Reaching Cooperation

After entering the room, the four of them sat opposite one another, making no distinction between host and guest.

Upon hearing the telepathic message from Sword Douluo, even Ning Fengzhi could not help but let his expression grow solemn.

"A Soul Ancestor? At such an age..."

The habitually gentle smile on Ning Fengzhi's face finally faltered, his fingers tightening slightly around his cane until his knuckles turned a faint, pale white.

He prided himself on his keen eye, and when he had swept his gaze over Ye Guchen earlier, he had only sensed a profound aura, assuming that the Soul King realm was the absolute limit for this young man.

After all, looking across the entire continent, those who could reach the Soul Ancestor realm before the age of twenty-five were few and far between, and all were core descendants of the major sects.

Yet the person before him was likely not even twenty years old, was he?

But Uncle Sword was a Title Douluo; his perception could not possibly be wrong.

If a genius such as this were an enemy, the consequences would be unimaginable; fortunately, this visit was merely to discuss business.

At the same time, thinking of the two guardian Douluos within his own sect who were aging with no successors in sight, Ning Fengzhi could not help but secretly harbor thoughts of recruitment.

"Pavilion Master Ye is truly a young talent." Ning Fengzhi quickly regained his composure, lifting his teacup for a light sip to mask the shock surging in his eyes. "In the decades this sect has walked the continent, this is the first time I have seen a Soul Ancestor of such an age."

Ye Guchen took his seat opposite them, offering only a faint, poised smile at these words.

"Sect Master Ning flatters me. It is merely the result of some fortuitous encounters, not worth mentioning."

He spoke with such understatement, yet the more he did so, the more cautious Ning Fengzhi became.

Fortuitous encounters?

What kind of encounter could allow a youth under the age of twenty to step into the realm of a Soul Ancestor?

Furthermore, Uncle Sword had just sent a message stating that there were two other Title Douluo-level auras hidden within this building.

Ning Fengzhi's smile remained unchanged, but his mind was already racing through countless possibilities.

The Hundred Treasures Pavilion had appeared out of nowhere, first shaking the world with unprecedented offensive Soul Tool technology, and now revealing such terrifying hidden strength.

What exactly was the origin of this Hundred Treasures Pavilion? Could it be that some hidden power had finally emerged?

"Pavilion Master Ye is too modest." Ning Fengzhi set down his teacup and shifted the topic. "To be honest, the reason I have come to call today is indeed to discuss a matter."

His gaze rested on Ye Guchen's face, his tone unhurried.

"I have seen the introduction for the offensive Soul Tool your pavilion is auctioning tomorrow in the catalog. If the description provided is accurate... the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect is very interested in a Soul Tool of this quality."

A flash of realization crossed Ye Guchen's eyes at these words.

He had long 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 they lacked was combat power to compensate for their own shortcomings.

The Seven Treasures Glazed Pagoda martial soul possessed unparalleled support capabilities, but its lack of offensive power had always been a fatal flaw.

If they could obtain high-quality offensive Soul Tools to equip their core disciples, the low-end combat power of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect would at least double!

Since the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect had arrived as expected, Ye Guchen gave a soft call.

"Zhuqing."

Immediately, Zhu Zhuqing, who had been sitting quietly by his side, produced a Storage Soul Tool Ring.

She took out a batch of offensive Soul Tools and placed them on the table.

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

This aura was enough to rival a Soul Ancestor!

"This is?"

Faced with Ning Fengzhi's question, Ye Guchen did not explain, but instead looked toward Zhu Zhuqing, signaling for her to provide the explanation.

When Zhu Zhuqing stood up, a thin layer of sweat had already formed on her palms.

It was not that she had never seen important figures before. At the banquets of the Star Luo Zhu family, she had seen many princes and dukes, but back then she was merely a child following behind her elders, needing only to lower her head and bow without ever having to speak.

Now it was different—sitting opposite her was the master of one of the Upper Three Sects, the Ning Fengzhi whom even the emperors of the two great empires treated with courtesy.

Her performance would directly affect the reputation of the Hundred Treasures Pavilion.

"Zhuqing."

Ye Guchen's voice came from her side, neither high nor low, carrying not a hint of urgency, but a reassuring certainty. "Sect Master Ning is waiting for you."

Zhu Zhuqing looked up at him. He was leaning back in his chair, his posture relaxed, yet his gaze rested gently upon her, as if to say: take your time, you can do this.

She took a deep breath, pushing that tension into the deepest part of her chest.

"Sect Master Ning." Zhu Zhuqing began, her voice as clear as a spring, unhurried and steady. "Among this batch of Soul Tools, the one most worthy of attention is this Level 4 Handheld Soul Cannon."

She picked up a silver-white handheld Soul Tool the size of a fist, cradling it in her palm and turning slightly to let the light fall upon the barrel.

"This cannon is forged from a rare alloy, with a Soul Gathering Array and Soul Power Compression Array engraved within the chamber. By simply injecting soul power, one can compress and condense the energy to fire a blast."

She paused, her fingertips tapping three hair-thin lines at the front of the muzzle.

"These three are acceleration rifling grooves, which allow the fired soul power projectile to maintain a stable trajectory within a hundred meters, increasing hit accuracy by sixty percent compared to ordinary Soul Tools."

Ning Fengzhi leaned forward slightly; although he did not understand the technicalities, he knew it felt impressive, his gaze fixed on those intricate lines.

"What is the effective range?"

"One hundred and twenty meters for the effective kill radius," Zhu Zhuling answered crisply. "Beyond this distance, the soul power projectiles begin to dissipate. At two hundred meters, they are all sound and fury, possessing no lethality."

The etiquette she had learned since childhood in the Zhu household added a certain luster to her presence.

There was not a hint of timidity in her movements; her gestures were as professional as those of a seasoned executive.

Listening to Zhu Zhuling's introduction, Ning Fengzhi became even more certain that his decision to arrive early to pursue this partnership was the right one.

Seeing the increasingly fervent look in Ning Fengzhi's eyes, Ye Guchen knew the time was ripe.

"Since Sect Master Ning is interested, let us speak plainly," Ye Guchen said, leaning back in his chair with a composed tone. "How much does the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect want?"

Ning Fengzhi exchanged a glance with Sword Douluo, pondered for a moment, and held up his hand to signal the number eight.

"Eighty percent. The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect wants eighty percent of the various offensive Soul Tool types being auctioned by your pavilion."

Though his tone was gentle as he spoke, it carried an unquestionable air of certainty.

The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect had the confidence, and more importantly, the financial power to back it up.

Ye Guchen's expression remained unchanged, though he was calculating rapidly in his mind.

Eighty percent—this figure was a significant step higher than he had anticipated.

He had expected Ning Fengzhi to ask for fifty or sixty percent, assuming both sides would be testing the waters during their first collaboration.

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

"Eighty percent..." Ye Guchen picked up his teacup and blew the foam away unhurriedly. "Sect Master Ning has a hearty appetite. However, the Hundred Treasures Pavilion is newly established, and our reputation has yet to spread. This auction is the key to making our name. If we were to sell eighty percent of our stock directly to your sect..."

Hearing this, Ning Fengzhi's smile remained, but a sharp glint flashed in his eyes.

He caught the room for negotiation in Ye Guchen's words—since there was no direct refusal, it meant they could talk.

"I understand Pavilion Master Ye's concerns," Ning Fengzhi said slowly. "Therefore, I have a proposal."

He leaned forward slightly, his gaze fixed on Ye Guchen.

"The auction will proceed as planned, and the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect will participate in the bidding."

"After this auction concludes, for all future offensive Soul Tools, I will purchase eighty percent of your inventory at ninety percent of the final auction price."

As these words fell, the atmosphere in the private room tightened instantly.

Zhu Zhuling, standing at Ye Guchen's side, frowned slightly upon hearing this.

It wasn't that she felt the ninety-percent purchase price was a loss; on the contrary, since this was the first time auctioning Soul Tools, the prices would surely be driven up, meaning the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect would actually be the ones losing out.

The reason for her gravity was that the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect actually intended to swallow up eighty percent of all future production.

Inside the private room, the scent of tea curled in the air.

Ye Guchen did not respond immediately, instead lifting his teacup to take a slow, measured sip.

Ning Fengzhi did not press him, his expression remaining warm and smiling, though his eyes stayed locked on Ye Guchen's face, attempting to catch even the slightest ripple in the young man's demeanor.

Zhu Zhuling stood by Ye Guchen's side, fine beads of sweat forming in her palms.

Although she was born into Star Luo nobility, she had never negotiated face-to-face with a sect master of the Upper Three Sects. The composure she had shown earlier was held up entirely by sheer stubbornness.

Ye Guchen finally set down his teacup and tapped the tabletop lightly.

"Forty percent."

Ning Fengzhi's brows furrowed slightly. While he had considered eighty percent unrealistic, he had never expected to be cut down by half.

"From now on, the Hundred Treasures Pavilion will supply your sect with a maximum of forty percent of our offensive Soul Tool production," Ye Guchen said, his tone flat but carrying undeniable weight. "The Hundred Treasures Pavilion does not only do business with the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect; Sect Master Ning should understand this. Furthermore, my pavilion's production capacity is vast; forty percent is more than enough for the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect to consume."

Ning Fengzhi pondered for a moment and nodded slowly.

Though this figure fell short of his expectations, it was acceptable.

A forty-percent share, while not enough to arm the entire sect, was sufficient to provide a qualitative leap in the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's combat power.

"However—" Ye Guchen's tone shifted, a sharp light appearing in his eyes. "I have one more condition."

Ning Fengzhi looked up at him, already having a guess in his heart.

"The Hundred Treasures Pavilion needs the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's trade routes," Ye Guchen said bluntly. "Your sect has operated for hundreds of years, and your trade routes span every city on the continent. The Hundred Treasures Pavilion is willing to pay a commission of ten percent of the transaction price to have your sect act on our behalf to collect rare metal materials, various medicinal herbs, and... Whale Rubber across the entire continent."

This condition was one Ye Guchen had decided upon only after careful deliberation. It would take years for the Hundred Treasures Pavilion to establish its own trade routes and transit hubs.

During this period, it was better to leverage the existing network of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.

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

Upon hearing this, the smile on Ning Fengzhi's face finally underwent a subtle change.

Sharing trade routes?

This was a condition he had not anticipated.

The trade network of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect was a wealth accumulated through the painstaking efforts of generations, covering the major cities of the Heaven Dou and Star Luo Empires, and even extending to the outskirts of remote soul beast forests.

When it came to the ability to collect resources, the only force on the continent that could rival the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect was likely the Martial Soul Hall.

And that was exactly what Ye Guchen wanted.

Ning Fengzhi carefully savored the terms of this proposal. Collecting rare metals, medicinal herbs, and Whale Rubber... these items held little profit margin to begin with and did not touch upon the core industries of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.

Moreover, since the ten percent commission would be paid by the Hundred Treasures Pavilion, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect would not only avoid losses but actually profit from the arrangement.

He saw further ahead—through the sharing of trade routes, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect would eventually be able to penetrate the Hundred Treasures Pavilion even more deeply.

This was a deal he could not lose on.

"Pavilion Master Ye is truly calculating." Ning Fengzhi chuckled softly and set down his teacup. "Sharing trade routes is acceptable, but I must state my terms first."

"Please speak, Sect Master Ning."

"The resources collected by the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect must be purchased by your pavilion entirely at market price."

With the search spanning the entire continent, Ning Fengzhi was somewhat skeptical that he could handle the volume.

"As for the Soul Tool provided by your pavilion—" Ning Fengzhi paused, "The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect guarantees they are for our own use. We will never resell them to others, nor will they fall into the hands of any other faction."

Ye Guchen's heart stirred.

I was a bit worried that once the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect obtained a large quantity of Soul Tool, they would turn around and suppress the market. It seems I underestimated the importance of offensive Soul Tool to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.

No reselling meant that the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect was buying these Soul Tool purely to arm their own disciples, rather than to profit from arbitrage.

They were people who played by the rules.

"Rest assured, Sect Master Ning, the Hundred Treasures Pavilion can certainly handle the volume." Ye Guchen nodded. "As for whether the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect would resell the Soul Tool, I naturally trust your sect."

Ning Fengzhi nodded in satisfaction and reached out his hand.

"Then it is settled?"

Ye Guchen also reached out, shaking hands lightly with Ning Fengzhi.

"A pleasant cooperation."

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

The first was naturally the Soul Tool that the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect cared about most, while the other three recorded the detailed types of materials Ye Guchen had entrusted the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect to acquire, along with the maximum acceptable prices.

"The subsequent details of our cooperation will be handled by Zhuqing."

Ye Guchen stepped aside to let Zhu Zhuqing move to the front. The general cooperation had been finalized, and as for the details, he would leave them to her.

As the saying went, this was primarily to help her grow. As for losing a little, Ye Guchen figured: you might take a small advantage, but I will never lose!

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

He immediately turned his gaze toward Sword Douluo, the fighting spirit in his eyes surging once more.

Sword Douluo was incredibly sharp; in an instant, he keenly captured Ye Guchen's fighting intent.

Likewise, Sword Douluo also wanted to witness the sword intent that had made his own martial soul feel excited.

The look he gave Ye Guchen was also stained with intense fighting spirit.

It was a look only swordsmen understood—a longing to cross blades with a strong opponent and a desire to test one's own swordsmanship.

Although the aura on Ye Guchen's body was restrained perfectly, the sharpness belonging to a sword cultivator could not be hidden forever.

"Pavilion Master Ye." Sword Douluo's voice was as clear as the ringing of a blade. "I have a presumptuous request."

Ye Guchen looked directly at Sword Douluo, seeing the same fighting spirit in his eyes, and instantly understood his intent.

"Senior Sword Douluo, there is no need for words. Why don't we move outside the city for a battle?"

"Hahaha, that is exactly what I intended!"

Immediately, under the puzzled gazes of Ning Fengzhi and Zhu Zhuqing, both men transformed into streaks of light and rushed toward the outskirts of the city.