In an unknown space.
A group of cultivators, led by Long Yueyou and including Zhou Kebao, had gathered together to discuss Li Fan’s recent actions.
Ever since they suffered a hidden loss at Li Fan’s hands and were forced to collaborate with him, there had been a silent resentment simmering among them. After all, they were all influential figures in their own right. Being outmaneuvered by Li Fan was a blow not only to their finances but, more importantly, to their pride.
Although they had outwardly formed a “friendly cooperative” relationship with him, this didn’t stop them from secretly waiting for a chance to give Li Fan, whom they saw as a “fat sheep,” a hidden blow at the right time to vent their frustration.
As such, they were keeping a close watch on Li Fan’s every move, and his recent commission of He Zhenghao to amass massive resources had not escaped their notice.
“Everyone, what do you think? Should we follow Li Fan’s lead and join in the purchases, or…?”
“Hah! You think we’ll profit by following him?” One person sneered disdainfully. “Everyone knows he’s as sly as they come. Just look at his past actions—every time he makes a big move, it’s always part of some scheme to take advantage of others.”
“Remember how the loss from the Samantabhadra True Leaf incident wasn’t that long ago. Have you all forgotten already?”
“Fellow Daoist Zhu, you can’t put it that way,” someone countered. “Things aren’t as they were before. Now that Li Fan holds an official position as the Secret Envoy of Congyun City, he can’t act as recklessly as before. If he were to disrupt the market or destabilize the Immortal Alliance maliciously, headquarters wouldn’t let him off easily.”
“Exactly! In my opinion, he must have foreseen something significant to make such a large-scale move. Let’s not forget that the fundraising project hosted by He Zhenghao was something Li Fan established right after his rise. His early reputation owes much to it. I don’t believe he would tarnish his own reputation.”
“Let’s follow him! With our combined wealth, surely those unruly gangs can’t compare to us!”
…
The group chattered noisily, and most of them seemed inclined to follow Li Fan’s actions, even if they harbored grudges against him. Despite their misgivings, they had to admit their respect for his abilities.
As the discussion grew lively, Zhou Kebao remained silent, frowning all the while.
Seated at the center, Long Yueyou, maintaining a dignified expression despite his faint smile, noticed Zhou Kebao’s expression and asked, “Fellow Daoist Zhou, what are your thoughts on this matter?”
Without hesitation, Zhou Kebao replied, “Without a doubt, we should purchase the same items listed by Li Fan.”
Long Yueyou was slightly surprised at Zhou Kebao’s decisiveness but listened attentively as he continued.
“The prices of these items are likely to see a significant increase soon.”
Zhou Kebao’s frown deepened. “But what puzzles me is this—if everything on this list goes up in price, there’s only one possible explanation.”
“And that would be… a large-scale war is about to break out.”
Zhou Kebao flicked his fingers, and a light screen appeared mid-air, displaying a list identical to the one Li Fan had handed to He Zhenghao.
Following Zhou Kebao’s words, the group fell silent, staring at the fluctuating characters on the screen with expressions of shock and doubt.
“A war? With the Five Elders Association? That seems unlikely. It’s been years since there was a real battle. Although tensions along the borders have risen recently, it hasn’t escalated to the point of open conflict, has it?”
“Exactly! Not long ago, the Five Elders Association blatantly seized all of Ten Thousand Immortal Island, and we still endured it. If war does break out, it would have to be an event of unimaginable magnitude,” most of the cultivators present responded skeptically.
“Has anyone heard any suspicious rumors lately? If war were imminent, we would have seen at least some preparations,” Long Yueyou asked, his tone serious.
Silence fell momentarily.
Then, the cultivators each took out their communication talismans and started to gather information through their own channels.
But one by one, they shook their heads, finding no unusual intelligence.
“Strange…” Zhou Kebao murmured, his confusion deepening.
The cultivators looked to Long Yueyou, awaiting his final decision.
Long Yueyou narrowed his eyes, pondering. He recalled his past dealings with Li Fan and sensed that he could never quite see through the man.
With a plan forming in his mind, Long Yueyou spoke, “Better safe than sorry. Li Fan does have some skill.”
“He must have foreseen something important. Let’s follow his lead this time.”
Seeing some lingering hesitation among the group, Long Yueyou smiled reassuringly. “Feel free to go ahead and make your purchases. I’ve reviewed the list. While these items aren’t commonly needed, their prices are stable, and they can be stored for long periods.”
“Even if this turns out to be another trap set by Li Fan, we won’t suffer much loss.”
“Of course, if any of you still have concerns…”
“If any unexpected situations arise, our Long Clan will buy all of your items at your purchase price.”
“I assure you, you won’t suffer any loss,” Long Yueyou declared solemnly.
The crowd was stunned.
Long Yueyou had spoken on behalf of the Long Clan, not just himself. This indicated…
Seeing their surprised and delighted expressions, Long Yueyou, full of pride, continued, “Indeed, my elder brother recently broke through to the Dao Integration realm.”
“After some maneuvering, he will soon be appointed to the headquarters of the Administrative Hall.”
“The official order will be issued shortly, so even if I hadn’t mentioned it, you would have known soon enough.”
Hearing Long Yueyou confirm this personally, the cultivators erupted with joy.
This small group of theirs had grown intricately connected over the years, operating as a unit. Their fortunes were intertwined, with Long Yueyou at the helm.
The Long Clan wielded considerable influence, with ties spanning various states within the Immortal Alliance.
Their only shortcoming had been the absence of a true pillar of strength.
But now, with Long Yueyou’s brother ascending to Dao Integration and soon to be stationed at Immortal Alliance headquarters, this lone weakness was about to be resolved.
An Administrative Hall Dao Integration cultivator would occupy one of the highest positions in the Immortal Alliance’s power structure.
The cultivators offered their sincere congratulations to Long Yueyou.
“The Tianling Prefecture is known for its harsh environment. Brother Jiuyuan’s long-awaited rise to prominence is truly worth celebrating!”
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