Get the best of both worlds

The ground shook more and more violently, to the point where it was nearly impossible to stand.

Watching as the massive Ten Thousand Immortals Island rose from the ground, slowly flying toward the sky.

Some Cultivators attempted a desperate fight, trying to break through the surrounding blockade.

But they all met the same fate.

As soon as they left Ten Thousand Immortals Island, they were pierced and killed by light descending from the sky.

The exclamations and wails of Cultivators could be heard incessantly.

The surrounding space seemed completely sealed off; even the phenomena of falling Cultivators in the sky appeared strangely distorted, layered and squeezed together.

The fierce attacks of the Five Elders Association caused the Cultivators, who were scurrying about like headless flies, to temporarily calm down.

Because they discovered that as long as they stayed on Ten Thousand Immortals Island, the Five Elders Association seemed to have no intention of attacking for the time being.

Thus, they could only tremble in fear, looking up at the purple gate drawing ever closer.

"Could the Five Elders Association be making such a big fuss just for me?" Witnessing this scene, Li Fan couldn't help but think this, recalling the previous incident where several Nascent Soul Cultivators had come to capture him.

"That territory of theirs is not easy to deal with. If I get captured and taken to that [Land of Truth], I won't be able to lie. If someone asks, wouldn't my Transmigration and Huan Zhen be completely exposed?"

Li Fan had a clear understanding of his current strength; he probably still couldn't withstand the principles of a Heavenly Venerable.

"Should I use Huan Zhen…" A flash of hesitation crossed Li Fan's mind.

After pondering for a moment, Li Fan decided to wait and see the situation first.

After all, the situation hadn't yet collapsed to the point of endangering his life.

In the distance, the originally level horizon had now disappeared from view.

The entire Ten Thousand Immortals Island was flying in mid-air, and the faces of those Five Elders Association Cultivators in the sky were clearly visible.

Just then, a commotion suddenly broke out on the island.

For some unknown reason, a large group of Cultivators appeared out of thin air.

The number of these Cultivators was enormous, and in an instant, they were all crowded together, making it seem as if Ten Thousand Immortals Island could barely contain them.

Bursts of clamor came from among them.

"What's going on? Where is this?"

"I remember I was in secluded meditation inside the Tianxuan Mirror? How did I suddenly appear here?"

"Look, everyone! The Tianxuan Mirror has actually turned into a rock!"

Listening to their overlapping screams, Jiao Xiuyuan muttered to himself: "Oh no, even the Tianxuan Mirror has withdrawn its [Enpowerment]; it seems we can't count on reinforcements."

Li Fan finally realized that these people were actually Cultivators who had been in secluded meditation within the Tianxuan Mirror space of Ten Thousand Immortals Island.

Now that Ten Thousand Immortals Island was about to be captured by the Five Elders Association, the Tianxuan Mirror, for the sake of its own security, had canceled the so-called [Enpowerment].

It turned that infinitely useful sub-mirror on the island into an ordinary rock.

Those Cultivators who had awakened from their meditation, upon seeing the enemies filling the sky, finally realized their current predicament.

"Fellow Daoists, I have heard that the Five Elders Association has something called a [Soul Contract]. Once signed, your Divine Soul will be completely under their control. Having lost your freedom, life will likely be worse than death!"

"That's right, they must intend to capture us alive and then force us to sign a Soul Contract!"

"Instead of being at the mercy of others, we might as well fight to the death. With so many of us, perhaps there is still a glimmer of hope!"

After the shock, someone quickly raised their arms and shouted, calling on everyone to break through the Five Elders Association's blockade together.

There is strength in numbers.

With so many fresh troops appearing out of thin air, the Myriad Immortals Alliance Cultivators on the island grew bolder.

Soon, led by one or two Cultivators, they launched a suicide charge.

Li Fan, however, did not follow blindly. Looking at Jiao Xiuyuan, whose eyes were darting around, he tugged on his clothes and asked via voice transmission: "Fellow Daoist Jiao, is there any way to escape?"

Jiao Xiuyuan chuckled, extended his palm, and gestured a "five".

"Easy! It's just fifty thousand Contribution Points, I'll transfer them to you right now!" Li Fan nodded.

Jiao Xiuyuan's face darkened: "Is the life of you, Great Master Li Fan, only worth that much money?"

"Five hundred thousand Contribution Points! And that's only because of our life-and-death friendship!"

Li Fan looked at Jiao Xiuyuan and smiled slightly.

He didn't bargain with him and transferred the five hundred thousand on the spot.

"Brother, I'm not just money-grubbing. One thing is one thing; even close brothers need to settle accounts clearly." Jiao Xiuyuan explained himself.

Then he whispered: "Currently, the only possible way to escape from this Ten Thousand Immortals Island is through that ancient tree in [Clearwind Hall]."

"Clearwind Hall…" Li Fan's eyes flickered.

During his 113th life, he had once made contact with Clearwind Hall, a lending organization hidden on Ten Thousand Immortals Island, through He Zhenghao.

The human-faced ancient tree within it had left a rather deep impression on him.

The place where the ancient tree was located seemed to be a space of its own.

Moreover, it could instantly gather a significant amount of Spirit Mist Grass, which clearly meant that, like the Tianxuan Mirror, it was connected to other spaces in the outside world.

"Many thanks for your guidance, Fellow Daoist Jiao!"

Li Fan cupped his hands and was just about to step away.

Suddenly remembering something, he turned back before long.

Li Fan stared closely at Jiao Xiuyuan, making him feel uncomfortable all over.

"Fellow Daoist Li Fan, why are you looking at me instead of running for your life?" Jiao Xiuyuan was somewhat confused.

"Fellow Daoist Jiao, I wonder, would you sell this body of yours?" Li Fan said in a quiet, eerie tone.

Jiao Xiuyuan was startled and immediately dodged, putting some distance between himself and Li Fan.

"You…" Jiao Xiuyuan looked at Li Fan with disbelief, as if he had finally seen his true colors for the first time.

Ignoring Jiao Xiuyuan's messy thoughts, Li Fan continued to speak to himself: "Having been awake for so long, I have always stayed within the territory of the Myriad Immortals Alliance."

"Now, I have a basic understanding of the Alliance as a whole. But I have never had the chance to see the Five Elders Association, which can stand on equal footing with the Myriad Immortals Alliance."

"And the information about them within the Myriad Immortals Alliance is pitifully scarce. I am extremely curious about the Five Elders Association."

Li Fan swept his gaze up and down over Jiao Xiuyuan's Puppet body.

"My original body will naturally escape. However, I would like to take this opportunity to see the scenery on the other side."

"I wonder if you have a secret technique that would allow me to temporarily control this Puppet of yours, Fellow Daoist?"

Li Fan asked slowly.

Jiao Xiuyuan finally realized Li Fan's intention.

He pondered for a moment and muttered in a low voice: "You should have said so earlier, you scared me."

"As long as the price is right, it's not impossible."

Upon hearing this, Li Fan was immediately delighted.

"Good! Name your price, Fellow Daoist!"

Jiao Xiuyuan gestured a "five" again, and not giving Li Fan a chance to misinterpret it, he added: "This is my first time being possessed by someone!"

"Five hundred thousand Contribution Points, not a single point less!"

"Five hundred thousand, so be it. I, Li Fan, am not a stingy person."