Jiao Xiuyuan’s face lit up with joy: "Fellow Daoist, your way of handling things is to my liking! As they say, even close brothers keep clear accounts. Though you previously helped me make billions with your strategy, rules cannot be broken."

After a moment of contemplation, Jiao Xiuyuan said, "I'll give you a significant discount, just transfer 200 contribution points to me."

Li Fan chuckled lightly: "Fellow Daoist Jiao, you're being too polite!"

Of course, Jiao Xiuyuan wasn’t truly concerned about the contribution points but about completing the necessary transaction process.

Without any fuss, Li Fan transferred the 200 contribution points immediately.

After the transaction was completed, Li Fan vaguely sensed something indescribable and inexplicable about the puppet in front of him. It was a change he had never noticed before.

A thought flashed through Li Fan's mind, and he couldn't help but voice his guess: "Fellow Daoist Jiao, could it be that you're about to break through?"

Jiao Xiuyuan seemed slightly surprised, as if he hadn’t expected Li Fan, who was in the Golden Core stage, to notice something.

"Good eyes, Fellow Daoist! The ancient Heavenly Mechanism Sect’s reputation is truly well-deserved."

After a sigh, Jiao Xiuyuan nodded and said, "Indeed, but the technique I cultivate is special. My breakthrough is different from the usual realms. The specifics... I'm afraid I can't say much more. I hope you understand."

Jiao Xiuyuan spoke with rare apology.

Li Fan nodded, showing his understanding.

"However, I, Jiao Xiuyuan, am not one to forget kindness. Thanks to you, I’ve profited greatly."

"If you ever need anything, just let me know! I’ll make sure to help you out!" Jiao Xiuyuan said, pounding his chest with heroic spirit.

"Speaking of which, I do have a favor to ask. Do you know of the Ancient Medicine King Sect?" Li Fan took the opportunity to ask for help in unearthing the Small Medicine King Cauldron.

"I have a premonition that these small cauldrons will be involved in many karmic consequences in the future, and the matter is of great importance. However, returning to the old site of the Medicine King Sect could be a fatal risk for me, so I cannot go myself. I’ll have to trouble you, Fellow Daoist."

Jiao Xiuyuan readily agreed.

"By the way, since Head Elder Lu came to Ten Thousand Immortal Island, she hasn’t been seen again. You have many sources of information, so could you help me investigate her whereabouts? As someone involved in the events, I’m still very curious about how this matter will impact the Ten Thousand Immortal Alliance."

Due to the confidentiality agreements, Li Fan could only speak vaguely.

Jiao Xiuyuan agreed without hesitation.

After thanking him, they chatted for a while longer.

When the cultivators who had been surrounding Li Fan outside gradually dispersed, he quietly left the Qianli Hall.

Lu Xichan had already lifted the blockade of Ten Thousand Immortal Island, and now cultivators were free to move about.

No one knew what exactly she had discovered, but it was said that even the two Immortal Monarchs, Ziyun and Hongxi, had been summoned back to the headquarters of the Ten Thousand Immortal Alliance.

At the same time, sharp cultivators noticed that a series of highly unusual orders were issued.

The Tianji Hall and the Formation Hall—every cultivator at or above the Nascent Soul stage—was being summoned to the headquarters of the Ten Thousand Immortal Alliance.

"Such a large-scale mobilization—are they preparing to research and construct the Tianxuan Spirit Locking Formation ahead of schedule?"

"Hopefully, the Five Elders Association will step up their efforts. I don’t want to see that eerie green sky again in this lifetime."

This was Li Fan's thought as he awaited Jiao Xiuyuan’s return with information. He quietly left Ten Thousand Immortal Island, disguised as an emissary from the Federation Of all World, heading straight to the island where the Empire and its group were located.

He hadn’t forgotten that the Five Elders Association still owed him 10 million contribution points.

Though these points were in the form of standardized spirit stones, which could be exchanged for contribution points via the Tianxuan Mirror, the amount was enormous and its origins unclear.

If Li Fan exchanged them alone, it might attract unwanted attention from certain cultivators, especially after having already exchanged 5 million points.

Since he needed to acquire technology for controlling exotic beasts from the Empire anyway, he figured he might as well hand this hot potato over to them.

Rushing ahead, he soon arrived over the island.

Sensing Li Fan’s arrival, Qing instantly flashed over to greet him.

Compared to her previous cold attitude, she was now much more courteous.

It seems that no matter the era, the power of wealth is always astounding.

"So, Fellow Daoist, were you satisfied with the gift from the Federation Of all World?" Li Fan asked with a smile.

"Heh, satisfied? More like shocked," Qing said with a hint of laughter, leading Li Fan to a private chamber.

"A contribution of 10 million points, that’s quite a sum, Fellow Daoist. But why send someone suddenly? Wasn’t the deal meant to happen at our next meeting? If the emissary hadn’t identified themselves, I might have attacked."

There was a slight smile in Qing’s voice, along with a hint of confusion.

Li Fan shook his head: "There’s been a complication. In the coming days, the Ten Thousand Immortal Alliance will likely increase its domestic surveillance, so we need to complete our transaction quickly."

"I’ve been delaying my visit because I’ve been searching for a safe place for you to settle..."

Here, Li Fan intentionally left a gap, pausing briefly.

"I believe we’ve shown enough sincerity. Now, it’s up to your Empire to decide."

Li Fan took a sip of the tea that Qing had prepared for him and spoke slowly.

"Hmm? This tea is quite good." The sky-blue tea went down, and Li Fan was somewhat surprised.

Unlike the spiritual teas he usually drank, this one didn’t benefit his cultivation, spiritual power, or divine sense. Instead, he felt a warm current flow through his body, improving and strengthening his physique.

As someone who cultivated the "Creation Furnace Technique," Li Fan was naturally very familiar with such sensations.

It was strikingly similar to the hidden power of the human body.

"This is Supreme Dragon Whisker Tea. If Fellow Daoist likes it, I’ll send you some," Qing said with a smile.

After handing a storage ring to Li Fan, Qing straightened her expression.

"That was personal business, now let's discuss the trade between the Empire and the Federation Of all World."

"We believe the Federation truly intends to aid the Empire, so we will reciprocate by intensifying our cooperation."

"First, here is the first part of the transaction."

As she spoke, Qing handed over a uniquely designed storage ring.

The ring was engraved with a lifelike Qingluan bird, its eyes even moving.

Li Fan looked at the Qingluan bird on the ring and found it somewhat familiar.

But with so many similar bird species in the world, he couldn’t be sure.

He simply accepted it and began to inspect its contents.

Unexpectedly, his divine sense was blocked, and he failed to examine it.

Only when the Qingluan bird lazily glanced at Li Fan and flapped its wings did he manage to see inside.