All died for profit

“No more wine?”

One day, Li Fan, who was about to pull the other party to drink again, received such an answer.

Thus, his face was full of surprise.

Sima Changkong's face was slightly red, and he hesitated to speak.

But in the end, he still rubbed the back of his head and said somewhat awkwardly, “In this Congyun Sea, I don't have many close friends, so I didn't prepare much.”

“Brother Li has also been a guest for some time…”

Li Fan calculated with his fingers and said in surprise, “I didn't expect time to pass so quickly; a year has gone by in a blink of an eye.”

He said with some apology, “Since Brother Sima finds me troublesome, it’s time for me to leave.”

“But before that, please tell me the Materials for brewing that wine. I’ll go collect some for you, Brother…”

Before he finished speaking, Sima Changkong’s face flushed red, and he quickly waved his hand, “Brother Li, what are you saying? It's not that I'm complaining, it's just that…”

Sima Changkong wanted to explain, but for some reason, he shook his head and gave up dejectedly.

“Forget it, Brother Li, please wait for me at home for a few days. I’ll be back soon!”

With that, without waiting for Li Fan’s response, he hurriedly left.

“This Sima Changkong is quite an interesting person,” Li Fan chuckled as he watched Sima Changkong’s departing back.

During this year, although he never went out, Li Fan was not ignorant of what was happening in the outside world.

Clone Zhou Qingang was completely swamped with work.

Putting aside numerous miscellaneous tasks, the most important one was the monthly [Cultivator Conscription List].

That's right, even though the Congyun Sea’s strength was already extremely weak, the Immortal Alliance Headquarters still issued a conscription order.

However, fortunately, considering the actual situation of the Congyun Sea, most of the conscripted Cultivators did not have to go to the battlefield in person.

They were basically all involved in logistics and operational work.

Even so, no one could guarantee whether the scale of the war would suddenly expand again, leading to them being caught in the crossfire.

Therefore, no one wanted to be conscripted to Tianling State.

The task of arranging this list naturally became a thorny chore.

Originally, this matter should have been decided by Li Fan, the Secretary-character Envoy.

Li Fan had “gone into seclusion,” so theoretically, He Zhenghao, Gao Yuan, and other trusted subordinates authorized by Li Fan should have jointly discussed and made the decision.

But He Zhenghao was a good-natured person, while Gao Yuan was adept at playing both sides and being smooth with everyone.

Neither of them was willing to do such an offending thing.

If the other party died on the battlefield, then so be it, but if they didn't die and instead returned with military merits, wouldn't that just create a mortal enmity for no reason?

So the two secretly found the relatively reclusive “Zhou Qingang” and asked him for help.

“Zhou Qingang” naturally refused outright.

He had no reason to take on this basket of trouble.

But soon, He Zhenghao pulled out his trump card.

“Fellow Daoist Zhou, please look here.” He mysteriously took out a scroll and unrolled it in front of “Zhou Qingang.”

“Liu Yihang, ten million contribution points.”

“Zhou Peng, eight hundred thousand contribution points.”

“Si Kongyi, three hundred thousand contribution points.”

…

Li Fan scanned the familiar names on the scroll, paused, and asked knowingly, “What is this?”

He Zhenghao coughed lightly, “This is the contribution points ledger from my fundraising plan last year.”

“The one-year period has arrived, and it’s time to return the principal and interest. Fortunately, with Lord Secret Envoy’s guidance, I gradually sold all the stockpiled goods when their prices rose to more than three times the original.”

“In the end, I sold them all for about…”

He Zhenghao paused, a barely concealed look of triumph on his face, “Three hundred fourteen million five hundred seventy thousand contribution points.”

Li Fan cooperatively gasped, “So much? I only heard that battlefield Materials were in short supply, but I didn’t expect the prices to have become so outrageous. Doesn’t the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance manage it?”

“Manage? How to manage? Buying and selling is a matter of mutual consent. If you don't want to, you don't have to buy! Anyway, an extra bit of preparation means an extra bit of survival on the battlefield. If you don’t buy, there are plenty of people who will!” Completely different from his somewhat apprehensive appearance a year ago, He Zhenghao was dismissive of “Zhou Qingang's” reaction, saying nonchalantly.

Li Fan merely shook his head slightly, no longer commenting on the matter.

“So? What do you mean by showing me this, Fellow Daoist He?” After examining the scroll again, Li Fan asked, feigning an air of bewilderment.

He Zhenghao and Gao Yuan exchanged glances, then looked around, and casually set up a concealment formation.

Only then did they feel at ease.

He took out a pen and circled five names on the scroll.

Then, he heavily drew a slash through each of these five names.

Li Fan then feigned sudden realization, exclaiming, “These Cultivators fell in the battle of Tianling State!?”

“Quiet, quiet!” He Zhenghao was startled and quickly stopped the shouting Li Fan.

“This matter cannot be publicized. I’m only telling you because I see you, Fellow Daoist Zhou, as one of us,” he said somewhat complainingly.

Li Fan nodded repeatedly, indicating that he understood.

“So, the principal of these few people is now unclaimed?” he whispered.

He Zhenghao’s voice held a hint of excitement, “That’s right. I secretly inquired, and these few people I circled have indeed fallen on the Tianling State battlefield without a doubt.”

“Moreover, they didn’t leave any wills.”

“The total principal of the five people is three hundred thirty thousand contribution points, plus the deserved three hundred thirty thousand in dividends…”

Li Fan quickly interrupted him, “Didn’t it increase by three times? Why is it only three hundred thousand in dividends?”

He Zhenghao snorted, “Three hundred thousand is only this much because Lord Secret Envoy was benevolent and adjusted the dividend ratio.”

“According to the original agreement, only fifty percent of the principal’s profit was required annually.”

“However, since he is benevolent, I can’t say much.”

“In short, these six hundred sixty thousand contribution points are now ownerless.”

“As long as Fellow Daoist steps forward to help resolve this matter, it will be yours,” He Zhenghao said, his voice full of temptation.

“Zhou Qingang” was clearly tempted.

However, he still appeared a bit hesitant.

“Won’t it be discovered? Taking money from the dead is a bit taboo.”

“And, does Lord Secret Envoy know about this?” Li Fan deliberately asked.

He Zhenghao’s eyes flickered, and he patted his chest, assuring him, “Fellow Daoist Zhou, rest assured, the list of participants in the fundraising is top secret; only a few of us know. It will absolutely not be leaked.”

“And I’ve also asked Lord Secret Envoy, and he said I could handle this matter myself,” He Zhenghao said emphatically.

“Is that so…” Li Fan stared at He Zhenghao for a long while.

Until the other party felt a little creeped out, only then did he withdraw his gaze.

“In that case, leave this matter to me,” Li Fan agreed.

He Zhenghao and Gao Yuan exchanged glances, their faces showing joy.