Immortality Simulator [Wuxiaworld]

So, he's finally back... Li Fan's eyes narrowed slightly.

Just him alone? Where is Immortal Eminence Zi Yun?

In that instant, Li Fan had already played out the entire game of chess that would follow their meeting in his mind.

Scenarios included, but were not limited to: Immortal Eminence Hong Xi, faced with the reality of being sidelined and stripped of power, launching a fierce counterattack. Relying on the influence of his Spirit Transformation cultivation, he would instantly rally the support of the vast majority of cultivators and seize back control.

Or, Immortal Eminence Hong Xi would maintain a placid facade, playing along and offering temporary appeasement. Once Li Fan let his guard down, he would strike like thunder, executing a swift maneuver to reverse the situation completely. Finally, he would dismiss Li Fan from his post on some fabricated charge.

And so on.

What Li Fan had never anticipated was that when Immortal Eminence Hong Xi actually laid eyes on him, there was no tension or hostility. Instead, the man burst into hearty laughter and strode forward to wrap Li Fan in a great bear hug.

Li Fan's body stiffened slightly, confusion flickering in his eyes.

Are we that close?

"Excellent! You've done well! When Zi Yun and I heard that Myriad Immortals Island had nearly been wiped out by the Five Elders Council, we feared the Congyun Sea would descend into chaos. Who could have imagined you'd turn things around like this? Over the past few years, our rankings across every assessment metric haven't just held steady—they've actually climbed several places!

"Why didn't you wake up sooner? If you had, I wouldn't have been run ragged by all these affairs for so long!

"Keep it up! From now on, the administration of Congyun Sea remains in your hands!"

Immortal Eminence Hong Xi seemed genuinely delighted.

Li Fan fell silent.

Dressed in white robes, Hong Xi looked utterly carefree. He hummed a tuneless melody as he drifted back to the long table, poured himself a cup of clear tea with unhurried grace, and drank it with obvious pleasure.

"Now this is the life," he said lazily. "Lying around doing nothing all day, watching my merit rank climb."

He glanced back and found Li Fan still rooted to the spot. He waved him over at once. "Ah, don't stand on ceremony. Come, have some tea!"

"My thanks, City Lord." Li Fan did not refuse. He stepped forward and took a seat.

After another sip, Hong Xi spoke again. "Zi Yun and I both heard about what you did at the Alliance headquarters. Tsk, tsk. As expected of a disciple from an ancient sect—you're simply a cut above us modern cultivators.

"Speaking of which, what level has your cultivation recovered to? Nascent Soul? Spirit Transformation?" He glanced at Li Fan and shook his head. "Unfathomable. Truly unfathomable."

Li Fan replied calmly, "Whatever my cultivation level, I remain merely a subordinate of the City Lord."

Immortal Eminence Hong Xi chuckled. "And I am merely a subordinate of Diyi Jinglun, who is in turn merely a subordinate of the great Dao Imparters.

"We all serve the Immortal Alliance. What difference does it make?"

Li Fan's expression turned solemn at once. "Sir, your perspective is truly extraordinary. This subordinate is in awe."

Seeing Li Fan remain so rigidly proper, Immortal Eminence Hong Xi's face fell. He shook his head and sighed. "A genuine old fossil. No fun at all. Truly, no fun.

"Ah, well. Just continue handling the administrative affairs as usual. Keep everything running as it has been."

Watching Hong Xi's manner, which showed no sign of pretense, Li Fan couldn't help but ask, "Sir, are you truly so unwilling to resume governance?"

Immortal Eminence Hong Xi laughed again. "That's something you won't understand yet, but you will in time. No harm in explaining it now.

"I have overseen the Congyun Sea for nearly two centuries, diligent and conscientious throughout. No great merits to my name, but no grave errors either.

"Those days are behind me. To advance further?" He sighed softly. "It is truly difficult.

"The Myriad Immortals Alliance has no shortage of Spirit Transformation cultivators. To compete with those people before reaching Dao Unity..." He gave a short laugh. "I would rather enjoy my carefree existence here in Congyun Sea.

"You can tend to each administrative task with care for a year, two years, even ten or thirty. But what about after a hundred? Two hundred?

"I grew weary of it long ago. And yet I couldn't bring myself to resign. Entrusting it to subordinates? They are all incompetent. I could never rely on them.

"After so many years, someone like you has finally appeared!

"See, even Zi Yun stayed inland to attend that so-called 'Amity Conference' to broaden her horizons. I couldn't even be bothered to attend that rare gathering that comes once in centuries. I rushed back eagerly just to see you."

He spread his hands. "And you have not disappointed me!

"I heard you might have been worried I would reclaim your authority upon my return. Unnecessary! I am more than happy to hand this entire mess over to you.

"Rest assured, tomorrow I will summon everyone and make this clear. You remain in charge!"

Li Fan's face twitched.

He cupped his hands regardless. "In that case, I thank you for your great favor, City Lord."

Immortal Eminence Hong Xi patted his shoulder again. "Keep up the good work! The merit a Secretary-Envoy earns each year may be somewhat less than mine, but compared to those cultivators who toil away year after year on merit tasks, you are already on a different level entirely.

"Moreover, I've heard that during your tenure as Acting Island Master and overseer of Congyun City's construction, your position was equivalent to a City Lord.

"Doing the calculations, your merit rank should have risen quite swiftly these past years."

Now Li Fan was the one caught off guard.

"Merit is distributed every year? Why haven't I received any?"

Immortal Eminence Hong Xi, who had been in the midst of drinking his tea, spat it out and stared at Li Fan in disbelief.

"Impossible! You haven't received any merit? Then what in the world have you been working so hard for all these years?"

"I..." Li Fan started, then stopped.

Suddenly realizing a deep chasm of misunderstanding lay between them, he could only fall silent.

"I’m guessing you haven't been participating in the annual settlement within the Tianxuan Mirror all this time?" After a long moment, Immortal Eminence Hong Xi looked at him with an odd expression.

Li Fan shrugged. "No one ever mentioned it to me."

Immortal Eminence Hong Xi smacked his own forehead.

"Well..." he said, his voice deflating. "Go check immediately. You may find a pleasant surprise waiting for you."

Li Fan nodded, bowed, and hurried out.

Watching his retreating figure, Immortal Eminence Hong Xi shook his head. "Ah, typical of the Myriad Immortals Alliance. If it doesn't concern them, they couldn't care less..."

When Li Fan returned to the Tianxuan Mirror and made his inquiries, he finally understood what the annual settlement actually entailed.

It turned out that the primary administrators of each province received more than just a yearly salary of contribution points. They also earned performance rewards based on their province's overall ranking within the Myriad Immortals Alliance as a whole.

This was settled once a year, and beyond contribution points, it included a substantial amount of merit.

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