“Although Han Li had never seen the Foundation Establishment Pill with his own eyes, he was well aware of its value and importance! Just think—at the Ascension Immortal Assembly at Heavenly Mist Platform, nearly a thousand cultivators fought fiercely on the stage, risking life and death. What were they competing for? Wasn’t it largely because of the temptation of this very pill? And now, this Elder Ye actually intends to trade it away for some spirit stones and magical tools—does he really think I’m some greenhorn fresh out of the mountains?” Han Li sneered inwardly, though his face quickly resumed an expression of deference, as if he were earnestly considering the other’s words.
Elder Ye was quite pleased with Han Li’s reaction. After all, this future junior disciple hadn’t outright refused the exchange upon hearing about the Foundation Establishment Pill. It seemed there was room for negotiation after all.
From the start, the elder had never expected to secure the pill with what he had initially offered. Anyone with a shred of sense would know better than to trade such a precious item for so cheap. His earlier words had merely been a test, a way to gauge the waters.
But now, seeing Han Li’s attitude, it truly seemed as though the matter was negotiable. This made Elder Ye’s heart bloom with joy!
As long as the other party was willing to trade, the elder was absolutely confident he could meet Han Li’s demands and secure the Foundation Establishment Pill. The thought brought an even broader smile to Elder Ye’s face, and he found Han Li’s appearance far more agreeable than before.
“Nephew Han, I presume you already know your spiritual root attributes? To be frank, even with the Foundation Establishment Pill, your chances of successfully establishing your foundation are exceedingly slim given your aptitude. At best, the pill might only refine your spiritual power and advance your basic cultivation by two or three layers. In that case, using the pill would be a tremendous waste! For you, it would be far more practical to exchange it for something more beneficial. If…” The elder began a long, persuasive speech, trying to coax Han Li into agreement.
On the surface, Han Li appeared to be listening attentively to Elder Ye’s lengthy discourse, but inwardly, he was already analyzing and weighing the pros and cons.
Truth be told, he was well aware that, just as the elder had said, his chances of successfully establishing his foundation with just one Foundation Establishment Pill were indeed minuscule. Yet, the thought of simply handing over the pill filled Han Li with reluctance. No matter how slim the odds, there was still a chance, however small, that he could succeed.
But if he refused Elder Ye, his days in Yellow Maple Valley would undoubtedly become difficult. He would most likely make an enemy of this man for no good reason, and given that the elder seemed to hold some authority within the sect, the situation would only worsen.
“Elder Ye, may I ask who you are seeking this Foundation Establishment Pill for? Surely you yourself have no need for it,” Han Li asked after some thought, deciding to first sound out the elder’s intentions.
Though interrupted, Elder Ye showed no displeasure. After a moment’s hesitation, he replied, “Since you’ve asked, Nephew Han, I see no reason to hide it. This pill is for my grand-nephew. I hope you can accommodate this request?”
Hearing this, Han Li inwardly sighed. “A grand-nephew—that’s a fairly close relation. And for the elder to go to such lengths, even stooping to negotiate with a junior like me, it must be someone he deeply cherishes. It seems that if I refuse, I’ll undoubtedly anger him, and my days in Yellow Maple Valley will be anything but peaceful. I have no choice but to reluctantly agree. As for my own foundation establishment, I’ll have to find another way. I still have that mysterious small bottle—with the right formula and time, what pill couldn’t I produce?”
Having weighed the stakes, Han Li made up his mind. However, he still intended to make the elder pay a hefty price. Thus, he put on a troubled expression, furrowing his brows in apparent distress.
“Elder, it’s not that I wish to disrespect my senior, but this Foundation Establishment Pill is also immensely important to me. Even with my poor aptitude, there’s still a sliver of hope, isn’t there? If I give up this chance at foundation establishment, I may truly never have another opportunity to tread the path of immortality.”
Hearing this, Elder Ye inwardly scoffed. “With aptitude like yours, and you still dare to dream of the Great Dao? How presumptuous.”
Outwardly, however, the elder continued earnestly, persuading Han Li from every angle and making many empty promises, applying pressure to sway his resolve and secure the pill.
Han Li listened to these hollow words with a cold laugh in his heart, but he feigned increasing weakness in his responses, which only invigorated the elder further, prompting him to offer higher and higher prices.
“Nephew! If you’re willing to part with the Foundation Establishment Pill, I can allow you to freely choose any of the miscellaneous duties assigned to disciples within the valley,” Elder Ye said, seeing that Han Li was on the verge of agreement and finally playing his trump card.
“Miscellaneous duties?” This time, Han Li was genuinely taken aback.
“Indeed. You must understand that low-level disciples of our Yellow Maple Valley are required to complete certain assigned tasks each month. For example: supervising miners at various ore sites, serving as attendant disciples at the sect’s market, tending to the valley’s spiritual beasts and exotic birds, or cultivating rare spiritual herbs and medicines—all sorts of odd jobs. Depending on the completion of these tasks, the sect distributes low-level spirit stones each month as a reward. And I, your elder, am precisely the valley steward responsible for assigning these tasks. So, if there’s any duty you prefer, it’s just a word from me.” As he spoke, Elder Ye puffed out his chest, indeed looking every bit the man in charge.
Hearing this, Han Li was speechless. It seemed that no matter where you went, there would always be those who abused their power for personal gain—even in a major cultivation sect like Yellow Maple Valley.
However, when the elder mentioned the task of cultivating rare medicines, Han Li’s heart stirred. That role seemed tailor-made for him. Moreover, the elder had already promised considerable benefits. If he delayed any further, he might come across as too greedy. It was better to quit while he was ahead.
With this in mind, Han Li pretended to be finally persuaded and said to the elder with feigned reluctance, “Since Elder Ye has put it this way, it would be disrespectful for me to refuse any longer. As long as you truly honor the conditions you’ve promised, I am willing to yield this Foundation Establishment Pill to your grand-nephew. May he succeed in establishing his foundation!”
Overjoyed, Elder Ye immediately vowed, “Nephew, rest assured—every word I’ve said is solid as a rock. However, when we meet the sect leader later, you may disclose the overt terms of our exchange, but it’s best not to mention some of the私下承诺的一些事.”
Han Li smiled understandingly and replied very tactfully, “Please don’t worry, Elder. I know better than to do something so foolish.”
Elder Ye beamed, exceedingly pleased with Han Li’s compliance.
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