Chapter 154: Licking Dog Owns Nothing

"400,000 contribution points..."

"The lifetime savings of a Nascent Soul formation master are indeed astonishing."

Li Fan stared intently at the golden legacy deed, his eyes wide. He eagerly picked up the Spirit-Discernment Orb and began the formation test.

The first stage of the test was quite easy, involving only basic knowledge of formation arrays. Having delved into formation arts for over a decade, Li Fan naturally passed the first stage without much effort. Flashes of golden light drifted from the legacy deed and converged on Li Fan. The golden foil dimmed slightly, and when Li Fan opened his Sky Profound Mirror to check, sure enough, his contribution points had increased by 40,000. His total was now 63,600 points. Excited, he immediately began the second stage of the test.

After a while, Li Fan's spiritual sense withdrew from the Spirit-Discernment Orb, his expression grim. "Even after ten years of arduous cultivation, I still can't quite complete the second stage of the test?" he wondered. "When will I ever be able to fully extract all 400,000 contribution points?"

The treasure mountain was right before his eyes, seemingly within reach. Yet, due to the limitations of his formation array mastery, it remained visible but intangible. It was like a small hand plucking at Li Fan's heartstrings. Under such immense temptation, Li Fan wished he could drop everything immediately and immerse himself in the study of formation arts.

"Zhang Zhiliang, what a brilliant strategy!" Li Fan thought. "The incentive effect of such a vast sum of contribution points is truly instant; even I can't resist it. The second stage of the test doesn't yet involve the Infinite Law, so my clone can still study formation knowledge. But later, my main body will be needed to read and learn the Infinite Law from the encrypted jade slips. This will inevitably delay my cultivation. I hope that before then, the Moon Palace's operations can expand. With the feedback from the Mountain-Sitting Art, even if I don't cultivate at all, my realm advancement won't slow down significantly. Over 60,000 contribution points should allow for some financial maneuverability. But it's still not enough! I need to extract all the contribution points from this legacy deed as quickly as possible!" A sharp glint flashed in Li Fan's eyes.

Driven by this immense motivation, Li Fan's main body and his clone began studying formation arts together. Whenever they felt tired, he would light the silver incense. His spirits would be refreshed, and he would continue his study. Under this dual enhancement, Li Fan's formation array mastery steadily improved.

More than a month passed in this manner. Finally, Chu Xingyang's grand scheme to seize the bride arrived. Li Fan had to divert some of his attention to the momentous event concerning the Moon Palace's first customer. The outcome, however, left Li Fan bewildered and amused.

At the wedding ceremony, Chu Xingyang descended from the sky, boldly declaring that the bride should leave with him. How could the groom tolerate this? His face contorted in rage, vowing to beat Chu Xingyang to death on the spot. However, Chu Xingyang's talent was truly impressive. In just three months, he had not only advanced to the Foundation Establishment stage, but his combat prowess also surpassed that of the groom, who had been in Foundation Establishment for much longer. After a prolonged struggle, even without Li Fan's intervention, the groom was clearly showing signs of impending defeat.

While fighting the groom, Chu Xingyang remained at ease, shouting triumphantly, "A'Yue, do you see? This 'Zhang' fellow is so incompetent, how could he ever be worthy of you! Come with me! I will surely make you happy!" Upon hearing this, the groom was so enraged he nearly vomited blood, his face turning a deep purplish-red. His eyes could have killed Chu Xingyang ten thousand times over, and every subsequent move was almost a desperate exchange of blows, aiming for mutual destruction.

Yet, Chu Xingyang always managed to evade his attacks, even with a hint of playful mockery. He grew increasingly carried away, and just as he was about to speak again, he heard a furious shout from the bride. "Enough, Chu Xingyang, haven't you caused enough trouble?!"

Immediately after, a cool, bright light assailed him. Chu Xingyang paled with shock, barely dodging the bride's attack, and repeatedly asked, "A'Yue, what are you doing?" The bride gritted her teeth, "Don't call me A'Yue! I've told you more than once that Zhang Qi and I are deeply in love and willing partners; we are voluntarily becoming cultivation companions. There was no coercion whatsoever, and it has nothing to do with the strength of our cultivation! As my friend, you don't even congratulate me on my wedding, and instead, you come here to cause trouble! From now on, there is absolutely no friendship left between us!" With that, the bride joined forces with the groom, Zhang Qi, and they began to attack Chu Xingyang.

The bride's words struck Chu Xingyang like a critical blow, his face instantly turning pale. He instinctively dodged the couple's combined attacks, evading while still asking 'why'. However, the bride showed no mercy. Her moves were ruthless, each aiming for a vital point. Finally, a beam of light pierced Chu Xingyang's left shoulder. Chu Xingyang's face showed despair, his heart turning to ashes. But the instinct for survival made him grit his teeth and flee, wounded.

He escaped to a hidden mountain cave, where he treated his injuries. After his injuries slowly healed, Chu Xingyang's eyes were surprisingly filled with renewed fighting spirit. "It must be that my current strength is not enough," he thought. "If Foundation Establishment isn't enough, then Core Formation. If Core Formation isn't enough, then Nascent Soul. As long as I am strong enough, A'Yue, you will eventually change your mind." Chu Xingyang gazed into the distance, muttering to himself.

The farce finally concluded. Aside from the protagonists losing face, the topic of how Chu Xingyang, the bride-snatcher, managed to achieve Foundation Establishment in such a short time became a popular subject among gossips.

Gradually, the name of the Moon Palace began to spread among Qi Condensation and Foundation Establishment cultivators. It turned out that the Moon Palace's claim of lending rare celestial items and Foundation Establishment cultivation methods was not a hoax but indeed true! With living proof before their eyes, more and more cultivators began seeking help from the Moon Palace. Of course, with limited contribution points at the moment, Li Fan instructed the Yin sisters to be very selective. On average, only one slot should be released per month. Others were sent away with the excuse that their 'karma was insufficient'. However, the Moon Palace's cautious approach surprisingly deepened its credibility among cultivators. If any random cultivator could borrow rare items and cultivation methods from the Moon Palace, they would instead worry about some grand conspiracy lurking within.

Thus, the name of the Moon Palace spread further and wider. Many cultivators who had reached the peak of Qi Condensation in Daoyuan Province traveled long distances to seek borrowed methods, hoping to achieve Foundation Establishment a few years earlier. As for the 36% annual interest, they selectively ignored it. Foundation Establishment cultivators could earn contribution points at more than double the rate of Qi Condensation cultivators. Even if they chose to repay over three years, the total contribution points to be repaid would only be about twice the original amount.

In this way, in Anchor Year 39, the Moon Palace's grand enterprise of lending cultivation methods systematically began. When Anchor Year 40 arrived, Li Fan finally completed the second stage of the Spirit-Discernment Orb test. His contribution points increased by another 40,000. Each month, he received returns from those who had previously borrowed methods. The circulation of contribution points finally began to ease up.