"My homeland is called Great Li.
"Unlike your world, a towering volcano stands at the heart of Great Li.
"At regular intervals, it erupts, claiming countless lives. And in recent years, its disturbances have grown increasingly frequent.
"It is plain to see that Great Li's ultimate fate is to be utterly consumed by lava.
"Centuries ago, I came alone to the Xuanhuang World, seeking a way to save my home.
Li Fan's gaze grew distant with memory as he spoke to Li Chenfeng and the others.
"Alas, though I found a method to temporarily suppress the volcano, eradicating the threat entirely is beyond my current cultivation.
"But that is not the main point."
Li Fan abruptly shifted the topic.
"In the Xuanhuang World, I encounter many others like myself, mortals who slipped into this world from minor worlds.
"Their lives are often filled with hardship. Moved by their plight, I always try to lend aid where I can.
"It was precisely because of this that I was able to join my current coalition. And that is the reason I have come to you today."
Li Chenfeng and the others were taken aback. "What coalition?"
Li Fan spoke with utmost gravity. "A coalition dedicated to uniting all the lands beyond this world to launch a counteroffensive against the cultivation world."
"A... counteroffensive against the cultivation world?" The three of them were aghast.
Li Fan clasped his hands behind his back and gave a slight nod.
"Indeed! A thousand years ago, we were driven from our homelands, filled with anguish and resentment.
"In the long years since, most have lost all memory of their native lands.
"But there remains a group who has never forgotten."
"They swore that one day, they would return. They would reclaim everything that was rightfully theirs."
Li Fan activated his Seven-Apertures Exquisite Heart, and his voice dripped with persuasion.
"Just think how vast the Xuanhuang World is compared to the minor worlds we hail from.
"Teeming with life, abundant in all things.
"And yet it is occupied by those damned cultivators, while we are forced to huddle in barren, cramped corners, struggling to survive.
"How unjust is that?"
Li Fan declared with fervor.
Li Chenfeng and the other two compared the world their Empire occupied to the Xuanhuang World and couldn't help but nod in agreement.
"We are keenly aware that, compared to the immense Myriad Immortals Alliance, our own strength is far too feeble.
"Only by uniting all our forces do we stand a chance of opposing them.
"In fact, five hundred years ago, we made one such attempt.
"Unfortunately, at that time, we had not gathered enough allies. In the end, we fell just short of success.
"But we did not give up."
Li Fan's eyes burned with intensity as he looked at Li Chenfeng and the others.
"All these years, we have continued to search for new comrades, to rebuild our strength.
"The number of minor worlds is beyond counting. No one knows how many remain unallied.
"But like yourselves, all who slip into this world act with extreme caution. So our progress has been painfully slow.
"It was only recently that I noticed you. After some probing, it became clear..."
Zhu Shaotang seemed to remember something, and his expression cleared with realization. "The campaign to attack the cultivation world five hundred years ago?
"The history of the Xuanhuang World gathered by the Empire does indeed record such an event."
A flicker of remorse passed through Li Chenfeng's eyes, but he quickly masked it.
He pondered for a moment, choosing his words carefully. "So, Senior, your purpose in coming here is to invite our Empire to join your society?"
"Correct!" Li Fan nodded.
Zhu Shaotang was about to speak, but Li Chenfeng held him back.
Among the three, this young man was considered their leader.
He looked at Li Fan and replied somewhat tactfully, "We juniors greatly admire the grand ambitions of your society.
"However, our Empire's strength is too weak. Even if we joined, I fear we would be of little help. We might even become a burden..."
Li Fan raised a hand, cutting Li Chenfeng off. "I have seen your Empire's capabilities clearly within your dreamscapes.
"While not exceptionally powerful, among the many worlds that have joined our society, you would rank somewhere in the upper-middle tier.
"There is no need for such excessive modesty."
Li Fan looked at Li Chenfeng with a faint, knowing smile. "Moreover, even for minor worlds with no supernatural power at all, their applications to join have not been refused.