After comprehending the profound aspects of the complete "Mountain Sitting Secret" for most of the day, Li Fan purchased a blank **"Technique Sale Contract"** from the Heaven Mystery Mirror.
The overall process was similar to when Li Fan sold the "Thousand Mechanism Jade Universe Golden Chapter" to the Heaven Mystery Mirror before.
However, since most cultivators required secrecy about their practiced techniques, the buyer in this contract could remain anonymous.
This type of contract cost 500 contribution points, which was much cheaper than the regular **"Commercial Contract"** priced at 1,000 contribution points.
The format was fixed, requiring only the seller's name, the name of the technique, and the selling price to be filled in.
Li Fan changed his handwriting and successively wrote down He Zhenghao, "Mountain Sitting Secret," and 55,000 contribution points.
Then he sent it to He Zhenghao using the Heaven Mystery Mirror.
"He Dao Friend, everything has been settled. The other party is quite generous; the price is five thousand points higher than expected. You quickly sign the contract."
After a moment, He Zhenghao's surprised voice came, "Many thanks, Dao Friend! I'll sign it right away!"
In no time, a golden light streaked through the space and entered Li Fan's body.
From then on, He Zhenghao forgot about the "Mountain Sitting Secret."
Li Fan exchanged fifty-five high-quality spirit stones and handed them over to He Zhenghao.
The transaction was now complete.
Activating the **"Supreme Primal True Scripture,"** Li Fan transformed all his practiced techniques.
Then, he spent another half month familiarizing himself with and mastering each of the techniques in the "Mountain Sitting Secret."
After that, Li Fan conducted an experiment.
He truly transformed various foundation-stage oddities within his dantian, changing them successively. With each transformation, Li Fan practiced for a period of time.
This was done to compare the impact of different oddities on the speed of practicing the "Mountain Sitting Secret."
The results left Li Fan somewhat disappointed. The oddities he currently possessed, derived from the heavens and the earth, were not particularly suitable for practicing the "Mountain Sitting Secret." The speed of cultivation with each oddity was similar.
Fortunately, the impact wasn't significant. Li Fan valued the "Mountain Sitting Secret" mainly for its investment function.
In this world, only He Zhenghao had benefited from Li Fan's favor.
Li Fan immediately closed his eyes, stopped practicing, and carefully sensed the changes in his internal cultivation.
After a moment, Li Fan found the target.
A kind of cultivation emerged seemingly out of thin air. Although the quantity was extremely small and not discernible with careful observation, it flowed continuously like a clear stream.
Li Fan smiled faintly, "It seems He Dao Friend's progress is good."
"In the twelfth life, I practiced the 'Mountain Sitting Secret' and mainly focused on quantity for investment. Although the progress was extremely fast, it attracted powerful enemies."
"This time, I need a different plan. Focus on quality for investment."
"Invest in the memories of these outstanding individuals, and no longer restrict them. Just provide the free passage method, allowing them to cultivate freely, seeking their respective opportunities."
"With the luck of these outstanding individuals, without constraints, their cultivation speed will surely surpass the previous time."
"Furthermore, with the use of the formless killing mechanism for monitoring, once they comprehend supernatural powers, I can sense it at any time. Continuously observe and integrate it for my use."
Li Fan's thoughts turned, silently contemplating.
He had previously conducted experiments and found that the free passage method was equivalent to exchanging contribution points for cultivation, a stable and profitable method.
In this life, contribution points were relatively abundant, enough to support Xiao Heng, Su Xiaomei, and others in cultivating to the foundation building stage.
Li Fan pondered that when they all reached the later stages of foundation building, he should be able to break through to the Golden Core stage.
"However, I need to think of a foolproof method. After all, things given for free might make people skeptical and not cherish them."
...
Just as Li Fan was contemplating how to maximize the effectiveness of the **"Reap What You Sow"** ability, on Wanxian Island, the inexplicable disappearance of Zhou Qing'ang finally attracted the attention of relevant personnel.
The Martial Arts Hall dispatched a team of Golden Core cultivators, led by Elder Gongsun from the Celestial Mechanism Hall, to investigate the matter.
Initially, after deducing that Zhou Qing'ang had ended up in the belly of a fish, it caused a great shock.
"How could a cultivator at the foundation building stage be bitten to death by ordinary fish? It must be a conspiracy of the Five Elders!"
A thorough investigation was about to take place. Upon hearing the news, He Zhenghao was anxious and uneasy, asking Li Fan to come to Luli Island for discussions.
Li Fan reassured him, advising him to behave as usual and not show any signs of concern.
Later, he submitted the recorded images using the Projection Stone at that time.
However, Li Fan retained only the part where Zhou Qing'ang changed his appearance and searched for special stones on the unnamed island.
The parts where he later submerged into the sea and conversed with the broken stone face were all deleted.
While submitting, Li Fan also explained that he had accidentally seen Zhou Qing'ang change his appearance and then act suspiciously.
Therefore, he kept a close eye on him, recording the scenes.
As for what happened afterward, it was impossible to know due to the loss of tracking.
The authenticity of the images was quickly confirmed.
Li Fan also faced an investigation from the Celestial Mechanism Hall.
They raised a series of questions about when the recording was made, why it was submitted only after Zhou Qing'ang went missing, and other details.
"The recorded time was probably about twenty-three days ago. At that time, I didn't think much, just felt that this person might have some secrets."
"Who knew that during his closed-door cultivation, he would die. And in such a ridiculous manner—being eaten by fish!"
"I just knew something was off, so I immediately submitted the footage."
Under the influence of the Seven Aperture Exquisite Heart, Li Fan appeared a bit nervous, honestly confessing.
A cultivator from the Celestial Mechanism Hall nodded slowly upon hearing this.
Later, the individuals in charge of the investigation exchanged a few words and then let Li Fan leave.
"Recently, don't easily leave the island without reason. We may need your cooperation for further investigation at any time," the person reminded before leaving.
Li Fan nodded repeatedly in agreement.
However, the promised second investigation did not come.
A few days later, the previously high-profile investigation on Wanxian Island suddenly disappeared without a trace.
It was as if nothing had ever happened, as if Zhou Qing'ang had never existed.
The mysterious and abnormal changes in the situation inevitably led to widespread discussions among the people.
However, everyone knew that this matter was somewhat strange and only discussed it privately.
"Friend Li Fan, what's going on? Wasn't Zhou Qing'ang a spy? How did he suddenly die? Why did the alliance stop the investigation all of a sudden?"
He Zhenghao, who had breathed a sigh of relief after the crisis was averted, was now full of doubts.
After a brief thought, Li Fan understood the truth of the matter.
Smiling, he said, "In my opinion, it's likely that the investigation was abruptly terminated because they discovered Zhou Qing'ang was a spy."
"The various states within the Wanxian Alliance have a high degree of autonomy. Not only was a spy infiltrated into the Congyun Sea branch, but he also became the guardian of the island."
"It's truly a major scandal."
"To avoid headquarters punishment and retain many people's positions, they naturally want to downplay the matter and make it go away."
"Anyway, Zhou Qing'ang is already dead. Whether he died accidentally or was murdered, it doesn't make much difference."
"The most important thing is that he's really dead. With his death, consider this matter as if it never happened."
"This way, everyone can be happy."
"As for whether he stole or transmitted any confidential information..."
"It doesn't matter. Will the Five Elders still come to attack?"
He Zhenghao initially found Li Fan's words unbelievable and absurd.
However, after deep contemplation, he felt that the reality was probably just as Li Fan described.
So, for a long time, he couldn't find the words to speak.
(End of this chapter)