Chapter 29: Matters Concluded, Time to Set Sail

In the days following the windstorm, all residents of Liuli Island received instructions requiring every household to inspect the Island Protection Array for any damage.

The inspection method was simple; the Liuli Government would distribute a Spirit Talisman. One only needed to hang the Spirit Talisman in the home for a few days and nights and observe whether any red light emerged.

As for other various remote corners of the island, there were also specialized personnel responsible for each one.

"The Island Protection Array has 367,800 nodes; you must ensure that there are no abnormalities in any of them." Under the will of the Immortal Master, and also for the sake of their own safety, all activities on Liuli Island were suspended to prioritize the maintenance of the Island Protection Array.

In the past, the Immortal Master would coordinate the maintenance work of the array, but this time, it was said that the Spirit Stones maintaining the array's operation were nearly exhausted, so the Immortal Master returned to Ten Thousand Immortals Island to retrieve more Spirit Stones.

Li Fan also received a Spirit Talisman.

He hung the Spirit Talisman in his home and, sensing carefully, could faintly perceive an invisible fluctuation spreading out from it.

After expanding outward for a distance, it seemed to encounter some obstacle and then folded back.

As the fluctuation returned, the Spirit Talisman lit up with a blue light.

After a few breaths, the blue light extinguished.

The fluctuation continued to be generated again.

This cycle repeated.

"The array self-inspection uses 360 flashes of the Spirit Talisman as a small cycle, and 360 small cycles as a large cycle. As long as no red light appears during a large cycle, it means the array is unharmed." Li Fan recalled the instructions given to him when he received the Spirit Talisman.

"This Island Protection Array is so massive yet incredibly intricate; it is truly hard to imagine how it was built."

"Ten Thousand Immortals Island is said to be the place where the vast majority of Immortal Cultivators in this Congyun Sea gather. It is exceptionally mysterious; even Manager Zhao does not know much about it."

"I only know that if a Mortal on the island can cleanse themselves of miasma and draw Qi into their body, an Immortal Master will descend to take them to Ten Thousand Immortals Island."

"It seems that in this life, that is my goal."

However, things must be done step by step. First, he needed to secure a spot on the sailing fleet, thereby getting a chance to enter the Net Body Spiritual Pool.

Li Fan had waited for hundreds of years, so naturally, he was not in a rush for this moment.

Time passed quietly amidst the anxious prayers of the island's residents.

Five days later, the result that made everyone on the island breathe a sigh of relief emerged.

The Island Protection Array was not damaged.

And as the Immortal Master returned with sufficient Spirit Stones, the residents of the island finally relaxed completely.

Life on Liuli Island gradually returned to normal.

In the following months, disaster victims from other islands arrived on Liuli Island seeking refuge from time to time.

These survivors were only a minority; the vast majority of people on their islands had died in the recent windstorm.

Upon learning that an Immortal Master was stationed on Liuli Island, these disaster victims' faces revealed a look of deep envy.

The Congyun Sea is vast and boundless, with countless islands of all sizes.

Only those islands with special resource outputs would have an Immortal Master stationed there.

Li Fan had not been idle during these few months.

Persisting in practicing the "Mystic Yellow Heart Cleansing Mantra" every day, he finally had some gains.

Name: Li Fan

Realm: Mortal

Biological Age: 41/88 ↑

Psychological Age: 504/1119 ↑

Both the biological and psychological age limits had increased again; although the margin was small, it still made Li Fan feel encouraged.

From then on, Li Fan practiced even more diligently, spending every day practicing the Heart Cleansing Mantra except when eating.

After another month passed, Li Fan finally received the news sent by someone from Manager Zhao.

The windstorm in the Congyun Sea had completely disappeared, and the fleet's next voyage was imminent!

Three days later, at the Liuli Island dock.

Liuli Island's sea ships were even larger than the second form of the Taiyan Boat, measuring a full two to three hundred meters in length.

More than a dozen large ships were lined up, anchored on the sea, looking quite spectacular.

Because of the windstorm, the fleet had been grounded for a long time. The supplies that Liuli Island needed to hand over were also significantly in arrears.

Therefore, the Island Master ordered the entire fleet to set out this time.

This was a rare grand occasion; one must know that in the past, for the sake of safety, only one or two fleets would sail at the same time.

The dock was full of residents who had come to watch the excitement.

Occasionally, when they saw someone they knew on the ships, they would wave enthusiastically.

Li Fan followed Manager Zhao's people and boarded a sea ship named "Cangyuan".

Among the crew, there were many like Li Fan who were sailing for the first time. Their faces were brimming with excitement, and their eyes were filled with the hope of getting rich overnight.

However, the old crew members were the exact opposite.

Not only were they not excited at all, but they were also full of worry and couldn't stop complaining: "I don't know what the Island Master is going crazy about, holding some kind of assessment. The fleet with the least harvest this time will be deemed unqualified, and their future sailing qualifications will be revoked! What are we to do!"

"Sigh, don't mention it. It's all because of the windstorm. I heard privately that the Coral Island to the south was razed to the ground because its Island Protection Array was shattered. And the supplies that Coral Island needed to hand over have fallen onto our Liuli Island."

"What kind of mess is this! How are we supposed to live in the future!"

"It's said to be only temporary; as long as we make up for what was previously owed, it will be fine."

Everyone let out a series of sighs.

"Look at your spineless behavior! Why not think about the bright side? Doesn't the first place have a reward? The share of the harvest is increased from thirty percent to fifty percent!"

"Fifty percent! What a concept! If we can make a haul, we won't have to sail for the rest of our lives!"

Just then, a man with bronze-colored skin walked over and scolded the crew members loudly.

"Boss, stop dreaming. First place? You know our fishing skills; which time haven't we barely completed the fishing quota?"

"Yeah, in my opinion, this will be our last time sailing!"

"Why don't we just not go back? Being a carefree pirate would be so much fun!"

It was clear that the crew members had a good relationship with the man; hearing the scolding, not only were they not afraid, but they started to jeer instead.

Hearing everyone's nonsense, the man was not anxious.

Instead, he put his hands on his hips, looking confident and composed.

"What is it, Boss? Do you have an idea?" The crew members, knowing the man extremely well, asked one after another upon seeing this.

The man said proudly: "Rest assured, there is a capable person on the ship this time. I guarantee everyone will return with a full load."

After saying that, he pointed at Li Fan, who was standing behind him.

"Him?"

"He looks so fair and clean; has he ever been to sea?"

The crew members looked closely and were immediately disappointed, shaking their heads to show their disbelief.

"You blind fools, failing to recognize a person of importance! This is a great talent specifically invited by Manager Zhao, and he will soon take over our ship! You all be respectful!" the man reprimanded angrily, appearing extremely furious.

Hearing what the man said, the Cangyuan ship instantly erupted into chaos.

And that man with bronze-colored skin turned back to look at Li Fan, secretly revealing a smile of a conspiracy achieved.