Conditions

After hearing Lv Man out, Xiao Jie shook his head. He knew Lv Man could not provide what he needed, so he stated his purpose.

This trip to the Black-Corner Region would be somewhat dangerous. There were several Dou Zongs and numerous Dou Emperors there, as well as a Soul Hall Protector lurking in the shadows.

Xiao Jie was not afraid of the other lower-level Dou Zongs and Dou Emperors, but he did not want to encounter that Soul Hall Protector. If Han Feng suddenly joined forces with the Soul Hall Protector to kill him, as he had in a previous Life Simulation, then with his current cultivation as a Four-Star Dou Emperor, he would be no match for a high-level Dou Zong. Therefore, having a Dou Zong serve as his bodyguard would be best.

After all, this was no simulation. If he died, he would truly be dead. He knew how much this world despised him because of the existence of his Simulator. He did not want to end up like himself in Life Simulation one day, getting killed for no apparent reason.

"Th-this... I do not have the authority to agree to Master Xiao's condition. However, I can ask our Sect Master on your behalf. What do you think?"

After hearing Xiao Jie's condition, Lv Man hesitated briefly before speaking again.

"Mm, that is understandable. How about this? I will set out for the Black-Corner Region tomorrow. You can go back first and inform your Sect Master. Let the giant snake outside the city accompany me. Once your Sect Master arrives, I will have that giant snake take Qing Lin to the Heavenly Serpent Mansion."

Xiao Jie could not possibly hand Qing Lin over before their people arrived, but he did not make things difficult for Lv Man either. Letting that giant snake follow him would at least give her something to report when she returned.

"Th-this... very well. I will have Bai Ya accompany you to the Black-Corner Region. I only hope that Master Xiao will honor his promise afterward and not put me in a difficult position."

Seeing that Xiao Jie was being so considerate toward her, Lv Man found it hard to say anything else. After all, Xiao Jie had not said he would refuse to hand Qing Lin over, and this deal would greatly benefit the Heavenly Serpent Mansion.

If this went smoothly, they would not only obtain the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils, but also gain the friendship of Xiao Jie, a young Seventh-grade Alchemist. No matter how she looked at it, it was an incredible bargain.

Not to mention that Xiao Jie was also offering an Ancestor-Breaking Pill. If used properly, this pill had a high chance of adding another Dou Zong-level expert to the Heavenly Serpent Mansion's foundations. One had to know that the Heavenly Serpent Mansion currently only had its Sect Master and two Vice Sect Masters at the Dou Zong level.

Even if things did not go that far, as the intermediary who facilitated this transaction, she had at least made an impression on Xiao Jie. That would make it much easier for her to ask him for pills in the future.

"Hehe, do not worry about that. I, Xiao, always keep my word."

Seeing Lv Man agree, Xiao Jie answered with a smile.

"Hehe, good! Since Brother Xiao has reached an agreement with the Heavenly Serpent Mansion, then please take your seats. To celebrate Brother Xiao's emergence from seclusion, I had a banquet prepared long ago. We were just waiting for you."

After seeing the two reach an agreement, Shi Jian spoke with a hearty smile. As the host, he invited everyone to sit down and began the banquet. Forming ties with a behemoth of the Northwest Continent like the Heavenly Serpent Mansion would certainly be beneficial.

"Very well. Brother Shi, Brother Hai, Lady Lv Man, please."

Xiao Jie did not refuse. After speaking to them, he instructed a guard to bring Qing Lin over.

Before long, Qing Lin was brought over. Shi Jian and Hai Bodong did not know why the Heavenly Serpent Mansion wanted to take Qing Lin away, but Qing Lin was a maidservant Xiao Jie had personally taken in. Thus, they had protected her and sent people to hide her, lest the two Dou Emperors from the Heavenly Serpent Mansion act while they were unable to stop them and snatch her away.

A moment later, a guard led Qing Lin, who was completely different from how she had been over a month ago, to Xiao Jie's side. Though Qing Lin was still rather thin, her spirits were far better than before, and she no longer had that timid, shrinking manner. Xiao Jie had a maidservant add a seat beside him for Qing Lin.

When Lv Man saw Qing Lin arrive, she stared fixedly at her. Only after clearly seeing the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils, shaped like magatama, within Qing Lin's eyes did she finally let out a relieved murmur.

"They truly are the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils. After searching for so long, I have finally found them."

"Young Master! Wonderful, you finally woke up! You slept for two days and two nights. Qing Lin was worried about you for so long."

Upon seeing Xiao Jie, Qing Lin happily spoke to him.

"Hehe, it is nothing serious. I was simply too exhausted after refining pills for so long, so I slept rather deeply. Sorry for making you worry."

Xiao Jie smiled as he rubbed Qing Lin's head.

"Mm-hm, that is good. I heard Grandpa Hai Bodong say that Young Master is an incredibly powerful alchemist. He has never seen such a powerful and young alchemist as you."

"Haha, I do agree with that praise. In this Northwest Continent, there truly is no high-grade alchemist younger than me."

Hearing Qing Lin's childish and adorable flattery, Xiao Jie could not help bursting into cheerful laughter.

"Mm-hm, Young Master is the best."

"Qing Lin, this is Lv Man, a Dou Emperor expert from the Heavenly Serpent Mansion. In the future, you will need to accompany her to the Heavenly Serpent Mansion to cultivate. Get to know her first."

After laughing, Xiao Jie introduced Lv Man to Qing Lin and explained part of the matter to her.

"Young Master, are you abandoning me?"

Qing Lin's face instantly turned pale. She had not expected that after escaping the slums for only a little over a month, she would be cast aside. Her heart immediately sank into despair.

"Hehe, of course not. I am only sending you there to cultivate. Think of it as finding a place to study. Remaining by my side will not allow you to grow better, and in the entire Northwest Continent, only the Heavenly Serpent Mansion is most suitable for you. Once your cultivation bears fruit in the future, you can come find me."

Seeing Qing Lin's anxious expression, Xiao Jie rubbed her head and spoke reassuringly.

"Really, Young Master? Can I still come find you?"

Qing Lin looked at Xiao Jie happily as she asked.

"Of course. You are obedient and sensible. I like you very much."