Chapter 578: The Final Deception
Liuli Island.
He Zhenghao gazed upon the island he had guarded for decades, then at the timid guardian who had succeeded him, bowing and scraping at his side. A surge of pride welled up in his chest.
There was a time when he, too, had been like this man—filled with dread and anxiety whenever a superior came for an inspection, terrified of incurring their displeasure.
But now, after only a few short years, He Zhenghao had become precisely the kind of "important person" he once regarded with awe.
After offering a few words of encouragement to the junior named Zhao Changli, He Zhenghao entered the Mountain River Constellation Array with practiced ease.
Mountains hung overhead, shielding those within from any outside observation.
The cultivators He Zhenghao had invited were already there, waiting.
"Fellow Daoist He!"
The moment he appeared, they greeted him with effusive warmth. In their eyes, if Li Fan was the God of Wealth, then He Zhenghao was the quintessential Wealth-Scattering Child.[1]
After the initial pleasantries, one cultivator could contain himself no longer. "Fellow Daoist He, has Secretary-Envoy Li truly divined that the war is about to end? There's no sign of it at all. Just today we heard the Immortal Alliance swear they would fight to the last drop of blood—"
He was drowned out before he could finish.
"The Secretary-Envoy's divination arts penetrate heaven and earth—how could he be wrong? If you don't believe it, why did you even come today?"
"Heh heh, Fellow Daoist He, ignore him. Tell us more about this fundraising plan with no upper limit..."
He Zhenghao raised his hands and the room fell silent at once.
With a faint smile, he began laying out the details for the assembled crowd.
Hearing the confirmation directly from He Zhenghao's lips, the cultivators were thrilled. Yet the scale of the proposed fundraising was simply too vast. He Zhenghao alone could not dispel every doubt, and some among the crowd still harbored private reservations.
It was at this moment that Li Fan made his entrance.
A beam of silvery light descended from the mountains hanging overhead.
Clad in white Daoist robes and treading upon starlight, Li Fan moved without apparent haste yet arrived in their midst in the blink of an eye.
The rhythmic, pulsating aura radiated from him seized the attention of every cultivator in the room.
Everyone present, having been invited by He Zhenghao, was wealthy and well-traveled, accustomed to remarkable sights. Yet faced with the residual aura clinging to Li Fan in that moment, they were utterly awestruck.
It was as though they stood directly before the vast and boundless Great Dao of heaven and earth. Just brushing against a fraction of it caused all manner of insights and epiphanies to flood their minds involuntarily.
One cultivator broke into a look of rapturous joy on the spot, apparently grasping something profound. Heedless of the setting, he shut his eyes and began to meditate where he stood.
"What kind of presence is this? Even a Spirit Transformation Immortal Eminence is nowhere near this level."
"Could it be... that the Secretary-Envoy has recovered his original cultivation realm?"
They exchanged glances, the shock in their hearts impossible to conceal.
"I have been in secluded cultivation for some time and have made a few trivial gains," Li Fan said calmly. "I have not yet fully adapted to them, nor succeeded in completely restraining my aura. I fear I have made a spectacle of myself before you all."
Their hearts trembled violently, minds racing with speculation as they hurriedly voiced their demurrals.
Li Fan gave a slight nod and waited for the room to settle before speaking again. "During this period of seclusion, as my cultivation advanced a step further, I also took the opportunity to repair the Heavenly Mechanisms Sect's supreme treasure: the Qiankun Heavenly Mechanisms Die.
"This artifact was damaged when I forced it to deduce the heavenly mechanisms during my interrogation at the Martial Hall. Repairing it would have been a trivial matter, but I had a faint premonition that the moment had not yet arrived. So I held back until now."
As he spoke, a crystalline, translucent twenty-sided die materialized in his palm. It spun without stopping, and through its intricate facets one could glimpse countless flickering scenes rushing past at blinding speed.
"Some time ago, my cultivation reached a new level. Fortune arrived at my door alongside it, and I knew the time had come to restore the die completely. In the process, I did indeed catch a glimpse of a possible future."
A chill ran through the crowd. Every cultivator leaned in, listening intently.
"The two Spirit Transformation Immortal Eminences, Hong Xi and Zi Yun, may return to Congyun Immortal City in the coming days. As you know, although I currently oversee the administration of the Congyun Sea, it is only a temporary stewardship in their absence."
Li Fan's expression did not stir so much as a ripple, as though he were discussing a matter entirely unrelated to himself.
"By both sentiment and reason, I must relinquish this authority once they return. I am an ancient cultivator, accustomed to the life of a carefree recluse. I have no desire to be bound by others. Perhaps, from that point on, I will resign from my post as Secretary-Envoy, depart the Congyun Sea, and wander into the heartlands of the Immortal Alliance.
"My descent into the mortal realm to govern this territory has created a bond of fate between me and all of you. I could not have completed the task of rebuilding the immortal city without your steadfast support.
"Therefore, I have decided to aid you one final time before my resignation."
His gaze swept over the assembly. "After this matter is concluded, the thread of fate between us will be severed, and I fear we shall have no further connection."
His words sent an immediate uproar through the hall.
Those present were no fools. Li Fan's stated reason was his unwillingness to contend for power and his desire to depart. But if that were truly his intent, he could simply resign and leave. There was no need to stage a grand fundraising spectacle to win hearts and minds.
“So that's it. He is seeking our support to seize power for himself.”
“Indeed! No matter how you look at it, he is the highest administrator of an entire province. Such a position is not so easily abandoned.”
Many cultivators felt a flash of clarity. Recalling how loyal supporters such as He Zhenghao and Gao Yuan had been elevated to key positions after each of Li Fan's political victories, they sensed that an opportunity had arrived.
"Secretary-Envoy, you need not worry. We will follow your lead without question!"
"Exactly! Immortal Eminences Hong Xi and Zi Yun have decent enough reputations, but during their tenure they remained aloof, rarely showing any warmth. How could they compare to Your Excellency, who leads Fellow Daoists to prosper alongside him?"
"To be frank, I have been fortunate enough to participate in every one of the Secretary-Envoy's fundraising plans. Combined with my own efforts, my personal wealth has increased more than sixfold in just a few years!"
"I was a bit slower to act, but mine has still doubled!"
"We support the Secretary-Envoy!"
"Following Your Excellency leads to great wealth and the Great Dao!"
Once one person spoke up, the rest followed swiftly. Their voices rose in unison behind Li Fan.
Li Fan's gaze flickered almost imperceptibly toward He Zhenghao. Reacting at once, He Zhenghao produced the pre-prepared Contract Documents and roster from his storage ring.
The fundraising commenced on the spot.
In the charged atmosphere, and under Li Fan's watchful, predatory gaze, even those who had been reluctant found themselves compelled to contribute at least a portion of their personal savings.
For the sake of building momentum, I spent one piece of Man's Dao Stardust and several Dao Comprehension Pills just to make my entrance. I'd better not end up on the losing end of this deal with you lot.
1. 财神 (Caishen) is the Chinese God of Wealth, a major deity in Chinese folk religion and Taoism who governs the flow of money and fortune.
散财童子 (Sancai Tongzi) is one of the five Wealth Child deities who serve as assistants to the main God of Wealth . These five are:
招财童子 (Zhaocai Tongzi) – Wealth-Inviting Child: Draws wealth in.
善财童子 (Shancai Tongzi) – Good-Wealth Child: A popular title associated with spreading good fortune .
散财童子 (Sancai Tongzi) – Wealth-Scattering Child: Distributes wealth to the people .
聚财童子 (Jucai Tongzi) – Wealth-Gathering Child: Gathers and accumulates wealth.
运财童子 (Yuncai Tongzi) – Wealth-Transporting Child: Moves wealth around, ensuring it reaches people .
These Wealth Children are seen as a category of minor deities with magical powers but without full divine status, acting more like assistants or attendants. They are often playful or youthful in nature ☜