Chapter 35 – All Fruits Are Predestined

With the announcement of the materials needed for the Body-Purifying Spirit Pool, Glazed Glass Island appeared calm on the surface, but undercurrents had long been surging beneath.

Even ordinary people who had no interest in such matters knew that the island’s major powers were all searching for something called Star Sea Flowing Sand.

Li Fan’s covert inquiries had turned up nothing. Then one day, an unexpected visitor arrived.

It was none other than Xiao Heng, a man from the Kingdom of Li whom Li Fan had first encountered when he arrived in the cultivation world.

“Have a seat.” Li Fan poured him a cup of tea.

Xiao Heng surveyed Li Fan’s current residence, his eyes full of envy and nostalgia.

“What brings you here, young brother?” Li Fan had a favorable impression of Xiao Heng and asked warmly.

Xiao Heng first swept his gaze around warily, then leaned in close and whispered, “I heard that Brother Li has also been searching for Star Sea Flowing Sand recently?”

Li Fan’s eyes narrowed. “That’s right. I’m already old, and if I want to cultivate, the Body-Purifying Spirit Pool is my only option. Why—do you know something about it?”

Xiao Heng swallowed hard and nodded. “Yes. Back when the immortal master descended upon the Great Li, he promised that if we gathered all the supplies he needed, he would bring a group of people to the greater cultivation world. Star Sea Flowing Sand was among those supplies.”

Li Fan was startled, then said with some confusion, “Was it? I have no memory of that.”

Li Fan had previously asked the others from the Great Li about this, and they had all claimed ignorance—hence his question.

Xiao Heng looked somewhat embarrassed when he heard this. “When the announcement was made to the world, several items had already been removed from the list. They were designated as reserved quotas, distributed among the Great Li’s major noble families. The item assigned to my family to collect was this Star Sea Flowing Sand.”

Li Fan nodded slowly.

“Go ahead—what are your conditions?” Li Fan asked bluntly.

Caught off guard by Li Fan’s directness, Xiao Heng actually became flustered, his face reddening as he explained, “Back then, you paid for Chang Yu’s burial, so you’ve done me a kindness. I shouldn’t be doing this, but life on Glazed Glass Island is just too hard. I don’t have your kind of abilities, Brother Li. I’m still living in the slums on the outskirts, doing hard labor every day just to get by…”

Xiao Heng rambled on, but Li Fan cut him off with a gentle smile.

“No need for all that. I understand your difficulties. I’m determined to obtain this item. As long as you can provide leads, name whatever you want—I’ll do my best to accommodate you.”

Xiao Heng was deeply grateful. “Then I’ll thank you in advance, Brother Li.”

He paused, then said with some emotion, “Actually, the item isn’t really that rare. It’s just that the immortal masters use different names than us mortals. Of course, if the list hadn’t come with descriptions of each material, I wouldn’t have known either. As it turns out, what they call Star Sea Flowing Sand is simply meteoric iron from the sky.”

Li Fan listened and pondered carefully, then had a sudden realization. “Star Sea Flowing Sand… so that’s what it is. But will any meteoric iron do? Are there any other special requirements?”

“There are, there are.”

Xiao Heng nodded repeatedly, then slowly laid out the specific requirements one by one.

“First, the meteoric iron must have a good appearance—ones with pitted, uneven surfaces won’t do. Second, a single piece must weigh at least fifty jin (25 kg). And then…”

Li Fan listened while committing every detail firmly to memory.

When Xiao Heng finished, Li Fan didn’t forget his promise.

“Tell me—what do you want?”

Xiao Heng said quietly, “I just want a decent courtyard to live in, plus a somewhat easier job. Of course, if there could be a few maidservants, that would be even better.”

Li Fan had been bracing himself for Xiao Heng to ask for the moon, but seeing how easily the man could be satisfied, he couldn’t help but shake his head with a smile.

“I never expected the son of the Prince of Zhennan to have such modest demands. Why not ask for a bit more? I still carry some influence at the Heavenly Treasure House.”

Xiao Heng politely declined. “I know my own capabilities. Being able to eat well, live well, and not have to live so exhaustingly—that’s already more than enough for me. If I suddenly came into wealth that made others jealous, it would only invite disaster.”

Li Fan nodded, and pressed the matter no further.

After exchanging a few more pleasantries, Xiao Heng took his leave.

“Have you thought about cultivating? After all, you went through so much hardship to reach this greater cultivation world—it would be a shame to have come all this way for nothing, wouldn’t it?” Li Fan suddenly asked as they parted.

“Maybe someday. I really have no interest in cultivation. That 《Xuanhuang Purification Mantra》 puts me to sleep the moment I start reading it, and who knows how long it’ll take to fully purge the miasma.” Xiao Heng replied listlessly and left without looking back.

After seeing Xiao Heng off, Li Fan hurried to the Heavenly Treasure House.

Upon finding Yin Yuzhen, Li Fan repeated Xiao Heng’s account regarding Star Sea Flowing Sand.

“Star Sea Flowing Sand is just meteoric iron? That simple?” Yin Yuzhen was somewhat surprised. “Can this Xiao Heng person be trusted?”

“He shouldn’t be lying,” Li Fan affirmed.

“But we can’t skip verification either.” Li Fan suddenly shifted tack. “Didn’t you say that a trade envoy from the Thousand Splendors Merchant Association would be visiting Glazed Glass Island soon? When the time comes, we can sound him out to confirm.”

“Good idea,” Yin Yuzhen agreed. “If we can save some costs, that would be ideal.”

“Regardless, we should start secretly purchasing meteoric iron that meets the requirements. Not many people know about this yet, but that might not last long. Also, when making purchases, we must mix in other goods to serve as cover and throw people off the scent. At the same time, have people release false information about Star Sea Flowing Sand on the market to muddy the waters.”

Li Fan thought for a moment, then patiently added these instructions.

To ensure that the Body-Purifying Spirit Pool quota would be his, Li Fan needed to plan for every contingency.

“Uncle, you really are something else. Before, I only knew you had the Spirit Treasure Body—I didn’t expect you to have this kind of cunning too.” Seeing Li Fan’s methodical arrangements, a spark of curiosity lit up in Yin Yuzhen’s eyes.

“What did you used to do, Uncle?” Yin Yuzhen couldn’t help but ask.

“Just a schoolteacher,” Li Fan said dismissively.

Yin Yuzhen looked entirely unconvinced.

“Alright, I’ll leave everything to you. I need to get back to cultivation. Unless something extraordinary comes up, don’t disturb me. Oh, and take care of what I promised Xiao Heng while you’re at it.” With these final instructions, Li Fan left the Heavenly Treasure House.

“Great fortune—how can it be great fortune again?” Yin Yuzhen stared blankly in the direction Li Fan had departed, her eyes full of bewilderment.

Ever since she’d come to know Li Fan, every task he assigned her triggered a premonition of great fortune.

It had almost made Yin Yuzhen wonder if her ability to divine fortune and avoid calamity had stopped working.

After all, before meeting Li Fan, she had never once encountered a matter of great fortune.

On the contrary, when she had once wanted to swallow that Dust-Parting Pill and embark on the path of cultivation, her premonition had warned of incomparable danger ahead—certain death with no chance of survival, an unmistakable omen of great calamity.