As He Zhenghao prattled on with his explanation, Li Fan watched the man’s figure gradually overlap with the cultivator who had saved the group from the Li World when their ship had capsized.
So it was you! You scoundrel, stealing from right under your own nose! No wonder Tianbao Pavilion’s smuggling operation ran smoothly right under your watch without any issues. Even in my last life, when the rumors of Tianbao Pavilion smuggling mortals was common knowledge across the island, it never caused any real trouble.
Thinking it over, it made perfect sense. Given He Zhenghao’s greed, why would he ever let such a lucrative opportunity slip through his fingers? It was only logical that he would utilize it himself.
Li Fan felt a wave of exasperation but quickly accepted the reality of the situation. “So what are you proposing, Fellow Daoist He?”
Seeing that Li Fan didn’t object, He Zhenghao brightened considerably. “It’s simple. I just need you to make a trip to the Li World for me and bring back some supplies that I had the people there gather a decade ago. Once we sell them, we’ll split the contribution points fifty-fifty.
“I’m stuck here as the guardian of Liuli Island and can’t leave. I was originally going to find someone else for this, but since you reached out to me, I figured I’d offer it to you instead.”
After some thought, Li Fan concluded the job carried little risk. Earning over a thousand contribution points in thirty days far exceeded what most ordinary missions offered.
“How long will the round trip take?” This was crucial; he couldn’t afford to miss the opening of Cloudwater Palace.
“Don’t worry, it’ll take thirty days at most. It won’t interfere with your cultivation,” He Zhenghao assured him.
“Alright, I’ll take the job.”
He Zhenghao smiled with satisfaction and handed Li Fan a small wooden boat. “Once you have the supplies, give this to the mortals in Li World. You needn’t concern yourself with anything beyond that.”
Li Fan took it and examined it. The boat resembled the Taiyan Boat, though far less refined.
“It’s just an ordinary wooden boat inscribed with a few basic arrays, not an artifact. But it’s enough to protect those mortals as they pass through the Immortal-Slaying Grand Array to get here,” He Zhenghao explained.
“Of course, the array’s strength is only sufficient for a single crossing. Once they arrive in the cultivation world, the array will run out of fuel, and it will dissipate on its own. This is just to prevent those mortals from attempting to replicate it.”
“You have truly thought of everything, Fellow Daoist He,” Li Fan remarked, though his words carried little sincerity.
He Zhenghao laughed, unbothered. He then produced a spirit talisman and handed it to Li Fan with visible reluctance.
“Regardless, helping mortals sneak in isn’t exactly something we can do openly. If another cultivator were to spot you, not only would it be embarrassing, but you might also face scrutiny from the Myriad Immortals Alliance. To be safe, take this Form-Concealing Talisman with you to avoid being recognized.”
Li Fan nodded and accepted it.
“This Form-Concealing Talisman can hide both your form and your aura. It’s an advanced version of the Qi-Concealing Talisman. Once activated, not even a Golden Core cultivator can see through it. It’s practically made for assa—” He Zhenghao caught himself. “Ahem, it’s an essential item for any traveling cultivator.”
He sighed regretfully. “It’s just that the Spirit Mist Grass required to make these is quite rare, which keeps the price steep. A single talisman costs fifty contribution points.
“However, if you ever find yourself in need of more in the future, you can look for a cultivator named Jiao Xiuyuan on Myriad Immortals Island. He has a large stock of defective Form-Concealing Talismans, supposedly rejects from the Myriad Immortals Island Talisman Hall.
“Though they’re labelled as defective, they still work. They’re just not as effective; only capable of hiding you from Foundation Establishment cultivators.”
“But the price is low, only twenty contribution points. If you ever go travelling, young friend, it wouldn’t hurt to have a few on hand.” He Zhenghao continued educating Li Fan.
Afterward, He Zhenghao detailed all the precautions for traveling to the Li World and the various situations Li Fan might encounter.
Once all preparations were complete, Li Fan prepared to set out for the Li World, aiming for an early departure and swift return.
Yet, just before leaving, he couldn’t help but ask, “Brother He, there’s something I’ve been wondering about, though I’m not sure if I should bring it up...”
He Zhenghao paused, then said, “Speak freely.”
“You are a Foundation Establishment cultivator, holding the position of guardian of Liuli Island. You’re also an array master. Logically, you shouldn’t be so short on contribution points.
“Why do you still seem somewhat... financially strained?” Li Fan phrased the question as tactfully as he could after a moment of consideration.
He Zhenghao assumed Li Fan was concerned about his own future within the Myriad Immortals Alliance.
He laughed bitterly and explained, “You misunderstand, Fellow Daoist. Within the Alliance, while Foundation Establishment cultivators might not have complete freedom with their contribution points, they are certainly not as financially constrained as I am.”
“Oh? Does Brother He have some difficulties?” Li Fan asked, curious.
“To be honest, I’ve set my sights on a Nascent Soul technique. This technique is highly compatible with my Foundation Establishment Curio. If I could switch to cultivating it, I would undoubtedly reach the Golden Core realm within a century, and even the Nascent Soul realm would be virtually assured.” A flash of longing passed through He Zhenghao’s eyes.
“The problem is, a true Nascent Soul technique is incredibly precious. The number of contribution points required... even after saving for so long, I’m still far short.
“So, I have to scrimp and save wherever I can,” He Zhenghao sighed deeply. “Even then, who knows how many years it will take to redeem it? Or worse, whether this technique I yearn for will be redeemed by someone else before I can gather enough points.”
Then, remembering something, he turned to Li Fan, “Right, you’re already at the late-stage Qi Refinement realm. When the time comes to select a Foundation Establishment technique, if you have the means, be sure to choose one that is highly compatible with your own Foundation Establishment Curio.
“Doing so will not only make your future cultivation twice as effective with half the effort, but it also offers other significant benefits. Due to restrictions from the Tianxuan Mirror, I can’t say more. Just remember this advice, it won’t steer you down the wrong path.”
“Compatibility between the Foundation Establishment Curio and the technique...” Li Fan nodded slowly upon hearing this.
But then he heard He Zhenghao sigh again. “The technique I cultivate now is actually quite extraordinary. I found it by chance in an unnamed cave dwelling during my youth. It contains many incredible methods.
“Unfortunately, the difficulty of cultivation is just a bit too high. It will likely take decades, or even a century, just to advance a single cultivation stage.
“If it’s this difficult at the Foundation Establishment realm, and I stubbornly continue cultivating it into the Golden Core realm... I’d likely exhaust my lifespan and die long before I achieve a breakthrough.
“Changing techniques is truly a last resort.” Having said this, He Zhenghao fell into a deep silence.
Li Fan listened quietly. Then, he cupped his hands in a brief salute and departed straight for the Li World.
He Zhenghao watched Li Fan’s receding figure and sighed inwardly once more.
There was something else he hadn’t said.
It was true that the Mountain-Sitting Art allowed one to gain something in return by aiding junior cultivators, but... cultivation was simply too difficult.
Over the years, he had cast his net wide, offering guidance to up-and-comers wherever he went.
Yet the vast majority had met untimely ends before long, never even reaching the Foundation Establishment realm.
To encounter a talent like Li Fan, someone who had already reached the late-stage Qi Refinement realm at such a young age, was nothing short of a heavenly fortune.
After all, how many true geniuses were there in this world, and what were the odds that he would be the one to stumble upon them?