"Mm?" Li Fan turned his head, looking at Steward Zhao.
Facing the legendary Immortal Master, Steward Zhao couldn't help but feel a bit nervous. He carefully considered his words and cautiously asked, "This Immortal Master seems to have a good relationship with Immortal Master He?"
Li Fan was about to reply but suddenly remembered something. After pondering for a moment, he said, "He Daoyou and I have been friends for over forty years, and he has taken care of me many times. I was away on some matters and did not know of his passing. Today, seeing He Daoist's memorial tablet, I am utterly shocked."
"I can only offer him a stick of incense..."
Saying this, Li Fan shook his head and sighed.
Steward Zhao also sighed, "Since I learned of Immortal Master He's death and set up a spirit hall for him, it's been twenty-six days. You are the first and only one to come and pay respects to him."
"Dozens of Immortal Masters have come to the island, not to mourn him, but to search for his relics or to compete for the position of the Island Guardian Immortal Master of Glass Island."
"With the new Island Guardian already appointed, it's hard for me to keep my position as steward."
"I've been unable to fulfill Immortal Master He's last wishes, and I feel guilty about it."
"Fortunately, I met you today."
Steward Zhao looked relieved.
"He Daoyou's last wishes?" Li Fan was taken aback.
"Yes. Before he passed, Immortal Master He entrusted me with an item, instructing me to give it to the first friend who came to pay respects after his death," Steward Zhao answered truthfully.
"Why would he entrust something to a mortal like you?" Li Fan was surprised by Steward Zhao's response.
"To be honest, Immortal Master, by a stroke of luck, I saved Immortal Master He's life years ago. He originally wanted to take me on the path of cultivation, but I feared the hardships of the path and only asked for a job."
"Over the years, I've served Immortal Master He closely, earning his trust," Steward Zhao said, his face showing a mix of pride and sadness.
It seemed there was indeed such a matter. Li Fan remembered Steward Zhao mentioning it in his previous life. He nodded in understanding.
"Moreover, keeping it with me is quite safe. After all, who would think that an Immortal Master's relics would be entrusted to a mortal? The Immortal Masters coming and going these days haven't even glanced at me..." Steward Zhao stopped himself, realizing his words were inappropriate, and quickly fell silent.
He turned and retrieved a small square box from under He Zhenghao's memorial tablet.
This small box seemed to have the effect of isolating divine sense, as Li Fan hadn't noticed it even when standing right in front of it.
"The item in this box is Immortal Master He's relic. I don't know its specific use," Steward Zhao said nervously as he handed over the box.
Li Fan opened the box to find a spirit talisman in the shape of the character "Wan."
It looked somewhat familiar.
Isn't this...
Li Fan took out an identical one from his storage ring, though the aura on the talisman was different.
It was precisely the pass spirit talisman required for foreign cultivators to enter and exit Ten Thousand Immortals Island for the first time.
Li Fan remembered He Zhenghao mentioning that this talisman was worth 100 contribution points when introducing it to him.
But what was its use?
Li Fan was momentarily puzzled.
Nevertheless, he put away the wooden box.
Seeing the somewhat anxious Steward Zhao, Li Fan thought for a moment and said, "I'll speak to the new Island Guardian on your behalf. As for whether you can keep your position, I can't guarantee."
Steward Zhao was overjoyed at the words, kneeling and kowtowing repeatedly.
Li Fan waved his hand and flew away.
Steward Zhao remained kneeling on the ground, not daring to move.
After a long time, he slowly stood up.
Looking at He Zhenghao's memorial tablet, he spoke softly.
"Finally, I've handed over this hot potato. Watching the Immortal Masters flying overhead these days, I couldn't even sleep well."
"The person just now didn't lie, and he was indeed the first to pay respects to you. Giving your relics to him fulfills your last wishes."
"I won't feel guilty."
After a long silence, Steward Zhao murmured, "Cultivating immortality, only to die earlier than me. No one even collected your bones."
"Truly meaningless."
...
With the wooden box in hand, Li Fan arrived inside the Island Protection Array and met the unfamiliar cultivator again.
The unfamiliar cultivator, named Ning Wenxing, had become the new Island Guardian of Glass Island after some maneuvering.
Li Fan didn't mention Steward Zhao's relationship with He Zhenghao, only saying that Steward Zhao was an old acquaintance and asked if his position as the steward of Glass Island's finances could be retained.
It was just a mortal position, so Yu Wenxing thought for a moment and agreed.
Li Fan expressed his gratitude.
After exchanging communication talismans, Li Fan hurried back to the Profound Mirror.
After some searching, Li Fan finally understood the purpose of the pass spirit talisman.
In addition to serving as a pass to enter Ten Thousand Immortals Island, the talisman could also be used as a voucher for storing and retrieving items.
The items were not stored in the Profound Mirror but in a place called the "Myriad Treasures Pavilion."
Typically, nothing valuable was stored there.
It was often the inheritance left by cultivators for their mortal relatives, to be claimed only after the cultivator's death using the talisman.
Thus, the Myriad Treasures Pavilion wasn't located on Ten Thousand Immortals Island but on Youlan Island, north of the Congyun Sea.
Understanding the talisman's use, Li Fan wasted no time and made a trip to Youlan Island, finally retrieving He Zhenghao's relic.
A jade slip.
Initially, Li Fan thought it was some cultivation method.
After reading the contents of the jade slip, he understood.
The jade slip contained an unfinished work by He Zhenghao.
"Detailed Explanation of the Hundred Veins Formation."
The book meticulously recorded He Zhenghao's various special insights into formations over the years and some innovative ideas.
Along with the book was a message from He Zhenghao.
He stated that his lifelong passion was for formations.
After decades of painstaking effort, he had barely managed to complete most of the "Detailed Explanation of the Hundred Veins Formation."
This time, he ventured to explore an ancient cave mansion, which theoretically posed little risk.
But one can never be too cautious.
If he met an untimely end, his death was a minor concern. The real worry was that his life's work, the "Detailed Explanation of the Hundred Veins Formation," would remain hidden and forever unrecognized.
Therefore, he arranged a contingency plan, hoping that the acquaintance who received the talisman would pass the "Detailed Explanation of the Hundred Veins Formation" to any formation master on Ten Thousand Immortals Island, hoping they could complete it.
Finally, He Zhenghao couldn't help but grumble.
He mentioned the various benefits of his cultivation method, the "Mountain-Sitting Technique."
Unfortunately, it was incredibly difficult to cultivate.
If not for this, he wouldn't have needed to risk changing his cultivation method by venturing into the ancient cave mansion.
...
"Mountain-Sitting Technique? He Daoyou, you've truly given me a difficult task."
Storing the jade slip away, a mysterious light flickered in Li Fan's eyes.