzi’s study atop the azure ox cart. But that place housed an ancient Oddity capable of battling the Heavenly Physician, a being at the Dao Unity level or beyond.
He Zhenghao hadn’t even reached Golden Core.
How could he possibly block it?
What happened?
Li Fan regarded Fellow Daoist He with no small importance. In this lifetime, he was Li Fan’s only successfully subdued subordinate. Before Crimson Flame descended, Li Fan had intended to find a pretext to remove him from the Congyun Sea and save his life.
But that plan hinged on one condition: He Zhenghao could not slip beyond his control.
After a moment’s thought, Li Fan took out a spirit talisman and sent a message.
“Fellow Daoist He, how have you been recently?”
No reply.
Li Fan frowned slightly and sent another message.
“Fellow Daoist He, where are you right now?”
Still nothing.
After waiting a while longer, Li Fan stroked his chin, rose, and left the Tianxuan Mirror, heading straight for the Dao Transmission Plaza.
Just as he approached the teleportation array leading to Liuli Island, a response finally arrived.
“Hmm? Do you need something, Fellow Daoist Li Fan?
“Where else would I be? Naturally, I’m on Liuli Island.”
Li Fan paused mid-step, then chuckled softly.
“Perfect timing, then. It’s been too long. I should come see you in person and catch up.”
The reply came instantly, laced with unmistakable panic.
“Perhaps another day? I have guests at the moment; it’s not very convenient...”
Li Fan’s smile deepened.
Ignoring the suggestion entirely, he activated the teleportation array.
He wanted to see for himself exactly what method He Zhenghao had used to block Formless Killing Mechanism.
Moments later, Li Fan appeared before a visibly awkward, and unmistakably regretful, He Zhenghao.
Yet Li Fan’s gaze immediately shifted to the other presence nearby.
A young woman, no more than sixteen or seventeen, stood calmly to the side.
She was tall, with delicate and refined features. Her eyes sparkled with curiosity as she studied the unexpected arrival.
"And this is?"
"And this is?"
Li Fan and the girl spoke simultaneously.
He Zhenghao cleared his throat subtly, positioning himself between them to block Li Fan's line of sight.
"Hahaha, Fellow Daoist, you're truly decisive—coming immediately like this! Let me introduce you. This is my daughter, He Xinxin. Xinxin, this is Fellow Daoist Li Fan, my closest friend."
He Zhenghao masked his embarrassment well as he made the introductions.
As Li Fan's gaze swept briefly over He Xinxin, surprise flickered in his eyes. This young girl possessed remarkable talent. Despite her youth, she had already reached the late-stage Foundation Establishment realm.
If Li Fan hadn’t transmitted the Mountain River Hidden Dragon Art to He Zhenghao, her cultivation would likely have surpassed her father's!
Greater talent than her father, and not living with him...
Li Fan understood instantly.
Fellow Daoist He must be quite skilled at living off women. No wonder he came alone to the Congyun Sea. Could he have grown too old to be useful anymore? Li Fan speculated maliciously.
Meanwhile, seeing Li Fan stare so intently at his daughter made He Zhenghao increasingly nervous. He hurriedly tried to divert Li Fan’s attention.
“Hahaha, Fellow Daoist, please, have a seat!” He urgently ushered Li Fan toward the pavilion atop the mountain peak.
“Fellow Daoist He, you truly treat me as an outsider,” Li Fan said leisurely as he took a sip of tea, deliberately dragging out his words. “How is it that I’ve never once heard you mention having a daughter?”
As expected, He Xinxin immediately bristled at this. She said nothing, but her beautiful eyes, now tinged with anger, locked squarely onto He Zhenghao.
He Zhenghao inwardly groaned and hurried to explain. “Fellow Daoist, surely your memory fails you! Didn’t I mention last time that I intended to introduce my daughter—”
He cut himself off mid-sentence, suddenly realizing his blunder.
Under He Xinxin’s increasingly suspicious gaze, his mind went completely blank. He opened his mouth, but no explanation came out.
Fortunately, Li Fan chose that moment to come to his rescue.
“Haha, now that you mention it, I do recall,” Li Fan said, slapping his forehead as if just remembering. “You even insisted that I prepare a gift for her.”
“Since this is our first meeting and your father didn’t inform me in advance, I wasn’t able to prepare anything beforehand. For now, allow me to offer a small token.”
As he spoke, Li Fan retrieved a banner roughly half a person’s height from his storage ring and handed it over.
He Xinxin accepted the banner and examined it carefully. It was patterned in black and yellow, with the words “Myriad Immortals” inscribed upon it.
It was none other than the Myriad Immortals Array Banner Set, an item Li Fan had once used in a previous lifetime, and had repurchased in this one just in case.
It was valued at ten thousand contribution points.
“A young woman should always prioritize her safety when traveling alone,” Li Fan said warmly. “This array banner set is for your protection.”
Well aware of the principle that to gain something, one must first give, Li Fan ignored He Zhenghao’s visibly troubled expression and spoke cheerfully to He Xinxin.