Facing the fire attribute Soul Bone that Ning Fengzhi handed to him, Kelake did not pick it up immediately, and did not even look at the Soul Bone again. He raised his gaze and looked at Ning Fengzhi's gentle and deep eyes again. His eyes were calm and unwavering, and he spoke in an indifferent tone:
"Sect Master Ning, you're welcome."
He thanked you noncommittally at first, but then changed the subject. His voice was still hoarse and flat, but with a hint of alienation that was imperceptible and alienating. "It's just that I accept Sect Master Ning's kindness. But I cannot accept this 'gift'."
"Oh? Why is this?" Ning Fengzhi seemed not surprised by his rejection. The smile on his face did not change, but he seemed to be more interested, and asked, "But this bone does not match the attributes of Mr.? Or does Mr. Ning think this move is abrupt?"
"None of them." Kraken shook his head, looked at Ning Fengzhi's eyes calmly, and said slowly, "Although Soul Bone is good, it is not a rare treasure. As Sect Master Ning, I must have seen better ones.
For Soul Master like us... who are walking outside," he paused, "A piece of Ten Thousand Year Soul Bone with similar attributes may add a lot of beauty, but it is not indispensable. The true foundation of one's life ultimately lies in one's own cultivation and methods."
He did not answer directly but approached it from the perspective of the value of "himself" and "Soul Bone". He seemed neither humble nor arrogant, but also vaguely revealed the attitude of "I don't lack Soul Bone, this thing is not that important to me." At the same time, the four words "walking outside" also pointed out that he is a loner and does not want to be favored easily by others.
When Ning Fengzhi heard this, an imperceptible light flashed across his eyes. In front of him, the Soul Master who called himself "Kela", faced a piece of Ten Thousand Year Soul Bone 0 that was enough to make even Soul Douluo's heart beat., who behaves so plainly and even a little alienated, is either really rich and has a very high vision, or he is extremely cautious and unwilling to be too involved with any force. No matter which one it is, it further confirms his guess - this person is by no means simple and worthy of investment.
"Haha, sir, you are joking." Ning Fengzhi laughed loudly, seemingly not caring about Kraken's rejection. Instead, he gently placed Soul Bone on the coffee table between the two of them, without taking back the brocade box. "Although Soul Bone is not unique, it is by no means trivial. The fact that sir can treat it this way shows that he has a detached mind and is not moved by external objects. Ning admires it."
He changed the topic and his tone became more sincere. "Ning gave this Soul Bone not because of its value, but because he sincerely wanted to make friends with Mr. Ning. Mr. Ning may think that Ning's move is abrupt, but Ning believes that the fate between people is sometimes so wonderful.
When I saw Mr. today, I felt that he had an extraordinary demeanor, and he had the appearance of a dragon and a tiger, so I felt the desire to make friends. To exchange a piece of external possessions for a good friend and confidant is the biggest gain for Ning."
These words can be said to have given enough face, raising Kraken very high, and lowering his posture lower. Ning Xin and the elder sitting next to him had a flash of surprise in their eyes. They rarely saw the sect leader being so polite to a person, even a little... too enthusiastic. However, both of them were deep-minded people and did not show it. They just quietly observed Kraken's reaction.
Kraken sneered in his heart, but there was still no expression on his face. He just shook his head slightly. "Sect Master Ning is so flattering. Kela is just a solitary person and cannot deserve the ridiculous praise of 'dragon and tiger'. As for making friends...Kela is used to being alone and doesn't like to be tied down. I'm afraid I will disappoint Sect Master Ning."
He once again clearly rejected Ning Fengzhi's "good intentions" and made it clear that he did not like to have too much involvement with people or forces. This was a test that he wanted to see where Ning Fengzhi's bottom line was.
The smile on Ning Fengzhi's face finally faded a bit, but it was not displeasure. Instead, he showed an expression of understanding and regret. He sighed softly, "Sir, he is a free and easy person. Ning understands. It was Ning who took the liberty and should not treat it with common sense."
He no longer forced Kraken to accept Soul Bone, nor did he immediately put away the piece of Soul Bone. Instead, he picked up the teacup and took a sip, as if thinking about something. The atmosphere in the VIP room seemed to be slightly stagnant due to Kraken's continuous refusal.
But just when Kraken thought that the other party would give up, or put forward other conditions out of curiosity, Ning Fengzhi suddenly raised his head, as if he remembered something, and said in a slightly curious tone, as if he just mentioned it casually:
"By the way, I just heard in the guild that besides selling Soul Bone, sir, you are also looking for some information? It seems to be about... the trends of high-end Soul Master?"
Kraken's heart suddenly trembled, but his face remained calm, but his eyes were slightly colder. "Sect Master Ning's information is quite good. Yes, I am indeed looking for someone. But this is a private matter, so I can't go into details."
He did not deny it, but he also did not admit what he was looking for specifically. He just emphasized that it was a "private matter" and tried to block Ning Fengzhi's questioning.
However, Ning Fengzhi didn't seem to care about his indifference. Instead, he showed a "Sure enough" expression, nodded, and his tone became more easy-going, as if he was really just chatting about family matters:
"Ning did not intend to pry into Mr.'s privacy. He just learned by chance that Mr. seems to be quite interested in some... senior Soul Master who is a loner and has extraordinary strength?"
He deliberately emphasized the words "alone" and "extraordinary strength", and his eyes glanced at Kraken seemingly casually, as if observing his reaction.
Kraken's fingers on his knees curled up slightly, almost imperceptibly. Ning Fengzhi indeed noticed the high-stakes bounty mission he posted in the guild! This insight and intelligence ability are worthy of the master who controls such a huge force as Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.
"Sect Master Ning has something to say, you might as well say it directly." Kraken's voice was a little colder, with a hint of displeasure at having his privacy intruded upon. He knew that there was no point in continuing to deny or cover up. Since the other party had pointed it out, he must have an agenda. It was better to listen to what he wanted to say.
Ning Fengzhi didn't seem to notice the coldness in Kraken's tone, or in other words, he didn't care. He put down the teacup, leaned forward slightly, and showed the gentle and sincere smile on his face again. His voice was lowered, as if he was sharing a secret:
"Mr. Kela, please don't misunderstand me. Ning mentioned this matter without any other intention. It's just... Although I, Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, founded the sect as an auxiliary, I have a long heritage and a wide range of friends. I also know a little about some powerful and hidden people with unique personalities on the mainland."
He paused, looked into Kraken's eyes, and said word by word:
"If you are really looking for someone... Titled Douluo, who is traveling alone, may be able to introduce someone to you."
Introduce a Titled Douluo?
Kraken's pupils shrank almost imperceptibly the moment he heard these words.
"Oh?" Kraken's voice was hoarse with a hint of disapproval, "Sect Master Ning is joking. Titled Douluo is such a person. Is it possible for me and other casual cultivators to see him if he wants to?" What's more, as the owner of the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, it is normal for Sect Master Ning to associate with Titled Douluo, but introducing him to a stranger like me... would be too flattering."
The smile on Ning Fengzhi's face was more sincere, with a hint of understanding. "Sir, don't be suspicious. Everything Ning said is true. Although the senior has a somewhat... withdrawn temperament and doesn't like to interact too much with the sect's forces, he has some old feelings with Ning..."
"As for why I am willing to introduce you to Mr..." Ning Fengzhi looked at Kraken, with a strange light that seemed to be able to penetrate people's hearts. "Firstly, Ning really wants to have a good relationship with Mr. Ning. Secondly, I also feel that with Mr.'s magnanimity and potential, he may be the person that the senior is willing to meet and even communicate with. Thirdly..."
He lightly knocked on the coffee table, glanced at the fire-attribute Soul Bone still placed on it, and his tone became more meaningful. "Mr. Ning sold this bone and spent a lot of money to find out the information. He must have something to ask for, and what he wants may be something that the senior can provide... Ning is willing to use the beauty of adulthood to help Mr. Ning, that's all."
Kraken was silent.
He had to admit that Ning Fengzhi's move was really clever. He first showed his goodwill by "donating bones", and was not annoyed after being rejected. Instead, he threw the more tempting "introduction Titled Douluo". This was more impressive than a simple Soul Bone to a lone strongman who was looking for clues to high-level Soul Master.
If Kraken was really a loner, Soul Master would have already been moved by this moment and would even be grateful to Ning Fengzhi.
But he's not.
He raised his eyes and looked at Ning Fengzhi again. The other person still had that gentle, sincere, harmless smile on his face, and his eyes were clear, as if he really only had good intentions.
Then he looked at the elder and Ning Xin who were sitting silently next to him. The elder had a calm aura and deep eyes. He was obviously a strong man at the Soul Douluo level. Ning Xin was really The power is slightly weaker, probably at the Soul Saint level. Both of them have restrained their aura, but based on Kraken's perception, their Soul Power level can be roughly judged.
"They are no higher than Soul Douluo... and cannot detect the aura of Soul Beast." This judgment flashed through Kraken's mind again. As long as his disguise ability is not exposed to Titled Douluo, it is almost impossible to see through his true identity.
So, the most likely reason why Ning Fengzhi is so diligent is, as he guessed, that he is interested in his own "strength" and "potential" and wants to win over and recruit him at all costs to find a new top-level combat power pillar for the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, who has lost his sword and bone Douluo.
"Protect Douluo..." Kraken thought in his mind. It seems that this Sect Master Ning has really spent a lot of money and even used a piece of Soul Bone and a possible "introduction" to Titled Douluo as bait to tie himself, a strong man of unknown origin, into the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's chariot.
After thinking about this, the vigilance in Kraken's heart has not diminished. If Ning Fengzhi's purpose is just to recruit, then at least before he achieves his goal, he should have good intentions towards him or at least not easily fall out.
Kraken's eyes once again fell on the dark red Fire-Attribute Left Arm Bone lying quietly on the coffee table, and then slowly moved to Ning Fengzhi's face with "sincerity" written all over it.
In the VIP room, you could hear a needle drop. The elder and Ning Xin also held their breath, waiting for the answer from this mysterious Mr. "Kela".
After a while, Kraken's always cold and plain face finally had an extremely subtle and almost imperceptible change. The corners of his mouth seemed to move upward very weakly, as if he was laughing at himself, or as if he had made a certain decision.
He did not touch the piece of Soul Bone. He just raised his eyes and looked at Ning Fengzhi. In his still hoarse voice, which seemed to be less distant, he slowly said:
"Since Sect Master Ning is so kind... Then, I'll do the work."
"You're welcome, sir." Ning Fengzhi's voice contained a hint of just the right amount of pleasure, "It's Ning's honor to be able to help you, sir. In that case, this Soul Bone..."
He looked at the piece of Soul Bone again, with an obvious meaning, hoping that Kraken would be accepted.
Kraken was silent for a moment. This time he reached out and picked up the still warm piece of Fire-Attribute Left Arm Bone. The feeling was no different from before.
He weighed Soul Bone in his hands and put it into the Storage Soul Guidance Ring he just got from the guild steward under the watchful eyes of Ning Fengzhi and others.
"Sect Master Ning's kindness, I have written it down." Kraken's voice was still calm, but the action of accepting Soul Bone already represented a softening of attitude.
Ning Fengzhi smiled even deeper in his eyes, as if he had completed an extremely cost-effective deal.
"I wonder where the senior Sect Master Ning mentioned is now? When can we introduce him?" Kraken asked directly. Since he decided to accept it, he would simply do it.
Ning Fengzhi seemed to have expected that he would ask, and answered calmly, "The senior's whereabouts are erratic, and he doesn't like to be disturbed by outsiders. However, he seems to have stayed in the depths of Sunset Forest recently.
Ning has a special contact method with his senior. If it is convenient for him, we can go to Sunset Forest together. After Ning contacts his senior, we can introduce him to him. How about that?"
Sunset Forest?
Kraken's heart moved slightly. It was Sunset Forest. Could it be that Titled Douluo in Ning Fengzhi's mouth was Dugu Bo?
"Okay." Kraken nodded without hesitation, "When will we leave?"
"If sir, there is nothing else important, how about we take a short rest and set off in the afternoon?" Ning Fengzhi asked.
"Okay." Kraken said concisely and to the point.
"In that case, sir, why don't you take a short rest in the guild first, or come with us and have some light meals in the city? Ning still has some trivial matters to deal with. We will meet here and set off together in about an hour." Ning Fengzhi arranged it in an orderly manner, which not only gave Kraken room to choose, but also showed that he had no intention of monitoring or restricting the other party's freedom.
"No need. I'll just wait here." Kraken leaned back on the sofa again, closed his eyes, and assumed a posture of not wanting to talk more and waiting quietly.
Ning Fengzhi didn't mind either. He smiled and nodded, winking at the elder and Ning Xin. The three of them stood up, politely left, and left the VIP room, leaving the space for Kraken alone.