Chapter 567: The Final Phase of the Cloud Cluster

Angry Squid: ............

"Zhou Qingang" slowly elaborated on his speculation. Gao Yuan, listening, couldn't help but thump the table and exclaim, "If this plan succeeds, most cultivators in the entire Congyun Sea will owe a debt of gratitude to Envoy Li!"

"Even if Immortal Monarch Hong Xi and Immortal Monarch Ziyun return, they would have to seriously consider the consequences before trying to harm Envoy Li."

"His Excellency is truly farsighted, thinking a hundred steps ahead. It is beyond our comprehension."

He Zhengmao also sighed, realizing that what seemed like a simple money-making scheme actually contained so many intricate twists and turns.

Both men were thoroughly impressed.

However, they were completely unaware that they had overlooked the most crucial aspect of this seemingly self-consistent plan.

That was whether Li Fan, after absorbing an enormous amount of contribution points, could truly achieve a "200% return in five years."

Perhaps it was because Li Fan had previously demonstrated incredible abilities multiple times, subtly brainwashing them.

Or perhaps their self-concocted image of Li Fan as an Immortal Venerable who had fallen from grace led them to trust his abilities almost without question.

In short, they had not the slightest doubt that Li Fan could achieve the goals of this fundraising plan.

What's merely a three-fold return in five years?

How could that possibly stump the esteemed Envoy Li?

But in reality...

To be serious, even if Li Fan had reincarnated multiple times in the Congyun Sea and knew all future developments,

This time, he truly couldn't achieve it.

It wasn't that he was incompetent; it was simply that once assets expanded to a certain extent, doubling them again became exponentially more difficult.

To put it plainly, Li Fan was merely a speculator who profited from buying low and selling high.

Not a creator of wealth.

He was not the Myriad Immortals Alliance, capable of generating an unlimited amount of contribution points without restriction.

Under his manipulation, tens of millions of contribution points might barely manage to double.

But if it were hundreds of millions, or even billions...

Unless another world-shaking war erupted between the Myriad Immortals Alliance and the Five Elders Council, and he could foresee it in advance.

However, it didn't matter if he couldn't do it.

Anyway, from the very beginning, he had no intention of fulfilling his promise of profit.

This was also why the fundraising period needed to be closed for five years.

Five years later, with the Crimson Flame incinerating the sea, the Congyun Sea would become a dead zone.

Once everyone was dead, these debts naturally wouldn't need to be repaid.

Rather than letting the Myriad Immortals Alliance reclaim the contribution points for free after their deaths, it was better for Li Fan to "recycle" them.

Therefore, Li Fan felt no psychological pressure at all.

As for the return of Immortal Monarch Lan Cang and Immortal Monarch Haoxuan, along with a number of Nascent Soul cultivators – while it was true they would return – these were merely pretexts used to deceive He and Gao.

Li Fan genuinely didn't care whether they returned or not.

Anyone who dared to return to the Congyun Sea would likely not escape death.

Li Fan, on the other other hand, rather hoped that Zhang Zhiliang and the other formation masters he was more familiar with would live longer in this life.

Various thoughts flashed through his mind. At this moment, "Zhou Qingang" said to He Zhengmao and Gao Yuan, "Fellow Daoists, you have already disappointed Envoy Li once. Do not waste this last chance to redeem yourselves!"

"You must execute Envoy Li's plan perfectly this time."

Both men nodded in agreement.

They also knew that if the two Immortal Monarchs of the Soul Transformation stage returned and Li Fan lost power, their fate, as direct subordinates personally promoted by Li Fan, would certainly not be good.

Regardless of loyalty, even for their own futures, they had to exert themselves and take this seriously now.

However, Gao Yuan was ultimately more cautious in his actions.

He hesitated for a long while. Before leaving, he cautiously asked Zhou Qingang, "Fellow Daoist Zhou, do you have Envoy Li's token of authority?"

"It's not that we don't trust you; after all, this matter is of great importance..."

"Zhou Qingang" let out a slight laugh, just about to reply.

Suddenly, two unusual fluctuations emanated from He Zhengmao and Gao Yuan's storage rings.

Both men remembered something, and their expressions changed.

They quickly took out the source of the anomaly: the two clone jade slips Li Fan had given them before entering seclusion.

The two clone jade slips flew into mid-air and merged into one.

From the faint figure, Li Fan's voice came, "What you said is not wrong. This matter is indeed significant, and it does require my appearance."

Seeing Li Fan suddenly appear, He Zhengmao and Gao Yuan both felt a sudden panic.

They immediately prostrated themselves on the ground, calling out, "Greetings, Envoy Li!"

At the same time, their hearts were filled with extreme tension.

Because Li Fan's words just now clearly meant that Envoy Li had observed their entire conversation with Zhou Qingang from beginning to end!

Even more, from the moment His Excellency entered seclusion, their every move had been under his control!

Both men were utterly terrified, touching their foreheads to the ground, not daring to look up without Li Fan's command.

"He Zhengmao!"

"Here!" He Zhengmao quickly responded.

"Select some representatives from the cultivators who participated in previous fundraising plans. We will meet ten days from now."

"While I personally explain this five-year plan, it will also put your minds at ease," Li Fan said in a deep voice.

Seeing Li Fan give him a command, He Zhengmao was overjoyed and immediately agreed.

"Gao Yuan!"

"Your humble servant is here!" Gao Yuan's voice was slightly trembling as he replied.

"Compile a list of Congyun Sea cultivators who perished in the battle in Tianling State this time. Submit it to me in ten days as well."

Gao Yuan hastily assented.

The light on the clone jade slip in the air grew dimmer and dimmer, eventually becoming imperceptible.

It dropped to the ground with a soft thud, and at the same time, Li Fan's last words came: "Remember, when I am absent, Zhou Qingang can act as my full representative."

"His words are my commands!"

Zhou Qingang slightly lowered his head, repeatedly thanking Envoy Li, a smirk curling his lips, clearly unable to hide his smugness.

Seeing this, He Zhengmao and Gao Yuan couldn't help but feel a pang of sourness and regret in their hearts: "Originally, this trust from Envoy Li belonged to us!"

But in the end, they dared not complain and nodded in obedience.

With Li Fan's personal appearance, it was proven that Zhou Qingang's described plan was true.

He and Gao, having been put in their place, meticulously and tremblingly carried out Li Fan's will.

After several years of management, their control over Congyun City was actually more efficient than Li Fan's.

Under their manipulation, the news that the great war was nearing its end and a new fundraising plan was about to begin spread throughout the community of Congyun Sea cultivators in just one day.

This caused a huge commotion, and people's sentiments fluctuated.

Countless messages were sent to He Zhengmao, asking him about the truth of the matter.

He Zhengmao naturally elaborated on it with added embellishments.

Thus, ten days later, a group of cultivators gathered, awaiting Li Fan's arrival.