“ nà wǒ kě zhēn shì xiāng dāng qī dài le 。” lǐ fán kàn zhe duì zì jǐ chōng mǎn xìn xīn de hé zhèng hào ， xiào mī mī dì shuō dào 。
“那我可真是相当期待了。”李凡看着对自己充满信心的何正浩，笑眯眯地说道。
"Truly, I am quite looking forward to this," Li Fan said with a smile as he looked at He Zhenghao, who was full of confidence in himself.
hé zhèng hào yòu shì chuī xū le yī fān zì jǐ de wǎng rì zhàn jì ， shén me shí nián shí jiān gòng xiàn dù fān bèi 、 shén me yī cì dà zhuàn dǐ de shàng shù nián xīn qín láo zuò 。
何正浩又是吹嘘了一番自己的往日战绩，什么十年时间贡献度翻倍、什么一次大赚抵得上数年辛勤劳作。
He Zhenghao once again boasted about his past achievements. He talked about how his contribution points had doubled over ten years and how one big profit could offset several years of hard work.
zhī hòu hái shì zài lǐ fán de mù guāng shì yì xià ， zhè cái yì yóu wèi jǐn de zuò bà ， gào cí lí qù 。
之后还是在李凡的目光示意下，这才意犹未尽的作罢，告辞离去。
Only after Li Fan's gaze prompted him did He Zhenghao reluctantly stop and leave.
tiān xuán jìng de tí shēng yě shì shí xiǎng qǐ 。
天玄镜的提升也适时响起。
The upgrade for the Ten Thousand Mysteries Mirror sounded at this opportune moment.
“ xiū shì lǐ fán ， huān yíng jiā rù wàn xiān méng 。 zuò wéi fú lì ， jiāng miǎn fèi zèng sòng nǐ 1000 diǎn gòng xiàn dù 。 nǐ kě yǐ shǐ yòng gòng xiàn dù ， duì huàn líng shí 、 gōng fǎ 、 fǎ bǎo děng 。”
“修士李凡，欢迎加入万仙盟。作为福利，将免费赠送你1000点贡献度。你可以使用贡献度，兑换灵石、功法、法宝等。”
"Welcome, cultivator Li Fan, to the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance. As a benefit, you will receive 1000 points of contribution as a gift. You can use these contribution points to exchange for spirit stones, mystical techniques, and magical treasures."
“ nǐ dé dào le hé zhèng hào zhuǎn zèng de 1500 diǎn gòng xiàn dù 。”
“你得到了何正浩转赠的1500点贡献度。”
"You have received 1500 points from He Zhenghao's transfer."
“ dāng qián zǒng gòng xiàn dù ：2500 diǎn 。”
“当前总贡献度：2500点。”
"Current total contributions: 2500 points."
suī rán zhè yī shì gāng kāi jú jiù yǒu le 2500 diǎn gòng xiàn dù ， dàn zhè diǎn gòng xiàn dù ， duì yú céng jīng shēn jiā chāo guò bǎi wàn de lǐ fán lái shuō ， shí zài hěn nán yǐn qǐ shén me xīn lǐ bō dòng 。
虽然这一世刚开局就有了2500点贡献度，但这点贡献度，对于曾经身家超过百万的李凡来说，实在很难引起什么心理波动。
Although Li Fan had started with 2500 points of contribution in this life, that amount was hardly enough to cause any psychological fluctuation for him. Especially since the initiation cost at the Foundation Establishment Realm now required 300 points of contribution daily.
yóu qí shì zhù jī hòu qī ， tiān xuán jìng de qǐ líng hào fèi yǐ jīng gāo dá 300 diǎn gòng xiàn měi tiān 。
尤其是筑基后期，天玄镜的启灵耗费已经高达300点贡献每天。
Li Fan realized that these 300 points were roughly equivalent to what a typical Foundation Establishment cultivator might earn over nearly a month by taking on low-risk tasks, spending most of their time running errands and only one day for initiation cultivation before returning to more errand-running.
lǐ fán xiàn zài yě kàn chū lái le ， zhè 300 diǎn gòng xiàn dù ， chà bu duō jiù shì yī wèi pǔ tōng de zhù jī hòu qī ， huā fèi dà gài jìn yí gè yuè de shí jiān ， zuò nà xiē fēng xiǎn dù jiào dī de rèn wù suǒ de 。
李凡现在也看出来了，这300点贡献度，差不多就是一位普通的筑基后期，花费大概近一个月的时间，做那些风险度较低的任务所得。
This endless cycle, with the occasional high-reward, low-risk task, would take years to accumulate any significant contribution points. This was the fate of ordinary cultivators in the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance.
yí gè yuè dà bù fèn shí jiān pǎo tuǐ ， shèng xià yī tiān shí jiān qǐ líng xiū liàn 。
一个月大部分时间跑腿，剩下一天时间启灵修炼。
If he desired a chance at something better, there was always the risk of failure and even death.
rán hòu jì xù pǎo tuǐ 。
然后继续跑腿。
As someone who constantly started over, Li Fan couldn't possibly end up with such a fate. He purchased a storage ring and returned to exchange the treasures from the Taiyin Boat—gold, silver, and the Stopstep Wrecked Stele—for 2831 points of contribution.
rú cǐ wú xiàn xún huán 。
如此无限循环。
Still not enough!
jiā shàng ǒu ěr yùn qì hǎo néng jiē dào yī xiē bào chóu gāo 、 fēng xiǎn dī de rèn wù 。
加上偶尔运气好能接到一些报酬高、风险低的任务。
Li Fan remembered that in about half a year's time, the dragon whale, which had gained sentience by consuming numerous lustrous pearls, would destroy the Spirit Fog Island. The Green Wood True Monarch would take advantage of this to harvest heavily.
yī nián xià lái ， cái néng jī zǎn xià yì diǎn diǎn kě lián de gòng xiàn dù 。
一年下来，才能积攒下一点点可怜的贡献度。
He naturally didn't want to miss out on such an event and planned to accumulate enough contribution points beforehand.
zhè jiù shì wàn xiān méng pǔ tōng xiū shì de niú mǎ mìng yùn 。
这就是万仙盟普通修士的牛马命运。
Li Fan turned his attention back to the previous task for collecting blue blood coral.
ruò shì xīn yǒu bù gān ， xiǎng yào bó yī bǎ 。
若是心有不甘，想要搏一把。
Without hesitation, he accepted the mission.
nà zì rán yǒu yǔn luò de fēng xiǎn 。
那自然有陨落的风险。
Using a teleportation array, Li Fan arrived at Fog Crow Island in the northwest of Cunyun Sea. The island was guarded by another Foundation Establishment cultivator, whose hunched figure was concealed behind dark robes, making his face and expression invisible.
ér zuò wéi bù duàn zhòng lái zhī rén ， lǐ fán zì rán bù kě néng lún luò dào tóng yàng de mìng yùn 。
而作为不断重来之人，李凡自然不可能沦落到同样的命运。
The air around him exuded an eerie presence, pushing people away with its very aura.
gù jì zhòng shī ， mǎi le yī méi chǔ wù jiè ， chū qù yòu fǎn huí yī tàng hòu 。
故技重施，买了一枚储物戒，出去又返回一趟后。
Li Fan merely nodded slightly before leaving.
jiāng tài yǎn zhōu zhōng de jīn yín cái wù hé zhǐ bù cán bēi jìn xíng duì huàn 。
将太衍舟中的金银财物和止步残碑进行兑换。
Exiting the protective array, Li Fan looked up at the island. A gray fog constantly enveloped it, and in this fog, he could vaguely make out flocks of birds flying about.
dé dào le 2831 diǎn gòng xiàn dù 。
得到了2831点贡献度。
Using his spiritual energy to control a bird, Li Fan caught one and examined it closely.
hái shì tài shǎo ！
还是太少！
"Qua! Qua!"
lǐ fán jì de ， chà bu duō xiǎo bàn nián zhī hòu ， nà tūn shì zhòng duō liú lí zhū ér chǎn shēng líng zhì de yì shòu lóng jīng ， jiāng huì bǎ líng wù cǎo dǎo yǔ cuī huǐ 。
李凡记得，差不多小半年之后，那吞噬众多琉璃珠而产生灵智的异兽龙鲸，将会把灵雾草岛屿摧毁。
This was indeed what people called Fog Crows—shapeless creatures entirely composed of the gray fog. Struggling and flapping its wings, it tried to peck at Li Fan with its large curved beak. The spiritual energy touched the fog, producing a faint burning sensation that surprised Li Fan.
qīng mù huà shēng zhēn jūn yě jiè cǐ shè jú ， dà sì shōu gē le yī fān 。
青木化生真君也借此设局，大肆收割了一番。
"This Fog Crow seems useful, but only those in the Celestial Oracle Hall know about it."
rú cǐ shèng yàn ， lǐ fán zì rán yě bù xiǎng cuò guò 。
如此盛宴，李凡自然也不想错过。
After some research, finding no results, Li Fan released the bird and focused on his main task, flying westward toward Fog Crow Island.
zì rán yào zài zhè zhī qián zǎn xià zú gòu de gòng xiàn dù cān yù jìn lái 。
自然要在这之前攒下足够的贡献度参与进来。
Flying for over two hundred miles, Li Fan concealed his aura and dived into the sea. Amidst a vast stretch of underwater ruins, a transparent blue blood coral stood out. Various marine creatures surrounded it, establishing their homes. A mid-stage Foundation Establishment sea snake lurked nearby as its guardian.
lǐ fán bù yóu dì kàn xiàng le zhī qián nà ge sōu jí lán xuè shān hú de rèn wù 。
李凡不由地看向了之前那个搜集蓝血珊瑚的任务。
The tranquil and beautiful scene was abruptly shattered by Li Fan's arrival.
méi yǒu yóu yù ， zhí jiē jiāng rèn wù jiē qǔ 。
没有犹豫，直接将任务接取。
Using his Binding Insects Divine Technique, he transformed into the Pearl of the Vast Sea. With one stroke from Cunyun, the sea snake instantly perished.
suí hòu zhí jiē tōng guò chuán sòng zhèn ， lái dào le cóng yún hǎi xī běi hǎi yù de wù yā dǎo 。
随后直接通过传送阵，来到了丛云海西北海域的雾鸦岛。
"Hey? The power of this transformation into a Pearl of the Vast Sea in this Fog Crow Sea has somehow increased?"
wù yā dǎo zhèn shǒu yě shì yī wèi zhù jī xiū shì ， gōu lóu de shēn zi cáng zài hēi páo zhī zhōng ， bú jiàn miàn sè shén qíng 。
雾鸦岛镇守也是一位筑基修士，佝偻的身子藏在黑袍之中，不见面色神情。
Li Fan noticed the difference as soon as his sword cut through the air.
zhōu shēn qì xī liú lù chū yīn sēn zhī gǎn ， wú xíng zhī zhōng jù rén yú qiān lǐ zhī wài 。
周身气息流露出阴森之感，无形之中拒人于千里之外。
He carefully felt around him.
lǐ fán jǐn jǐn shì cháo qí wēi wēi diǎn tóu shì yì ， biàn jìng zhí lí kāi le 。
李凡仅仅是朝其微微点头示意，便径直离开了。
"Is this the Fog Crow Sea's mysterious affection for me?"
chū le hù dǎo dà zhèn ， lǐ fán tái tóu wàng qù 。
出了护岛大阵，李凡抬头望去。
"Is it treating the Pearl of the Vast Sea like a brother?"
zhǐ jiàn zhè dǎo yǔ shàng kōng ， zhōng rì lǒng zhào zhe yī céng huī sè de bó wù 。
只见这岛屿上空，终日笼罩着一层灰色的薄雾。
Li Fan chuckled, ignoring these thoughts and focusing on the blue blood coral.
huī wù zhōng ， yǐn yuē néng kàn jiàn yī qún qún fēi niǎo de zōng yǐng 。
灰雾中，隐约能看见一群群飞鸟的踪影。
With a loud noise, he uprooted the coral and stored it in his storage ring. The destruction of countless creatures' homes caused them to scatter in panic.
lǐ fán fēi lín huī wù zhī páng ， yòng líng lì kòng zhì zhe ， jiāng qí zhōng yī zhī fēi niǎo zhuō le guò lái ， zǐ xì guān chá 。
李凡飞临灰雾之旁，用灵力控制着，将其中一只飞鸟捉了过来，仔细观察。
Li Fan showed no signs of being the harbinger of doom.
“ gū ！ gū ！”
“呱！呱！”
"Here are 3000 points of contribution," Li Fan said with satisfaction. "Easier than going through the initiation process."
zhè fēi niǎo zì rán jiù shì suǒ wèi de wù yā le 。
这飞鸟自然就是所谓的雾鸦了。
He remembered that Elder Chen from the Medicine Hall had always purchased blue blood coral.
méi yǒu shí tǐ ， tōng tǐ dōu shì yóu zhè huī wù gòu chéng 。
没有实体，通体都是由这灰雾构成。
Recalling its location, he said, "Seems not far away, in a deep valley, there's another one."
wù yā zhēng zhá zhe ， pū shān zhe chì bǎng ， bù tíng shì tú yòng jù dà ér wān qū de huì ， zhuó xiàng lǐ fán 。
雾鸦挣扎着，扑扇着翅膀，不停试图用巨大而弯曲的喙，啄向李凡。
"Let's take it while I'm here."
líng lì yǔ huī wù chù pèng ， jū rán chǎn shēng le wēi ruò de zhuó shāo gǎn 。
灵力与灰雾触碰，居然产生了微弱的灼烧感。
With little effort, Li Fan dug up another blue blood coral. He returned to the Ten Thousand Mysteries Mirror and submitted his findings.
bù yóu dì ràng lǐ fán gǎn dào xiē xǔ chī jīng 。
不由地让李凡感到些许吃惊。
After receiving the two corals, the mirror quickly settled the reward, giving him 6000 points of contribution.
“ zhè wù yā sì hū yǒu xiē yòng chǔ ， dàn zhǐ yǒu tiān jī táng de rén zhī xiǎo 。”
“这雾鸦似乎有些用处，但只有天机堂的人知晓。”
"I wonder what kind of elixir Elder Chen wants to make with this blue blood coral?" Li Fan asked casually.
yán jiū le yī fān ， méi yǒu dé chū shén me jié guǒ ， lǐ fán jiāng qí fàng huí 。
研究了一番，没有得出什么结果，李凡将其放回。
A reply came after a while. Perhaps moved by the two corals, he received a message.
suí hòu bàn qǐ le zhèng shì ， cháo zhe wù yā dǎo xī fāng fēi qù 。
随后办起了正事，朝着雾鸦岛西方飞去。
"Absolute Coldhearted Elixir. It's needed for exploring a secret realm. If you find more such corals in the future, please trade them to me."
fēi xíng le liǎng bǎi yú lǐ hòu ， lǐ fán shōu liǎn qì xī ， qián rù hǎi dǐ 。
飞行了两百余里后，李凡收敛气息，潜入海底。
"I want all of it."
lián mián shù shí lǐ de páng dà hǎi dǐ fèi xū lǐ ， yī zhū lán xuè shān hú hè rán shēng zhǎng zài qí zhōng 。
连绵数十里的庞大海底废墟里，一株蓝血珊瑚赫然生长在其中。
...
tōng tǐ tòu míng ， fā chū dàn dàn de yōu guāng 。
通体透明，发出淡淡的幽光。
Li Fan pondered the name of this elixir, "Absolute Coldhearted Elixir."
gè zhǒng bù tóng de hǎi dǐ shēng wù wéi rào zhe zhè zhū shān hú ， jiàn lì qǐ le jiā yuán 。
各种不同的海底生物围绕着这株珊瑚，建立起了家园。
With his contribution points now exceeding 10,000 and only three days since he joined the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance, Li Fan's rapid accumulation was astonishing.
gèng yǒu yī tiáo shí lì xiāng dāng yú zhù jī zhōng qī de hǎi shé ， àn zhōng qián fú zhōu wéi ， zuò wéi shǒu hù 。
更有一条实力相当于筑基中期的海蛇，暗中潜伏周围，作为守护。
He turned to the most prominent bounty mission.
zhè níng jìng ér yòu měi hǎo de chǎng jǐng ， suí zhe lǐ fán de dào lái bèi hōng rán dǎ pò 。
这宁静而又美好的场景，随着李凡的到来被轰然打破。
"The Cloud Water Scroll's 10,000 points of contribution. I can't miss this in this life."
fù chóng shén tōng fā dòng ， tóng shí 【 hái zhēn 】 biàn zuò cāng hǎi zhū 。
缚虫神通发动，同时【还真】变作沧海珠。
"But that old fellow called Heavenly Doctor is a bit strange," Li Fan thought. "Judging from his power, he must be at least an Alchemy Immortal."
cóng yún yī jiàn zhī xià ， hǎi shé dùn shí shī qù le xìng mìng 。
丛云一剑之下，海蛇顿时失去了性命。
The scene where the black-robed Alchemy Immortal froze his thoughts still lingered in his mind.
“ yí ？ zhù jī qí wù biàn huàn chéng cāng hǎi zhū hòu ， zài zhè cóng yún hǎi nèi ， zhāo shì de wēi lì jū rán hái dé dào le xiē xǔ jiā qiáng ？”
“咦？筑基奇物变幻成沧海珠后，在这丛云海内，招式的威力居然还得到了些许加强？”
Li Fan wouldn't dare to face Heavenly Doctor with his true self.
yī jiàn zhǎn chū ， lǐ fán jiù mǐn ruì de chá jué dào le bù tóng 。
一剑斩出，李凡就敏锐的察觉到了不同。
"Looks like I need to summon a clone," Li Fan decided.
zǐ xì gǎn yìng zhe zhōu shēn chuán lái de gǎn shòu 。
仔细感应着周身传来的感受。
He purchased all the materials needed for creating a clone and went underwater to retrieve the Sky Crystal Spirit Sand before heading toward the cave where Si Kong Yi was hiding.
“ zhè zhǒng gǎn jué ， shì cóng yún hǎi mò míng fā chū de qīn jìn zhī yì ？”
“这种感觉，是丛云海莫名发出的亲近之意？”
Si Kong Yi and his clone, Bai Li Chuxing, moved unpredictably. Using Theft of Heaven Transformation Technique to sense them might cause them to flee through teleportation arrays, making pursuit troublesome.
“ zhè shì bǎ cāng hǎi zhū dàng chéng le xiōng dì me ？”
“这是把沧海珠当成了兄弟么？”
It would be better to wait here for their inevitable arrival.
"Truly, I am quite looking forward to this," Li Fan said with a smile as he looked at He Zhenghao, who was full of confidence in himself.
He Zhenghao once again boasted about his past achievements. He talked about how his contribution points had doubled over ten years and how one big profit could offset several years of hard work.
Only after Li Fan's gaze prompted him did He Zhenghao reluctantly stop and leave.
The upgrade for the Ten Thousand Mysteries Mirror sounded at this opportune moment.
"Welcome, cultivator Li Fan, to the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance. As a benefit, you will receive 1000 points of contribution as a gift. You can use these contribution points to exchange for spirit stones, mystical techniques, and magical treasures."
"You have received 1500 points from He Zhenghao's transfer."
"Current total contributions: 2500 points."
...
Although Li Fan had started with 2500 points of contribution in this life, that amount was hardly enough to cause any psychological fluctuation for him. Especially since the initiation cost at the Foundation Establishment Realm now required 300 points of contribution daily.
Li Fan realized that these 300 points were roughly equivalent to what a typical Foundation Establishment cultivator might earn over nearly a month by taking on low-risk tasks, spending most of their time running errands and only one day for initiation cultivation before returning to more errand-running.
This endless cycle, with the occasional high-reward, low-risk task, would take years to accumulate any significant contribution points. This was the fate of ordinary cultivators in the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance.
If he desired a chance at something better, there was always the risk of failure and even death.
As someone who constantly started over, Li Fan couldn't possibly end up with such a fate. He purchased a storage ring and returned to exchange the treasures from the Taiyin Boat—gold, silver, and the Stopstep Wrecked Stele—for 2831 points of contribution.
Still not enough!
Li Fan remembered that in about half a year's time, the dragon whale, which had gained sentience by consuming numerous lustrous pearls, would destroy the Spirit Fog Island. The Green Wood True Monarch would take advantage of this to harvest heavily.
He naturally didn't want to miss out on such an event and planned to accumulate enough contribution points beforehand.
Li Fan turned his attention back to the previous task for collecting blue blood coral.
Without hesitation, he accepted the mission.
Using a teleportation array, Li Fan arrived at Fog Crow Island in the northwest of Cunyun Sea. The island was guarded by another Foundation Establishment cultivator, whose hunched figure was concealed behind dark robes, making his face and expression invisible.
The air around him exuded an eerie presence, pushing people away with its very aura.
Li Fan merely nodded slightly before leaving.
Exiting the protective array, Li Fan looked up at the island. A gray fog constantly enveloped it, and in this fog, he could vaguely make out flocks of birds flying about.
Using his spiritual energy to control a bird, Li Fan caught one and examined it closely.
"Qua! Qua!"
This was indeed what people called Fog Crows—shapeless creatures entirely composed of the gray fog. Struggling and flapping its wings, it tried to peck at Li Fan with its large curved beak. The spiritual energy touched the fog, producing a faint burning sensation that surprised Li Fan.
"This Fog Crow seems useful, but only those in the Celestial Oracle Hall know about it."
After some research, finding no results, Li Fan released the bird and focused on his main task, flying westward toward Fog Crow Island.
Flying for over two hundred miles, Li Fan concealed his aura and dived into the sea. Amidst a vast stretch of underwater ruins, a transparent blue blood coral stood out. Various marine creatures surrounded it, establishing their homes. A mid-stage Foundation Establishment sea snake lurked nearby as its guardian.
The tranquil and beautiful scene was abruptly shattered by Li Fan's arrival.
Using his Binding Insects Divine Technique, he transformed into the Pearl of the Vast Sea. With one stroke from Cunyun, the sea snake instantly perished.
"Hey? The power of this transformation into a Pearl of the Vast Sea in this Fog Crow Sea has somehow increased?"
Li Fan noticed the difference as soon as his sword cut through the air.
He carefully felt around him.
"Is this the Fog Crow Sea's mysterious affection for me?"
"Is it treating the Pearl of the Vast Sea like a brother?"
Li Fan chuckled, ignoring these thoughts and focusing on the blue blood coral.
With a loud noise, he uprooted the coral and stored it in his storage ring. The destruction of countless creatures' homes caused them to scatter in panic.
Li Fan showed no signs of being the harbinger of doom.
"Here are 3000 points of contribution," Li Fan said with satisfaction. "Easier than going through the initiation process."
He remembered that Elder Chen from the Medicine Hall had always purchased blue blood coral.
Recalling its location, he said, "Seems not far away, in a deep valley, there's another one."
"Let's take it while I'm here."
With little effort, Li Fan dug up another blue blood coral. He returned to the Ten Thousand Mysteries Mirror and submitted his findings.
After receiving the two corals, the mirror quickly settled the reward, giving him 6000 points of contribution.
"I wonder what kind of elixir Elder Chen wants to make with this blue blood coral?" Li Fan asked casually.
A reply came after a while. Perhaps moved by the two corals, he received a message.
"Absolute Coldhearted Elixir. It's needed for exploring a secret realm. If you find more such corals in the future, please trade them to me."
"I want all of it."
...
Li Fan pondered the name of this elixir, "Absolute Coldhearted Elixir."
With his contribution points now exceeding 10,000 and only three days since he joined the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance, Li Fan's rapid accumulation was astonishing.
He turned to the most prominent bounty mission.
"The Cloud Water Scroll's 10,000 points of contribution. I can't miss this in this life."
"But that old fellow called Heavenly Doctor is a bit strange," Li Fan thought. "Judging from his power, he must be at least an Alchemy Immortal."
The scene where the black-robed Alchemy Immortal froze his thoughts still lingered in his mind.
Li Fan wouldn't dare to face Heavenly Doctor with his true self.
"Looks like I need to summon a clone," Li Fan decided.
He purchased all the materials needed for creating a clone and went underwater to retrieve the Sky Crystal Spirit Sand before heading toward the cave where Si Kong Yi was hiding.
Si Kong Yi and his clone, Bai Li Chuxing, moved unpredictably. Using Theft of Heaven Transformation Technique to sense them might cause them to flee through teleportation arrays, making pursuit troublesome.
It would be better to wait here for their inevitable arrival.