"Young practitioner Cole greets the Grand Elder." Cole introduce himself the moment the door closed.

"Welcome. Take a seat." The other then pointed on the seat on the other side of the long table.

"Let me introduce myself. I'm the current Prime Minister of this empire, the one that manage the whole empire when the Emperor focus on his other more important task. Just call me Grand Elder Pirro."

Cole smile, understanding that the other can grant him whatever he ask depending on the value of the item he'll trade. Of course, it should be something the empire can grant.

"Well then, Grand Elder Pirro, I will go straight to the point." Cole answered, a flask appear on top of his hand and put it on top of the table. "This is the treasure I intend to exchange."

The small flask looks valuable and exquisite since it was a craft of elves. Just the flask alone looks like it was a true treasure.

Grand Elder Pirro didn't stand on ceremony and immediately scan the flask using his powerful [Divine Sense].

And when he felt the extremely powerful life force the small flask contains, his eyes immediately widen and look at Cole in disbelief.

"This... This is..?" He stutter, stand up from his seat, hold the small flask and inspect it more thoroughly.

The small flask is definitely a handiwork of grandmaster. Furthermore, it was made with precious materials that it even manage to contain the rich life force of the unknown liquid and stop it on dissipating to the air.

Grand Elder Pirro inspect the small flask for several seconds but he have yet to tell the origin of the treasure.

Of course, it could be considered normal. After all, although the elves leave a trace to this world, after several thousands of years, their traces are now almost instinct, if not completely vanishing. They were only known to be legends and pass down through the word of mouth.

After some time, Cole start to introduce the time, "This flask is what I accidentally acquire from the Flower Head Forest. Base on its otherworldly handiwork, the rich life essence it contains and the past history of this world specifically the Azure Territory, I believe that it's the legendary item produced by elve's divine tree, Tree of Life." He pause.

"I believe that its the [Water of Life]."

After it dawn to the Grand Elder, he immediately turn stone on the spot and look at the small flask with wide, surprised eyes, his bearing as the Prime Minister have long been vanished.

However, the Prime Minister is someone experienced after all. He immediately recover and immediately posture like his position. But the small flask are now tightly clenched by his hands and didn't put it back in font of Cole. Instead, he brought it back to his seat.

"Ahem... I personally appraise the value of your item and its a genuine item." Pirro said with deep voice.

Water of Life have long been regard as a mere legend, or so he believe too.

However, the sole appearance of the flask are enough to indicate that it was truly a handiwork of long lost elves. Furthermore, its perfect ability to contain the life force of the liquid further support the fact.

And most important of all, the liquid truly contain an extremely rich amount of life force, which is not something an unknown item except for Water of Life to contain.

With all the physical facts, Pirro don't have any choice to believe that it was truly a Water of Life.

The Water of Life... Although the life rating of the cultivator have vastly improved the stronger their cultivation is thus weakening its effect (on the basis that a single drop of Water of Life could give million of years of life-span to normal humans), without a doubt, the Emperor will acquire another several hundreds of years of life-span upon consuming this drops of Water of Life.

This treasure... are without a doubt priceless.

"So, what do you want in exchange for this treasure?"

When he wait for Cole's reply, he brace himself with ridiculous price of request. But he didn't expect the next word that come out of his mouth.

"I want to exchange it for territory and rights. And the territory I specifically want is only the Towering Tree City."

What suprise Pirro is that the request are... humble.

Yes, according to his own, the request looks humble.

That is because not only the Water of Life is extremely rare but because the Emperor himself greatly needs the time. Suppose to say, its value increase by many fold because of that.

Therefore, if he gave it the same value, it was as valuable as a whole kingdom...

Of course, that Kingdom shouldn't have strategic value and resources but those weak Kingdom.

This is the reason why the request seem humble...

Furthermore, he didn't ask for strategic and particularly rich city but a weak city with almost no value besides the fact that it was a city populated mostly with normal human.

Oh, and also the fact that it was next to the forbidden Dark Forest. However, although the Dark Forest is known to be rich in resources, it was called forbidden for a reason after all. The death rate of exploration of the forest is extremely high.

Those was the reason why Pirro know what the city is.

For the empire as a whole, Towering Tree City is worthless. Supposedly, he should immediately accept the deal.

And he intend to. But he have to make some things clear first.

"The Empire can grant you that request. Let me hear the rights you request too then."

Cole nodded his head, "First, I want the empire to give up all their rights to Towering Tree City and its surrounding area. Which means that whatever I intend to do in that territory, the Empire won't have any say. Treat it is as independent powerhouse like sects."

"Second, do not close the isolate the boarders. You have the rights to stop the cultivators of the empire but I ask that you won't stop the normal humans from crossing and migrating to my future city."

"Third, make a fair trade agreement. At the least, make sure that I'll be able to trade in the empire in fair manner."

"And lastly, I want to ask for assurance. Make a pact that the empire or any of its affiliated organization that it won't attack and invade the city for hundred years."

Cole paused.

"Those are my condition for exchanging the Water of Life."

After hearing the series of conditions, Pirro immediately fall in contemplation.

He could say that the conditions are actually favorable for the side of empire.

First of all, the city itself didn't mean much for the empire as a whole and don't have any important value. It was even considered cheap as a price for extending the life of the Emperor.

Secondly, the condition about the future boarder also favor them. The number of normal human in the empire is numerous, composing 80% of population. Even if they open the boarder for the migration, the small territory of the city itself won't be able to accomodate that 80%.

As a matter of fact, he believe that it won't even be able to accomodate 1% of that population unless they attack and invade the surrounding area or expand to the Dark Forest.

The fair trade agreement also won't hurt the interest of the empire. Although this condition favor other side since he doubt that they have something worth for but at the least, it didn't make the empire on the losing side.

As for the last, about the assurance, he don't actually ask for protection from the empire but just stopping all their affiliated underlings from attacking the city after it become independent. They don't need to spend some manpower or anything from this condition unless their own subordinate made the first move.

Even if they were attack by other powerhouse like sects and secluded family, or besiege by a beast tide from the Dark Forest, they don't have to care at all.

As for the pact lasting for hundred years... That year could be considered short for the life of powerful cultivator.

Besides, according to his estimation, the Water of Life he has in his hand could extend the life of the Emperor for at least another two hundred years considering his current cultivation. It could be considered a bargain to exchange for the protection for one hundred years that basically has no cost.

However, before that...

"Well, I think I can accept all of that condition. But before that, you have to make sure that we are on the same standing..."

Yes, Pirro won't deny that he's starting to get greedy. Since he has the ability to take out an almost forgotten Water of Life, it was apparent that he has considerable background. Otherwise...

As the saying goes, ‘Innocent man, guilty jade.’

Strong is always privileged and a weak don't have any rights.

Cole smile, already expecting that the other will try to guage his background.

As a matter of fact, he's ready to summon all of his edified ghost should things turn south.

Fortunately, his mysteriousness makes the other wary of him and don't attack him on the spot after revealing his treasure.

However, after thinking that there's a trust between them, it still don't feel good that the other had the intention of betraying him for his property.

He felt insulted and betrayed.

Masking his emotion, a green piece of majestic scale appear on top of his hand. It was the scale given to him personally by the green python.

Perhaps because it was personally given by Cole from its original owner, the scale looks no different from ornamental on his hands.

But it wasn't the same for others.

Perhaps because the scale itself felt the hidden deadly intent of the other person to its holder, it immediately erupt with incomparable might, enveloping the now scared silly and stiffed Pirro who currently look at the scale with apparent fear on his eyes.

'Wi–Without a doubt, it was a scale of the beast with cultivation of Sainthood Realm!' Pirro scream internally.

Not to say in Azure Territory, Sainthood Realm powerhouse were force to be reckon with in Eastern Continent. They hold the mountain and sky on the palm of their hands.

And it was something an empire can't contend with even if they erupt with all of their power...

Pirro immediately stabilize himself and ask for forgiveness.

"I apologize. I didn't know that you have such background."

Cole smile, "Its alright. Greater power is the law, that I also believe. And only those with power is capable of holding such treasure..."

He then twirl the scale on his hands, "Though, its a pity. Since I take out this scale, the owner of this scale, the direct descendant of late Divine Beast Azure Dragon, might assume some misunderstanding..." He muttered with tinge of pity on his voice.

However, those words reverberated in Pirro's mind like a Divine Tribulation inside his mind.

He look at the scale on Cole's hand once again but this time, with apparent fear plastered on his face.

Goodness... Did he just threaten someone connected with the overlord of Azure Territory?

Did... Did he just make a grave sin that can annihilate the whole empire?

The longer Pirro though about the possible consequences for what he just did, the more paler his face is. And despite his rich amount of experience, his hands can't help but shake.

"Great... Great Master! No, Ancestor! Ancestor, please be magnanimous and overlook this ignorant's mistake—"

Before Cole could hear another combination of 'noble' words, he stopped the other side.

And since it was already established who had the upper hand, he don't want to hear another cringy, flowery words.

"I don't have any intention, we can still proceed the same as before. I'll only ask for another condition..."

Then, the familiar ancient scroll appear on top of Cole's hand. It was the [Ancient Contract of Damnation].

"Everything we talk about, make it an oath on this scroll. In addition, you won't tell a single soul about it, including the Emperor himself."