Chapter 615: Sparks Enter The Immortal Alliance

"Correct." Li Fan was pleased that Liu San had answered the question for him.

"After several great calamities, cultivators in the current world live far shorter lives than they did in our time. Life-extending treasures are rarely found. Even something that extends life by just a hundred years can drive cultivators into a frenzy.

“If we can resume mass production of the Longevity Pills and exchange them for enough techniques for all our disciples to cultivate, there is hope."

Li Fan spoke with confidence.

"It's simply a matter of resuming our old trade. With sufficient manpower, it isn't particularly difficult." Liu San retrieved a jade vial from his storage ring. "I still have nine high-grade Longevity Pills the Sect Leader gave me before I went under. Each extends life by roughly six hundred years.

“Young Master, please take them and convert them to spirit... ah, they're called contribution points now, aren't they?"

"Indeed. The name has changed, but the essence is the same," Li Fan said, accepting the vial of now-priceless pills without ceremony.

Liu San's expression turned thoughtful. "As you said, Young Master, these Longevity Pills are immensely valuable. An occasional sale might pass without notice, but if we sell them frequently, won't we draw unwanted attention?"

Li Fan nodded in agreement. "Elder Liu, you raise a fair point. That is precisely why it would be inconvenient for us to handle the transactions directly.

“As I mentioned before, I've made the acquaintance of Fellow Daoist Zhou Qing'ang. He has deep connections and can manage everything on our behalf. We only need to share a portion of the profits."

Liu San's brow furrowed slightly, but he said nothing.

Li Fan continued. "It's only a temporary measure. We will rebuild the Medicine King Sect in time, but we must proceed gradually and with careful planning."

Only then did Liu San nod.

"Stay within the cauldron for now, Elder Liu. I'll go exchange these pills for techniques, then we'll awaken the first batch of disciples."

After a brief farewell, Li Fan stepped out of the Medicine King Cauldron.

The explanation he had just given was to placate Liu San. He had no intention of casually parting with the Longevity Pills.

With the contribution points he currently held, Li Fan could acquire more than enough techniques to cover every disciple who would be refining those pills.

But after the Crimson Flame Sea Scorching event, he intended to shed the identity of "Li Fan of the Heavenly Mechanisms Sect" entirely.

The disciples of the Medicine King Sect, however, still had a role to play in his plans.

The problem was how to legitimize their identities without establishing any visible connection between him and them.

After some consideration, Li Fan settled on a method of "breaking the whole into parts."

His avatar, Zhou Qing'ang, paid a visit to Gao Yuan.

"What brings Fellow Daoist Zhou to my door?" Gao Yuan asked, visibly surprised.

Ever since Zhou Qing'ang had become the Secretary-Envoy's mouthpiece, he had effectively become the de facto administrator of the Congyun Sea region.

Whether it was Gao Yuan or He Zhenghao, any matter of importance required Zhou Qing'ang's approval first.

And he more than earned the trust placed in him. His diligence was almost unnerving to both Gao and He. He was rarely seen outside the Administration Hall, where he personally attended to every matter no matter how trivial.

For him to make a personal visit was unexpected indeed.

Zhou Qing'ang smiled. "Don't be nervous, Fellow Daoist Gao. I only need your help with a minor matter."

Gao Yuan's expression shifted oddly. “Your position is higher than mine. What minor matter could you possibly need my help with?”

Zhou Qing'ang continued as though the question hadn't been asked. "A friend of mine recently discovered a hidden secret realm. Inside, a group of cultivators lay frozen in slumber. After waking them and making inquiries, we learned they had entered the realm long ago to flee persecution by the Ten Immortal Dao Sects. An accident then caused them to fall into a deep sleep..."

Gao Yuan listened with interest at first, but as the story unfolded, his expression grew increasingly strained.

When he finally heard that Zhou Qing'ang wanted to "arrange" for these cultivators to join the Myriad Immortals Alliance, the color visibly shifted in his face.

He was, however, a man well-practiced in navigating delicate situations. Rather than challenging Zhou Qing'ang outright, he adopted a look of careful hesitation. "Isn't that a bit too convenient? May I ask, Fellow Daoist Zhou, who is this friend of yours? Can he be trusted? These people... they aren't spies sent by them, are they?" He gestured vaguely in the direction of the Five Elders Council, testing the waters.

Zhou Qing'ang laughed it off, his tone resolute. "You worry too much, Fellow Daoist Gao. I, Zhou, will swear on my own life that these people are absolutely not spies from the Five Elders Council. You can rest easy on that count.

“That said, my friend does not wish news of this secret realm to spread. If these cultivators entered the Alliance through normal channels, the matter would certainly not stay quiet. That is why he entrusted it to me." Zhou Qing'ang gave a knowing look.

"And naturally, the benefits will not be lacking. I know you nearly emptied your coffers redeeming that technique, and lately you can barely afford to maintain the epiphanic state boost. An opportunity like this doesn't come twice. You shouldn't let it pass."

Gao Yuan felt a faint stir of interest at that. On the surface, Zhou Qing'ang's explanation held together well enough. Still, he harbored some reservations.

"What about the Secretary-Envoy...?"

Zhou Qing'ang waved a hand. "No need to trouble the Secretary-Envoy over something so minor. His cultivation has recently recovered to the Nascent Soul realm, and he's preparing to seize the momentum and break through to the next realm."

Gao Yuan's breath caught. That was significant news. The higher the Secretary-Envoy's cultivation level, the more secure their own positions became. And yet neither he nor He Zhenghao had been told. It seemed Zhou Qing'ang held a deeper place in the Secretary-Envoy's confidence than either of them.

If the Secretary-Envoy were to learn that Zhou Qing'ang was conducting this sort of business behind his back...

The thought surfaced before Gao Yuan could stop it, and once it took root, it refused to be pushed aside.

"Fellow Daoist Zhou, since you put it that way, I can hardly refuse." Gao Yuan's gaze shifted, and he agreed readily. "Simply notify me before you bring those cultivators over. I'll personally handle their Alliance admission."

"Excellent!" Zhou Qing'ang left in high spirits.

Gao Yuan, however, remained behind, pacing with a restless energy.

Finally, he gritted his teeth.

Using the Consciousness Jade Slip the Secretary-Envoy had left him, he contacted Li Fan.

"Secretary-Envoy, this humble subordinate has something to report," Gao Yuan said, his voice thick with deference.

"Speak." Li Fan's tone was cold, and Gao Yuan's chest tightened at the sound of it.

But the arrow was already nocked. There was no taking it back. Steeling himself, he proceeded to report everything Zhou Qing'ang had done.

Silence was his answer.

The silence only deepened Gao Yuan's unease.

"I understand," Li Fan said at last.

"But, Gao Yuan. Little Zhou is quite right. In the future, don't disturb me over trivial matters."

Gao Yuan's heart plummeted.

"And I hope you understand that unity is of the utmost importance."

Nothing more came from Li Fan's side after that. Gao Yuan was left standing where he was, flustered and at a complete loss.

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