Chapter 372: No Loss to Those with Merit

"What about Dean Ji? Did he lose his sanity?" Li Fan perceptively identified the crux of the issue and asked aloud.

Huangfu Song glanced at Li Fan and cleared his throat: "Dean Ji's cultivation is profound and unfathomable; naturally, it is impossible for him to lose his self-will."

"Unfortunately, the accompanying Cultivators were each not weak either. When they joined forces, even Dean Ji found it somewhat difficult to withstand them for a time."

"Forced to protect himself, Dean Ji had no choice but to kill them all."

Huangfu Song looked deeply regretful.

Li Fan and the others were slightly taken aback upon hearing this.

They then reached a realization, yet dared not dwell on the details.

"It truly is too perilous; no wonder it had to be temporarily sealed off," Li Fan said with deep conviction.

Huangfu Song scanned Li Fan with a warning gaze and sent a voice transmission: "Kid, I've told you what should be told. Don't push your luck."

Li Fan simply pretended not to hear.

"I will be heading to other regions tomorrow to oversee the construction of the Formations."

"If any of you have needs, you can come find me before then."

After arriving at the Eternal Immortal Fortress, Huangfu Song put on a smile and spoke to Xue Mu and Daoist Friend Jiang.

As for Li Fan, he didn't even give him a glance before sweeping his sleeves and departing.

Li Fan didn't mind either.

After years of hard work, success was achieved in a single day.

The first thing everyone did after returning to the Severed Hand Immortal City was check their rankings on the Golden List.

Within these five days, the Points Leaderboard had also undergone earth-shaking changes.

Because Daoist Friend Jiang had presided over the activation of the Tianxuan Formation Hub, his contribution points had skyrocketed.

Li Fan only managed to keep his total points slightly higher than Jiang's by relying on his previous lead.

However, both of them had fallen out of the top ten and were now nearing the twentieth rank.

"Looking at this, quite a few places have completed the Tianxuan Locking Spirit Array in these past few days. Some unfamiliar faces have even appeared at the top of the leaderboard."

"I actually feel it's a bit unfair. Constructing a Formation above the Chizha Abyss is much harder than in ordinary provinces. Great Master Li and the others should have received more points."

"Is there a possibility that the points have already been adjusted for difficulty? After all, while the Chizha Abyss is dangerous, it might not necessarily be the most dangerous place in the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance."

…

"Daoist Fan, look, that Guo Yezhong has actually jumped up to the three-hundredth rank!"

Amidst the discussions of the crowd, Xue Mu sent a voice transmission to alert him.

"Yes, I noticed as well. What do you think, Fellow Daoist?" Li Fan asked.

"Everyone's points aren't static; they are growing all the time. Under these circumstances, Guo Yezhong was actually able to come from behind."

"And this explosive increase only came after many Formations were completed…"

"I believe perhaps this person once participated in the initial design of the Tianxuan Locking Spirit Array."

Although Xue Mu appeared dull, he was by no means stupid.

At this moment, he analyzed calmly: "Dean Ji once said that the amount of points is determined based on contributions during the completion of the Formation's construction."

"As a founder of the Formation, naturally, every time a Formation is completed, he gets a share of the credit."

"Only this can explain the current situation."

Li Fan recalled the appearance of Guo Yezhong when he saw him in the Cosmos Abode.

"He was only a Golden Core Formation Master back then; is that possible?" he asked with a smile.

Upon hearing this, Xue Mu also felt some hesitation.

"Perhaps he just came up with one of the ideas?" he said hesitantly.

"Thinking too much is useless; let's just do our own part well," Li Fan advised.

Looking at the incredibly aged Li Fan, Xue Mu's expression turned solemn as he nodded in agreement.

"Participating in the initial design of the Tianxuan Locking Spirit Array, and then reaping the benefits without further effort."

"Not only can he gain a massive amount of points out of thin air during this competition, but once the Locking Spirit Array is fully popularized, his status and position will surely rise to another level."

"It's a good method!"

After parting with Xue Mu and returning to his room, Li Fan couldn't help but think so.

"If time were reversed by thirty years, there would probably be no one in this world who understands the Tianxuan Locking Spirit Array better than I do."

"Wonderful! I just need to be careful with the timing and extent when revealing it…"

Li Fan mused leisurely.

After nightfall, Li Fan quietly went to Huangfu Song's place.

He seemed to have expected Li Fan would come; a bowl of spiritual tea was already set on the table, and he had been waiting for a long time.

"Azure Dragon Whisker, it can extend life by ten years. It can barely sustain your little life," Huangfu Song mocked slightly.

Li Fan wasn't polite with him either and drank it in one gulp.

He smacked his lips and looked at the Huan Zhen panel.

His physiological age limit had only increased by one year.

"It really is just 'barely'," Li Fan shook his head with an expression that said it was truly mediocre.

Huangfu Song was almost laughed to anger, but he didn't get entangled with him on this matter. Instead, he got straight to the point: "Tell me, why are you, a dying man, still striving so hard?"

"Wouldn't it be better to spend the rest of your life in leisure?"

"Still thinking about competing for the rankings? What are you thinking?"

In front of Huangfu Song, Li Fan no longer displayed the selfless dedication and high moral character seen by outsiders, but instead changed his rhetoric.

"It is precisely because my end is near that I must strive even harder."

"Only in this way can I seek life within death and reclaim a sliver of a chance at survival."

Li Fan said forcefully.

"Oh? How so?" Huangfu Song became interested.

"Being trapped in the Demon Sound tide and Devouring Yuan White Mist was truly an accident. Having almost exhausted my Lifespan to call for help was also not within my expectations."

"I have been in this world for less than a hundred years. To have my Dao vanish and my body die like this—how can I accept that?"

"Naturally, I want to live on."

"And those life-extending treasures are too precious for me; I'm afraid that even if I spent the rest of my life, I wouldn't be able to obtain a single one."

"To survive, I naturally have to change my method and take an indirect route."

"Although there is no absolute certainty, it is definitely worth a gamble."

The sharp light in Li Fan's eyes was extremely incongruous with his incredibly aged appearance.

Huangfu Song became even more curious: "Gamble? Gamble on what?"

Li Fan's expression was serious as he spoke word by word: "I bet…"

"…the Immortal Alliance does not fail those with merit!"

"Especially in the matter of constructing the Tianxuan Locking Spirit Array!"

Huangfu Song stared blankly at Li Fan and drank the Azure Dragon Whisker tea in front of him.

Li Fan continued speaking eloquently: "You and I both know the importance of the Tianxuan Locking Spirit Array."

"And the story of how I worked so hard to build the Formation has spread throughout the world."

"Whose handiwork that is, naturally, goes without saying."

"Before all the Formations are completed, is it better to let an 'Exemplar of the World' like me die miserably of old age, or is it better for the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance to step in and save my life?"

"Compared to being able to inspire the diligent work of Formation Masters across the world, a few life-extending treasures should be nothing."

"So, for now, not only am I not afraid of dying of old age, I even think I have too much Lifespan left!"

"Senior Huangfu, that cup of tea you just gave me almost harmed me."

"How will you compensate me?"

After Li Fan finished speaking, he looked quietly at Huangfu Song.