Chapter 651: 617 Hongxi Returns to the Clouds

Chapter 651: Chapter 617 Hongxi Returns to the Clouds

“Finally back, huh…” Li Fan’s eyes narrowed slightly.

“Just him? What about Immortal Zi Yun?”

In an instant, Li Fan had played out the whole scenario in his spirit consciousness of their battle of wits when they meet.

Scenarios like: Emperor Hongxi, facing his own usurpation, making a vigorous counterattack, using his God Transforming cultivation level to rally support, and quickly regaining the majority of cultivators’ support.

Or maybe, Emperor Hongxi acts calm on the surface, appeasing Li Fan temporarily. Once he lets his gaurd down, Hongxi strikes like a thunderbolt, instigates a rebellion, and instantly turns the situation around. Finally, under the pretext of trumped-up charges, he dismisses Li Fan.

And so on and so forth.

But what Li Fan never expected was that when Emperor Hongxi actually met him, far from any tension, he laughed heartily, giving Li Fan a big hug.

Li Fan’s body stiffened slightly, a hint of confusion in his eyes.

“Are we THAT close?” he thought to himself.

Emperor Hongxi seemed completely oblivious to Li Fan’s perplexed look, clapping him on the shoulder with satisfaction.

“Good job! You’ve done well! When we heard that Ten Thousand Immortals Island was nearly uprooted by the Five Elders Organization, Zi Yun and I were worried that Misthaven Ocean would be in a mess. But then you came along. Over the past few years, the various assessment rankings have not only not declined but have actually risen several spots!”

“Why didn’t you wake up sooner? Otherwise, wouldn’t I have been spared all the headaches over these years?”

“Keep it up! I’ll leave Misthaven Ocean’s administration in your hands from now on!”

Emperor Hongxi seemed extremely pleased.

This silenced Li Fan.

Casually, the white-robed Hongxi hummed an unknown tune as he returned to the long table in his room.

He elegantly poured himself a cup of tea and relished it.

“Doing nothing every day and seeing my merits skyrocket, that’s what life should be like,” he said leisurely.

Looking back and seeing Li Fan still standing in place, he immediately invited him: “Hey, don’t be so formal. Come and have a cup of tea!”

“I’ll gladly accept, thank you, Lord!” Li Fan did not refuse and sat down.

After taking another sip of his tea, Hongxi continued: “Zi Yun and I have heard about your feats at the Immortal Alliance Headquarters. Tch, the disciples of the Ancient Sects really are stronger than us cultivators.”

“So, what cultivation level have you recovered to? Nascent Soul? God Transformation?” Emperor Hongxi glanced at Li Fan, then shook his head.

“I can’t see through it,” he said.

Li Fan calmly replied: “Regardless of my cultivation level, I’m just a subordinate of the city lord.”

Emperor Hongxi chuckled: “And I’m just a subordinate of the First Inquirer, who in turn is a subordinate of the Dharma Transmitters.”

“We’re all working for the Immortal Alliance, so what’s the difference?”

Li Fan’s face became serious: “Your Excellency’s state of mind is indeed extraordinary. I admire you!”

Seeing that Li Fan was still so rigid, Emperor Hongxi’s face fell. Shaking his head, he sighed: “You’re such an old stick in the mud! How boring.”

“Anyway, as long as you continue to handle the administrative affairs as usual, everything will be fine.”

Observing Emperor Hongxi’s attitude, which didn’t seem like an act, Li Fan couldn’t help but ask: “Your Excellency, don’t you want to take your power back?”

Emperor Hongxi burst into laughter again: “That’s where you’re wrong. But it’s okay, you’ll understand in time. There’s no harm in explaining it to you now.”

“I have been in charge of Misthaven Ocean for nearly two hundred years, always diligent. I haven’t achieved many merits, but I haven’t made any mistakes either.”

“So, this is it. Want to go further?”

Emperor Hongxi sighed lightly: “It’s hard!”

“There are so many God Transforming cultivators in the Immortal Alliance. It’s harder to compete with them without entering the Unity-Path…”

“Hehe, it’s easier here in Misthaven Ocean.”

“Handling these endless administrative tasks, you can spend one year, two years, even ten years or thirty years treating them seriously.”

“But what about a hundred years? Two hundred years?”

“I’ve been fed up with it for a long time. But I can’t bear to resign and do nothing. Leaving it to subordinates? They are all good-for-nothings, and I can’t trust them.”

“After all these years, finally someone like you came along!”

“Therefore, while Zi Yun stays in the mainland for the [Friendly Meeting] to broaden her horizons. I could not be bothered to attend even that once-in-hundreds-of-year event, and couldn’t wait to rush back here to meet you.”

“Indeed, you didn’t disappoint!”

Emperor Hongxi exclaimed.

“I heard that you might have been worried before, that I would return and take your power? There’s no need! I can’t wait to dump all these problems on you!”

“Don’t worry, I’ll call everyone together tomorrow and make things clear. You will still be in charge!”

Li Fan grimaced.

However, he still bowed: “Thank you, Lord for your kindness.”

Emperor Hongxi clapped Li Fan’s shoulder again: “Keep it up! Although the merits you earn each year as the Secret Word Envoy are fewer than mine, compared to those cultivators who toil for merit every year, it’s not even on the same level.”

“Moreover, I heard that when you acted as the island overseer and construction supervisor of Misthaven City, your position was the same level as the city lord.”

“Taking this into account, your merit level must have risen quite fast over the years.”

Now it was Li Fan’s turn to be stunned.

“Merits are distributed every year? How come I never received them?”

Hongxi, who was drinking his tea, spat out his mouthful at this, looking at Li Fan in shock.

“Impossible! You didn’t receive any merits? Then why have you been working so hard all these years?”

“I…” Li Fan began, but immediately became silent.

He suddenly realized that there was a deep gap between them, and he could only stay silent.

“You didn’t go into the Tianxuan Mirror for the annual settlement every year, did you?” After a pause, Emperor Hongxi looked at Li Fan with a strange look.

Li Fan shrugged: “Nobody mentioned it to me.”

Emperor Hongxi slapped his forehead.

“Ugh…”

He said resignedly, “Then you better go check it out. You may get a surprise.”

Li Fan nodded, gave a respectful salute, and hurried off.

Watching Li Fan’s retreating figure, Emperor Hongxi shook his head: “Ah, just as expected from the Immortal Alliance. If it doesn’t concern them, they stand aloof…”

When Li Fan returned to the Tianxuan Mirror and made some inquiries, he finally understood what the so-called annual settlement was all about.

It turned out that in addition to the annual contribution “salary” for the major executives of each state,

There was also a “performance” reward based on the overall ranking of each state in the Immortal Alliance.

The settlement is done once a year, and in addition to contribution points, there are a large number of merits.