Chapter 459: Seems Like an Old Friend Is Coming

Jiao Xiuyuan’s expression brightened. "Friend, your way of doing things is exactly to my liking! As the saying goes, 'even brothers should settle accounts clearly.' Although you helped me gain hundreds of millions through your scheme, the rules cannot be broken."

After a moment of contemplation, Jiao Xiuyuan said, "I'll give you a big discount—just transfer me two hundred contribution points."

Li Fan smiled faintly, "You're too kind, Fellow Daoist Jiao!"

Jiao Xiuyuan naturally didn't care about the contribution points themselves, but rather about completing the required transaction process. Without further ado, Li Fan immediately transferred the two hundred contribution points.

After the transaction was complete, Li Fan subtly perceived some inexplicable, unidentifiable changes in the puppet before him. This phenomenon had never occurred before. A thought sparked in Li Fan's mind, and a certain hypothesis emerged. So he asked aloud, "Fellow Daoist Jiao, are you about to have a breakthrough?"

Jiao Xiuyuan seemed surprised, as if he hadn't expected Li Fan, who was only at the Golden Core stage, to notice the signs. "You have excellent insight, Fellow Daoist! The Ancient Heavenly Secrets Sect truly lives up to its reputation." After sighing with emotion, he nodded and said, "Indeed. However, the cultivation technique I practice is unique. What I call a 'breakthrough' is different from a typical realm breakthrough. The specifics, unfortunately, are not convenient to elaborate on. Please forgive me, Fellow Daoist." Jiao Xiuyuan spoke with a rare hint of apology.

Li Fan nodded, indicating his understanding.

"Nevertheless, I, Jiao Xiuyuan, am certainly not one to forget a favor. Thanks to you, Fellow Daoist, I have profited greatly." He declared grandly, patting his chest, "If there's anything you need, just tell me. I will surely satisfy your request!"

"Speaking of which, I happen to have something I need your help with. Do you know of the Ancient Medicine King Sect?" Li Fan seized the opportunity to ask for his assistance in excavating the small Medicine King Cauldrons. "I have a premonition that these small cauldrons will be involved in many karmic connections in the future, and the matter is of great importance. However, the former site of the Medicine King Sect might pose a fatal risk to me, so it's not convenient for me to go personally. Therefore, I can only trouble you, Fellow Daoist."

Jiao Xiuyuan readily agreed.

"Oh, and by the way, after Chief Lu arrived at Myriad Immortal Island that day, her whereabouts became unknown. You are well-informed, Fellow Daoist, so please help me inquire about her. After all, as someone who personally experienced the event, I'm very curious to know its impact on the Myriad Immortal Alliance." Due to the confidentiality agreement, Li Fan could only speak vaguely.

Jiao Xiuyuan also readily agreed.

After thanking Jiao Xiuyuan, the two chatted for a while longer. Only when the cultivators who had been surrounding Li Fan outside gradually dispersed did he quietly leave the Thousand Li Hall. Lu Xichan's blockade of Myriad Immortal Island had been lifted, and cultivators could now move freely.

It was unknown what she had actually investigated, but in any case, it was said that even the two Immortal Monarchs, Ziyun and Hongxi, who were at the Soul Transformation stage, had been recalled to the Myriad Immortal Alliance headquarters. Meanwhile, astute cultivators noticed a series of highly unusual transfer orders issued afterwards. All cultivators at or above the Nascent Soul cultivation stage from the Hall of Heavenly Secrets and the Hall of Array Strategy were successively summoned to the Myriad Immortal Alliance headquarters.

"Such a huge commotion, are they planning to research and construct the Sky Profound Spirit Locking Array in advance?"

"I hope the Five Elders' Council hurries up. I really don't want to see that greenish sky in this life again." Li Fan thought to himself.

While waiting for Jiao Xiuyuan to investigate and report back, Li Fan quietly left Myriad Immortal Island alone, transformed into the appearance of an envoy from the Myriad Worlds Alliance, and headed straight for the island where the group from the Empire was located. He hadn't forgotten that the ten million contribution points from the Five Elders' Council were still in their hands.

Although these ten million contribution points existed in the form of standardized spirit stones, which could be exchanged for his own contribution points at any time in the Heavenly Profound Mirror, this amount was unprecedentedly huge and of unknown origin. If Li Fan exchanged them alone, it might alert the relevant cultivators, especially since he had already exchanged five million contribution points last time. Since he needed to obtain the technique for controlling exotic beasts from the Empire anyway, he might as well hand this hot potato directly to them. The number of law-stealers who had secretly entered from the Empire was not small, so he believed they should be able to easily launder this massive amount of contribution points from the Five Elders' Council.

He traveled quickly and soon arrived above the island. Sensing Li Fan's arrival, Qing flashed forward to greet him. Compared to her previous cold demeanor, she was much more courteous. It seemed that in any era, the power of money always exceeded imagination.

"So, are you satisfied with the gift from our Myriad Worlds Alliance, Fellow Daoist?" Li Fan asked with a smile.

"Haha, more than just satisfied. I'm rather startled, in fact." Qing led Li Fan into a secret chamber. "Ten million contribution points—Fellow Daoist, you truly have a grand style. But why send someone to deliver it so suddenly? Didn't we agree to conduct the transaction at our next meeting? If the person hadn't identified themselves, I would have been tempted to make a move." Qing asked with a hint of a smile and some confusion in her voice.

Li Fan shook his head. "There's been a change. For a period of time, the Myriad Immortal Alliance might increase its regulatory efforts within its territory. So, our transaction needs to be completed as soon as possible." He continued, "The reason I delayed my arrival was to find a foothold for you..." At this point, Li Fan intentionally paused, leaving them in suspense. "I believe we have demonstrated sufficient sincerity. Now, it's up to your Empire to decide," Li Fan said slowly after drinking a cup of tea Qing had prepared for him.

"Hmm? This tea is good," Li Fan said with some surprise as the sky-blue tea entered his stomach. Unlike the spirit teas Li Fan usually drank, it offered no benefits to cultivation, spiritual power, or divine sense. Instead, he felt streams of warmth flowing through his limbs and meridians, improving and strengthening his body. Li Fan, who cultivated the "Creation Furnace Art," was naturally very familiar with this sensation. It was remarkably similar to the power of the human body's hidden potential.

"This is Extreme Spirit Dragon's Beard Tea. If you like it, Fellow Daoist, I can give you some," Qing said with a smile.

After handing a storage ring to Li Fan, Qing composed herself. "That was personal. What we are about to discuss now are the transaction matters between the Empire and the Myriad Worlds Alliance."

"We believe the Alliance truly intends to help the Empire. Therefore, in return, the Empire will absolutely increase the scope of our cooperation."

"First, this is the first part of the transaction." As Qing spoke, she handed over another uniquely shaped storage ring. Carved on the ring was a vibrant Azure Luan bird, its eyes still constantly moving.

Li Fan looked at the Azure Luan bird on the storage ring and found it somewhat familiar. However, most birds in the world tended to look quite similar. Thus, he didn't dare to jump to conclusions immediately. He simply took it and began to examine its contents carefully. Unexpectedly, his divine sense was obstructed, and the inspection failed. It wasn't until the Azure Luan bird lazily glanced at Li Fan and flapped its wings that Li Fan could finally see the contents within.