Chapter 158 Development with twists and turns

“Brother, are you willing to go with us?”

Seeing Kou Hong’s inquiry, Li Fan decisively chose to refuse.

Their trip should not be dangerous.

But it was also destined to yield no gains.

Otherwise, they wouldn't have turned against each other nine years later over a Nascent Soul Cultivation Technique.

The Mingyue Palace’s Great Dao Spreading endeavor was in full swing, so how could Li Fan possibly run off to Cangwu Abyss at this time to look for some fire meteor?

Kou Hong saw that Li Fan did not agree and couldn't help but feel great pity, but he still said very boldly: “Don’t worry, Brother Li Fan. If there are any great Opportunities this time, I will definitely not forget to save a share for you!”

Li Fan chuckled, indicating he appreciated the gesture.

This matter was just a trivial interlude, and Li Fan quickly cast it aside, leaving a sliver of his mind to focus on Mingyue Palace’s business.

The vast majority of his energy, however, was re-invested into the endless study of Formations.

There were still 320,000 contribution points of inheritance beckoning Li Fan, so he had no choice but to work hard.

When the time reached the Middle Stage of Anchor Year 42, with the full recovery of Mingyue Palace’s first batch of debts,

It marked the entry of the Great Dao Spreading endeavor into a brand new phase.

In three years, Mingyue Palace’s assets had more than doubled. The original 100,000 contribution points had already turned into over 200,000 contribution points, which were once again borrowed by Cultivators.

It had become a golden mountain that was constantly growing.

At this time, not counting those who had already settled their debts, the number of Cultivators owing money to Mingyue Palace had reached twenty-five.

Nearly 30,000 contribution points were recovered every month.

And Mingyue Palace’s reputation grew bigger and bigger, with Cultivators from other provinces even traveling long distances, hoping to try their luck.

Li Fan ordered to lift the restrictions; as long as the contribution points were sufficient, they would be lent out immediately.

With money generating money, Mingyue Palace’s business scale expanded even more rapidly.

Relying solely on Xiao Heng and Su Xiaomei, facing the gradually increasing number of debtors each month, they also became stretched thin.

Fortunately, in these past few years, Li Fan also met two individuals of extraordinary talent.

One was named Zhuge Yu, and the other was named Sima Zang.

Both of them completed the Qi Refining process in just a few years, and in terms of Cultivation talent, they were only slightly inferior to Xiao Heng.

So Li Fan did not collect their contribution points, but instead freely gifted them Heavenly and Earthly Treasures and Foundation Establishment Cultivation Techniques.

After completing Foundation Establishment, these two were grateful for Li Fan’s selfless and compassionate Dao Spreading.

They voluntarily joined Mingyue Palace to contribute their share to the Great Dao Spreading endeavor.

After observing these two for a period, Li Fan agreed to their requests.

However, he did not allow them access to Mingyue Palace’s core secrets, only arranging for them to do some debt collection work.

Nevertheless, Li Fan did not treat them unfairly.

In addition to a fixed annual remuneration of 5,000 contribution points,

For every debt recovered, they would receive a three percent commission.

Although this percentage was not high, it still filled them with motivation.

The addition of Zhuge Yu and Sima Zang alleviated some of the pressure on the debt collection business.

But in the future, when the scale grows, it will certainly not be enough.

So Li Fan kept an eye out, and once he encountered a malleable talent in the Dao Spreading business, he would immediately bring them under his command.

And Mingyue Palace’s grand and ostentatious accumulation of wealth naturally and inevitably attracted the attention of others.

First, a Golden Core Late Stage Cultivator arrived, attempting to probe Mingyue Palace’s true strength.

At this time, Li Fan emerged from seclusion, though he did not show himself.

He merely transformed into Mingyue Lake and unleashed Cong Yun One Sword.

The sword shadow shone coldly.

This Golden Core Immortal Master, under the watchful eyes of many Qi Refining Cultivators, was beheaded with a single sword, completely without resistance.

The Cultivators who witnessed this scene were deeply shaken, and their reverence for the mysterious Mingyue Palace grew even stronger.

However, Li Fan felt no complacency in his heart.

He knew that it was ultimately unavoidable that he would attract the attention of high-level Cultivators.

He had anticipated it, but he just hadn't expected this day to come so quickly.

“Weakness is the original sin,” Li Fan sighed in his heart, yet he dared not delay for a moment and began preparing to flee.

He spent a large sum of money at the Heavenly Mystery Realm to purchase a one-time random teleportation Formation.

It was set up near the treasure vault.

Once the teleportation Formation was activated, it would self-destruct.

The aftershock of the explosion would destroy tens of thousands of Dao韵 ancient artifacts along with Mingyue Palace.

He then upgraded and modified the [Kan Ling Illusory Wave Great Formation].

The upgraded Great Formation was sufficient to resist all attacks from Nascent Soul cultivators.

Even a Soul Transformation Immortal Venerable could be resisted for a moment.

This time was enough for Li Fan to calmly leave through the teleportation Formation.

With crisis subtly approaching, Li Fan not only did not scale back the Great Dao Spreading endeavor, but instead, with the idea of making one last fortune,

He expanded even more frantically.

The probing by higher Realm Cultivators arrived later than expected.

Anchor Year 43.

A Nascent Soul Middle Stage Cultivator came to Mingyue Lake, seeking an audience with the Mingyue Palace Master.

Li Fan merely activated the [Kan Ling Illusory Wave Great Formation], refusing to see any guests.

This Nascent Soul Immortal Master also seemed to be a discerning person.

He merely launched a casual attack, testing the quality of the protective Great Formation, and then no longer humiliated himself.

He cupped his hands and left on his own.

After Golden Core is Nascent Soul, and after Nascent Soul, will it be Soul Transformation?

Li Fan watched the distant figure of that Nascent Soul cultivator, his expression grim.

And although this Nascent Soul cultivator failed to meet the Mingyue Palace Master in person, his goal had already been achieved.

Within this Mingyue Palace, there must not be any Cultivators above the Nascent Soul Middle Stage.

Otherwise, they would not have chosen to close their doors and refuse visitors.

With his true strength exposed and the sense of mystery gone,

The debt collection efforts also gradually became more difficult.

First, Xiao Heng and Su Xiaomei were ambushed, nearly losing their lives.

Fortunately, they were protected by the treasures Li Fan had given them and escaped a calamity.

However, Zhuge Yu and Sima Zang were not so lucky.

Sima Zang was captured, his fate unknown.

Zhuge Yu returned severely injured, unconscious.

The situation took a sharp turn for the worse, and it seemed that a pile of external debts would soon be unrecoverable.

Li Fan, with a ruthless heart, directly activated Formless Killing Intent, slaying two or three Cultivators who maliciously defaulted on their debts.

This temporarily suppressed the crooked trend of not repaying debts.

“Starting a business on my own is truly too difficult,” Li Fan sighed, looking at the dispirited people in Mingyue Palace.

“We’ll hold on for as long as we can. Fortunately, I feel that I’m not far from Breaking Through to the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage.”

“If it really doesn’t work, I’ll just change my name, move to another province, and start over.”

Under duress, Mingyue Palace suspended its Great Dao Spreading endeavor.

All efforts were focused on recalling contribution points, ready for a full evacuation at any time.

However, it seemed that this time, fate unusually sided with Li Fan.

A sudden major event plunged Source Dao Province back into a bloody storm.

Most of the Nascent Soul and Soul Transformation Cultivators were affected, falling into endless slaughter.

They no longer had the leisure to bother with the small Mingyue Palace.

The two Prodigies of the Lan Yu lineage in Source Dao Province, Du Gu Xi and Du Gu Shi,

Had both gone missing.