Reaching an Agreement

Once inside, the four took their seats facing one another, without regard for host or guest.

After hearing Sword Douluo's telepathic message, even Ning Fengzhi's expression grew a little more solemn.

"A Soul Emperor? At such a young age..."

The ever-gentle smile on Ning Fengzhi's face finally stiffened slightly. His fingers tightened around his cane, the knuckles turning faintly blue-white.

He had always prided himself on his keen eye. When he had glanced at Ye Guchen earlier, he had sensed that the young man's aura ran deep and assumed that Soul King was the highest he could have reached.

After all, across the entire continent, those who reached Soul Emperor before the age of twenty-five were few and far between. Every one of them was a core successor to a major sect.

Yet the man before him was probably not even twenty.

But Uncle Sword was a Titled Douluo. His senses could not be wrong.

If a genius like this were an enemy, the consequences would be unthinkable. Fortunately, this time he had come only to discuss business.

At the same time, Ning Fengzhi thought of how the sect's two guardian Douluos were already old, with no one ready to take their places. He could not help but privately resolve to win Ye Guchen over.

"Pavilion Master Ye, you truly are a young talent." Ning Fengzhi quickly regained his composure. He raised his teacup and took a small sip to hide the shock roiling in his eyes. "In all my decades traveling the continent, I've never once met a Soul Emperor this young."

Ye Guchen took a seat opposite him. At his words, he merely smiled faintly, neither haughty nor self-effacing.

"Your praise is too generous, Sect Master Ning. I've simply had a few fortuitous encounters. It's nothing worth mentioning."

He said it lightly, but that only made Ning Fengzhi more cautious.

Fortuitous encounters?

What kind of encounter could let a young man reach Soul Emperor before he was even twenty?

What was more, Uncle Sword had just told him telepathically that two more Titled Douluo-level auras were concealed in this building.

Ning Fengzhi's smile remained unchanged, though his thoughts had already taken several turns.

The Hundred Treasures Pavilion had appeared out of nowhere, first shaking the four corners of the continent with unprecedented offensive Soul Tools, and now revealing such terrifying strength...

Just what was the Hundred Treasures Pavilion's background? Had some hidden power finally emerged?

"Pavilion Master Ye is too modest." Ning Fengzhi set down his teacup and changed the subject. "To be frank, I did come here today to discuss something."

His gaze settled on Ye Guchen, his tone unhurried.

"I saw the description of the offensive Soul Tools your pavilion will auction tomorrow in the catalog. If it's accurate... the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect is very interested in Soul Tools of this quality."

At his words, a look of understanding flashed through Ye Guchen's eyes.

He had expected the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect to come.

As one of the wealthiest sects on the continent, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect did not lack money. What it lacked was combat strength to make up for its weakness.

The Seven Treasures Glazed Pagoda Martial Soul had support abilities without equal under heaven, but its lack of offensive power had always been a serious flaw.

If they could equip their core disciples with high-quality offensive Soul Tools, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's lower-tier combat strength would at least double!

The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's visit had been entirely within his expectations. Ye Guchen called softly,

"Zhuqing."

At once, Zhu Zhuqing, who had been sitting quietly beside him, took out a Storage Soul Tool Ring.

She brought out a batch of offensive Soul Tools and set them on the table.

In an instant, Ning Fengzhi's gaze was drawn to one of them: a Level 4 Handheld Soul Cannon.

Its aura was enough to rival a Soul Ancestor's!

"What is this?"

Rather than explain, Ye Guchen looked to Zhu Zhuqing and motioned for her to introduce it to Ning Fengzhi.

By the time Zhu Zhuqing rose, her palms were already damp with sweat.

It wasn't that she had never seen important people. At banquets held by the Star Luo Zhu Family, she had met plenty of princes and dukes. But back then, she had only been a child trailing behind her elders. She hadn't needed to speak; she only had to lower her head and bow.

This was different. Sitting across from her was the master of one of the Upper Three Sects, Ning Fengzhi, a man even the emperors of the two great empires treated with respect.

And her performance would reflect directly on the Hundred Treasures Pavilion.

"Zhuqing."

Ye Guchen's voice came from beside her, calm and steady. There was no pressure in it, only a reassuring certainty. "Sect Master Ning is waiting for you."

Zhu Zhuqing looked up at him. He was leaning back in his chair, at ease, yet his gaze rested warmly on her, as if telling her, Take your time. You can do this.

She took a deep breath and pressed her nerves deep into her chest.

"Sect Master Ning." Zhu Zhuqing spoke, her voice as clear as a spring, unhurried. "Of this batch of Soul Tools, the one most worth your attention is this Level 4 Handheld Soul Cannon."

She took out a fist-sized Soul Tool, silver-white all over, and held it in her palm, turning slightly so that the light fell across its barrel.

"This cannon is forged from rare alloy. A Soul-Gathering Array and Soul Power compression runes are engraved inside the barrel. You need only channel Soul Power into it to compress and gather the energy, then fire it in a single blast."

She paused and pointed to three hair-thin lines near the muzzle.

"These three are acceleration rifling. They keep the Soul Power projectile on a stable trajectory within a hundred meters, improving its accuracy by sixty percent over an ordinary Soul Cannon."

Ning Fengzhi leaned forward slightly. He didn't understand the details, but it sounded impressive enough. His eyes settled on the intricate lines.

"What's its range?"

"Its effective kill radius is one hundred and twenty meters," Zhu Zhuqing answered crisply. "Beyond that, the Soul Power projectile begins to disperse. At two hundred meters, it's all noise and fury, with no killing power left."

The etiquette she had learned growing up in the Zhu Family lent her an added touch of grace.

There was not the slightest trace of timidity in her every move. She carried herself like a seasoned executive.

As Ning Fengzhi listened to Zhu Zhuqing's explanation, he grew even more certain that coming early to negotiate had been the right decision.

Seeing Ning Fengzhi's gaze grow hotter by the moment, Ye Guchen knew the time was right.

"Since the Sect Master is interested, why don't we speak plainly?" Ye Guchen leaned back in his chair, his tone composed. "How many does the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect want?"

Ning Fengzhi exchanged a glance with Sword Douluo, deliberated for a moment, then raised his hand and held up eight fingers.

"Eighty percent. The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect wants eighty percent of every type of offensive Soul Tool your pavilion is auctioning this time."

His voice was gentle, but carried an unshakable certainty.

The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect had the confidence—and the wealth—to back up such a demand.

Ye Guchen's expression did not change, though his thoughts raced.

Eighty percent was quite a bit more than he had expected.

He had thought Ning Fengzhi would ask for fifty or sixty percent at most. It was their first collaboration, after all; both sides should still be testing the waters.

It seemed the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's desire for offensive Soul Tools was even more urgent than he had imagined.

"Eighty percent..." Ye Guchen picked up his teacup and unhurriedly blew away the foam. "Sect Master Ning certainly has a healthy appetite. However, the Hundred Treasures Pavilion is newly established, and its name has yet to spread. This auction is crucial to making a name for ourselves. If we sell eighty percent of our goods directly to your sect..."

Ning Fengzhi's smile remained unchanged, though a glint flashed in his eyes.

He had heard the room in Ye Guchen's words. He had not refused outright, which meant there was room to negotiate.

"I understand your concerns, Pavilion Master Ye," Ning Fengzhi said slowly. "So I have a proposal."

He leaned forward slightly and looked Ye Guchen straight in the eye.

"Your pavilion can hold the auction as planned, and the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect will participate in the bidding."

"After the auction, for all offensive Soul Tools going forward, I will purchase eighty percent of your stock at ninety percent of the price they fetch at this auction."

As soon as he said this, the atmosphere in the private room tightened.

Standing beside Ye Guchen, Zhu Zhuqing furrowed her delicate brows.

It wasn't that she thought buying them at ninety percent of the price would be a loss. On the contrary, this was the first time the Soul Tools were being auctioned, so the prices would surely be driven up. At ninety percent, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect would be the one losing out.

What made her uneasy was that the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect wanted to snap up eighty percent of all future Soul Tools.

The private room filled with drifting tea fragrance.

Ye Guchen did not answer at once. He picked up his teacup and took a leisurely sip.

Ning Fengzhi did not press him. His smile remained as warm as ever, but his gaze stayed fixed on Ye Guchen's face, trying to catch even the slightest ripple in the young man's expression.

Standing beside Ye Guchen, Zhu Zhuqing's palms were slick with fine beads of sweat.

Though she came from the Star Luo nobility, she had never negotiated face-to-face with the master of an Upper Three Sect. Her earlier poise had been held up by sheer stubbornness.

At last, Ye Guchen set down his teacup and tapped the tabletop lightly.

"Forty percent."

Ning Fengzhi's brow creased. He had known that eighty percent was unrealistic, but he had never expected Ye Guchen to cut it in half outright.

"Going forward, the Hundred Treasures Pavilion will supply your sect with at most forty percent of its offensive Soul Tools." Ye Guchen's tone was calm, yet carried undeniable weight. "The Hundred Treasures Pavilion doesn't do business with the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect alone. I trust you understand that, Sect Master Ning. Besides, my pavilion's output is substantial. Forty percent will be enough for your sect to use."

Ning Fengzhi considered it for a moment, then slowly nodded.

The number was lower than he had hoped, but it was reasonable.

A forty-percent share would not be enough to arm the entire sect, but it would still bring a qualitative improvement to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's combat strength.

"However..." Ye Guchen changed tack, a glint rising in his eyes. "I have one more condition."

Ning Fengzhi looked up at him, already guessing what he might ask.

"The Hundred Treasures Pavilion needs the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's trade network," Ye Guchen said frankly. "Your sect has spent centuries building its business routes, which now stretch across cities throughout the continent. The Hundred Treasures Pavilion is willing to pay a commission of ten percent of each transaction for your sect to temporarily collect rare metals, various medicinal ingredients, and... Whale Rubber for us across the continent."

Ye Guchen had only decided on this after careful consideration. It would take the Hundred Treasures Pavilion several years to establish its own trade routes and distribution hubs.

Until then, it was better to make use of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's existing network.

"The ten-percent commission will be paid by the Hundred Treasures Pavilion."

At his words, Ning Fengzhi's smile finally shifted, if only slightly.

Sharing trade routes?

That was a condition he had not expected.

The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's trade network was a fortune built through the painstaking work of several generations. It covered the major cities of the Heaven Dou and Star Luo empires, and even reached the outskirts of a few remote Soul Beast forests.

When it came to gathering resources, the only force on the continent that could rival the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect was probably Spirit Hall.

And that was exactly what Ye Guchen wanted.

Ning Fengzhi weighed the condition carefully. Rare metals, medicinal ingredients, Whale Rubber... None of these were especially profitable, nor did they touch the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's core industries.

What was more, the Hundred Treasures Pavilion would pay the ten-percent commission. The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect would not only avoid a loss; it would profit.

He could see further ahead: sharing the trade network would also allow the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect to gain deeper influence over the Hundred Treasures Pavilion.

It was a deal he couldn't lose.

"Pavilion Master Ye certainly knows how to make a deal." Ning Fengzhi chuckled and set down his teacup. "Sharing the trade network is fine, but I have one condition of my own."

"Please, Sect Master Ning."

"Your pavilion must buy all the resources collected by the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect at market price."

Ning Fengzhi had some doubts about whether Ye Guchen could handle a continent-wide collection effort.

"As for the Soul Tools your pavilion supplies..." Ning Fengzhi paused. "The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect guarantees they'll be for our own use. We will never resell them to anyone else, and we will never let them fall into the hands of another power."

Ye Guchen's thoughts stirred.

I was a little worried the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect might use all those Soul Tools to flood the market and drive prices down. It seems I underestimated how important offensive Soul Tools are to them.

Not reselling them meant the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect was buying the Soul Tools purely to arm its own disciples, not to make a profit through resale.

They were a sect that knew how to keep its word.

"Rest assured, Sect Master Ning. The Hundred Treasures Pavilion can certainly handle it," Ye Guchen said with a nod. "As for whether the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect would resell the Soul Tools, I have every faith in your sect."

Ning Fengzhi nodded in satisfaction and held out his hand.

"Then it's settled?"

Ye Guchen extended his hand as well, and the two shook lightly.

"Happy collaboration."

Seeing that the two sides had reached an agreement, Zhu Zhuqing brought over four booklets.

The first naturally covered the Soul Tools that concerned the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect most. The other three listed in detail the materials Ye Guchen wanted the sect to purchase, along with the maximum prices he was willing to pay.

"Zhuqing will coordinate the details of our cooperation with you from here on."

Ye Guchen stepped aside, making room for Zhu Zhuqing. They had settled the broad strokes of the agreement; he would leave the details to her.

As he always said, the main goal was to help her grow. Even if they took a bit of a loss, Ye Guchen's view was, You might get a little advantage, but I'll never lose!

Seeing Zhu Zhuqing and Ning Fengzhi discussing matters amicably, and noticing that Ning Fengzhi had no intention of making things difficult for her, Ye Guchen breathed a sigh of relief.

He then turned his gaze to Sword Douluo. The fighting spirit in his eyes surged once more.

Sword Douluo was keen enough to notice Ye Guchen's battle intent in an instant.

Sword Douluo likewise wanted to experience the sword intent that had excited even his Martial Soul.

His gaze toward Ye Guchen was just as fiercely combative.

It was a look only swordsmen understood: the yearning to cross swords with a worthy opponent, to test one's own technique.

Ye Guchen had kept his aura well concealed, but the sharp edge of a sword cultivator could never be fully hidden.

"Pavilion Master Ye." Sword Douluo's voice rang clear as a sword's chime. "I have an impolite request."

Ye Guchen met Sword Douluo's gaze, seeing the battle intent in his eyes, and immediately understood what he wanted.

"Senior Sword Douluo, there's no need to ask. Let's head outside the city and fight."

"Hahaha! That's exactly what I had in mind!"

Then, under the puzzled gazes of Ning Fengzhi and Zhu Zhuqing, the two turned into streaks of light and sped toward the outskirts of the city.