Chapter 456: Five Elders' Meeting Joins the Game

"Ten million contribution points?! Is he insane?" the face exclaimed, losing its voice.

However, the face quickly regained its composure.

"Hmph, his appetite is truly growing. But is he certain that what happened on Myriad Immortals Island is worth so many contribution points?"

Li Fan glanced at the other party's expression and cautiously added, "He has other conditions."

"Payment first, then delivery."

"Furthermore, he said that the decision to trade is entirely ours; he won't force it. However, he guarantees that the value of this information is far greater than this price. He claims he's risking his life and offering this price because we're old customers."

Upon hearing such an outrageous condition, the face was surprisingly less agitated than before.

After careful consideration, it said, "This is a significant matter. I will go and seek instructions. Stay here; do not move."

With that, the light and shadow on the broken stone vanished instantly.

Li Fan waited patiently where he was. In the time it took for an incense stick to burn, the face reappeared.

"Agree to his terms!" it declared decisively.

"Boss?!" Li Fan was somewhat shocked by the other party's boldness.

"He Zhenghao previously stated that this transaction is too risky for him to handle directly, so an intermediary is needed. If we agree to the trade, we are to send the spirit stones to this island. Just say you are from the Myriad Worlds Alliance, and don't worry about anything else. Simply hand over the spirit stones to the other party." Li Fan then gave the coordinates of an island, which was precisely where Li Chenfeng and others from the Empire were located.

"He will only give us the information after he confirms receipt of the spirit stones," Li Fan quickly added.

"Myriad Worlds Alliance, what is that?"

"Could it be..." The face seemed to realize something and fell silent.

"The spirit stones will be delivered by the day after tomorrow at the latest. Go keep an eye on He Zhenghao; don't let him get away," the face instructed.

"Yes, Boss," Li Fan readily agreed.

"This is a huge gamble. If we win, we'll certainly achieve immense merit. If we lose..." the face murmured to itself.

Clearly, this was the first time the face had encountered a transaction of such a large sum and unreliable method.

It couldn't help but appear somewhat apprehensive.

"Don't worry, Boss. Based on my interactions with He Zhenghao recently, I believe he can be trusted," Li Fan said offhandedly.

"I hope so. You may go now."

After ending the communication, Li Fan hurried back to Tai'an Island.

At the same time, he used Formless Killing Intent to sense the situation on Li Chenfeng's side.

Two days later.

A black-robed cultivator, following instructions, arrived above the island where the Empire was located and looked around.

The woman in green robes suddenly appeared before him.

The two confronted each other, both looking solemn.

The black-robed cultivator, following the trade procedure, identified himself: "I am a cultivator from the Myriad Worlds Alliance."

With that, he tossed over a storage ring.

The woman in green robes took the storage ring. After inspecting it, her pupils sharply contracted.

"You..."

Just as she was about to say something, she saw the other party wave a hand and simply leave directly.

Leaving the green-robed woman, her face full of disbelief, standing rooted to the spot.

"Revered Teacher!"

Li Chenfeng noticed something was amiss and quickly flew forward to investigate.

The woman in green robes handed him the storage ring. After inspecting it, Li Chenfeng also fell into a daze.

"Revered Teacher, what exactly..." Li Chenfeng felt utterly bewildered.

"It seems our preparations this time were likely insufficient," the woman in green robes said with a wry smile.

"The Five Elders Council is truly efficient; they never procrastinate!" Sensing how smoothly the transaction went, Li Fan couldn't help but praise them inwardly.

He then set off for Liuli Island, and after having a cup of tea with He Zhenghao again, Li Fan headed straight for the rendezvous point.

Activating communication with the face, Li Fan appeared somewhat bewildered and apprehensive.

"What is the message He Zhenghao wants to convey?" the face asked directly, without pleasantries.

"He already told me secretly," Li Fan whispered. "It's just one sentence."

"Hmm?"

Li Fan placed both palms on the broken stone, concentrating his mind to transmit the message.

"True Xuan Spirit Lock..."

"Xuanhuang returns..."

"Unification?"

On the face's side, there was absolute silence.

A moment later, faint, chaotic noises, indicating significant commotion, could be heard from that side.

"The transaction is complete. Continue to lie low. I will contact you again if there's a special situation." Although it was trying hard to restrain itself, Li Fan could still detect a hint of panic in the face's words.

The broken stone completely turned to dust, and communication ceased.

"Zhou Qing'ang," still looking bewildered, returned to Tai'an Island.

Only when he reached an uninhabited, deep part of the island's protective array did he revert to his normal self.

"With the Five Elders Council acting as a check, even if the Myriad Immortals Alliance wants to establish the True Xuan Spirit Lock Array in this era, I fear they will lack the capability."

"As for how events will specifically unfold, further observation is needed."

Li Fan's eyes narrowed slightly, and his attention returned to his main body on Myriad Immortals Island.

After a period of investigation, Li Fan was released from the dark room.

His testimony was identical to that of the other surviving cultivators, with no anomalies.

The Immortal Alliance's main focus remained on Gongsun Qixuan, who had gone missing.

It was his deduction that had triggered that mysteriously terrifying green light.

Although Li Fan had deduced some results beforehand, from the actual commotion, it was clear that Gongsun Qixuan's deduction ability was superior.

Figuring out what he had seen at that time became the most important matter at hand.

Myriad Immortals Island remained under lockdown.

However, cultivators who had undergone interrogation were free to move around the island after signing confidentiality agreements.

While they couldn't specifically mention what happened that day, Li Fan's astonishing deduction abilities, demonstrated during the Puxian True Leaf price surge and the Martial Arts Hall anomaly, were widely recognized.

Consequently, many cultivators began to try and curry favor with Li Fan.

Unable to enter the True Xuan Mirror, Li Fan had to go to Qianli Hall to find peace and quiet.

Qianli Hall had not been open for business since its entrance was blocked that day, its doors tightly shut.

Li Fan was only able to return by using the secret passage he knew from before.

Upon entering the shop, Li Fan found Jiao Xiuyuan inside.

However, his expression was vacant, and his eyes were lifeless.

No matter how Li Fan called out, he showed no reaction.

It was just like in his previous life when the puppet went out of control due to the shattering of the Dao Transformation Stone.

This time, it seemed even more severe.

Li Fan observed carefully for a moment, deep in thought.

"It must be Lu Xichan's blockade that caused the puppet to lose connection with its main body."

"The methods of the Chief of the Array Planning Hall are truly extraordinary."

"However, she would never imagine that there's a divine art like the 'Mystic Spirit Transformation' in this world."

Li Fan couldn't help but feel a little smug.

Having nothing else to do, he began to stroll leisurely through the empty Qianli Hall.