Chapter 196 Return to the Fallen Immortal Realm

Zhou Qingang stammered an explanation: “At that time, with the price trend of lingwu grass, who could resist! Word spread like wildfire, and among the Town Guardians of the islands in Congyun Sea, there were few who weren't speculating.”

“If I acted differently, wouldn't it be easy to expose myself?”

“Who knew the price would crash so quickly…”

Then, as if realizing something, he looked suspiciously at the face on the broken stone: “Boss, you didn't dabble in it too, did you?”

The face avoided the question and snapped: “Less nonsense, how much do you need!”

Zhou Qingang hesitated for a moment, then whispered: “One hundred thousand…”

“One hundred thousand?!” The face’s voice instantly rose several degrees.

“No! Funds are tight right now, and none of you who have been undercover for so long have shown any real results. How can I ask the higher-ups for more funding?” The face refused without hesitation.

Seeing this, Zhou Qingang quickly said: “There are results, there are results! I’ve almost deciphered the outer Formation structure of the Heavenly Yuan Creation Formation. In at most seven or eight more years, I’ll be able to completely crack the Formation’s core.”

“This time, He Zhenghao also suffered heavy losses. My request for these one hundred thousand contribution points is also to take this opportunity to deepen my relationship with him.”

“This person is skilled in Formations and even participated in the arrangement of the island-guarding Grand Formation. He’s also not very cunning. With his help, we can certainly fully grasp the Formation sooner.”

Upon hearing this, the face’s expression softened slightly.

After pondering for a moment, he slowly said: “If that’s the case, first send me the deciphered Formation data.”

Zhou Qingang nodded, pressing his palms onto the broken stone again, his eyes slightly closed.

A yellowish-brown light flickered continuously. After a long while, he finally released his hands.

He seemed to have consumed a great deal of mental energy, his face turning extremely pale.

The face was expressionless, seemingly verifying the authenticity of the data.

“Hmm, well done.” After a while, the face nodded and said.

“However, one hundred thousand is indeed too much. Fifty thousand will do!” The face suddenly changed the subject.

Zhou Qingang’s face crumpled: “Boss, fifty thousand is really too little! Seventy thousand, or even sixty thousand would work!”

The face, however, completely ignored him: “Fifty Top-Grade Spirit Stones. Go pick them up at the usual place in a month.”

“That’s all for now!”

Before he finished speaking, the light and shadow on the broken stone disappeared, turning back into an ordinary stone.

Zhou Qingang’s face was dark as he smashed the broken stone to pieces with one slap.

After transforming back to his original appearance, he returned to Taian Island without a word.

He stayed dutifully within the island-guarding Grand Formation, showing no signs of being an undercover spy.

“It seems that besides Zhou Qingang, there are quite a few people who have infiltrated through his superior’s line alone.”

“However, the spies on this line should not hold very high positions within the Alliance, and their current mission Rank is still only to acquire the island-guarding Grand Formation.”

“Furthermore, their communication method also seems to require re-arrangement for each contact. Although a bit troublesome, one-way communication reduces the risk of being wiped out in one go.”

When Li Fan saw that Zhou Qingang had gone undercover again and had no other movements, he withdrew his attention and pondered how to maximize the benefits of this matter.

“Besides the method to bypass the White Jade Questioning Heart Platform, Zhou Qingang’s method of changing his appearance is also extremely useful to me.”

“It would be best to get both of these methods before reporting them to earn merit.”

“Unfortunately, so far, I still haven't found the legendary Soul Searching Art.”

The Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance seems to strictly control this method. Even with Li Fan’s current Rank of Yan Ba, he hasn’t found any related hint.

“I wonder if there will be an opportunity in that Fallen Immortal Realm.”

Not long ago, Li Fan had already inexplicably felt a sense of connection, able to enter the Fallen Immortal Realm again.

However, at that time, he was busy with merit tasks of pursuing and killing defectors and had not re-entered.

Now that he was finally free, Li Fan again had the idea of exploring the Fallen Immortal Realm.

Immediately, he began to set up the ritual once more.

“fusheng xuanhuang heavenly lord!”

As the last incantation was silently completed, countless noisy and fragmented sounds entered his ears.

Li Fan re-entered the Fallen Immortal Realm.

“Junior Brother? Junior Brother?”

When Li Fan clearly saw his surroundings, his heart couldn't help but sink slightly.

“Junior Brother, what are you thinking about? Why have you been in a daze for so long?”

A Cultivator wearing a purple-white Daoist robe with a purple lightning mark carved between his brows asked.

Li Fan was not unfamiliar with this person; it was indeed Zhang Qianmo, whom he had met the last time he entered the Fallen Immortal Realm.

“Why here again?” Many question marks instantly flashed through Li Fan’s mind.

According to Chen Ying’s introduction, each entry into the Fallen Immortal Realm should randomly appear in different places.

Why was his second login location exactly the same as the last time?

Even the time point was precisely the same.

Was there some special reason?

Connecting this to his unique ability to have two lives in this Fallen Immortal Realm, a name suddenly appeared in Li Fan’s mind.

“Could it be because of the Mystic Yellow Heart Refining Mantra again?”

Li Fan instinctively guessed so.

“Last time, I revealed my Divine Sense Incarnation, was no match for Zhang Qianmo, and was killed by him.”

“If I defeat him this time, will the outcome be different?”

“However, this Senior Brother Zhang is not that easy to deal with.”

“Or, not to let him discover the true self existing within Li Chen’s body…”

Instantly, several thoughts surged in Li Fan’s mind.

However, he didn't forget to reply to this Senior Brother, who seemed a bit cynical.

Recalling what would happen next, Li Fan’s thoughts raced: “Uh, Senior Brother, I suddenly feel a bit uneasy for some reason. It’s as if this trip to retrieve the longevity fruit won’t be so smooth.”

Zhang Qianmo was slightly startled. He didn't just laugh it off but actually took it unusually seriously.

He subtly pinched his right hand, and purple clouds seemed to drift through his eyes.

“Oh?” After a moment, Zhang Qianmo’s expression became solemn.

“Junior Brother, your premonition is correct. This Ningyuan City indeed has something strange about it!”

“Really?” Li Fan looked very surprised, “Then, Senior Brother, what should we do next?”

Zhang Qianmo pondered for a moment and said: “The divination shows that although there is a slight risk, there is no danger to life.”

“The longevity fruit must be retrieved. If we return to the Sect to ask for reinforcements without even personally visiting Ningyuan City, wouldn’t we be ridiculed by our fellow disciples?”

“How about you and I secretly infiltrate the city first to scout out the situation?”

Li Fan naturally had no objections: “Senior Brother is right!”

Zhang Qianmo activated some unknown Cultivation Technique. The lightning mark on his forehead gradually receded, and all his Qi was completely restrained.

Watching this scene, as if by instinct, Li Fan also properly concealed his own Qi.

“So it’s the Qi concealment method from the Purple Firmament Thunder Control True Art…”

As if controlling a character in a game, Li Fan could now use various Cultivation Techniques and Moves of Li Chen, but he didn't have a deep understanding of the Cultivation Techniques themselves.