The fairy city is a cave

Chapter 531: An Immortal City as an Immortal Cave

"Surely you're not expecting me to step in and buy back the Materials you embezzled?" Li Fan's expression remained unchanged as he slowly took a sip of tea, eyeing Zhou Kebao. "Although I am fairly wealthy, my Contribution Points didn't just blow in on the wind. Aside from building an Immortal City, these Materials don't seem to have much other use."

Zhou Kebao hurriedly shook his head. "How could we be so ungrateful and foolish?"

He shot Li Fan a cautious look, bowing obsequiously. "In fact, the reason I came to find Fellow Daoist is in the spirit of peace being paramount…"

Li Fan slammed his teacup down with a loud bang, immediately startling Zhou Kebao into cutting his words short and straightening his posture.

Li Fan's expression turned cold and stern, a flash of killing intent in his eyes. "Peace being paramount? It didn't seem like that was your plan before."

"Embezzling so many Materials, especially under the premise that I signed a military pledge. You were trying to drive me, Li Fan, to my death."

Zhou Kebao waved his hands repeatedly, explaining with a tremble, "Never! That was never our intention! From start to finish, at most, we were merely seeking wealth…"

Li Fan remained noncommittal, saying faintly, "Now that things have come to this, I won't hold it against you any further…"

Hearing this, Zhou Kebao's face filled with disbelief.

However, before he could sigh with relief, he heard Li Fan continue, "However, once Congyun Immortal City is officially completed, everything that needs to be reported to the higher-ups will not be missed by even a single bit."

"After all, completing the construction of the Immortal City without wasting a single speck of material—doesn't that just demonstrate my great capability?"

"It should be proclaimed to the whole world, so that everyone knows. If all city masters in the world were like me, wouldn't the Myriad Immortals Alliance annexing the Five Elders Association be just around the corner?"

"What do you think, Daoist Zhou?" Li Fan said shamelessly.

"Haha, Fellow Daoist must be joking." Zhou Kebao wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, already understanding the threat behind Li Fan's words.

"Whatever requests Fellow Daoist has, please feel free to speak them. We will definitely satisfy them, just please don't make a big scene out of this."

Zhou Kebao patted his chest and guaranteed.

"Don't look at what I want; look at what you have to offer." Li Fan stepped forward and patted Zhou Kebao's shoulder.

"Contribution Points? Am I short of those?"

Li Fan wore a look of pride. "My deduction techniques are famous across the world; generating wealth from wealth is a simple matter for me. So-called Contribution Points are merely a string of numbers in my eyes."

Hearing this, Zhou Kebao's body trembled slightly.

"Furthermore, once Congyun Immortal City is fully built, the corresponding rewards from above certainly won't be lacking. At that time, as a regional high official, my authority Rank will also soar."

"With Contribution Points and authority, how many things in this world are beyond my reach?"

"What, then, can you offer to move me?"

Li Fan's gaze burned brightly, staring intently at Zhou Kebao.

Pressed by Li Fan's gaze, Zhou Kebao felt that the other party's words made absolute sense. His mind suddenly fell into chaos, completely unable to think of a suitable answer for a moment.

"Come back to me after you've thought it through. I still have official business to attend to, so forgive me for not seeing you out!" Li Fan said coldly, issuing an eviction order.

Carrying a look of worry, Zhou Kebao withdrew.

Li Fan's meaning was crystal clear.

Their act of sabotage could be forgiven and forgotten.

But they had to offer compensation of sufficient value.

"A request with no specific demands is the hardest to fulfill," Zhou Kebao sighed softly.

He looked back at the room where Li Fan was.

In the short time since he left, seven or eight different Cultivators had already entered and exited with restrained, cautious expressions.

"His momentum has already formed; we cannot afford to be his enemy."

"Since that's the case, why not take this opportunity to turn an enemy into a friend? From what I can tell, this person isn't someone who holds petty grudges. As long as there are enough bargaining chips, there's no need to worry about not being able to move him."

Zhou Kebao's mind raced, making up his mind in an instant.

He then hurried back to consult with his accomplices.

Five days later, Zhou Kebao reappeared before Li Fan, full of confidence.

"Fellow Daoist, please take a look at this item."

He pointed into midair, and a miniature illusion of a floating city appeared in the sky.

"What is the meaning of this?" Li Fan observed it for a moment, unable to see the trick behind it.

Remaining composed, he asked aloud.

Seeing Li Fan like this, Zhou Kebao felt even more confident and showed a mysterious smile.

"An Immortal Cave that is identical to, or even superior to, a floating Immortal City of the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance…"

"I wonder if Fellow Daoist is interested?"

Zhou Kebao asked slowly in a low voice.

"Hmm?" Li Fan's eyes narrowed, turning back to closely examine the miniature landscape in midair.

Thoughts raced through his mind, and he couldn't help but gasp.

"The Materials you embezzled… were actually more than double what was handed to me? Isn't your audacity a bit too big?"

Zhou Kebao hastily said, "Haha, Fellow Daoist misunderstands."

"Although we indeed deducted a lot earlier to scheme against you, that alone is far from enough to build an entire floating city from scratch."

"In fact, these Materials are the leftovers we accumulated over time from repair and renovation projects for Immortal Cities in various states."

"Daoist Li, you know as well that when the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance allocates Materials for projects, they must account for various unexpected situations, so the budget is quite generous. Meanwhile, those of us who work in this line frequently get better through practice, so actual losses are extremely small."

"Thus, every time, there are leftover Materials. Naturally, this surplus couldn't be handed back in, so it fell into our pockets."

…

Zhou Kebao smiled slightly, abruptly stopping his words; everything was left unsaid.

"Over many years, we accumulated these Materials. Rather than letting them gather dust in the warehouse, it's better to put them to good use and resolve this misunderstanding with you, Fellow Daoist."

"Using public assets for private gain, turning an Immortal City into an Immortal Cave. Haha, I dare guarantee that even in our Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance, such a thing is rare."

Li Fan stared straight at the continuously rotating picture of the Immortal City, visibly tempted.

Seeing this, Zhou Kebao sold the idea even harder.

"This Immortal City Immortal Cave, aside from not being able to interface with the Myriad Immortals Alliance Headquarters, possesses facilities that we can make identical to ordinary Immortal Cities."

"Of course, if Fellow Daoist feels it's too high-profile, we also provide a concealment function. Structures like the Government Affairs Hall and Martial Arts Hall can normally be hidden without a trace, only to be summoned again when needed."

"In this Immortal City Immortal Cave, we will also leave plenty of room for Late Stage modifications."

"In the future, if Fellow Daoist wishes to reinforce protective formations or Restrictions, it will be no trouble at all."

"Of course, if Fellow Daoist is generous enough to provide some Contribution Points, it's not impossible for us to do it on your behalf."

"If Fellow Daoist is straightforward enough, long-distance teleportation arrays, or even Virtual Mustard Seed Arrays, can all be negotiated."

"An Immortal City Immortal Cave that can be carried with you, has built-in teleportation capabilities, and can both attack and defend…"

"Is Fellow Daoist satisfied?"

Zhou Kebao asked alluringly.

Li Fan burst out laughing in response.