Chapter 143: Uninvited Guest

"That's right, Senior Brother Wu truly has a good idea!" The elder, surnamed Ye, exclaimed, his eyes lighting up with excitement.

He then turned to Zhong Lingdao, his expression hopeful, and asked, "Sect Leader, Senior Brother, may I meet the owner of this Immortal Ascension Token? I wish to negotiate a trade with him for him to voluntarily relinquish the Foundation Establishment Pill."

Hearing this, Zhong Lingdao pondered for a moment before nodding in agreement. However, he reminded the elder not to resort to any coercive methods for a forced transaction, only then allowing Junior Brother Wang to escort him to meet the unexpected visitor.

Upon exiting the hall, the elder and Junior Brother Wang immediately stepped onto a leaf-shaped magical artifact and ascended into the air, flying towards the Yellow Maple Valley's reception building.

Inside a room in the Yellow Maple Valley's reception building, a young man lay on a bed, gazing intently at the ceiling. This was Han Li, who had arrived at Yellow Maple Valley along with the other victors of the Immortal Ascension Convention.

After Han Li killed the two cultivators who had ambushed him, he traveled without further incident to a secluded mountain range in Lanzhou. There, he participated in the Immortal Ascension Convention, which was held soon after, and personally witnessed arena battles that were even more brutal than what Hu Pinggu had described.

After a series of life-or-death contests, the final victors emerged from each arena. It was at this point that the guides from the Seven Great Immortal Sects finally made their appearance; the guide for Yellow Maple Valley was none other than Junior Brother Wang.

After meeting the Yellow Maple Valley guide, Han Li, after careful consideration, decided to take a chance and presented the Immortal Ascension Token for inspection, much to the guide's surprise.

The guide immediately stated that Han Li could be brought into the sect. However, the specific handling of him and the Immortal Ascension Token would need to be decided by their Sect Leader, as the last time an Immortal Ascension Token was recovered was four or five centuries ago.

Han Li naturally did not object; otherwise, finding the Yellow Maple Valley's mountain gate on his own would have been quite arduous.

So, under the astonished gazes of the other cultivators, Han Li and the ten victors boarded a large, boat-shaped magical artifact. They were all brought back to Yellow Maple Valley by Junior Brother Wang, the guide, who then arranged for Han Li to stay here and await a reply. The other ten individuals were separated from him and taken to an unknown location.

Han Li remained in his room for three or four days without stepping out. Aside from an eleven or twelve-year-old servant who delivered his meals punctually each day, he encountered no one else.

It wasn't Han Li's obedience that kept him indoors. After settling him in and testing his spiritual attributes, the guide surnamed Wang had explicitly told him that since he was not yet a disciple of Yellow Maple Valley, the room was subject to certain restrictions. He was forbidden from leaving temporarily; doing so would trigger the restrictions and trap him.

After hearing the guide surnamed Wang, Han Li naturally refrained from seeking trouble. Furthermore, his mood had been quite low for some time after learning he possessed a four-attribute pseudo-spiritual root.

Although Han Li had long been aware of his mediocre cultivation aptitude, hearing it confirmed still left him gloomy and disheartened for an entire day. It became clear that if he wished to achieve anything significant on the path of cultivation, he would have to rely on external aids such as pills.

However, after his Evergreen Arts reached the ninth level, he noticed that the "Yellow Dragon Pills" and "Golden Marrow Pills" had significantly diminished in potency, no longer providing as much assistance as before. It seemed he would need to find new spiritual medicine formulas to concoct elixirs truly suitable for cultivators, ensuring his cultivation progress would not be hindered.

Han Li was lost in thought when sudden footsteps echoed outside the door, indicating more than one person. His spirits lifted; it seemed that after days of anxious waiting, the news he had been expecting had finally arrived.

"Young friend, are you comfortable staying here?"

The door was gently pushed open, and the voice of the guide surnamed Wang came through. He then entered the room, followed by a red-faced elder.

"Master Wang, greetings!" Han Li immediately jumped off the bed and bowed respectfully. He was well aware that excessive courtesy never hurts, and that displaying humility could only benefit him.

"And this is...?" Han Li asked, glancing at the elder with a hint of curiosity.

"This is my Senior Brother, surnamed Ye," Junior Brother Wang replied with a slight smile, offering a brief explanation.

Surnamed Ye? Han Li was startled. Had his act of killing Reverend Jin Guang and seizing the token been exposed, leading to the Ye family seeking him out? Yet, though the elder's expression wasn't particularly amiable, there was no trace of animosity. "It seems there's another hidden agenda," Han Li mused inwardly, but outwardly, he showed no surprise, immediately repeating with the same respectful tone:

"So it's Master Ye!"

The elder had already thoroughly scrutinized Han Li, finding him utterly ordinary, with no discernible remarkable qualities. This observation only strengthened his confidence regarding the purpose of his visit.

Hearing Han Li's greeting, the elder's expression softened, and he chuckled, "Haha! Young friend Han, there's no need for such formality! Since you've arrived at our Yellow Maple Valley with an Immortal Ascension Token, you are now a disciple of our sect. Therefore, simply call me Uncle-Master Ye; there's no need to be so distant!"

Upon hearing the elder's words, Han Li felt significantly relieved, yet a sense of perplexity also arose within him.

Since the other party was speaking with such courtesy, they clearly weren't seeking revenge. But wasn't this level of politeness a bit excessive? What did "not an outsider" even mean? Han Li was utterly baffled.

"Young friend Han, Senior Brother Ye is correct!" Junior Brother Wang said with a light chuckle. "Our Sect Leader has agreed to allow you to join our valley and become a sect disciple, and has even prepared a Foundation Establishment Pill specifically for you!"

"Really?" Even Han Li, typically composed and calm, couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement upon hearing this news, almost wanting to jump for joy to vent his inner exhilaration.

Seeing Han Li's reaction, Junior Brother Wang merely smiled, not appearing surprised; it seemed Han Li's reaction was entirely within his expectations.

"Junior Brother Wang," the elder said, a hint of impatience in his voice, finally uttering the words he'd wanted to say since entering the room, "I'd like to speak with Junior Nephew Han privately. Would you mind excusing us?"

"Of course," Junior Brother Wang said with a faint glance at Han Li, sighing inwardly. "I'll return to the Sect Leader then. After you and Junior Nephew Han finish your discussion, please both come over." He then left the room.

Now, only the elder surnamed Ye and Han Li remained in the room.

Han Li stared bewildered at the unfolding scene. Why did the person surnamed Wang leave so abruptly? And why was someone calling himself Uncle-Master left alone to speak with him? Although Han Li didn't know what Uncle-Master Ye intended, he had a subtle feeling of unease.

The elder also perceived Han Li's unease, but he remained unfazed. He was confident that what he could offer would surely astonish this inexperienced young man and facilitate a smooth transaction.

"Junior Nephew Han," the elder stated directly, "I am a straightforward person, so I won't beat around the bush. The matter I wish to discuss concerns the Foundation Establishment Pill that has been allotted to you. I would like to buy this Foundation Establishment Pill from you. What are your thoughts, Junior Nephew?"

"He wants to buy the Foundation Establishment Pill allocated to him? Did I hear that correctly? Who would ever give up a Foundation Establishment Pill to someone else?" Han Li was initially stunned by the proposal, but his expression quickly darkened, becoming quite displeased.

"Junior Nephew Han, rest assured, I wouldn't ask you to relinquish the Foundation Establishment Pill for nothing. I can offer seven or eight mid-grade spirit stones, an assortment of low, mid, and high-grade spirit talismans, and several excellent magical artifacts. If that's still insufficient, I also possess some pills that can enhance one's cultivation; while not comparable to a Foundation Establishment Pill, they are still rare spiritual medicines within the sect! All of these can be traded for your Foundation Establishment Pill, should you agree." The elder, having clearly noticed Han Li's change in expression, quickly offered this explanation.

Upon hearing these words, Han Li's expression significantly improved. He sensed the sincerity in the elder's tone; it seemed this Uncle-Master had no intention of forcibly seizing the pill, but genuinely wished to purchase his Foundation Establishment Pill.