Chapter 146: The Deal

"However, although I have never seen a Foundation Establishment Pill with my own eyes, I am very clear about its value and importance! Think about it: at the Immortal Ascension Assembly on the Heavenly Mist Platform, nearly a thousand cultivators were fighting to the death in the arena. What was it for? Wasn't it mostly because of the temptation of this Foundation Establishment Pill! And this Uncle-Master Ye actually intends to use some spirit stones and magic tools to exchange it away. Does he really think I'm a greenhorn who just came out of the mountains?" Han Li thought with a cold sneer, but on the surface, he restored a respectful expression, as if he were listening carefully to what the other party was saying.

The elder surnamed Ye was very satisfied with Han Li's performance. After all, this future Nephew-Disciple didn't flatly refuse as soon as he heard about exchanging the Foundation Establishment Pill. It seemed there was indeed room for negotiation.

From the beginning, he didn't intend to really secure the Foundation Establishment Pill with the things he just mentioned. Because as long as one wasn't a fool, no one would exchange such a precious item so cheaply. His previous words were just to test the waters!

But now, looking at the other party's attitude, it really seemed like it wasn't impossible to negotiate, which made him overjoyed!

As long as the other party was willing to exchange, the elder had absolute confidence that he could satisfy the other party's requirements and exchange for this Foundation Establishment Pill. Thinking of this, the smile on the elder surnamed Ye's face deepened, and he felt Han Li's appearance seemed much more pleasing than before!

"Nephew-Disciple Han, you must know your spiritual root attributes by now! To be honest, with your aptitude, even if you take the Foundation Establishment Pill, the hope of successfully establishing your foundation is slim! That Foundation Establishment Pill would at most serve to improve your magic power and raise your basic cultivation technique by two or three layers! If that's the case, this Foundation Establishment Pill would be too wasteful! For you, Nephew-Disciple, it would be more cost-effective to exchange this item for something more practical. If..." The elder began to incessantly induce Han Li.

While Han Li appeared to be listening intently to Uncle-Master Ye's long-winded speech on the surface, he had already begun to analyze and ponder in his heart, constantly weighing the pros and cons.

To be honest, he was also very clear that just as the other party said, after taking such a mere Foundation Establishment Pill, the probability of successfully establishing his foundation was indeed minimal! But to let Han Li just hand over the Foundation Establishment Pill like this, Han Li was still very unwilling. After all, no matter how low the chance, wasn't there still a possibility of successfully establishing his foundation?

However, if he didn't give the Foundation Establishment Pill to the Uncle-Master Ye before him, his days in Yellow Maple Valley would definitely not be easy in the future. Nine times out of ten, he would form a grudge with this person for no reason. Moreover, looking at the other party, it seemed he had some real power in Yellow Maple Valley, which would make the situation even worse.

"Uncle-Master Ye, may I ask who this Foundation Establishment Pill is being requested for? I assume you have no use for this item yourself!" Han Li thought for a long time and still felt it was better to probe the other party's intentions first.

Although the elder was interrupted by Han Li, there was no displeasure on his face. Upon hearing Han Li's question, he hesitated for a moment before opening his mouth to tell Han Li:

"Since Nephew-Disciple Han has asked, I have nothing to hide. This Foundation Establishment Pill is requested for my grand-nephew. I hope you can help me out, Nephew-Disciple?"

Upon hearing this, Han Li smiled bitterly in his heart and couldn't help but think:

"A grand-nephew, that can be considered a relatively close relationship! And to make this person go to such great lengths, not hesitating to lower his head to ask a junior like me for the Foundation Establishment Pill, he must be a very favored one! It seems that if I don't exchange it, I will definitely anger this old man, and I won't be able to stay in Yellow Maple Valley peacefully anymore. I have no choice but to grit my teeth and agree to the other party! As for my own foundation establishment, I can only find another way later. I still have that mysterious little bottle. As long as I have the formula and time, what kind of medicinal pill can't I concoct?"

After Han Li figured out the pros and cons, he made up his mind, but the cut he had to make the other party bleed had to be deep. Therefore, he put on a difficult expression on his face, looking distressed.

"Uncle-Master, it's not that I don't respect my elders, but this Foundation Establishment Pill is also extremely important to me! Even if my aptitude is a bit poor, isn't there still a glimmer of hope? But if I give up this opportunity for foundation establishment, I will truly have no connection with the Great Dao in this life!"

Upon hearing Han Li's words, the elder couldn't help but sneer in his heart! He thought to himself: "With your aptitude, you still want to consider the Great Dao? You really don't know your own strength."

But on the surface, the elder continued to persuade him earnestly from various aspects and made many empty promises, continuing to exert pressure to shake Han Li's determination and make him agree to exchange the Foundation Establishment Pill.

After hearing these empty words, Han Li sneered a few times in his heart. But his mouth spoke increasingly weak words, making the elder even more spirited, constantly offering higher and higher prices.

"Nephew-Disciple! If you are willing to give up the Foundation Establishment Pill, I can let you choose any of the various chores that sect disciples must do!" Seeing that Han Li was at the point of almost agreeing, the elder finally used his trump card.

"Chores?" Han Li was truly stunned this time.

"Yes, you must know that our Yellow Maple Valley's low-level disciples must complete a certain amount of work every month. For example: supervising miners at several mining sites, serving as deacon disciples in the markets opened by our sect, taking care of the spiritual birds and beasts in the valley, as well as planting some rare medicinal herbs, and so on. Then, depending on the specific completion of the work, the sect will distribute some low-tier spirit stones to these disciples every month as a reward. And I, Uncle-Master, am the manager in the valley specifically responsible for assigning such work. So if Nephew-Disciple likes any kind of work, it's just a word from me." When the elder surnamed Ye said this, he puffed out his chest, looking like he truly held great power.

Upon hearing this, Han Li was speechless! It seemed that no matter where, there would be people who abuse their power for personal gain, even within a large cultivation sect like Yellow Maple Valley, one could not avoid such customs.

However, when the other party mentioned the work of planting rare herbs, Han Li's heart stirred, and he felt that this work was simply tailor-made for him. Moreover, the other party had already promised many benefits. If he continued to delay, he was afraid he would really give the other party the feeling of being too greedy. It was better to stop while he was ahead!

Thinking of this, Han Li pretended to be finally moved and said to the elder with a grievance:

"Since Uncle-Master Ye has said so, if I don't agree, it would seem I don't give you enough face. As long as you can truly keep the conditions you just mentioned, then I will yield this Foundation Establishment Pill to your grand-nephew. I hope your grand-nephew can successfully establish his foundation!"

Upon hearing this, the elder was overjoyed and repeatedly promised:

"Nephew-Disciple, rest assured, my word is absolute. But when we see the Sect Master in a while, you can tell others about the open trade, but it's better not to mention the things I promised you in private!"

Upon hearing this, Han Li smiled knowingly and agreed very tactfully: "Please rest assured, Uncle-Master, I know what I'm doing and won't do such stupid things!"

Upon hearing this, the elder beamed with joy, very satisfied with Han Li's cleverness.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 147 =====