Li Fan swept the area with his gaze but saw no sign of He Zhenghao.
“You informed He Zhenghao?” the man asked again, as though seeking confirmation.
Li Fan nodded. “Shall I contact him to ask where he is?”
The man stopped him at once. “No. Best not to use a communication talisman.”
There was an unspoken implication in his tone. Li Fan inclined his head in agreement.
At the same time, his true self openly approached from afar, making no effort to conceal his presence.
Soon, the Five Elders Council liaison detected the incoming aura. His brows furrowed slightly, vigilance rising.
Li Fan’s true self descended before the two of them.
“Zhou Qing’ang, I presume?” he said calmly. “He Zhenghao sent me.”
At those words, both the Five Elders Council liaison and Li Fan’s avatar showed subtle changes in expression.
The liaison first glanced at “Zhou Qing’ang,” then his face darkened.
“What do you mean by that, Fellow Daoist?” he asked coldly.
Li Fan appeared entirely at ease. “What do I mean? I’m here for the transaction.”
“Why didn’t He Zhenghao come personally?” the liaison pressed after a brief pause.
Li Fan let out a short laugh. “For something this dangerous? If it were exposed, wouldn’t he be the first to be implicated? It seems you don’t know him very well.”
The liaison’s gaze flicked once more toward “Zhou Qing’ang.”
“And if you were caught,” he countered, “wouldn’t that still implicate him? Five million contribution points—does he truly trust you that much?”
Li Fan’s expression turned impatient. “That’s none of your concern. Are we making this deal or not?
“If not, I’m leaving. To think someone in this line of work would have such timid nerves.”
He looked at the two men with open dissatisfaction.
“Besides, as long as the examination materials are genuine, does it matter who you’re dealing with?”
His voice rang out loudly, with no attempt at discretion.
The liaison’s expression shifted slightly. But after a brief moment of consideration, he found the logic sound enough.
He instinctively swept his divine sense across the surroundings before lowering his voice.
“Enough. Keep it down and follow me.”
He led the two of them into the Myriad Vault.
The staff inside behaved as though Li Fan’s group did not exist at all. No one obstructed them as they proceeded straight to the innermost chamber.
Once inside, the liaison sealed the room with several layers of restrictions.
“The examination questions?” he asked gravely.
“And the five million?” Li Fan countered coolly.
“Payment first...”
“Goods first...”
They spoke at the same time and fell silent, locking eyes.
A tense standoff followed.
At last, they exchanged storage rings simultaneously.
After verifying the contents, the liaison said coldly, “You cannot leave yet.”
Li Fan waved a dismissive hand. “Yes, yes. You’re worried the questions might be fake, right?”
He wore a look of supreme confidence, bordering on arrogance.
"Look at you, acting as if you’ve never seen the world."
He shot them a disdainful glance, plopped himself down with a flourish, and crossed his legs.
“Fine. I’ll wait here until the entrance examination concludes.”