An Empty Box? A Blatant Insult!

Hearing Mu Wanqing's voice outside, Li Fan said:

Come in.

Mu Wanqing and the others immediately pushed open the door and entered.

Upon seeing them, a hint of doubt flashed in Li Fan's eyes.

Weren't they sent to flee?

Why are you back again?

Has something bad happened again?

"Greetings, senior!"

Mu Wanqing and the others bowed respectfully.

"No need for such formalities."

Li Fan waved his hand and asked, "How are you all doing lately?"

Mu Wanqing said:

"Reporting to Senior, we have left the Great Wood Spirit Village as you instructed, and now... we have begun to establish ourselves in the Eastern Wasteland."

"Thanks to the calligraphy bestowed by Senior Li, the whole world is in awe!"

Mu Wanqing was extremely grateful.

Li Fan was somewhat surprised upon hearing this.

My calligraphy is so powerful in this world? It's so admired that everyone in the world is in awe of it?

He suddenly became incredibly confident!

Damn it, this broken system can't make me cultivate immortality, but the skills it lets me practice... are pretty good!

That's quite impressive even in this Great Ruin Realm!

"Well, if you're interested, you might as well take this opportunity to further develop and expand your business."

Li Fan encouraged him!

After all, Huo Ling'er, Mu Qianning, and others had previously run calligraphy and painting businesses with his financial support; it was a good path.

Wood Spirit Village is so poor that if people leave the countryside, they can't farm the land. If they can't find work outside, they won't even have a problem eating.

Now that this opportunity has come, Li Fan wants to help them to the end and let them find a way to make a living!

Upon hearing this, Mu Wanqing's beautiful eyes lit up.

Senior Li meant that he and his ilk should continue to expand their territory and grow stronger?

Yes, that must be it!

After all, although the Wood Spirit Imperial Dynasty was considered a mid-level power in the Eastern Wasteland, it meant nothing to Deity- level figure like Senior Li!

Even as a chess piece... he's not qualified!

She felt her blood boiling and immediately said:

"By the way, senior, what are your thoughts on sculpting statues of deities...?"

Mu Rantian and the others were also filled with anticipation.

It should be noted that all major powers worship idols.

Because that signifies Deity protection.

As for their Wood Spirit Imperial Dynasty, as long as they can enshrine the statue of Senior Li, they are stronger than other dynasties; they are practically equivalent to the Servant God Sect.

Li Fan was taken aback upon hearing this.

Sculpting idols?

He immediately shook his head; this little girl was quite superstitious!

This business is just starting out, and they're already thinking about getting a statue of the God of Wealth or something?

That's not entirely impossible. Many business people worship Guan Yu, the God of Wealth, and the like to pray for wealth and peace. But Li Fan felt that Mu Wanqing had a problem with her mindset!

Her over-reliance on such vague and ethereal things indicates a lack of self-confidence!

Doing business isn't about Deity intervention!

"Deity are nothing but illusions; there's no need to waste your energy on them. Focusing on business development is the only way forward!"

Li Fan spoke directly.

Upon hearing this, Mu Wanqing and the others were all taken aback.

Senior Li... doesn't allow the creation of idols?

"Deity... are they nothing but nothingness?"

Mu Rantian murmured to himself, then suddenly his expression changed, and he was utterly shocked:

"In Senior Li's eyes, even Deity are nothing. Doesn't that mean that Senior Li might...?"

"Beyond the Deity?!"

Mu Nanshan was also in a daze. "Incense is very important to the Deity, how could Senior Li abandon it... Just what kind of being is he?"

Mu Wanqing was also pondering the meaning behind Li Fan's words, her heart filled with turbulent emotions.

"Needing no offerings from the world, able to disregard even the Deity... this is the true demeanor of a superior person, utterly unparalleled!"

"My suggestion to create an idol was... offensive to him!"

She quickly apologized, saying:

"Senior, Wanqing knows she was wrong."

Li Fan smiled and said:

"It's nothing. You're still young. You'll get more experience in the future."

Young people often have opportunistic tendencies; it's normal and understandable.

Mu Wanqing nodded and said:

"By the way, senior, the 'Festival of Worshiping the Gods' in the Great Ruin Realm is in a few days. At that time, people from all the major forces will go to worship the Deity."

"Someone sent this item, inviting us to come... Wanqing is worried it's a trap, perhaps, perhaps they're trying to target you..."

As she spoke, she took out the jade box and respectfully handed it to Li Fan.

Upon hearing this, Li Fan first sighed.

Indeed, wherever there are people, there is a world of its own!

Business is never easy. My calligraphy has barely been released, and I'm already being targeted by malicious individuals?

Yes, the art dealers in the Eastern Wasteland will definitely try to suppress new competitors like Mu Wanqing.

Most likely, the so-called festival of worship will become another competition of vying for dominance!

Li Fan had seen this kind of competition many times before; it was always the artwork that spoke for itself!

As he spoke, he opened the jade box.

One wisp of mist instantly dissipated.

In an instant, the peach tree branches drooped slightly, and the chicken raised its eyes, seemingly glancing at the empty box in Li Fan's hand.

Li Fan was stunned. An empty box?

But he quickly realized what was happening and immediately sneered, "Damn it, these people are too... insulting!"

--Li Fan had read Romance of the Three Kingdoms. In the novel, Zhuge Liang once sent women's clothes to Sima Yi, his intention being to satirize Sima Yi for being a woman!

Now, why are those people sending over an empty jade box?

This is blatant irony!

The other party meant that Li Fan was like this precious empty jade box—all show and no substance, utterly ignorant and empty-headed!

This is provocation! This is outright provocation!

This is intolerable!

"Hmm? Master... this box is related to rare animals?"

At this moment, Wu Dade hurriedly spoke up.

He took out the crystal chip; it was already glowing.

Huh? Li Fan was also surprised.

Could it be that the person who sent this box to provoke us is keeping rare animals?

A thought suddenly struck him: This is great news!

They were just worried about not being able to find any traces of rare animals and plants.

Now, he has collected five rare animals: a little golden bull, little Kirin, a little wolf, a turtle, and a little red bird, as well as three rare plants: Divine Blood Grass, Kirin Tree, and Unquenchable Tree.

We're getting closer and closer to our goal!

"However, this rare animal is most likely in the hands of those art dealers..."

He pondered.

"Master, let me go!"

At this moment, Ziling stepped forward, a hint of anticipation in her large eyes.

The moment Li Fan opened the jade box, she actually felt a wisp of Yin Qi emanating from it, which gave her a strange sense of familiarity.

She felt... she should go!

Li Fan thought for a moment and decided that it was good for Ziling to go; her paintings had already reached a certain level and were enough to make her stand out.

Moreover, the fact that the other party dared to use an empty jade box to mock him meant they were hoping he would make a move.

If he were to fly into a rage and go there in person, he would only fall into their trap!

"Alright, then you can go there yourself. Go to the study and pick out some calligraphy and paintings to take with you."

Li Fan spoke.

Upon hearing this, Ziling flashed her little tiger teeth and smiled sweetly, "Master is so kind!"

"Yes, Master!"

After saying that, she went to the study and picked up a Spring Morning Sun Painting that Li Fan had once painted.

"Master, I'm leaving!"

After taking her things, she bid farewell to Mu Wanqing and the others.

Mu Wanqing and the others were overjoyed to see that Li Fan had actually sent out disciples.

It's all settled now. With Senior Li's disciple in charge, we have nothing to fear, no matter what schemes or tricks they may have!

"Ziling, could you... could you help me find out some information?"

At this moment, Yunxi moved closer to Ziling.

Ziling asked, "Sister Yunxi, what news?"

Yunxi said, "Could you help me find out if Zhan Shaoling, the heir of the Zhan family in Zhongzhou, is married yet?"

She thought about it again and again, but she still felt a little uneasy.

The man named Zhan Shaoling from back then was the one her Lineage wanted her to marry.

If Zhan Shaoling gets married, then she's prepared to muster up the courage to go home; otherwise... hmph, she's not going to leave the Great Devil King's vicinity!

Anyway, she felt that the Zhan family probably couldn't afford to offend the Great Devil King.

"Okay, don't worry, sister, I'll definitely find out for you."

Ziling smiled and spoke!

"Thank you Ziling, here's a gift for you!"

Yunxi gave her ghost tooth to Ziling as a token of her gratitude.

Ziling said, "Sister, you don't need to..."

"It's okay, we'll go find that ghost again when you get back. He'll definitely have more teeth."

Yunxi smiled sweetly.

Ziling immediately accepted it and left with Mu Wanqing and the others.

They traveled out of the Great Wilderness and soon arrived at the Wood Spirit Imperial Dynasty.