Twin Martial Souls! If the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect had a wielder of Twin Martial Souls, then our sect could surely rise to stand alongside the Clear Sky Sect and Spirit Hall on this continent.
As an Auxiliary Soul Master, they had no ambition to dominate. They only wanted their sect to endure, to stand as an equal.
He didn't want to be the one who stood out. He didn't want the whole continent keeping an eye on him.
Let the Clear Sky Sect and Spirit Hall bear the burden of being the strongest.
"Give up? We've been planning this for so long, and you want to give up just like that?"
Ning Buqun snorted. He was unwilling to accept it—not in the least.
" Sect Master, but he's a Titled Douluo, the foremost powerhouse beneath the Clear Sky Sect and Spirit Hall."
"We..."
As they spoke, the elders lost all confidence. Even if they went to negotiate, what could they possibly offer?
What did the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect have that the other party would care about?
No Titled Douluo, no priceless treasure—what could they offer?
Ning Buqun considered it for a moment. "What if we offer our Heart Separation Control technique as part of the dowry and arrange a marriage alliance?"
The others thought it over, then shook their heads. "Sect Master, the Seven Kill Sword doesn't need Heart Separation Control. As for a marriage alliance, we can give it a try."
"But, Sect Master, we must be prepared for rejection."
Ning Buqun knew that, but this was one of the most valuable things they could offer.
As long as the other party agreed to the marriage alliance, there would be no problem.
"Then I'll go there personally—and apologize while I'm at it!"
Ning Buqun made up his mind. For the sake of Twin Martial Souls and the Chen Family's power, as long as they could arrange a marriage alliance, they would have everything they needed with the Chen Family's Titled Douluo backing them.
They would have the strength, and the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect was hardly short of money. All they had to do after that was develop steadily.
No matter how he looked at it, they wouldn't lose.
That was what Ning Buqun had in mind, what he had been plotting.
But all of it depended on Chen Jianjun's willingness.
Ning Buqun didn't make a grand display of his visit to the Chen Family. He simply brought a few elders along.
He also brought some gifts. In his view, that was already a show of ample sincerity.
If the other party agreed, he would certainly make a grand announcement and spread the news far and wide.
Ning Buqun arrived at the Chen Family residence with the elders.
After all, Chen Jianjun was a sect master, and he wasn't some unbearably arrogant man. He agreed to receive them.
"What brings Sect Master Ning here?" Chen Jianjun sat in the seat of honor, his expression calm. Had the other party come to apologize? Chen Jianjun already knew what Chen Xin had done.
The moment Ning Buqun saw Chen Jianjun, he sensed that the man had grown even stronger. As for just how strong, he couldn't tell. After all, Ning Buqun was only a level 79 Soul Sage.
He wasn't capable of seeing through the other man. He could only sense him through the faint, almost imperceptible aura he revealed.
"Your Eminence, since you're so straightforward, I won't beat around the bush."
"I've come today to discuss a happy matter with Your Eminence."
At that, Chen Jianjun raised his eyes slightly. At this point, the only thing he could call a happy matter would be breaking through to level 99.
"What? Do you have a way to help me break through to level 99 and become a Super Douluo?"
That was all Chen Jianjun cared about.
Level... level 99?
Ning Buqun froze in place. So strong—he was already a level 98 powerhouse!
They had to form a marriage alliance. No matter what!
Chen Jianjun's strength made Ning Buqun even more excited.
"Your Eminence, I'm truly powerless when it comes to level 99." Ning Buqun felt a little embarrassed.
Chen Jianjun's brows drew together slightly. "Then what exactly have you come here for?"
Ning Buqun didn't hesitate. Smiling, he said, "I've come to propose a marriage alliance between our families."
A marriage alliance?
Chen Jianjun gave Ning Buqun a once-over. Interest showed on his face; he wanted to hear what they had in mind.
Chen Jianjun gestured for him to continue.
Ning Buqun was delighted. "I've heard that Your Eminence's son is both learned and skilled in martial arts. My younger sister has long admired him, so she sent me, her elder brother, to inquire about him."
That wasn't what Chen Jianjun wanted to hear. "Sect Master Ning, let's get straight to the point."
They were both old foxes. Better to lay out the benefits.
Since this was a marriage alliance, what they wanted certainly wasn't some lovey-dovey romance.
They had come all this way, so they might as well show their sincerity.
Ning Buqun silently called him an old fox. Sure enough, he wouldn't release the hawk until he saw the rabbit.
He thought that to himself, but wouldn't say it aloud. His smile remained fixed.
"Your Eminence, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect is willing to offer the Heart Separation Control manual, along with some resources!"
At that, Chen Jianjun said nothing. He simply watched.
Ning Buqun cursed inwardly. That still wasn't enough?
"We'll add two Ten Thousand Year Soul Bones!"
Chen Jianjun's expression improved a little at that, but he still said nothing.
"Three!"
Ning Buqun continued.
"Sect Master Ning, a marriage alliance would bring you two Titled Douluo."
"My son is certain to become a Titled Douluo."
Chen Jianjun spoke calmly.
Cold sweat began to bead on Ning Buqun's forehead. Was this man trying to wring the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect dry?
"Your Eminence, why don't you just say what you want?" Ning Buqun was struggling to bear it. Even as a sect master, he felt immense pressure in the presence of such a powerful man.
The aura the other man exuded made him fear that he might strike at any moment.
"Two-thirds of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's resources."
"Three Ten Thousand Year Soul Bones!"
"And the manual you mentioned."
Chen Jianjun was making an outrageous demand. If he hadn't learned what Chen Xin had done outside the Ye Family's gate, he might not have gone this far.
A marriage alliance? Heh. If you weren't plotting something, you wouldn't be Ning Buqun. Since you wanted to scheme against the Chen Family, you'd have to pay a price.
We'd take the person, and of course we'd take the resources too.
Now, it was up to Ning Buqun whether he would hand them over.
If he refused, I wouldn't lose anything. If he agreed, the Chen Family would profit.
Once you entered the Chen Family's gates, did you think you could leave?
Heh, ridiculous.
You'd dared scheme against the Chen Family. That was your bad luck.
I just happened to need a huge amount of resources to break through to level 99, and you, Ning Buqun, had delivered them right to my door. Don't blame me for taking them.
Hearing Chen Jianjun's words, Ning Buqun nearly toppled out of his seat.
Now that was an outrageous demand!
Two-thirds of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's resources? The Chen Family certainly had a ravenous appetite.
Ning Buqun's expression changed at once.
His face twisted into a ghastly scowl.
He had thought the matter was all but settled. Even if he had to pay a small price, he could still secure the alliance.
But Ning Buqun had miscalculated. Chen Jianjun had made an outrageous demand, leaving no room for negotiation.
He had named his price and wouldn't budge.
Put simply, it was the Ning family begging the Chen Family—not the Chen Family insisting on a marriage alliance with the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.
The angrier Ning Buqun became, the harder he tried to suppress his rage.
He felt humiliated—blatantly humiliated. The Chen Family had shown not a shred of sincerity.
"Your Eminence, is there really no room for negotiation?"
Ning Buqun asked, unwilling to give up.