The Post Sky Tipping Era
Chapter 178 - 142 Conditions

Chapter 178: Chapter 142 Conditions

Fan Zhizhou was very straightforward, offering all sorts of conditions, from money, territory, to treasures, big medicine, and finally, the secret "Blood Refining and Spleen Opening" of the Fan Family that was not to be shared lightly—virtually everything a Martial Artist might need was included, only stopping short of providing geishas or beautiful concubines. However, given the previous conditions, geishas and beautiful concubines were mostly ineffective, after all, for someone like Li Yi who had conquered Sanyang City, what kind of beauty didn’t he possess?

Yet, even so, Li Yi still did not agree.

Although Li Yi didn’t quite know the true value of these offerings, when has business ever been conducted by showing all one’s cards from the outset?

Seeing this, Fan Zhizhou did not press further, having the patience to wait, as long as Li Yi refrained from hostility, which was all he wanted, after all. If Li Yi were to die, then all talks were meaningless, utterly void.

After pondering for a moment, Li Yi finally spoke slowly, "I also need a method for ’Gang Refining.’

Gang Refining Method?

Fan Zhizhou paused for a moment, then shook his head, "Sorry, I can’t provide that. I’ll only be qualified to learn it from the Fan Family once my ’Blood Refining and Spleen Opening’ reaches a high level of achievement. If I had it, I wouldn’t mind sharing it with you, since to outsiders it’s precious, but to me, it’s not rare."

"Really don’t have it?" Li Yi asked again.

"I swear, I really don’t," Fan Zhizhou said. "If you’re interested, someday you could accompany me to visit the Fan Family. Being a Cross-Border individual, your potential is limitless, with an infinite future ahead. The Family Head of my family would very much like to make your acquaintance, especially since this involves Cross-Border matters; the issue is significant, and even the Fan Family would handle it with care."

His words were sincere. Since he couldn’t defeat Li Yi, he tried to befriend him instead.

"If not, then that’s it; let’s change the condition. I need a Yin Horse," Li Yi immediately said.

"A Yin Horse? The steed ridden by Ghost Generals?"

Fan Zhizhou said, "These creatures are rarely owned by the living; only those who frequently travel to and from Ghost Street use them. But since you’ve asked for it, I’ll collect some for you. I only need a few days’ time, seven days, and after seven days, I’ll have someone deliver the Yin Horse to you."

"Very well, seeing how promptly you have responded, the condition is acceptable. I’ll let today’s matters slide for now. If in the future, you and Zhao’s Martial Arts Hall have no dealings, I won’t trouble you, and you can continue being the City Lord. But if I find you messing around behind the scenes, then don’t blame me for being ruthless," Li Yi stated, laying down both a concession and a threat.

"Thank you," Fan Zhizhou said. "But please, in the future, keep your disciples from Zhao’s Martial Arts Hall well-disciplined. I do not want to see chaos in Sanyang City."

Li Yi understood Fan Zhizhou’s concerns; he worried that Zhao’s Martial Arts Hall would grow strong and unchecked, eventually becoming the local bullies in Sanyang City, throwing everything into chaos.

"If the disciples of Zhao’s Martial Arts Hall commit crimes, they will be bound by our own sector’s rules," Li Yi also didn’t wish for this to occur, demonstrating his commitment.

"That would be good," Fan Zhizhou nodded, his concerns finally put to rest.

"Since our matters have been settled, then I won’t keep you from catching up any longer. Farewell," Li Yi, seeing an agreement reached, chose not to linger and immediately left with Rong Niang.

"Please," Fan Zhizhou gestured, then watched as the two left.

Once Li Yi and Rong Niang had completely ridden off, the weight lifted off him finally settled down, and he exhaled deeply.

"Luckily, he has quite a bit of affection for Zhao’s Martial Arts Hall; otherwise, the negotiation really wouldn’t have gone well," Fan Zhizhou sighed, then looked at his palm.

The imprint of a fist was visibly red and swollen, with bruises starting to seep out, indicating just how fierce that one punch was. If a few more punches had come his way, he might have ended up dead from the blows.

"Sorry, Young Master, this old servant is incompetent and failed to subdue him, cough cough," the old servant skilled in Refining Points said weakly, his complexion pale and breath faint.

"It’s not your fault. In the face of such a person, there are few in the Four Seas and Eight Continents who dare say they could capture him, unless a fierce individual from the Upper Three Realms intervenes. But even then I wouldn’t be confident... Given this man is from another realm, he surely didn’t come unprepared and undoubtedly holds further cards up his sleeve that just Refining Points couldn’t force out," Fan Zhizhou sighed, then walked over to help the loyal old servant up and fed him a big medicine to stabilize his condition and restore his Qi-Blood.

After taking the medicine, the old servant’s complexion became slightly rosier, but he still required a period of rest to fully recover.

"Young Master, do not lose heart just because you’ve lost one battle," the old servant urged upon seeing Fan Zhizhou’s somewhat disheartened appearance.

Fan Zhizhou smiled and shook his head, "In front of such a person, what heart can one possibly have? His fist alone was suffocating. Moreover, seeing his somewhat youthful appearance, he probably is only about twenty or so. Give him a few more years of cultivation, and the Martial Artists of the Four Seas and Eight Continents will all have to bow before him. What truly terrifies and unsettles me is that in his world, he is but an ordinary cultivator."

"What kind of formidable world could breed such a vast set of individuals?"

Afterward, he gazed at the distant skies, yearning deeply, "The Four Seas and Eight Continents are too small. Above are the gods governing the world, and below are the families in charge. In such an environment, a True Dragon cannot be raised. Heroes, who are scarce once in three hundred years, might seem numerous like the fishes crossing the river to them. How wonderful it would be if I could also Cross Border."

At this moment, Fan Zhizhou felt that his previous aspirations and his own talents were but a joke.

From Li Yi, he had witnessed the truly vast world, while he himself was nothing more than a loach in a pond, incapable of reaching the sea.

"If the Young Master truly harbors this intention, that Li Yi would be the opportunity," the old servant whispered. "Since he could Cross Border to arrive here, surely the Young Master can Cross Border as well."

Fan Zhizhou was silent, his gaze flickering uncertainly, "You are right, if this loach were to enter the sea, even if it can’t transform into a True Dragon, it could still become a Jiao, capable of stirring the wind and clouds of the Four Seas and Eight Continents. However, I have previously crossed paths with that Li Yi and incurred his animosity; it won’t be easy to resolve. Moreover, this person regards dukes and high officials as nothing and dares to threaten emperors with bloodshed. The Fan Family... cannot suppress him."

"However, he is interested in the Gang Refining Method; promising significant rewards may offer a chance for him to take me Cross Border."

The old servant immediately said, "Young Master, you must consider everything. Once you Cross Border, you may very well not be able to return."

Fan Zhizhou smiled, "As a disciple from a family like mine, reaching Gang Refining in Martial Arts is the limit. Over a thousand years, countless individuals like me have existed—my absence won’t be noticed, nor will my presence be impactful. If I can truly Cross Border and leave, then so be it, there’s nothing to fear. If I can witness that unparalleled scenery, even dying would be a worthy end to my life."

At this point, his heart was further stirred.

"For this matter to succeed, the lord of the house must agree," the old servant reminded him at that moment.

"No rush, no rush. The current conflict has just subsided; now is not the time to discuss this matter," Fan Zhizhou shook his head. "You should rest well for now. Later, I will arrange for someone else to send treasures, big medicine, and the secrets of Blood Refining and Spleen Opening to this Li Yi. After some days, once I acquire the Yin Horse, I’ll visit him in person."

Meanwhile.

Li Yi, having left the City Lord Mansion, was also in a much better mood, having completed all the major tasks of the day. The remaining issues were minor details, hardly worth considering.

"Brother, you did the right thing," Rong Niang finally spoke up as they traveled.

"What thing did I do right?" Li Yi asked.

Rong Niang said, "It’s right that you spared Fan Zhizhou and his servant’s lives. Killing him would have brought no benefits but would have invited trouble instead. By sparing him, not only do we aid in the rebuilding of Zhao’s Martial Arts Hall, but we can also derive various benefits from him, whether it be treasures, big medicine, or the unequaled secrets of Blood Refining and Spleen Opening."

"The disciples of Zhao’s Martial Arts Hall have perished, and the enemies have been eliminated. We must also plan for the future and avoid disrupting a favorable situation over a moment of impulsive conflict."

Having followed Li Yi, she had come to understand many things and knew that some matters were not as simple as wanting them to be a certain way.

For instance, they couldn’t completely eradicate the disciples of the Jin Family. They had to focus on psychological warfare, causing the Jin Family Martial Arts Hall to disintegrate and vanish.

The same went for the Han Family disciples; they could only eliminate the major threats while sparing the minor, because they weren’t gods who could completely cleanse their enemies. The entanglements of a single Martial Arts Hall were too extensive, interwoven with countless connections. If they were to eradicate everyone, it would mean having to wipe out everyone in Sanyang City.

The same principle applied this time too in dealing with Fan Zhizhou, the City Lord.

Taking two lives in exchange for a favorable turn of events at Zhao’s Martial Arts Hall was worth it.

If they had slaughtered everyone out of sheer delight, Zhao’s Martial Arts Hall would have been unlikely to recover, and future retaliation could claim many more lives.

"What I can do for the master is limited, after all, I can’t always stay in the Four Seas and Eight Continents; sooner or later, I have to return," Li Yi said calmly while riding his horse. "Therefore, once I’m gone, Zhao’s Martial Arts Hall must be able to stand on its own, hence the need for measured revenge. We can’t have a situation where as soon as I leave, the hall is destroyed again."

"What? Big Brother is going back?"

Rong Niang felt a sudden pang in her heart at these words, and a look of panic appeared in her eyes. Her grip on the reins involuntarily tightened.

Li Yi continued, "I have parents at home who need caring for, and matters to attend to. If it wasn’t for Zhao Qian’s dream alerting me to the danger facing the master, I wouldn’t have suddenly risked Crossing Border to come here. Once I’m done with things here, I guess it’ll be time to leave."

"But don’t worry, if I could come here once, I can definitely come a second time. Perhaps I’ll visit frequently in the future."

"That’s good, that’s good," Rong Niang finally let out a sigh of relief upon hearing this.

She had almost thought that once Li Yi left, he might never return; even so, she felt an immense sense of longing.