Seeing Li Fan's earnest demeanor, the face grew somewhat hesitant. "Explain."
Li Fan said, "This Fellow Daoist of mine... has connections on the inside! As I reported to you before, I got acquainted with He Zhenghao, the guardian of Liuli Island. This man, like me, is at the Foundation Establishment realm.
“Not long ago, he was complaining to me about how hard it is to accumulate contribution points, saying he didn't know how long it would take to switch techniques. Who would have thought, after not seeing him for a few days, he had already switched to a Nascent Soul technique!"
Li Fan narrated with exaggerated emphasis. "Such an anomaly naturally caught my attention. After great effort, I finally found out..."
The stone-face was now somewhat drawn in by Li Fan's story. Seeing him suddenly pause for dramatic effect, it immediately scolded, "Out with it!"
Li Fan chuckled. "This He Zhenghao is no simple man! On the surface, he's just an utterly ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivator. In reality, his background is terrifying! He has a daughter named He Xinxin. Hmph, though in truth, she should be called Heng Xinxin!
“The Heng Family of Tianyu Province in the Myriad Immortals Alliance—have you heard of them, Boss? Heng Ruoshui, the treasured daughter of the Heng Family, a young Nascent Soul technique weaver master... she's actually He Zhenghao's old flame! Who would believe that if you told them? But it's actually true!
“It seems that because He Zhenghao's cultivation level was too low in the past, he was forced to cut ties with the Heng Family. So he lived quite poorly. But recently, it seems things have taken a turn."
Li Fan paused, glanced at the face, and continued. "He Xinxin has come of age. She knew how pitifully her old father was living and couldn't bear it. But if she helped him openly, she was afraid her family would find out.
"So she had to find another way, quietly passing along information she'd overheard to He Zhenghao.
"Thanks to his daughter's help, He Zhenghao completely turned his fortunes around!"
Li Fan's tone was excited, tinged with envy. "He learned in advance that the price of Stygian Obsidian was about to skyrocket, so he went all in, staking everything he had to buy up as much as he could.
"When the price doubled, he sold it all immediately.
"That one transaction netted him over a hundred thousand contribution points!
"A hundred thousand, boss! That's more funding than I'd get in years!
"He Zhenghao was afraid word would get out and endanger his daughter. So he cooked up some nonsense about being guided by an ancient Heavenly Mechanisms Sect cultivator and spread that story everywhere.
"Pah! He really thinks we're fools!
"Luckily, I was clever. I pestered him relentlessly, wore him down, and finally pried the truth out of him."
Li Fan wore a look of smug satisfaction, as though waiting for the praise to roll in.
"The source of the leaked exam questions was also He Xinxin.
"Boss, how solid does this sound?"
The figure on the stone fragment didn't get angry this time. It remained silent, as if checking something.
A long time passed before the face's voice came through again.
"Heng Ruoshui does indeed have a daughter, though the father's identity has always been a mystery.
"But many years ago, she once returned home accompanied by a young man. Not long after, that young man vanished without a trace.
"Let me see what he looked like... it really is He Zhenghao!"
The face was shocked.
"And just before the Stygian Obsidian price spike, unusual trading records appeared. Someone was buying it up in huge quantities, then selling at the peak.
"The timing was just too perfect. It's hard to believe they didn't have insider information."
"The buyer... was also He Zhenghao!"
A loud noise, like a heavy fist slamming a table, came from the face's side.
"So, the Myriad Immortals Alliance’s entrance exam questions... they might very well be real?"
The other party's breathing grew noticeably quicker.
Li Fan nodded vigorously. "That's why I rushed to find you, boss! You know the entrance exam is happening soon.
"If we can get the questions in advance before then, we can plant more of our people in key positions within the Myriad Immortals Alliance!"
The face clearly understood the gravity of the situation and hurriedly asked, "What did he say?"
At this, Li Fan suddenly became hesitant.
He stammered, "Boss, the price He Zhenghao is asking this time is a bit... high..."
The face snapped angrily, "Just say it! It's just some spirit stones. How can they compare to the entrance exam questions?"
Li Fan held out his hand, indicating a number. "He wants this much."
"Five hundred thousand contribution points? That's not impossible—" the face began, but before it could finish, Li Fan quickly shook his head, cutting him off.
"No. Five million."
The face froze.
"Five million? Is he insane?!" Its voice trembled slightly.
But quickly, the face regained its composure.
The face suddenly darkened, its voice laced with a thread of killing intent. "Have you been exposed?!
"Faced with an individual, and only a Foundation Establishment cultivator at that, he would never quote such an outrageous price.
"Unless... he already knows that an organization is standing behind you."
The image on the stone fragment flickered, dim one moment and bright the next, as if it might vanish at any second.
The face stared intently at Li Fan, awaiting his reply.
Li Fan responded with a touch of exasperation. "Boss, in your mind, am I really that unprofessional?
"I just told him that I, too, have backing.
"Anyone who manages to get a post in the Myriad Immortals Alliance has connections of some sort.
"Rest assured, Boss. Even if He Zhenghao has his suspicions, he would never leap to the conclusion that I'm a spy.
"In truth, He Zhenghao is just casting a wide net. He knows the risks of selling the entrance exam questions, so he only does one-off deals.
"A single transaction with one party, and with a strict limit: no more than ten people can use the procured questions to take the entrance exam..."
As the face listened to Li Fan's explanation, it gradually relaxed.
The image grew bright and clear once more. The face pondered for a moment, then said, "Five hundred thousand contribution points per person... The cost is a bit high, but still acceptable.
"However, it is a significant sum. If this He Zhenghao provides counterfeit questions..."
Li Fan waved off the concern. "He Zhenghao said that since the entrance exam lasts seven days, he can provide us with the first day's questions for free. Once we verify their authenticity, we proceed with the final transaction."
Hearing this, the face couldn't help but feel a sudden thrill of anticipation.