“You’re the one who truly understands me, Daoist Zhou!”
Li Fan’s previously stern expression softened into one of extreme kindness.
“You modern cultivators really know how to innovate. I guess I’m still a bit of an old fossil.”
He patted Zhou Kebao on the shoulder, his admiration evident.
“If you can actually pull this off, all past grudges will be wiped clean!”
“We might even work together more closely in the future; it’s not impossible.”
“Your background is strong, but I’m not lacking either.”
Li Fan’s face showed a hint of pride as he painted a grand picture for Zhou Kebao, who couldn’t help but believe him.
After all, gathering such a large amount of strategic resources in such a short time was not something an ordinary cultivator could manage.
“Come, come, explain the details more thoroughly.” Li Fan pulled Zhou Kebao closer, clearly very interested in the mobile immortal city cave residence.
Seeing how smoothly the negotiation was going, Zhou Kebao was overjoyed.
He didn’t dare delay and began pointing to the images in the air, enlarging each part and explaining it in detail.
After a long time, Zhou Kebao was parched from all the talking.
Finally, Li Fan nodded in satisfaction.
“If someone finds out, will the higher-ups blame us?” After a moment of silence, Li Fan asked.
“Haha, don’t worry, Daoist Li. The law says that anything not explicitly forbidden is allowed. There are no rules or regulations in the Ten Thousand Immortal Alliance that prohibit cultivators from mimicking immortal city structures to build cave residences.” Zhou Kebao assured repeatedly.
“As long as you stay low-key and don’t show off, who would bother causing you trouble?”
“Of course, if someone does report it and things get out of hand, we can just demolish it. Once the storm passes, we’ll rebuild it for you.”
Zhou Kebao’s face was full of smug confidence.
“Excellent! I feel more and more like you, Daoist Zhou, are a kindred spirit!” Li Fan smiled faintly.
He took out a blank jade slip and held it in his hand for a while before handing it to Zhou Kebao. “This contains my additional requirements for the immortal city cave residence. Go back and calculate the costs, then quickly send me a quotation.”
“If there aren’t any major issues, we’ll finalize the deal.”
“However, if you still think you can take advantage of me, then it’ll be a fight to the death.” A flash of murderous intent briefly appeared in Li Fan’s eyes.
“Rest assured, Daoist Li, I understand!” Zhou Kebao, overjoyed, accepted the jade slip and took a quick glance before eagerly excusing himself.
“What a bunch of parasites…”
Watching Zhou Kebao leave, Li Fan sneered softly.
“But what does it matter to me?”
“I should be thanking them. Without these parasites, how else would I get benefits out of this strictly regulated Ten Thousand Immortal Alliance?”
With a cold laugh, Li Fan gently pointed forward.
A miniature version of the immortal city cave residence reappeared, perfectly replicated from what he had just seen, combined with the real Congyun Immortal City.
“A floating city of my own…”
“This is a treasure that came to me effortlessly.”
Li Fan squinted slightly, adding annotations to the floating city model according to his own ideas.
Time passed quickly.
Three days later, Zhou Kebao hurried back with a prepared quotation.
“Eighteen million six hundred thirty thousand contribution points…”
Li Fan muttered.
Afraid that Li Fan would think it was too expensive, Zhou Kebao quickly explained, “This only covers the cost of your additional requests and some labor. The materials for the immortal city construction are entirely at our expense.”
“We’ve really gone all out to reconcile with you, Daoist.”
Li Fan was unimpressed. “Spare me the talk. In the entire Ten Thousand Immortal Alliance, who besides me, Li Fan, would dare to use an immortal city as a cave residence?”
“If I don’t proceed with this, those materials of yours will just sit in a warehouse as dead stock.”
“But now, you can convert them into contribution points.”
Zhou Kebao dared not argue, only nodding in agreement.
“Eighteen million six hundred thirty thousand is a bit steep.”
“Let’s settle on fifteen million.” Li Fan boldly proposed.
“If that works, great. If not, let’s pretend we never discussed this.”
Zhou Kebao’s face changed dramatically upon hearing this.
After much hesitation and internal struggle, he finally gritted his teeth and agreed.
He then took out a golden contract, made some adjustments, and handed it over.
Li Fan reviewed it carefully. In addition to Zhou Kebao’s name, it also listed eight other cultivators, including Gou Zihao and Qu Dailong.
Once he confirmed everything was in order, Li Fan signed his name.
As two beams of golden light flew into their bodies, Zhou Kebao finally breathed a sigh of relief.
According to the agreement, Li Fan first transferred five million contribution points.
“When will the immortal city cave residence be completed?” Li Fan asked Zhou Kebao, whose face could barely contain his joy.
“It will be ready the day Congyun Immortal City is completed,” Zhou Kebao promised.
“So soon?” This time, Li Fan was surprised.
After all, he had gathered all the available cultivators from the Congyun Sea, working day and night, just to meet the deadline set by the First Ordinance Diyi Jinglun.
Now, less than two months remained before the city’s completion.
To finish the cave residence within such a short time seemed impossible.
And yet, Zhou Kebao spoke with such confidence.
Their efficiency must be much higher than Li Fan’s hastily assembled team.
Seeing Li Fan’s rare expression of surprise, Zhou Kebao felt proud but said nothing.
“Alright, in that case, I’ll wait for the day of double celebration.”
“You may go now.”
Li Fan dismissed Zhou Kebao, who bowed and left without delay.
—
Time flew by, and the day of Congyun Immortal City’s completion drew nearer.
The busy cultivators couldn’t help but show anticipation on their faces.
After all, they had been working so hard, looking forward to the reconstruction of Congyun City, the rewards from Island Lord Li Fan, and the appointment of positions.
Li Fan had not forgotten the Diyi Jinglun’s task, fully integrating the “Xuantian Nether-Lock Formation” into the foundation of the immortal city, without drawing any attention.
As the grand ceremony for the city’s foundation approached, Li Fan found himself alone in a secret chamber and suddenly felt a spiritual resonance.
It turned out that the Fallen Immortal Realm, which he hadn’t entered for a long time, was now open to him again.
“Blessings to the Heavenly Venerable Of Xuanhuang!”
Li Fan performed the ritual and re-entered the Fallen Immortal Realm.
The story picked up from last time: he and Xu Ke were entrusted by Lu Ya to head to the Nanming Beast Mountain.
“Xiao Hei, why do you think Senior Brother Lu Ya entrusted me with such an important task?”
“This Nanming Beast Mountain is no easy place. According to the other senior brothers, it’s full of terrifying demon beasts…”
“Wouldn’t a more powerful senior brother be a better choice?”
Xu Ke tilted his head, his big eyes filled with confusion.
Li Fan gave him a playful slap.
“Can you be quiet? This is the tenth time you’ve asked that question on this trip.”
“I don’t understand why you didn’t just ask your Senior Brother Lu Ya. Why keep bothering me?”
Xu Ke pouted, “That’s not true! This is only the ninth time…”
As they were bantering, a loud dragon roar suddenly echoed from the distant sky.
It interrupted their conversation.