Chapter 564: Flourishing Era of Diverse Insects

Although the Myriad Immortals Alliance deliberately downplayed the process and outcome of this battle, clues could be gleaned from the Alliance's actions following it.

Various offensive orders, recently issued, were urgently canceled. Instructions were given to all states to hold their ground and strictly defend against infiltration by cultivators from the Five Elders Council. No state was permitted to initiate hostilities; the primary task for the current phase was defense.

Conscription orders from the front line to various states also became increasingly frequent.

"Flip-flopping orders, a makeshift organization!"

Almost overnight, the battle strategy underwent a 180-degree change, causing all Alliance cultivators to grumble internally.

However, awed by the Myriad Immortals Alliance's immense power, no one dared to speak their minds directly. They only lamented with great distress during private gatherings.

The progress of the war did not shift according to the cultivators' will.

It merely transformed from a seemingly advantageous position into a stalemate between the two sides.

Setbacks in the external war did not bring peace internally.

At the Myriad Immortals Alliance headquarters, many high-ranking cultivators were reportedly dismissed from their posts and investigated. Even some veteran Dao Integration cultivators with deep backgrounds and long tenures could not escape.

However, the reason for their interrogation was unknown to anyone.

Even after these cultivators were released, and even if they appeared extremely weak and tormented, they remained tight-lipped about the matter, refusing to elaborate no matter how much they were pressed.

This further led to widespread suspicion and public unease.

After all, no one wanted to be the next person inexplicably taken away for interrogation.

Li Fan, however, knew that the Myriad Immortals Alliance was searching for a non-existent mole.

No matter how hard they racked their brains, how could they have imagined that the leaker of the Sky Profound Spirit Sealing Array Diagram was a minor Core Formation cultivator from Congyun Sea, a remote frontier region of the Alliance, who had never been involved in the matter?

Therefore, this was an investigation destined to yield no results.

Perhaps, the case would ultimately be hastily closed with a few unlucky individuals being tortured into false confessions.

And on Li Fan's list of the injured, a few more names of innocent people would be added.

After generally understanding the war's developments over the past year, Li Fan then reviewed the many messages He Zhenghao had sent to "Zhou Qingang."

Most were inquiries and urgings about when he would emerge from his seclusion.

They were very frequent at the beginning of his seclusion. But later, whether due to giving up or some other reason, the messages became fewer and farther between.

"The Secret Envoy is in deep seclusion, and so are you, Fellow Daoist Zhou."

"I can't even get in touch with anyone."

"Now everyone's learned by example, destroying their communication talismans and claiming to be in seclusion."

"If this continues, our Bureau of Administration in Congyun City probably won't even be able to gather ten active officials! When the Secret Envoy returns, how will I explain this to him!"

He Zhenghao poured out his grievances, but Li Fan scoffed coldly.

"Do you still see me as the Secret Envoy?"

Not bothering with this dying man, Li Fan instantly cleared the messages in the communication talisman, then left the seclusion chamber and quietly appeared in the Bureau of Administration hall.

"Brother Gao, the position of Pill Quality Inspector in the Pill Hall recently became vacant. Someone offered me 50,000 contribution points to buy this position. What do you think?"

"I think it's a bit low," Gao Yuan replied, "at least 80,000."

"After all, the position of Drill Master in the Martial Arts Hall not long ago netted a full 130,000 contribution points. This time..."

As He Zhenghao spoke, he suddenly noticed an extra person in the hall.

His voice abruptly stopped. He Zhenghao looked at "Zhou Qingang" with a face full of embarrassment, feeling somewhat awkward for a moment.

Gao Yuan, however, squinted his eyes slightly, showing no panic at being caught engaging in illicit power dealings.

Instead, he smiled and greeted "Zhou Qingang" very naturally, saying, "Fellow Daoist Zhou, long time no see! You've come at just the right time to give us some advice!"

As he spoke, he amiably pulled Zhou Qingang closer and honestly recounted their scheme of selling vacant positions in Congyun City.

And with eyes full of expectation, he looked at Li Fan, awaiting his answer.

This move instantly defused the awkward situation between him and He Zhenghao, simultaneously dispelling any distance with Zhou Qingang, whom he hadn't seen in a long time, and instead pulling him into their venture.

Even Li Fan, who had navigated official circles for centuries, couldn't help but praise it as "masterful."

He regarded the two with a half-smile and chose not to play the role of a righteous person who abhorred evil and vowed to expose them.

After feigning a moment of thought, he suddenly slammed the table: "80,000 contribution points?"

"Still too little! Final offer: 160,000 contribution points!"

"Take it or leave it!"

He Zhenghao hadn't expected Zhou Qingang's appetite to be even larger than his own, doubling the price instantly.

He Zhenghao was instantly dumbfounded.

After a moment, he regained his composure and advised with a wry smile, "Fellow Daoist Zhou, you might have just emerged from seclusion and aren't aware of the current market."

"The position of Pill Quality Inspector can only be sold for a maximum of 80,000. After all, we're not the only ones selling it in Congyun Sea. People choose us only because the price here is low, and they can buy it as a stepping stone."

"You've suddenly doubled it..."

He Zhenghao shook his head: "With that kind of money, why wouldn't others go to Luoyan State or other more prosperous places?"

Gao Yuan also nodded in agreement.

Li Fan watched the two with a cold, mocking smile in his eyes: "I don't understand the situation? Do you two truly believe that because I've been in seclusion, I'm completely ignorant of what's happening outside? I think it's *you* two who are currently unclear about the situation!"

"Zhou Qingang's" current demeanor was completely different from his usual conduct.

And Zhou Qingang was a relatively steady person, not one to speak without purpose.

Could it be...

Gao Yuan and He Zhenghao exchanged glances, both with surprise and suspicion in their eyes.

As the saying goes, 'A clear conscience fears no summons,' yet a simple sentence like this was enough to intimidate them.

He Zhenghao leaned forward, bowing slightly, and cautiously asked, "Fellow Daoist Zhou, where is this coming from?"

"Zhou Qingang" did not reply, merely glancing disdainfully at Gao Yuan.

A flicker of anger crossed Gao Yuan's eyes, but he quickly suppressed it, putting on a smiling face and adopting an eager-to-learn posture.

It was then that Li Fan slowly spoke: "The War of Tianling State is nearing its end, and hostilities are about to cease. Your practice of reselling official positions, taking advantage of the chaotic, unregulated period during the war, is coming to an end!"

At these words, Gao Yuan and He Zhenghao both looked utterly shocked.

This time, it wasn't feigned.

After a brief moment of horror, a hint of disbelief appeared in both their eyes.

He Zhenghao hastily asked, "There's been no word of this at all. How did Fellow Daoist Zhou come to know?"

"It's not that we don't believe you, Fellow Daoist," Gao Yuan added, chiming in, "but this concerns a major matter for the Alliance, so please don't speak carelessly."

"How did I know?" "Zhou Qingang" squinted at the two, a cold glint in his eyes.

"Naturally, the Secret Envoy informed me through a message!"