Chapter 1163 - 1162: Recruitment Attempt and Breakdown in Negotiations

In an instant, heaven and earth shifted, sun and moon moved.

A moment ago.

Ye Qingchen was still before the ancient mountain gate, but when he opened his eyes again, he already found himself in a vast realm. A boundless, surging spiritual energy rushed over him, causing every cell in his body to rejoice and cheer.

Lifting his gaze.

The surging spiritual energy formed a mist, transforming into a blue rain that fell upon the sprawling Spirit Medicine Garden. Various legendary creatures were visible amidst the light rain, countless pavilions stood firm under the drizzle, resembling a hidden world.

However.

When Ye Qingchen's divine sense covered the area, he didn't see a trace of anyone. It was unknown whether they had hidden away or anticipated his arrival and evacuated ahead of time.

"Mr. Ye, the Supreme Elder is waiting for you in that grand hall up ahead!"

Su Shu'Er promptly said.

Ye Qingchen looked ahead and indeed saw a colossal palace, occupying thousands of acres, towering in the center of this mysterious realm. The grandeur of the palace resembled the Bodhi Mountain Buddhist sanctum, or the Enchanting Sea Region's celestial gate—perhaps a creation from the same era.

Within the grand hall, a massive presence lingered—a presence like a dragon or tiger, akin to a half-awake fierce beast, seemingly ready to devour.

"Mr. Ye, if you back down now, there's still time!" At that moment, Su Yeran suddenly spoke, with utmost sincerity.

"Serve as a puppet for your Su Race?" Ye Qingchen shook his head with a deep gaze at Su Shu'Er, withholding further comment, and headed directly towards the palace.

The palace was immense, empty.

The expanse seemed borderless, walking within echoed sounds. Only a figure sat cross-legged on the cushion at the high platform of the great hall—a white-robed elder with hair white as snow.

It was the master of the formidable presence earlier.

Behind him, large characters engraved:

Heaven and Earth!

The calligraphy was bold and powerful, the word for 'heaven' boundless, the word for 'earth' substantial and grand. Merely these two words give one the sensation of existing between heaven and earth.

"This is the clumsy work of an old man, a casual inscription! Should Mr. Ye laugh at me!" The elder spoke slowly, his voice like a fierce tiger, echoing through the mountains.

"You are the Supreme Ancestor Su Qinhu of the Su Sacred Land? Truly from a sacred land, indeed different. Along my journey, among many Celestial Immortals, those who are declining inevitably gather their Qi Blood, transformed into an elderly demeanor, only revealing their peak during a life-and-death battle. Unlike yours!"

Ye Qingchen carefully evaluated Su Qinhu.

The elder before him, with his youthful yet grizzled hair, his robust physique, his voice resounding like a bell, his Qi Blood vigorous. On his journey, the Celestial Immortals he saw invariably minimized their Qi Blood to prevent daily depletion.

Only during life-and-death battles would their peak levels be shown.

"How can other people compare to my sacred land? After reaching the Celestial Immortal stage, the consumption of Qi Blood, True Qi is far from ordinary." Su Qinhu said proudly, "The spiritual energy in the sacred land is abundant and inexhaustible, naturally maintaining the peak level at all times. Other Celestial Immortals mere living precariously!"

"Mr. Ye, I am sure you have experienced it yourself!"

Su Qinhu, with a knowing yet bemused look, glanced at Ye Qingchen.

Ye Qingchen, upon hearing this, nodded slightly.

Just like ants and elephants, although elephants are enormous, their consumption is equally immense. Since reaching the Celestial Immortal stage, his daily consumption of Qi Blood and True Qi has been considerable.

Fortunately, he is an Alchemist, with a vast supply of alchemical medicines in hand; otherwise, after a thousand years, he'd inevitably resemble Shen Wuji's crowd—having to adopt an elderly appearance, only revealing his current form during life-and-death battles.

"The purpose of my visit today, I believe you are already aware." Ye Qingchen decided not to labor over these matters but instead redirected the conversation.

"Naturally clear! At first, even I found it unbelievable." Su Qinhu slowly nodded, "Mr. Ye, merely to delve into the origins of a bracelet, you dared to capture seven of our sacred land's Celestial Immortals, even daring to arrive yourself."

As he spoke, he couldn't help but sigh.

Mind you.

For ordinary folk, even given the courage, they wouldn't venture this. For taking this step signals declaring war on the sacred land, a fight to the death. The sacred land cannot be humiliated; it is not a playful jest.

Throughout history, countless corpses and fallen Celestial Immortals have already proven this truth.

Ye Qingchen whispered silently.

The bracelet's origin concerns the whereabouts of his parents; earlier missed an opportunity at the Ice and Snow Divine Palace, this time, he wouldn't easily concede. Hence, even if it were a dragon's lair or a tiger's den, he'd dare to explore.

"I wonder what price must be paid for you to speak?" Ye Qingchen looked up and questioned.

"Haha, you, Mr. Ye, are renowned as the Celestial South Fierce God, acclaimed for both cultivation and alchemy, associating with a young talent like you is indeed an opportunity for my Su Sacred Land." Su Qinhu laughed heartily, but his eyes gradually turned cold, speaking solemnly:

"However, you've detained the members of my Su Race, and now you personally invade. You ought to give the Su Race some explanation!"

Su Qinhu's voice carried a hint of allure.

As if gently persuading, or as if negotiating, inviting you to agree. For anyone else, refusal would seem unlikely. Not to mention, the prospect of aligning with the sacred land.

"What explanation?" Ye Qingchen asked forcefully.

"Serve the Su Race for three hundred years!" Su Qinhu said with pride, "In these three hundred years, your status equals mine. The clan's resources are at your disposal, the people heed your commands, even the clan's cultivation technique archives are open for you. After three centuries, you may depart at will!"

As he spoke, it seemed he offered generous terms, suggesting that such an opportunity wouldn't appear again.

Ye Qingchen remained silent, as though contemplating.

Su Qinhu continued:

"Think about it, our Su Sacred Land possesses incomparably vast spiritual energy, these three hundred years for unbounded cultivation far outshine what you encounter outside. Moreover, our Su Race will become your most steadfast support!"

"Should another like the Thirty-Six Sects of the Celestial South arise, no need to act yourself, someone will naturally flatten them!"

"To count on these benefits, it's truly endless gain without harm!"

Su Qinhu laughed heartily.

He believed.

The conditions he offered would receive no refusal. Any wise person should know what choice to make.

"Ha ha!"

However, unexpectedly, Ye Qingchen shook his head:

"To serve your race for three hundred years, surely it's not that simple, laying down restrictions, planting Heart-devouring Gu! Under your control! After three hundred years, if your Su Race refuses to release it, would I not become your race's puppet slave for eternity?"

"I come with sincerity! Initially thinking you as the Supreme Elder of the Su Race might be wiser than others, but surprisingly, your Su Race demonstrates no sincerity at all!"

Ye Qingchen finished speaking.

At this moment, the great hall suddenly fell silent.