Chapter 16

• As Elder Bowen smiled,
• Tim furrowed his brow and narrowed his eyes slightly.
• Valerie and Piko also directed their attention towards Elder Bowen and Tim, sensing that a conversation between the two was imminent.
• At that moment,
• Both of them understood that a misunderstanding had arisen between Tim and Elder Bowen, and they hoped the two could resolve it.
• "Tim."
• "Now that your dantian has been restored,"
• "Why don't you consider coming back to the Starry Abyss Sect for cultivation?"
• "The Starry Abyss Sect is one of the most influential sects on this continent, offering abundant resources and advanced techniques to aid in your progress, facilitating your rapid advancement."
• Elder Bowen smiled as he looked at Tim, speaking slowly.
• "Return to the Starry Abyss Sect? Hah!"
• "Have you forgotten how I was treated by the Starry Abyss Sect?"
• "I will never forget those humiliations!"
• "And you, don't pretend to be kind to me. Have you forgotten how you treated me when I was expelled from the sect?"
• Tim scoffed, "You manipulated my relationships with Adron and Clement using two pills, subjecting me to public humiliation..."
• Gradually, Tim recounted the events that had occurred at the mountain gate.
• Upon hearing this,
• 'What!?'
• 'Young Master Bowen would resort to such manipulative tactics?'
• Valerie and Piko were astonished, never expecting to hear about such actions.
• "Ah."
• "I did offer to help you stay in the sect at that time, but you rejected me, believing I had ill intentions."
• "I merely wanted you to realize that, with my influence, harming you would have been easy, and there would have been no need for any schemes!"
• Elder Bowen smiled, "It seems you still haven't understood my original intention, and you continue to hold a grudge."
• 'So that's how it was.'
• 'Did Tim previously decline Elder Bowen's offer, forfeiting the chance to stay in the Starry Abyss Sect?'
• 'He believed that Young Master Bowen meant to harm him, but Young Master Elder Bowen was only trying to demonstrate his lack of ill intentions.'
• '...'
• Valerie and Piko had various thoughts racing through their minds.
• At present, it appeared that Tim harbored an odd bias against Bowen.
• "Heh!"
• "Employing two precious Upper Grade Clarity Awakening Pills to showcase your vast power?"
• Tim sneered, "Young Master Bowen, your extravagance surpasses even that of a Mysterious Platform Realm cultivator!"
• Upon hearing these words.
• Valerie and Piko appeared puzzled.
• The Clarity Awakening Pill was an incredibly valuable elixir for those in the Spiritual Awakening Realm, and a treasure for individuals in the Mysterious Platform Realm.
• Elder Bowen's use of two pills to sever the relationships between Adron, Clement, and Tim seemed excessive and illogical.
• "Extravagant?"
• "Do you consider two Clarity Awakening Pills extravagant?"
• Elder Bowen smiled wryly, "I'm afraid you have no idea just how many precious pills I possess."
• His self-assured demeanor evoked the image of a peasant attempting to estimate a nobleman's wealth.
• Promptly, the doubts in Valerie and Piko's hearts subsided considerably, and they came to perceive Elder Bowen as even wealthier than they had initially imagined.
• "Hmph!"
• "Regardless."
• "I refuse to return to the Starry Abyss Sect!"
• Tim snorted, repulsed by the memory of those who had once fawned over him.
• With the Burning World Red Lotus, even the Heavenly Origin Realm would be insignificant.
• Once he came into his full power, he would be able to dominate the entire Mysterious Truth Continent, with the Starry Abyss Sect as merely one among many!
• Furthermore.
• It was due to the Burning World Red Lotus that his dantian had been healed.
• Should he return to the Starry Abyss Sect, it might arouse the curiosity of certain individuals.
• If the Burning World Red Lotus were exposed before he had fully matured, his demise would be all but certain.
• "Tim."
• "I understand that for your dantian to have healed, there must be some hidden secrets."
• "But you need not worry that someone will covet you because of your secret; I, too, have secrets."
• "When I claimed to possess numerous precious elixirs, it was no fabrication, and the Red Sun Seven Flowers Pill is one such example."
• Elder Bowen smiled faintly, continuing, "Furthermore, I also possess medicine capable of healing dantian injuries."
• "What?"
• Tim's expression shifted, and he asked incredulously, "You have medicine that can heal dantian injuries!? How is that possible!"
• "Do you recall?"
• "At the mountain gate, I expressed my admiration for you."
• "That was no lie but the result of prior assessments I had conducted on you. Do you remember those minor conflicts we had? Those were the tests."
• "Had you remained at that time, I would have bestowed that pill upon you."
• "However, you stormed off from the mountain gate in a fit of rage and impulsiveness."
• "Fortunately, you encountered a fortuitous opportunity and managed to heal through some means, but I wonder if there were any side effects?"
• Elder Bowen was well aware that protagonist Tim's dantian healing could not have any side effects.
• He deliberately posed the question to lower the other party's guard.
• As anticipated.
• Tim was readily deceived.
• 'Side effects? Ha!'
• 'My Burning World Red Lotus, if I were to reveal it, would make your eyes pop out of your head!'
• He had held back several times before. Now that he could look down on Elder Bowen, he naturally wouldn't let the opportunity pass.
• But he wasn't foolish. In order to conceal the Burning World Red Lotus, he merely sneered inwardly and refrained from voicing his thoughts.
• "Tim."
• "Give it some thought; return to the Starry Abyss Sect with me."
• Elder Bowen spoke softly when Tim remained silent.
• "No need."
• "I have already accepted Master Ryu as my alchemy mentor and will not return to the Starry Abyss Sect!"
• Tim declared coldly, then nodded to Piko, who smiled faintly and was quite pleased.
• "Very well."
• "It's merely my personal gesture of goodwill."
• "If you cannot let go of your biases against the Starry Abyss Sect, then don't return."
• Bowen smiled subtly, not taking offense.
• Valerie and Piko felt relieved to see this and their esteem for Elder Bowen grew slightly.
• They had anticipated that Elder Bowen would be displeased, but they didn't expect him to be so magnanimous.
• "Hmph."
• Tim grunted in response and ceased speaking.
• At this moment.
• "How about this?"
• "I invite you to join my Bowen Clan as an honorary guest."
• "This won't affect your master-apprentice relationship with Alchemist Ryu, and you can also gain access to some additional resources."
• Elder Bowen spoke once more, appearing sincere.
• "Join your Bowen Clan as an honorary guest!?"
• TIm questioned, his expression a mix of doubt and astonishment.
• He genuinely couldn't comprehend why Elder Bowen would extend such assistance to him!
• Could it be that Elder Bowen truly harbored no ill intentions?
• Was his initial use of subtle tactics to manipulate him actually just a test?
• Had his effort to keep him at the sect gate been genuine?
• Reflecting on all that Elder Bowen had done.
• Tim found himself somewhat perplexed.
• However, the intuition that had always been present prompted him to sense deep down that something about Elder Bowen seemed off, so he promptly dismissed those thoughts.
• At this moment.
• "Yes, join my Bowen Clan as an honorary guest, how about it?"
• Elder Bowen nodded at Tim and reassured, "You can rest assured, I won't let you suffer any disadvantages."
• "No need."
• "Thank you for your kindness, Young Master Bowen."
• Tim shook his head, smirking inwardly.
• With the Burning World Red Lotus, his confidence and self-esteem had soared to the point that he didn't even care about the mere Bowen Clan in Autumn Glory City, let alone accepting Bowen Chen's generosity!
• Thus, his refusal was clean and unequivocal.
• This left Piko and Valerie somewhat baffled, but they chose not to bring it up directly.
• After all, Tim was a disciple recently accepted by Piko, and one who would potentially inherit the mantle. It wouldn't be proper to cause him any embarrassment.