The attitude of the secret envoy was very clear.
This matter was something he had known for a long time and didn’t particularly care about. However, the secret envoy was greatly displeased with the act of slandering colleagues.
“Gao Yuan, oh Gao Yuan, you must have lost your mind! The secret envoy possesses methods as vast as the heavens. How could Zhou Qingang’s petty schemes possibly escape his divine sight?”
“Such misplaced cleverness…”
“It seems you’ve grown too comfortable, dulling your sharp instincts,” Gao Yuan thought bitterly.
But the mistake was already made, and there was no use in lamenting it now.
“Fortunately, judging by his reminder to focus on unity, it seems the secret envoy still has some regard for past ties.”
After being sternly reprimanded by Li Fan, Gao Yuan was compelled to pay close attention to Zhou Qingang’s entrusted matters.
In theory, when a cultivator joins the Ten Thousand Immortal Alliance, the Alliance Headquarters must approve their membership. Only after their information is submitted will the ‘Tianxuan Mirror’ grant access to the new member.
After headquarters verified the identity of new recruits, they would issue official access permissions to the Tianxuan Mirror. This process was seamless and unnoticed by the recruits.
For ordinary cultivators at the Golden Core stage or below, joining the Alliance only required a routine inquiry. Only those with profound cultivation, unclear backgrounds, or those seeking official positions within the Alliance were subjected to the trial of the White Jade Heart-Questioning Platform.
…
The Ten Thousand Immortal Alliance had already made the necessary preparations, so Li Fan began to act.
“Old Liu, a thousand years have passed, and the world has undergone great changes. I had hoped to find the Valley of Longevity, as the sect master instructed, but the landscape has shifted so drastically that all my inquiries have yielded nothing.”
“I’m afraid I must trouble you to go there in person.”
Li Fan spoke gravely.
“In this era, Dao Integration cultivators are scarce. If you’re cautious, you shouldn’t encounter much trouble.”
“If luck is truly against us and you run into unforeseen events, prioritize retreating and saving your life. The future revival of the Medicine King Sect cannot happen without you, Old Liu.”
Grasping Liu San’s hands tightly, Li Fan reluctantly gave his instructions.
“Rest assured, young master. Back in the day, I followed the sect master through countless hardships. While I may not excel in combat, when it comes to survival—hmph!”
“I dare say I’m no worse than these modern cultivators,” Liu San declared confidently.
He accepted the map Li Fan handed him and studied it carefully.
After a moment, his brows furrowed deeply. “A thousand years have indeed turned the world upside down. But I will complete this task.”
Li Fan hastily added, “Whether successful or not, return within thirty days. Your presence here in Congyun Sea is also indispensable.”
Liu San nodded respectfully without further words. Leaving behind a communication talisman, he transformed into a streak of green light and sped towards the heart of the Ten Thousand Immortal Alliance. ṜâNǒ𝐁Ɛş
…
After sending off Liu San, Li Fan entered the Medicine King’s Cauldron.
Over several sessions, he completed the ‘Bloodline Transmission’ ritual for more than 40 Foundation Establishment cultivators. Feeling slightly dizzy, Li Fan paused for a moment.
Transforming into the guise of Liu Yihang, he began awakening the disciples of the Medicine King Sect one by one.
Initially, everything was fine. Without actively channeling their techniques, the disciples—still groggy—did not notice the restrictions of the heaven and earth’s law of “techniques cannot be cultivated simultaneously”
However, as more disciples woke up, an eerie tension began to spread among them.
Instinctively, they distanced themselves from their peers, a dangerous gleam flickering in their eyes.
Li Fan observed this unfolding unease but did not stop. He continued awakening more Foundation Establishment cultivators.
The atmosphere within the Medicine King’s Cauldron grew increasingly oppressive, with killing intent permeating the space.
Finally, when the number of awakened disciples surpassed thirty, something was triggered. They instantly became aware of the abnormality in their techniques.
Their eyes turned blood-red, glaring at their fellow disciples as if looking at mortal enemies.
Just as they were about to clash in a battle to the death, Li Fan suddenly unleashed his Cave-Heaven Law Domain, suppressing them all.
He added another spell, Binding Insect Technique, rendering them completely immobile.
“Disciples of the Medicine King Sect, heed my command!”
Li Fan’s voice boomed like thunder, temporarily snapping them back to their senses.
“Immediately cultivate this Tai Shang Primordial Scripture and dissolve the techniques of the Longevity and Lifespan Sutra you have practiced!”
Due to the connection from the bloodline transfer, these Foundation Establishment cultivators, though reluctant, ultimately complied under Li Fan’s relentless urging.
Before long, they gradually regained their clarity.
“Senior Brother Liu, what exactly just happened?” The group of disciples was all shocked and horrified.
Li Fan succinctly recounted to them what he had earlier explained to Liu San.
For a moment, the inside of the Medicine King Cauldron was filled with gasps of disbelief, sobs, and panicked murmurs.
Li Fan merely observed them coldly.
After they began to calm down, he spoke in a deep voice:
“At present, the Medicine King Sect stands at the brink of life and death. Since I have inherited the will of my foster father and assumed the leadership of this sect, I bear responsibility for all of you.”
“The present circumstances are unlike those of the past. The external world is rife with dangers, and our sect’s efforts to reestablish itself will be fraught with difficulties. Any misstep could result in utter annihilation!”
“In such perilous times, there is no room for the slightest error. My orders must be followed without question!”
“Anyone who disobeys will face execution without mercy!” Li Fan declared sternly, exuding a chilling aura.
Having been subjected to Li Fan’s bloodline transfusion and now further intimidated, none of them dared harbor dissent.
They hurriedly responded in unison, “We will strictly obey Senior Brother’s orders!”
“Hmm?” Li Fan narrowed his eyes, his displeasure evident.
A quick-witted disciple of the Medicine King Sect promptly corrected himself, shouting, “We will strictly obey the Sect Master’s orders!”
The others quickly followed suit, expressing their loyalty.
Li Fan nodded slightly.
After subduing these 30 disciples of the Medicine King Sect, Li Fan paused his efforts to awaken the others.
“Everyone, return to your rooms and change into these clothes. Do not carry anything with you,” he instructed, distributing a pile of black robes among them.
The disciples complied.
Before long, 30 Foundation Establishment cultivators dressed in black assembled before Li Fan.
He led them out of the Medicine King Cauldron, awaiting the arrival of his clone, Zhou Qingang.
Half a day later, Zhou Qingang arrived silently.
“No matter what you encounter, remain calm and silent. Leave everything to this senior, Zhou. Simply follow his instructions,” Li Fan said.
The disciples of the Medicine King Sect all nodded in agreement.
Under Zhou Qing’ang’s guidance, the first batch of disciples was taken to Congyun City, a towering and majestic place that rivaled the grandeur of their former sect.
As a result, the disciples were not overly surprised.
Meanwhile, the city’s inhabitants, seeing Zhou Qingang leading a group of unfamiliar cultivators, were curious but assumed it was official business and paid no further attention.
With Zhou Qingang, a key official, leading the way, they passed through without obstruction and arrived smoothly at the Administrative Hall.
Gao Yuan was already there, waiting.
“Daoist Gao, I’ll leave them in your care,” Zhou Qing’ang said with a polite bow.
“No problem at all,” Gao Yuan replied, reciprocating the gesture and carefully observing the group of cultivators behind Zhou Qingang.
As agreed, they were all Foundation Establishment cultivators, yet they gave Gao Yuan an unusual impression.
“These are…”
Gao Yuan’s eyes narrowed. After a moment, as if realizing something, his pupils suddenly contracted.
“Ancient-path cultivators?!” he asked, probing Zhou Qingang.
Zhou Qingang smiled faintly. “What do you think? Did I not tell you the truth? These individuals were indeed discovered by a friend of mine in a secret realm.”
“Like the envoy, they are genuine ancient-path cultivators!”
“No wonder the secret envoy turned a blind eye to this matter,” Gao Yuan remarked with sudden understanding.
Feeling reassured, Gao Yuan dismissed his doubts.
Indeed, ancient-path cultivators differed vastly from modern cultivators in terms of cultivation methods, aura, and even their foundational techniques like Dao Foundations and Golden Cores. Anyone with sharp spiritual senses could immediately notice the distinction. Using ancient cultivators as spies…
The Five Elders Association surely wouldn’t be so foolish.
Moreover, ancient-path cultivators had long vanished from the world. Even if the Five Elders Association wanted to recruit some, it would be nearly impossible.
With this in mind, Gao Yuan’s concerns were completely allayed.
Since they weren’t spies and merely sought to conceal their identities as ancient-path cultivators, the situation was manageable.
Gao Yuan took out a talisman, registering each cultivator’s identity one by one.
“Meng Wushi, converted rogue cultivator, Foundation Establishment realm…”
“Ji Yu, converted rogue cultivator…”
Though Congyun Sea lay at the fringe of the Ten Thousand Immortal Alliance, it was still a major region, with thousands of new cultivators joining the alliance annually.
Adding a few more was entirely inconspicuous.
Before long, the 30 disciples of the ancient Medicine King Sect had seamlessly integrated into the Ten Thousand Immortal Alliance.
—
Author’s Note:
While writing this chapter, I noticed a bug in the plot: Li Fan impersonating an ancient cultivator should have been easily exposed since ancient and modern cultivation methods differ significantly. I had to explain this with Li Fan’s use of the ‘Sky Shrouding Hand’ skill to mask his identity.