Shi Nian spoke seriously, and the man's eyes revealed a faint complexity.
Some annoyance, some regret, but inexplicably, also a hint of pleasure?
Shi Nian felt puzzled and couldn't help but complain to Xiao Tong, "Xiao Tong, is this person a bit too normal?"
Xiao Tong also didn't understand, "It feels like he's overly familiar; even though it's our first meeting, he acts as if he's known you for a long time."
"I hate people who act overly familiar the most." Shi Nian continued to gripe, "Doesn't he know I have social anxiety?"
Xiao Tong nodded along, "Although I haven't seen any signs of social anxiety from you. But let's just say you do, for now."
The man did not reply for a long time.
Unable to bear it any longer, Shi Nian asked again, "Don't you know, have you made up your mind? I understand that permanently losing a soul shard will cause you certain harm, but I am willing to compensate for this loss. Whatever the condition, as long as you propose it, I am willing to do my utmost to fulfill it."
For this man, retrieving a piece of his own soul shard was a matter of course. This would also be a completely normal procedure for other cultivators.
Shi Nian couldn't say he was wrong, either.
But for her.
The little apprentice uncle and the person in front of her are completely different entities.
No matter what, she wanted to exchange her little apprentice uncle back.
Although a soul shard is precious, there are still other ways to restore it. At least, Xiao Tong told Shi Nian several methods.
As long as this man is willing to trade, even at a greater cost, Shi Nian is also willing.
The man looked at Shi Nian, he didn't answer her question but instead said, "My name is Qian Ji."
Qian Ji?
A new and unfamiliar name, but Shi Nian nevertheless nodded, indicating that she remembered it.
Qian Ji sighed, "You really value this soul shard of mine."
Shi Nian earnestly said, "That's my little apprentice uncle, not merely any soul shard."
Qian Ji is Qian Ji.
Lu Zhuoyan is Lu Zhuoyan.
They are two completely different people altogether.
Qian Ji smiled slightly and spoke softly, "That soul shard, I've never been able to fully integrate it. It seems something must've been done to it."
Shi Nian knew well that the little apprentice uncle's consciousness wouldn't last for many more years, but she still maintained a calm demeanor, "That's right, I certainly did make some significant modifications. Therefore, if you don't return my little apprentice uncle to me, you won't be able to absorb him either. Instead of that, you might as well use the shard to exchange for my full assistance. You've already achieved the status of Immortal Venerable, if you still have ambitions, then what you seek next could only be the Divine Position. If you are willing to give up this shard, I might be able to help you on the path to divinity."
Qian Ji looked at her with a half-smile: "After all, this is my soul shard, and it is originally a part of me. How does it matter if you can preserve his Divine Thought for a decade or a century? Given enough time, he will eventually fully merge with me. Because, he and I are essentially one and the same."
Shi Nian couldn't abide such words, she stubbornly said: "I've said it before, you are not the same person; you have always been two distinct individuals from the beginning to the end."
Qian Ji frowned slightly before speaking, "But he was split from my soul, he was originally a part of me, wasn't he? He is me, and I am him. You should acknowledge this fact."
Shi Nian listened with growing irritation.
It seemed as though this was directly negating the existence of the little apprentice uncle.
But her little apprentice uncle clearly has his consciousness, his own life trajectory, his own friends, and family.
How could he be the same person as this Qian Ji!
Faintly, Shi Nian felt puzzled again.
This Qian Ji was rather odd.
I made myself clear, it's about reaching a deal with him, even allowing him to come up with demands that exceed the value of the deal.
But he does not make any demands, just keeps emphasizing that my Junior Master Uncle and he are the same person.
What's there to say about this?
If he insists on thinking this way, let him.
If I don't want to think this way, then I won't.
How is this justifiable?
Shi Nian didn't want to get tangled up in this, she simply said: "Senior Qian Ji, since you're willing to show up, that proves there's still something to discuss. Please speak directly, what conditions must be met to release my Junior Master Uncle?"