Liuli Island.
He Zhenghao gazed at the island he had guarded for decades. Turning to the timid, bowing successor beside him, who nodded obsequiously, he couldn’t help but feel a surge of pride.
Once upon a time, he too had been like this young man—anxious and uneasy whenever superiors came to inspect. He had been terrified of making mistakes that would incur their wrath.
Yet now, in just a few years, he had become the kind of “big shot” he once looked up to with fear and reverence.
Encouraging the young successor, Zhao Changli, with a few words of advice, He Zhenghao confidently entered the ‘Mountain-River Star Formation’.
The mountains overhead shielded the gathering from prying eyes.
Inside, cultivators invited by He Zhenghao had already been waiting for some time.
“Fellow Daoist He!”
As soon as He Zhenghao appeared, they warmly greeted him. To them, if Li Fan was the God of Wealth, then He Zhenghao was the epitome of a generous distributor of fortune.
Before he could finish, others interrupted, voices clamoring:
“The Lord Envoy’s divination techniques are unfathomable and flawless! If you don’t believe, why bother coming here today?”
“Heh, Fellow Daoist He, ignore him. Tell us more about this open-ended fundraising plan!”
He Zhenghao raised his hands for silence, and the room quieted instantly.
With a gentle smile, he began explaining the details.
Hearing He Zhenghao personally confirm the matter, the cultivators were ecstatic. However, the scale of the fundraising effort was so enormous that even He Zhenghao couldn’t fully reassure everyone. Doubts lingered among some.
It was then that Li Fan made his entrance.
A silver light descended from the sky, spilling through the mountain peaks.
Li Fan, clad in a white Daoist robe, stepped gracefully on starlight. His seemingly leisurely pace brought him to the gathering in an instant.
From him emanated rhythmic waves of power, instantly drawing everyone’s attention.
The cultivators present were all seasoned and well-off individuals, invited here because of their stature. Yet even they were deeply shaken by the lingering aura emanating from Li Fan. �
It was as though they were standing in the presence of the infinite mysteries of the universe. Even the slightest touch sparked profound insights in their minds.
One cultivator, his face alight with joy, seemed to experience sudden enlightenment. Without regard for the setting, he closed his eyes and began meditating on the spot.
“What kind of power is this? Even a Soul Transformation True Monarch wouldn’t match up!”
“Could it be that the Lord Envoy has recovered his original cultivation realm?”
The crowd exchanged uneasy glances, struggling to contain their astonishment.
“I’ve recently emerged from seclusion with some minor, insignificant breakthroughs,” Li Fan said softly, “but I’ve yet to fully adapt and suppress these changes. Forgive me for the disruption.”
The crowd trembled inwardly, their imaginations running wild, hastily assuring him there was no offense.
Li Fan nodded slightly, waiting for the room to quiet down before speaking again.
“During this seclusion, not only have I advanced in cultivation, but I’ve also managed to repair the treasured artifact of my Heavenly Mechanism Sect—the ‘Heaven and Earth Divination Dice’.”
“This artifact was damaged during a forced divination at the Martial Hall. Though repairing it was no great challenge, I had a premonition that the time wasn’t right, so I delayed.”
He spoke as a crystalline 20-sided die materialized in his hand, spinning and revealing fleeting glimpses of countless images within its translucent surfaces.
“Recently, my cultivation bore fruit, and I was struck with sudden inspiration. Realizing the time had come, I repaired it completely. During this process, I glimpsed a faint thread of the future.”
The crowd grew tense, listening intently.
“Hongxi and Ziyun, the two Soul Transformation True Monarchs, may soon return to Congyun Immortal City. You know, while I currently oversee the Congyun Sea, it’s only because these two are temporarily absent. When they return, both propriety and law demand I relinquish power.”
Li Fan’s expression remained calm, as though recounting a matter unrelated to himself.
“When that happens, I will likely resign from my position as Secret Envoy and depart from the Congyun Sea to wander the Immortal Alliance’s heartlands.”
“I’ve governed this region for a time, forming a connection with all of you. My success in rebuilding the Immortal City would not have been possible without your support.
“Thus, I’ve decided to help you one last time before my departure.”
Sweeping his gaze across the crowd, Li Fan declared, “After this, our fates will be severed, and we may never cross paths again.”
The announcement caused a stir.
None among them were naive. Though Li Fan claimed he was relinquishing power to avoid disputes, his actions suggested otherwise. If he truly intended to leave, he could simply step down. Why stage such a grandiose fundraising campaign and rally support?
“So that’s it! He’s laying the groundwork for a power grab, seeking our backing!”
“Well, it’s only natural. Ceding the leadership of an entire region isn’t so easy, after all.”
Connecting the dots, many cultivators felt enlightened. Recalling how loyal supporters of Li Fan—like He Zhenghao and Gao Yuan—had all been richly rewarded after his political victories, they sensed an opportunity.
“Lord Envoy, you need not worry. We stand firmly behind you!”
“Indeed! While Hongxi and Ziyun may have good reputations, they always remained aloof. None could compare to you, leading us to prosperity!”
“Every time I’ve joined the Lord Envoy’s fundraising initiatives, I’ve reaped immense rewards. In just a few years, my wealth has multiplied sixfold!”
“I joined later, but I’ve still doubled my fortune!”
“Support the Lord Envoy!”
“With the Lord Envoy, we’ll amass wealth and achieve enlightenment!”
The support snowballed as one cultivator after another voiced their allegiance.
Li Fan’s gaze flickered briefly toward He Zhenghao, who promptly retrieved pre-prepared contracts and registries from his storage ring, initiating the fundraising process on the spot.
Amid the fervor and under Li Fan’s sharp gaze, even those initially reluctant felt compelled to contribute.
“For appearances’ sake, I used up a piece of Human Dao Stardust and several Dao Enlightenment Pills when I made my entrance,” Li Fan mused silently.
“But no matter. I’ll recover it all from this fundraising campaign.”