Chapter 260: Sword Pointing at the Garrison Academy

Enraged Squid: ...

Expedition teams, one after another, began searching for the relic's whereabouts, following the direction it had flown. Li Fan, meanwhile, remained dormant within the Sky Profound Mirror, quietly awaiting the outcome.

Three months later, there was no significant progress in the exploration of the relic. He Zhenghao, however, excitedly sent a message first.

"Fellow Daoist Li Fan, good news. After some maneuvering, I've secured three potential positions, each located in a different state. Could you help me consider them, Fellow Daoist?"

Li Fan immediately replied, "Oh? Tell me more."

"The first is the team leader of the Martial Arts Hall in Taihua State. Taihua State is not far from the Cloud Sea. A Taihua Mountain Range traverses the entire state, which is also known as 'the state on the mountain's back'. Mountains and peaks are countless. If I go to this state, my cultivation speed will be much faster than in the Cloud Sea."

"The second is an advisor in the Formation Hall of Qingwei State. Qingwei State is south of Tianyu State. Although it's still far, it's much closer compared to the Cloud Sea."

"The third is a Garrison Officer in Tianyun State. Tianyun State is not far west of Tianyu State, hence the fierce competition for positions. Even if transferred, it would only be a city garrison position of the same rank. The advantage is its proximity to the Myriad Immortals Alliance headquarters, making promotions easier than elsewhere."

He Zhenghao slowly recounted the results of his efforts during this period.

"Tianyun State..." Li Fan pondered for a moment before replying, "Don't rush to a decision. I know some cultivators in Tianyun State; I can help you inquire and see if there's an opportunity for a higher position."

He Zhenghao was very surprised to hear this. "Fellow Daoist, you actually have connections in Tianyun State?"

"Haha, I can't guarantee anything. We can give it a try. Fellow Daoist, wait for my news," Li Fan said calmly.

He Zhenghao repeatedly agreed.

So Li Fan contacted Shenyuzi and explained the situation. "Senior, do you have any connections?"

Shenyuzi merely replied, "I'll ask for you," and then there was no further response.

Li Fan was not in a hurry and waited patiently.

Half a day later, a cultivator named Daoist Jingxuan requested to add Li Fan as a friend. He was also from Tianyun State. Li Fan's heart stirred, and he quickly accepted.

Jingxuan's hearty voice came through. "Hahaha, is this Junior Li Fan? I heard from Shenyu that you have a friend who wants to take up a position in our Tianyun State? A Four-Law Golden Core, tsk tsk, the younger generation is truly formidable. How about this: ask him if he's interested in joining our Tianyun State Garrison Institute? Hehe, because of the great battle a few years ago, there are still some vacant positions that haven't been filled."

Li Fan was slightly taken aback and couldn't help but ask, "Senior Jingxuan, what exactly is this Garrison Institute...?"

Jingxuan was also stunned. He hadn't expected Li Fan to not even know what the Garrison Institute was. However, he immediately remembered Li Fan's remote origins and, realizing the reason, explained, "The Garrison Institute is an organization unique to the heartland of the Myriad Immortals Alliance. It is directly accountable to the Myriad Immortals Alliance headquarters, and its main responsibility is to suppress villains and maintain stability in the heartland. When necessary, they also obey emergency orders to fight in other states."

With Jingxuan's explanation, Li Fan understood. In essence, it was similar to the Garrison Battalion during the Great Xuan era, which was stationed outside Xuanjing City, obeyed only Li Fan's orders, and guarded the capital's safety.

"It should be considered an important position. However, it seems to involve frequent combat. I wonder if He Zhenghao, with his current temperament, would be willing to accept it." Li Fan pondered for a moment, then greeted Jingxuan before contacting He Zhenghao to explain the situation.

"The Garrison Institute?" This time, He Zhenghao was truly shocked. He had spent some time in Tianyu State when he was younger, so he naturally knew what the Garrison Institute was. Like the Law Enforcement Hall, it was an organization directly commanded by the Myriad Immortals Alliance headquarters. Generally, members of the Garrison Institute held a half-rank higher status than cultivators in other local departments. It was second only to the Law Enforcement Hall.

"Fellow Daoist Li Fan is truly unfathomable, to be able to secure such a position. Although it's a bit dangerous, but..." A beautiful silhouette instantly appeared in He Zhenghao's mind. He immediately gritted his teeth and agreed.

After learning of He Zhenghao's decision, Li Fan replied to Daoist Jingxuan.

"Good!" Jingxuan was very pleased. "Have your friend come to our Tianyun State first and serve as a Garrison Officer. After three full years, accumulating some experience, I will use my connections to transfer him into the Garrison Institute."

Next, Jingxuan carefully explained some precautions before disconnecting the communication. Li Fan then relayed everything word for word to He Zhenghao. After listening intently, He Zhenghao hurriedly went about busying himself with his future prospects.

Li Fan, now quiet, thought for a moment. Although the matter hadn't been fully settled yet, he still transferred 100,000 contribution points to both Shenyuzi and Jingxuan, respectively. This was to express his gratitude. Of course, he recorded this expenditure under He Zhenghao's name.

In Tianyun State, Shenyuzi, upon receiving the contribution points, was slightly startled before bursting into laughter. Jingxuan immediately sent a message asking, "Old God-Stick, did you receive the contribution transfer from little Li? One hundred thousand contribution points! I remember he's only at the Foundation Establishment stage, right? What a generous gesture!"

Shenyuzi replied with a smile, "At any rate, he's much more generous than we were at the Foundation Establishment stage. I just passed along a message and received the same reward as you. Jingxuan, you're not angry, are you?"

Jingxuan burst out laughing, "Hahaha, keeping things fair. This young lad is quite interesting. Not bad, not bad. I find him much more pleasing than that old man Guangwu."

"Since you've accepted benefits from others, put in some effort. Don't mess things up. It might not matter to you, but if my Shenyuzi reputation gets ruined, hehe..."

"Mess up? Who are you looking down on?" Jingxuan snorted coldly, and then fell silent.

Time flowed on.

Three months later, He Zhenghao's transfer order for his new post arrived. Everything went smoothly. He was assigned as the Garrison Officer of Guang'an Town in Tianyun State. For this, a total of 80,000 contribution points were spent. Naturally, these were borrowed from Li Fan. He Zhenghao felt no psychological pressure, as if having more debts meant less burden. Li Fan was also unhesitating, lending as much as was needed.

Before his departure, He Zhenghao made a solemn vow. Once he had established himself in Tianyun State, he would try to arrange for Li Fan to be transferred there as well. Li Fan said nothing, merely patting He Zhenghao's shoulder.

After He Zhenghao left, Li Fan stayed inside the Sky Profound Mirror day after day, not venturing out, and diligently cultivated.

Soon, the year reached Anchoring Year 23.

The ascending relic was finally found. It had landed in a thousand-mile swamp in the center of Nine Mountains State. After cultivators began exploring it, the origin of this relic was also uncovered. It was an ancient immortal sect: the Chaoyuan Sect. Although its renown was not as widely known as that of the Taishang or Grand Dao Sects, whose names were still familiar even millennia later, it was still a renowned and prominent sect before the Great Tribulation descended. Based on previous experience exploring sect ruins, this place was certainly rich in hidden treasures.

As the news spread, it immediately attracted many cultivators to Nine Mountains State for exploration. The already chaotic Nine Mountains State became even more turbulent. Even cultivators from the Five Elders Association, with only simple disguises, brazenly mingled in, also intent on exploring the relic. Their arrogance was evident. The weak control of the Myriad Immortals Alliance over Nine Mountains State was also apparent.

Originally, it was just a normal relic exploration, and the Myriad Immortals Alliance hadn't intended to interfere much. But then, a piece of news arrived that thoroughly enraged the Myriad Immortals Alliance. It was bad enough that a Deity Transformation cultivator from the Five Elders Association, named Luoxi, came to explore the relic. Not only did he make no attempt to conceal his identity as a Five Elders Association cultivator, but he also leveraged his profound cultivation to injure and kill many exploration members from the Myriad Immortals Alliance. After delving into the relic and presumably acquiring some treasure, he swaggered away.

"On my territory, and still so arrogant?" It was a blatant slap in the face.

However, doubts also arose. Such behavior carried a clear provocative intent. "Could there be a conspiracy? Is the Five Elders Association planning to reignite conflict?"

Regardless, they could not lose face. The Myriad Immortals Alliance swiftly dispatched several Deity Transformation cultivators to Nine Mountains State to stabilize the situation. And they issued a solemn warning: All Five Elders Association cultivators were forbidden from coming to Nine Mountains State. "Dare to come, and you will die!"