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Chapter 373: Seemingly False, Actually True

Huangfu Song heard Li Fan’s somewhat rogue words and couldn’t help but feel not annoyed, but rather showed a somewhat approving expression.

“When I heard about your deeds before, I thought you had been possessed.”

“How come, you have nothing to do with the words ‘self-sacrifice’ and ‘selflessness’.”

“It’s just that your actions are seen by everyone, and they cannot be faked. I’ve been puzzled for a long time.”

“Today, your words have dispelled my doubts.”

Huangfu Song looked at Li Fan and nodded slightly: “You, little brat, are ruthless!”

Li Fan remained unchanged: “Senior, you praise too much! I wonder how this compensation will be.”

Huangfu Song patted his stomach and sneered: “You just want to know from me where to compete most efficiently next. Why bother with all these twists and turns.”

With that, he pointed in front of Li Fan.

In an instant, the construction of the Tianxuan Locking Spirit Array, which covered most of the current territories of the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance, and the information of the corresponding array masters, densely and meticulously, entered Li Fan’s sight.

Not only were the points rankings of each array master on the current big competition leaderboard marked, but even the predictive abilities of each player’s future competition were intimately addressed.

Huangfu Song proudly said: “This is the top-secret list that was newly released yesterday. Although a day has passed, the points will change again. But it can definitely be used as a reference.”

“Ordinary people want to see it, they have to pay a price.”

Li Fan quickly scanned the contents of the list.

After a moment, he frowned slightly.

Huangfu Song saw Li Fan’s expression and was somewhat surprised: “What, Li kid, aren’t you satisfied?”

“Senior Huangfu, it seems that some places are missing from this list?” Li Fan asked, his gaze piercing.

“Missing? Impossible! I…”

Before Huangfu Song could finish his retort, Li Fan interrupted directly: “What about the Five Elements Great Cave?”

Huangfu Song froze in place.

But Li Fan continued incessantly: “As the fuse that caused the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance and the Five Elders’ Heavenly Spirit Province to have a great battle thousands of years ago, and now the main source of countless resources within the alliance, such an important place, it’s impossible not to set up a Tianxuan Locking Spirit Array, right?”

“And what about the Endless Sea? A training holy land that countless cultivators dream of, once crossing the sea, they can reach the peak of the current realm in one go. I didn’t see it on the list either.”

“Xingzhu Yuan, Jieshi Tian…”

“Although I’m ignorant, I’ve still heard of these places,” Li Fan said, in order to conceal his true intentions, he mentioned many secret and important places in succession.

These were all things Li Fan had learned from browsing secret documents in daily life and had not actually visited.

However, at this moment, bringing them out to confuse the situation couldn’t be better.

“You know quite a lot.” Being exposed by Li Fan, Huangfu Song’s expression remained unchanged.

With a grumble, Huangfu Song said seriously, “Let’s be direct. You also know the importance of these places. It’s simply impossible to let outsiders enter at will.”

“That’s right. Building formations in these places does indeed yield several times the contribution of ordinary areas.

“But the relevant formations are all managed by specific people. You, a junior, without connections or backing, still want to sneak in to earn points…”

“You’re really overthinking it.”

Huangfu Song shook his head repeatedly, “Look at the many people on the big competition leaderboard, who among them can do it?”

“Are they stronger than you?”

Li Fan, faced with Huangfu Song’s denial, didn’t feel disheartened for a moment; instead, he seized the key point.

Thoughtfully, he said, “Senior’s meaning is, as long as one has connections and a background, it’s not impossible to participate in the construction of these formations in these areas, right?”

Huangfu Song was rendered speechless by Li Fan’s unique line of thought.

Just as he was about to make a mocking remark, he saw Li Fan deep in thought, and inexplicably, he felt a shock in his heart.

“Could it be that you really have some backing?” Huangfu Song asked suspiciously.

Li Fan, however, didn’t directly answer, just smiled faintly, “Just doing what one can, that’s all. Perhaps this matter will still require Senior Huangfu’s mediation in the future.”

These ambiguous words made Huangfu Song even more uncertain.

“If there’s anything I can do, I’ll contact Senior again later. I hope Senior will help me when the time comes.” Li Fan said politely.

With that, he was about to leave the room.

Watching Li Fan’s departing figure, Huangfu Song’s gaze flickered.

After hesitating for a moment, he couldn’t help but ask, “Regarding Dantai Tao…”

Li Fan didn’t stop walking, and in an instant, he had disappeared from Huangfu Song’s sight.

Only a faint voice lingered, echoing in the room.

“Just a joke from a junior. If Senior feels bothered by it after helping me several times, then I won’t mention it again in the future.”

Huangfu Song stared in the direction where Li Fan disappeared, his expression inexplicable.

With a cold snort, he slammed the door of the room shut.

Li Fan remained composed and returned to his own residence.

Li Fan wasn’t sure whether the untimely death of Dantai Tao and the others was really related to Huangfu Song.

However, when Li Fan initially casually mentioned Dantai Tao to tease Huangfu Song, he noticed a hint of strangeness in his somewhat overreacted expression.

He even faintly felt a killing intent directed towards him.

Although it was almost imperceptible, Li Fan, who had mastered the “Formless Killing Intent”, was extremely sensitive to murderous intent.

It could be basically confirmed that at that moment, Huangfu Song did indeed have the thought of killing Li Fan.

This made Li Fan somewhat curious.

So, from then on, Li Fan continuously used the death of Dantai Tao to test Huangfu Song’s bottom line.

What surprised him was that whenever Li Fan mentioned Dantai Tao, Huangfu Song really became somewhat more agreeable.

And because of this, his attitude towards Li Fan was also different from that towards other disciples.

Until today, Huangfu Song’s question.

It was considered to confirm that there was indeed some connection between him and the deaths of Dantai Tao and the other disciples.

The possibility of him personally taking action was unlikely, otherwise, he should have been dealt with long ago.

However, it was still possible that he had done things like revealing information about Dantai Tao and the others.

This was also why Huangfu Song was somewhat sensitive to the three words “Dantai Tao”.

Because he couldn’t stand serious investigation.

Although time had passed, and the names of Dantai Tao and the others had been almost forgotten by the vast majority of people.

But Li Fan always brought it up in front of Huangfu Song every once in a while.

And indeed, it made him somewhat uneasy.

Li Fan naturally understood the principle of moderation.

Since Huangfu Song had made his intentions clear today, it would be impossible for Li Fan to pretend to be ignorant as he did before.

The conveyed meaning was also very clear: as long as you help me one last time.

Then from now on, I will never mention this matter again.

Li Fan had already obtained plenty of information from Huangfu Song, and it wouldn’t be good to push him too far.

Li Fan made this statement without any reluctance.

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  1. Offline
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    Quid pro quo
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    Chapter 373 — Seeming False, Yet Truly Real

    When Huangfu Song heard Li Fan’s shameless words, he did not grow angry.
    Instead, a faint look of admiration crossed his face.

    “I’d heard tales of your deeds before,” he said slowly, “and thought you must have been possessed — that someone else had taken over your body.”

    “How could a person like you possibly have anything to do with ‘self-sacrifice’ or ‘selflessness’?”

    “But what you’ve done… it’s there for all to see. Not a single thing can be faked. That has puzzled me for quite some time.”

    He studied Li Fan thoughtfully and finally nodded.
    “You, boy — you’re a ruthless one.”

    Li Fan’s expression did not change.
    “Senior flatters me. Now, about this… compensation you mentioned?”

    Huangfu Song gave a short laugh, patting his own belly.
    “Compensation? Bah. You just want to know where to go next if you want to climb the Golden Ranking most efficiently, don’t you? Why bother with all this roundabout talk?”

    With a flick of his finger, a faint light emerged before Li Fan’s eyes.

    In an instant, countless streams of information surged forth — detailed records of the Tianxuan Soul-Locking Formation that spanned nearly the entire territory of the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance, along with the names and ranks of the array masters currently overseeing each site.

    The data was exhaustive, every entry annotated — even noting each formation master’s standing on the ongoing Grand Competition’s Golden Ranking, complete with projections estimating their potential for advancement.

    “This,” Huangfu Song said proudly, “is the latest confidential list, transmitted only yesterday. Of course, the scores have already shifted by now, but it’ll serve as a fine reference.”

    “Ordinary folk would have to pay a heavy price to get a glimpse of this.”

    Li Fan’s gaze swept across the list, reading at a speed almost inhuman.

    Moments later, his brow creased slightly.

    Huangfu Song caught the look and raised an eyebrow.
    “What’s this? Not satisfied, boy?”

    “Senior Huangfu,” Li Fan said quietly, “this list… seems to be missing certain locations.”

    “Missing?” Huangfu Song snorted. “Impossible! I—”

    Before he could finish, Li Fan interrupted.
    “What about the Five Elements Grand Cave Heaven (Wuxing Da Dongtian)?”

    Huangfu Song froze.

    Li Fan continued, his voice calm but unwavering:
    “As the flashpoint that once ignited war between the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance and the Five Elders Council of Tianling Prefecture, and now a major source of Alliance resources — such an important place surely wouldn’t be without a Tianxuan Soul-Locking Formation, would it?”

    “And what about the Boundless Sea (Wuya Hai)? A sacred cultivation site countless cultivators dream of — cross it, and one may reach the very summit of one’s current realm. Yet it’s nowhere to be found here.”

    “Then there’s Star Axis Plain, Boundary Time Heaven…”

    Li Fan spoke fluently, naming hidden and forbidden realms one after another — places of power few even knew existed.

    In truth, he had never visited any of them.
    He had merely drawn from the secret records he’d read before, using them now as convenient cover.

    And to confuse his true intent — nothing could be better.

    “You certainly know a lot,” Huangfu Song muttered, though his face betrayed no emotion.

    With a slight sigh, he said in a more serious tone, “Let’s be frank. You already understand the weight of those places. No outsider is allowed to enter them so casually.”

    “Yes, the contribution points from formations constructed in those regions far exceed those of ordinary lands.”

    “But each one of those formations already has a designated overseer. A junior like you — no connections, no backing — and you still dream of slipping in to farm contribution points?”

    He shook his head repeatedly.
    “Too naive. Look at the Golden Ranking — all those names above you. Do you think they’re weaklings? None of them can do it, and you think you can?”

    Li Fan did not seem disheartened.
    Instead, he caught upon one phrase Huangfu Song had let slip.

    “So, what Senior means,” he said slowly, “is that if one had connections and backing… then it wouldn’t be impossible to join such construction efforts?”

    Huangfu Song stared at him, momentarily speechless.

    He had meant the words as mockery, not as an invitation.
    But seeing Li Fan’s thoughtful expression, a sudden unease flickered in his heart.

    “Boy,” he said cautiously, “don’t tell me you actually have some powerful patron behind you?”

    Li Fan did not answer directly.
    He merely smiled faintly.
    “I only do what I can, Senior. As for this matter — I may need your help mediating it in the near future.”

    The ambiguous tone only deepened Huangfu Song’s uncertainty.

    “If an opportunity arises,” Li Fan continued politely, “I will contact Senior again. When that time comes, I hope you’ll lend me your strength.”

    With that, he turned and made for the door.

    Huangfu Song’s eyes followed him, flickering with hesitation.
    Just as Li Fan’s silhouette was about to vanish, he couldn’t help but call out:

    “About… Tantai Tao…”

    Li Fan did not slow.
    In the next instant, his figure disappeared beyond sight, leaving only a faint echo behind — soft, but lingering like incense smoke.

    “Merely a jest, Senior. You’ve helped me more than once already. If it displeases you, then I shall not mention it again.”

    Huangfu Song stood staring at the empty doorway, his expression unreadable.
    After a moment, he snorted coldly and slammed the door shut with a resounding boom.

    Li Fan, calm as ever, returned to his quarters.

    Whether Huangfu Song had truly been involved in Tantai Tao’s death, he did not know.
    But the first time Li Fan had made an offhand remark about the incident, he had caught the older man’s reaction — too sharp, too instinctive.

    And in that fleeting instant, he had felt something — a thread of killing intent.

    It was faint, almost imperceptible, yet to Li Fan, who had mastered the Formless Killing Intent (Wuxiang Shaji), it was as clear as a blade’s edge against his skin.

    That single moment had told him all he needed to know:
    For a brief heartbeat, Huangfu Song had indeed entertained the thought of killing him.

    From that point on, Li Fan had continued to probe — each mention of Tantai Tao’s “accidental death” another test of Huangfu Song’s bottom line.

    And surprisingly, every time Li Fan brought up that name, Huangfu Song would soften slightly, as though uneasy, even guilty.

    In time, that unease had colored his entire attitude toward Li Fan, setting him apart from every other disciple.

    Until today.
    With that final question, Huangfu Song had confirmed what Li Fan had long suspected — that he bore some connection, however indirect, to the death of Tantai Tao and his peers.

    It was unlikely that Huangfu Song had struck the killing blow himself — such an act would have drawn immediate scrutiny.
    But to have leaked information, or tipped off the true perpetrators… that was entirely possible.

    And that was precisely why the mere mention of Tantai Tao made him flinch.

    He could not afford anyone to dig too deep.

    Most had long forgotten those names, those long-buried deaths.
    But Li Fan — every so often — would bring them up again, just enough to unsettle him.

    Now, though, it was time to stop.

    Enough is enough, Li Fan thought.

    Huangfu Song had already made his stance clear.
    If he would assist him one final time, Li Fan would let the matter rest forever.

    He had already extracted all the information he needed.
    Pushing further would serve no purpose — and might turn a wary ally into a true enemy.

    With that unspoken understanding between them, Li Fan felt no regret.

    He had achieved what he came for.


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    (End of Chapter 373)


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  3. Offline
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    Dance for me puppet thrill
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  4. Offline
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    The poor man Dantai Tao It was used a lot until it was finally thrown away. sigh
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  5. Offline
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    When this page reached 999 visits i came into play. Noice wiseacre
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