The old abbess’s look softened slowly. She then asked, “Madam Cheng, I can promise that but can we not announce this to the public? Afterall, I belong to my own sect, I worry that if words get out…”
“I understand. Don’t worry, Old Abbess, we will not announce it. But I must make one thing clear in advance. If our guest elders don’t perform what they have promised in the future, there will be consequences. I trust that Old Abbess has a pretty good idea about how the contract works. I will have the power to take care of the situation.”
“I understand.” The old abbess didn’t look too happy, but nodded nonetheless.
“Old Abbess, you are also aware that once the limitation had been lifted, we are talking about not only martial monarch. You are aware of levels above martial monarch. As long as Old Abbess can attain martial celestialist, you will be able to leave this continent and see the outside world. Doesn’t that sound appealing to you?” said Cheng Xiao Xiao with a smile.
She then carried on, “One way or another, I am not asking for much. Our request isn’t that difficult for you. After all, we probably won’t be needing a lot of help from you in the future. Besides, you will be able to have over 1,000 years of life. Is that not worth the trade?”
Cheng Xiao Xiao understood well the concept of the stick and the candy.
“You are right, Madam Cheng.”
“Okay, as we have reached an agreement, do rest for a couple of days over at the guest quarter. I will take you away in a few days.”
“Thank you for your arrangement, Madam.”
Seeing her out, Cheng Xiao Xiao smiled. She knew these old monsters would be back. They were too worried about dying.
“Madam!”
Old Man Ying flashed in front of her. Sitting next to her, he frowned and asked, “Why do you want to make her a guest elder, Madam?”
“Oh? As smart as you are you can’t figure it out?” Cheng Xiao Xiao wasn’t surprised at the appearing of Old Man Ying. She merely smiled and answered him with a question.
“No, I don’t know!” replied Old Man Ying huffily. “Madam will be offering her so much help but she won’t be staying here at Sacred Land Zhongyuan to help out. We will be getting the short end of the stick here!”
“Is that really the case though?” Cheng Xiao Xiao blinked and looked at him.
Old Man Ying was surprised by her response. “Is it not?”
“You tell me.” Cheng Xiao Xiao smiled. Then, looking at his foolish look, shook her head and said, “Silly, if we are to keep her here, then we will have to keep all of the old monsters here in the future. How much resources do you think we will be spending to keep them here?”
“Well…” Now Old Man Ying was speechless.
“All of these old monsters will return for their breakthroughs. If we are to keep all of them here, first of all, they would feel slighted. They do, after all, belong to their own sects and have very high statuses on this continent. Do you think they’ll be happy to all become Sacred Land Zhongyuan’s elders?
“Besides, how often will Sacred Land Zhongyuan really need their assistance? We should be able to take care of almost any situations ourselves. Keeping them here merely meant that we have to continuously supply them with resources. Don’t you think that’s a silly idea? I think so. I don’t want to keep them all here. It’s better to let them all go back to where they come from.
“I trust that they will lend their assistance should we ever need their help. If they don’t, I will be able to take care of them.”
Having said that, Cheng Xiao Xiao looked at him with her bright eyes and smiled. “Old Man Ying, do you really want what you are eating and drinking now to be split between dozens of people? Do you think I will still be able to provide you with 2~3 bottles of jade bee honey every month? You’d be lucky to have just 1 bottle a month.”
“No…”