Chapter 523

Bound for the South Sea.Bound for the South Sea.

“You truly understand me, Fellow Daoist Zhou!”

Li Fan’s previously stern expression softened, becoming exceptionally amiable. “You modern cultivators are certainly innovative; I’m still a bit of an old-fashioned person.” He patted Zhou Kebao’s shoulder, his words filled with praise. “If you can truly create this, all past grievances between us will be completely forgotten! It’s even possible that we could cooperate closely in the future. You have influential connections, and I, Li Fan, am no slouch either.”

Li Fan wore an arrogant expression, also painting a grand, enticing vision for Zhou Kebao.

Zhou Kebao, however, had no choice but to believe him. After all, procuring such a large quantity of strategic materials in such a short time was beyond the capability of any ordinary cultivator. As someone entrenched in power and privilege, Zhou Kebao understood all too well that within the Myriad Immortal Alliance, background and connections were sometimes more crucial than one's cultivation level.

“Come, come, tell me more about the details,” Li Fan said, pulling Zhou Kebao closer, clearly extremely interested in this mobile immortal city and cave abode.

Witnessing the negotiation proceed so smoothly, Zhou Kebao was ecstatic. Without daring to delay, he immediately pointed to the image in the air. He zoomed in on each section, explaining every detail.

After a considerable time, Zhou Kebao was parched from all the talking. Li Fan finally nodded in satisfaction.

“If this is discovered, will the authorities blame us?” After a moment of silence, Li Fan asked.

“Haha, Fellow Daoist Li, rest assured. What is not explicitly forbidden by law is permitted. Among the Myriad Immortal Alliance’s many regulations and laws, there’s no provision whatsoever that prohibits cultivators from constructing cave abodes that mimic immortal city structures,” Zhou Kebao repeatedly assured him. “As long as you maintain a low profile, Fellow Daoist, and don't flaunt it everywhere, who would needlessly cause trouble for you? Of course, if someone actually reports it and it escalates uncontrollably, we can simply destroy it. Once the attention dies down, we’ll reconstruct another one for you, Fellow Daoist.”

Zhou Kebao’s face was alight with smug satisfaction and arrogance.

“Excellent! I’m increasingly convinced that you and I are cut from the same cloth, Fellow Daoist Zhou!” Li Fan offered a slight smile. He took out a blank jade slip and held it in his hand. A moment later, he handed it to Zhou Kebao, saying, “These are my additional requirements for the immortal city cave abode. Go back, calculate the costs, and provide me with a quotation as soon as possible. If there are no major issues, we’ll finalize this deal. Of course, if you still presume to take advantage of me, Li Fan, then it will truly be a fight to the death.” A flash of ferocity crossed Li Fan’s eyes.

“Rest assured, Fellow Daoist Li, we understand!” Zhou Kebao’s face brightened with joy as he took the jade slip and quickly scanned it. He then eagerly bid his farewells and departed.

“They truly are a bunch of parasites…” Li Fan let out a cold snort and murmured as he watched Zhou Kebao’s retreating figure. “But what does that have to do with me? I should even be grateful to them. Without these parasites, how else would I extract benefits from this rigidly regulated Myriad Immortal Alliance?”

After a cold chuckle, Li Fan lightly gestured forward. The miniature depiction of the immortal city and cave abode instantly reappeared. It was a perfect replication Li Fan had created, based on his recent observations and the actual appearance of Congyun Immortal City.

“A floating city of my own…”

“This is quite a treasure. And it came to me effortlessly.”

Li Fan’s eyes narrowed slightly as he continuously made annotations on the miniature depiction of the floating city, aligning it with his own ideas.

Time flew by.

Three days later, Zhou Kebao arrived in a hurry once more, carrying the prepared quotation.

“Eighteen million six hundred thirty thousand contribution points…” Li Fan mused.

As if afraid Li Fan would deem it too expensive, Zhou Kebao hastily explained, “This only accounts for the expenses related to your additional requirements, Fellow Daoist, along with some labor costs. All the materials required for building the immortal city are being provided by us at our own expense. To make amends with you, Fellow Daoist, we’ve truly spared no expense this time.”

Li Fan dismissed his words with a wave. “Don’t speak such nonsense in front of me. In the entire Myriad Immortal Alliance, who besides me, Li Fan, would dare to use an immortal city as a personal cave abode? If I don’t make this purchase, your materials will merely remain stock gathering dust in a warehouse. But now, they can be directly exchanged for contribution points…”

Zhou Kebao dared not refute, only offering a sheepish affirmation.

“Eighteen million six hundred thirty thousand, that’s a bit expensive. How about this: fifteen million,” Li Fan demanded boldly. “Agree if you can; if not, then consider this conversation never happened, and we’ll drop the matter entirely!”

Upon hearing this, Zhou Kebao’s expression changed drastically. After his expression flickered through several emotions, he ultimately gritted his teeth and agreed. He then produced a gleaming golden commercial contract, made some revisions, and handed it over.

Li Fan took it and saw that, in addition to Zhou Kebao’s name, it listed a total of nine cultivators, including Gou Zihao and Qu Dailong. After meticulously reviewing it and confirming its accuracy, Li Fan also affixed his signature to it. As two beams of golden light shot into their respective bodies, Zhou Kebao finally breathed a sigh of relief.

As per their agreement, Li Fan first transferred five million contribution points.

“When will the immortal city and cave abode be completed?” Li Fan asked, observing Zhou Kebao’s uncontainable joy.

“The immortal city and cave abode will be finished on the same day Congyun Immortal City is completed,” Zhou Kebao promised.

“That quickly?” This time, it was Li Fan’s turn to be slightly surprised. He knew that he had gathered every available cultivator in Congyun Sea, working them overtime, day and night, just to barely meet the deadline set by the First Canon. And now, less than two months remained until the completion of Congyun Immortal City. To complete the construction of the cave abode in such a short timeframe, yet, from Zhou Kebao’s words, it seemed they still had ample capacity. Their efficiency, he feared, was more than double that of the makeshift team Li Fan had assembled.

Seeing Li Fan’s rare expression of surprise, Zhou Kebao felt quite pleased and merely smiled without speaking.

“Very well, in that case, I will await the day of double celebration. You may go now!” Li Fan once again dismissed him.

Zhou Kebao cupped his hands in salute and lingered no longer.

Time flew by, and days turned into weeks. The official completion date of Congyun Immortal City was getting closer and closer. On the faces of all the busy cultivators, expressions of anticipation began to appear. What they tirelessly toiled for was precisely the reconstruction of Congyun City, Island Lord Li Fan’s merit-based rewards, and the allocation of various positions.

Li Fan had also not forgotten the commission from the First Canon, fully integrating the formation diagram of the Profound Sky Locking Ghost Array into the immortal city’s foundation, without attracting anyone’s attention.

As the immortal city’s groundbreaking ceremony approached, Li Fan, alone in his secret chamber that day, suddenly felt a sensation. It turned out that the Fallen Immortal Realm, which he hadn’t accessed in a long time, was finally accessible once more.

“Fortuitous Birth, Profound Yellow Heavenly Venerate!”

Li Fan performed the ritual and re-entered the Fallen Immortal Realm. The narrative continued from where it left off: he and Xu Ke, having been entrusted by Lu Ya, were now journeying to the South Sea Demonic Mountain.

“Little Hei, tell me, why would Senior Brother Lu Ya entrust such an important task to me? This South Sea Demonic Mountain is no pleasant place. According to other Senior Brothers, it’s infested with numerous terrifying demonic beasts… If a more powerful Senior Brother were sent, perhaps the chances of success would be higher, wouldn’t they?” Xu Ke tilted his head, his wide eyes filled with confusion.

Li Fan, however, unceremoniously gave him a scratch. “Can you quiet down? This is the tenth time you’ve asked that question on this journey. I truly don’t understand why you don’t just ask your Senior Brother Lu Ya directly. Why keep pestering me?”

Xu Ke pouted slightly. “You’re mistaken. It wasn’t ten times; it was clearly the ninth…”

As the two were playfully bickering, a resonant dragon’s roar suddenly echoed from the distant horizon, interrupting them both.