Chapter 170: Breeze Blowing the Spiritual Tree

Previously, when Mingyue Palace was uprooted by that black-clothed Hedao, many other similar organizations were also affected.

Li Fan speculated at the time that these organizations might not have appeared by imitating Mingyue Palace after seeing its Dao-crossing enterprise flourish.

Instead, these organizations were originally engaged in lending-related businesses.

Only after seeing the enormous profits generated by Mingyue Palace each year did they couldn't help but imitate it.

If Dao Source State had them, then Congyun Sea should naturally have similar organizations.

How can one get rich quickly without leverage?

Li Fan intended to seize the opportunity of the drastic fluctuations in the price of lingwu grass to make a substantial profit.

Naturally, he needed the help of these lending organizations.

However, whether it was before or in this life.

Li Fan, after much inquiry, was unable to find any trace of it.

Clearly, this organization was very cautious in its actions.

Therefore, Li Fan came to He Zhenghao to sound him out.

As expected, He Zhenghao did not disappoint him.

"Fellow Daoist, before you go to Qingfeng Hall, you'd best reconsider."

"They won't lend you contribution points for free there. You have to pay a high interest of eighteen percent annually."

"If you make a profit, that's fine; this interest can be repaid quickly. But if you lose money…"

He Zhenghao's eyelids twitched, "You might have to work for those guys for free for over a decade."

Li Fan cupped his hands, "Fellow Daoist's advice, I've noted it. But please rest assured, I know what I'm doing."

"I won't bother you any longer. Let's talk again next time."

With that, Li Fan returned to Wanxian Island via the teleportation Formation.

He headed straight for Qingfeng Hall.

He finally found it in a corner of the outermost area of Wanxian Island.

It was inconspicuous, indistinguishable from an ordinary small shop.

Li Fan activated a Hiding Talisman and walked inside.

A rather disheveled old man was sleeping on a recliner behind the counter.

When a customer came in, he didn't even open his eyes.

He remained with his eyes closed, rocking in his chair.

Li Fan, following He Zhenghao's instructions, took out the dark green jade token.

"Dududu."

The old man tapped the counter three times.

The dark green jade token emitted a faint light, forming a doorway.

Li Fan looked around for a moment, then walked through the door.

His figure disappeared, and the green door shadow also vanished.

As for the old man, he didn't change his posture at all from beginning to end.

It seemed as if no one had ever visited this Qingfeng Hall.

The surroundings first plunged into darkness, then lit up again.

Li Fan looked around and found himself under a large tree.

And the effect of the Hiding Talisman he had just activated was surprisingly dispelled instantly.

The tree was lush with branches and leaves, all like green jade, emitting a lustrous glow.

On the tree trunk, however, a face appeared.

It stared at Li Fan and asked, "Who introduced you, and why have you come here?"

Li Fan faced the Shu Lian and said loudly, "I was introduced by Liuli Island's Town Guardian He Zhenghao. I want to borrow something from your Qingfeng Hall."

The Shu Lian's reaction seemed a bit slow.

After Li Fan finished speaking, it was a long time before it responded, "A Late Stage Foundation Establishment Cultivator can borrow up to thirty thousand contribution points."

"The annual interest is sixteen percent, and you can choose your repayment method."

"The maximum delay in repayment shall not exceed ten years."

…

The Shu Lian slowly introduced Qingfeng Hall's services to Li Fan, sentence by sentence.

After it finished, Li Fan then said with some dissatisfaction, "How can I only borrow thirty thousand contribution points? That's not enough at all!"

"I'm a Late Stage Foundation Establishment at twenty-nine years old, with boundless prospects. Can't I get a bit more preferential treatment?"

The Shu Lian tried hard to widen its eyes, staring carefully at Li Fan.

After observing for a while, it then said, "You can borrow a maximum of forty thousand contribution points."

Li Fan was a bit impatient, "Only an extra ten thousand contribution points? That's too stingy!"

"When I was in Source Dao Province, I was only a Middle Stage Foundation Establishment Cultivator. I could borrow seventy to eighty thousand contribution points from Mingyue Palace in one go!"

"How come your Qingfeng Hall is so much worse!"

"Brother Tree, can you make the decision? Or how about we switch to someone who can make the decision, and we can talk again?"

Li Fan said casually, but he subtly glanced in a certain direction.

The branches overhead moved without wind, and the green leaves swayed gently, making rustling sounds.

The Shu Lian stared at Li Fan expressionlessly.

Li Fan was also fearless, staring back at the Shu Lian.

After a long time, the Shu Lian slowly opened its mouth, "Fifty thousand, no more."

Li Fan looked very regretful, then said, "Oh, right. What I want to borrow isn't contribution points, it's lingwu grass. Can you lend that?" He blinked, staring at the Shu Lian.

The invisible wind seemed to intensify.

The branches and leaves swayed even more violently.

"Yes. For borrowed items, it's not calculated by interest, but by the quantity borrowed," the Shu Lian said grimly, in a muffled voice.

"If returned within the first year, the quantity to be returned is calculated at one hundred and thirty percent of the borrowed amount."

"In the second year, it's one hundred and sixty percent."

"In the third year, it's two hundred percent."

"You can only borrow for a maximum of three years."

Li Fan was greatly alarmed upon hearing this, "That's so dark?"

But seeing the displeased Shu Lian, he immediately chose to shut up.

He then started to haggle, "If I'm borrowing items, can you lend me a bit more?"

The Shu Lian ignored Li Fan.

Seeing this, Li Fan had no choice but to give up with regret.

"So, how many lingwu grass can I borrow now?" he asked.

"Two thousand seven hundred stalks," the Shu Lian said in a muffled voice.

Li Fan mumbled a few words, not sure what he was saying.

"Alright! I'll borrow them! What procedures do I need to go through?" Li Fan seemed to have made up his mind.

A green leaf slowly floated down from above, landing in front of Li Fan.

As he held it in his hand, streams of information instantly appeared in Li Fan's mind.

It was precisely the agreement Li Fan had just made with the Shu Lian.

"If you agree, just refine this green leaf with your spiritual power."

Li Fan nodded, then enveloped the green leaf with his spiritual power.

The green leaf was refined in an instant, and a faint, almost invisible green leaf pattern appeared on the inner side of Li Fan's left arm.

"After the debt is repaid, the tree contract will disappear on its own."

"Please wait a moment; I will send you the lingwu grass you borrowed."

After the Shu Lian finished speaking, it disappeared from the tree trunk, going who knows where.

Li Fan, seizing this opportunity, looked up and observed the large tree.

The Shu Lian's strength gave him a strange feeling.

It was clearly much stronger than a Nascent Soul True Lord, but also quite a bit weaker than an Immortal Lord.

Moreover, there were no traces of a Formation in this space; it seemed to be naturally formed.

Li Fan observed with interest.

After a while, the Shu Lian reappeared.

It opened its mouth and spat out a Storage Ring.

"The lingwu grass is all inside."

"The transaction is complete; you may leave."

"Remember to repay your debt on time, otherwise…"

Before Li Fan could speak, the Shu Lian expelled him from this space.

Under the large tree, wisps of green light converged, forming a blurry green figure.

"Borrowing so much lingwu grass? Interesting."

A clear female voice came from within it.

"Could it be that the price of lingwu grass will fall even further?"

"A Liu, keep an eye on things recently."

The Shu Lian responded in a muffled voice, "Alright, Young Miss."

"Young Miss, that guy was really annoying just now."

The green figure let out a soft laugh, "He was quite annoying indeed."

"However, which同行 is Mingyue Palace? How come I've never heard of them?"