Eternal Life: I Can Control My Essence Qi-Chapter 84: Special Recruitment Notice

"Hmm..."

Zhang Yao took a deep breath and tentatively asked:

"How about a high-grade Earth Attribute Magical Artifact?"

The female figure across from him shook her head and said:

"Not enough."

"This ’Scripture of All Transformations and True Nature’ is a top-level technique. Even just the foundational parts are worth at least a thousand Spirit Stones."

"A high-grade Magical Artifact wouldn’t exceed three to four hundred Spirit Stones at most, the difference in value is too vast."

Hearing this, Zhang Yao immediately responded in a deep voice:

"The ’Scripture of All Transformations and True Nature’ is indeed a top-level technique, but it’s long been regarded as useless. How could it be compared with other top-level techniques?"

"Besides me, you won’t find another seller in the Wei Kingdom! Offering a high-grade Magical Artifact is already quite a high price!"

The female figure seemed hesitant after hearing Zhang Yao’s words. Finally, she slowly said:

"...Alright, it’s a deal then."

"However, I currently don’t have the technique with me. When the next Ruins Marketplace opens, I’ll bring it to complete the transaction with you."

"Good!"

Zhang Yao agreed immediately and said in a deep voice:

"Then I’ll wait for you for three months, and I hope you won’t go back on your word!"

"Rest assured."

The figure responded, stood up, and hurriedly left.

After she left, Zhang Yao took a deep breath and, after waiting for a moment, also stood up and left the Ruins Marketplace.

A moment later, Zhang Yao returned to his residence, took off his mask, and sat on his bed, pondering silently.

"Three months to go, hopefully nothing goes wrong."

He recalled the brief encounter just now, his brow slightly furrowing:

"Why does that woman’s voice sound somewhat familiar, like I’ve heard it somewhere before..."

The fact that it gave him that feeling indicated it was someone he knew.

But he had always had a photographic memory, his recollections unmatched, so if the person didn’t deliberately conceal their identity, he should have been able to directly identify them.

"...Wait! Could it be her?!"

Zhang Yao pondered deeply for a moment, suddenly grasping a trace of spiritual light, his expression somewhat startled.

"Jiang Rou..."

He finally remembered, that woman’s voice just now sounded somewhat like Jiang Rou.

But compared to decades ago, the voice carried more age, and the tone conveyed a sense of weariness, which kept him from identifying it immediately.

"It... it truly might be her."

"But why would she be alone in the Ruins Marketplace..."

A faint ominous guess lurked in Zhang Yao’s heart.

Jiang Rou should be over eighty by now, and she should have struggled to reach the middle stage Qi Refining.

During their time on Celestial Capital Mountain, Zhang Yao had noticed she was quiet and introverted, often relying on her husband Zhao He for most matters.

But now, she was trading alone in the Ruins Marketplace, with no trace of Zhao He beside her.

"Zhao He... probably something happened to him."

At this thought, Zhang Yao couldn’t help but sigh.

He still remembered how Zhao He had been so spirited during his breakthrough. After arriving in the Wei Kingdom, he probably wouldn’t have been content with just being a Spirit Farmer.

And if he chose a thorny path, he would either rise rapidly or end up a fugitive, leaving behind a widow.

Perhaps, unfortunately, Zhao He was the latter.

"All these years, I’ve been hiding in the Marketplace, never encountering old friends."

"I never thought the news would come in such a manner..."

Zhang Yao shook his head, feeling a bit complicated.

Presently, he could only live cautiously in the Cultivation Realm, without the capability to help Jiang Rou.

He had no intention of revealing his identity to her, at most wishing to discreetly assist her during their trade in three months.

......

Time slowly passed.

After acquiring the ’Heavenly Defect Secret Technique,’ Zhang Yao dedicated himself to comprehending and practicing it. He soon mastered it, able to use it freely, burning his lifespan for bursts of power at any moment.

Two months later, on a particular day:

Zhang Yao habitually went to North Street in the afternoon to set up a stall, selling newly crafted Spirit Talismans.

Unexpectedly, while attending to customers, a commotion and clamor suddenly erupted from Central Street, vaguely interspersed with exclamations:

"Oh my, ten thousand Spirit Stones!"

"My goodness! Celestial Treasure Tower really has a grand gesture!"

"Indeed, if someone happens to meet the criteria, it’s an enormous opportunity!"

"Wow, ten thousand Spirit Stones, what an unimaginable sum..."

As exclamations echoed, the crowd surged towards Central Street, expanding the commotion further, leaving Zhang Yao at his stall with a slightly changed expression.

"Celestial Treasure Tower, ten thousand Spirit Stones..."

Initially, he intended to take a look, but ultimately resisted the notion, staying at his stall and watching as numerous cultivators from North Street swarmed toward Central Street.

Before long, the crowd on Central Street gradually dispersed, and Zhang Yao seized the moment to stop an old customer, inquiring about the events in Central Street.

"Talisman Master Zhang, you wouldn’t believe it, Celestial Treasure Tower really went all out this time..."

The person excitedly recounted, brimming with enthusiasm.

It turned out that not long ago, Celestial Treasure Tower suddenly posted a special recruitment notice, stating they intended to enlist cultivators with five Spirit Roots.

Celestial Treasure Tower’s unprecedented, personal recruitment, and their target being the Five Spirit Roots cultivators, widely deemed as useless in cultivation, was already enough to attract attention.

Moreover, their terms were astoundingly high; not only would they take you to the Da Li Cultivation Realm, but they’d also offer a "settling-in allowance" of ten thousand Spirit Stones!

No questions asked about origin, background, or realm; as long as you were a Five Attribute Spirit Root cultivator, you’d receive ten thousand Spirit Stones right away!

Even if you had enemies or blood debts, or had offended Foundation Establishment cultivators, Celestial Treasure Tower would settle it all for you!

"This is truly once-in-a-century groundbreaking news..."

The person spoke relentlessly, his expression filled with excitement. 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

But Zhang Yao felt a chill as he listened, his mind racing:

"Celestial Treasure Tower definitely has issues to openly recruit Five Attribute Spirit Root cultivators!"

"What are they planning?!"

He casually responded a few times, sent the person away, and then directly packed up his stall and left.

Upon returning to his residence, Zhang Yao felt deeply uneasy.

"This uproar is too big; Qingyun Marketplace, Jingu Sect, and Qinglian Sect, as well as the Independent Practitioner Alliance, will surely act."

"Damn it... it just had to be now..."

He felt somewhat helpless; he was just a month away from acquiring the ’Scripture of All Transformations and True Nature,’ and this unforeseen event happened.

He didn’t believe Celestial Treasure Tower truly intended to foster Five Attribute Spirit Root cultivators. There had to be an ulterior motive behind it.

If his Spirit Root Attribute was exposed, Celestial Treasure Tower would certainly come knocking, and he wouldn’t have the confidence to refuse their terms, leaving him under their control.

"Sigh..."

After contemplating for a while, Zhang Yao sighed heavily, yet decided against leaving Qingyun Marketplace immediately.

Seeing that the ’Scripture of All Transformations and True Nature’ was about to be in his hands, giving up now would mean an unknown waiting time for such an opportunity to arise again.

What if other unexpected situations arose during this long interim? He couldn’t keep fleeing; there would always come a time he couldn’t avoid.

"A top-level technique has to be secured as soon as possible; it’s the foundation for future survival and the step to the Great Dao."

"For this, taking some risks is worthwhile..."

Zhang Yao planned to remain in the Marketplace for another month, intending to leave immediately after completing the transaction.

Of course, if circumstances changed within the month, making it inadvisable to stay, he would also disappear without a trace.

During this final month, what he needed to do was wait quietly and discreetly...