Chapter 546: A Single Hand Sets The War In Motion
Even as his thoughts churned, Li Fan did not stop speaking.
With a grave expression, he declared, "This matter is of utmost importance. According to our assessment, its significance is not inferior to the prophecy of 'Tianxuan Soul-Locking, Xuanhuang unified.'”
Li Fan watched the stone-face's composure shatter completely and smiled inwardly, then continued. "If the Myriad Immortals Alliance is allowed to complete this undertaking unimpeded, it will likely be enough to fundamentally alter the balance of power between the Alliance and your Five Elders Council.
"The overall strength of the Five Elders Council and the Myriad Immortals Alliance has always been roughly equal. In fact, due to the presence of the Heavenly Venerable Dao Teacher, your side has been subtly suppressed. Should the Myriad Immortals Alliance grow any stronger, I fear your Five Elders Council would be permanently on the back foot, at a perpetual disadvantage.
"This is an outcome we do not wish to see," Li Fan said truthfully.
"This is also why I sought you out with such urgency. I am aware that a spy contacting their superior so frequently is bound to arouse suspicion. But the situation is sudden, and I had no other choice." Li Fan sighed and shook his head.
"Is this true?" The face's tone grew heavy. He believed the other party would not deceive him on such a matter; there had to be some truth to it.
But something more important than the prophecy of Xuanhuang's unification... this was bordering on alarmist exaggeration.
After all, ever since he had been the first within the organization to report the prophecy's message, the Five Elders Council had been swept up in a storm of major activity.
His superiors had treated him with unprecedented kindness, even promising that one more achievement of equal merit would allow him not only to retire honorably, free from the front lines, but also to redeem his Soul Contract. He would then become one of the most envied Free Cultivators among the Five Elders Council's ranks.
That alone showed just how profound the secrets behind the prophecy of Xuanhuang's unification truly were.
And now, this mysterious cultivator wearing Zhou Qing'ang's skin was claiming to know a secret even more important than that?
The face felt his heart pounding with an intensity he had never experienced before.
Could this be his chance to completely change his fate?
"What is it, exactly?" he asked, unable to contain his eagerness.
Li Fan raised a single finger. "The usual terms. Ten million contribution points."
Before the face could speak, Li Fan explained, "The development of any organization relies on sufficient funding.
"While we do not wish to see the Myriad Immortals Alliance grow stronger or the balance of power between you shift, the prerequisite for all of this is first ensuring our own survival and development.
"Before you say it’s too expensive, remember what you got for ten million contribution points last time. Believe me, this time you will certainly not lose out."
Li Fan met the stone-face's gaze with earnest eyes. "Go now and speak to your superiors. I will wait here for your reply."
The face hesitated for a moment, then swiftly vanished from the stone fragment.
Li Fan stood in place and waited, eyes closed.
After roughly the time it took for one stick of incense to burn, the face reappeared. "My superiors have agreed. How shall we proceed with the transaction?"
Li Fan's eyes snapped open. "Soon, Li Fan, the Secretary-Envoy of the Congyun Sea, will restart the contribution point fundraising drive.
"Deliver the ten million contribution points to He Zhenghao, who is in charge of the collection, within three months.
"Hmm... use the alias Han Wuyou," Li Fan said.
"Wuyou?"[1]
The face startled and quickly shook his head. "Better choose another name. That one... carries some connotations."
Li Fan fell silent for a moment.
"Then Liu Yihang," he said.
"That works. Now, about what you just mentioned—" The face began, but Li Fan cut him off.
"The matter is urgent; there's no time to delay. Since you've agreed, I can tell you now.
"As for breaking the agreement over a mere ten million contribution points..." Li Fan let out a low chuckle. "Then I can only say we misjudged you. Your Five Elders Council would be utterly unworthy of being an opponent of the Myriad Immortals Alliance.
"Consider this piece of information a free gift.
"I trust you will make the correct choice."
Li Fan placed both hands upon the smooth stone fragment and transmitted the carefully prepared information.
"Beyond the wood-attribute grotto-heaven, there are four more major grotto-heavens, altogether forming a Five Elements array? Each one is brimming with resources, like a complete, nascent world?!" Moments later, the face's exclamation of shock echoed back.
"Remember, ten million contribution points, within three months," Li Fan interjected at precisely the right moment, pulling the stunned face back to reality.
Before the face could respond, Li Fan struck the stone with his palm and shattered it to dust.
He then proceeded to thoroughly demolish the undersea ruins, erasing all traces, before making his unhurried way back to Congyun City.
Meanwhile, in the Administration Hall, Li Fan's true self stood up.
If nothing goes wrong, the Five Elders Council, upon learning of the existence of the Five Elements Grotto-Heavens, will certainly not remain idle.
There's a high probability they will dispatch Dao Unity cultivators to raid and seize the Five Elements Grotto-Heavens, just as they did in my previous life.
The Myriad Immortals Alliance will undoubtedly mount a fierce counterattack. War will be imminent.
I recall that once the battle reached a stalemate in Tianling Province, it became exceedingly brutal. All cultivators above the Nascent Soul realm from every province were drafted to that battlefield.
The number of cultivators who perished was beyond counting. In this life, although my cultivation is publicly only at the Golden Core realm, I have previously slain several Nascent Soul cultivators working in concert. Given the combat prowess I've demonstrated, there is still a significant chance I could be conscripted.
The Tianling Province battlefield... Better to stay far away from it.
Thus, Li Fan immediately summoned Gao Yuan and He Zhenghao and announced two matters.
The first: he had sensed a rare, heaven-sent opportunity approaching. As the de facto ruling authority of Congyun Sea, and adhering to the principle of seeking benefit for its cultivators, he had decided to restart the contribution point fundraising plan. The upper limit for this collection would be one hundred million.
When Li Fan uttered the words "one hundred million," He Zhenghao's eyes went wide. He stood there dumbstruck, unable to regain his composure.
Gao Yuan, however, looked at Li Fan with eyes full of fervent zeal.
Before either of them could recover, Li Fan announced the second matter.
This round of contribution point fundraising was of utmost importance; failure was not an option. He needed to make thorough preparations.
Therefore, effective immediately, he would enter a state of deep seclusion and sever all means of contact. He would cut himself off from all disturbances and would not emerge until all preparations were complete.
"This..." Hearing that Li Fan was entering seclusion while simultaneously calling for the collection of contribution points, two orders that seemed somewhat contradictory, both Gao Yuan and He Zhenghao furrowed their brows.
Nevertheless, it was Gao Yuan who recovered first. "We shall obey the Secretary-Envoy's command.
"Rest assured, Sir. We will not fail in our task!"
1. 无忧 means free from worries, same characters as “untroubled” in Venerable Untroubled ☜