Li Chen soon signed the lease agreement for the Demon Eye.
The Creation Sect would lease it to Li Chen free of charge for a full thousand years. Taking into account the Demon Eye's existing depreciation and the wear it had suffered in this war, they were essentially letting him use it for free until it was fit for scrap.
But the Creation Sect had retained ownership for a reason.
Regional stability was especially important to them. A trustworthy Grand Artisan like Li Chen was worth far more than a Battle Puppet; giving it to him outright would have been no great loss.
What they wanted was for Li Chen to use it to protect Heavenly Dragon Peak, not attack powers such as Chess Mountain Domain. Thus, the lease agreement did not cover expeditions into other domains or participation in other unnecessary battles.
Of course, agreements were rigid, while people were flexible. As long as Li Chen retained his value as a regional Grand Artisan and local magnate, the Creation Sect might not do anything to him even if he openly violated the prohibition. This clause was chiefly a precaution against the possibility that Li Chen failed to become a Great Power and, several centuries later, his descendants took over.
If that day truly came, these agreements would serve as checks and balances.
With guidance from He Changnian and the others, Li Chen understood this perfectly well, but he still signed without hesitation. From that point onward, Heavenly Dragon Peak became far safer.
"Li Chen, this Demon Eye was one of Golden Light City's publicly owned Battle Puppets. It was fortunate enough to survive this war. I never imagined its final home would be with you."
"We'll repair it as soon as possible, then hand it over for use at