Someone Else's Child

"Sect Master Ning, I think your proposal is quite sound."

"We truly do not need an excess of money; rather, we require other resources."

"Exchanging other resources for a discount is indeed a viable option."

"Then may I ask, Sect Master Ning, what precious resources do you intend to offer in exchange for this discount?"

"Soul Bones, perhaps?"

Li Luo opened his mouth wide like a lion, demanding an exorbitant price to inflate Ning Fengzhi's expectations, thereby paving the way for his true objective.

"Ah?"

Ning Fengzhi was stunned; he had not expected Li Luo to be so audacious.

"Are you certain? Soul Bones are treasures of the Blood River. It is true that my Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect possesses them, but are you certain you truly dare to ask for one?"

"Ordinary thousand-year ones start at a price of at least several hundred thousand Gold Soul Coins, and those are merely common thousand-year Soul Bones that can be purchased on the open market."

"Although a thousand-year Soul Bone is still a Soul Bone, its quality is quite mediocre, and I would not advise you to absorb one."

"As for ten-thousand-year Soul Bones, the price starts at a minimum of one million Gold Soul Coins. Furthermore, they are extremely precious and no one would ever choose to sell them; they are effectively priceless and unavailable."

"High-quality ten-thousand-year Soul Bones are usually the heritage treasures of a sect."

"Do you truly believe that a mere hundred Godly Zhuge Crossbows are enough to trade for a ten-thousand-year Soul Bone?"

"Moreover, if you actually possessed a ten-thousand-year Soul Bone, would you truly dare to absorb it? If outsiders were to learn that you carried one, I fear they would stop at nothing to kill you and extract the bone!"

At this point, Ning Fengzhi playfully gestured across his own throat, attempting to frighten the young boy who knew no better than to reach for the heavens.

Ning Fengzhi was correct; the value of a Soul Bone could not be compared to that of the Godly Zhuge Crossbows.

Li Luo did not believe that Ning Fengzhi would actually trade a Soul Bone, not even a thousand-year one.

Seeing that a man as serious as Ning Fengzhi had the mood to joke and intimidate him, Li Luo took the opportunity to step down from his high horse and stopped making such outrageous demands.

"Sect Master Ning, let us speak elsewhere."

After all, they were still in the Grand Auction House, where eyes and ears were everywhere.

I am talking about you, the auction house manager eavesdropping on the side.

Li Luo wanted to discuss cooperation in depth with Ning Fengzhi, so he made a move to leave and find a more suitable location.

Ning Fengzhi naturally understood Li Luo's intent and took the lead, guiding Li Luo and his two companions to a highly luxurious restaurant.

The Seven Treasure Drunken God Pavilion.

This was an enterprise of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect; Ning Fengzhi felt quite at ease discussing cooperation here.

Upon entering the Seven Treasure Drunken God Pavilion, Ning Fengzhi waved his hand and arranged for the most luxurious private room, a red-tier room of the hundred-thousand-year level.

Once inside, Ning Fengzhi did not mention cooperation, instead ordering a full table of fine food and wine.

Given that Li Luo was still a child and minors should not drink alcohol, Ning Fengzhi did not arrange for fine spirits, opting instead for specialty beverages.

These specialty drinks were provided exclusively to nobility, royalty, and great sects, who always preferred to feel superior and believed that consuming the same food and drink as commoners would lower their status.

But I digress.

Seeing that Ning Fengzhi did not bring up the cooperation, Li Luo did not initiate the topic either, deciding instead to enjoy the feast.

However, before picking up his chopsticks, Li Luo smiled at Ning Fengzhi and teased, "Sect Master Ning, you haven't put anything in the food, have you, just to find some leverage against us?"

In truth, Li Luo's behavior today was somewhat abnormal; even if others considered them precocious, Li Luo was far too mature, not at all like an eight-year-old child.

Ning Fengzhi naturally noticed Li Luo's anomaly; he was far too mature, not at all like a child.

This child, Li Luo, is truly too mature. I wonder which faction raised him.

I just don't know how his talent for Martial Soul cultivation is.

Ning Fengzhi did not expose Li Luo, for conversing with him in this state was the most effortless; both had their own agendas, and once they had what they wanted, matters would be easier to negotiate.

While thinking this, Ning Fengzhi glanced at Ning Rongrong, who had already picked up her chopsticks and started devouring her meal.

"Sigh!"

Looking at the carefree and fearless Ning Rongrong, Ning Fengzhi could not help but sigh.

Ning Fengzhi had many children, but Ning Rongrong was his only daughter. Furthermore, she possessed the greatest talent among his offspring and enjoyed the favor of the sect's two Guardian Douluos, leading Ning Fengzhi to cultivate her as his successor.

However, having been pampered since childhood, Ning Rongrong had developed an arrogant personality, treating others with disdain whenever they displeased her.

At only eight years old, she had already shown the potential of a Demon Pill, and many disciples in the sect secretly referred to her as the Little Demoness.

Since the nickname carried no insulting meaning, Ning Fengzhi did not investigate its origin and allowed it to spread.

Ning Fengzhi looked back at Li Luo, who was sitting politely and quietly beside him.

"Alas, if only I had a son like Li Luo!"

Ning Fengzhi lamented inwardly.

After all, in his previous life, Li Luo was a citizen of Great Xia on Blue Star, having been raised with the traditional virtues of respecting the elderly and caring for the young, and he kept the table etiquette firmly in mind—the elder must pick up their chopsticks first.

This rule existed on the Douluo Continent as well; the person with the most seniority at the table was naturally Sword Douluo Chen Xin, who held the highest rank in both Soul Power Level and status.

Chen Xin did not pick up his chopsticks, so naturally, no one else dared to move theirs.

Of course, Ning Rongrong was the exception. Sword Douluo Chen Xin doted on her most, treating her like his own granddaughter, so he naturally did not care about mere table etiquette.

Therefore, Ning Rongrong was the only one at the table spinning the lazy Susan, picking the dishes she liked and placing them into her own bowl.

Xiao Wu had always been a glutton, and seeing so much delicious food, her eyes were filled with longing, and saliva uncontrollably trickled from the corner of her mouth.

However, Li Luo had not spoken yet, so she did not dare to rashly pick up her chopsticks.

Chen Xin naturally noticed this awkward scene, but as he was always aloof and not good with words, he picked up his chopsticks and placed a piece of meat into his mouth to ease the atmosphere.

Seeing Chen Xin move, Ning Fengzhi did not hesitate and began to pick up food as well.

Seeing this, Li Luo did not continue to hold back; he pulled out a tissue to wipe the saliva from the corner of Xiao Wu's mouth before picking up a slice of carrot and feeding it to her.

The carrot dish was something Li Luo had specifically ordered for Xiao Wu.

Everyone began to eat, tucking into the meal with gusto.

Three rounds of food and nine rounds of drinks passed.

Once everyone was full and satisfied, it was time to discuss the collaboration.

"Sect Master Ning."

Li Luo took the initiative to speak, but he was interrupted by Ning Fengzhi.

"Xiao Luo, there is no need to call me Sect Master Ning; it sounds distant. My daughter, Ning Rongrong, is about the same age as you two."

As he spoke, Ning Fengzhi gestured toward Ning Rongrong and continued.

"I will take the liberty of being a generation older; you can just call me Uncle Ning."

"Alright!"

"Then I shall call you Uncle Ning."

Hearing the change in how Li Luo addressed him, Ning Fengzhi laughed heartily.