Chapter 77: Like Shadow, Like Form Technique

Inside the belly of the dragon whale beast, Li Fan found many glazed pearls that had not been fully digested. They were likely remnants from when the dragon whale consumed a shoal of glazed fish.

"It seems that ever since I eliminated that giant glazed fish, the glazed fish shoal has been in a precarious situation," Li Fan mused to himself.

Besides the glazed pearls, there were other miscellaneous items such as a half-section of coral and a shimmering fish bone.

Li Fan didn't bother distinguishing between known and unknown items; he packed everything.

Finally, after checking again to ensure he hadn't missed anything, Li Fan quietly departed.

The journey back to Myriad Immortals Island was uneventful, and he arrived safely.

After submitting the carcass of the dragon whale beast, Li Fan proceeded to exchange the items he had scavenged from its stomach for contribution points.

He received 320 points in total.

Subsequently, after an appraisal, the Myriad Immortals Alliance confirmed that the dragon whale carcass Li Fan submitted was indeed the one that had previously attacked the island.

As a result, the task reward of 2000 points was credited to him.

With the addition of the 450 points he previously had, Li Fan now had a total of 2770 available contribution points.

"With so many contribution points, I should be able to choose a satisfactory cultivation technique," he thought.

Currently, Li Fan lacked a method to conceal his own aura for tracking others.

Such cultivation techniques were relatively rare, but for someone at the Qi Condensation stage, 2770 contribution points were definitely enough.

Li Fan began his selection process in the Heavenly Profound Realm.

Meanwhile, within the Myriad Immortals Alliance, the mission to hunt the dragon whale beast—a task that had previously stumped many Foundation Establishment cultivators—had surprisingly been completed by a Qi Condensation cultivator.

This unusual occurrence immediately drew significant attention.

Those who had initially collaborated to issue the mission were particularly perplexed.

"Li Fan, late Qi Condensation stage? Who is this person? Wasn't it said that dragon whale could withstand attacks from Golden Core cultivators? How did Li Fan manage to hunt it down?"

"Could it be that this person concealed their cultivation?"

"This fellow Daoist must be new to our Myriad Immortals Alliance. Trying to hide one's cultivation in front of the spiritual treasure Heavenly Profound Mirror? Impossible!"

"This person is indeed at the late Qi Condensation stage, without a doubt. I had someone confirm it; he was introduced to our Myriad Immortals Alliance by He Zhenghao not long ago."

"Oh? Then how exactly did this person accomplish it?"

"Could it be that this person possesses some extraordinary treasure?"

A Qi Condensation cultivator achieving what even Foundation Establishment cultivators couldn't help but spark various speculations.

Just then, a dismissive voice spoke up.

"Stop guessing, everyone. The latest inside information is that the kid just got lucky." These words immediately drew a few glances.

"Fellow Daoist Zhou Peng, what do you mean?"

"Yeah, lucky? How could that be?"

Zhou Peng sighed, "I could hardly believe it either, but that's the truth."

"The carcass of the dragon whale beast was sent to Elder Gongsun of the Heavenly Secrets Hall for analysis. The conclusion was that this dragon whale had fought against at least three other deep-sea giant beasts of similar strength before its death."

"Most of its wounds were inflicted by these giant beasts."

"Before it died, this dragon whale beast was already at the end of its rope. Even if that kid hadn't intervened, the dragon whale wouldn't have lived much longer."

As Zhou Peng finished speaking, a silence fell over the surroundings.

Although it seemed a bit incredible, everyone had heard of Elder Gongsun of the Heavenly Secrets Hall.

Therefore, his conclusion was considered quite credible.

"It's said that the dragon whale showed signs of transforming into a dragon. Perhaps that's why it attracted the covetousness of other giant beasts."

"That makes a lot of sense. For mutated beasts that can devour each other to evolve, those that have awakened ancestral bloodlines are the greatest nourishment."

"Oh, that Qi Condensation kid was incredibly lucky! How enviable, that's 2000 contribution points!"

Upon hearing this, the people around also nodded in agreement.

Li Fan had already prepared himself for the potential repercussions of completing the dragon whale beast bounty mission.

However, he wasn't afraid at all.

Because no matter how one looked at it, the dragon whale had died from infighting among giant beasts. He had merely been lucky enough to pass by and reap the benefits.

For 2000 contribution points, taking a slight risk was worth it.

Setting this matter aside, after a period of searching and comparison, Li Fan determined his target cultivation technique.

It was the *Shadowy Pursuit Art*.

The essence of this technique lay in the four characters "Ru Ying Sui Xing" (like a shadow following).

The technique excelled in tracking and stealth.

Once a target was locked, one could follow them as closely as a shadow, making it difficult for the target to escape.

Moreover, one could become undetectable, much like a shadow hidden within other shadows.

With such remarkable effects, the price was naturally not cheap.

It cost 1800 contribution points.

Li Fan didn't hesitate and bought it directly.

Just as Li Fan was about to enter seclusion for cultivation, he suddenly received a spirit talisman communication from He Zhenghao.

"Fellow Daoist Li Fan! Oh, I never expected the cultivator who hunted the dragon whale to actually be you! I thought it was just another cultivator with the same name, surname, and cultivation stage as you!"

"It was only when people started asking me about your situation that I confirmed it was truly you who killed that dragon whale!"

He Zhenghao sounded unusually excited.

"Good, good, good! You've really helped me vent some frustration! You have no idea, these past few days, every time I close my eyes, I see the plummeting price of Spirit Mist Grass."

Li Fan was silent for a moment before replying, "It was just good luck. When I was doing the mission, I happened to come across the dragon whale fighting with other giant beasts, so I took advantage of the situation."

Not long after the message was sent, He Zhenghao immediately replied.

"Luck is also a part of strength, isn't it? With your extraordinary talent and fortune, Fellow Daoist, your future on the Great Dao is certainly promising!"

Before Li Fan could figure out how to reply, he saw another message from He Zhenghao.

"I happen to have something I need your help with. Would that be possible?"

"Oh? What is it?"

"Well, I would like to ask you to act as the interim guardian of Glazed Island for me. What do you think?"

"Interim guardian?" Li Fan was a little curious.

He Zhenghao quickly began to explain.

"Because of the Spirit Mist Grass incident, I lost most of my savings from these past few years. Seeing myself getting further and further from the Nascent Soul cultivation technique I wanted to exchange for, I simply couldn't accept it."

"Coincidentally, some friends recently discovered an ancient grotto-heaven and invited me to explore it with them. According to them, this grotto-heaven was sealed before the Great Tribulation, and it's bound to contain many rare treasures, and it's even possible there are numerous cultivation techniques within."

"If I can gain something from it, it might at least partially compensate for my losses. So, I've decided to take a gamble."

Li Fan considered this, not immediately giving an answer, but instead asked, "How long would you need me to act as guardian?"

He Zhenghao replied quickly, "Not long. A year or two at the least, three or four years at most."