“Sorry, I truly cannot help with this matter. I can feel my breakthrough coming soon, and within the next two years, I’ll need to head out to seek opportunities. I can’t stay tied down on Liuli Island for long.”
Cloudwater Palace was set to open in just over a year, and Li Fan certainly wouldn't miss the chance to be among the first to enter, especially not for the sake of a few contribution points.
Thus, he flatly refused He Zhenghao.
“Is that so? Then I’ll have to find someone else. I wish you a swift Foundation Establishment, Fellow Daoist!” He Zhenghao replied with regret.
No further messages came through the spirit talisman.
Li Fan paid it no mind. He spent contribution points to activate the Assisted Cultivation Mode and began practicing the Shadow Stalk Art.
As it was a supplementary technique, the Shadow Stalk Art was far simpler to cultivate than his other two techniques.
With the dual enhancements of the epiphanic state boost and the Exquisite Liuli Pearl, it took Li Fan fewer than ten days to reach the late-stage Qi Refinement realm.
Then, Li Fan began testing the effectiveness of the Shadow Stalk Art.
He spent 100 contribution points to simulate a pursuit against a late-stage Qi Refinement realm cultivator within the Tianxuan Mirror.
The surrounding space transformed into a mountain range.
Amidst the forest trees, a figure fled swiftly into the distance. It was the designated target he would be chasing.
Watching the figure’s receding back, Li Fan focused his thoughts. His form suddenly darkened, as if draped in a veil of shadow, becoming nearly imperceptible amidst the ubiquitous gloom.
Just as the target was about to vanish from sight, Li Fan accelerated violently, shooting forward.
His speed increased dramatically compared to riding the wind
Moreover, he could sense a faint connection between himself and the target. When the target’s speed increased, it caused Li Fan’s velocity to rise as well
It was as if Li Fan had truly become the target’s shadow, impossible to shake off.
He could even leap through the shadows on the ground.
Thus, it didn’t take long before Li Fan caught up to the fleeing figure ahead.
The surroundings blurred. Then, the mountains and the cultivator vanished simultaneously, returning to a pitch-black space.
The pursuit concluded.
Li Fan was quite satisfied with the Shadow Stalk Art.
It naturally concealed his aura, and paired with the Form-Concealing Talisman, he would be even harder to detect.
While Sikong Yi was somewhat mysterious, his cultivation was undoubtedly at the late-stage Qi Refinement realm.
Having prepared so meticulously against an unsuspecting target, Li Fan believed his scheme to obtain the Cloudwater Model shouldn’t pose much of a problem.
Everything was ready. The only thing left to do was wait for the intelligence from Jiao Xiuyuan and the official opening of Cloudwater Palace.
Within the Tianxuan Mirror, Li Fan’s gaze was deep and profound.
***
Two months later, in Thousand Li Hall of Myriad Immortals Island.
Having received Jiao Xiuyuan’s message, Li Fan activated his Form-Concealing Talisman and hurried over.
The moment he saw Jiao Xiuyuan, he feigned anger: “Is this how your Thousand Li Hall conducts business? It’s just a Qi Refinement cultivator, yet you took this long to gather intelligence! I thought you’d forgotten all about my request and was about to turn to someone else!”
Jiao Xiuyuan looked somewhat embarrassed, but he quickly pulled Li Fan inside while simultaneously activating the shop’s protective array to block prying eyes.
Only then did he explain in a hushed tone, “Keep your voice down! The delay was truly due to unforeseen circumstances.”
“Hmm?” Li Fan’s expression shifted slightly as he waited for the explanation.
“Heh, to be frank, this assignment proved far more challenging than anticipated. Our agreed price of fifty contribution points is truly far too low! I had to enlist the aid of a late-stage Foundation Establishment expert to resolve the matter...” Jiao Xiuyuan looked at Li Fan with pleading eyes, his meaning abundantly clear.
“What, are you reneging on our deal?” Li Fan’s eyes narrowed to slits as he fixed Jiao Xiuyuan with a dangerous glare.
Jiao Xiuyuan scratched his head. “Could you at least add a little more...”
Li Fan turned to leave.
Jiao Xiuyuan nearly jumped out of his skin in panic. “Aiyo, my dear ancestor! My luck has truly turned foul! Two losing deals in a row.
“Fine, fine, fine! We’ll stick to the original agreement. Fifty it is!” he said through gritted teeth.
“Here. Combined with the previous deposit, it makes exactly fifty contribution points.” Li Fan’s voice was cold as he tossed four mid-grade spirit stones over.
“Making a profit from you is no easy task,” Jiao Xiuyuan said with a bitter expression, catching the spirit stones. Only then did he hand a jade slip to Li Fan.
Li Fan took the jade slip and scanned it with his divine sense.
A strange look flickered across his face.
He then stored the jade slip and turned to leave.
Watching Li Fan’s retreating figure, the obsequious expression on Jiao Xiuyuan’s face vanished abruptly.
He stroked the spirit stones in his hand and let out a series of cold, low chuckles.
One, mysterious and of unknown origin; the other, skulking in shadows with unfathomable motives.
I’m rather curious to see what you two are truly up to.
***
Within the Tianxuan Mirror, Li Fan carefully read the contents of the jade slip one more time before finally destroying it.
Two people?
Li Fan frowned slightly, immediately sensing complications.
According to the intelligence gathered by Jiao Xiuyuan, this Sikong Yi typically lived in seclusion, rarely showing himself in public.
He also had a close friend, a male cultivator named Baili Chen.
This Baili Chen was at the mid-stage Qi Refinement realm, slightly weaker than Sikong Yi.
Sikong Yi and Baili Chen seemed exceptionally close. Every time they ventured out, the two were always together, inseparable.
Furthermore, the pair appeared to know some kind of joint attack technique.
In battle, their coordination was seamless, and their minds were always in perfect sync, as though they were one person.
The two generally remained on Myriad Immortals Island, only leaving to undertake missions to accumulate contribution points.
However, during Jiao Xiuyuan’s investigation, the two had inexplicably vanished once.
They had left Myriad Immortals Island and then completely disappeared, their destination unknown.
Who is this Baili Chen? Why don’t I have any recollection of him? Li Fan searched his memories carefully but found no information on Baili Chen.
It seems this person must have died within the Cloudwater Palace ruins.
But now, the number of targets has increased. My current preparations are no longer sufficient.
Fortunately, there’s still plenty of time.
Thoughts churning in his mind, Li Fan began to formulate a new plan.
***
One year later, in Anchor Year 11, in the central region of the Congyun Sea.
A thunderstorm that had been brewing for months in the sky rumbled incessantly.
The thick, swirling cloud layers had been stained black, rotating slowly as they accumulated power.
The mass of clouds stood like towering walls, guarding the center of the vortex.
There, flashes of blue light flickered without pause.
With each pulse, the central waters of the Congyun Sea seemed to undergo some indescribable, inexplicable shift.
This anomaly had naturally drawn the attention of many cultivators.
There were even rumors that the ruins of an ancient sect were about to emerge here.
Thus, over the past few months, more and more cultivators had gathered.
Li Fan was among them.
His gaze swept over the crowd, pausing almost imperceptibly on Sikong Yi and Baili Chen.
Then he spotted Jiao Xiuyuan.
Jiao Xiuyuan was staring intently at the swirling clouds above, his expression brimming with excitement.
He probably thinks he’s stumbled upon some great opportunity, and that this is his chance to profit. Li Fan mused inwardly.
Little does he know, he’s only walking to his doom.
A cold glint flickered in Li Fan’s eyes.