The appearance of the clone, Xiao Fan, was completely different from the Lin Fan clone, having a strikingly distinct ordinary appearance.
When Li Fan created him, he deliberately crafted him to be tall, with sword-like eyebrows, starry eyes, fair skin, and exceptionally handsome.
"The more eye-catching, the better. Go and claim the reward from the Bounty of the Supreme Immortal and then, with everyone's attention, head to Yuandao State."
"Let's see if that monster hovering over Yuandao State can really go unnoticed."
The clone, Xiao Fan, smiled and nodded.
Transforming into a blue light, he left the secret chamber.
Li Fan did not leave immediately. Instead, he stayed in place for over a month until the time reached the 29th year since anchoring. Only then did he confidently return to Tianyu State.
During this time, the clone only had one task: to obtain a legitimate identity within the Wanxian League.
After reaching the Golden Elixir realm, joining the Wanxian League was no longer as simple as finding someone to recommend you.
Although it was not as strict as joining the institutionalized sects, where one had to undergo the questioning of the White Jade Inquiry Platform, there were still basic inquiries and some test tasks required.
Fortunately, Li Fan had already inquired about the procedures in advance.
Although it took some twists and turns, he eventually successfully joined the Wanxian League.
He also made acquaintance with the town guard of Juyu City in Tianyu State, Zhou Luo.
Zhou Luo was a late-stage Yuan Ying cultivator. However, because the clone Xiao Fan was young and still a wandering cultivator, having reached the Golden Elixir realm, Zhou Luo treated him relatively kindly.
After exchanging communication symbols, the clone used the transmission array to first arrive in Tianyu City for transit and then headed straight to Tianquan State.
The location of the Supreme Immortal's bounty participation was there.
Tianquan State, as the name suggests, had a close connection with the word "power."
Many high-ranking cultivators in the Wanxian League would establish industries and build caves in this state.
Along with them, their relatives and subordinates would often follow.
As a result, the land prices in Tianquan State were soaring, and it was considered a precious piece of land.
Unlike other states with vast wilderness, when looking around Tianquan State, the entire state was covered by one private formation after another, indicating that people were living here.
Those who could live inside Tianquan City were the most influential figures.
The Supreme Immortal's Skypeak Hall was located in the middle of Tianquan City.
The clone, Li Fan, exited the transmission array and, after a brief inquiry, learned the location of Skypeak Hall.
Upon reaching the entrance, two cultivators dressed in gray robes stood on either side of the door.
Judging by their cultivation levels, both were in the Yuan Ying stage.
They had stern expressions, emitting an aura that discouraged strangers from approaching.
However, upon learning that Li Fan came to participate in the bounty and possessed a life-extending rare treasure, they immediately changed to another extremely enthusiastic expression.
A flash of light swept across the door, confirming the identity of the clone.
One of them immediately greeted, "Daoist Xiao Fan, right? Please come this way."
Then he led Li Fan into the Skypeak Hall.
After twists and turns, they arrived at a hall where many cultivators had already gathered, all focusing their gaze on a mirror hanging in the center of the hall.
Looking at it, Li Fan saw rows of names written on the mirror, along with the longevity treasures contributed by the cultivators.
Amidst the discussions of the cultivators, Li Fan learned the reason.
It turned out that the commotion caused by this bounty was too significant. Besides attracting numerous cultivators to contribute treasures, it also aroused dissatisfaction among some people.
They believed that the use of the Extending Method Jade represented Wanxian League's reward for the hard work of the Supreme Immortal.
It was a symbol of honor.
However, now that the Supreme Immortal, in order to survive, had chosen to transfer this honor to others.
This was a desecration of the glory of Wanxian League!
Anyone with discerning eyes could see that this argument was deliberately stirring up trouble.
The Supreme Immortal, who had been in charge of the Five-Hundred-Year Guard, had inevitably made many enemies over the years.
Now, with severe injuries, he resigned from the position of the overall commander and was approaching the end of his life.
Those enemies naturally wanted to stir up trouble.
Although, for the sake of the overall situation and the face of the Wanxian League, an actual fight wouldn't break out.
But both overtly and covertly, expressing disdain towards the Supreme Immortal Ji Cheng was still achievable.
As a result, various rumors and gossip surfaced almost overnight.
All of them were from a standpoint of righteousness, accusing Supreme Immortal Ji Cheng.
The commotion grew so much that, later on, there were even rumors circulating outside, suggesting that under pressure, Supreme Immortal Ji Cheng had already reserved the usage quota of three Extending Method Jades for the juniors of other immortals in order to appease the situation.
The cultivators were offering their longevity treasures in vain, merely acting as a pawn for others.
Although the rumors were clearly false at a glance, as they spread, some people took them seriously.
Many cultivators began to have second thoughts.
At this time, Ji Cheng, who had remained silent in the face of the situation, finally spoke.
"The so-called prearrangement is purely groundless."
"For the sake of fairness and justice, and to gain trust, the selection of longevity treasures this time will not involve members of the Heavenly Peak Hall. Instead, it will be publicly displayed through the Tianxuan Mirror to avoid any possible secret manipulations."
Upon hearing that the Tianxuan Mirror would directly identify and rank the treasures, the cultivators settled down.
Tianxuan Mirror, surely there would be no fakes.
Then, Supreme Immortal Ji Cheng made a promise. Even if the contributing cultivators didn't make it to the top three, he would reward them at a price double the market value.
With this personal promise from the old Immortal, the number of cultivators participating in the bounty increased once again.
Seeing that the three-year deadline for the bounty was approaching its end after submitting their longevity treasures, they did not leave.
Instead, they kept a close eye on the rankings displayed on the Tianxuan Mirror in the hall.
Li Fan also looked up at the list. The first place had the name of the contributing cultivator unclear, but the name of the treasure was known: a Longevity Fruit, extending life by five hundred years.
The second place was far behind.
"Many Yu, Qingmu Longevity Pill. Can extend life by two hundred and eighty-six years."
Seeing this, Li Fan couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.
"I didn't expect my Everlasting Life Fruit to rank second. Truly fortunate."
Li Fan continued to look down the list, and all the treasures listed were ones he had never heard of.
"Supreme Immortal Ji Cheng has consumed too many longevity treasures. Only these rare and hard-to-replicate items are effective."
Just as he was pondering, another cultivator entered the hall.
Ignoring everyone around, he walked directly to the central Tianxuan Mirror.
Taking out a purple wooden box, he slowly opened it.
"I have a Celestial Feather Pill, capable of extending life by eight hundred years. I offer it to Supreme Immortal Ji Cheng!"
Although the voice was soft, it sounded like thunder in the ears of everyone present, causing them to stand up and scrutinize the newcomer.
Li Fan also couldn't help but shift his gaze towards the newcomer.
"The Celestial Feather Pill? From Yuandao State?"
"Wait a minute, this person... Why does he seem somewhat familiar?"
In an instant, Li Fan recognized the identity of this cultivator.
He was Han Yi, the cultivator who, at the end of the 16th year of anchoring, won the Fixed Fish Head Award in the Congyun Sea, accumulating a staggering one million five hundred and sixty thousand contribution points.
(End of this chapter)