Chapter 373: Seemingly Fake, but Actually Real

Hearing Li Fan's nearly rogue-like words, Huangfu Song didn't become angry; instead, he showed a rather appreciative expression.

"When I heard about your deeds before, I thought you had been subject to Possession."

"No matter how I look at it, you don't seem to have anything to do with words like 'self-sacrifice' or 'selflessness'."

"However, your actions were witnessed by everyone and couldn't be faked. I was puzzled for a long time."

"Your words today have completely dispelled the doubts in my heart."

Huangfu Song sized up Li Fan and nodded slightly. "You kid, you're a ruthless one!"

Li Fan's expression remained calm. "Senior overpraises me! I wonder what you have to say about this compensation?"

Huangfu Song patted his belly and sneered, "Aren't you just trying to find out from me where to go next to maximize your efficiency in the rankings? Why bother with all these twists and turns?"

After saying that, he pointed in front of Li Fan.

In an instant, the construction status of the Tianxuan Locking Spirit Array across the vast majority of the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance's current territories, along with the list of corresponding Formation Masters, entered Li Fan's eyes in dense, exhaustive detail.

It not only marked the current point rankings of each Formation Master on the Great Competition's Golden List but even thoughtfully provided predictions for each contestant's ability to climb the rankings next.

Huangfu Song said triumphantly, "This is the top-secret list that was just released yesterday. Although the points will change again after a day, it can definitely be used as a reference."

"Ordinary people would have to pay a price to see this."

Li Fan quickly scanned the contents of the list.

A moment later, he frowned slightly.

Huangfu Song caught Li Fan's expression and said with some surprise, "What, Li kid, are you still not satisfied with this?"

"Senior Huangfu, it seems some places were left out of this list?" Li Fan asked with piercing eyes.

"Left out? Absolutely impossible! I…"

Before Huangfu Song could finish his rebuttal, Li Fan interrupted him directly, "What about the Five Elements Great Cave Heaven?"

Huangfu Song froze on the spot.

He heard Li Fan speak incessantly, "As the fuse that ignited the great war between the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance and the Five Old Men Association in Tianling State back then, and now the main source of countless resources within the Alliance, it's impossible for such an important place not to have a Tianxuan Locking Spirit Array established, right?"

"And for example, the Boundless Sea? A Cultivation Holy Land that countless Cultivators dream of, where crossing the sea once allows one to directly reach the Peak of their current Great Realm. I didn't see it on the list either."

"The Star Pivot Plains, the Stone Tablet Heaven…"

"Although I, your Junior, am ill-informed, I have heard of all these regions."

To hide his true goal, Li Fan listed several secretive and vital locations in a row.

These were things Li Fan knew from browsing secret documents in his daily life; he had never actually been to them.

However, using them now to confuse the listener was perfect.

"You kid sure know a lot." Even after being exposed by Li Fan, Huangfu Song's expression didn't change in the slightest.

After a mumble, Huangfu Song said seriously, "Let's be blunt; you also know the importance of these places. It's fundamentally impossible to let outsiders set foot in them at will."

"Correct, the contribution points gained from building Formations in these places are indeed several times that of ordinary regions."

"But the relevant Formations there are all built by specific personnel. You, a Junior with no connections and no background, want to sneak in to farm points…"

"You're thinking too much."

Huangfu Song shook his head repeatedly. "Look at all those people on the Great Competition's Golden List; who among them can do it?"

"Are they not stronger than you?"

Facing Huangfu Song's denial, Li Fan didn't lose heart for a moment; instead, he grasped the key point.

He said thoughtfully, "What Senior means is that as long as one has connections and a background, participating in the Formation construction of these regions is not impossible?"

Huangfu Song was somewhat speechless at Li Fan's peculiar train of thought.

Just as he was about to speak in mockery, he saw Li Fan's look of serious contemplation and, for some reason, his heart suddenly skipped a beat.

"You kid, you couldn't really have some kind of background, could you?"

Huangfu Song asked suspiciously.

Li Fan didn't answer directly, only smiling slightly. "It's just doing what one can; this matter might require Senior Huangfu's mediation later."

These ambiguous words made Huangfu Song even more uncertain.

"If the matter is feasible, I will contact Senior again later. At that time, I hope Senior will lend me a hand," Li Fan said politely.

After speaking, he prepared to walk out of the room.

Watching Li Fan's back, Huangfu Song's eyes flickered.

After hesitating for a moment, he still couldn't help but ask, "Regarding Tantai Tao…"

Li Fan didn't stop his pace, vanishing from Huangfu Song's sight in an instant.

Leaving behind only faint words that lingered in the air.

"They were merely my jokes, Junior. Senior has helped me several times; if you dislike it, I won't mention it again in the future."

Huangfu Song stared in the direction where Li Fan had disappeared, his expression unreadable.

With a cold snort, he slammed the room door shut.

Li Fan returned to his residence with a normal expression.

Whether the violent deaths of Tantai Tao and the others were truly related to Huangfu Song, Li Fan wasn't sure.

However, back when Li Fan first unintentionally teased Huangfu Song about the Tantai Tao matter, he had sensed something unusual from his overreactive expression.

He even faintly felt a surge of Killing Intent directed at himself.

Although it was almost imperceptible, Li Fan, who had mastered the Formless Killing Intent, was extremely sensitive to such intent.

He could basically confirm that in that instant, Huangfu Song indeed had the thought of killing Li Fan.

This made Li Fan somewhat curious.

So, following that, Li Fan continuously used the matter of Tantai Tao's violent death to test Huangfu Song's bottom line.

To his surprise, as soon as Li Fan mentioned Tantai Tao, Huangfu Song really became somewhat easier to talk to.

Because of this, his attitude toward Li Fan was also quite different from the other students.

Until today, Huangfu Song's question…

…could be considered confirmation that he indeed had some connection to the deaths of Tantai Tao and the other students.

The possibility of him doing it personally was small; otherwise, he should have been liquidated long ago.

However, it was still possible that he had done things like revealing information about Tantai Tao and the others.

This was the reason Huangfu Song was sensitive to the name 'Tantai Tao'.

Because he couldn't withstand a serious investigation.

Although time had passed and the names of Tantai Tao and the others had been forgotten by the vast majority of people…

…Li Fan would always pull that stunt in front of Huangfu Song every once in a while.

It really did make him a bit uneasy.

Li Fan naturally understood the principle of knowing when to stop.

Since Huangfu Song had brought the matter into the open today, it would be impossible to feign ignorance like before.

The message conveyed was also very clear: you only need to help me one last time.

Then, from now on, I will absolutely never mention this matter again.

The information obtained from Huangfu Song was already enough; pushing him too hard would instead be counterproductive.

Li Fan felt no reluctance in taking this stance.