“Our first walk-in client—we have to take it, even if it means a loss,” Li Fan mused, sensing Chu Xingyang, who was currently establishing his foundation.
Li Fan wasn’t entirely sure whether large-scale, paid dharma transmission would be feasible in the cultivation world. However, he had ample room for error, allowing him to experiment boldly. Consequently, Li Fan felt no apprehension whatsoever.
To facilitate the expansion of Mingyue Palace’s operations, Li Fan personally designed two small tools and commissioned specialists to produce a reserve batch.
The first item was called the Bright Jade Talisman. Once activated, the talisman could pinpoint the location of anyone who had borrowed a technique. It could even track their every movement with perfect clarity, significantly simplifying debt collection.
In reality, the Bright Jade Talisman itself held no profound mystery; it was essentially just a perception-sharing talisman. The true power came from Li Fan’s divine ability: the Formless Killing Intent.
He had comprehended this divine ability after decades of meticulous observation of the cosmic killing intent. It had not vanished even after he relinquished his cultivation from the *Thousand Machines Jade Universe Golden Scroll*. After all, cultivation methods merely served as tools for him to observe the celestial energies. The Formless Killing Intent, however, was more an imitative application of his understanding of the cosmic killing intent. It had become an instinctual ability for Li Fan, similar to the Binding Worms technique, usable even without any cultivation base. This was likely why it was listed as a separate ability by Huan Zhen.
The second item was the Deterrence Talisman. This was designed for cultivators who might deliberately default on their debts and constantly hide in safe havens like Yuandao City, where direct action was impossible. Li Fan specifically created this batch of Deterrence Talismans. Their essence was quite simple: they were just ordinary self-destructing communication talismans. The true deterrent, however, lay in a pre-programmed message within each talisman:
“Should you persistently refuse repayment and deliberately evade your debt, Mingyue Palace will report your cultivation technique as lost to the Protector Hall of the Myriad Immortals Alliance!”
Since Li Fan was the one who exchanged for the cultivation technique, he could report to the Myriad Immortals Alliance that the technique originally acquired was now lost. The task of recovering the technique would then naturally fall to the enigmatic and fearsome Protector Hall. This was a mutually destructive maneuver. Once a lost technique was recovered, its ownership would naturally revert to the Myriad Immortals Alliance. The debt evader would forfeit their life, while Mingyue Palace would incur a loss of contribution points. Any cultivator with a modicum of sense would surely understand which choice to make.
The specific creation of these two talismans was intended to foster an aura of mystery. Imagine a talisman flying forth, reaching a cultivator smugly hiding in a safe zone, adamantly refusing to pay their debt. Suddenly, their expression would contort. After a moment of gritted teeth, they would thenceforth have no choice but to diligently work off their debt. Such a sensational event would undoubtedly draw many cultivators to spontaneously seek information about Mingyue Palace. Beyond serving as publicity, it would also establish Mingyue Palace as an enigmatic and unpredictable entity in the minds of cultivators.
In Li Fan’s view, two crucial factors constrained the rapid advancement of Mingyue Palace’s grand dharma transmission enterprise. First, Li Fan currently possessed too few contribution points. After performing paid dharma transmission for Chu Xingyang, he was left with a mere 23,600 points. At most, this would allow him to transmit techniques to only two more cultivators who had reached the Qi Refining Perfection stage. Furthermore, recouping these contribution points typically took two to three years. Without sufficient contribution points for circulation, any large-scale development of Mingyue Palace’s business would be a fantasy. Moreover, operating on a small scale would contradict Li Fan’s original ambition.
“I hope Zhang Zhiliang’s little black blind box brings me some surprises,” Li Fan thought to himself, sensing the formation seal on his clone’s side that would be released in just over two months.
The second limiting factor was the scarcity of combat power among Li Fan’s subordinates. Should the business grow substantially, a shortage of personnel would inevitably arise, impacting the efficiency of contribution point collection. Currently, however, there was no ideal solution for this issue. Li Fan envisioned a scenario where he could collaborate with a major power in Daoyuan Province, sharing a portion of the profits with them. Both these problems would then be easily resolved. Unfortunately, Li Fan’s current strength, being only at the early Foundation Establishment stage, was far too weak. Li Fan would never engage in a risky venture akin to “bargaining with a tiger.”
Over the following period, surprisingly, only one cultivator at the Qi Refining Perfection stage sought assistance, apart from Chu Xingyang. However, after a cautious assessment by the Yin family sisters, this individual was rejected. Claiming that the individual’s karmic affinity with Mingyue Palace was insufficient, Su Xiaomei then stepped forward to dismiss them.
“It seems we’ll have to wait for Chu Xingyang’s wedding, for him to snatch the bride and gain renown in that single battle,” Li Fan mused silently. To ensure that Mingyue Palace’s first client achieved a resounding victory and generated a significant stir, Li Fan decided that, if necessary, he would discreetly lend Chu Xingyang a hand.
While Mingyue Palace’s grand dharma transmission initiative had yet to truly commence, Li Fan stood within the underground treasury, silently perceiving the resonance from tens of thousands of ancient artifacts imbued with Dao Rime. The “Perceiving the Miniscule, Discerning the Grand” formation was now fully arranged. Amplified by the formation, the Dao Rime intensity of the “Overturning Sea Palm” was now perceptible.
One day passed, then two... After seven days of fruitless waiting, a flicker of embarrassment crossed Li Fan’s face.
“Hmm… with my aptitude, it’s still somewhat difficult to comprehend a divine ability from this single wisp of Dao Rime. However, fortunately, I am not alone in this.”
Without hesitation, Li Fan then summoned Xiao Heng and Su Xiaomei. “The Dao Rime artifacts you meticulously collected over several years, now bolstered by my formation, can finally create a sufficiently potent resonance. Within this wisp of Dao Rime lies an immense opportunity. How much you comprehend from it will depend entirely on your own fortune.”
Upon entering the underground treasury, Xiao Heng and Su Xiaomei were immediately captivated by the profound, ethereal sensation pervading the space. Their expressions brightened further after hearing Li Fan’s explanation. After bowing in gratitude, both closed their eyes and immersed themselves in comprehending the Dao Rime. Li Fan himself did not give up, continuing to observe and contemplate alongside them.
Time trickled by. This time, however, Xiao Heng was the first to achieve insight. He abruptly opened his eyes, a fleeting hint of profound weariness flashing within them. Li Fan still hadn’t comprehended anything himself. But seeing Xiao Heng’s expression, he knew the man had certainly gained something. Instead of asking directly, he gestured for Xiao Heng to wait patiently aside until Su Xiaomei completed her comprehension.
A day later, Su Xiaomei also emerged from her state of enlightenment. Li Fan then led the two of them to Mingyue Palace’s courtyard. He activated the Kanling Illusory Wave Grand Formation for protection, enabling them to spar freely without concern for damaging their surroundings.
Li Fan then instructed, “Spar with each other and verify your respective comprehensions.”
Both nodded simultaneously, exchanged glances, and spoke in unison.
“Little sister, please enlighten me!”
“Xiao Heng! You’d better be careful!”
[2 minutes ago] Chapter 99: Two Choices
[2 minutes ago] Chapter 219: Little Ning and Ning Liheng
[4 minutes ago] Chapter 1190: 推理,多维圣人之路的可怕
16045 · 0 · 43
12269 · 0 · 24