41: Chapter 41 Negotiation

There were three chairs placed under the locust tree. Senior Bai Jie sat on one, Fang Jing sat on one, and Lu Chen sat on one.

Song Qi and Iron-Hand Zhang stood behind Fang Jing. Qin Wu stood behind Lu Chen. People stood on both sides—not for a fight, but as the rules of negotiation.

Fang Jing wasn't wearing his grey-blue robe today. He had changed into a plain black one, with no cloud patterns on the cuffs. Simple. But the simpler a person was, the harder they were to deal with.

"Shall I begin?" Fang Jing said.

"I'll go first," Lu Chen said. "You are here to listen to the bargaining chips. Until the chips are laid out, you have no conditions to propose."

Fang Jing didn't speak. He made a "please" gesture.

Lu Chen took three finger bones from his robe and placed them side by side on his knees. From left to right: the fourth, self-oblivion. The fifth, Li Xuanyi. The sixth, Senior Bai Jie.

"The Inverted Tower has five levels in total. Each level takes away a type of emotion."

"The first level—takes away the fear of death. The second level—takes away the care for friends. The third level—takes away the feeling for others' pain. The fourth level—takes away the cognition of oneself. The fifth level—takes away the faith in Cultivation."

The corner of Fang Jing's eye twitched. Senior Bai Jie was looking down at his own hands.

"The fifth level," Lu Chen picked up Li Xuanyi's finger bone. "Ancestral Master Li Xuanyi passed away inside. Not killed by someone else—he dissipated it himself. He scattered his cultivation, distributed his bones to his seven Disciples, and kept three for himself. His last words were carved on the wall."

"What last words?"

"'Those who live forever endure an endless prison sentence. I, Li Xuanyi, have served my time. May those who come after—escape from prison soon.'"

The courtyard was very quiet. Song Qi's breathing stopped for half a beat. Iron-Hand Zhang's open palm clenched into a fist.

"What is the Love-Refining Furnace?" Lu Chen said. "It is not a tool for Cultivation. It is a torture device. Those with a Grey Spirit Root are born with less emotion and cannot ascend—this Cultivation Technique extracts the emotions of others to refine into Qi, injecting it into one's own body. But the emotions are borrowed—things borrowed cannot take root. Cultivation rises layer by layer, while emotions are lost layer by layer. By the end—immortality is just a long, life sentence."

"Why did he pass away?" Fang Jing said.

"Because he walked through all five levels. He paid every price. In the end, he discovered—he had cultivated for a lifetime, only to refine himself into someone without emotions, without attachments, without a self. Immortality was still there. But he did not want to live anymore."

Fang Jing was silent.

The wind blew through the old locust tree. Leaves fell onto the three finger bones. The light within the bone cores flowed.

"This is the truth of the Inverted Tower," Lu Chen said. "The thing you have guarded for thirty years—is a coffin."

Fang Jing spoke. His voice was a notch lower than before. "This is not enough."

"Not enough for what?"

"Not enough to exchange for the recommendation letter. What you said—is the truth, yes. But the truth is not worth much. What is valuable is—you."

Lu Chen did not speak.

"Xuantian Sect does not need the Inverted Tower," Fang Jing said. "The Inverted Tower has been beneath the Danding Sect for three hundred years, and no one can move it. What Xuantian Sect wants is—someone who can walk through the Inverted Tower."

He stood up. He walked two steps under the locust tree.

"Grey Spirit Root. In three hundred years, Xuantian Sect has found seven. The first died on the first level. The second died on the third level. You are the third. The first person to walk through all five levels alive."

Senior Bai Jie looked up. "The first two—were sent in by Xuantian Sect."

"Yes," Fang Jing did not deny it. "The first was my Junior Brother."

Everyone looked at him.

"Thirty years ago. Sixth level of Qi Refining. He entered the first level—when he came out, he didn't recognize me. He said he was no longer afraid of death. Then he laughed—he was laughing when he said it. The next day, he jumped off a cliff himself. Not looking for death—he wanted to test if he was really not afraid."

He turned his head to look at Lu Chen. "The second was the Sect Head's eldest Disciple. He entered the third level. After coming out, he saw someone beating a child in the street—he walked over. Watched for a while. Then walked away. The Sect Head asked him why he didn't stop it—he said 'What does that have to do with me?' Three months later, he left Xuantian Sect. No one knows where he went."

Fang Jing sat back in the chair.

"So you are right. We dare not go in ourselves. Not because we are afraid of death—but because of what those who go in become after they come out."

Lu Chen touched the finger bones in his hand. The fourth—self-oblivion. After coming out, he wasn't sure if he was still Lu Chen.

"The recommendation letter can be given," Fang Jing said. "But Xuantian Sect has conditions."

"Speak."

"First. After entering the Hehuan Sect—whatever is in the Cave of Ten Thousand Desires, you must report it truthfully back to Xuantian Sect."

"That can be done."

"Second. You need this." Fang Jing took a palm-sized jade tablet from his sleeve. It was entirely green, with a cloud pattern carved in the center. "The Xuantian Green Jade Order. With this order, you can enter the Hehuan Sect. But there is a Restriction on the Green Jade Order—if the bearer does not return to Xuantian Sect to report within three months, the Restriction will trigger."

Lu Chen looked at the jade tablet. "What is the effect of the Restriction?"

"Seal half of your cultivation."

"Conditions to lift it?"

"Return to Xuantian Sect to report. Or—the Sect Master removes it personally."

Qin Wu took a step forward. Lu Chen raised his hand—telling him to stop.

"Third."

"Third," Fang Jing placed the jade tablet on his knees. "Xuantian Sect wants one promise from you."

"What promise?"

"If one day—you reach Foundation Establishment, reach Qi Refining, reach the top of the cultivation world. If on that day your Grey Spirit Root has completely swallowed you—Xuantian Sect wants you to agree to one thing."

"What thing?"

"Come to Xuantian Sect. Let us lock you up for three years."

Lu Chen looked at him.

"Not to kill you," Fang Jing said. "It is for research. Three years of observation, recording, testing medicine—without damaging your Foundation. After three years, you can leave if you want. The condition is—during those three years, you must not hide any physical changes."

Senior Bai Jie spoke. "You want to record the complete process of the Grey Spirit Root's changes."

"Correct. In three hundred years, seven Grey Spirit Roots, none lived to Foundation Establishment. He is the first one with hope." Fang Jing looked at Lu Chen. "You said—after the Love-Refining Furnace is reversed, the Grey Spirit Root will shatter. What will happen to your body after it shatters—no one knows. Xuantian Sect wants to know."

"What if I refuse the third condition?"

"The recommendation letter will still be given. But only the first and second conditions."

Lu Chen did not answer immediately.

The courtyard was very quiet. The leaves of the locust tree stopped moving—the wind had ceased. The three finger bones were on his knees. The light in the bone cores flickered—as if waiting.

"The third condition—I accept," Lu Chen said. "But not 'one day'. It is—before I reverse the Love-Refining Furnace."

Fang Jing's pupils shrank.

"After the reversal, the Grey Spirit Root will shatter. Once it shatters, there will be nothing left to observe. Before it shatters—I will leave the entire process of the Grey Spirit Root to you."

"When do you plan to reverse it?"

"After collecting all ten fingers."

"How many do you have now?"

"Three. I have already absorbed one—the information of four in total is in my Dantian. The sixth is in my hand. The seventh is in the Hehuan Sect. The eighth is in Xuantian Sect. The ninth is unknown. The tenth is at Qingniu Ridge."

Fang Jing looked at him. Looked for a long time. Then reached out and placed the Green Jade Order on the ground between them.

"Take it."

Lu Chen picked up the jade tablet. It was cold to the touch. But he could not feel the cold. He only felt the weight of the jade tablet—not heavy. But the Restriction was inside—like an extremely thin needle hidden in the texture of the jade.

Fang Jing stood up.

"The Restriction of the Green Jade Order—three months. Within three months, you must return to the Hehuan Sect to report. Or—have the Sect Master remove it. But the Sect Master will not see you easily."

"I will make him see me."

"Based on what?"

"Based on the fact that I have all of his Ancestral Master's last words in my hands."

Fang Jing did not speak. He nodded. Very lightly—as if confirming something he had guessed long ago.

"One more thing—not a condition. A reminder."

"Speak."

"People from the Ten Thousand Sword Sect are also looking for you. One named Han Yuan—Late Stage of Qi Refining, grey robe. He appeared near the Loose Cultivators Alliance. Three days ago."

Han Yuan.

Lu Chen's expression did not change. But the white line on his wrist moved—not bright, but tight. As if plucked by an invisible finger.

"What is his relationship with you?"

"No relationship. He wants what I have."

"The bone fragment?"

"It has already shattered. Absorbed. He chased for three years—by the time he caught up, it was already too late."

Fang Jing smiled. Not because he found it funny—it was a strange, slightly sympathetic thing.

"Your path is harder to walk than Li Xuanyi's. At least he was one person—no one was chasing him."

He turned and walked away. This time Song Qi and Iron-Hand Zhang followed closely. The backs of the three people disappeared at the end of the alley.

Senior Bai Jie spoke.

"Do you know why Fang Jing didn't give you the recommendation letter directly—why he had to add the second and third conditions?"

"I know," Lu Chen tucked the Green Jade Order into his robe. "The recommendation letter was prepared before he came. The second and third conditions—were added temporarily. Because he saw me."

"Correct. Seeing someone who walked through the Inverted Tower alive—he wants to bring back more than just a letter to Xuantian Sect. It is you. It is the promise of the three-year observation period. It is the complete record of the Grey Spirit Root from Qi Refining to Foundation Establishment to shattering."

"He is conducting an experiment."

"The entire Xuantian Sect is conducting an experiment. It started three hundred years ago," Senior Bai Jie looked at the alley entrance. "When Master was alive—Xuantian Sect was already collecting Grey Spirit Roots. Not to nurture them. To observe. To record how they practice Qi, how they lose emotions, how they die one by one. Now you are the first living one—they will bet all their resources on you. Not because you are important—because you are the only sample."

Qin Wu said: "Then Fang Jing's third condition—"

"Is a cage," Lu Chen said. "Using the three-year observation period to lock me up. Not now—but after Foundation Establishment. They are not sure I can reach Foundation Establishment, so the condition is set far ahead. If I die halfway—the condition naturally becomes void. If I don't die—three years in exchange for a recommendation letter."

"You agreed."

"Three years. When the time comes," Lu Chen stood up. "When the time comes—it's not certain if the Grey Spirit Root will still be there."

He turned and walked into the house.

Qin Wu followed. "That Han Yuan—"

"I know. Fang Jing mentioning him wasn't out of kindness—he wanted to see my reaction. Han Yuan is near the Loose Cultivators Alliance—Fang Jing is also afraid. Han Yuan represents the Ten Thousand Sword Sect, and the Ten Thousand Sword Sect is at odds with Xuantian Sect. Fang Jing telling me this—is equivalent to saying 'The Ten Thousand Sword Sect wants to catch you, Xuantian Sect is your only umbrella'."

"Do you believe him?"

"Whether I believe him or not is not important. What matters is—Han Yuan is indeed looking for me."

Lu Chen walked into the house. Looking out from the window. The sky above the Loose Cultivators Alliance was a grey-blue. The clouds were moving. Heading south—that was the direction of the Hehuan Sect. To the west was the Ten Thousand Sword Sect. To the east was Qingniu Ridge.

Three roads. There were people on all three lines.

"Depart tomorrow," he said.

"Where to?"

"Hehuan Sect. Let's get the seventh finger bone first."

Qin Wu looked at him. "That—reversal. Have you thought it through?"

Lu Chen looked down at his wrist. The white line had six loops and seven knots. The line was still there. The light was still bright.

"No."

"Then how did you decide—"

"No need to decide," Lu Chen said. "When I reach the tenth, I will naturally know."

He pressed his hand against his chest. Three finger bones. A Green Jade Order. And the line on his wrist.

tianxuan calendar · taiping Year 19 · Spring.

The Loose Cultivators Alliance matter is concluded.

Xuantian Sect conditions accepted. Green Jade Order in hand.

The seventh finger bone — Hehuan Sect · Cave of Ten Thousand Desires.

Han Yuan is nearby.

Tomorrow — Heading south to the Hehuan Sect.