“ láo fán dào yǒu le ！” hé zhèng hào xiào hē hē dì gǒng le gǒng shǒu ， biàn hé gāo yuǎn jié bàn fǎn huí 。
“劳烦道友了！”何正浩笑呵呵地拱了拱手，便和高远结伴返回。
"Thank you, Fellow Daoist!" He Zhenghao smiled and bowed, then returned with Gao Yuan.
kàn zhe liǎng rén de yuǎn qù de bèi yǐng ， lǐ fán shén sè mò míng 。
看着两人的远去的背影，李凡神色莫名。
Looking at the backs of the two retreating figures, Li Fan's expression was inexplicable.
“ bù guò yī nián de shí guāng ， biàn bèi fǔ huà chéng le zhè ge yàng zi ……”
“不过一年的时光，便被腐化成了这个样子……”
"Just a year has passed, yet they've become this way..."
“ hē ， bù jiǔ qián ， zhè liǎng rén hái cāi cè wǒ shì diē luò xiū wèi de cháng shēng tiān zūn 、 yào gēn zài wǒ hòu miàn móu qiú yí gè hǎo qián chéng ne 。”
“呵，不久前，这两人还猜测我是跌落修为的长生天尊、要跟在我后面谋求一个好前程呢。”
"Hmph. Not long ago, these two were still speculating that I had fallen in cultivation and would follow behind to seek good fortune."
“ xiàn zài dōu gǎn qī shàng mán xià le 。”
“现在都敢欺上瞒下了。”
"Now they dare to lie about it openly."
lǐ fán yǎn zhōng shǎn guò yī sī hán guāng 。
李凡眼中闪过一丝寒光。
A cold glint flashed across Li Fan's eyes.
bì jìng cǐ shì tiān líng zhōu zhī zhàn ， shì tā yī shǒu tuī dòng de 。
毕竟此世天灵州之战，是他一手推动的。
After all, he was the one who initiated the battle of Heaven Spirit Province this time around.
tā yě zǎo yǐ jīng yù liào dào ， zhè cì cān jiā mù zī jì huà de xiū shì ， huì yǒu yī xiē huì zài tiān líng zhōu zhī zhàn zhōng yǔn luò 。
他也早已经预料到，这次参加募资计划的修士，会有一些会在天灵州之战中陨落。
He had long anticipated that some participants in the fundraising plan would fall during the battle.
bù guò tā què méi gēn hé zhèng hào zhǔ dòng tí qǐ guò zhè jiàn shì 。
不过他却没跟何正浩主动提起过这件事。
However, he hadn't mentioned this to He Zhenghao proactively.
jiù shì wèi le kàn kàn miàn duì wú rén rèn lǐng de běn jīn ， hé zhèng hào tā huì zuò chū shén me yàng de jué zé 。
就是为了看看面对无人认领的本金，何正浩他会做出什么样的抉择。
Instead, he wanted to see how He Zhenghao would decide when faced with unclaimed principal funds.
jié guǒ ……
结果……
The result...
“ rén xīn guǒ rán shì jīng bù qǐ kǎo yàn de 。”
“人心果然是经不起考验的。”
"Indeed, human hearts cannot withstand tests."
“ yóu qí shì zài zhè me duō de gòng xiàn dù miàn qián 。 dāng yǐ jīng duì dòng zhé shàng yì de tiān wén shù zì gǎn dào xí guàn ， yòu zěn me huì ān yú zì jǐ běn shēn nà diǎn wēi bó de fèng lù ne 。”
“尤其是在这么多的贡献度面前。当已经对动辄上亿的天文数字感到习惯，又怎么会安于自己本身那点微薄的俸禄呢。”
"Especially with so many contributions. When one is accustomed to astronomical numbers in the billions, how can they be content with their meager salaries?"
“ bì rán shì yào zhǎo diǎn wài kuài de 。”
“必然是要找点外快的。”
"They will inevitably seek additional income."
lǐ fán àn zì yáo tóu ， shī wàng dǎo shì tán bù shàng 。
李凡暗自摇头，失望倒是谈不上。
Li Fan shook his head in private, feeling no disappointment.
zhǐ bù guò yuán běn hái dǎ suàn ， kàn zài 《 zuò shān jué 》 yǐ jí tā qián jǐ shì kǔ láo de fèn shàng ， jiāng lái chì yán fén hǎi de shí hòu 、 gěi hé zhèng hào ān pái tiáo huó lù de 。
只不过原本还打算，看在《坐山诀》以及他前几世苦劳的份上，将来赤炎焚海的时候、给何正浩安排条活路的。
Originally, he had planned to arrange a path for He Zhenghao during the Scarlet Flame Sea Burning when considering The Sitting Mountain Technique and his efforts from previous lives.
xiàn zài ma ……
现在吗……
Now...
xià yī shì zài shuō ba 。
下一世再说吧。
Let the next life decide.
lǐ fán miàn wú biǎo qíng ， kāi shǐ zài cóng yún hǎi tǐ zhì nèi xiū shì zhōng ， tiāo xuǎn qǐ zhè cì zhēng diào de rén yuán lái 。
李凡面无表情，开始在丛云海体制内修士中，挑选起这次征调的人员来。
Li Fan remained expressionless as he began selecting the participants for this recruitment among the cultivators of Cunyun Sea.
méi cuò ， zhàn zhēng yī shǐ ， shǒu xiān zhēng zhào de jiù shì xiān méng tǐ zhì nèi chéng yuán 。
没错，战争伊始，首先征召的就是仙盟体制内成员。
Indeed, the first to be conscripted were members of the Immortal Alliance.
bì jìng ， xiǎng shòu wàn xiān méng tè shū dài yù ， zì rán yě yào chéng dān xiāng yìng de zé rèn 。
毕竟，享受万仙盟特殊待遇，自然也要承担相应的责任。
After all, those who enjoyed special treatment from the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance should also bear corresponding responsibilities.
“ zhū yǒng shòu ……”
“朱永寿……”
"Zhu Yongshou..."
“ cǐ rén céng jīng chū yán bù xùn ， quān shàng 。”
“此人曾经出言不逊，圈上。”
"This person once spoke disrespectfully. Mark him."
“ qí yán 。 ń ， méi shén me yìn xiàng 。 chóng jiàn cóng yún chéng kāi gōng yí shì 、 hé xiān chéng diàn jī dà diǎn shàng ， dōu méi yǒu kàn dào guò cǐ rén 。 yě quān shàng 。”
“祁岩。嗯，没什么印象。重建丛云城开工仪式、和仙城奠基大典上，都没有看到过此人。也圈上。”
"Qi Yan. Hmm, no impression. I haven't seen this person at the reconstruction ceremony for Cunyun City or during the groundbreaking ceremony of the Immortal City. Mark him as well."
“ zhào kuò ， wàn xiān méng cóng yún hǎi xiū shì yì jiàn fǎn kuì shōu jí zhuān yuán ？”
“赵阔，万仙盟丛云海修士意见反馈收集专员？”
"Zhao Kuo, the feedback collector for the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance's Cunyun Sea branch?"
lǐ fán yǎn shén piē guò ， wēi wēi lèng zhù 。
李凡眼神撇过，微微愣住。
Li Fan's gaze shifted slightly, a bit taken aback.
tā zài cóng yún hǎi lún huí le zhè me duō nián ， cǐ shì tǒng lǐng cóng yún hǎi zhèng wù yě yǒu yī duàn shí jiān le 。
他在丛云海轮回了这么多年，此世统领丛云海政务也有一段时间了。
He had轮回ed in Cunyun Sea for so many lifetimes and had even led its administration in this life for some time.
què lèng shì cóng lái méi yǒu yǒu xìng jiàn dào guò zhè wèi 。
却愣是从来没有有幸见到过这位。
Yet he had never met this person before.
shuō hǎo de shōu jí yì jiàn ne ？
说好的收集意见呢？
"Didn't you say you would collect feedback?" Li Fan marked him with a broad stroke of his pen.
“ nǐ bù sǐ shuí sǐ 。” lǐ fán dà bǐ yī huī ， yě gěi cǐ rén quān shàng 。
“你不死谁死。”李凡大笔一挥，也给此人圈上。
...
……
……
In just a short while, the list of conscripted cultivators that had纠结ed He Zhenghao and Gao Yuan was completed.
bù guò yī huì gōng fu ， ràng hé zhèng hào hé gāo yuǎn jiū jié wú bǐ de 【 zhēng diào xiū shì míng dān 】 yǐ jīng wán chéng le 。
不过一会功夫，让何正浩和高远纠结无比的【征调修士名单】已经完成了。
Overall, when selecting names, Li Fan was rather casual.
zǒng de lái shuō ， lǐ fán tiāo xuǎn xiū shì míng zì shí ， dōu bǐ jiào suí yì 。
总的来说，李凡挑选修士名字时，都比较随意。
After all, in his eyes, even if one could avoid the Heaven Spirit Province battle, they couldn't escape the Scarlet Flame Sea Burning.
bì jìng zài lǐ fán yǎn zhōng ， jiù suàn néng táo guò tiān líng zhōu dà zhàn ， yě táo bù guò chì yán fén hǎi 。
毕竟在李凡眼中，就算能逃过天灵州大战，也逃不过赤炎焚海。
It was just a matter of dying sooner or later.
wú fēi shì zǎo sǐ 、 wǎn sǐ de qū bié ér yǐ 。
无非是早死、晚死的区别而已。
The order had already been stamped with He Zhenghao's and Li Fan's special seal from his previous seclusion.
diào lìng shàng ， yǐ jīng bèi hé zhèng hào èr rén gài shàng le lǐ fán bì guān qián tè yì liú xià 【 mì zì shǐ shén yìn zhāng 】。
调令上，已经被何正浩二人盖上了李凡闭关前特意留下【秘字使神印章】。
All that was needed now was for Zhou Qingang to stamp it and distribute it.
xiàn zài zhǐ xū yào “ zhōu qīng áng ” zài gài yìn xià fā jí kě 。
现在只需要“周青昂”再盖印下发即可。
Soon enough, Zhou Qingang completed the final step.
hěn kuài ，“ zhōu qīng áng ” biàn wán chéng le zuì hòu yī dào gōng xù 。
很快，“周青昂”便完成了最后一道工序。
"Revenge has its head, debt its owner. Everything is my doing; I have nothing to do with this."
“ yuān yǒu tóu ， zhài yǒu zhǔ 。 yī qiè dōu shì zhōu qīng áng gàn de ， gēn wǒ lǐ fán kě méi yǒu shén me guān xì 。”
“冤有头，债有主。一切都是周青昂干的，跟我李凡可没有什么关系。”
Li Fan felt no pressure.
lǐ fán xīn zhōng méi yǒu sī háo yā lì 。
李凡心中没有丝毫压力。
"Fellow Daoist Zhou truly acts swiftly! Haha, it seems I'll need your help again next time!" He Zhenghao's praise soon followed.
“ zhōu dào yǒu guǒ rán shì léi lì fēng xíng a ！ hē hē ， kàn lái xià cì hái yào má fán nǐ le ！” hěn kuài ， jiù chuán lái hé zhèng hào de zàn tàn shēng 。
“周道友果然是雷厉风行啊！呵呵，看来下次还要麻烦你了！”很快，就传来何正浩的赞叹声。
Li Fan smiled faintly and brushed him off.
lǐ fán wēi wēi yī xiào ， fū yǎn qǐ tā lái 。
李凡微微一笑，敷衍起他来。
In the underwater crystal palace,
hǎi dǐ ， shuǐ jīng gōng zhōng 。
海底，水晶宫中。
Just a small half-day later,司马长空 returned hurriedly from his mission to gather brewing ingredients.
jǐn jǐn shì xiǎo bàn tiān zhī hòu ， wài chū cǎi jí niàng jiǔ yuán liào de sī mǎ cháng kōng jiù cōng cōng fǎn huí le 。
仅仅是小半天之后，外出采集酿酒原料的司马长空就匆匆返回了。
"Eh? Brother司马, why are you so quick?" Li Fan asked in surprise.
“ yí ？ sī mǎ xiōng dòng zuò zhè me xùn sù ？” lǐ fán bù jīn yǒu xiē chà yì de wèn dào 。
“咦？司马兄动作这么迅速？”李凡不禁有些诧异的问道。
"Oh, Fellow Daoist, you misunderstood."
“ āi yā ， dào yǒu wù huì le 。”
“哎呀，道友误会了。”
司马长空 shook his head and explained, "I had an urgent matter that required my immediate return."
sī mǎ cháng kōng lián lián yáo tóu ， jiě shì dào ：“ wǒ shì yǒu jí shì fā shēng ， zhè cái tū rán gǎn huí lái de 。”
司马长空连连摇头，解释道：“我是有急事发生，这才突然赶回来的。”
"The materials for the Azure Sky Brew are hard to come by, but I haven't prepared them yet. If Fellow Daoist wishes to indulge, you'll have to wait a bit longer," he said with a hint of regret on his face.
“ zhè tiān qīng niàng cái liào sōu jí bù yì ， què shì hái méi yǒu lái de jí zhǔn bèi hǎo 。 dào yǒu xiǎng yào tòng yǐn ， kǒng pà hái yào zài děng xiē shí rì 。” tā de liǎn shàng lù chū xiē xǔ qiàn yì 。
“这天青酿材料搜集不易，却是还没有来得及准备好。道友想要痛饮，恐怕还要再等些时日。”他的脸上露出些许歉意。
"Never mind!" Li Fan waved his hand, indicating that he didn't mind.
“ wú fáng ！” lǐ fán bǎi bǎi shǒu ， biǎo shì zì jǐ bù jiè yì 。
“无妨！”李凡摆摆手，表示自己不介意。
"What exactly happened for Brother司马 to rush back so urgently?" Li Fan asked curiously.
“ jiū jìng fā shēng le hé shì ， sī mǎ xiōng jìng zhè bān cōng máng ？” lǐ fán suí jí yǒu xiē hào qí de wèn dào 。
“究竟发生了何事，司马兄竟这般匆忙？”李凡随即有些好奇的问道。
"On the battlefield in Heaven Spirit Province, something extraordinary appeared. My Blood Splitting Incarnation was destroyed, so I had to come back and make a new one," 司马长空 replied with a look of helplessness on his face.
“ tiān líng zhōu zhàn chǎng shàng ， chū xiàn le xiē liǎo bù dé de dōng xī ， wǒ de nà jù 【 fēn xuè huà shēn 】 bù xìng bèi cuī huǐ le 。 suǒ yǐ yào gǎn huí lái ， chóng xīn zhì zuò yī jù 。” sī mǎ cháng kōng huí dá dào ， liǎn shàng de shén qíng yǒu xiē wú nài 。
“天灵州战场上，出现了些了不得的东西，我的那具【分血化身】不幸被摧毁了。所以要赶回来，重新制作一具。”司马长空回答道，脸上的神情有些无奈。
"Something extraordinary?" Li Fan's eyes narrowed as he welcomed 司马长空 into the crystal palace.
“ liǎo bù dé de dōng xī ？” lǐ fán yǎn jīng wēi mī ， jiāng sī mǎ cháng kōng yíng huí shuǐ jīng gōng nèi zuò xià 。
“了不得的东西？”李凡眼睛微眯，将司马长空迎回水晶宫内坐下。
"Yes, it surprised me greatly when I saw it." 司马长空 seemed exhausted from using his concealment technique to return.
“ shì a ， wǒ kàn dào de shí hòu ， yě shì xià le yī dà tiào 。” sī mǎ cháng kōng shì shì quán lì yùn zhuàn dùn shù huí guī ， yǒu xiē pí bèi 。
“是啊，我看到的时候，也是吓了一大跳。”司马长空似是全力运转遁术回归，有些疲惫。
After resting for just a short while, he took out a black canister from somewhere and crushed it with his hands.
bù guò zhǐ shì xiū qì le yī xiǎo huì ， biàn bù zhī cóng hé chù qǔ chū yī méi hēi sè de guàn tou 。
不过只是休憩了一小会，便不知从何处取出一枚黑色的罐头。
Moments later, a large amount of blood gushed out.
shuāng shǒu qiā jué ， jiāng guàn tou fěn suì 。
双手掐诀，将罐头粉碎。
It appeared as if the blood had just been extracted from his body, still carrying an acrid scent.
chà nà hòu ， biàn yǒu dà liàng xuè yè ， cóng zhōng yǒng chū 。
刹那后，便有大量血液，从中涌出。
The blood wriggled in mid-air before slowly forming a vague human shape.
fǎng fú gāng gāng cóng tǐ nèi chōu chū lái bù jiǔ ， hái néng wén dào cì bí de xuè xīng wèi dào 。
仿佛刚刚从体内抽出来不久，还能闻到刺鼻的血腥味道。
Without avoiding Li Fan, 司马长空 lightly tapped his forehead with his right index finger and guided a drop of colorful blood into the blood mass.
xuè yè zài kōng zhōng rú dòng ， màn màn xíng chéng yí gè mó hú de rén xíng 。
血液在空中蠕动，慢慢形成一个模糊的人形。
After emitting a faint glow, a perfect copy of 司马长空 appeared before them.
sī mǎ cháng kōng yě bù bì huì lǐ fán ， yòu shǒu shí zhǐ qīng diǎn zì jǐ méi xīn ， yǐn dǎo chū yī dī fàn zhe qī cǎi guāng máng de xuè yè 。
司马长空也不避讳李凡，右手食指轻点自己眉心，引导出一滴泛着七彩光芒的血液。
He donned clothes for the clone, who then bowed to both of them before vanishing towards Heaven Spirit Province.
suí hòu jiāng qí róng rù miàn qián de xuè tuán zhī zhōng 。
随后将其融入面前的血团之中。
Only then did 司马长空 sigh in relief.
fàn chū wēi wēi guāng huá ， bù jiǔ zhī hòu ， yí gè sī mǎ cháng kōng wán quán yí zhì de fēn shēn ， jiù zhè me chū xiàn zài liǎng rén miàn qián 。
泛出微微光华，不久之后，一个司马长空完全一致的分身，就这么出现在两人面前。
He looked even weaker, his face pale and barely able to stand steadily.
qǔ chū yī wù gěi fēn shēn chuān shàng ， fēn shēn cháo zhe èr rén gǒng le gǒng shǒu ， biàn cháo zhe tiān líng zhōu de fāng xiàng yuǎn dùn ér qù 。
取出衣物给分身穿上，分身朝着二人拱了拱手，便朝着天灵州的方向远遁而去。
Seeing this, Li Fan quickly helped him sit down.
zhí dào zhè shí ， sī mǎ cháng kōng cái shū le kǒu qì 。
直到这时，司马长空才舒了口气。
After a long while, 司马长空 finally recovered.
zhǐ shì gèng xiǎn xū ruò ， liǎn sè cāng bái ， shèn zhì dōu nán wěn wěn zhàn lì 。
只是更显虚弱，脸色苍白，甚至都难稳稳站立。
"How do you feel, Fellow Daoist?" Li Fan didn't immediately inquire about the battle situation but asked with concern.
lǐ fán jiàn zhuàng ， lián máng bǎ tā chān fú zhe zuò xià 。
李凡见状，连忙把他搀扶着坐下。
"I'm fine. I just need some rest," 司马长空 shook his head weakly.
guò le hǎo yī huì ， sī mǎ cháng kōng cái huǎn guò lái 。
过了好一会，司马长空才缓过来。
"Good. So your body is the main one? I thought it was just a Blood Splitting Incarnation."
“ dào yǒu gǎn jué rú hé ？” lǐ fán méi yǒu jí zhe dǎ tàn tiān líng zhōu zhàn chǎng shàng de qíng kuàng ， ér shì xiān guān xīn de xún wèn dào 。
“道友感觉如何？”李凡没有急着打探天灵州战场上的情况，而是先关心的询问道。
"Haha, after practicing the Bloodline History Technique, there's no such thing as a main body anymore." 司马长空 smiled bitterly and said, "But only here in Cunyun Sea do we still have fresh blood to make new incarnations immediately."
“ méi shì ， wǒ xiū xī yī xià jiù hǎo 。” sī mǎ cháng kōng wēi wēi yáo tóu ， yǒu qì wú lì dào 。
“没事，我休息一下就好。”司马长空微微摇头，有气无力道。
Upon hearing this, Li Fan understood.
“ rú cǐ biàn hǎo 。 yuán lái dào yǒu zhè jù shēn tǐ shì běn zūn ？ wǒ hái yǐ wéi zhǐ shì yī jù 【 fēn xuè huà shēn 】 ne 。”
“如此便好。原来道友这具身体是本尊？我还以为只是一具【分血化身】呢。”
However, he soon frowned. "I noticed that your method of creating an incarnation seems to be extremely energy-consuming?"
“ hē hē ， xiū xíng 【 xuè mài shǐ shū 】 hòu ， nǎ lǐ hái yǒu shén me běn zūn de cún zài 。” sī mǎ cháng kōng kǔ xiào zhe shuō dào ，“ zhǐ bù guò zhǐ yǒu cóng yún hǎi zhè lǐ ， hái cún yǒu jīng xuè ， néng gòu mǎ shàng zhì zuò xīn de fēn shēn bà le 。”
“呵呵，修行【血脉史书】后，哪里还有什么本尊的存在。”司马长空苦笑着说道，“只不过只有丛云海这里，还存有精血，能够马上制作新的分身罢了。”
"Indeed, so I need to drink Azure Sky Brew daily to replenish my body," 司马长空 nodded.
lǐ fán wén yán ， dùn shí shì rán 。
李凡闻言，顿时释然。
"Oh! Then I've been drinking so much Azure Sky Brew from Fellow Daoist, isn't it...?" Li Fan sighed in regret.
bù guò hěn kuài ， tā biàn zhòu méi dào ：“ wǒ guān sī mǎ xiōng zhè zhì zuò fēn shēn zhī fǎ ， sì hū jí hào yuán qì ？”
不过很快，他便皱眉道：“我观司马兄这制作分身之法，似乎极耗元气？”
"Haha, Brother Li, don't worry about it!" 司马长空 comforted him.
“ dào yǒu shuō de bù cuò 。 suǒ yǐ wǒ xū yào rì cháng yǐn xiē tiān qīng niàng ， bǔ zú shēn tǐ kuī kōng 。” sī mǎ cháng kōng diǎn tóu dào 。
“道友说的不错。所以我需要日常饮些天青酿，补足身体亏空。”司马长空点头道。
"Earlier, I also told you that practicing our司马family's Bloodline History technique makes one's lifespan the same as a mortal."
“ āi yā ！ nà wǒ tān yǐn le sī mǎ xiōng rú cǐ duō de tiān qīng niàng ， qǐ bù shì ……” lǐ fán dùn zú tàn xī ， yī fù huǐ bù dāng chū de yàng zi 。
“哎呀！那我贪饮了司马兄如此多的天青酿，岂不是……”李凡顿足叹息，一副悔不当初的样子。
"A human life is but a fleeting moment, just a few decades. It truly feels like a white horse passing by in an instant."
“ hē hē ， lǐ xiōng bù bì jiè huái ！” sī mǎ cháng kōng fǎn guò lái ān wèi lǐ fán dào 。
“呵呵，李兄不必介怀！”司马长空反过来安慰李凡道。
"In such a short life, to meet Fellow Daoist, who is my bosom friend, is enough to make me content even if I die."
“ xiān qián wǒ yě gēn nǐ shuō guò ， xiū xíng wǒ men sī mǎ jiā 【 xuè shǐ 】 yī fǎ ， shòu mìng jiù huì biàn dé hé fán rén wú yì 。”
“先前我也跟你说过，修行我们司马家【血史】一法，寿命就会变得和凡人无异。”
"So let us drink today's wine while we can! Fellow Daoist, your daily companionship and company are something I should be grateful for. How could I blame you?" 司马长空 explained.
“ rén shēng yī shì ， bù guò duǎn duǎn shù shí zài 。 dàng zhēn shì bái jū guò xì ， zhuǎn shùn jí shì 。”
“人生一世，不过短短数十载。当真是白驹过隙，转瞬即逝。”
Today was a workday with only two chapters.
“ rú cǐ duǎn zàn de shēng mìng zhòng ， néng yù dào lǐ xiōng zhè bān zhī jǐ ， yě shì sǐ ér wú hàn le 。”
“如此短暂的生命中，能遇到李兄这般知己，也是死而无憾了。”
The next one would come in about half an hour.
“ suǒ yǐ dāng jīn cháo yǒu jiǔ jīn zhāo zuì ！ dào yǒu měi rì péi wǒ tòng yǐn ， wǒ gǎn jī hái lái bù jí ne ， yòu zěn me huì guài zuì nǐ ne 。” sī mǎ cháng kōng jiě shì dào 。
“所以当今朝有酒今朝醉！道友每日陪我痛饮，我感激还来不及呢，又怎么会怪罪你呢。”司马长空解释道。
(End of chapter)
"Thank you, Fellow Daoist!" He Zhenghao smiled and bowed, then returned with Gao Yuan.
Looking at the backs of the two retreating figures, Li Fan's expression was inexplicable.
"Just a year has passed, yet they've become this way..."
"Hmph. Not long ago, these two were still speculating that I had fallen in cultivation and would follow behind to seek good fortune."
"Now they dare to lie about it openly."
A cold glint flashed across Li Fan's eyes.
After all, he was the one who initiated the battle of Heaven Spirit Province this time around.
He had long anticipated that some participants in the fundraising plan would fall during the battle.
However, he hadn't mentioned this to He Zhenghao proactively.
Instead, he wanted to see how He Zhenghao would decide when faced with unclaimed principal funds.
The result...
"Indeed, human hearts cannot withstand tests."
"Especially with so many contributions. When one is accustomed to astronomical numbers in the billions, how can they be content with their meager salaries?"
"They will inevitably seek additional income."
Li Fan shook his head in private, feeling no disappointment.
Originally, he had planned to arrange a path for He Zhenghao during the Scarlet Flame Sea Burning when considering The Sitting Mountain Technique and his efforts from previous lives.
Now...
Let the next life decide.
Li Fan remained expressionless as he began selecting the participants for this recruitment among the cultivators of Cunyun Sea.
Indeed, the first to be conscripted were members of the Immortal Alliance.
After all, those who enjoyed special treatment from the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance should also bear corresponding responsibilities.
"Zhu Yongshou..."
"This person once spoke disrespectfully. Mark him."
"Qi Yan. Hmm, no impression. I haven't seen this person at the reconstruction ceremony for Cunyun City or during the groundbreaking ceremony of the Immortal City. Mark him as well."
"Zhao Kuo, the feedback collector for the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance's Cunyun Sea branch?"
Li Fan's gaze shifted slightly, a bit taken aback.
He had轮回ed in Cunyun Sea for so many lifetimes and had even led its administration in this life for some time.
Yet he had never met this person before.
"Didn't you say you would collect feedback?" Li Fan marked him with a broad stroke of his pen.
...
In just a short while, the list of conscripted cultivators that had纠结ed He Zhenghao and Gao Yuan was completed.
Overall, when selecting names, Li Fan was rather casual.
After all, in his eyes, even if one could avoid the Heaven Spirit Province battle, they couldn't escape the Scarlet Flame Sea Burning.
It was just a matter of dying sooner or later.
The order had already been stamped with He Zhenghao's and Li Fan's special seal from his previous seclusion.
All that was needed now was for Zhou Qingang to stamp it and distribute it.
Soon enough, Zhou Qingang completed the final step.
"Revenge has its head, debt its owner. Everything is my doing; I have nothing to do with this."
Li Fan felt no pressure.
"Fellow Daoist Zhou truly acts swiftly! Haha, it seems I'll need your help again next time!" He Zhenghao's praise soon followed.
Li Fan smiled faintly and brushed him off.
In the underwater crystal palace,
Just a small half-day later,司马长空 returned hurriedly from his mission to gather brewing ingredients.
"Eh? Brother司马, why are you so quick?" Li Fan asked in surprise.
"Oh, Fellow Daoist, you misunderstood."
司马长空 shook his head and explained, "I had an urgent matter that required my immediate return."
"The materials for the Azure Sky Brew are hard to come by, but I haven't prepared them yet. If Fellow Daoist wishes to indulge, you'll have to wait a bit longer," he said with a hint of regret on his face.
"Never mind!" Li Fan waved his hand, indicating that he didn't mind.
"What exactly happened for Brother司马 to rush back so urgently?" Li Fan asked curiously.
"On the battlefield in Heaven Spirit Province, something extraordinary appeared. My Blood Splitting Incarnation was destroyed, so I had to come back and make a new one," 司马长空 replied with a look of helplessness on his face.
"Something extraordinary?" Li Fan's eyes narrowed as he welcomed 司马长空 into the crystal palace.
"Yes, it surprised me greatly when I saw it." 司马长空 seemed exhausted from using his concealment technique to return.
After resting for just a short while, he took out a black canister from somewhere and crushed it with his hands.
Moments later, a large amount of blood gushed out.
It appeared as if the blood had just been extracted from his body, still carrying an acrid scent.
The blood wriggled in mid-air before slowly forming a vague human shape.
Without avoiding Li Fan, 司马长空 lightly tapped his forehead with his right index finger and guided a drop of colorful blood into the blood mass.
After emitting a faint glow, a perfect copy of 司马长空 appeared before them.
He donned clothes for the clone, who then bowed to both of them before vanishing towards Heaven Spirit Province.
Only then did 司马长空 sigh in relief.
He looked even weaker, his face pale and barely able to stand steadily.
Seeing this, Li Fan quickly helped him sit down.
After a long while, 司马长空 finally recovered.
"How do you feel, Fellow Daoist?" Li Fan didn't immediately inquire about the battle situation but asked with concern.
"I'm fine. I just need some rest," 司马长空 shook his head weakly.
"Good. So your body is the main one? I thought it was just a Blood Splitting Incarnation."
"Haha, after practicing the Bloodline History Technique, there's no such thing as a main body anymore." 司马长空 smiled bitterly and said, "But only here in Cunyun Sea do we still have fresh blood to make new incarnations immediately."
Upon hearing this, Li Fan understood.
However, he soon frowned. "I noticed that your method of creating an incarnation seems to be extremely energy-consuming?"
"Indeed, so I need to drink Azure Sky Brew daily to replenish my body," 司马长空 nodded.
"Oh! Then I've been drinking so much Azure Sky Brew from Fellow Daoist, isn't it...?" Li Fan sighed in regret.
"Haha, Brother Li, don't worry about it!" 司马长空 comforted him.
"Earlier, I also told you that practicing our司马family's Bloodline History technique makes one's lifespan the same as a mortal."
"A human life is but a fleeting moment, just a few decades. It truly feels like a white horse passing by in an instant."
"In such a short life, to meet Fellow Daoist, who is my bosom friend, is enough to make me content even if I die."
"So let us drink today's wine while we can! Fellow Daoist, your daily companionship and company are something I should be grateful for. How could I blame you?" 司马长空 explained.
Today was a workday with only two chapters.
The next one would come in about half an hour.
(End of chapter)