Chapter 170: Operating into the Immortal Alliance

"Such blatant buying and selling of positions? Doesn't anyone manage this?" Li Fan feigned shock and replied.

He Zhenghao, however, retorted, "Manage? Who would manage it? The Spirit Transformation Immortal Lord? Those two on Myriad Immortals Island are much more open about doing this than their subordinates."

"Ahem..." He Zhenghao paused, then explained to Li Fan.

"The Myriad Immortals Alliance is highly autonomous in each state. As long as the internal rules of the alliance aren't broken and the Enforcers' Hall isn't alerted, headquarters couldn't care less about the affairs of its various branches below. Anyway, all transactions and allocations of resources within the alliance must go through the Heavenly Arcane Mirror. Everything is under control, so no major problems can arise."

"So, the Enforcers' Hall has the highest status? Daoist friend, do you know how one can join it? I'd be willing to spend more contribution points," Li Fan asked, recalling the Foundation Establishment cultivator, Protector Wan, who had hunted him down in his eleventh life.

"The personnel of the Enforcers' Hall in each state are directly dispatched and appointed by headquarters. It's truly difficult for a Daoist friend to join the Enforcers' Hall," He Zhenghao replied tactfully.

"There are simply too many cultivators who want to become Enforcers; the competition is fierce, and the waiting list is endless," He Zhenghao sighed. "The only reliable method is the decennial assessment. I once aspired to be an Enforcer myself, but the requirements were too strict, and I wasn't selected. In the end, I had to settle for being an island guardian."

"Otherwise, I wouldn't be worried about cultivation techniques now. You see, Enforcers of the Enforcers' Hall can freely choose and cultivate techniques," He Zhenghao said with great envy.

"There's such a good thing?" Li Fan was somewhat surprised.

"Of course. Enforcers must face all sorts of heinous technique thieves every day, and the risk of falling is not small. Good benefits are only normal," He Zhenghao stated matter-of-factly.

"Actually, an array repairer isn't bad either. Daoist friend, you don't necessarily have to cling to the Enforcer position. There's a fixed annual remuneration, and you can learn array knowledge for free by following an array master. All you need to do is help repair the island-protecting grand arrays on the various islands in the Congyun Sea. Would you consider it, Daoist friend? For just ten thousand contribution points, I can help you lobby and make arrangements."

He Zhenghao asked with a tempting tone.

Li Fan, however, asked again, "Daoist friend, are you familiar with Master Zhang Zhiliang? I heard he's generous to others, and his array skills are superb, arguably the best in the Congyun Sea. If I were an array repairer, I presume following him would be better."

He Zhenghao was somewhat surprised. "Generous to others? Where did you hear that, Daoist friend? This person's temper is quite eccentric. However, his array skills are indeed formidable. Following him might indeed yield greater rewards."

"I can't guarantee this matter, but I can certainly try my best," He Zhenghao said honestly.

"Daoist friend, please proceed without reservation. Whether it succeeds or not, I will remember your kindness," Li Fan boasted. "And don't worry about the contribution points. I borrowed some from the Clear Wind Hall, and after increasing my stock of Spirit Mist Grass, there's still some left. It should be enough to cover this matter."

Hearing this, He Zhenghao said, "Since Daoist friend puts it that way, I will certainly do my utmost. Please await my good news!"

After another round of thanks, Li Fan ended the communication with the thought, "Daoist He is truly a good comrade."

"Free cultivation techniques, decennial assessment..." Li Fan pondered, then searched for relevant information in the Heavenly Arcane Mirror.

The Myriad Immortals Alliance's entrance assessment is held once every ten years.

The last assessment was approximately half a year ago.

The content of the assessment varies depending on the desired position.

The assessment is conducted within the Heavenly Arcane Mirror itself, which eliminates the possibility of favoritism or malpractice.

The results are released immediately after the assessment, without a long wait.

Furthermore, participants lose all memory of the assessment content after leaving the Heavenly Arcane Mirror.

This prevents anyone from profiting from the information.

"How rigorous!" Li Fan exclaimed in wonder. "When the next assessment opens, I can go and gain some experience."

He then searched for the Myriad Immortals Alliance cultivators' impressions of the assessment and found that "difficult," "ridiculous," and "rigged" were the consensus among the vast majority.

"You have a new video message. Please check it promptly."

Just as Li Fan was engrossed in reading, the Heavenly Arcane Mirror's notification suddenly rang out.

"Oh?"

Li Fan was a little curious. He opened the video, and a man in a green robe suddenly appeared.

"This... young friend. I am Chen Ying from the Medicine Hall. I wonder where you found those two Blue Blood Corals you provided last time? After successfully refining the pills this time, I discovered that the newly produced Ice-Heart Severing Elixir was significantly more potent than those I had refined before. Nothing else had changed. After much thought, the only unexpected factor was these two Blue Blood Corals. So I re-refined the elixir using other Blue Blood Corals and found that the enhanced potency effect had indeed disappeared. The two Blue Blood Corals you provided are of significantly higher quality than the regular variety. I'd like to visit their growing location to see for myself, perhaps I might discover something else. Regardless of the outcome, if young friend tells me truthfully, I will certainly reward you handsomely."

The video disappeared. Li Fan did not immediately reply, but instead fell into contemplation.

Recalling the process of collecting the Blue Blood Corals earlier, Li Fan hadn't noticed anything special about those two locations at the time.

"Could it be an oversight?" Li Fan mused, then decided to make another trip to investigate thoroughly.

To prevent being tracked by Chen Ying from the Medicine Hall, Li Fan specifically purchased a "Trace Erasing Talisman" in the Heavenly Arcane Mirror.

It was an upgraded version of the "Concealing Talisman," capable of blocking the prying eyes of Nascent Soul stage cultivators at its peak.

After activating the Trace Erasing Talisman, Li Fan returned to the underwater ruins near Misty Crow Island, where he had found the Blue Blood Corals.

With the corals taken by Li Fan, the vibrant life that once thrived here was long gone.

Only one or two fish occasionally swam through the crevices of the collapsed ruins.

"There's nothing special here," Li Fan commented after inspecting the area, still unable to find anything unique.

Li Fan even used his Formless Killing Intent to lock onto a fish in the ruins, observing it closely from a heavenly perspective.

The result was still the same.

Li Fan then went to the deep underwater valley where he had found the second Blue Blood Coral.

It was the same there.

"A dignified Nascent Soul cultivator, and an elder of the Medicine Hall at that. He shouldn't be toying with me."

"So, it must be because my cultivation isn't high enough to perceive it?"

For now, this was the only plausible explanation.

Li Fan then returned to the Heavenly Arcane Mirror and contacted Chen Ying.