Chapter 169: Nothing New Under the Sun

After leaving Qingfeng Hall with 2,700 Spirit Mist Grass plants, Li Fan ambled around for a while, hoping to find more hidden small loan organizations. Unfortunately, his wish was not granted. Li Fan returned to the Heavenly Profound Mirror and began to calculate inwardly.

"The price of Spirit Mist Grass will briefly rise to 25 contribution points soon. I need to sell all of them before then.""Once the news of the discovery of the Wood-attribute Blessed Land spreads, the price will plummet, stabilizing only after falling to 6 contribution points.""At that time, I'll just buy 3,510 plants and return them to Qingfeng Hall.""This back-and-forth will net me nearly 40,000 contribution points.""Tsk, tsk, that's so little.""Making money is still too difficult..."

It's hard to go from luxury to frugality. Having grown accustomed to contribution points measured in the hundreds of thousands, an increase of merely thirty or forty thousand points didn't excite him much. However, capital accumulation is often most challenging at the beginning. Once it reaches a certain magnitude, like a snowball rolling downhill, wealth growth will accelerate.

"In this life, aggressively expanding the Dharma-transmitting business like before likely won't work. It seems due to the strict control over the number of cultivators, the cultivation world's reaction to this is far more intense than I imagined. The power of Dao Integration is not something I can contend with right now." Li Fan pondered carefully."However, the 400,000 contribution points from Zhang Zhiliang cannot be given up.""In this life, someone also needs to instigate the battle between the cultivators of Myriad Immortal Island and Chiyan.""However, perhaps I can choose a different target."

The figure of a plump man suddenly appeared in Li Fan's mind."Zhang Haobo possesses extraordinary luck but lacks heavenly destiny. Although he managed to slay Chiyan and successfully achieve Dao Integration as a Golden Core cultivator, relying on the power of the desperate struggle in Congyun Sea..."...when facing the subsequent arrival of Mo Sha, he was instantly killed without any power to resist.""His luck was exhausted, and his life ended.""If his luck had been a bit stronger, would the outcome have been different?""Of course, the most important thing is that I have now fully comprehended all Twenty-Eight Swords of Congyun. Zhang Haobo's repeat attempt would be useless to me."

"That Ye Feipeng has a unique destiny. If I give him enough assistance, he might truly give me a surprise.""And supplemented by the 'Sitting Mountain Art'...""I wonder how much cultivation he could feedback if he successfully integrates with the Dao. Could it push me to the Golden Core realm?""Of course, guiding this person will require a different approach. While Zhang Haobo was motivated by emotion, this person must be lured by profit."

After some deliberation, Li Fan had a plan in mind. The reason he still chose an agent to perform the act of Dao Integration, instead of attempting it himself, was, naturally, because the risks involved were too high. If the Dao Integration in black robes could nearly freeze Li Fan's thoughts, then Mo Sha, whose strength was clearly superior, was even more formidable. If even Zhang Haobo, who had just integrated with the Dao, was instantly erased before he could react, how could Li Fan ensure he would be an exception? There was a chance of success, but also a significant chance of failure and annihilation. Once he failed, there would be no chance to start over. Li Fan saw no need to gamble.

"I can wait until the Spirit Mist Grass incident settles before making arrangements in the Outer Realm.""For now..."Li Fan searched for methods to join the Myriad Immortals Alliance. Soon, a wealth of information appeared.

There were several ways to hold a position within the Myriad Immortals Alliance and join the system. The first was to participate in the Myriad Immortals Alliance's examination, held once every ten years. To be eligible for the examination, several conditions had to be met. For instance, one needed to have been a member of the Myriad Immortals Alliance for at least thirty years, possess a cultivation level of Foundation Establishment stage or above, and have a specialized skill. Simply put, the Myriad Immortals Alliance did not support idlers or incompetents.

The second method involved a high-ranking Myriad Immortals Alliance cultivator acting as a guarantor to recommend a junior cultivator for a position. Only after a three-year probationary period could one be formally appointed. Simply put, the Myriad Immortals Alliance did not support idlers or incompetents, unless they had connections.

The third method was more unique: completing specific bounty missions. For example, assassinating a key figure of the Five Elders Association or accomplishing a crucial task. It was rumored that Zhou Qing'ang, the guardian of Tai'an Island, officially joined the Myriad Immortals Alliance through this method.

Li Fan was very interested in what He Zhenghao had said about increasing his authority to a certain level, allowing him to exchange for cultivation techniques previously unseen or unavailable. Li Fan had discovered that the cultivation techniques conventionally offered for exchange by the Myriad Immortals Alliance generally had limited power. Perhaps to limit the combat power of ordinary Myriad Immortals Alliance cultivators, none of the techniques Li Fan had seen in the Myriad Profound Mirror over his several lives were truly divine arts. Not to mention those comparable to the Twenty-Eight Swords of Congyun, even techniques comparable to the Sea-Calming Divine Sword were rare. However, Li Fan considered this and realized it was reasonable. If oxen and horses became threatening, would they still be oxen and horses? Wouldn't they try to overturn the heavens? Of course, there had to be restrictions. But for those within the system, the treatment was naturally different. As long as one had sufficient authority, all sorts of divine arts were available.

The benefits of being within the system naturally went without saying. Li Fan carefully examined the special bounty missions. As he looked, Li Fan frowned. Having not paid attention to this area before, Li Fan had no clue about these tasks. But Li Fan quickly noticed something peculiar. Only a very small number of these missions genuinely offered valuable rewards. For instance, tracking down a Five Elders Association spy or personally eliminating a Myriad Immortals Alliance traitor. However, the vast majority of tasks had an extremely bespoke quality. It was as if they were bounty missions specifically created for a particular cultivator.

For example, one of the missions Li Fan saw was particularly odd. The Myriad Immortals Alliance's Heavenly Divination Hall, due to its need for heavenly divination, required recruiting a cultivator between 123 and 130 years old, surnamed Wu, who cultivated a fire-attribute technique, and was at the mid-Foundation Establishment stage. It was almost as if they were naming the person directly. Li Fan was not unfamiliar with this practice. It was simply a matter of jobs being tailor-made for specific individuals. But he hadn't expected the Myriad Immortals Alliance to have developed to this extent.

After reviewing the options, Li Fan didn't find any missions suitable for himself. And the ten-year examination had only recently passed. Without any connections, Li Fan once again sought advice from his reliable friend, Fellow Daoist He.

He Zhenghao still replied quickly. "Fellow Daoist wants to officially join the Myriad Immortals Alliance? Er, that's a bit difficult. Mainly because you've only recently joined the Alliance.""However, it's not impossible.""I have some acquaintance with Grand Array Master Gong Boyu. He has a few recruitment spots for array repairmen every year.""You just need to spend a little contribution to get this position.""After working hard in this position for a year or two, you can then use connections to transfer to other posts.""Heh heh, I'm only telling you this, Fellow Daoist. Please don't spread it carelessly outside.""It wouldn't look good."