Emperor Qian Xunji of the Spirit Hall immediately gave the order: all Spirit Hall disciples were to follow the example of the "Demon Blade Huimin Merchant Guild."
The Heaven Dou Empire's royal family, the Star Luo Empire's royal family, and the three upper sects and four lower sects all quickly followed suit.
As the young sect master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, Ning Fengzhi had been swept into a storm that was unlike anything he'd ever seen.
How could the lord of a tiny city like Ju Yuan City come up with such a strategy that could shake the world?
As it turned out, Yang Hun, one of the seven great guardians of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, had arrived in Ju Yuan City.
Through the merchant guild's intelligence network, he quickly learned that the Demon Blade Guild had seemingly been founded by a young man from Ju Yuan Academy.
Moreover, that young man was extraordinarily gifted, with innate sixth-rank spirit power. His martial spirit was a rare ice spirit snake, and he was currently six years old.
The news left Ning Fengzhi and the Yang Hun standing behind him somewhat stunned.
He was only six, and already had ideas for shaking the world? That little merchant guild's mastermind was a monster!
"Make the arrangements. I want to meet this young friend."
"Your young master, you must make sure to bring this man into the sect!"
Yang Hun spoke from the side, his voice low and respectful.
"The child is young, but he's sharp and resourceful. And he's naturally gifted, too. If he joins the sect and receives proper training, he could very well become a Soul Douluo. He has a lot of potential."
Ning Fengzhi smiled, his expression thoughtful.
At that moment, the vice dean of Ju Yuan Academy...
A tall, well-built young man suddenly stepped in front of the three people accompanying Mu Rong.
Seeing someone dare to block their way in Ju Yuan City, Mu Rong immediately stepped forward, puffed out his chest, and shouted:
"Do you know who I am? I'm telling you, he's my big brother. Are you trying to get yourself thrown out of Ju Yuan City?"
Su Lingchan also silently stepped forward, spirit power surging around him as he prepared for a fight.
But the young man only glanced at the two of them before his gaze settled calmly on Mu Rong.
"My young master would like to meet you. I hope you'll come with me."
Tang San was perfectly calm, but the air of unquestionable authority around him came naturally.
Young master?
Mu Rong's heart stirred. On the Douluo Continent, only the seven great sects used the title "young master." Those small sects and minor factions couldn't possibly have that kind of status.
A request from the seven great sects? Trouble was on its way.
Still, there was no running from it. If someone could find him in the first place, that meant they already knew where he lived.
"Something's come up. Don't worry, nothing will happen to you in Ju Yuan City."
After reassuring the two children, Mu Rong followed the young man out.
"Dean!"
Su Lingchan was a little worried. This person looked like bad news. Would the dean be in danger?
Yang Hun thought for a moment, then made up his mind.
"Come on! Take me to my father! I want to see who dares throw his weight around on Ju Yuan City's turf!"
As he spoke, the two children quickly ran toward the city lord's mansion.
Meanwhile, Mu Rong followed the young man into a luxurious room at a famous merchant guild called the "Seven Treasure Merchant Guild," his heart pounding.
The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's territory!
Then that young master... could he be Ning Fengzhi?
No, the timing didn't line up. Ning Fengzhi might not even have been born yet.
At this point in time, it must have been Ning Fengzhi.
Mu Rong had been born twenty years before Tang San. Ning Fengzhi wouldn't have taken over as sect master yet, and his age should have been around the same as Bibi Dong and Yu Xiaogang's—roughly eighteen or nineteen.
But the future number one auxiliary spirit master in the world was right in front of him.
"Young master, the guest has arrived."
The young man stood outside an elegant room and respectfully reported inside.
"Please invite our young friend Mu Rong in."
A warm, gentle voice came from the room.
Upon entering, Mu Rong indeed saw a young, handsome Ning Fengzhi.
He wore a white robe trimmed with gold, his features kind and gentle. He looked young, but his measured bearing already carried the composure of someone who had seen plenty of the world.
"Please, sit."
Ning Fengzhi courteously extended a hand.
Mu Rong didn't stand on ceremony. He sat directly on the chair opposite him and asked, "I don't know why the young master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect went to all this trouble to invite me, an ordinary citizen with no family background, to meet him."
Mu Rong couldn't make sense of it, so he asked outright.
"Mu Rong, you misunderstand."
Ning Fengzhi smiled warmly.
"My young friend, don't be so guarded. The Demon Blade Guild's business has attracted the attention of the Eight Great Empires, the Spirit Hall, and the seven great sects. Its activities have even drawn the attention of the soul beast clans, stirring up the entire spirit master world."
"Oh..."
Mu Rong was momentarily speechless. He hadn't thought his little venture would cause such a stir across the Douluo Continent.
What a pity his strength was too weak. Otherwise, he would've had to put himself on the line and take the biggest piece of the pie.
He quickly gathered his thoughts, his expression remaining calm.
"Young master, you flatter me. I was only making an offhand remark, a casual business idea."
"After all, ordinary people have no resources, and cultivating is difficult. If they achieve anything, it's already a great blessing. But if they never even dare to dream, how could they ever make waves across the world?"
"Haha, my young friend certainly has the makings of a business genius."
Ning Fengzhi nodded solemnly.
"I'm not much older than you. From now on, just call me big brother Ning. No need to be so formal. My name is Ning Fengzhi."
He wore an approachable smile, like the warm spring breeze.
The old fox had started laying the groundwork.
"Ning big brother, I wouldn't dare. I'm only an insignificant nobody."
Mu Rong pretended to be nervous and pushed his chair back.
"Don't be so modest. You can call me big brother Ning. What do you think?"
"All right!"
Ning Fengzhi clapped his hands and laughed.
"Since you're calling me big brother Ning, then as your big brother, I can't let you leave empty-handed."
As he spoke, he took a finely crafted emerald-green spirit card from his spirit tool and casually handed it over.
"Here. There are a hundred thousand gold soul coins on it. Consider it a gift from your big brother."
Mu Rong accepted the gold soul card, feeling its icy chill beneath his fingertips.
For a moment, he fell into a daze.
A hundred thousand gold soul coins—that was a huge sum.
Ning Fengzhi had probably already figured out all the details of the business he'd come up with.
Innate sixth-rank spirit power was already rare among spirit masters, and what was more, he'd come up with a merchant guild that could astonish the world.
At this point, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, wealthy as it was but lacking in sharp business talent, was practically watching a fortune slip through its fingers.
At Mu Rong's age, it wasn't even a matter of being a decade ahead.
The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect had seven titled Douluo guardians, with the two great elders seemingly the strongest among them.
The question was, if he refused the recruitment offer, could he even walk out of this place?
Forget it. He'd just have to take things as they came.
He braced himself and pushed the spirit card back across the table.
"Big brother Ning, I can't accept this."
"You went out of your way to come to Ju Yuan City. I imagine, first, you wanted to travel around the continent, and second, you wanted to see whether the sect might be able to..."
Mu Rong paused, then looked straight at Ning Fengzhi.
"So you're saying you want to recruit me?"
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