Chapter 568

The Final Deception

Liuli Island.

He Zhenghao gazed at the island he had guarded for decades. Beside him stood his successor, Zhao Changli, bowing and nodding subserviently. A wave of pride swelled within He Zhenghao's heart.

He recalled a time when he, too, had been like that, feeling nervous and apprehensive whenever an inspector from above arrived, afraid of incurring their displeasure. But now, in just a few years, He Zhenghao had become the kind of "important figure" he once looked up to.

After encouraging Zhao Changli, his junior, He Zhenghao familiarly entered the Mountains and Stars Formation. Mountains hung suspended overhead, obscuring any potential prying eyes from outside. The cultivators invited by He Zhenghao had been waiting there for a long time.

As soon as He Zhenghao appeared, they enthusiastically greeted him. In their eyes, if Li Fan was the God of Wealth, then He Zhenghao was the perfect dispenser of wealth.

After some pleasantries, a cultivator eagerly asked if the Emissary had deduced that the war was ending, pointing out that there were absolutely no signs and that the Immortal Alliance had even declared they would fight to the bitter end that very day. Before he could finish, he was interrupted by the clamoring crowd. They argued that the Emissary's divination techniques were profound and infallible, questioning why he had come if he didn't believe. Others urged He Zhenghao to ignore him and instead explain the details of the unlimited fundraising plan.

He Zhenghao pressed his hands down in a calming gesture, and the hall instantly fell silent. With a smile, he began to explain the details to everyone. Upon receiving He Zhenghao's personal confirmation, the cultivators were all extremely excited. However, given the sheer scale of the fundraising, He Zhenghao alone couldn't completely manage the situation. Some cultivators inevitably still harbored doubts.

It was at this moment that Li Fan appeared. A silver light cascaded down from the mountains suspended in the sky. Li Fan, clad in a white Daoist robe, stepped on starlight, seemingly moving leisurely but in reality arriving in an instant, descending into the hall. Waves of rhythmic fluctuations emanated from Li Fan's body. They immediately captured the attention of all the cultivators present.

As everyone present had been invited by He Zhenghao, they were naturally well-off and worldly. But facing the lingering aura around Li Fan, they were utterly astonished. It was as if they were directly confronting the mysterious and boundless Great Dao of Heaven and Earth; even a slight touch caused various insights to spontaneously emerge in their minds. Indeed, one cultivator, with a look of ecstasy, seemed to grasp something profound, and disregarding the setting, immediately closed his eyes to cultivate.

They wondered what kind of power this was, noting that even a Soul Transformation Immortal Lord would be far from possessing such might. They speculated if the Emissary had perhaps recovered his original cultivation realm. Everyone exchanged glances, unable to conceal their shock.

Li Fan calmly stated that he had been in seclusion for a long time and had made some minor gains, which he was still unable to fully adapt to or conceal. He added that he hoped they would forgive his display. The crowd's hearts pounded, their minds racing with conjectures, and they quickly expressed their unworthiness.

Li Fan nodded slightly. After a moment of silence, he slowly said that during his recent seclusion, while his cultivation had advanced, he had also taken the opportunity to repair the Heaven and Earth Qiankun Die, the most treasured artifact of his Tianji Sect. He explained that the artifact had been damaged when he forcibly divined the secrets of the heavens during his trial at the Martial Arts Hall. Although repairing it would have been a trivial matter, he had a subtle premonition that the time was not yet right, so he had refrained from doing so. As Li Fan spoke, a translucent icosahedral die appeared in his palm. It spun continuously, and through its intricate facets, countless rapidly flickering images could faintly be seen.

He continued that he had achieved success in his cultivation recently, and with a sudden inspiration, he knew it was time to fully restore it. In the process, he had indeed caught a glimpse of a possible future. Everyone's hearts tightened, and they all focused, listening intently.

Li Fan stated that Immortal Lords Hongxi and Ziyun, both Soul Transformation cultivators, might soon return to Congyun Immortal City. He acknowledged that although he currently managed the affairs of the Congyun Sea, he was merely temporarily in charge during their absence. Li Fan's expression remained perfectly calm, as if discussing something unrelated to himself. He continued that once they returned, by both custom and reason, he would have to relinquish his authority. As an ancient cultivator, he explained, he was accustomed to a free and unrestrained life, like a wandering cloud and wild crane, and was unwilling to be constrained by others. Therefore, he might resign from his position as Emissary and depart from the Congyun Sea to explore the heartland of the Immortal Alliance. He acknowledged that since he had entered the world to govern, he had formed a karmic connection with them. He also stated that he could not have successfully completed the task of rebuilding the Immortal City without their strong support. Therefore, he had decided to help them one last time before resigning. Li Fan's gaze swept over the crowd as he declared that after this matter, their karmic connection would end, and they would likely have no further dealings.

These words caused an uproar in the hall. No one present was foolish. Although Li Fan ostensibly claimed he wished to withdraw because he was unwilling to contend for power, they knew that if he truly had no such intention, he would simply resign and leave. Why would he bother with such a grand fundraising scheme to win over people's hearts? They realized he was seeking their support for a power struggle. They mused that after all, he was the highest administrator of an entire state, and such a position was not easily relinquished. Many cultivators present suddenly felt enlightened. They recalled how Li Fan's loyal supporters, such as He Zhenghao and Gao Yuan, had all been heavily promoted to key positions after his victory in previous struggles. They felt an opportunity had arrived.

They assured the Emissary that he had no need to worry and that they would undoubtedly follow his lead. They agreed, adding that although Immortal Lords Hongxi and Ziyun had good reputations, they were mostly aloof and unapproachable during their tenure, unlike the Emissary who led fellow Daoists to prosperity. One cultivator openly declared that he had been fortunate enough to participate in the Emissary's fundraising plans every time, and through his own management, his wealth had increased more than sixfold in just a few years compared to his initial assets. Another admitted that while he had been a bit slow to realize it, his wealth had also doubled. They all expressed their support for the Emissary. They exclaimed that by following him, they would achieve great wealth and attain the Great Dao. As soon as one person took the lead, it immediately sparked a response from the cultivators present, who unanimously voiced their support for Li Fan.

Li Fan's gaze subtly swept over He Zhenghao, who reacted quickly, immediately taking out the pre-prepared contracts and rosters from his storage ring. The fundraising commenced on the spot. Amidst such an enthusiastic atmosphere and under Li Fan's watchful eye, even those who were initially unwilling now had no choice but to contribute some of their savings. Li Fan thought to himself that to create this momentum, he had used a piece of Human Dao Stardust and several Enlightenment Pills when he made his appearance. He mused that he couldn't afford not to recover his investment from them.