Chapter 262: Pointing the Sword at the Garrison Hall

Chapter 262: Pointing the Sword at the Garrison Hall

Expedition teams began searching for the ruins along the direction it had flown.

Li Fan remained hidden within the Tianxuan Mirror, quietly waiting for the results.

Three months later, there was still no significant progress in exploring the ruins.

He Zhenghao, however, excitedly sent a message first.

"Fellow Daoist Li Fan, good news."

"After some maneuvering, I've secured three possible positions, each in a different state."

"I'd like your advice on which to choose."

Li Fan immediately replied, "Oh? Let's hear them."

"First, the Taihua State Martial Arts Hall leader."

"Taihua State is not far from the Congyun Sea. The Taihua Mountain range runs through the entire state, earning it the nickname 'the state on the mountain's back.'"

"With countless peaks, my cultivation speed there would be much faster than in the Congyun Sea."

"Second, the Qingwei State Strategy Formation Hall councilor."

"Qingwei State is south of Tianyu State. Though still far, it's much closer than the Congyun Sea."

"Third, the Tianyun State Guardian."

"Tianyun State is not far west of Tianyu State, so the competition for this position is fierce."

"The transfer would only be a lateral move to a city Guardian position."

"The advantage is that it's closer to the Myriad Immortals Alliance Headquarters, making promotion easier than elsewhere."

He Zhenghao slowly laid out the results of his recent efforts.

"Tianyun State…"

Li Fan pondered for a moment and replied, "Don't rush to decide. I know some Cultivators in Tianyun State. Let me inquire to see if we can get a better position."

He Zhenghao was surprised, "Fellow Daoist, you have connections in Tianyun State?"

"Heh, no guarantees. I'll give it a try. Wait for my news," Li Fan said calmly.

He Zhenghao quickly agreed.

So Li Fan contacted the Divine Oracle and explained the situation.

"Senior, do you have any connections?"

The Divine Oracle simply replied, "I'll ask around for you."

Then there was no further response.

Li Fan was not impatient and waited patiently.

Half a day later, a Cultivator named Jing Xuan Daoist requested to add Li Fan as a friend.

He was also from Tianyun State.

Li Fan's heart stirred, and he quickly accepted.

Jing Xuan's hearty voice came through.

"Haha, you must be young Li Fan? I heard from the Oracle that you have a friend who wants to come to Tianyun State for a post?"

"A Four-Law Golden Core? Impressive, impressive."

"How about this: ask him if he's interested in joining our Tianyun State Garrison Hall?"

"Heh, due to the big war a few years ago, there are still some vacancies that haven't been filled."

Li Fan was slightly taken aback and couldn't help asking, "Senior Jing Xuan, what exactly is the Garrison Hall…"

Jing Xuan was also stunned.

He didn't expect Li Fan not to know what the Garrison Hall was.

But then he remembered Li Fan's remote origins and understood, explaining, "The Garrison Hall is an organization unique to the heartland of the Myriad Immortals Alliance."

"It reports directly to the Myriad Immortals Alliance Headquarters, primarily responsible for suppressing troublemakers and maintaining stability in the heartland."

"When necessary, it also answers emergency deployment orders to fight in other states."

With Jing Xuan's explanation, Li Fan understood.

Essentially, it was similar to the garrison force stationed outside Mystic Capital City during the Great Xuan era, which only obeyed Li Fan's orders and guarded the capital's safety.

"It should be considered an important post."

"But it seems to involve frequent combat. I wonder if He Zhenghao's current temperament would agree."

Li Fan thought for a moment, then notified Jing Xuan and contacted He Zhenghao to explain the situation.

"The Garrison Hall?" He Zhenghao was truly shocked this time.

He had spent some time in Tianyu State when he was younger, so he naturally knew what the Garrison Hall was.

Like the Law Enforcement Hall, it was an institution directly under the Myriad Immortals Alliance Headquarters.

Generally, members of the Garrison Hall held a rank half a level higher than Cultivators in other local departments.

Only below the Law Enforcement Hall.

"Fellow Daoist Li Fan is truly unfathomable to secure such a position."

"Though it's a bit dangerous…"

A graceful figure flashed through He Zhenghao's mind.

He gritted his teeth and agreed.

After learning of He Zhenghao's decision, Li Fan replied to Jing Xuan Daoist.

"Good!" Jing Xuan was very pleased.

"Have your friend come to Tianyun State first and serve as a Guardian."

"After three years, once he's gained some experience, I'll use my connections to transfer him into the Garrison Hall."

Jing Xuan then carefully explained some important points before ending the communication.

Li Fan relayed everything verbatim to He Zhenghao.

After listening carefully, He Zhenghao hurried off to prepare for his future.

Once things quieted down, Li Fan thought it over. Although nothing was finalized yet,

he still transferred 100,000 Contribution Points each to the Divine Oracle and Jing Xuan.

As a token of gratitude.

Of course, he charged this expense to He Zhenghao's account.

…

Tianyun State.

The Divine Oracle was momentarily stunned upon receiving the Contribution Points, then chuckled.

Jing Xuan immediately sent a message, "Old oracle, did you get the Contribution Points from young Li? 100,000 Contribution Points! I recall he's only at Foundation Establishment, right? Quite the generous move!"

The Divine Oracle replied with a smile, "At least he's more generous than we were at Foundation Establishment."

"I just passed a message and got the same reward as you. You're not upset, are you, Jing Xuan?"

Jing Xuan laughed heartily, "Haha, fair and square. This kid is interesting."

"Not bad, not bad. I like him much more than that old man Guangwu."

"Since we've taken his benefits, we'd better do a good job. Don't mess things up. You might not care, but if my reputation is ruined, heh…"

"Mess up? Who do you think I am?" Jing Xuan snorted and fell silent.

…

Time passed.

Three months later, He Zhenghao's appointment order came through.

There were no issues.

He was appointed as the Guardian of Guang'an City in Tianyun State.

In total, it cost 80,000 Contribution Points.

Naturally, he borrowed them from Li Fan.

After all, He Zhenghao was already deep in debt, so he felt no pressure.

Li Fan was also generous, lending as much as needed.

Before leaving, He Zhenghao vowed,

Once he established himself in Tianyun State, he would try to arrange for Li Fan to be transferred there as well.

Li Fan said nothing, just patted He Zhenghao on the shoulder.

After He Zhenghao left, Li Fan stayed hidden in the Tianxuan Mirror, never going out, and focused on Cultivation.

Soon, the time came to the anchor year 23.

The ruins that had risen into the sky were finally found.

They had landed in a thousand-mile swamp in the center of the Nine Mountains State.

As Cultivators began exploring, the origins of the ruins were uncovered.

It was an ancient immortal Sect: the Chao Yuan Sect.

Though not as renowned as the Tai Shang or the Great Dao Sect, whose fame persisted even after thousands of years,

it was still a famous and prestigious Sect before the Great Tribulation struck.

Based on past experience with Sect ruins, it was sure to contain a wealth of treasures.

When the news spread, it attracted many Cultivators to explore the Nine Mountains State.

The already chaotic Nine Mountains State became even more turbulent.

Some Cultivators from the Five Elders Association even disguised themselves simply and brazenly joined the exploration.

Their arrogance was evident.

It also showed how weak the Myriad Immortals Alliance's control over the Nine Mountains State was.

Initially, the Myriad Immortals Alliance had no intention of intervening in what seemed like a normal ruin exploration.

But then, a piece of news infuriated the Myriad Immortals Alliance.

A Soul Transformation Cultivator from the Five Elders Association named Luoxi came to explore the ruins.

Not only did he not hide his identity as a member of the Five Elders Association, but he also used his high Cultivation to injure and kill many exploration members of the Myriad Immortals Alliance.

After obtaining some treasures deep within the ruins, he swaggered away.

Acting so arrogantly on my turf?

It was a slap in the Face.

But doubts also arose.

Such behavior was clearly provocative.

Could there be a conspiracy?

Was the Five Elders Association about to start another war?

Regardless, Face could not be lost.

The Myriad Immortals Alliance quickly dispatched several Soul Transformation Cultivators to the Nine Mountains State to maintain order.

And issued a stern warning:

All Five Elders Association Cultivators were forbidden from entering the Nine Mountains State.

If they dared to come, they would die!