The image on the broken stone abruptly fell silent.
Li Fan didn’t urge, patiently waiting.
After a long time, the human face responded: “Found it! There’s something that’s perfect for you!”
“Oh? What is it?” Li Fan acted somewhat excited.
“The [Devouring Heaven and Earth Great Technique]!” The human face said with a smug look.
“Devouring Heaven and Earth?” Li Fan squinted his eyes, thinking for a while, but couldn’t find any related information in his memory.
Fortunately, the human face didn’t intend to test Li Fan, directly explaining: “It’s a cultivation method left behind by an infamous cultivator from ancient times.”
“This person took a unique path, not absorbing spiritual energy from the heavens and earth, but instead directly devouring spiritual veins and earth veins for cultivation.”
“Although his progress was extremely fast, he didn’t know how to restrain himself, acting recklessly, and in a short time, caused the spiritual energy of several provinces to dry up and mountains to change shape.”
“Eventually, he was discovered and suffered the fate of being skinned, his bones extracted, and his soul scattered.”
“However, his secret technique was preserved after being interrogated.”
Li Fan thought for a moment, thoughtfully saying: “Head means, let me use the [Devouring Heaven and Earth Great Technique] to secretly absorb the spiritual veins and earth veins of the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance?”
The human face nodded, with a look of “You’re a quick learner”: “Most of the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance’s strongholds are built on top of earth veins.”
“You, as the guardian of Tai’an Island, just be careful, absorb a little each time, and it will surely not be discovered.”
“And this little bit of earth vein energy, for a Foundation Establishment cultivator like you, is already a great supplement. In this way, you will be able to quickly advance to the Golden Core realm.”
Li Fan exclaimed with joy: “Head, you are truly wise and valiant!”
The human face, however, didn’t fall for Li Fan’s flattery, coldly snorting: “Go and get the first day’s exam questions from He Zhenghao. Wait for the results to come out and confirm them before we conduct the transaction that night.”
“At that time, I will send someone specifically. You just need to handle the handover.”
“I’ll also have him bring you the [Devouring Heaven and Earth Great Technique] by the way.” Li Fan wasn’t surprised by the human face’s decision.
After all, five million contribution points was no small sum. It wouldn’t be possible to hand it over to him, a Foundation Establishment cultivator on the surface, to manage.
So, he nodded repeatedly in agreement.
“You go now,” the human face instructed.
“We’ve been meeting frequently recently, be careful on the way. At crucial moments, don’t expose any flaws.”
“Head, you can rest assured,” Li Fan patted his chest and guaranteed.
After agreeing on the location for their next meeting, the broken stone gradually lost its luster, turning into dust.
“Cultivating by devouring earth vein energy…” Li Fan suddenly remembered something.
“If I can utilize this, then my cultivation speed in this life might be even faster than I expected.”
Wearing Zhou Qingang’s appearance, Li Fan quietly flew back to Tai’an Island.
His clone was deeply hidden within Tai’an Island’s protective formation, so he didn’t have to worry about being discovered.
However, for safety’s sake, Li Fan set up another layer of formation in his closed-door cultivation chamber.
He also cast the secret technique [One Hand Covers the Sky] to further conceal himself.
After doing all this, he took out a blank jade slip from his storage ring.
The blue light of the Dao Integration Stone flowed through Li Fan’s mind, and the exam questions he had memorized from his previous life were all engraved by him onto the jade slip.
The Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance’s recruitment exam was divided into numerous subjects: [Politics], [Law], [Economics], [Martial Arts], [Artifact], [Formation], [Pill], [Talismans], and so on.
It was hosted by the various provincial government offices, with the Martial Arts Hall assisting.
All applicants had to take exams in all subjects.
After a comprehensive evaluation, the best candidates would be selected and assigned to the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance headquarters or other important confidential areas.
Then, based on their overall performance and individual job preferences, their positions would be assigned.
The exam format wasn’t limited to questions and answers like those on a spiritual sense ball.
For example, in the [Politics] exam, candidates would be immersed in a real illusion similar to [The Era].
They would experience various events, thereby testing their awareness and loyalty.
And for skills like Artifact, Formation, Pill, and Talismans, besides theoretical tests, candidates also had to perform practical operations on the spot.
The number of cultivators participating in the recruitment exam each time was numerous, although the vast majority were just there to participate.
But this process was time-consuming and laborious for those involved.
However, cultivators were still eager to participate, and the number of applicants for each exam never decreased but instead increased.
Overall, for those who paid attention, the once-a-decade recruitment exam could be considered a grand event.
After engraving the first day’s exam questions and the rest separately on two jade slips, Li Fan let out a sigh of relief.
Li Fan himself, of course, had no intention of taking the exam.
After all, for him, there were many more convenient ways to enter the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance system.
Moreover, his primary task in this life was to advance to the Nascent Soul realm using the Five Elements Subworld.
Joining the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance would only add an extra constraint, which was not conducive to his actions.
“There’s still a month and a half left, just wait patiently.”
Li Fan cultivated while carefully considering any possible variables that might arise in the future.
Time passed slowly.
During this period, to avoid any suspicion, Li Fan invited He Zhenghao to Tai’an Island several times as a guest.
He sealed the formation and chatted with him late into the night.
Li Fan, who knew He Zhenghao’s temperament well, naturally had a pleasant conversation with him.
After several times, He Zhenghao increasingly treated “Zhou Qingang” as a confidant.
And in casual conversations, He Zhenghao boasted several times about being guided by a “cultivator from the ancient Tian Ji Sect.”
He had made a significant investment and completely turned his life around, changing his destiny from then on.
After cultivating the Nascent Soul technique, he was now on the verge of reaching the Golden Core realm.
Li Fan pretended to be extremely envious on the surface.
He repeatedly flattered He Zhenghao, begging him to remember him the next time he had a chance to make a fortune.
He Zhenghao couldn’t resist Li Fan’s persistent pleading and readily agreed.
Li Fan then put on a relieved smile.
Other than that, the Cong Yun Sea was calm and peaceful, with no other unusual events occurring.
Soon, three days were left before the official start of the recruitment exam.
After meeting He Zhenghao again for a long conversation and letting him leave, Li Fan suddenly stood up: “It’s time.”
He quietly flew towards the meeting location he had agreed upon with the human face on the broken stone.
Following the same steps as before, he found the meeting place for this time.
After verification, the human face suddenly appeared.
“How is it? Did you get the exam questions?” A rare hint of nervousness and anticipation could be heard in the human face’s voice.
Li Fan couldn’t hide his excitement either.
He nodded, took out the jade slip engraved with the first day’s exam questions, and placed it on the broken stone.
Yellow light enveloped the jade slip, and the human face’s image became blurry.
After a moment, the human face said: “Good! Wait here. In three days, you’ll know the outcome.”
Before Li Fan could respond, the human face hurriedly disappeared.
The yellow light dimmed, but this time, the broken stone didn’t shatter.
Li Fan looked at the broken stone, his eyes filled with a deep meaning.
(End of Chapter)