"Exactly so!" Li Fan's clear voice echoed within the space.
The white jade Heart-Questioning Platform remained silent, showing no reaction.
The old man scrutinized Li Fan once more before continuing, "May I ask, Fellow Daoist, where exactly were you in slumber? And roughly when did you awaken?"
A flicker of displeasure crossed Li Fan's face, but he still replied in a measured tone, "In an underground cavern on the remote shores of the Congyun Sea. As for the time... approximately twenty-six days ago."
"Please wait a moment, Fellow Daoist." The old man smiled, then closed his eyes.
Li Fan waited patiently upon the Heart-Questioning Platform.
After a full day passed, Li Fan began to show signs of impatience.
"Still not done, old man?
"Each generation truly is worse than the last. In my day, when our Heavenly Mechanisms Sect selected disciples, the process wasn't this troublesome..."
He muttered under his breath.
Not long after, the old man opened his eyes.
"Confirmation received. Indeed, a cultivator did emerge from the Hundred Stones Grotto-Heaven some days ago.
"However, Fellow Daoist, please remain patient. There is one final procedure to complete."
The old man offered an apologetic smile. As he spoke, an ancient bronze mirror materialized above Li Fan's head.
A faint, ghostly green light shot forth, enveloping Li Fan.
Here it comes...
Li Fan's mind stirred, yet he felt no fear.
In his past lifetime, the Furnace of Myriad Forms combined with A Single Hand Veils the Heavens had been sufficient to deceive the upgraded version of the Tianxuan Mirror, the Xuan Net.
Now, Li Fan was further bolstered by his Seven-Apertures Exquisite Heart, and the entity here to verify him was just an avatar of the Tianxuan Mirror. The chance of exposure was vanishingly small.
As expected, moments later, the Tianxuan Mirror withdrew its green light and vanished.
The old man's expression grew even more amiable. "Welcome to our Myriad Immortals Alliance, Fellow Daoist!
"All things change as the years pass. Many significant events have transpired in the world during your long slumber.
"If you have any needs, the Myriad Immortals Alliance can assign a specialist to assist you in adapting to modern life—"
Li Fan waved a hand. "I appreciate the offer! However, before coming here, I had some dealings with He Zhenghao of Liuli Island. I am already quite familiar with your Alliance's various affairs."
The old man nodded. "Even better. Your identity has been registered. You are now free to act as you wish."
Upon hearing this, Li Fan stepped down to leave.
"Ah, one more thing, Fellow Daoist. Remember, from now on, you should change your phrasing. It is no longer 'your Alliance,' but 'our Myriad Immortals Alliance.'" The old man spoke with a smile that carried a hint of deeper meaning.
Li Fan's steps paused briefly. He offered no reply and departed directly.
Leaving the central area of Myriad Immortals Island, he arrived before the Tianxuan Mirror.
Gazing at the seemingly ordinary, harmless mirror surface, Li Fan couldn't help but recall that vast green net which had enveloped the entire Xuanhuang World in his past lifetime.
After staring at it for a long while, Li Fan took a deep breath and stepped into the mirror.
"Ancient Cultivator Li Fan, welcome to the future!"
The familiar, mechanical voice of the Tianxuan Mirror rang out.
What followed was a series of introductions and explanations of the Tianxuan Mirror's functions.
Li Fan pretended to listen attentively, testing each and every feature.
A long time later, the Tianxuan Mirror's voice fell silent.
Li Fan looked at his contribution point balance.
10,000 points.
Such unexpectedly generous treatment. I remember it only gave me 1000 points back when I was at the late-stage Foundation Establishment realm.
Or perhaps ancient cultivators who pledge their allegiance receive special preferential treatment?
He shook his head inwardly, dismissing the irrelevant thought.
After looking through the Tianxuan Mirror's technique catalogs, Li Fan retrieved a pile of jade slips from his storage ring and requested to sell them.
These were the many techniques he had acquired from the Hundred Stones Grotto-Heaven.
Fortunately, these techniques were all unique copies.
Originally, there were twenty Golden Core techniques and ten Nascent Soul techniques.
Li Fan kept three of each for future contingencies and sold off all the rest.
The Tianxuan Mirror offered an average purchase price of 13,000 per Golden Core technique and 85,000 per Nascent Soul technique.
Li Fan didn't haggle and sold them immediately.
Thus, in an instant, his account balance swelled to 826,000 contribution points.
Reselling techniques truly is the fastest way to make money. Without even lifting a finger, I’ve earned the equivalent of years of loaning techniques at Brightmoon Palace.
Truly indispensable.
Li Fan couldn't help but sigh.
These eight hundred thousand-plus contribution points should last a while. But it's still not enough...
Li Fan was currently at the mid-stage Golden Core realm.
In eight years—that was, Anchor Year 16—the Five Elements Grotto-Heavens would be discovered and subsequently relocated deep within the Myriad Immortals Alliance's territory.
In Anchor Year 36, the Five Elements Grotto-Heavens would reappear in the void of Tianling Province, once again capturing the Myriad Immortals Alliance's attention.
In other words, Li Fan only had twenty years.
Time was tight. Li Fan had to advance to the final-stage Golden Core realm within eight years.
Only then would he be qualified to make plans for the void of Tianling Province.
Given Li Fan's cultivation aptitude, it would be somewhat difficult to advance from the mid-stage to the final-stage of Golden Core in just eight years.
So, naturally, he would have to employ some... unconventional methods.
Li Fan looked at his reflection in the mirror.
It was not his original twenty-year-old youthful appearance. Instead, it was the visage of a middle-aged man in his forties or fifties.
This was achieved through Arcana True Spirit Transformation.
Wearing a different skin, not showing one's true face to others, provides a unique sense of security in this perilous Xuanhuang World.
If things go awry, it's just a matter of changing identities.
Li Fan smiled faintly and purchased the materials needed to create an avatar through the Tianxuan Mirror.
Afterward, he traveled via teleportation array to Tai’an Island.
Li Fan used Formless Killing Mechanism to lock onto Zhou Qing'ang, the guardian of Tai’an Island and also a spy for the Five Elders Council. Then, he pretended to leave the island. In reality, he didn't go far, lurking beneath the sea.
He waited for over a month before finally seizing an opportunity when Zhou Qing'ang ventured out to sea alone.
Li Fan trailed him all the way to a deserted stretch of water.
Activating the Insect Binding divine ability, Li Fan captured him, towed him to the seabed, and dug out a secret chamber as usual.
Without wasting words, Li Fan lightly tapped his index finger, activating the Cloudwater Dream Illusion Art.
Zhou Qing'ang immediately fell into a deep slumber.
Drawing from the experiences of past lives, Li Fan knew that Zhou Qing'ang's soul was imprinted with a special restriction by the Five Elders Council.
A forced soul search would trigger the restriction, scattering his spirit to the winds. So in this life, Li Fan had adopted a different method—constructing a false dreamscape to glimpse the secrets buried deep within his heart.
Slowly, a faint smile began to curl at the corners of Zhou Qing'ang's lips.
In the dreamscape, he had diligently infiltrated the Myriad Immortals Alliance for centuries.
Starting from the lowest ranks, he worked his way up, and upon breaking through to the Spirit Transformation realm, he finally rose to the position of Island Master of Myriad Immortals Island.
Then, acting from within, he coordinated with a massive assault from the Five Elders Council. Their advance was unstoppable, and within days, the entire Congyun Sea was conquered.
And he, Zhou Qing'ang, having fulfilled his purpose, returned to his homeland in triumphant spirits.
***
“The Land of Gentlemen?" Li Fan murmured thoughtfully, watching Zhou Qing'ang in the illusory dream.