Eternal Life: Hundredfold Rewards-Chapter 312 - 187: Ten-Year Contract? Not Really! (Part 2)

Chapter 312: Chapter 187: Ten-Year Contract? Not Really! (Part 2)

Perhaps the latter conversation with the family is more challenging.

Or maybe the matter of the Soul-Stabilizing Incense is too significant.

Continue to wait patiently, there might be a turning point.

And sure enough, half a month later, Diwu Feng met with Qi Chuan in a familiar dining house.

At the table filled with delicious food and wine, Diwu Feng apologetically said to Qi Chuan, "I’m sorry to have kept you waiting for so long, Qi Chuan Tributor."

"It’s alright." Qi Chuan waved his hand.

In fact, Qi Chuan was not yet a tributor of the Diwu Clan, as it was the interim period between contracts, but Diwu Feng still addressed him as such.

The waiting time and the form of address were secondary; the key was what news Diwu Feng was bringing.

Diwu Feng took a sip of wine, barely concealing his slight excitement, and said to Qi Chuan, "Qi Chuan Tributor, there’s been progress regarding your Soul-Stabilizing Incense."

Upon hearing this news, Qi Chuan felt slightly better, "What do you mean?"

Acquiring the Soul-Stabilizing Incense was naturally ideal.

"When I returned to the family, I mentioned your situation to the clan leader. He was surprised to learn you had broken through to a Tier Two Top Grade Talisman Master and thought that perhaps we could collaborate by offering you the Soul-Stabilizing Incense."

"Unfortunately, in recent years, all the Soul-Stabilizing Incense produced by our family has been reserved by our Core Formation Ancestor, with not a single stick to spare."

"Moreover, the Core Formation Ancestor is in secluded cultivation."

"At this point, it seemed almost impossible to obtain the Soul-Stabilizing Incense, but I wasn’t willing to give up. I decided to wait for over half a month, and when I was about to return and inform you after waiting another week, the Core Formation Ancestor unexpectedly emerged from seclusion!"

"Then, the clan leader told the Ancestor about your situation, and upon learning of it, the Ancestor agreed to allocate a stick of Soul-Stabilizing Incense for you. That’s when I hurried over to inform you."

Diwu Feng rattled off his words, and after he finished, he immediately took a sip of wine to moisten his throat.

"Is that so? It seems there were indeed some twists and turns regarding the Soul-Stabilizing Incense," Qi Chuan pondered.

If the Core Formation Ancestor of the Diwu Clan had remained in seclusion, breaking through to a Tier Two Top Grade Talisman Master would be useless as there would be no Soul-Stabilizing Incense available.

Now, however, he could obtain one stick.

In fact, one stick was enough for Qi Chuan to charge at the Core Formation.

And with the Hundredfold Critical Strike, Qi Chuan certainly wasn’t contemplating failure in his attempt to reach Core Formation.

"So, what are the requirements? How many Lower Grade Spirit Stones are needed?" Qi Chuan asked.

The Soul-Stabilizing Incense was not something that would come cheap.

To obtain it, one must repay the tribute value in corresponding Spirit Stones.

In the past three years, he had received four hundred and fifty thousand Lower Grade Spirit Stones from the Diwu Clan, but he wasn’t sure if it would be enough.

Four hundred and fifty thousand Lower Grade Spirit Stones sound like a lot, but it’s merely forty-five Upper Grade Spirit Stones.

Such rare items are hard to value precisely, so it is unclear how the Diwu Clan would respond.

"Spirit Stones... not necessary," Diwu Feng said. "Our Core Formation Ancestor says as long as you sign a tribute contract for over ten years with the Diwu Clan in your capacity as a Tier Two Top Grade Talisman Master, the Soul-Stabilizing Incense will be given to you at no cost."

The value of the Soul-Stabilizing Incense was so high that even a Tier Two Top Grade Talisman Master would find it hard to decline a free offer.

Moreover, knowing Qi Chuan, despite being part of the Outer Talisman Hall and a Tier Two Top Grade Talisman Master, he would still choose a power to serve as a tributor.

The Diwu Clan believed they were a decent choice.

Since a power must be chosen for tribute, if the Diwu Clan offered a good deal that included a stick of Soul-Stabilizing Incense, Qi Chuan would likely agree.

"Ten years? That’s impossible."

Yet, to Diwu Feng’s surprise, Qi Chuan immediately shook his head upon hearing the ten-year contract and replied decisively, "I think let’s continue with a three-year contract instead."

"Why is that?" Diwu Feng looked at Qi Chuan in confusion.

Previously, Qi Chuan had only signed a three-year contract because he believed in his ability to break through to the Tier Two Top Grade Talisman Master and then negotiate for better tribute rewards.

But now, Qi Chuan was already a Tier Two Upper Grade Talisman Master, so why was he still opting for a three-year contract?

Could there be another reason?

He certainly didn’t think Qi Chuan would break through again in three years.

After all, whether as a Tier Two Top Grade Talisman Master or with Foundation Establishment Perfection Cultivation, advancing further meant stepping into the unimaginable realm of Core Formation Level!

For normal cultivators, preparing for a breakthrough attempt over ten or even decades, rather than just three years, was common.

"No particular reason, just concerned that I might have another breakthrough in a few years?" Qi Chuan said with a smile, and to the preconceived Diwu Feng, it seemed like a joke.

"Hahaha..." Seeing this, Diwu Feng laughed along.

"I’m serious," Qi Chuan added.

"Then, how about I suggest to the family to add a clause to the contract that, should your cultivation or Talisman Making Skill advance in these ten years, the current contract will be void, and a new agreement that both parties agree upon can be negotiated?" Diwu Feng still felt Qi Chuan was joking as he probed.

"Hmm, if that’s the case, then it’s agreeable to me," Qi Chuan said with a smile.

This way, it’s like he got a stick of Soul-Stabilizing Incense from the Diwu Clan for free.

After all, Qi Chuan was bound to break through in a few years.

Having the Hundredfold Critical Strike provided that confidence.

Of course, it wouldn’t necessarily be a free gain.

At the very least, he had served as a tributor to the Diwu Clan for six years.

"Should I just take this proposal back to the family?" Diwu Feng tentatively asked, his impression of Qi Chuan slightly refreshed, thinking that at times, the Qi Chuan Tributor had a playful side and enjoyed making light jokes.

"Alright, let me know when there’s news," Qi Chuan nodded again.

Diwu Feng found himself a bit puzzled.

Eventually, he returned to the Diwu Clan with a hint of confusion and lack of understanding.

Qi Chuan continued his cultivation path diligently, and after three days had passed. 𝒻𝓇𝑒𝘦𝘸𝑒𝒷𝓃ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝒸ℴ𝘮

Three days later, Diwu Feng brought back news, saying that the Diwu Clan was quite surprised by Qi Chuan’s request, but upon the ancestor hearing it, he almost instantly agreed.

Diwu Feng internally didn’t understand.

But Qi Chuan felt it was normal.

When a Foundation Establishment Tributor to a Core Formation Clan breaks through to the Core Formation Realm, bringing him to the same level as the clan, regardless of the clan’s willingness, if the tributor desired, he had the power to overturn the previous contract.

Nonetheless, Qi Chuan preferred a legitimate process by including prior clauses in the contract.

Afterward, with the help of Diwu Feng, Qi Chuan successfully signed a ten-year tribute contract with the Diwu Clan.

The tribute reward was 350,000 Lower Grade Spirit Stones per annum.

Qi Chuan’s task was to craft some Tier Two Top Grade Talismans for the Diwu Clan each month.

Regarding these talisman tasks, the Diwu Clan, considering Qi Chuan’s recent breakthrough, didn’t demand him to craft challenging talismans, only common Tier Two Top Grade Talismans.

Occasionally, they would ask Qi Chuan to craft Tier Two Upper Grade Talismans for certain special types.

So, the tribute tasks were easily completed by Qi Chuan.

Half a month later, Diwu Feng also brought over a stick of Soul-Stabilizing Incense from the Diwu Clan to Qi Chuan.

Qi Chuan placed the Soul-Stabilizing Incense into his Qiankun Bag, breathing a sigh of relief, a matter resting at ease in his mind.

The Soul-Stabilizing Incense was beneficial in reducing the strength of Heart Demons when attempting Core Formation.

Qi Chuan indeed needed it.

However, that wasn’t all.

The next day, a message from the Outer Talisman Hall arrived too.

As news of Qi Chuan’s breakthrough to a Tier Two Top Grade Talisman Maker wasn’t limited to the Diwu Clan, it had also been reported to the Outer Talisman Hall shortly after his breakthrough.