Zi Ling, seeing Han Li's skeptical expression and not offering any explanation, instead glanced at Qu Hun and smiled gracefully, saying, "Is this 'Qu Elder' a physical manifestation of your elder self?" As soon as the words left her lips, Han Li's posture stiffened, and a flash of cold light passed through his eyes. He stared at her for a long while before asking coldly, "How does Miss Zilin know this?" "Kang Li's expression eased slightly as he acknowledged, then glanced around before asking a follow-up question. To him, the revelation of Qu Hu's duplicate identity was merely a matter of time—nothing truly surprising. "Please sit, senior! Our two senior sisters have gone to the marketplace to purchase supplies, and they're also planning to buy a residence in Tianxing City, intending to settle there long-term," the young lady gracefully invited Kang Li to sit, softly explaining. "Wait—wouldn't you three like to return to Miao Yin Monastery?" Kang Li frowned slightly, expressing his confusion. "Return to Miao Yin Monastery? How could we possibly do that! After all, we've now forged a deep enmity with the JI Yin Island faction, and two of our senior elders have already betrayed us. If we go back, we'd either fall back into the hands of those villains or be absorbed by other smaller or medium-sized powers. We've already decided to temporarily relocate Miao Yin Monastery to Tianxing City. After all, our monastery still holds a solid reserve of resources over the years," the Zi Ling Immortal sighed, speaking with a wry smile. "Oh!" Han Li nodded silently, saying nothing. He wasn't someone particularly close to the other, so he naturally didn't show excessive enthusiasm. Zi Ling, the fairy, didn't mind Han Li's quiet demeanor. Instead, she rose to pour a cup of fragrant tea for him, then with a composed air added, "When our sisters escaped the corpse-wielding interceptors, we happened to see the senior master successfully subduing them from a distance, thus knowing that you too were unharmed. Later, we learned from Fan Sister that you came to their aid specifically because of the Thunder Bamboo. Therefore, I asked Fan Sister to send a message summoning you to meet here." Zi Ling briefly explained the circumstances. "The message mentioned that Master Zi Ling still holds the Thunder Bamboo—correct, isn't it? Didn't the people from Ji Yin Island seize it earlier?" Han Li, eager to get straight to the point, immediately asked the question he cared most about. Upon hearing Master Han's direct and straightforward inquiry, the Lady Zilin's eyes sparkled with a gentle smile, and she replied in a smooth, melodious voice: "You are truly concise and to the point. Then, I shall not hesitate either. When our Miao Yin Sect first received this Heavenly Thunder Bamboo from the young disciple of that small sect, we actually obtained two sections. However, to secure a better price, my mother divided the bamboo into two parts, taking only the upper half with her, while leaving the lower section—complete with the root—here with me. If Master wishes, I may present this lower section to Master Han." "Zi Ling, the young lady, was slightly taken aback, her smile gradually fading as she pondered for a moment before speaking seriously: 'In truth, the Heavenly Thunder Bamboo holds little value for our current Miao Yin Sect. Given the favor our elder showed during the last encounter, it would be only right to bestow it upon you. However, our sect is undergoing constant upheaval, and with the strength of our younger members, we simply cannot sustain such a large and established order. Therefore, I would like to propose that you serve as a guest senior elder of our sect, in exchange for the Bamboo and an annual contribution of three spirit stones. I hope you will not hesitate to accept!' With the various elixirs at his disposal, he simply didn't care about the slight spiritual strength gained through dual cultivation. But the Thunder Bamboo was different—perhaps once he passed this village, he'd never find such a place again. After some thought, Han Li carefully replied, "This condition won't do. I've long been accustomed to traveling independently and can't bear the constraints of a sect. Lady Zilin, why don't you consider another offer? If you'd prefer, I'm willing to pay thirty percent more than the market price in spirit stones to purchase this item." "Your words are truly amusing," said Lady Zilin, neither surprised nor disappointed by Han Li's refusal. "Materials of the highest tier, such as the Three Divine Trees, hardly have a market price to speak of. To a cultivator who doesn't use them, they're worth nothing. But to one who practices wood-based cultivation techniques, they're often priceless." Han Li frowned, clearly sensing that the young lady truly desired this item and would not easily let go. This feeling of being held at a disadvantage and pressured—quite uncomfortable. Yet, he would certainly not give up the Celestial Thunder Bamboo merely to join the Miao Yin Sect and allow them to dictate his terms. As Han Li was quietly pondering whether to abandon the Celestial Thunder Bamboo and seek other materials for his法宝, the young woman across from him suddenly proposed a compromise. "Since you are unwilling to be bound, why not serve as our titular senior elder? You'll enjoy the privileges of an elder without actually being subject to the orders of the Sect's Master. At the very least, our Sect can leverage your status as a Condensed Dan-stage cultivator to bolster our own standing. How does that sound?" "A titular elder?" Han Li was taken aback by the composed and refined tone of Zi Ling, the Immortal Maiden. "Even if the Miao Yin Sect faces a major threat, I wouldn't have to personally intervene?" he asked, somewhat puzzled, with a look of doubt on his face. "If our sect truly encounters any difficulties or genuinely requires a senior's personal intervention, the senior may decide at your own discretion whether to agree or not, and we sisters will personally extend our heartfelt thanks afterward!" This lady seemed to have carefully considered the matter and spoke without hesitation. But before other cultivators, I will not willingly acknowledge myself as a senior disciple of your sect. Nor will I expect you to do any formalities on my behalf. How your senior will come to believe I have become one of your senior disciples entirely depends on your own efforts. After careful consideration, I find no harm in this arrangement, and driven by my deep desire for the Thunder Bamboo, I have finally agreed. "Very well! As long as the senior does not deny this at the time, we sisters will naturally manage everything perfectly!" The young woman beamed with delight, her face glowing with joy. Once the agreement was reached, the Purple Spirit Princess did not hesitate, and instead drew out a strange box from her robes and placed it upon the table. This box was unusual—neither wooden nor metallic, and unlike any jade or stone object—its body was semi-transparent, shimmering with a faint layer of pale green mist. Seeing Han Li's expression of surprise, Zilin, the immortal maiden, softly explained to him: "This box is made from a substance called 'gao yu.' Although its name includes 'jade,' it is not actually jade and does not belong to the five elements. Only this substance can preserve the thunder bamboo for a long time without losing its spiritual energy." Han Li nodded. Since he had never heard of 'gao yu' before, it clearly indicated that this substance was extremely rare and therefore exceptionally precious. Then, Zixia, the other immortal maiden, extended a slender, jade-like finger, and as her fingertip flashed, a green glow the size of a soybean appeared upon it. Without hesitation, she gently touched the lid of the box. Upon contact, the green glow met the azure aura on the box, producing a soft crackling sound, after which the shimmering light faded completely, and the lid opened slowly by itself. Han Li was instantly energized and quickly focused his attention to gaze into the box.