Chapter 35: Predestination of All Outcomes

With the announcement of the materials required for the Spirit Cleansing Pool, Lapis Isle appeared calm on the surface, but beneath, strong currents were already swirling.

Even ordinary residents who weren't concerned with the matter now knew that the island's major powers were all searching for something called Stardust Quicksand.

Li Fan's discreet inquiries had yielded no results. Then, one day, he received an unexpected guest.

It was Xiao Heng, the person from the Separation Realm whom Li Fan had met upon first arriving in the cultivation world.

"Please, make yourself at home," Li Fan said, pouring him a cup of tea.

Xiao Heng surveyed Li Fan's current dwelling, his eyes filled with envy and nostalgia.

"Is there something I can help you with, young brother?" Li Fan asked genially, as he had a good impression of Xiao Heng.

Xiao Heng first glanced around cautiously, then leaned forward and whispered, "I heard you've also been looking for Stardust Quicksand, Brother Li?"

Li Fan's eyes narrowed. "That's right. I'm getting old, and if I want to cultivate, I'll need the Spirit Cleansing Pool. Do you know something about it?"

Xiao Heng swallowed and nodded. "Yes, back when the immortal master descended upon Great Separation, he promised to take a group of people to the greater cultivation world if they gathered the materials he needed. Stardust Quicksand was among them."

Li Fan was momentarily stunned, then asked doubtfully, "Really? Why do I not remember that?"

Li Fan had previously asked the people from Great Separation, and they all claimed ignorance, which was why he was so surprised.

Hearing this, Xiao Heng looked a bit embarrassed. "When the announcement was made to the world, several items were already removed from the list and distributed among the various prominent families of Great Separation as pre-allotted quotas. The item my family was assigned to collect was this Stardust Quicksand."

Li Fan nodded slowly.

"So, what are your terms?" Li Fan asked directly.

Seeing Li Fan's directness, Xiao Heng became a little flustered, his face reddening as he explained, "You paid for Changyu's burial back then, which was a kindness to me. I really shouldn't be asking for this, but life on Lapis Isle is just too hard. I don't have your capabilities, Brother Li; I'm still living in the shantytown outside the city, doing manual labor every day just to survive..."

Xiao Heng rambled on, but Li Fan chuckled softly and cut him off.

"You don't need to say more; I understand your difficulties. I am determined to obtain this item. As long as you can provide clues, feel free to name your price, and I will do my best to meet your demands."

Xiao Heng was extremely grateful. "Then I thank you in advance, Brother."

He paused, then said with some emotion, "Actually, this item isn't rare at all; it's just that the immortal master's name for it differs from what we mortals call it. Of course, if the original list hadn't included descriptions for each material, I wouldn't have known that the so-called Stardust Quicksand is simply meteoritic iron from the sky."

Li Fan listened, pondered carefully, then had a sudden realization. "Stardust Quicksand... so that's what it is. But will any meteoritic iron do? Are there any other specific requirements?"

"Yes, there are."

Xiao Heng nodded repeatedly, then slowly detailed the specific requirements one by one.

"First, the meteoritic iron must have a good appearance; pitted or uneven surfaces are unacceptable. Second, each piece must weigh at least fifty jin. And then..."

Li Fan listened, committing everything firmly to memory.

Once Xiao Heng finished, Li Fan didn't forget his promise.

"Tell me, what do you want?"

Xiao Heng spoke softly, "I just want a decent courtyard and a somewhat easier job. And of course, a few maids would be even better."

Li Fan had prepared for Xiao Heng to make an exorbitant demand, but seeing how easily he could be satisfied, he couldn't help but shake his head with a smile.

"To think that the son of the dignified Prince Zhennan has such humble requests? Why not ask for a bit more? I still have some influence at the Treasure Pavilion."

Xiao Heng politely declined. "I know my own limits. Being able to eat well and live comfortably without constantly toiling is enough for me. Sudden, eye-catching wealth tends to invite disaster."

Li Fan nodded, no longer pressing the issue.

After a few more pleasantries, Xiao Heng bid his farewell.

"Do you have any plans to cultivate? After all the hardships to reach this great cultivation world, it would be a shame for your journey to be in vain, wouldn't it?" Li Fan suddenly asked at their parting.

"Perhaps another time. I truly have no interest in cultivation. The 'Profound Yellow Pure Heart Incantation' makes me drowsy just reading it, and I have no idea how long it would take to completely dispel the miasma." Xiao Heng replied listlessly, leaving without looking back.

After seeing Xiao Heng off, Li Fan hurried to the Treasure Pavilion.

Upon meeting Yin Yuzhen, Li Fan reiterated Xiao Heng's explanation of Stardust Quicksand.

"Stardust Quicksand is just meteoritic iron? It's that simple?" Yin Yuzhen was surprised. "Is this Xiao Heng trustworthy?"

"He shouldn't be lying," Li Fan affirmed.

"But we still need to verify it," Li Fan suddenly shifted. "Didn't you say that the roaming envoy from the Myriad Splendor Merchant Guild would be coming to Lapis Isle soon? We can sound him out then."

"That's a good idea," Yin Yuzhen agreed. "It would be ideal if we could save some expenses."

"Regardless, we should discreetly purchase the meteoritic iron that meets the requirements first. Not many people know about this item yet, but that might change soon. Furthermore, when procuring it, we must mix it with other items to create a diversion and mislead others. At the same time, you can have people release false information about Stardust Quicksand in the market to muddy the waters."

Li Fan thought for a moment, then patiently instructed her.

To secure his spot in the Spirit Cleansing Pool, Li Fan needed to make thorough preparations.

"Uncle, you're truly remarkable. I only knew you had a Spirit-Communicating Physique before, but I never expected you to have such strategic foresight." Yin Yuzhen's eyes glinted with curiosity as she observed Li Fan's methodical arrangements.

"Uncle, what did you do before?" Yin Yuzhen couldn't help but ask.

"Just a humble tutor," Li Fan replied dismissively.

Yin Yuzhen looked unconvinced.

"Alright, I'll leave these matters to you. I still need to cultivate. Unless there's an emergency, don't disturb me. Oh, and please also take care of the promises I made to Xiao Heng." Li Fan gave his final instructions, then left the Treasure Pavilion.

"Auspicious, how can it be auspicious again?" Yin Yuzhen stared blankly in the direction Li Fan had departed, her eyes filled with confusion.

Ever since she met Li Fan, every time she received instructions from him, her premonitions consistently indicated highly auspicious outcomes.

This almost made Yin Yuzhen believe her ability to seek good fortune and avoid misfortune had failed her.

It was important to note that before meeting Li Fan, she had never encountered anything highly auspicious.

In fact, when she had once considered taking the Dust-Severing Pill and embarking on the path of cultivation, her premonitions had warned her of extreme peril, with certain death, a clear sign of great misfortune.