Chapter 166: Genius He Zhenghao

“Fellow Daoist, where did you cultivate before?”

Inside the Liuli Island formation, in a pavilion on a mountaintop, He Zhenghao and Li Fan sat facing each other.

He took out a pot of Spirit Tea, filled Li Fan’s cup, and then asked.

“Before, I was a Loose Cultivator in Source Dao Province. A few years ago, when I was seeking an Opportunity for a Breakthrough, I came to Congyun Sea,” Li Fan took a sip of tea and continued, “I am now at Late Stage Foundation Establishment. To be prepared, I want to make preparations for the Core Formation Cultivation Technique in the future.”

“The Foundation Establishment method is already the limit of Opportunities for ordinary Loose Cultivators. It is truly difficult to find a Golden Core Cultivation Technique by exploring on one’s own. After much thought, I decided to abandon my previous Loose Cultivator ideals and join the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance,” Li Fan sighed, explaining.

“Fellow Daoist, there’s no need to mind. I know that many Loose Cultivators outside misunderstand our Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance. They believe that our Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance Cultivators are like cattle and horses, driven by others, with no freedom to speak of. That is truly mistaken!” He Zhenghao spoke eloquently.

“The contribution points commonly used in our Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance are actually no different from Spirit Stones. Essentially, everyone relies on their own efforts to obtain Cultivation resources; it’s just that there’s a unified arrangement within the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance.”

“What’s more, there’s also a Spirit Treasure like the tianxuan mirror within the Alliance, which has extraordinary uses. Fellow Daoist will know once he sees it,” He Zhenghao said with a smile, picking up his teacup and taking a sip.

“I heard that recommending Cultivators to join the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance comes with a corresponding contribution points reward?” Li Fan suddenly asked.

“Cough cough…” He Zhenghao seemed to have choked, coughing a few times and putting down his teacup.

“Fellow Daoist’s information is truly well-informed! Don’t worry, I naturally understand the rules! I will share half of the contribution points I receive with Fellow Daoist!” He patted his chest, promising.

Li Fan gave He Zhenghao a strange look, then slowly nodded: “In that case, please lead the way, Fellow Daoist. I am already impatient!”

He Zhenghao suddenly felt a chill down his spine, but it quickly disappeared, and he dismissed it as an illusion.

Hearing Li Fan’s words, he immediately said: “Fellow Daoist, please wait a moment. I will go and fetch a pass talisman for you first. Otherwise, rashly entering the island will trigger an attack from the Ten Thousand Immortals Great Formation.”

Li Fan nodded: “I have heard of this matter as well. Please go, Fellow Daoist!”

He Zhenghao activated the teleportation array and went to Wanxian Island.

Li Fan, meanwhile, drank tea and waited.

Not long after, He Zhenghao returned.

“Fellow Daoist, just leave a trace of your aura,” He Zhenghao said, handing the pass talisman to Li Fan.

Li Fan was familiar with the process.

“Once Fellow Daoist officially joins the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance, remember to return this talisman. Otherwise, you will have to compensate its corresponding value in contribution points.”

“Such a small piece…” He Zhenghao was about to say something else, but suddenly changed his mind.

“Heh heh, never mind. Fellow Daoist, let’s go!”

Li Fan nodded, and then the two of them passed through the teleportation array and arrived on Wanxian Island.

Just like before, He Zhenghao introduced every little detail of Wanxian Island to Li Fan.

Only this time, it was much more detailed than the previous two times.

“Not far ahead is the tianxuan mirror. This Spirit Treasure can be said to have endless uses. Once you start using it, you really can’t leave it!”

“When Fellow Daoist has ample contribution points in the future, you can even buy a separate mirror Clone to carry with you.”

They talked non-stop all the way until they entered the tianxuan mirror space.

“This Fellow Daoist is the Late Stage Foundation Establishment Cultivator I reported earlier, who wishes to join our Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance,” He Zhenghao said.

After a while, the voice of the tianxuan mirror sounded.

“Recommending a Late Stage Foundation Establishment Cultivator, recorded as superior-grade C merit, converted to 3000 contribution points. Current total contribution points: 4140 points.”

He Zhenghao was stunned, seemingly doubting if he had heard correctly.

“How much?”

So the tianxuan mirror repeated it again.

He Zhenghao turned back to look at Li Fan with a face full of shock, opened his mouth, but couldn’t utter a single word.

“What, is there a problem?” Li Fan asked knowingly.

“May I… ask Fellow Daoist’s current age?”

After a while, He Zhenghao cautiously probed.

Li Fan feigned hesitation for a long time, then sighed and said: “To be honest, it has been over twenty-nine years since I was born.”

“It’s just that after wasting so much time, I am still stuck at Late Stage Foundation Establishment, with Golden Core nowhere in sight. It’s truly shameful to mention this!”

He Zhenghao’s face immediately flushed red upon hearing this, his mouth opening and closing, unable to say a word for a long time.

After a long while, he managed a forced smile: “Fellow Daoist must be joking. A Late Stage Foundation Establishment at twenty-nine…”

“A Late Stage Foundation Establishment at twenty-nine…”

He Zhenghao thought for a long time before finally squeezing out the four characters: “Heaven-sent genius.”

“I don’t deserve it, I don’t deserve it!” Li Fan shook his head repeatedly.

“Does Fellow Daoist know that a true heaven-sent genius can achieve Core Formation in eight years of Cultivation.”

“They can even slay a Dao Integration Cultivator with a Golden Core. I am far from him!”

Li Fan said with great seriousness.

“Heh heh…” What Li Fan said was beyond He Zhenghao’s comprehension.

Not knowing how to respond, he could only offer an awkward smile.

Fortunately, he was an old Jianghu after all, and quickly changed the topic.

Taking out a mountain-shaped communication talisman and handing it to Li Fan, He Zhenghao enthusiastically said: “Since Fellow Daoist sought me out for recommendation, that means he thinks highly of me, He Zhenghao.”

“In the future, if there’s anything you need my help with, Fellow Daoist, just say the word. Although my Cultivation is a bit low, I do have some connections on Wanxian Island.”

Li Fan took the communication talisman, but didn’t speak, instead smiling at He Zhenghao.

He Zhenghao was first stunned, then patted his head, looking enlightened.

“If Fellow Daoist hadn’t reminded me, I would have almost forgotten.” A hint of reluctance appeared in his eyes as He Zhenghao transferred 1500 contribution points to Li Fan.

Li Fan nodded with satisfaction, then asked: “Fellow Daoist must have been in the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance for quite some time. Why do your contribution points not seem very abundant?”

He Zhenghao immediately became excited and introduced to Li Fan: “Fellow Daoist, you don’t know! If you have too many contribution points but never use them, keeping them on you, they are dead and won’t grow on their own.”

“But if you buy some when the prices of hard currencies like lingwu grass and profound wood are low, and hoard them.”

“Then, when their prices rise, you sell them.”

“You will profit from it.”

“Although the fluctuations are usually very small, and you don’t earn much per plant, if you buy a sufficient quantity, each time is still a considerable income.”

He Zhenghao was smug.

“This is what’s called investment!”

“Fellow Daoist, you don’t know, but I am well-versed in the Dao of investment.”

“No wonder you dared to go all-in with your entire fortune earlier. So you had already tasted the sweetness of it in the past.”

Li Fan looked at He Zhenghao with a strange expression, thinking to himself.

“Fellow Daoist, your expression seems to indicate disbelief?” He Zhenghao was a little displeased.

He immediately said: “How about this.”

“Next time there’s a big earning Opportunity, I will notify Fellow Daoist to join me.”

“So Fellow Daoist can witness my, He Zhenghao’s, methods!”