Eternal Life: I Can Control My Essence Qi-Chapter 194 - 163: Yu Wen Tai’s Compensation (Part 2)

The Foundation Establishment Chief looked at the crowd, smiling slightly:

"All esteemed guests in the previous auction have successfully bid on quite a few items."

"Since I invited you all here, it would be inconvenient to trouble everyone to make another trip. Why not hand over your tokens to the stewards in the tower, and they will retrieve them for you."

"Very well."

Zhang Yao and others exchanged glances, then nodded in agreement, handing over their tokens.

After all, they were all in the Celestial Treasure Tower, so there was no fear of any tricks. The reputation built over hundreds of years was far more valuable than those petty gains.

"Honored friend."

After the Qi Refining Steward respectfully took the tokens, Zhang Yao asked:

"May I know what urgent matter has stopped us?"

"It's like this..."

The opposite Foundation Establishment Chief carefully chose his words before cautiously asking:

"May I ask if your association released a warrant about ten years ago to openly pursue a female cultivator named 'Li Shuixian'?"

"Huh?"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Yao and the others were all shocked.

No one had expected that this Foundation Establishment Chief of the Celestial Treasure Tower would come for Li Shuixian.

"Association Leader, what is this person's agenda?"

Old Peng couldn't hold back and secretly used Divine Thought to communicate.

"Could it be that Li Shuixian broke through to the Foundation Establishment Stage and joined the Celestial Treasure Tower? They want us to revoke the warrant?"

"Let's wait and see..."

Zhang Yao furrowed his brows, unsure in his heart, and responded quietly with Divine Thought.

On the surface, after a brief moment of surprise, he returned to his usual expression and said calmly:

"Indeed, Li Shuixian was originally the warehouse manager of Suiyu Mountain, responsible for safeguarding the important assets of the association."

"But when external enemies invaded and attacked Suiyu Mountain, he abandoned the array, committed theft, and fled with a large amount of minerals. Only then did we issue the warrant."

The matter has long been concluded, and he had no intention of exonerating Li Shuixian.

After all, when confronted with a crisis, she chose betrayal over trusting him. He wouldn't concern himself with her any further; all consequences were hers to bear.

"Exactly."

The Foundation Establishment Chief opposite him seemed to come to a realization and spoke:

"To be honest, I just received this task."

"The female cultivator Li Shuixian was accepted yesterday as the first direct disciple by our Yuwen Tower Master!"

"This task is personally dispatched by Yuwen Tower Master, and he wishes the Qingxu Sect Leader to retract her warrant, letting go of the past. For this, the Tower Master would offer some compensation."

"What?!"

Zhang Yao, Peng Yue Xian, and others were greatly shocked by his words.

Yuwen Tai, the Celestial Treasure Tower Master, accepted Li Shuixian as a direct disciple?

Zhang Yao's first thought was disbelief, but then he realized the absurdity of it.

What qualifications does Li Shuixian have? She isn't even an Earth Spirit Root, just a common three-attribute Mixed Spirit Root. It took her over forty years to achieve Qi Refining Perfection, with little hope of advancing to Foundation Establishment.

With such qualifications and background, if placed in the Southwest Small Countries like the Wei Kingdom or Li Kingdom, she'd likely remain an ordinary late-stage Qi Refining for life.

And Yuwen Tai's status? The undisputed leader beneath Golden Core, unparalleled within Foundation Establishment, capable of shaking the Da Li Twenty-four Provinces with just a stomp of his foot.

What did he see in Li Shuixian to bring her under his wing?

"..."

Zhang Yao, Old Peng, Fairy Li Chen, and others exchanged glances, falling into an oddly silent atmosphere.

"Ahem!"

The Foundation Establishment Chief opposite waited for a few seconds, and finally could only break the silence with an awkward cough:

"Qingxu Sect Leader, what is your decision?"

"...I have no objections."

Zhang Yao replied expressionlessly:

"Since Li Shuixian was fortunate enough to be chosen by Yuwen Tower Master as a direct disciple, of course, we at the Haihe Association won't hold grudges."

"Please be assured, upon my return to Cangjiang Water Mansion, I will order the repeal of all pursuit and arrest warrants against her from the past."

"Good."

The Foundation Establishment Chief opposite breathed a sigh of relief, smiling:

"I knew the Qingxu Sect Leader would be a sensible person."

As he spoke, he took out a small white porcelain bottle from his sleeve and handed it over with a smile.

"This is a compensation from Yuwen Tower Master himself—a Ruyi True Pill!"

The moment the words fell:

Zhang Yao could clearly feel the breaths of Old Peng and others growing heavy, their burning eyes fixed on that small white porcelain bottle.

"This might be too precious..."

There was a hint of polite refusal in Zhang Yao's tone, and his actions were inevitably hesitant.

This Ruyi True Pill was indeed invaluable, but it was also a hot potato; those old fellows at Foundation Establishment Perfection were all green with envy and excitement, each willing to break their skulls to fight for it.

Once the news leaked, he might not even make it back to Fang Continent safely; attacks and ambushes would be almost certain.

Moreover, this item was refined by Yu Wen Tai; who knows what hidden traps might be in it? Just for one Li Shuixian, would Yu Wen Tai be willing to offer such a large wager?

"Lord Qingxu."

The opposing Foundation Establishment Chief seemed to understand Zhang Yao's concerns and said helplessly:

"This Ruyi True Pill was personally specified by Yuwen Tower Master as compensation for you."

"If you are truly uneasy, you can stay within the Celestial Treasure Tower for a few more days and take it after swallowing and refining it."

"...Fine, I'll accept it then."

Zhang Yao gave him a deep look, suddenly spoke, and reached out to take the white porcelain bottle.

Then, he put away the porcelain bottle, turned to look at Old Peng beside him, and said in a deep voice:

"Lord Haihe should still be exchanging auction items, not yet left the Celestial Treasure Tower Headquarters."

"Old Peng, quickly go and intercept him, tell him I have something important to discuss, and trouble him to wait for me in the room."

"...Alright! I'll go right away!"

Old Peng was slightly startled but immediately complied.

After hurriedly getting up and leaving the hall, he couldn't help but sigh in his heart at Zhang Yao's decisiveness and boldness.

If it were him, even knowing it might bring greater benefits, it would be difficult to hand such a life-extending treasure to others so decisively, but Zhang Yao just did it, and so straightforwardly.

"Oh? Lord Qingxu truly makes good decisions."

The opposing Foundation Establishment Chief also understood Zhang Yao's intentions and expressed his admiration.

After the two exchanged a few more words and confirmed some details about lifting the bounty, Zhang Yao and his company took their leave.

"You all go back first; I might need to stay another couple of days."

Zhang Yao dismissed Fairy Lichen and the others, gave a few instructions, and then hurriedly went up to the three hundred and twenty-fifth floor to meet Lord Haihe.

Meanwhile, in Yuwen Tai's private quarters at the top level of the Celestial Treasure Tower.

"What... you gave him a Ruyi True Pill?"

Li Shuixian was startled.

"Indeed."

Yuwen Tai's lips slightly curled, revealing an ambiguous smile:

"I had initially intended to casually give him a top-grade Spiritual Artifact to dismiss him."

"But after a bit of background checking, I discovered that this person was once your old flame, so naturally, he deserves a bit more preferential treatment."

"..."

Li Shuixian blushed slightly and whispered:

"Master, why tease me?"

"Many years ago, he was a dignified Foundation Establishment master, while I was merely a concubine who had to recommend myself out of necessity, hardly an old flame..."

She paused, adding a touch of resentment to her tone:

"Moreover, since the upheaval in Kang Continent, he took over the leadership of the Haihe Association, leaving me far behind."

"If he truly cared, he would have lifted the bounty long ago..."

Upon hearing this, Yuwen Tai gave a nonchalant smile and said:

"As you said, he was a Foundation Establishment master back then; your statuses were unequal, naturally, there couldn't be much genuine affection."

"This Qingxu Lord is not bad; he's young and promising. Since your Primordial Yin was given to him, who knows, it might rekindle the old flame in the future."

He paused and then continued:

"Oh, I recall telling you that your ancestors didn't bear the surname Li; it should have been changed at some point."

"Now that you've become my disciple, you should sever ties with the past. If you'd like, you can revert to your ancestors' original surname."

"Oh?"

Li Shuixian was curious and asked:

"May I ask, Master, what was my ancestors' original surname? My parents never mentioned this."

Yuwen Tai remained gentle, his gaze deepened slightly, and he slowly said:

"Your ancestors' surname was Liu."