I am in Yellow Maple Valley, and I have a demonic beast clone!

Chapter 163 Guest Elder!

Inside Tingtao Pavilion, the aroma of tea wafts through the air, while outside the window, bamboo shadows sway and streams murmur, perfectly complementing the tranquil atmosphere of the pavilion.

Liu Yun and Zhou Ding sat facing each other, separated by an antique sandalwood low table. The tea on the table was warm, and the steam rose like clouds.

Liu Yun picked up the cup of "Yunshan Wuyin" in front of her and said with a smile, "At the auction just now, Fellow Daoist Zhou really opened my eyes. That Dan Yunzi, relying on his status as a master alchemist and his pseudo-Nascent Soul cultivation, is usually arrogant and disdainful of everyone. Even when facing some Nascent Soul seniors, he is still somewhat self-important because of his extensive connections."

"This is the first time I have ever seen him so disheveled and terrified, apologizing to people in public."

"Fellow Daoist Zhou's slightest punishment has thoroughly humiliated him, which is truly gratifying and admirable."

Her words were tinged with laughter, but a glint of shrewdness flashed in her eyes as she intently watched Zhou Ding's reaction.

Although Dan Yunzi was a fake Nascent Soul cultivator, his spiritual cultivation was among the best of all alchemy masters. He was able to crush Dan Yunzi with his spiritual sense alone, leaving Dan Yunzi trembling with fear and forced to apologize without any resistance. This level of strength was something that ordinary early-stage Nascent Soul cultivators could not achieve.

Could it be that this Fellow Daoist Zhou before us is actually a mid-Nascent Soul cultivator, or even a higher level?

If that's true, then the Xuanhai Alliance's ability to win over such a powerful figure is undoubtedly an incredible stroke of luck.

Zhou Ding remained expressionless, picked up his teacup, and gently blew away the steam rising from the surface, as if savoring the aroma of the tea. In response to Liu Yun's probing, he simply replied, "That Dan Yunzi, relying on his status, acted recklessly, using his divine sense to spy on me first. I was merely giving him a taste of his own medicine and punishing him lightly. It's nothing to mention."

He glossed over the matter lightly, as if crushing the divine sense of a fake infant cultivator was merely a "minor punishment" to him.

This ambiguous yet confident attitude made Liu Yun even more certain.

She stopped worrying about Zhou Ding's specific cultivation level. Since he was unwilling to say it, she didn't press him for details, lest she offend him.

The important thing is that the other party has the strength, and the Xuanhai Alliance needs such a powerful figure.

Next, Liu Yun did not rush to get to the point, but instead chatted with Zhou Ding like a hospitable host.

Her words were witty and her knowledge was extensive. She talked about the strange and unusual events that had recently occurred in the Chaotic Star Sea, the new discovery of several strange minerals in the depths of the Outer Star Sea, and the recent personnel changes in Tianxing City. Inadvertently, she revealed a small part of the Xuanhai Alliance's vast intelligence network.

When Liu Yun spoke, her gaze would occasionally meet Zhou Ding's, accompanied by a sincere smile that made people feel as if they were bathed in a spring breeze, and they would unconsciously lower their guard.

Zhou Ding would occasionally respond with a few words, neither appearing overly enthusiastic nor impolite, always maintaining a detached and aloof demeanor, as if he were a detached observer.

After several rounds of tea, the conversation gradually became more engaging.

Liu Yun put down her teacup, her smile fading slightly, replaced by a more serious and sincere expression.

Her eyes, which seemed to see through people's hearts, stared directly at Zhou Ding as she slowly spoke. Her voice was still gentle, but it carried an undeniable weight: "Fellow Daoist Zhou, to be honest, the reason I invited you here today is not only because I admire your demeanor and wish to get to know you, but also because there is something I would like to discuss with you."

Zhou Ding put down his teacup, looked at her calmly, and waited for her to continue.

He knew that the real issue was finally about to be addressed.

Liu Yun didn't mince words and stated directly, "Although my Xuanhai Alliance ranks among the four major merchant alliances in the Chaotic Star Sea, with industries spanning both inland and outlying seas and immense wealth, what truly deters troublemakers and allows my Xuanhai Alliance to stand firm in Tianxing City and even the entire Chaotic Star Sea, besides wealth and distribution channels, is strength, especially the presence of high-level cultivators."

She paused slightly, then looked sincerely at Zhou Ding, "I have observed that your cultivation is unfathomable, your conduct is upright and honorable, and your demeanor is extraordinary. You are truly a pillar of our Xuanhai Alliance that we desperately need. Therefore, I humbly request that you, on behalf of the Xuanhai Alliance, serve as a guest elder of our Xuanhai Alliance."

"Guest Elder?" Zhou Ding raised an eyebrow, a perfectly measured look of surprise on his face.

He finally understood the other party's purpose completely.

Recruiting, indeed, is for the purpose of recruitment.

Given the status of the Xuanhai Alliance, those who would be invited by them to serve as guest elders would at least have the cultivation level of the Nascent Soul stage, or possess outstanding abilities in a certain area that could bring significant value to the Xuanhai Alliance.

It seems that the divine sense I displayed at the auction has indeed attracted great attention from the other party.

Zhou Ding neither immediately agreed nor directly refused, but pondered for a moment, as if weighing the pros and cons.

Then, he raised his head, looked calmly at Liu Yun, and asked, "I am deeply honored by the high regard of Pavilion Master Liu."

However, what are the duties and—benefits—of this guest elder?

Zhou Ding asked directly, making no attempt to hide his interest in the "benefits".

This is not greed, but pragmatism.

Since the other party is interested in recruiting him, he naturally needs to figure out what he can get and what he needs to give up.

Upon hearing this, Liu Yun was not displeased at all; instead, a hint of admiration appeared in her eyes.

She liked this straightforward and direct personality, which saved her a lot of trouble from being insincere.

With a slight smile, Liu Yun held up four fingers, her voice clear and firm: "Fellow Daoist Zhou is straightforward, so I will speak frankly. Becoming a guest elder of my Xuanhai Alliance has four main benefits."

"Firstly, the privilege of status. Fellow Daoist will possess a guest elder token specially made by our Xuanhai Alliance. With this token, you will enjoy a 30% discount on all purchases at any branch or merchant store of our Xuanhai Alliance in any region of the Chaotic Star Sea! This alone will save you an astronomical amount of spirit stones every year."

Zhou Ding's heart stirred slightly.

30% off!

This is indeed a very tempting offer.

With this 30% discount, you can save a huge amount of spirit stones.

"Secondly, priority supply rights. Fellow Daoist can use the Xuanhai Alliance's extensive network of channels throughout the Chaotic Star Sea to post requests and search for various rare spiritual items, materials, and even specific intelligence. Our alliance will prioritize your requests and utilize all resources to search for them. This is undoubtedly of particular importance to you."

Zhou Ding nodded.

This is precisely what he values.

Many rare materials are hard to come by, and even with spirit stones, one may not be able to find a way to obtain them.

Using the Xuanhai Alliance's channels will undoubtedly greatly increase the probability of finding what you need.

"Thirdly, spirit stone offerings. Our alliance will provide you with a generous offering of spirit stones each year as your daily stipend as a guest elder. The specific amount will depend on your cultivation level and status. Given your strength and potential, I can make the decision that the annual offering will be no less than ten thousand low-grade spirit stones. If your cultivation advances further in the future, or if you make significant contributions to our alliance, the offering amount may be increased accordingly."

A fixed income of 10,000 spirit stones per year, though not much, is enough to cover daily expenses and is also a symbol of status.

"Fourth, sharing of intelligence and connections. Provided that the core interests of our alliance are not jeopardized, fellow Daoist may use the intelligence network and connections of our Xuanhai Alliance to a limited extent. Whether you want to find out the background of a certain cultivator, learn about the latest developments in a certain sea area, or need to be introduced to a certain important figure, our alliance can provide assistance as appropriate. This may play an unexpected role at certain critical moments."

Intelligence and connections!

This fourth point is even more important to Zhou Ding than the first three.

The Chaotic Star Sea is fraught with danger, and intelligence is often the key to life and death.

With the intelligence support of the Xuanhai Alliance, he can avoid many unnecessary risks and find opportunities more effectively.

After explaining the four benefits, Liu Yun stopped, giving Zhou Ding ample time to consider.

She picked up her teacup, took another sip, but her gaze remained fixed on Zhou Ding's face, observing the subtle changes in his expression.

Zhou Ding remained silent for a moment, quickly weighing the options in his mind. These four benefits were indeed very sincere and quite attractive to him.

In particular, the 30% discount, priority supply rights, and intelligence network will provide great convenience for his future development.

Zhou Ding raised his head, looked at Liu Yun, and asked the last crucial question: "The conditions offered by Pavilion Master Liu are indeed very generous, and I am tempted. However, there is no such thing as a free lunch. While enjoying these benefits as a guest elder of the Xuanhai Alliance, what obligations will I need to undertake?"

Liu Yun seemed to have anticipated his question, and a knowing smile appeared on his face as he said frankly, "Fellow Daoist Zhou, rest assured, the guest elders of my Xuanhai Alliance are not bound by indenture, and you are not required to be present at all times to be at my beck and call."

The obligations are simple; there are only two.

"First, when necessary, if our alliance encounters an insurmountable external threat or has certain thorny matters requiring your assistance, our alliance will make a request. At that time, you may lend a hand as appropriate, depending on your own circumstances. Of course, our alliance will never let you work for nothing. For every assistance, regardless of success or failure, we will pay an additional, generous reward based on the difficulty and risk of the matter. We will never let you suffer a loss."

"Secondly, if the opponent's strength far exceeds expectations, or if the matter itself violates your principles and bottom line, you have the absolute and free right to refuse. Our alliance will never force or make things difficult for you. I can guarantee this with the reputation of the Xuanhai Alliance."

She paused, then added, "To put it bluntly, although our Xuanhai Alliance is powerful, it attracts attention and inevitably some unscrupulous individuals who might try to take advantage, or we might encounter some troublesome situations in some remote branches. We need some truly powerful individuals who can hold the title of guest elder, which will be enough to create an effective deterrent and make those with ill intentions think twice."

Fellow Daoist Zhou only needs to lend his name; he can do whatever he wants in his daily life, whether it's in seclusion or traveling. We will never interfere or disturb him. We will only bother him when we truly need his "deterrent power."

Liu Yun's words were extremely frank and thoughtful.

It offered generous benefits while clearly defining limited obligations, granting guest elders a great deal of freedom and respect.

In particular, the promises of "the right to refuse freely" and "never to disturb" dispelled Zhou Ding's last concerns.

Such a guest advisor is truly deserving!

Zhou Ding had already made up his mind. He raised his head, a faint smile on his face, and cupped his hands to Liu Yun, saying, "Sect Master Liu's sincerity is evident, and the terms are generous. If I were to refuse again, I would be ungrateful. In that case, I will gladly accept the position of Guest Elder of the Xuanhai Alliance."

"really?!"

Upon hearing this, Liu Yun's face instantly lit up with immense joy. Her deep eyes shone like stars, and even her voice carried an uncontrollable elation. "Excellent! Fellow Daoist Zhou's acceptance is truly an honor for our Xuanhai Alliance! On behalf of the entire Xuanhai Alliance, I welcome Fellow Daoist Zhou to join us!"

She immediately stood up and personally took out a piece of jade from an exquisite jade box. The jade was entirely made of deep-sea blue jade, and its surface was cool to the touch.

The token, bearing the emblem of the Xuanhai Alliance's wave-shaped copper coin on the front and an ancient seal script character for "guest" and Zhou Ding's name on the back, was solemnly handed to Zhou Ding with both hands: "Fellow Daoist Zhou, this is the token of a guest elder of our Xuanhai Alliance. It contains your identity information and special restrictions. Please keep it safe. With this token, you can exercise the powers of a guest elder in any Xuanhai Alliance property."

She then took out a palm-sized, silver-white jade talisman with bright runes and handed it to Zhou Ding: "This is a communication talisman. If you have any needs, or if my Xuanhai Alliance has important matters to discuss, you can use this talisman to communicate with me or the core managers of this pavilion over a long distance. It is convenient and quick."

Zhou Ding took the token and communication talisman; they felt heavy in his hands.

The token had a delicate feel and a faint, warm spiritual energy fluctuation, which resonated slightly with his aura.

He carefully put the two items into his storage bag, and once again bowed to Liu Yun to express his gratitude: "Thank you, Pavilion Master Liu."

"Fellow Daoist Zhou, you're too kind. From now on, we're family." Liu Yun smiled broadly, in a great mood.

For her, being able to win over a mysterious expert who is suspected to be at least in the mid-stage of the Nascent Soul realm as a guest elder is a significant achievement, and it will further solidify the Xuanhai Alliance's position in Tianxing City.

The two exchanged a few more pleasantries and shared their views on cultivation resources and the situation in Tianxing City.

Liu Yun spoke to Zhou Ding with even greater politeness and intimacy, even subtly implying that if Zhou Ding needed any help, whether in cultivation or other areas, he could come to her at any time.

Zhou Ding also feigned compliance, maintaining a polite yet distant attitude.

After a while, Zhou Ding saw that it was getting late, so he got up to take his leave: "I have troubled you a lot today. I still need to go back to my cave to take care of some trivial matters, so I will take my leave now. Pavilion Master Liu, please stay."

"Fellow Daoist Zhou, please take care. If you have time in the future, you are welcome to visit Tingtao Pavilion often to enjoy tea and discuss the Dao." Liu Yun stood up to see him off, escorting Zhou Ding all the way out of Tingtao Pavilion. Watching his figure disappear around the corner of the garden corridor, the gentle smile on his face gradually faded, turning into a deep contemplation.

Liu Yun stood with her hands behind her back in front of Tingtao Pavilion, gazing at the swaying spiritual flowers and exotic plants in the garden. Her beautiful eyes were deep as she murmured to herself, "Zhou Ding—when did such an unfathomable figure emerge in Tianxing City? He appears to be at the late stage of Core Formation, yet he possesses a terrifying divine sense capable of crushing even a fake Nascent Soul cultivator. He acts with humility and decisiveness, and is extremely wealthy—this person has many secrets."

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He then gently shook his head, a meaningful smile playing on his lips: "However, regardless of his background or secrets, as long as he is a guest elder of my Xuanhai Alliance and is of no benefit to us, that's enough. Perhaps—this move will have unexpected and remarkable effects in the future."