The mob is in disarray

"Even Jiao Xiuyuan says so. It seems these strategic Materials from the Myriad Immortals Alliance really can't be acquired through conventional channels."

Li Fan mused to himself.

He was well aware that a major project like rebuilding an entire floating immortal city could not be accomplished with zero losses.

And an immortal city was like a huge, precise instrument; missing certain key components, it might not function properly.

Even if he could somehow cover it up, those lurking in the shadows would surely report him.

So…

"The one who tied the knot must untie it." Li Fan narrowed his eyes.

These people behind the scenes were targeting him either for revenge or profit.

They definitely didn't want the matter to escalate beyond control, inviting investigation from higher-ups.

Congyun Immortal City would ultimately be rebuilt.

This was the supreme will of the Myriad Immortals Alliance, and no one could defy it.

As for who would complete the rebuilding, the Myriad Immortals Alliance didn't really care.

But it concerned the future prospects of Li Fan and the Cultivators who followed him.

"The portion deducted from the material list must still be with Zhou Kebao and his group."

"What we need to do now is find a way to make them spit out what they've swallowed."

With this thought, Li Fan activated Formless Killing Intent, shifting his perspective to Zhou Kebao.

In a dark room aboard the Dust-Crossing Boat.

Zhou Kebao paced anxiously. Before him, a blurry light flickered constantly.

Soon, the light stopped flickering, and several figures appeared within it.

"Well? What did Tantai Can say?" Zhou Kebao asked urgently.

"The message was sent, but no reply."

"He didn't reply to me either."

"He rejected it outright!"

Different voices sounded at once.

Zhou Kebao's face turned the color of pig liver. He was so angry he wanted to curse, but his lips trembled, and he ultimately held back.

After a moment of silence, one of the figures couldn't help asking, "What exactly does Tantai Can mean by this?"

"Yeah, he was the one who incited us earlier. Why did he suddenly change his mind and side with Li Fan?"

"Enough! Stop arguing!" Amid the clamor, a magnetic voice suddenly spoke up in reprimand.

This person seemed to have great authority; as soon as he spoke, the other Cultivators fell silent.

"As it stands, it seems we've fallen into Tantai Can's trap."

He analyzed calmly: "First, he used Li Fan's tens of millions of Contribution Points as bait to lure us in."

"After we spent a considerable amount of money to open the so-called 'connections' he provided, trying to force Li Fan to submit,"

"he then turned against us…"

Zhou Kebao slammed the table: "That doesn't make sense! What does Tantai Can gain from this? Although we can't compare to his Tantai Family, united, we're not to be trifled with! Why would Tantai Can make so many enemies for no reason?"

This remark drew agreement from the others; they clearly couldn't understand Tantai Can's actions.

"Maybe Tantai Can isn't trying to be our enemy, but to completely subdue us!" At that moment, a figure suddenly said.

"I heard that because of the recent pu xian true leaf incident, Tantai Can was publicly criticized by Immortal Venerable Li Ruo. His position in the Family has become extremely precarious. Even some of his former advisors have defected to other members of the Tantai Family."

"He must be trying every means to consolidate his position. That's why he's set his sights on us."

This statement made everyone ponder deeply.

"Right! As it seems now, his plan has been quite successful. We're already in a dilemma! The plan to use the Congyun Immortal City's construction deadline to pressure Li Fan has clearly fallen through. With Li Fan and Tantai Can in cahoots, he probably doesn't lack the Materials we deducted."

"The Celestial Venerable of Dharma Transmission's Spiritual Remains, Tianxuan Fragmented Crystals, Nether-Transforming Ancient Wood…"

"These items are strictly prohibited for private possession. It's fine if we hold onto them for a short time, but if we keep them unused and get caught…" Zhou Kebao couldn't help but shudder.

"We'd like to sell them, but besides building immortal cities, these things have no other use!"

"Nowadays, besides the Congyun Sea, where else is there a suspended city under construction?"

"That bastard Tantai Can is truly despicable! He'll probably come to threaten us soon!"

"Hiss, very likely. After all, both embezzling construction Materials and offering bribes are shady dealings."

The more they discussed, the more agitated they became.

It was the authoritative voice again that calmed everyone down.

"Don't lose your composure. The situation isn't as bad as we think."

"Everything is just our speculation; we might just be scaring ourselves."

"Since we can't contact Tantai Can, let's first probe Li Fan's stance and see what's really going on."

Zhou Kebao nodded upon hearing this.

"Although this man is an ancient Cultivator, he's quite mysterious. At the Golden Core stage, he can stir up trouble and get involved with many veteran Soul Transformation Cultivators. We must not take him lightly." The man cautioned.

"Fellow Daoist Dragon, rest assured. I'll be careful." Zhou Kebao agreed readily.

The light gradually faded, and Li Fan withdrew his gaze.

"So it's just a rabble." He sneered.

He then carefully considered how to peel a layer of skin off these people.

——

Zhou Kebao's patience was somewhat beyond Li Fan's expectations.

Even after the reconstruction of Congyun Immortal City was in full swing and over a dozen support Cultivators from the Myriad Immortals Alliance Headquarters had arrived one after another, he still hadn't tested Li Fan.

He just pretended nothing was wrong, greeting Li Fan as usual every day.

If the hua dao stone in his mind hadn't clearly recorded their conversation, Li Fan would have thought it was just an illusion.

But Li Fan was also very patient.

"No rush. I'll play along with him."

With over four months left until the final deadline for the city's reconstruction, Li Fan could afford to wait.

After replenishing some regular Materials through Jiao Xiuyuan,

the progress of the city's basic construction wasn't delayed at all.

The main structures like the long-distance teleportation array, Tianxuan Mirror, and Government Affairs Hall were to be built last.

Not to mention that the Materials on hand provided one chance for trial and error.

So Li Fan wasn't worried at all.

Of course, while building Congyun Immortal City, he hadn't forgotten the task assigned by First Canon.

To build the Xuantian Locking Nether Formation into the city's foundation.

Li Fan's current formation mastery had reached Minor Achievement.

He had even personally participated in the construction of the Tianxuan Locking Spirit Array, giving him a broader vision than ordinary Cultivators.

In the diagram of the Xuantian Locking Nether Formation, Li Fan clearly saw traces of the Lock Spirit Array.

There's another chapter coming later.