The large stone in the north of the city occupied a corner, and the Cultivator Institute set up tents and draped curtains outside to finally send away the onlookers.

"Why is there still no movement? It’s already been half a day."

Han Yu wasn’t in a hurry, but these old men were getting anxious first.

Now that they’ve found the darn stone, all they needed was the Spirit Body to complete it, with the pills in sight, they were all eager and itching to go.

Ling Wuce glanced at the nine people surrounding the stone from a distance and couldn’t help but come over to comment. 𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

"Is it really okay for you to order these old seniors around like this?"

You have to know that each one of them is a dominant force in their own sect, always having others at their beck and call, who would dare to order them around?

Han Yu leisurely sipped a cup of tea. Now their group had moved from the inn to this residence, and the empty space they looked out on was where the stone was placed.

Hearing Ling Wuce’s words, Han Yu immediately gave a white eye.

Everyone knows it was his bad idea to pacify the Fire Spirit this way.

"I’m just afraid they’d start quarreling!"

Ling Wuce chuckled a few times, his old face smiling like a blooming flower, definitely up to something.

Sure enough, the old man looked left and right, confirmed no one was around, then leaned in closer, almost wanting to nibble on Han Yu’s ear.

Han Yu quickly pushed away this old face with his hand; it’s not like he’s a lady, no need to get so close!

"If you have something to say, just say it." Han Yu said grumpily.

"Well..."

Ling Wuce glanced sneakingly outside, whispered, "It’s overkill for you to order these big shots, why not contact the Fifth Tower for rough work in the future? We like doing the hard work."

Upon hearing this, Han Yu almost laughed, just the other day they were whining about Che Dapao emptying the Fifth Tower, now there are people again?

"Messes will pass! Besides, doing rough work doesn’t necessarily require high cultivation, right?"

Ling Wuce smiled shamelessly.

Hearing this, Han Yu felt more and more like there was more to the story. Why would the Fifth Tower do private work for him out of the blue? This was just too generous.

"Next time you have Life Span Pills, could you let us handle them?"

Ling Wuce rubbed his hands, his old face smiling like a blooming flower.

Han Yu exclaimed, no wonder Ling Wuce kept watching those old guys, it turned out he had plans for them all along.

Maybe it wasn’t for their cultivation levels, it must be known these figures are highly regarded in their own sects, so the Fifth Tower likely intends to use the pills to foster cooperation with the Nine Sects.

This idea was a bit ruthless, those old men could only do rough work for Han Yu, but in the hands of the Fifth Tower, who knows what they’d have to give up.

Judging by those senior’s near obsession with life span, the Fifth Tower could profit handsomely even with the highest bidder system.

Thinking of this, Han Yu suspiciously sized up Ling Wuce, this devious plan surely wasn’t his; Ling Wuce was known for bad ideas, but such profit-maximizing schemes felt like the work of some unseen figure.

"Have you contacted the Inspectorate?"

He asked curiously.

Ling Wuce didn’t deny it, nodded and said, "Looking into that little Guardian, I couldn’t avoid Quan Xiaotong, and took the chance to tell him what’s happening here."

So Quan Xiaotong replied, and the idea was his, but the shameless request was left to Ling Wuce.

"That’s impossible, I don’t trust sending pills to you guys."

Without thinking, Han Yu flatly refused.

Kidding, the seven-day period for the pills isn’t just for show?

If I really gave them the pills to handle, even though it wouldn’t be life-threatening, if they messed up, I’d be in serious trouble.

Impossible, I’d only do something that stupid if I were full and had nothing better to do.

If that’s the case, why would he personally scour the world, personally delivering each pill face to face, if not for safety’s sake.

Only by personally witnessing the other party consuming it can it be safe.

The risk is too high, Quan Xiaotong’s plan is destined to fail.

"Don’t rush! Just look at this first."

Ling Wuce hurriedly waved his hand and then took out a letter from his chest.

"What is this?"

Han Yu took the envelope, puzzled.

Ling Wuce shook his head and said, "I don’t know, Quan Xiaotong wanted you to have it separately, he told me to bring it out when you refuse."

The letter even was sealed with a wax stamp, clearly meant for Han Yu alone.

Han Yu opened the wax seal, muttering that writing a letter won’t work, only a fool would agree.

But as he unfolded the letter, his eyes widened in surprise.

The letter contained no nonsense, no persuasive words, only conditions that made Han Yu unable to look away.

"One Life Span Pill for fifteen years of Qi Fortune."

Goodness, knew that old fox had guessed something, now not even mentioning cultivation but only Qi Fortune.

Fifteen years of Qi Fortune...

While Han Yu was still dazed, his Sea of Consciousness was already bubbling wildly.

"Let’s do it!"

The Artifact Spirit straightened its neck and shouted excitedly.

Fifteen years of Qi Fortune! What’s there to consider?

"Of course, you don’t bear the risk, you won’t lose out either way, right?"

Han Yu replied with a touch of sarcasm.

Saying such things, but what to do when it’s so tempting?

When hesitating, Han Yu could only keep reading, and the following sentences in the letter made his expression turn peculiar.

"The Pills must be consumed within seven days, ensuring someone takes them within this timeframe."

"You’re about to be stripped naked."

The Artifact Spirit was the first to shout, even guessing this was too outrageous to be mere blind speculation.

What kind of mind does this guy have? He hasn’t even met Han Yu but could guess all this?

"Last time, those cultivators given for free were a test, we accepted them, so he knows we need Qi Fortune."

"This time it’s also probably a test, the seven-day limit should be a guess, but..."

As long as he nodded in agreement, it wouldn’t be just a guess anymore.

The Inspectorate’s guy is just short of guessing that he has a Ping that can give him Pills.

It’s really absurd, even a mind that imagines wildly couldn’t come up with this.

Who would predict his Pills would have a time limit or that consuming them would bring Qi Fortune to himself?

Yet, Quan Xiaotong dared to think along these outlandish lines and quietly verified it.

"So, do we proceed?"

Now the Artifact Spirit wasn’t as excited as in the beginning, this was clearly both a collaboration and a test.

"Don’t you see whether we proceed or not, it still somewhat acknowledges this seven-day limit thing?"

Han Yu quickly realized that agreeing meant directly acknowledging it.

If he didn’t agree, it might show mistrust, and the other party might even guess the side effects could impact him.

Ling Wuce was very curious about the contents of the letter, especially as Han Yu’s expression grew odder.

As he tried to lean over for a peek, a sudden burst of flame almost singed his white hair.

Han Yu stared blankly as the letter turned to ash, scattered; the fire wasn’t of his doing, but rather ignited from some trick hidden in the letter.

It seemed Quan Xiaotong didn’t intend to let Han Yu’s secrets be revealed as a gesture of goodwill.

"Quan Xiaotong said to let you know after you’ve read the letter."

Ling Wuce was itching with curiosity, having no clue what kind of coded game these two who hadn’t met were playing.

Just a matter of cooperation, yet there’s private messaging and messages left upon reading.

"He said helping you isn’t without risk; he trusts you, and it’s up to you to trust him."

Since Quan Xiaotong could guess these two things, how could Han Yu’s rapid advancement slip past unnoticed by him?

Qi Fortune must provide significant help to Han Yu for it to be possible.

As he continuously provided Qi Fortune cultivators, wasn’t it allowing Han Yu’s rapid growth too?

So, he indeed wasn’t without any risk; what if his guesses were all correct, Han Yu’s future strength would be unimaginable.

"So, this deal yet again hides a third kind of test."

Han Yu was a bit speechless.

Agreeing would roughly mean acknowledging the other’s guesses.

Refusing, the other might speculate that he had other concerns.

The intention of collaboration also determined mutual trust.

"I think he’s right; your only risk is enduring some side effects, whereas he’s giving out Qi Fortune for real."

The Artifact Spirit spoke after pondering for a while.

Since both parties bore risks, it wouldn’t be so foolish as to sabotage it.

But the decision was still in Han Yu’s hands, who frowned and pondered for a moment.

He was also considering whether Quan Xiaotong could be trusted; logically, the other party had expressed goodwill all along.

"How about we agree for now, give as needed, maybe after a few deals, the Ping will awaken again."

The Artifact Spirit’s eyes suddenly lit up.

If by any chance the Ping had a new ability, or maybe if it awakened to counteract side effects, who knows?

"Besides, you don’t have them all the time; it’s been ages since one appeared."

The Fifth Tower isn’t in a hurry either; they obviously aim to achieve some strategic cooperation with those Pills.

Agree first, decide on giving them later as needed.

"Tell him, I agree."

Upon hearing this, Han Yu found it quite reasonable, since he didn’t have them routinely. If he really had one, he could first observe any side effects and decide whether to give it!