"Friend, where did you cultivate before?"
Inside a pavilion atop a mountain on Lustrous Glass Island, He Zhenghao and Li Fan sat facing each other.
He poured a pot of spirit tea for Li Fan, then asked, "Originally, I was a casual cultivator in Yuan Daozhou. In the past few years, when seeking breakthrough opportunities, I came to this Sea of Clouds. Now, I have reached the late foundation-building stage and, thinking ahead, I want to prepare for future Nascent Soul cultivation."
"The method of foundation-building has reached its limit for ordinary casual cultivators. Through personal exploration, finding a Golden Core cultivation technique is extremely difficult. After much thought, I decided to abandon my previous casual cultivation philosophy and join the Wanxian Alliance." Li Fan took a sip of tea and continued, "I have heard that, by joining the Wanxian Alliance, one can gain corresponding contributions. I am preparing for the future and want to know more about it."
"Don't worry." He Zhenghao spoke confidently, "I understand the rules. When the time comes, I will share half of the contributions with you!"
Li Fan looked at He Zhenghao inexplicably and nodded, "In that case, please guide me, friend. I can't wait any longer!"
Suddenly, He Zhenghao felt a chill behind him, but it quickly disappeared, thinking it was just an illusion.
Hearing Li Fan's words, He Zhenghao said, "Friend, wait a moment. Let me get you a pass token first. Otherwise, rushing onto the island will trigger the Wanxian Grand Array's attack."
Li Fan nodded, "I have heard about this. Please go ahead, friend!"
He Zhenghao opened a teleportation array and went to Wanxian Island.
Li Fan drank tea and waited.
Not long after, He Zhenghao returned.
"Friend, just leave a trace of your aura." Handing the pass token to Li Fan, He Zhenghao said.
Li Fan did it skillfully.
"When you officially join the Wanxian Alliance, remember to return this token. Otherwise, you will have to compensate for its corresponding value in contributions."
"This small piece..." He Zhenghao was about to say something but suddenly changed his words, "Forget it. Friend, let's go!"
Li Fan nodded, and the two of them passed through the teleportation array, arriving at Wanxian Island.
As before, He Zhenghao introduced the various things on Wanxian Island to Li Fan, but this time, it was more detailed than the previous two times.
"Not far ahead is the Heavenly Profound Mirror. This spiritual treasure is extremely wonderful. Once you use it, you won't be able to part with it!"
"When you have enough contributions in the future, you can even buy a mirror projection to carry with you."
As they talked along the way, the two entered the space of the Heavenly Profound Mirror.
"This friend is the foundation-building cultivator I reported earlier, wanting to join our Wanxian Alliance." He Zhenghao said.
After a while, the voice of the Heavenly Profound Mirror sounded.
"Referring a foundation-building cultivator, recorded as a top-grade C contribution, equivalent to 3000 contribution points. Current total contribution points: 4140."
He Zhenghao was stunned, as if he suspected he had misheard.
"How much?" he asked.
So, the Heavenly Profound Mirror repeated it.
He Zhenghao looked at Li Fan in shock, opened his mouth, and couldn't say a word for a long time.
"Why, is there a problem?" Li Fan knowingly asked.
"I wonder... how old is the friend now?" He Zhenghao asked cautiously after a while.
Li Fan pretended to hesitate for a while, then sighed, "To be honest, I am over twenty-nine years old since birth. It's just that I've spent so much time, still stuck in the late foundation-building stage, and the Golden Core is still out of reach. It's really embarrassing to mention this!"
He Zhenghao's face turned red, and he opened his mouth, but he couldn't say a word for a long time.
After a long time, he forced a smile, "Friend, you're joking. Late foundation-building stage at twenty-nine..."
"Late foundation-building stage at twenty-nine..."
After thinking for a long time, He Zhenghao finally squeezed out the four words "naturally gifted genius."
"I can't accept that, I can't!" Li Fan shook his head repeatedly.
"Do you know that a true naturally gifted genius can achieve Nascent Soul cultivation in eight years?"
"I am far from that!" Li Fan said earnestly.
"Hehe..." Li Fan's words exceeded He Zhenghao's understanding.
Not knowing how to respond, he could only put on an awkward smile.
Fortunately, he was an old hand in the cultivation world, quickly shifting the topic. He took out a communication token shaped like a mountain peak and handed it to Li Fan. He warmly said, "Since you are seeking my recommendation, it means you have a good opinion of me, He Zhenghao."
"If you ever need my assistance in the future, feel free to ask. Although my cultivation level is a bit low, I still have some connections on Wanxian Island."
Li Fan accepted the communication token without saying anything, just smiling at He Zhenghao.
He Zhenghao was first stunned, then patted his own head, looking suddenly enlightened.
"If it weren't for your reminder, I almost forgot." With a hint of reluctance in his eyes, He Zhenghao transferred 1500 contribution points to Li Fan.
Satisfied, Li Fan nodded, then asked, "Friend, you must have joined Wanxian Alliance for quite some time. Why does it seem like your contribution points are not abundant?"
He Zhenghao suddenly became enthusiastic and immediately explained to Li Fan, "Friend, you might not know this! If you have too many contribution points but never use them, keeping them on you is as good as death—they won't increase on their own."
"But if you take advantage of times when the prices of items like Lingwu Grass and Xuantong Wood, considered hard currency, are relatively low, you can use your contribution points to buy them and stockpile."
"When their prices rise, you can sell them for profit."
"Although the fluctuations are usually small, and the profit from each plant is not much, if you buy a large quantity, each time can still be a considerable income."
He Zhenghao was proud of himself.
"This is called investment!"
"Friend, you may not know that I am well-versed in the art of investment."
"No wonder you dared to risk all your wealth at once before. It turns out you've tasted the sweetness early on."
Li Fan looked at He Zhenghao with a strange expression, thinking to himself.
"Friend, your expression seems skeptical?" He Zhenghao became a little upset.
He immediately said, "Alright then."
"When there is a chance for a big profit next time, I will notify you to join."
"So you can see for yourself, the means of He Zhenghao!"
(End of this chapter)