289: Chapter 289 The Deal!

Inside the number three private room of the Star-Moon Pavilion, the fragrance of tea curled in the air, yet it could not dispel the invisible atmosphere that had grown increasingly heavy due to the two sections of spiritual bamboo.

Han Li's gaze lingered longingly for a few moments on the section of heavenly lightning bamboo with the pale golden remnant root, but in the end, he forced himself to look away and let his eyes fall back onto the face of Lu Qiu, who remained calm across from him.

He knew that the testing and posturing were enough; it was time to get down to business.

He took a deep breath, the look of "scrutiny and assessment" on his face slowly fading, replaced by a solemnity tinged with candor and helplessness as he looked at Lu Qiu, his voice clear and earnest:

"Senior Brother Lu, there is no need to speak in riddles between us. These two sections of heavenly lightning bamboo, especially the one with a lingering remnant root, are truly of great use for Junior Brother's cultivation of the 'Qing Yuan Sword Art' and the refining of my Lifebound Treasure, the 'green bamboo bee cloud sword.' They are even... objects I dream of. Junior Brother will not beat around the bush with you, Senior Brother. I wonder how you... intend to trade this item with me?"

He asked directly, no longer concealing his need for the heavenly lightning bamboo, but also making it clear that this was a "transaction," an equal exchange, rather than a one-sided gift or plea.

His posture was neither humble nor arrogant; he expressed his desire for the treasure while maintaining his bottom line as one party in the transaction.

Lu Qiu watched Han Li's eyes, which had returned to being calm and deep, yet faintly revealed a look of determination, and nodded inwardly.

This youth's Heart-Nature was truly remarkable; he could quickly regain his reason from such immense temptation and seize the initiative in the negotiation.

He was not in a hurry to reveal his trump card either; he simply picked up his teacup, took another sip, and cast his gaze toward the bustling street scene of Tianxing City outside the window, as if lost in some memory, speaking slowly with a hint of emotion:

"Junior Brother Han, do you know that it was not easy for me to obtain these two sections of heavenly lightning bamboo?"

He paused, his voice not loud, but carrying an engaging narrative quality: "A month ago, due to an old matter, I went to a remote sea area in the eastern part of the Inner Star Sea. Unexpectedly, I stumbled upon a group of Demonic Path Cultivators besieging a merchant ship, killing people and seizing treasures with cruel methods. I originally did not wish to meddle in other people's business, but that group of Demonic Path Cultivators acted too arrogantly. Moreover, the leader among them was not weak in cultivation, having already reached the Late Core Formation Stage, and possessed a vicious demonic banner of immense power. I couldn't stand by and watch, so I took action to scare them away and saved the survivors of the merchant ship."

Han Li listened quietly, but his heart stirred.

The eastern part of the Inner Star Sea? Demonic Path Cultivators plundering? A Late Core Formation Stage leader? I didn't expect this heavenly lightning bamboo to have such an origin.

Senior Brother Lu's strength is actually this powerful; even a Late Core Formation Stage cultivator is not his match? Could it be that Senior Brother Lu's cultivation is already at the Late Core Formation Stage!

Lu Qiu continued: "The merchant ship belonged to a small School. This time, they were transporting several treasures that had been treasured by the School for many years, including these two sections of heavenly lightning bamboo. The old woman who led them, to thank me for saving their lives, insisted on giving me the most precious section, the one with the root. I originally wanted to decline, but the old woman said that in the hands of her School, this bamboo was merely a source of disaster, inviting the calamity of their destruction. Now that the elite of her School were all lost, and only she and a granddaughter had luckily escaped, they were no longer able to keep it. She pleaded with me to accept it, to prevent it from falling into the hands of the Demonic Path and causing even greater harm. As for the other section of rootless withered bamboo, I obtained it from the Storage Pouch dropped by the Demonic Path Cultivator leader whom I had scared away. I imagine it was also one of their targets for this plunder."

He sighed, his tone carrying a heaviness of "looking back on the past": "Seeing her words were sincere, and that the background of that group of Demonic Path Cultivators seemed significant, acting viciously and holding grudges, I realized that although I had scared them away, I had also formed a feud, and there might be trouble in the future. After careful consideration, I finally accepted this bamboo. Come to think of it, in obtaining this item, I have also shouldered no small amount of Karma and risk."

His words were half-true and half-false, connecting the process of obtaining the heavenly lightning bamboo with his own act of "meddling" and "forming a feud with the Demonic Path." It not only explained the origin but also cleverly implied that he had paid a "price" and "shouldered risks" to obtain this item, invisibly raising the value of the heavenly lightning bamboo, and furthermore casting himself as an image of someone who "saw injustice and got into trouble."

Sure enough, after listening, a glimmer of realization and gravity flashed in Han Li's eyes.

His evaluation of Lu Qiu's strength and courage in his heart was raised to another level, and at the same time, he gained a more intuitive understanding of how "hard-won" this heavenly lightning bamboo was.

If even a figure like Senior Brother Lu feels it is "troublesome" and "shoulders risks," the weight of this bamboo is indeed extremely heavy.

"So there were such twists and turns behind this item."

Han Li's face showed just the right amount of admiration and emotion: "Senior Brother is righteous, taking action to help and shouldering risks for it; Junior Brother admires you. But because of this, the value of this heavenly lightning bamboo has become even heavier in Junior Brother's heart. Senior Brother, whatever your conditions are, please speak plainly. As long as it is within Junior Brother's power, I will definitely do my utmost and will never let Senior Brother suffer a loss."

He once again expressed his sincerity in wanting to trade, lowered his posture even further, acknowledged the "high value" of the heavenly lightning bamboo, and implied that he was willing to pay a corresponding "high price."

Seeing that the timing was about right, Lu Qiu no longer continued to "complain."

He put down his teacup, looked at Han Li, and nodded: "Good, since Junior Brother says so, then I will get straight to the point."

He flipped his wrist, took out a pale cyan Jade Slip, and gently pushed it in front of Han Li.

"In recent years, I have been cultivating a secret technique and refining several types of Medicinal Pills, which require some Spirit Medicine with higher age. However, most of these Spirit Medicine are rare, with strict requirements for age, and are extremely difficult to find on the market. Even if they occasionally appear, they are expensive and highly contested. I have thought about it, and in the past, Junior Brother has always been able to accumulate some high-age Spiritual Plant and Spirit Medicine, so you must have special channels for obtaining them."

He paused, looking at Han Li with calm eyes, as if stating a fact: "This Jade Slip lists the ten types of Spirit Medicine I urgently need, as well as the required age for each. Junior Brother might as well take a look. If you have any to spare, or have a way to obtain some of them... perhaps we can use this as a basis to discuss the transaction of this heavenly lightning bamboo."

Han Li's heart stirred; he reached out to take the Jade Slip and probed it with his Divine Sense.

The information inside the Jade Slip was clear and explicit, listing the names of the ten types of Spirit Medicine, descriptions of their morphological characteristics, and the eye-popping age requirements noted after them:

"Blood Jade Ganoderma," requiring over three thousand years.

"Soul Bone Grass," requiring over two thousand five hundred years.

"Ink Leaf Lotus," requiring over three thousand five hundred years.

"Blood Essence Monster Fruit," requiring over four thousand years.

"Heavenly Azure Flower," requiring over two thousand years.

"Earth Heart Fire Lotus," requiring over three thousand years.

"Ink Rhyme Spirit Ginseng," requiring over five thousand years!

"Dragon Pattern Grass," requiring over two thousand eight hundred years.

"Ice Spirit Fruit," requiring over three thousand two hundred years.

"Soul Jade Fruit," requiring over four thousand five hundred years!

The ten types of Spirit Medicine were all rare treasures in the Cultivation world, with extremely harsh requirements for growth environment and age.

And the ages required in the Jade Slip all started at a minimum of two thousand years, with the highest, the "Ink Rhyme Spirit Ginseng" and "Soul Jade Fruit," actually requiring five thousand and four thousand five hundred years!

Spirit Medicine of this age, even in the medicine gardens of those large Schools with ten thousand years of Legacy, would absolutely be the most core treasures, not easily used, let alone flowing onto the market!

Looking at this list, the corners of Han Li's mouth couldn't help but twitch slightly. In his heart, he felt shock and a bitter smile, mixed with a trace of guilt and vigilance at having his secret seen through.

He was shocked by the obscurity of the types of Spirit Medicine Senior Brother Lu needed and the high requirements for their age.

Most of these Spirit Medicine were main ingredients or key auxiliary ingredients for refining certain top-tier Medicinal Pills. What Senior Brother Lu wanted to refine was likely not ordinary Medicinal Pills.

Could it be that he was also preparing for Nascent Soul Formation or cultivating some powerful secret technique?

The bitter smile was because he... indeed had a way to obtain the Spirit Medicine on this list.

Or rather, with the Heaven-Defying efficacy of the little green bottle, as long as he could find seedlings or seeds, cultivating them to the specified age was not difficult!

Especially for the "Ink Rhyme Spirit Ginseng" and "Soul Jade Fruit" which had the highest requirements, he had fortunately obtained a dying "Ink Rhyme Spirit Ginseng" seedling and a few "Soul Jade Fruit" pits in a dangerous place in the Outer Star Sea years ago. They had long been carefully cultivated by him using the green liquid; although they had not yet reached five thousand and four thousand five hundred years, they already had a thousand years of age!

Others like "Blood Jade Ganoderma," "Seven Star Grass," and "Ink Leaf Lotus" were also in his inventory, with many reaching or approaching the required age.

But precisely because of this, he was even more vigilant and guilty. Senior Brother Lu's list was simply as if it had been tailor-made for him!

It just so happened to ask for the high-age rare Spirit Medicine that he might be able to obtain!

Was this a coincidence, or... had Senior Brother Lu noticed something? Did he know that he had a special method to accelerate the growth of Spirit Medicine?

No, that was impossible! He had never mentioned the secret of the little green bottle to anyone. It must be a coincidence.

He had to cover it up! He must never expose that he had the ability to easily produce these high-age Spirit Medicine! Otherwise, with the Heaven-Defying nature of the little green bottle, once it was leaked, it would be a disaster!

Han Li's face showed obvious difficulty and bitterness. He took the Jade Slip away from his forehead, looked at Lu Qiu, and said with a helpless voice: "Senior Brother Lu... you have really set a difficult problem for Junior Brother. Any one of the Spirit Medicine on this list is a treasure sufficient to cause Core Formation Cultivators to fight over it in the outside world. Two-thousand-year 'Heavenly Azure Flower,' three-thousand-year 'Earth Heart Fire Lotus'... and this five-thousand-year 'Ink Rhyme Spirit Ginseng,' four-thousand-five-hundred-year 'Soul Jade Fruit'... this, this, let alone Junior Brother, even in the medicine gardens of those Nascent Soul Old Ancestors, there might not necessarily be stock, right? Even if Junior Brother were to sell off all his assets, plus the little family fortune I have saved by risking my life in the Outer Star Sea over these years, I am afraid I could not even exchange for one or two of them that reach the required age..."

He spread his hands, with an expression of "you are making things difficult for me," his acting skills were truly superb.

Lu Qiu took in the slight twitch of Han Li's mouth, the shock in his eyes, and the "helpless bitter smile" that quickly emerged afterward, and he couldn't help but chuckle inwardly.

This kid, he was acting quite well.

However, this was exactly the effect he wanted.

He did not intend to expose Han Li's secret; he merely wanted a "reasonable" excuse for the transaction and a channel to acquire the large amount of high-age Spirit Medicine he urgently needed.

If Han Li was willing to act, he would play along.

"Junior Brother, do not be anxious."

Lu Qiu revealed an understanding smile and waved his hand: "I naturally know that these Spirit Medicines are hard to find. This list is the total amount I require, and I am not asking you to gather them all immediately. My cultivation of that secret technique and the refining of Medicinal Pills cannot be accomplished in a single day, so there is still time. Junior Brother can search slowly, or keep an eye out through your own channels. As long as you can gradually gather half of the Spirit Medicines on this list for me within... hmm, fifty years, and they meet the age requirements, these two sections of heavenly lightning bamboo will belong to you. How about it?"

He offered a lenient condition and a long timeframe.

Fifty years to gather half.

For Han Li, who possessed the little green bottle, this was not particularly difficult.

Lu Qiu gave Han Li sufficient room to maneuver, allowing him to "reasonably" and "accidentally" "discover" or "exchange" for these high-age Spirit Medicines without appearing too abrupt.

Upon hearing this, Han Li's heart immediately relaxed, and he began to calculate quickly.

Fifty years.

With the efficacy of the green liquid, if he used it to force-ripen them with all his might, he could likely finish in ten years.

The remaining time could be used entirely for "acting" to create a reasonable path of acquisition.

This condition was completely acceptable to him.

Although he would have to pay five types of rare, high-age Spirit Medicines, which were also of considerable value, compared to that section of heavenly lightning bamboo with roots, and the potential ten-thousand-year Gold Thunder Bamboo he might Cultivate in the future, this deal was still a massive profit!

Moreover, Senior Brother Lu did not seem to suspect anything; he simply valued the fact that "I often adventure outside and might have the Opportunity to obtain rare Spirit Medicines."

Other than using Spirit Medicine for the exchange, he truly could not come up with any other item of equal value that would entice Senior Brother Lu without exposing his own secrets.

Spirit Stones?

Senior Brother Lu clearly did not lack them.

Magic Treasure or Cultivation Techniques?

The other party's cultivation base was unfathomable; he probably wouldn't care for his meager belongings.

Favors?

Senior Brother Lu had already helped him too much; if he owed any more favors, he feared it would be even harder to repay in the future.

Using Spirit Medicine for the transaction, while "expensive," was the cleanest, most direct, and most effective way to conceal the existence of the little green bottle.

After thinking it over repeatedly, the look of "difficulty" on Han Li's face gradually faded, replaced by a solemn determination.

He looked at Lu Qiu and nodded heavily:

"Good! Since Senior Brother has granted a fifty-year period and only requires half to be gathered, then Junior Brother... accepts! Within fifty years, Junior Brother will definitely do his utmost to find half of the Spirit Medicines on the list for Senior Brother in exchange for these two sections of heavenly lightning bamboo!"

"Straightforward!" Lu Qiu clapped his hands and laughed, appearing very pleased.

He did not hesitate and pushed the wooden boxes on the table toward Han Li.

"Since that is the case, Junior Brother, take these two sections of heavenly lightning bamboo first."

Han Li looked at the two boxes pushed in front of him, especially the soul nurturing wood box, and was completely stunned.

He raised his head in disbelief and looked at Lu Qiu, his voice carrying a hint of uncertain trembling: "Senior... Senior Brother Lu? This... Junior Brother has not yet presented the promised Spirit Medicines, yet Senior Brother is... handing the heavenly lightning bamboo directly to Junior Brother? This... this is trusting Junior Brother too much. If Junior Brother... if Junior Brother were to take this bamboo and flee to a distant place, or... or were unable to gather the Spirit Medicines within ten years, wouldn't Senior Brother be..."

His question was honest.

The world of cultivation was full of deceit, where killing for treasures and breaking one's word were commonplace.

For such a priceless treasure, to be handed over in advance when the other party had only given a "ten-year promise"? This simply did not conform to the basic logic of the cultivation world!

Han Li asked himself, if they were in each other's shoes, he absolutely could not be this "generous."

This trust from Senior Brother Lu made him feel shocked, and even a little... apprehensive.

Lu Qiu looked at Han Li's complex expression—a mix of astonishment, confusion, vigilance, and a trace of being moved—and his smile was gentle and sincere.

He spoke slowly:

"Junior Brother Han, you and I have known each other for nearly a hundred years, ever since we left the State of Yue in Tiannan and crossed the sea together to reach this Chaotic Star Sea. Although we are not blood relatives, we are still fellow Sect members. Over these years, I have watched you step by step from Foundation Establishment to Core Formation, and I know well that you are a cautious person who values promises and keeps your word; you are by no means the type of petty person who forgets righteousness for profit or betrays trust."

He paused, his tone becoming even more peaceful yet carrying an unquestionable certainty:

"Furthermore, I trust my own judgment. Only in Junior Brother's hands can this heavenly lightning bamboo unleash its greatest value, being refined into the green bamboo bee cloud sword to assist in your Dao path. In my hands, it would merely be a decent piece of Artifact Refining material. It is a fair exchange, each getting what they need. Since Junior Brother has agreed, I will trust you. As for the fifty-year period... I am not a pedantic person; if Junior Brother truly has difficulties when the time comes, it can be discussed again. The road of cultivation is long, and since you and I have reunited in this foreign land, it is fate. Between fellow Sect members, we should support one another; why bother with petty calculations and lose our camaraderie?"

The word "fellow Sect member," spoken naturally by Lu Qiu, felt like a warm current flowing gently through the heart lake that Han Li had long ago frozen with vigilance.

Fellow Sect member... Yes, when calculating carefully, in this vast and perilous Chaotic Star Sea, who else could be called a "fellow Sect member" or an "old acquaintance" besides this mysterious and powerful Senior Brother Lu before him?

Back in Yellow Maple Valley, he had traded with Senior Brother Lu many times.

Later, during the sea crossing, the strength and insight the other party displayed made him look up to him.

Then later, parting at Kuixing Island and reuniting at Tianxing City... the other party had time and again, at critical nodes in his cultivation path, provided help, guidance, or even this current "transaction" to fulfill his needs, whether directly or indirectly.

Although the other party always seemed to wear a veil of mystery, making it impossible to see through their true purpose and the depths of their cultivation base, at least until now, the other party had never harbored any malice toward him and had instead provided much care.

This "camaraderie of fellow Sect members," in this cold and cruel world of cultivation, seemed so precious.

Han Li was silent for a moment; the vigilance and calculation in his heart quietly melted away a little at this moment.

He reached out and solemnly picked up the two boxes, holding them tightly in his hands, feeling the warmth from the soul nurturing wood box and the coldness of the jade box, as if holding two heavy portions of trust and expectation.

He raised his head and looked at Lu Qiu. In those eyes that were always cautious and deep, a rare expression of sincere gratitude and respect emerged. He bowed deeply to Lu Qiu:

"Senior Brother Lu... thank you! Thank you, Senior Brother, for your trust! Junior Brother... will certainly not let Senior Brother down! Within fifty years, I will definitely present the Spirit Medicines! This kindness and sentiment, Han Li will keep in his heart!"

This time, his gratitude came from the bottom of his heart, with less of the previous formality and calculation, and more weight.

"Junior Brother, you are too kind. Please, get up." Lu Qiu gestured as if to help him up and smiled: "In that case, the transaction is considered settled. After you return, Junior Brother, you can rest assured and study the method for refining the green bamboo bee cloud sword. If there is anything unclear, or if you need information on other auxiliary Materials, you may come and ask me."

"Yes, thank you, Senior Brother!" Han Li straightened up and carefully placed the two boxes into the deepest part of his Storage Pouch.

At this moment, he was eager to return home; he wished he could immediately return to his Immortal Cave to carefully study that section of heavenly lightning bamboo with roots and formulate a cultivation plan.

The two chatted a few more idle words about cultivation and Alchemy, then Han Li rose to take his leave. Lu Qiu saw him to the door of the room.

"Take care, Junior Brother."

"Please stay, Senior Brother."

Han Li bowed his hands again and turned to leave, his footsteps seeming a bit lighter than when he arrived.

Lu Qiu stood at the door of the room, watching Han Li's figure disappear around the corner of the stairs. The gentle smile on his face gradually faded, returning to a calm and deep expression.

He turned and returned to the window, looking at the bustling market below, his gaze distant.

"heavenly lightning bamboo... only in your hands can it turn decay into magic. Han Li, oh Han Li, do not let me down." Lu Qiu whispered inwardly.

The reason he was so "generous" in handing over the heavenly lightning bamboo in advance was, naturally, not solely due to "trust" or "fellow Sect member camaraderie."

It was based on deeper considerations.

First, he truly needed those high-age Spirit Medicines.

Whether it was preparing Medicinal Pills for Xin Ruyin's Nascent Soul Formation, his own cultivation needs, or raising Spirit Pets and refining special Talismans, high-age Spirit Medicines were indispensable hard currency.

Han Li had the little green bottle, which was the most stable and "reasonable" channel for obtaining these Spirit Medicines.

Using the heavenly lightning bamboo, which he had no use for, to exchange for a stable supply of high-age Spirit Medicines in the future—this investment, in the long run, was only profitable.

Secondly, this was a posture, an investment.

Handing over a precious treasure in advance and displaying absolute trust and generosity was enough to leave a deep impression in Han Li's heart, further consolidating the relationship between the two.

This "favor" and "trust" might, in the future, at a critical moment, exert greater value than the Spirit Medicines.

This young man, Han Li, had a resilient Heart-Nature and deep Opportunity, and with a Heaven-Defying item like the little green bottle by his side, his future achievements would be absolutely limitless.

Before he had fully risen, giving enough goodwill and support might harvest a powerful ally in the future, or... at least not an enemy.

"Mutual benefit, each taking what they need; this is the way to longevity." Lu Qiu withdrew his gaze and downed the remaining tea in his cup.