The Sacred Land Was a Chess Piece

Luoming and Hong Xuan stared at the painting in shock!

Myriad Mountains Gather Dragon Diagram!

"Th-this... is the complete view of the Cangli Mountain Range?!"

Luoming was stunned.

"At a glance, the entire Cangli Mountain Range seems to have been brought to life, with all its momentum displayed. This single painting is priceless... Once, a sect at the quasi-Sacred Land level invested its entire strength just to explore a map of the Cangli Mountain Range..."

Hong Xuan murmured.

To the entire Profound Heaven Realm, the Cangli Mountain Range was an existence that could be called taboo.

It was filled with all kinds of legends—some related to immortals, and others to death.

Only Supreme beings with nowhere left to go, or quasi-immortals at the pinnacle of their cultivation who sought invincibility, dared to enter it.

There was a kind of magic there, drawing countless people to explore it.

Yet no one had ever known its full appearance.

Once, a great power had sent out every last member simply to ascertain the terrain of the Cangli Mountain Range. That very act had buried an entire Great Sect.

This made the Cangli Mountain Range's fearsome reputation even more terrifying.

And now, a painting depicting every detail of the Cangli Mountain Range had appeared before them...

"It seems this Senior knew long ago that we were coming."

Luoming said, "That is why he prepared this painting!"

Hong Xuan nodded deeply. "No one has ever come out of the Cangli Mountain Range alive. Now that I think about it, this Senior is truly unimaginable... He withdrew from the Cangli Mountain Range unharmed!"

Seeing their expressions, Li Fan was quite pleased. It seemed they really liked the painting.

However, he found it awkward to ask outright whether they wanted to buy it, since that would sound too vulgar. He immediately said, "Is this what you require?"

Hearing Li Fan ask, the two Supremes understood even more clearly. This Senior had indeed anticipated the purpose of their visit and prepared the painting in advance!

They hurriedly nodded. "With this painting, many of our doubts have been dispelled. Moreover, it can help us resolve a great crisis!"

A great crisis? Li Fan suddenly understood. Could these two be running a calligraphy and painting shop?

That was highly possible!

It seemed their business had run into trouble, and they needed a genuine treasure to lend it a hand!

His painting was just the thing.

That must be why they had said this.

Li Fan nodded. "Since that is so, then take it with you—"

Take it with them?

Luoming and Hong Xuan were surprised once again.

This priceless map—this Senior was actually letting them take it?

"This Senior prepared the painting and waited for us. Could it be that he deliberately intends to give it to us so that we can accomplish something for him?"

Luoming guessed.

"Since Senior has given the order, it must have its purpose. We should simply accept it!"

Hong Xuan sent him a voice transmission.

Luoming nodded, and the two respectfully said, "Many thanks for bestowing this Dao diagram upon us, Senior!"

They respectfully accepted it.

Yet when Li Fan saw them take the painting without offering payment or even asking its price, he became puzzled.

Were these two really that ignorant of the rules?

It seemed he had no choice but to ask for payment himself.

He smiled and said, "Payment in one hand, goods in the other. No credit."

Luoming and Hong Xuan froze.

This Senior...

"This Senior certainly does not want to become entangled in karma?!"

But in the next instant, Luoming suddenly understood!

Hong Xuan immediately nodded as well. "Indeed. The more terrifying the person, the more they value karma! Since this concerns the Cangli Mountain Range, the karma is surely even more complicated. That is why this Senior refuses to involve himself!"

"That is why he wants so-called money, so that the karma between both sides can be settled!"

Yet after understanding this, the two found themselves troubled again.

Payment in one hand, goods in the other. But for a thousand-year-old existence like this Senior, what kind of thing could count as "money"?

—In the cultivation world, there was naturally a universally accepted currency: spirit stones.

Spirit stones contained vast amounts of spiritual energy and could help cultivators advance rapidly.

But would such things be useful to this Senior?

One had to know that this Senior was an existence whose single painting could suppress a Demon Venerable, and whose courtyard could shake an immortal to death simply for attempting to enter it.

"For this Senior, what we need to display is sincerity!"

Luoming gritted his teeth. With a flash of spiritual light in his hand, an ancient brocade box appeared.

Holding the box in both hands, he respectfully said, "Senior, this is everything I possess. Please accept it!"

Seeing this, Hong Xuan immediately understood. He hurriedly offered a brocade box as well. "Senior, I likewise have only these possessions. Please do not find them laughable."

The two handed them over, their hearts filled with unease.

They had brought out their most precious possessions, but could their value compare with Senior Li's painting?

Obviously not.

When Li Fan saw the two handing over the boxes, his eyes immediately lit up.

Was it silver, or gold?

How generous!

He smiled, reached out to take them, and felt their weight. He placed them on the table and said, "The transaction is settled. Thank you both for your patronage. If you need anything in the future, you may come by anytime."

Business had to be nurtured gradually, like a stream flowing over a long distance.

Luoming and Hong Xuan were even more startled. It seemed this Senior had already foreseen what would happen afterward.

He was arranging this entire grand game!

And they, along with the Sacred Lands behind them, were merely chess pieces in this Senior's hands?

At that thought, both of them felt dazed, yet dared not say anything.

"Many thanks, Senior. We bid you farewell for now. We will return another day to pay our respects."

Luoming spoke.

Now that they had obtained this map, it was far too important to their Sacred Lands.

Li Fan said, "Very well. I will not keep you."

Luoming and Hong Xuan respectfully departed.

Only after leaving Li Fan's Small Courtyard did the two finally release a long breath.

"This Senior is truly terrifying... My entire back has been soaked with sweat!"

Hong Xuan Supreme could not help saying.

"At the beginning, we vastly underestimated this Senior. Now that I think about it, he is absolutely an immortal, and his realm among immortals is certainly not low..."

Luoming said with lingering fear, "He even has flat peaches... He might be a Senior from the Immortal Domain!"

The Immortal Domain!

Hong Xuan was even more shaken. The Immortal Domain was an untouchable place. Throughout the ages, the heavenly talents who had managed to enter it could be counted on one hand.

Now that an expert from the Immortal Domain had descended to the mortal world, he must surely have some grand scheme!

"Are our two Sacred Lands merely chess pieces in his eyes...?"

Hong Xuan spoke with a trace of self-mockery.

"Why stop at us? Could you not tell that the two girls who returned with Senior Li were from the Central Prefecture Three Absolute Sacred Land?"

Luoming let out a long sigh. "The Sacred Lands are chess pieces. This game... involves far more than the Southern Domain. It is difficult to imagine just how vast his design is!"

Within the Small Courtyard.

"Senior, thank you for bestowing those treasures upon us. We have now secured a foothold in the Fire Kingdom, and we came especially to report it to you."

Huo Ling'er bowed deeply.

They had secured a foothold in the Fire Kingdom... It seemed they had sold the paintings he gave them for a good price. Perhaps they had even opened a small shop and found themselves a place to stay...

"That is good. Work hard. As long as you are willing to strive, life will always get better and better."

Li Fan offered a word of encouragement.

Yet in Huo Ling'er and the others' eyes, their hearts shook violently. This was an imperial decree from Senior Li!

"Senior Li is telling us to work hard for him. If we do, our future will be limitless."

Their eyes gleamed with understanding, and their hearts burned with enthusiasm. They wished they could immediately find the information Senior Li needed.

"By the way, Senior, once Luoming and Hong Xuan obtained the treasured painting, they will surely stir up a storm in the Southern Domain. When that happens... should we go?"

Yu Qishui asked.

In the Cangli Mountain Range, storms would surely rise, with danger and opportunity existing side by side!

As for whether they should go, everything depended on Senior Li's wishes.

Li Fan smiled. Did they mean that Luoming and Hong Xuan would use the painting he had given them to cause trouble?

Their business had encountered a crisis, and after obtaining his painting, they would certainly make a grand display of it. Perhaps they would even hold some sort of calligraphy and painting exhibition or auction.

Since Huo Ling'er and the others had also opened a small shop, they would naturally want to show their faces at such an event and expand their business.

Such a thing had to be supported.

As for why they were asking, they probably wanted some support from him. They might need calligraphy and paintings to hold down the venue later.

"If you want to go, then go. If you need anything, I will help you."

Li Fan spoke at once.

Huo Ling'er and the others were instantly overjoyed. Now that Senior Li had given the word, what did they have to fear?

"Many thanks, Senior!"

Having received Li Fan's decree, they took their leave as well.

Only Nan Feng and Ziling remained in the Small Courtyard.

Li Fan looked at them and smiled. "What do the two of you plan to do?"

It was already late. If two beautiful women stayed at his place, it would be improper.

Ziling blinked her large eyes and gazed at Li Fan anxiously. "Senior... I-I can follow you and learn painting, can't I?"