"Hum..."
The roaring sound echoed constantly in his ears, and the scene in front of him was constantly spinning, making it hard to see clearly.
After a while, Li Fan finally recovered from this unusual sensation.
"The first time using a teleportation array is always like this. You'll get used to it," He Zhenghao explained casually.
Li Fan nodded in silence, observing the surroundings.
The current location seemed to be a large square.
At the forefront of the square stood a giant statue.
It depicted an old man with a tall crown and a long beard.
Below the statue, the square was filled with large and small stone statues of all shapes and sizes.
Without exception, all tens of thousands of stone statues in the square were looking up at the old man.
And the teleportation array that Li Fan came out of was in front of one of these stone statues.
"This is the Transmission Square. It was built to commemorate the preaching of the Immortal Ancestor. Each of our Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance's residences has such a square," He Zhenghao explained.
Thinking of the scene described in Five Spirit Qi Sensing Technique, where the Immortal Ancestor preached and connected with all living beings, Li Fan stared at the statue of the old man for a long time, silently nodding.
"Flight is not prohibited on Ten Thousand Immortals Island, but remember not to exceed the height of the Immortal Ancestor statue. Otherwise, you will be attacked by the Ten Thousand Immortals Formation. Even if you are in the Nascent Soul realm, you may die in an instant," He Zhenghao said solemnly, cautioning Li Fan.
Li Fan's heart trembled, and he remembered it instantly.
"Although flying is not prohibited on the island, I advise you not to fly randomly when there's no need. All the cultivators in the entire Cong Yun Sea gather here, and among them are those in the Golden Core and Nascent Soul realms. If you fly over their heads and provoke them, you might be remembered by them."
"In that case, when you leave Ten Thousand Immortals Island, they might kill you on a whim. There won't be a chance for you to reason with them."
He Zhenghao led Li Fan and, as they walked, quietly explained the precautions on Ten Thousand Immortals Island.
As it concerned life and death, Li Fan remembered each one carefully.
After a short walk, the two of them passed through a corridor naturally formed by intertwined vines and arrived at a secluded forest full of greenery.
In the clearing of the forest, there was a huge and ancient mirror placed.
Occasionally, cultivators hurried through the mirror, heading who knows where.
There were also cultivators coming out of the mirror, leaving directly.
"This mirror is our Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance's Tianxuan Mirror [1]."
"It is said that before the Immortal Ancestor preached, this Tianxuan Mirror was just an ordinary mirror. Later, after the Immortal Ancestor preached, this mirror reflected the Immortal Ancestor's law and unexpectedly gave birth to its own consciousness. It then began to cultivate like a regular cultivator and gradually evolved into its current state."
"Most things for us cultivators in Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance are handled by this Tianxuan Mirror. It is said that this treasure bears grudges. Be careful not to speak carelessly." He Zhenghao cautioned Li Fan in a low voice.
Then, He Zhenghao pulled Li Fan into the mirror.
Inside was a separate space, with no other cultivators in sight.
It was as if they were in the void, surrounded by nothingness and darkness.
"This person is a newly joined cultivator. He has come to Ten Thousand Immortals Island to join our Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance," He Zhenghao said, pointing at Li Fan.
"Recommending a cultivator at the Qi Condensation Initial Stage. Categorized as a middle-grade merit, equivalent to 50 contribution points. Current total contribution points: 920." A voice sounded in the space.
He Zhenghao remained composed.
Li Fan was lost in thought.
He Zhenghao received the contribution points, his face showing happiness.
"Now that the young friend is here, I can finally put my mind at ease. If you have any questions, feel free to ask the Tianxuan Mirror. Generally speaking, it will provide you with detailed answers. I still have island guarding duties, so I won't accompany you further."
After saying this, He Zhenghao hurriedly left.
Leaving Li Fan alone in this Tianxuan Mirror.
A flash of light flickered in the darkness around, then extinguished.
"Sensory fluctuations recorded."
"Independent space generated."
"Cultivator, please state your name." A somewhat strange voice sounded.
"Li Fan," Li Fan replied.
"Cultivator Li Fan, welcome to the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance. As a reward, you will be given 20 contribution points for free. You can use these contribution points to exchange for spirit stones, martial techniques, magical treasures, and more."
"You can obtain contribution points by submitting materials, completing tasks, and trading with others."
"Similarly, if you encounter problems you can't solve, you can spend contribution points to post a reward."
"Your current total contribution points: 20."
"As a newly joined member of the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance, you can reside in the Tianxuan Mirror for free for thirty days. After thirty days, you will need to pay contribution points to continue your stay."
"The accommodation fee is: 10 contribution points for every thirty days."
"Of course, you can also choose to spend contribution points to purchase your own cultivation abode on Ten Thousand Immortals Island."
...
The Tianxuan Mirror tirelessly explained to Li Fan about the daily life in the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance.
"If I can't find success in the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance, can I choose to leave and join the Five Elders Association?" After listening for a long time, Li Fan suddenly asked.
As if being choked, the Tianxuan Mirror abruptly stopped speaking.
After a moment of silence, the Tianxuan Mirror continued, "Those who have joined the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance cannot join the Five Elders Association, and vice versa."
"If violated, they will be jointly pursued and killed by both parties."
Now it was Li Fan's turn to be silent.
"I haven't agreed to join your Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance, have I?"
"Once you enter the Tianxuan Mirror and your consciousness is recorded, you are considered to have voluntarily joined the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance."
"Can I leave the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance, not join the Five Elders Association, and choose to be an independent cultivator?" Li Fan asked again.
The Tianxuan Mirror fell silent again.
After a while, it responded, "Yes. But if you choose to leave, everything you have obtained in the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance will be forcibly reclaimed. Please decide carefully."
"Can gold and silver be exchanged for contribution points?"
"Yes, you can. Please refer to the exchange list for specific exchange rules."
...
Li Fan asked the Tianxuan Mirror one question after another, tirelessly.
After a long time, he finally stopped.
"I don't have any more questions for now."
"Alright, cultivator. If you have new doubts, feel free to call me at any time. You can also check it yourself through your consciousness."
The space became quiet again.
And with Li Fan's manipulation of his consciousness, this space transformed from the dark void into an ancient room.
The decorations and items inside were almost identical to those in the Imperial Advisor's residence.
Li Fan touched the decorations and items in the room with his hands, almost unable to perceive any difference.
"Tianxuan Mirror, it really is an extraordinary treasure," Li Fan silently said in his heart.
Through the previous questioning, he gained a rough understanding of the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance.
Opening the martial arts exchange menu with his consciousness, Li Fan saw that even the simplest martial arts for the Qi Condensation stage required a thousand contribution points.
Then, he opened the task list and filtered out the tasks available for the Qi Condensation Initial Stage. The rewards for these tasks were all five or ten points.
"It really is difficult to cultivate immortality." An inexplicable emotion arose in Li Fan's heart.
"You have a new image transmission, please check it in a timely manner." Just at this moment, the voice of the Tianxuan Mirror sounded again.
*****
[1] Tianxuan Mirror translates roughly to Heaven Abyss Mirror/Heaven Profound Mirror or something like that.