Chapter 586: Yin and Yang Difficult to Define

“No, this method is practically tailor-made for me; I absolutely cannot miss it!”

Han Yi paced back and forth, muttering to himself.

“I'd lose one-third of the penalty fee, and my principal is 910,000.”

“If I can successfully retrieve it, that’s 600,000…”

Han Yi felt a pang of heartache.

Then his face showed struggle: “I’m still short over 500,000!”

“If I push myself and risk another backlash, I could still earn that much within a year.”

“But doing it so frequently might damage my foundation.”

After a long period of internal struggle, Han Yi finally made up his mind.

“I used to think that as long as I could control my luck, I would surely achieve success in cultivation.”

“However, from my experiences over the past few years, luck isn't everything. To achieve Dao Integration, or even immortality, relying solely on luck is far from enough.”

“Resources and connections are equally important!”

“The appearance of this cultivation method in the world is a once-in-a-millennium opportunity. To not seize what Heaven offers is to invite misfortune!”

With this thought, Han Yi headed straight for the Bureau of Administration in Congyun City.

On the way, he had already heard that a large number of cultivators had gathered there, all, like him, hoping to redeem their contribution points early.

Originally, he had felt a bit fortunate, thinking that with more people, things would be easier to handle.

But when he actually arrived, his heart sank.

Only a scattered few remained, their faces as listless as eggplants hit by frost.

“Could something else have happened?” A worried Han Yi quickly inquired.

The result was somewhat unexpected, making him realize he had worried for nothing.

“You can retrieve your contribution points as long as you’re willing to pay a 30% penalty?”

“No other conditions?”

Having clarified the situation, Han Yi let out a long sigh of relief.

The cultivator opposite him seemed displeased: “That’s one-third, yet you don’t seem to care at all, fellow Daoist.”

Han Yi shook his head. “I’m willing to accept my losses. It was clearly written in the contract. Since I signed it, I won’t complain even if I regret it.”

“I originally thought that Lord Emissary would take advantage of everyone’s urgent need for money to add more conditions.”

“But it seems their credit is quite good.”

The speaker’s words were unintentional, but the listeners took them to heart.

Han Yi’s words, however, angered some cultivators.

“You scoundrel, are you an accomplice hired by Li Fan? Look at your tone; you sound as if you’re thanking him even after being scammed so much!”

“Exactly! This fellow Daoist looks unfamiliar. He totally seems like someone Li Fan hired to stir up trouble! Everyone, don’t be misled by his deceptive words!”

“His intentions are truly despicable!”

Instantly, Han Yi inexplicably became the target of everyone’s frustration.

For a moment, he hadn’t fully recovered his senses and was somewhat bewildered.

Fortunately, He Zhenghao saw this scene and came to the rescue in time.

“What’s all this nonsense! I think what this fellow Daoist said makes perfect sense: accept your losses! Our Lord didn’t force you to sign the agreement back then. Some of you even begged me to join the fundraising! So why are you all turning your backs on it now?”

He Zhenghao chastised them fiercely.

Seeing this, the cultivators dared not argue with him face-to-face and retreated sullenly.

“May I ask for your name, fellow Daoist?” After the others left, He Zhenghao looked at the only cultivator who had spoken up for Li Fan and asked kindly.

“I am Han Yi!” Han Yi knew this person was He Zhenghao, the one in charge of the fundraising initiative and a key figure in his ability to retrieve his contribution points, so he felt a little nervous for a moment.

“Hehe, relax, Fellow Daoist Han.” He Zhenghao had dealt with tens of thousands of cultivators by then.

Naturally, he saw through Han Yi’s state of mind at a glance.

Remembering Li Fan’s sudden instruction, an idea immediately formed in his mind.

“In this era, there aren’t many sensible cultivators like you, Fellow Daoist Han,” He Zhenghao said, shaking his head with a sigh.

“Don’t be fooled by these rumors and gossip. Lord Emissary is absolutely not a swindler. On the contrary, he is benevolent and, learning that many cultivators urgently needed contribution points, he specifically instructed us.”

“If someone is truly in temporary difficulty, the penalty can be waived.”

Han Yi was pleasantly surprised upon hearing this: “Really?”

He Zhenghao’s expression became solemn: “Lord Emissary always keeps his word. How could it be false?”

“Come, Fellow Daoist Han, I’ll process the relevant matters for you right now.”

Han Yi, filled with pleasant surprises, quickly followed him in.

A couple of hours later, as Han Yi looked at his recovered 910,000 contribution points, a flood of emotions surged within him.

“Could it be that my luck has turned?”

On second thought, Han Yi vaguely felt that his tribulation was not yet over.

“No, rather, it should be said that this Li Fan truly lives up to his reputation. His magnanimity is genuinely extraordinary.”

“With so many defaulted contribution points, he simply waved his hand and waived the fees.”

“I think those cultivators just now were clearly judging a gentleman’s heart with their own small-mindedness!”

While secretly grateful to Li Fan, Han Yi couldn't help but think this.

However, he did not know that such thoughts were exactly what Li Fan wanted.

He conveyed his orders through Zhou Qing’ang.

When defaulting cultivators came seeking their points, the penalty fees required for withdrawing contribution points could be randomly waived for half of them, at his discretion.

This way, he would earn a little less but manage to muddy the waters.

Those cultivators whose penalty fees were waived, having received favor, would naturally defend Li Fan when they heard others slandering him.

However, the losses of others were very real.

Of course, they wouldn't be easily persuaded.

Thus, arguments were unavoidable.

When one-sided accusations and criticisms transformed into a two-sided debate, with each party having their own valid point,

Outsiders, the 'onlookers,' would not easily believe the views of either side.

This way, negative impacts could be minimized as much as possible, fading into nothingness.

If others inquired, one could simply brush them off with, “Oh, it’s a bit complicated; there’s too much arguing to make it clear.”

Li Fan’s actions were, in fact, a delaying tactic.

To appease the cultivators who were still observing and hadn't retrieved their contribution points.

If he went too far, it was inevitable that those people would become suspicious and believe he was truly planning to abscond.

But once their doubts were temporarily suppressed, he only needed to wait for the arrival of the Crimson Flame Burning Sea to bring his scheme in Congyun Sea to its conclusion for this world.

It turned out much as Li Fan had expected.

Although it caused quite a stir, the matter gradually faded from people’s memories.

As the deadline for the cultivation method discount drew nearer, cultivators still focused most of their energy on earning contribution points, eager to redeem the methods before the opportunity vanished.

Han Yi was no exception.

Perhaps because everyone was short on contribution points, he searched for a long time but couldn’t find a suitable opportunity.

Left with no choice, he activated the Heavenly Luck Sutra to seek an opportunity.

Following the sensation, he left Congyun Sea and headed inland towards the Myriad Immortals Alliance.