Failure to complete the mission meant a deduction of merit and a reduction of his permission level.
With no other choice, Jiang Zhengji could only send messages to all his friends, asking if anyone had seen traces of the Foundation Establishment Master.
After learning the full story, Li Fan rubbed his chin with interest.
Following the normal course of events, they should still be quietly running their scam, slowly accumulating contribution points.
Why would they pull off a big score and flee?
Could they have speculated on Spirit Mist Grass prices too?
This thought instantly came to Li Fan’s mind.
Upon reflection, it seemed quite possible. After all, during his twelfth lifetime, they were already close to redeeming the Dao Unity technique, Ocean-Devouring Eternal Life Art.
By taking a gamble, they might have been able to complete their mission fifty years ahead of schedule.
Li Fan could imagine the scene: When Spirit Mist Grass prices first skyrocketed, they were tempted, but likely couldn't reach a consensus. After all, it was about using decades of savings for speculation.
But as Spirit Mist Grass prices kept rising, the opposing voices grew weaker.
Finally, they hesitantly agreed to enter the market, planning to make a quick buck and leave.
That was when the Tianxuan Mirror made its announcement, and Spirit Mist Grass prices collapsed.
Thus, they lost everything.
Perhaps they didn't use all their savings, but the losses must have been devastating. That's why they took the risk, planning one big score to recover their losses before fleeing.
A hundred people... that's two hundred thousand contribution points. It seems scamming pays faster than investing.
After some thought, Li Fan replied to Jiang Zhengji: "Fellow Daoist, if possible, you might want to search the route toward Yongliang Province. You may find results there."
A moment later, Jiang Zhengji responded: "Fellow Daoist, you mean to say that they left to join the Five Elders Council? Hah, betraying the Alliance is a grave crime. If I catch them...
"Regardless, thank you, Fellow Daoist!"
After exchanging more pleasantries, Li Fan put away the communication talisman and fell into deep thought.
He didn't particularly care about the Foundation Establishment Master fleeing the scene early.
What truly concerned Li Fan was that the impact of the Spirit Mist Grass incident seemed greater than he had anticipated.
He'd previously had a vague feeling that he was overlooking something. Now, reminded by this episode, Li Fan finally realized what he had missed.
He quickly searched for spirit plant and herb prices within the Tianxuan Mirror.
As expected, lamentations filled the listings. The situation was dire, and some prices had even fallen below production cost.
In the twelfth lifetime, these herb prices collapsed because in Anchor Year 13, the first batch of spirit plants in the wood-attribute grotto-heaven matured and were sold in bulk.
This time, because of the Tianxuan Mirror's announcement, all cultivators in the Myriad Immortals Alliance learned in advance that the grotto-heaven would produce enormous quantities of various spirit plants and herbs.
The price drop was predictable. To sell their herbs quickly, cultivators undercut each other, causing spirit plant prices to collapse prematurely.
However, that's not the main point. The main point is... the Mini Medicine King Cauldrons.
Recalling this artifact that had once caused his death, a sharp glint flashed in Li Fan's eyes.
With herb prices collapsing, naturally, no one would bother buying the cauldrons for growing medicinal plants anymore.
Without commissions from anyone, would Jiao Xiuyuan still journey to the Medicine King Sect ruins to excavate the Mini Medicine King Cauldrons?
At this moment, Mini Medicine King Cauldrons hold little value.
But once the true Medicine King Cauldron returns, they will become treasures fought over by everyone.