Zhou Fan set up a meeting time with all of them. It would be at the same time. Just a few days later, all of those interested discreetly showed up at the arranged location. It was on a planet with mid-level cultivators, the strongest being a True God.
They met in a pub that rarely had anybody inside.
They sat in the corner, Zhou Fan and all twenty of those interested. Some came as individuals, while some had come on behalf of sects.
They did not waste any time. Zhou Fan started the conversation.
"As I have announced, whatever prophecy you've heard is nonsense. There is no such thing as an Origin of Cultivation. I don't mind telling you that I am the creator of cultivation, and that I can surely help you, but I can only do so once I'm stronger." Zhou Fan said.
One of the people posed a question. "If that's the case, wouldn't you be the Origin of Cultivation?"
"Not in the way it is described by your prophet."
"What if we captured you and made you grow before helping us?" One asked.
"If you think you'd be able to force me to help you, go ahead, but I have countless ways to kill myself if necessary." Zhou Fan said plainly.
Everyone nodded. This was one of the many reason's people hesitated to attack upon arriving at the Origin Era.
A discussion began. Everyone who had come was willing to form an alliance. It was why they were here in the first place.
Eventually, they settled on an agreement. They would help defend the Origin Era, and Zhou Fan would help them increase their cultivations by a realm in the future.
Zhou Fan naturally understood that this agreement was fickle, but it would do for now.
"Since we have all agreed, I would like to demonstrate an ability of mine." Zhou Fan said.
He turned his gaze towards one of the people.
The person looked at him in confusion until a sword pierced his chest.
He instantly burst out with a ferocious power that sent Zhou Fan flying back, but the other people around quickly suppressed him.
He looked at Zhou Fan with hatred.
"He had come here to capture me." Zhou Fan said, a bit of blood dripping from his mouth.
That man was strong enough to come here, which meant he was strong enough to kill Zhou Fan. He was at least two realms above the Loose Immortal realm, probably more based on his attack. Even if he went all out, without the suppression of cultivation, Zhou Fan could not assure his victory. Naturally, he had countless ways to run away and hide if necessary, but the Origin Era itself would be destroyed.
In the Origin Era, Zhou Fan had always been invincible, but compared to those from countless years in the future, he was lacking. He now felt what those who had come after him had felt. He was in a rush of time, and he could not slack off for a moment.
It was exciting, being able to truly experience this. It was what he had been searching for as Skymender. Who knew that it would eventually come to him?
Zhou Fan did not waste any time. He pressed his hand down, and the suppression of cultivation took effect. An imprint appeared, but it was shattered by one of the people holding the man down. The imprint was indeed made by a powerful individual, but it was not focused on defending against attacks, just the suppression of cultivation. The man was instantly crippled, and died soon after.
Seeing Zhou Fan's power and skill in identifying a hidden enemy made his allies feel much more confident about this partnership.
Only one more question was posed to him. "If you're so powerful, why haven't we heard of you in the future? You would have surely shocked all of existence."
"Have you heard of Ying Xiong?" Zhou Fan said.
Without exception, all of their faces paled.
"He owes me everything he has." Zhou Fan said.
His words finally fully convinced these people from the future, and they separated. A day later, some of the sects began to move towards the Origin Civilization.
They stopped once outside of it. This made the other people from the future frown.
They didn't understand what was going on until the sects and a few powerful unaffiliated individuals made a joint announcement. They would be defending the Origin Civilization.
This naturally threw things into disarray. Many people openly berated the sects and individuals, but none took action. Some maintained complete silence, while a few more people even contacted Zhou Fan. He was naturally more than willing to gain a few new allies.
With things , nothing would be happening in the short term.
His new allies understood he needed a lot of time to cultivate and breakthrough.
Although he could no longer use the Time Bubble due to the presence of those from the future, which caused the power of Time to be outside of the fish's control, he could at least cultivate normally.
Many years passed in peace. Octillions, nonillions, Sage Years…
Zhou Fan steadily cultivated and grew stronger. Along with his cultivation, his comprehension of rules grew. He did not seek guidance of those from the future, as they were not taking his path, but a path they had been given by him in the future.
Zhou Fan could say with near certainty that he was still alive in the future. How else would these people be able to follow the path of cultivation so far?
Of course, there were some other possibilities he could not rule out.
Zhou Fan did not bother with all of that. He would take it one step at a time. His cultivation slowly advanced to the peak of the Loose Immortal realm. To those from the future, a mere Sage Year or ten was nothing to care about. They had surely lived for countless Sage Years.