"Sect Master, a distinguished guest has arrived late at night.
He says... he can solve your most pressing problem."
Ning Zhen and Ning Fengzhi exchanged a glance, both faces full of wariness.
At this hour, who could it be?
"Show him in."
The door was gently pushed open, and a figure cloaked from head to toe in a voluminous black cloak slipped inside.
As the hood was slowly lowered, it revealed a face imbued with the imperious bearing of an emperor.
"Sect Master Ning, I apologize for disturbing you so late. I hope you'll forgive me."
The moment Ning Zhen recognized the visitor, his whole body jolted. He sprang to his feet and hurried forward, his voice full of disbelief:
"Your Majesty Xue Ye...? What brings you here in person?"
That was right—the visitor was none other than Xue Ye, emperor of the Heaven Dou Empire.
Xue Ye was in his prime, vigorous and fiercely ambitious.
But the Heaven Dou imperial family's inherited Swan Spirit was simply too weak to be of much use. They had always been crushed by the Star Luo Empire in terms of high-level combat power, and could only maintain the balance with the support of major sects like the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.
Emperor Xue Ye smiled faintly, pulled over a chair, and sat down, his gaze fixed on Ning Zhen.
"Sect Master Ning, let's speak plainly.
I know exactly what the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect is worried about tonight.
Since that white-haired Qian Xunji has made such a grand spectacle, tomorrow's bidding is sure to be a bottomless pit.
With the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's wealth alone, snatching that juicy prize from this pack of hungry wolves will be difficult."
Ning Zhen gave a bitter smile and made no attempt to hide the truth:
"Your Majesty is wise. We are indeed worried about raising the funds.
Did you come here tonight to laugh at me?"
"Sect Master Ning, you're mistaken. The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect is a pillar of the Heaven Dou Empire. When one prospers, both prosper; when one suffers, both suffer."
Emperor Xue Ye's smile faded, and his expression turned utterly serious.
He took a purple-gold storage ring engraved with a wing-spread swan emblem from his robes and gently placed it on the table.
"Inside are the Heaven Dou Empire's national treasures: the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud, two ten-thousand-year-old Spirit Bones from the imperial family's collection, and the hundred-year mining rights to five rich ore deposits outside Heaven Dou City."
Emperor Xue Ye's voice was quiet, yet it rang through the room like a thunderclap.
Ning Zhen and his son Ning Fengzhi stared at the little ring on the table, their breathing instantly growing ragged.
This wasn't just sending help in a time of need—he'd practically hauled over a mountain of gold. With these resources, even if Yu Yuanzhen pawned the clothes off his back tomorrow, he still wouldn't be able to outbid them.
"Your Majesty... What is this...?"
Ning Zhen forcibly suppressed his joy. His experience told him that pies never fell from the sky—and even if one did, it would be made of iron.
"I told you. I came to help you."
Emperor Xue Ye pointed to the ring.
"With the Heaven Dou Empire's support behind you, that twin-Spirit genius will belong to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect tomorrow.
The Star Luo Empire wants to use this chance to turn things around? Dream on!
As for the Clear Sky Sect and the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect, they're a bunch of brutes with muscles but no brains. They don't deserve such an opportunity."
"But—"
Emperor Xue Ye changed tack, his sharp eyes fixed on Ning Zhen.
"I can commit the full strength of the empire to helping you secure this child. However, I have one condition."
Ning Zhen drew a deep breath and clasped his hands.
"Please, Your Majesty."
"My demand is simple. The twin-Spirit genius may belong to your Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, and you may devote all the resources you wish to raising him."
Emperor Xue Ye spoke each word distinctly.
"But in exchange, over the next thirty years, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect must raise an exceptionally gifted child for the Heaven Dou imperial family.
And that child must completely sever all ties with the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, and become utterly, unquestioningly loyal to the imperial family—a pillar of the Heaven Dou Empire."
An emperor's heart was as deep as the sea. Xue Ye knew the weakness of the Heaven Dou imperial family all too well: they had no top-tier Titled Douluo to serve as their guardian.
Though the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect was close to the imperial family, it was still an independent sect. It would heed orders, but not commands.
If he could use this opportunity to bind the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect with resources and make them willingly raise an absolutely loyal "blade" for the imperial family,
it would be a worthwhile deal—and a necessary one.
Ning Zhen fell silent.
The condition seemed fair, but was actually sinister.
Raising a top-tier genius took a vast amount of resources and effort. After all that work, they would have to hand him over to the imperial family like a dog. Anyone would feel their heart bleed.
"What? Sect Master Ning, don't think this deal is worthwhile?"
Emperor Xue Ye lightly tapped his fingers on the table.
"Think carefully. If you fail to secure that twin-Spirit genius tomorrow, and the Star Luo Empire, the Clear Sky Sect, or the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect gets him,
within a few decades, they'll have gained another high-ranking Titled Douluo, and his Spirit will continue to be passed down. When that happens, the Heaven Dou Empire will be in trouble. Do you think the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect will be able to live in peace?"
He wielded both threats and temptation, mixing hard and soft tactics.
Xue Ye had mastered the art of imperial manipulation.
Ning Fengzhi watched his father's trembling back, his palms slick with sweat.
After a long while, Ning Zhen's tense shoulders suddenly relaxed.
He lifted his head, a merchant's trademark smile spreading across his face.
"Your Majesty, you exaggerate.
Assisting the empire is simply our duty as members of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.
I... accept your terms."
"Excellent! Sect Master Ning, you truly know how to read the times,"
Emperor Xue Ye exclaimed, overjoyed. "Words alone prove nothing. Let's put it in writing and swear by our Spirits."
Under Emperor Xue Ye's gaze, Ning Zhen bit his fingertip without hesitation, pressed his bloodied mark onto the contract that had already been prepared, then summoned his Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda Spirit and solemnly swore his oath.
Once the contract had taken effect, Emperor Xue Ye contentedly draped his cloak over himself again.
"Sect Master Ning, I hope we'll achieve a great victory tomorrow. I won't keep you any longer."
"Safe travels, Your Majesty."
Only after Emperor Xue Ye's presence had completely vanished into the night did Ning Zhen slowly straighten up. The respect and obedience on his face disappeared in an instant, replaced by a crazed, ambitious sneer.
"Father, do you really plan to give the imperial family a genius the sect will have spent countless years and resources raising?" Ning Fengzhi stepped forward, baffled. This was nothing like his father, who never made a deal at a loss.
"Give him away? Heh..."
Ning Zhen snatched the purple-gold ring from the table and weighed it in his hand, a glint of dark light in his eyes.
"Fengzhi, you're still too young.
You think Xue Ye is the one scheming against me? He's simply been blinded by the gains right in front of him."
Ning Zhen walked to the window and looked down over Spirit City, shrouded in night. His voice was very low, but carried an uncontrollable fervor.
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