The image on the fractured stone fell abruptly silent.
Li Fan did not press the matter and simply waited with patience.
After a long while, the face finally responded. “Found it! There is something perfectly suited for you!”
“Oh? What is it?” Li Fan feigned excitement.
“The Heaven-Swallowing, Earth-Devouring Grand Art!” the face declared smugly.
“Heaven-Swallowing, Earth-Devouring?” Li Fan’s eyes narrowed slightly as he searched his memories, yet found no trace of such a technique.
Fortunately, the face had no intention of testing him and explained on its own.
“It was a method left behind by a notorious cultivator from ancient times.
“This man took an unorthodox path. Instead of drawing spiritual qi from heaven and earth, he directly devoured spiritual and earth veins to cultivate.
“His progress was astonishingly fast. But he had no restraint and acted with reckless abandon. In a short span of time, he drained the spiritual qi of several provinces dry and altered the very forms of mountains and rivers.
“In the end, he was discovered and ended up being flayed, his bones extracted, and his soul scattered to the winds.
“However, this secret art was preserved after interrogation.”
Li Fan pondered briefly, a thoughtful expression appearing on his face.
“Boss, you mean for me to use this Heaven-Swallowing, Earth-Devouring Grand Art to secretly siphon the Myriad Immortals Alliance’s spiritual and earth veins?”
The face nodded, pleased at his quick understanding.
“Most of the Alliance’s guarded branches are built atop earth veins.
“As the guardian of Tai’an Island, if you act cautiously and absorb only a minute portion each time, you will not be discovered.
“And even that tiny portion of earth vein power would be immense nourishment for a Foundation Establishment cultivator like yourself. With it, advancing to the Golden Core realm should be swift.”
Li Fan’s face lit up with delight.
“Boss, you are truly brilliant and far-sighted!”
The face remained unmoved by the flattery and gave a cold snort.
“Go and obtain the first day’s examination questions from He Zhenghao first. Once the results are confirmed, we will conduct the transaction that very night.
“I will send a special envoy then. You will be responsible only for the handover.
“He will also bring you the Heaven-Swallowing, Earth-Devouring Grand Art.”
Li Fan was not surprised by this arrangement.
After all, five million contribution points were no trivial sum. There was no way they would let a Foundation Establishment cultivator take charge.
He nodded repeatedly.
“Go on,” the face instructed. “We have been meeting rather frequently of late. This is a critical juncture, so be extra cautious. Do not let anything slip.”
“Rest assured, Boss,” Li Fan replied, thumping his chest confidently.
After settling on the next meeting location, the stone fragment gradually dimmed before crumbling into dust.
Cultivating by devouring the power of earth veins... Li Fan’s thoughts stirred.
If this can truly be put to use, then my cultivation speed in this life may surpass even my expectations.
Still wearing Zhou Qing’ang’s appearance, Li Fan quietly returned to Tai’an Island.
His avatar remained deeply concealed within the island protection array, so there was no danger of exposure. Even so, out of caution, Li Fan set up another array within his secluded cultivation chamber.
He then performed the secret art, A Single Hand Veils the Heavens, adding yet another layer of concealment.
Only after completing all these precautions did he retrieve a blank jade slip from his storage ring.
Within his mind, the Dao Transformation Stone shimmered with swirling blue light. The examination questions he had memorized in his previous life were transcribed one by one onto the jade slip.
The Myriad Immortals Alliance's entrance examination was divided into numerous subjects: Governance, Law, Economics, Martial Arts, Artifacts, Arrays, Alchemy, Talismans, and more.
It was organized by the local Administration Halls, with assistance from the Martial Halls.
Applicants were required to take the examinations for all subjects.
After a comprehensive evaluation, a select group would be chosen and transferred to the Myriad Immortals Alliance headquarters or other important, classified regions.
Only then, based on the cultivator's overall results and personal placement preferences, were positions assigned.
The format of the assessment was not limited to simple questions and answers like the Knowledge Appraisal Sphere.
For example, in the Governance examination, candidates were immersed in realistic illusions similar to The Eras.
They experienced various crises, testing their ideological resolve and loyalty.
As for skills like Artifacts, Arrays, Alchemy, and Talismans, besides theoretical tests, candidates also had to perform live, practical demonstrations.
Numerous cultivators participated in each entrance exam, and while the vast majority were just there to make up the numbers, completing the entire process was still time-consuming and laborious.
Yet cultivators never seemed to tire of it; the number of applicants only increased with each iteration.
All in all, for those who paid attention to it, the decennial entrance exam could be considered a grand event.
Having recorded the first day's exam questions and the remaining ones into two separate jade slips, Li Fan let out a soft sigh.
Li Fan had no intention of taking the exam himself. After all, for him, there were many more convenient methods to enter the Myriad Immortals Alliance system.
Moreover, his primary mission in this life was to reach the Nascent Soul realm using the Five Elements Grotto-Heavens.
Joining the Myriad Immortals Alliance would only add another layer of shackles, hindering his movements.
He just needed to wait patiently for another month and a half.
While cultivating, Li Fan carefully pondered the possible variables that might arise in the future.
Time flowed slowly onward.
During this period, in order to avoid arousing suspicion, Li Fan invited He Zhenghao to Tai’an Island as a guest several times.
Each time, he activated the island’s array barrier, and the two would converse late into the night.
Knowing He Zhenghao’s temperament well, Li Fan naturally steered their conversations in ways that pleased him most.
After several such meetings, He Zhenghao came to regard “Zhou Qing’ang” as a trusted confidant.
In the course of their talks, He Zhenghao repeatedly spoke with pride about how he had once received guidance from an “ancient cultivator of the Heavenly Mechanisms Sect.” A single investment, he claimed, had completely reversed his fortunes and altered his destiny.
Now, having cultivated that Nascent Soul technique, he was already on the verge of forming his Golden Core.
On the surface, Li Fan displayed unreserved envy. He praised He Zhenghao lavishly and repeatedly entreated him to remember him the next time such a lucrative opportunity arose.
Unable to withstand Li Fan’s persistent wheedling, He Zhenghao finally agreed.
Only then did Li Fan reveal a satisfied smile.
Aside from this, the Congyun Sea remained calm, with no unusual disturbances.
Soon, only three days remained before the official start of the entrance examination.
After arranging yet another lengthy discussion with He Zhenghao and seeing him off, Li Fan abruptly rose to his feet.
The time has come.
He quietly flew toward the meeting place agreed upon with the stone-face.
Following the same procedure as before, he soon located the rendezvous point.
Once verification was complete, the face abruptly manifested.
“Well? Did you obtain the examination questions?” There was a rare trace of tension and anticipation in its voice.
Li Fan, likewise, looked like he could barely suppress his own excitement.
He nodded, withdrew the jade slip containing the first day’s examination questions, and placed it upon the fractured stone.
A yellow radiance enveloped the jade slip, and the face’s image grew indistinct.
A moment passed.
“Excellent! Remain here. In three days, we shall have our answer.”
Before Li Fan could reply, the face vanished, unable to conceal its eagerness.
The yellow glow gradually faded. This time, however, the fractured stone did not crumble.
Li Fan looked at it, his gaze unfathomably deep.