gǔ shǒu xiān qiǎn jìng zhōng ， chí yǒu zuì gāo quán xiàn de lǐ fán ， kàn zhe jī dòng mò míng de yè fēi péng 、 yǔ tóng yàng hěn gāo xìng de xiāo héng ， àn zhōng diǎn le diǎn tóu 。
骨手先遣境中，持有最高权限的李凡，看着激动莫名的叶飞鹏、与同样很高兴的萧恒，暗中点了点头。
In the Pre-Embodiment Realm, Li Fan, who held the highest authority, watched Ye Feipeng and Xiao Heng, both of whom were visibly excited. He nodded secretly.
“ péi zhè qún xiǎo zi yǎn xì zhè me jiǔ ， zǒng suàn huǒ hòu chà bu duō le 。”
“陪这群小子演戏这么久，总算火候差不多了。”
"Playing along with these kids for so long, it seems we've reached a good point."
“ yǐ hòu bù chū yì wài ， jiù kě yǐ zuò shōu tóu zī huí bào ， bù yòng shì shì láo shén le 。”
“以后不出意外，就可以坐收投资回报，不用事事劳神了。”
"In the future, without any unexpected incidents, I can sit back and enjoy the fruits of my labor, no longer needing to worry about every little detail."
wèi le shǐ tā biān zào de huǎng yán jǐn kě néng kàn shàng qù xiàng zhēn de ， lǐ fán kě shì shà fèi kǔ xīn 、 hào zī bù fēi 。
为了使他编造的谎言尽可能看上去像真的，李凡可是煞费苦心、耗资不菲。
To make his fabricated lies appear as real as possible, Li Fan had spared no effort and spent considerable resources.
bāo kuò bìng bù xiàn yú ： róng hé le tōng xùn fǎ zhèn 、 yí shì gù huà fǎ zhèn de xiàng liàn 。
包括并不限于：融合了通讯法阵、仪式固化法阵的项链。
Including but not limited to: a necklace that combined communication arrays with ritual固化法阵.
wěi zhuāng chéng jì tán de tōng xùn chuán shū fǎ zhèn 。
伪装成祭坛的通讯传输法阵。
A communications array disguised as an altar.
yī jù zhù jī qī xiū wèi de kuǐ lěi 。
一具筑基期修为的傀儡。
A puppet with the cultivation of Foundation Establishment Realm.
wěi zào xiū shì yǔn luò yì xiàng de huàn xiàng shí 。
伪造修士陨落异像的幻象石。
Illusory stones depicting the false spectacle of a cultivator's demise.
děng děng děng 。
等等等。
And so on.
ér zhī suǒ yǐ cǐ shì zhè me dà fèi zhōu zhāng ， yòu shì zū lìn gǎi zào xiān qiǎn jìng 、 yòu shì biān zào zǐ xū wū yǒu de zhēn xiān wǎng shì 。
而之所以此世这么大费周章，又是租赁改造先遣境、又是编造子虚乌有的真仙往事。
The reason for such elaborate arrangements, including renting and renovating the Pre-Embodiment Realm, was all part of Li Fan’s plan.
lǐ fán zì rán yǒu tā de kǎo lǜ 。
李凡自然有他的考虑。
Firstly, if he directly funded their techniques as a cultivator, it would be fine at first since the prodigies were young. But as they grew older and learned about the value of these techniques, doubts might arise, suspecting that the claim of achieving Foundation Establishment within fifty years was just empty words.
dì yī ， rú guǒ zhí jiē yǐ xiū shì de shēn fèn zī zhù qí gōng fǎ ， gāng kāi shǐ hái hǎo ， tiān jiāo men nián yòu ， bú huì yǒu xǔ duō xiǎng fǎ 。
第一，如果直接以修士的身份资助其功法，刚开始还好，天骄们年幼，不会有许多想法。
At this moment, Li Fan received a message from He Zhenghao congratulating him on his breakthrough to Foundation Establishment Realm.
dàn suí zhe tā men nián jì zēng zhǎng ， liǎo jiě dào gōng fǎ de zhēn guì zhī chù hòu ， nán miǎn huì xīn shēng yí lǜ ， huái yí zhè bèi hòu huò xǔ cún zài shén me yīn móu dài jià 。 yí dàn xīn shēng jiàn xì ， nà me jiù róng yì píng shēng xǔ duō bō zhé 。
但随着他们年纪增长，了解到功法的珍贵之处后，难免会心生疑虑，怀疑这背后或许存在什么阴谋代价。一旦心生间隙，那么就容易平生许多波折。
"How profound your accumulation is, He Daoist. You broke through so quickly."
ér wěi zhuāng chéng yī wèi bàn yǔn luò de shàng gǔ xiū shì ， jiāng zèng sòng gōng fǎ yǎn shì wèi tiān jiāo men zì shēn de qí yù 。
而伪装成一位半陨落的上古修士，将赠送功法掩饰为天骄们自身的奇遇。
"It seems he wasn't lying when he said he would definitely achieve Foundation Establishment within fifty years."
jiù méi yǒu zhè zhǒng gù lǜ le 。
就没有这种顾虑了。
Li Fan also sent some encouragement and reduced the interest for this year. He urged He Zhenghao to continue his cultivation with the goal of achieving Foundation Establishment sooner.
dì èr ， chéng lì le 【 fù xiān 】 zǔ zhī hòu ， tā jiù kě yǐ jìn qíng dí dàng gè shuǎi shǒu zhǎng guì de 。
第二，成立了【复仙】组织后，他就可以尽情的当个甩手掌柜的。
Next, Li Fan checked other messages that had been missed during his seclusion. Zhang Zhiliang's research on the Mountain River Great Array was nearing completion. He messaged Li Fan to inquire about his progress in studying array techniques and promised a test upon his return.
bù yòng zài xīn xīn kǔ kǔ ， qīn zì xún zhǎo tiān fù chāo jué zhī rén jìn xíng tóu zī 。
不用再辛辛苦苦，亲自寻找天赋超绝之人进行投资。
This wouldn't be difficult for Li Fan, who had already studied arrays under Zhang Zhiang for over ten years in his previous life.
suǒ wèi tiān cái shì hù xiāng xī yǐn de 。
所谓天才是互相吸引的。
Meanwhile, Jiang Zhengji's message caught Li Fan’s attention among the irrelevant messages. He asked if Li Fan had seen any Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators recently.
xiāo héng 、 sū xiǎo mèi zhè qún tiān jiāo zài chéng zhǎng yóu lì guò chéng zhōng ， dà gài lǜ yě huì yù dào xiē tiān fù bù chà de tóng bàn 。
萧恒、苏小妹这群天骄在成长游历过程中，大概率也会遇到些天赋不差的同伴。
The message was clearly sent to a group of people, but one of them was familiar: the same Foundation Establishment master who had once come from a commoner’s world in his twelfth life.
wán quán bù yòng lǐ fán cāo xīn ， fù xiān de chéng yuán jiù huì yuè lái yuè duō 。
完全不用李凡操心，复仙的成员就会越来越多。
After asking Jiang Zhengji some questions, Li Fan understood what happened. The low-key Foundation Establishment master suddenly stepped up his promotion efforts, promising guaranteed success and significantly reduced time for Foundation Establishment. His good reputation and miraculous claims attracted many Spirit Gathering Realm cultivators preparing to achieve Foundation Establishment.
fàng yǎng zhòng tiān jiāo 、 zì jǐ ān xīn xiū xíng zhī yú ， hái kě yǐ xiǎng shòu fù xiān kuò zhāng dài lái de tóu zī huí bào 。
放养众天骄、自己安心修行之余，还可以享受复仙扩张带来的投资回报。
Despite their trust in the master, after they successfully or unsuccessfully achieved Foundation Establishment, they were furious to find that the voice guiding them was just an illusion. The real master had already fled.
zhēn shì miào bù kě yán 。
真是妙不可言。
This incident revealed a scam involving over a hundred cultivators and 2000 points of contribution. Li Fan suggested Jiang Zhengji search along the route towards Yongliang State in case anyone might have seen the master’s whereabouts.
dì sān ，【 fù xiān 】 zhè yǔ wàn xiān méng wèi dí de zǔ zhī bèi jǐng ， huì tiān rán gěi xiāo héng děng rén shēn shàng bēi fù yī céng yā lì 。
第三，【复仙】这与万仙盟为敌的组织背景，会天然给萧恒等人身上背负一层压力。
Li Fan, after understanding the situation, found it interesting to ponder. "They should still be quietly carrying out their scam, gradually amassing contributions."
yǒu yā lì cái yǒu dòng lì 。
有压力才有动力。
"Why did they suddenly go big and run away?"
cái néng jiāng tā men de xiū xíng tiān fù yā zhà dào jí zhì 。
才能将他们的修行天赋压榨到极致。
"Could they have also cashed in on Lingfoguo Grass like everyone else?"
lǐ fán cái néng gèng kuài de shōu huí tóu zī chéng běn 。
李凡才能更快的收回投资成本。
Considering this, Li Fan thought there was a possibility. In his twelfth life, they were close to exchanging for the Great Dao Technique, Swallowing the Sea for Immortality.
lǐ fán kě qīng chǔ de jì de ， zhī qián xiāo héng zài háo wú yā lì de qíng kuàng xià ， kě shì shí duō nián de shí jiān dōu méi néng jiāng tǐ nèi zhàng qì qū chú 。
李凡可清楚的记得，之前萧恒在毫无压力的情况下，可是十多年的时间都没能将体内瘴气祛除。
Taking that risk might allow them to complete their task fifty years earlier.
kě zhè yī shì zài liú luò huāng dǎo 、“ bēi fù fù chóu zhòng rèn ” de yā lì xià ， zài dé dào 《 dìng hǎi shén jiàn 》 gōng fǎ de dì èr tiān ， jiù zì fā kāi shǐ xiū xíng le 。
可这一世在流落荒岛、“背负复仇重任”的压力下，在得到《定海神剑》功法的第二天，就自发开始修行了。
Li Fan imagined how, when Lingfoguo Grass first skyrocketed in price, although tempted, they might not have agreed unanimously. Using decades of savings for speculation, but as prices continued to rise, opposition would weaken until they finally decided to join and try to make a quick profit before fleeing.
zhè zhī jiān de chā jù kě tài dà le 。
这之间的差距可太大了。
However, the price collapse due to the Heaven Dao Mirror's announcement caused them significant losses. Thus, they risked everything to recover their losses by fleeing.
zhì yú zhè xiǎo xiǎo de 【 fù xiān 】 zǔ zhī ， huì bú huì yǐn qǐ wàn xiān méng de zhù yì ……
至于这小小的【复仙】组织，会不会引起万仙盟的注意……
"Perhaps they didn't use all of their savings but suffered substantial losses. That’s why they took this risk."
lǐ fán wěi zhuāng chéng tóu gǔ de shí hòu ， yǐ jīng jiāo dài guò xiāo héng 。
李凡伪装成头骨的时候，已经交代过萧恒。
"Two hundred people could mean 200,000 points of contribution. This scam is even more profitable than investments."
wàn xiān méng shì dà ， mù qián zhǔ yào hái shì yǐ fā zhǎn zhuàng dà zì shēn shí lì wéi zhǔ 。
万仙盟势大，目前主要还是以发展壮大自身实力为主。
Li Fan replied to Jiang Zhengji: "If possible, Daoist friend can search along the route towards Yongliang State. There might be a lead."
méi yǒu xiū liàn dào yuán yīng jìng zhī qián ， bú yào zhèng miàn hé wàn xiān méng qǐ chōng tū 。
没有修炼到元婴境之前，不要正面和万仙盟起冲突。
After a moment, Jiang Zhengji responded: "Your meaning is that they went to the Five Elders Association? Ha! Betraying an alliance is a grave offense. If I catch them..."
nǎ pà xiāo héng zài tiān cái ， xiū liàn dào yuán yīng jìng ， yě yào bù shào nián tóu 。
哪怕萧恒再天才，修炼到元婴境，也要不少年头。
"Regardless of what happens, thank you very much!"
kǒng pà lǐ fán zhè yī shì shì kàn bú dào le 。
恐怕李凡这一世是看不到了。
Li Fan thanked him politely and put away his communication token, deep in thought.
……
……
He wasn't overly concerned about the master's escape but was more interested in the impact of Lingfoguo Grass. He had an inkling that it might be worse than expected.
zǒng zhī ， zhǒng zi yǐ jīng zhòng xià 。 rú jīn zhǐ yào jìng dài lí jiè zhòng tiān jiāo chéng zhǎng qǐ lái ， zì jǐ shōu huò guǒ shí jí kě 。
总之，种子已经种下。如今只要静待离界众天骄成长起来，自己收获果实即可。
After this incident reminded him, Li Fan realized what he had overlooked.
qián qián hòu hòu yī gòng máng lù le liǎng gè yuè ， děng lǐ fán huí dào wàn xiān dǎo de shí hòu ， shí jiān yǐ jīng lái dào le máo dìng 10 nián 。
前前后后一共忙碌了两个月，等李凡回到万仙岛的时候，时间已经来到了锚定10年。
Li Fan searched for the price of Lingfoguo Grass using the Heaven Dao Mirror. Sure enough, prices were plummeting, even breaking below cost.
suī shuō xiū xíng zuò shān jué kě yǐ 【 zuò xiǎng qí chéng 】， dàn lǐ fán kě bú shì nà zhǒng jiāng wàn shì xī wàng dōu xì yú páng rén de rén 。
虽说修行坐山诀可以【坐享其成】，但李凡可不是那种将万事希望都系于旁人的人。
"These herbs became so cheap because in the thirteenth year, they were the first batch to mature and be sold en masse from a Wood Attribute Immortal Realm."
zì shēn de xiū xíng yě méi yǒu là xià 。
自身的修行也没有落下。
"In this life, due to the announcement by the Heaven Dao Mirror, all cultivators of the Immortal Alliance knew about the abundance of various Lingfoguo Grass. The price drop was inevitable. Cultivators rushed to sell their herbs, causing prices to collapse prematurely."
zhěng gè máo dìng 10 nián ， lǐ fán dōu zài xīn qín de bì guān xiū liàn zhōng dù guò 。
整个锚定10年，李凡都在辛勤的闭关修炼中度过。
"But that's not the main point."
qǐ líng zhuàng tài yī kè bù tíng ， zhǐ yī nián shí jiān ， jiù xiāng dāng yú pǔ tōng xiū shì èr shí nián kǔ xiū 。
启灵状态一刻不停，只一年时间，就相当于普通修士二十年苦修。
"The main point is..."
ér zhè yī rì ， yī gǔ pǒ wèi fēng hòu de fǎn kuì xiū wèi ， hū de píng kōng chū xiàn zài lǐ fán dān tián zhī zhōng 。
而这一日，一股颇为丰厚的反馈修为，忽的凭空出现在李凡丹田之中。
"The Little Medicine King Cauldron."
bǎ tā cóng xiū liàn zhōng jīng xǐng 。
把他从修炼中惊醒。
Recalling this once-fateful item, Li Fan’s eyes gleamed.
zhè gǔ xiū wèi de shù liàng ， zú zú xiāng dāng yú tā píng cháng zhuàng tài xià sān sì nián de kǔ xiū 。
这股修为的数量，足足相当于他平常状态下三四年的苦修。
"Herb prices collapsing means no one would buy a small cauldron for planting herbs."
méi xiǎng dào dì yī bǐ xiū wèi fǎn kuì lái de rú cǐ zhī kuài ， lǐ fán bù jīn yǒu xiē jīng xǐ ， dāng jí chá kàn qǐ lái 。
没想到第一笔修为反馈来的如此之快，李凡不禁有些惊喜，当即查看起来。
"If Jiao Xiuyuan wasn't commissioned, would he still go to the Medicine King Sect ruins and dig up the Little Medicine King Cauldron?"
xī xīn gǎn shòu zhī xià ， ràng lǐ fán méi yǒu xiǎng dào de shì ， zuò shān jué dì yī bǐ dà liàng de xiū wèi fǎn kuì ， bú shì lái zì lí jiè zhòng rén 。
悉心感受之下，让李凡没有想到的是，坐山诀第一笔大量的修为反馈，不是来自离界众人。
"While it has little value now,
ér shì lái zì yú hé zhèng hào ！
而是来自于何正浩！
it will become a sought-after treasure when the real Medicine King Cauldron returns."
In the Pre-Embodiment Realm, Li Fan, who held the highest authority, watched Ye Feipeng and Xiao Heng, both of whom were visibly excited. He nodded secretly.
"Playing along with these kids for so long, it seems we've reached a good point."
"In the future, without any unexpected incidents, I can sit back and enjoy the fruits of my labor, no longer needing to worry about every little detail."
To make his fabricated lies appear as real as possible, Li Fan had spared no effort and spent considerable resources.
Including but not limited to: a necklace that combined communication arrays with ritual固化法阵.
A communications array disguised as an altar.
A puppet with the cultivation of Foundation Establishment Realm.
Illusory stones depicting the false spectacle of a cultivator's demise.
And so on.
The reason for such elaborate arrangements, including renting and renovating the Pre-Embodiment Realm, was all part of Li Fan’s plan.
Firstly, if he directly funded their techniques as a cultivator, it would be fine at first since the prodigies were young. But as they grew older and learned about the value of these techniques, doubts might arise, suspecting that the claim of achieving Foundation Establishment within fifty years was just empty words.
At this moment, Li Fan received a message from He Zhenghao congratulating him on his breakthrough to Foundation Establishment Realm.
"How profound your accumulation is, He Daoist. You broke through so quickly."
"It seems he wasn't lying when he said he would definitely achieve Foundation Establishment within fifty years."
Li Fan also sent some encouragement and reduced the interest for this year. He urged He Zhenghao to continue his cultivation with the goal of achieving Foundation Establishment sooner.
Next, Li Fan checked other messages that had been missed during his seclusion. Zhang Zhiliang's research on the Mountain River Great Array was nearing completion. He messaged Li Fan to inquire about his progress in studying array techniques and promised a test upon his return.
This wouldn't be difficult for Li Fan, who had already studied arrays under Zhang Zhiang for over ten years in his previous life.
Meanwhile, Jiang Zhengji's message caught Li Fan’s attention among the irrelevant messages. He asked if Li Fan had seen any Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators recently.
The message was clearly sent to a group of people, but one of them was familiar: the same Foundation Establishment master who had once come from a commoner’s world in his twelfth life.
After asking Jiang Zhengji some questions, Li Fan understood what happened. The low-key Foundation Establishment master suddenly stepped up his promotion efforts, promising guaranteed success and significantly reduced time for Foundation Establishment. His good reputation and miraculous claims attracted many Spirit Gathering Realm cultivators preparing to achieve Foundation Establishment.
Despite their trust in the master, after they successfully or unsuccessfully achieved Foundation Establishment, they were furious to find that the voice guiding them was just an illusion. The real master had already fled.
This incident revealed a scam involving over a hundred cultivators and 2000 points of contribution. Li Fan suggested Jiang Zhengji search along the route towards Yongliang State in case anyone might have seen the master’s whereabouts.
Li Fan, after understanding the situation, found it interesting to ponder. "They should still be quietly carrying out their scam, gradually amassing contributions."
"Why did they suddenly go big and run away?"
"Could they have also cashed in on Lingfoguo Grass like everyone else?"
Considering this, Li Fan thought there was a possibility. In his twelfth life, they were close to exchanging for the Great Dao Technique, Swallowing the Sea for Immortality.
Taking that risk might allow them to complete their task fifty years earlier.
Li Fan imagined how, when Lingfoguo Grass first skyrocketed in price, although tempted, they might not have agreed unanimously. Using decades of savings for speculation, but as prices continued to rise, opposition would weaken until they finally decided to join and try to make a quick profit before fleeing.
However, the price collapse due to the Heaven Dao Mirror's announcement caused them significant losses. Thus, they risked everything to recover their losses by fleeing.
"Perhaps they didn't use all of their savings but suffered substantial losses. That’s why they took this risk."
"Two hundred people could mean 200,000 points of contribution. This scam is even more profitable than investments."
Li Fan replied to Jiang Zhengji: "If possible, Daoist friend can search along the route towards Yongliang State. There might be a lead."
After a moment, Jiang Zhengji responded: "Your meaning is that they went to the Five Elders Association? Ha! Betraying an alliance is a grave offense. If I catch them..."
"Regardless of what happens, thank you very much!"
Li Fan thanked him politely and put away his communication token, deep in thought.
He wasn't overly concerned about the master's escape but was more interested in the impact of Lingfoguo Grass. He had an inkling that it might be worse than expected.
After this incident reminded him, Li Fan realized what he had overlooked.
Li Fan searched for the price of Lingfoguo Grass using the Heaven Dao Mirror. Sure enough, prices were plummeting, even breaking below cost.
"These herbs became so cheap because in the thirteenth year, they were the first batch to mature and be sold en masse from a Wood Attribute Immortal Realm."
"In this life, due to the announcement by the Heaven Dao Mirror, all cultivators of the Immortal Alliance knew about the abundance of various Lingfoguo Grass. The price drop was inevitable. Cultivators rushed to sell their herbs, causing prices to collapse prematurely."
"But that's not the main point."
"The main point is..."
"The Little Medicine King Cauldron."
Recalling this once-fateful item, Li Fan’s eyes gleamed.
"Herb prices collapsing means no one would buy a small cauldron for planting herbs."
"If Jiao Xiuyuan wasn't commissioned, would he still go to the Medicine King Sect ruins and dig up the Little Medicine King Cauldron?"
"While it has little value now,
it will become a sought-after treasure when the real Medicine King Cauldron returns."