bì guān zhī qián ， lǐ fán shè zhì le 100 diǎn gòng xiàn dù de zuì dī zhí 。
闭关之前，李凡设置了100点贡献度的最低值。
Before his seclusion, Li Fan set a minimum contribution point value of 100.
yí dàn dī yú zhè ge shù ， fǔ zhù xiū liàn mó shì jiāng huì qiáng xíng zhōng duàn 。
一旦低于这个数，辅助修炼模式将会强行中断。
Once it fell below this number, the auxiliary cultivation mode would forcibly terminate.
fǎng fú shuì le yí gè měi jué bèi tū rán chǎo xǐng ， lǐ fán zhǐ jué de xīn zhōng yī zhèn fán mèn ， hǎo zài zhè gǔ qíng xù hěn kuài jiù bèi yā xià 。
仿佛睡了一个美觉被突然吵醒，李凡只觉得心中一阵烦闷，好在这股情绪很快就被压下。
Feeling as if he had just woken from a peaceful sleep to be suddenly awakened, Li Fan felt a wave of frustration. However, he quickly suppressed these emotions.
“ zhè gòng xiàn dù xiāo hào de yě tài kuài le 。”
“这贡献度消耗的也太快了。”
"This is too much consumption of contribution points."
shǒu wò sān qiān duō diǎn jù kuǎn de rì zi fǎng fú jiù zài zuó rì ， zhǎ yǎn jiān jiù yòu biàn dé kòng kōng rú yě 。
手握三千多点巨款的日子仿佛就在昨日，眨眼间就又变得空空如也。
The days when he held over 3000 points seemed like yesterday, but now they were gone in an instant.
“ lí yún shuǐ tiān gōng kāi qǐ hái yǒu chà bu duō liǎng nián de shí jiān ， zài zhè zhī qián hái shì yào xiǎng bàn fǎ huò qǔ diǎn gòng xiàn dù ， zēng qiáng shí lì cái xíng 。”
“离云水天宫开启还有差不多两年的时间，在这之前还是要想办法获取点贡献度，增强实力才行。”
"About two years until the Cloud Water Heavenly Palace opens. Before then, I need to find a way to earn some more contribution points and enhance my strength."
dāng xià zài cì liú lǎn qǐ le tiān xuán jìng de rèn wù yè miàn 。
当下再次浏览起了天玄镜的任务页面。
He browsed through the task page on the Ten Thousand Immortals Mirror again.
lǐ fán xuǎn zé zhí jiē wú shì le wàn xiān méng guān fāng fā bù de rèn wù 。
李凡选择直接无视了万仙盟官方发布的任务。
Li Fan chose to ignore the official tasks posted by the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance.
dào le liàn qì hòu qī ， néng jiē de guān fāng rèn wù ， yī rán yě hái quán dōu shì yī xiē shōu huò hěn dī dàn méi shén me wēi xiǎn xìng de rèn wù 。
到了炼气后期，能接的官方任务，依然也还全都是一些收获很低但没什么危险性的任务。
At the late-stage Qi Refining stage, even the official tasks still offered low rewards with minimal risk. For example, he could assist in alchemy, weapon forging, or talisman making, or help maintain and inspect various arrays from across the Cloud Sea. While safe, these tasks did not provide enough contribution points.
lì rú chōng dāng liàn dān 、 liàn qì 、 liàn fú shī de xià shǒu ， yòu huò zhě bāng máng wéi xiū jiǎn chá cóng yún hǎi gè dì de fǎ zhèn zhī lèi 。
例如充当炼丹、炼器、炼符师的下手，又或者帮忙维修检查从云海各地的法阵之类。
If Li Fan wanted to learn alchemy, weapon forging, it might be worth considering. However, with the Cloud Water Heavenly Palace about to open, his priority was to obtain the Cloud Water Scroll first.
wěn tuǒ suī wěn tuǒ ， dàn gòng xiàn dù lái de tài màn le 。
稳妥虽稳妥，但贡献度来的太慢了。
Unfortunately, this time, his luck seemed to be running thin. After much searching, he still couldn't find a suitable task.
ruò shì lǐ fán yǒu yì qù xué xí liàn dān ， liàn qì ， dào yě bú shì bù kě yǐ kǎo lǜ xià 。
若是李凡有意去学习炼丹，炼器，倒也不是不可以考虑下。
Thinking for a moment, Li Fan took out the communication spirit token given by He Zhenghao and sent him a message.
dàn yún shuǐ tiān gōng kāi qǐ zài jí ， dāng xià zuì zhòng yào de hái shì xiān jiāng 《 yún shuǐ tú lù 》 nòng dào shǒu zài shuō 。
但云水天宫开启在即，当下最重要的还是先将《云水图箓》弄到手再说。
"Hello, Daoist friend He. Do you have any quick ways to earn contribution points? I've been looking at it on the Ten Thousand Immortals Mirror for a long time, but most tasks only offer around 50 points each. I need 30 points just for one day of cultivation. When can I afford a Foundation Establishment technique?"
kě xī de shì ， lǐ fán zhè cì de yùn qì sì hū bù tài hǎo 。
可惜的是，李凡这次的运气似乎不太好。
Li Fan said with a hint of complaint.
kàn le xǔ jiǔ ， yě méi zhǎo dào zhōng yì de rèn wù 。
看了许久，也没找到中意的任务。
After sending the message, Li Fan put the spirit token aside and began cultivating again. Although without the aid of启灵 (awakening his senses), his progress was slower, he was still making slow but steady advancements.
xiǎng le xiǎng ， lǐ fán ná chū hé zhèng hào gěi zì jǐ de tōng xùn líng fú ， gěi tā chuán le yī dào xùn xī 。
想了想，李凡拿出何正浩给自己的通讯灵符，给他传了一道讯息。
Three days passed like this until He Zhenghao finally replied.
“ qǐng wèn hé dào yǒu ， kě yǒu shén me kuài sù huò qǔ gòng xiàn dù de fāng fǎ ？ wǒ zài tiān xuán jìng zhōng kàn le hǎo jiǔ ， dà duō shù rèn wù de bào chóu dōu zhǐ yǒu jǐ shí diǎn ， wǒ xiū liàn yī tiān dōu yào sān shí diǎn gòng xiàn dù le 。 zhè yàng xià qù ， shén me shí hòu cái néng duì huàn dé qǐ yī mén zhù jī gōng fǎ a 。”
“请问何道友，可有什么快速获取贡献度的方法？我在天玄镜中看了好久，大多数任务的报酬都只有几十点，我修炼一天都要三十点贡献度了。这样下去，什么时候才能兑换得起一门筑基功法啊。”
"Hahaha, that's how our Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance works. Newcomers usually need to struggle for several years before they can exchange for a cultivation technique. Everyone is the same."
lǐ fán yòng bào yuàn de yǔ qì shuō zhe 。
李凡用抱怨的语气说着。
"However..."
xùn xī chuán sòng wán bì ， lǐ fán jiù jiāng tōng xùn líng fú fàng zài le yī biān 。
讯息传送完毕，李凡就将通讯灵符放在了一边。
He Zhenghao changed his tone and continued: "Since you were introduced by me, I naturally want to help you."
lǐ fán yī biān děng zhe hé zhèng hào huí fù ， yī biān yòu kāi shǐ le xiū liàn 。
李凡一边等着何正浩回复，一边又开始了修炼。
"After all, I hope you will quickly enter the Foundation Establishment stage!"
suī shuō méi yǒu qǐ líng de bāng zhù ， xiū liàn sù dù shì màn le xǔ duō ， dàn zǒng guī yě shì zài huǎn màn jìn bù zhe de 。
虽说没有启灵的帮助，修炼速度是慢了许多，但总归也是在缓慢进步着的。
"But this matter is not suitable for discussing through our communication spirit token. If you're willing, come to Lustrous Isle. We can discuss it in person."
jiù zhè yàng ， guò le sān tiān ， hé zhèng hào zhōng yú fā lái le huí xùn 。
就这样，过了三天，何正浩终于发来了回讯。
...
“ hā hā hā ， wǒ men wàn xiān méng shì zhè yàng zi de 。 chū jiā rù xiū shì ， wǎng wǎng xū yào shù nián dǎ pīn ， cái néng duì huàn yī mén gōng fǎ 。 shuí rén dōu shì rú cǐ a 。”
“哈哈哈，我们万仙盟是这样子的。初加入修士，往往需要数年打拼，才能兑换一门功法。谁人都是如此啊。”
Li Fan had only asked out of curiosity and did not expect He Zhenghao to be so straightforward.
“ bù guò ……”
“不过……”
"Truly like a timely rain. But there must be a reason behind this..." Li Fan thought about how generous He Zhenghao was, even across lifetimes, making him an anomaly among cultivators. He pondered deeply.
hé zhèng hào huà fēng yī zhuǎn ， jiē zhe shuō dào ：“ dào yǒu jì rán shì wǒ jiè shào jiā rù de ， nà me wǒ zì rán yào bāng nǐ yī bǎ 。”
何正浩话锋一转，接着说道：“道友既然是我介绍加入的，那么我自然要帮你一把。”
Without hesitation, he left the Ten Thousand Immortals Mirror and headed straight for Lustrous Isle.
“ bì jìng ， wǒ yě xī wàng dào yǒu jǐn kuài jìn rù zhù jī qī a ！”
“毕竟，我也希望道友尽快进入筑基期啊！”
Inside the island's protective array, He Zhenghao sat in a pavilion on top of a mountain, clearly waiting for Li Fan.
“ bù guò ， cǐ shì bù fāng biàn tōng xùn líng fú lǐ shuō 。 ruò shì dào yǒu yuàn yì ， kě lái liú lí dǎo yī tàng 。 zán men dāng miàn xì shuō 。”
“不过，此事不方便通讯灵符里说。若是道友愿意，可来琉璃岛一趟。咱们当面细说。”
"Looks like you can't wait," He Zhenghao said with a laugh. He clapped his hands, and the ground beneath them began to shake.
……
……
Soon, Li Fan saw the surrounding mountains rising up around him.
yuán běn lǐ fán yě zhǐ shì bào zhe shì shì kàn de xīn tài suí kǒu yī wèn ， méi xiǎng dào hé zhèng hào zhè me shuǎng kuài gěi le què dìng de dá fù 。
原本李凡也只是抱着试试看的心态随口一问，没想到何正浩这么爽快给了确定的答复。
However, he quickly realized that it was not other mountains moving but their own mountain descending rapidly into the ground, entering a space filled with silver mist.
“ hái zhēn shì jí shí yǔ a 。 bù guò ， shì chū bì yǒu yīn ……” xiǎng qǐ zhè liǎng shì hé zhèng hào dōu yì zhí duì rén hěn shì kāng kǎi ， suàn de shàng xiū shì zhōng de yì lèi ， lǐ fán ruò yǒu suǒ sī 。
“还真是及时雨啊。不过，事出必有因……”想起这两世何正浩都一直对人很是慷慨，算的上修士中的异类，李凡若有所思。
Looking up, the continuous range of mountains in the protective array appeared as if they were stars floating above his head.
dāng jí ， yě bù yóu yù ， chū le tiān xuán jìng ， zhí bēn liú lí dǎo ér qù 。
当即，也不犹豫，出了天玄镜，直奔琉璃岛而去。
The mountains and rivers seemed to be scattered yet formed an overall pattern.
liú lí dǎo hù dǎo dà zhèn zhōng ， hé zhèng hào zuò zài shān dǐng liáng tíng lǐ hē chá ， yǎn rán yǐ jīng děng hòu duō shí le 。
琉璃岛护岛大阵中，何正浩坐在山顶凉亭里喝茶，俨然已经等候多时了。
They seemed still but were constantly in motion.
“ kàn lái dào yǒu yǐ jīng pò bù jí dài le 。” hé zhèng hào kàn dào lǐ fán ， dà xiào yī shēng 。
“看来道友已经迫不及待了。”何正浩看到李凡，大笑一声。
He Zhenghao saw Li Fan's expression and was pleased: "How do you think of my Mountain River Star Constellation Array?"
tā pāi le pāi shǒu ， èr rén jiǎo xià de shān tǐ hū rán huàng dòng qǐ lái 。
他拍了拍手，二人脚下的山体忽然晃动起来。
Li Fan, who had never seen the true form of Lustrous Isle's protective array before, said sincerely: "Mountain River Star Constellation Array... impressive. But why does this island's protective array seem..."
jǐn jiē zhe ， lǐ fán biàn kàn dào sì zhōu de qún shān yī qí zài wǎng shàng shēng de qí jǐng 。
紧接着，李凡便看到四周的群山一齐再往上升的奇景。
He Zhenghao knew what Li Fan was going to ask.
bù guò hěn kuài ， lǐ fán jiù fǎn yìng guò lái 。
不过很快，李凡就反应过来。
"Because I personally built this mountain river star constellation array. It is different from the others."
bú shì qí tā shān zài shàng shēng ， ér shì zì jǐ suǒ zài de zhè zuò shān zài xià jiàng 。
不是其他山在上升，而是自己所在的这座山在下降。
Li Fan was surprised: "I didn't know you were also proficient in阵法 (array techniques)?"
shān tǐ fēi sù xià chén ， hěn kuài jiù jiàng zhì dì píng miàn yǐ xià ， lái dào yī chù biàn bù yín sè yún wù de kōng jiān zhōng 。
山体飞速下沉，很快就降至地平面以下，来到一处遍布银色云雾的空间中。
But he was also puzzled: "Such a vast Mountain River Star Constellation Array, can you build it at the Foundation Establishment stage?"
lǐ fán tái tóu wàng qù ， hù dǎo dà zhèn zhōng de lián mián qún shān ， cǐ shí fǎng fú yī kē kē xīng chén yì bān ， piāo fú zài tóu dǐng 。
李凡抬头望去，护岛大阵中的连绵群山，此时仿佛一颗颗星辰一般，漂浮在头顶。
He Zhenghao coughed and said seriously: "Of course, there is someone assisting. But the array's layout is definitely centered around me."
shān chuān fēn sàn ， què yòu sì hū àn zhào mǒu gè guī lǜ xíng chéng yí gè zhěng tǐ 。
山川分散，却又似乎按照某个规律形成一个整体。
"Let me be honest with you. My unique Foundation Establishment treasure is a map of the mountain river meridians. Therefore, I have a talent that other cultivators cannot match in array techniques. If we just discuss array techniques and not cultivation stages, even ordinary元婴境 (Foundation Core Realm) array mages might not surpass me," He Zhenghao said confidently.
kàn shì jìng zhǐ bù dòng ， què yòu shí kè dōu zài yùn zhuàn 。
看似静止不动，却又时刻都在运转。
"Ah, I see..." Li Fan nodded and asked: "What exactly is it you want to tell me? So secretive and elaborate?"
hé zhèng hào kàn dào lǐ fán de shén qíng ， lüè yǒu dé sè ：“ dào yǒu kàn wǒ zhè shān chuān xīng dǒu zhèn rú hé ？”
何正浩看到李凡的神情，略有得色：“道友看我这山川星斗阵如何？”
He Zhenghao smiled: "It's nothing major. Just something that involves some taboos."
lǐ fán shàng yī shì yě shì méi yǒu jiàn dào guò liú lí dǎo hù dǎo dà zhèn de zhēn miàn mù ， cǐ fān dé jiàn ， yóu zhōng dì shuō dào ：“ shān chuān xīng dǒu zhèn …… shèn shì bù fán 。 bù guò ， wèi hé zhè liú lí dǎo de hù dǎo dà zhèn sì hū ……”
李凡上一世也是没有见到过琉璃岛护岛大阵的真面目，此番得见，由衷地说道：“山川星斗阵……甚是不凡。不过，为何这琉璃岛的护岛大阵似乎……”
"Do you know that many years ago, ordinary people in the cultivation world were collectively exiled to various small worlds around here?"
hé zhèng hào yǐ jīng zhī dào lǐ fán yào wèn shén me le ， yù fā dé yì ：“ nà shì yīn wèi ， zhè liú lí dǎo de dà zhèn nǎi shì yóu wǒ qīn zì jiàn zào de ， zì rán gēn qí yú dǎo yǔ de bù yí yàng 。”
何正浩已经知道李凡要问什么了，愈发得意：“那是因为，这琉璃岛的大阵乃是由我亲自建造的，自然跟其余岛屿的不一样。”
Li Fan narrowed his eyes: "I've heard of it."
lǐ fán dùn shí chī le yī jīng ：“ méi xiǎng dào dào yǒu jū rán hái jīng tōng zhèn fǎ ？”
李凡顿时吃了一惊：“没想到道友居然还精通阵法？”
"Actually, these small worlds contain valuable items that can be exchanged for a lot of contribution points. But with only one person's effort, gathering them would take too much time and effort, not worth the trouble," He Zhenghao continued.
bù guò yòu yǒu jǐ fēn yí huò ：“ zhè shān chuān xīng dǒu zhèn rú cǐ páng dà ， dào yǒu zhù jī qī xiū wèi jiù néng jiàn zào ？”
不过又有几分疑惑：“这山川星斗阵如此庞大，道友筑基期修为就能建造？”
"But often, influential ordinary people in these small worlds are scheming to return to the cultivation world. So..."
hé zhèng hào ké sòu le shēng ， zhèng sè dào ：“ zì rán shì yǒu rén zài yī páng xié zhù 。 bù guò ， zhèn fǎ de bù zhì jué duì shì yǐ wǒ wéi zhǔ 。”
何正浩咳嗽了声，正色道：“自然是有人在一旁协助。不过，阵法的布置绝对是以我为主。”
Li Fan understood what He Zhenghao was going to do: "So?"
“ bù mán dào yǒu ， wǒ zhī zhù jī qí wù ， nǎi shì yī fù shān chuān bǎi mài zhèn tú 。 yīn ér wǒ yú zhèn fǎ yī dào ， yǒu zhe xún cháng xiū shì wú fǎ bǐ nǐ de tiān fù 。 zhǐ lùn zhèn fǎ ， bù tán xiū wèi de huà ， lián xún cháng de yuán yīng jìng zhèn fǎ shī yě wèi bì bǐ dé shàng wǒ 。” hé zhèng hào mǎn shì zì xìn dì shuō dào 。
“不瞒道友，我之筑基奇物，乃是一副山川百脉阵图。因而我于阵法一道，有着寻常修士无法比拟的天赋。只论阵法，不谈修为的话，连寻常的元婴境阵法师也未必比得上我。”何正浩满是自信地说道。
"We can use this as a condition to let those ordinary people help us gather resources. I know of such a place called Great Departure, which is quite vast and produces various precious treasures, including plenty of star sea flow sands."
“ yuán lái rú cǐ ……” lǐ fán diǎn diǎn tóu ， suí hòu yòu wèn dào ：“ bù zhī hé dào yǒu suǒ shuō jiū jìng shì shén me shì ？ rú cǐ shén shén mì mì 、 dà fèi zhōu zhāng ？”
“原来如此……”李凡点点头，随后又问道：“不知何道友所说究竟是什么事？如此神神秘秘、大费周章？”
"Star sea flow sands are common materials for setting up arrays, often priced between two to three contribution points per pound..."
hé zhèng hào xiào mī mī de shuō dào ：“ dào bú shì shén me dà shì ， zhǐ bù guò yǒu xiē fàn jì huì bà le 。”
何正浩笑眯眯的说道：“倒不是什么大事，只不过有些犯忌讳罢了。”
He Zhenghao explained endlessly but noticed Li Fan's increasingly strange gaze. He felt awkward.
“ dào yǒu kě zhī ， xǔ duō nián qián ， xiū xiān jiè de fán rén céng jīng bèi quán tǐ fàng zhú dào zhōu biān de gè gè xiǎo shì jiè zhōng ？”
“道友可知，许多年前，修仙界的凡人曾经被全体放逐到周边的各个小世界中？”
"I know what you're thinking," he said immediately: "A proper cultivator wouldn't stoop so low as to do such things, right?"
lǐ fán yǎn jīng yī mī ：“ lüè yǒu suǒ wén 。”
李凡眼睛一眯：“略有所闻。”
"But you don't understand, if you don't do it, someone else will."
hé zhèng hào jiē zhe shuō dào ：“ qí shí zhè xiē xiǎo shì jiè zhōng ， yǒu zhe bù shǎo yǒu jià zhí de dōng xī ， néng gòu duì huàn bù shǎo gòng xiàn dù 。 dàn jǐn píng yī rén zhī lì ， sōu jí qǐ lái yòu yǒu xiē fèi shí fèi lì ， dé bù cháng shī 。”
何正浩接着说道：“其实这些小世界中，有着不少有价值的东西，能够兑换不少贡献度。但仅凭一人之力，搜集起来又有些费时费力，得不偿失。”
"A small world, a decade of plundering can yield over 2000 contribution points. With more such worlds, it's like getting 2000 contribution points for free every year."
“ bù guò ， wǎng wǎng zhè xiē xiǎo shì jiè zhōng yǒu quán yǒu shì de fán rén ， chǔ xīn jī lǜ xiǎng yào chóng fǎn xiū xiān jiè 。 suǒ yǐ ……”
“不过，往往这些小世界中有权有势的凡人，处心积虑想要重返修仙界。所以……”
"Look, after I explain this to you, doesn't it seem reasonable?"
Before his seclusion, Li Fan set a minimum contribution point value of 100.
Once it fell below this number, the auxiliary cultivation mode would forcibly terminate.
Feeling as if he had just woken from a peaceful sleep to be suddenly awakened, Li Fan felt a wave of frustration. However, he quickly suppressed these emotions.
"This is too much consumption of contribution points."
The days when he held over 3000 points seemed like yesterday, but now they were gone in an instant.
"About two years until the Cloud Water Heavenly Palace opens. Before then, I need to find a way to earn some more contribution points and enhance my strength."
He browsed through the task page on the Ten Thousand Immortals Mirror again.
Li Fan chose to ignore the official tasks posted by the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance.
At the late-stage Qi Refining stage, even the official tasks still offered low rewards with minimal risk. For example, he could assist in alchemy, weapon forging, or talisman making, or help maintain and inspect various arrays from across the Cloud Sea. While safe, these tasks did not provide enough contribution points.
If Li Fan wanted to learn alchemy, weapon forging, it might be worth considering. However, with the Cloud Water Heavenly Palace about to open, his priority was to obtain the Cloud Water Scroll first.
Unfortunately, this time, his luck seemed to be running thin. After much searching, he still couldn't find a suitable task.
Thinking for a moment, Li Fan took out the communication spirit token given by He Zhenghao and sent him a message.
"Hello, Daoist friend He. Do you have any quick ways to earn contribution points? I've been looking at it on the Ten Thousand Immortals Mirror for a long time, but most tasks only offer around 50 points each. I need 30 points just for one day of cultivation. When can I afford a Foundation Establishment technique?"
Li Fan said with a hint of complaint.
After sending the message, Li Fan put the spirit token aside and began cultivating again. Although without the aid of启灵 (awakening his senses), his progress was slower, he was still making slow but steady advancements.
Three days passed like this until He Zhenghao finally replied.
"Hahaha, that's how our Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance works. Newcomers usually need to struggle for several years before they can exchange for a cultivation technique. Everyone is the same."
"However..."
He Zhenghao changed his tone and continued: "Since you were introduced by me, I naturally want to help you."
"After all, I hope you will quickly enter the Foundation Establishment stage!"
"But this matter is not suitable for discussing through our communication spirit token. If you're willing, come to Lustrous Isle. We can discuss it in person."
...
Li Fan had only asked out of curiosity and did not expect He Zhenghao to be so straightforward.
"Truly like a timely rain. But there must be a reason behind this..." Li Fan thought about how generous He Zhenghao was, even across lifetimes, making him an anomaly among cultivators. He pondered deeply.
Without hesitation, he left the Ten Thousand Immortals Mirror and headed straight for Lustrous Isle.
Inside the island's protective array, He Zhenghao sat in a pavilion on top of a mountain, clearly waiting for Li Fan.
"Looks like you can't wait," He Zhenghao said with a laugh. He clapped his hands, and the ground beneath them began to shake.
Soon, Li Fan saw the surrounding mountains rising up around him.
However, he quickly realized that it was not other mountains moving but their own mountain descending rapidly into the ground, entering a space filled with silver mist.
Looking up, the continuous range of mountains in the protective array appeared as if they were stars floating above his head.
The mountains and rivers seemed to be scattered yet formed an overall pattern.
They seemed still but were constantly in motion.
He Zhenghao saw Li Fan's expression and was pleased: "How do you think of my Mountain River Star Constellation Array?"
Li Fan, who had never seen the true form of Lustrous Isle's protective array before, said sincerely: "Mountain River Star Constellation Array... impressive. But why does this island's protective array seem..."
He Zhenghao knew what Li Fan was going to ask.
"Because I personally built this mountain river star constellation array. It is different from the others."
Li Fan was surprised: "I didn't know you were also proficient in阵法 (array techniques)?"
But he was also puzzled: "Such a vast Mountain River Star Constellation Array, can you build it at the Foundation Establishment stage?"
He Zhenghao coughed and said seriously: "Of course, there is someone assisting. But the array's layout is definitely centered around me."
"Let me be honest with you. My unique Foundation Establishment treasure is a map of the mountain river meridians. Therefore, I have a talent that other cultivators cannot match in array techniques. If we just discuss array techniques and not cultivation stages, even ordinary元婴境 (Foundation Core Realm) array mages might not surpass me," He Zhenghao said confidently.
"Ah, I see..." Li Fan nodded and asked: "What exactly is it you want to tell me? So secretive and elaborate?"
He Zhenghao smiled: "It's nothing major. Just something that involves some taboos."
"Do you know that many years ago, ordinary people in the cultivation world were collectively exiled to various small worlds around here?"
Li Fan narrowed his eyes: "I've heard of it."
"Actually, these small worlds contain valuable items that can be exchanged for a lot of contribution points. But with only one person's effort, gathering them would take too much time and effort, not worth the trouble," He Zhenghao continued.
"But often, influential ordinary people in these small worlds are scheming to return to the cultivation world. So..."
Li Fan understood what He Zhenghao was going to do: "So?"
"We can use this as a condition to let those ordinary people help us gather resources. I know of such a place called Great Departure, which is quite vast and produces various precious treasures, including plenty of star sea flow sands."
"Star sea flow sands are common materials for setting up arrays, often priced between two to three contribution points per pound..."
He Zhenghao explained endlessly but noticed Li Fan's increasingly strange gaze. He felt awkward.
"I know what you're thinking," he said immediately: "A proper cultivator wouldn't stoop so low as to do such things, right?"
"But you don't understand, if you don't do it, someone else will."
"A small world, a decade of plundering can yield over 2000 contribution points. With more such worlds, it's like getting 2000 contribution points for free every year."
"Look, after I explain this to you, doesn't it seem reasonable?"