Signing the Contract, Panda Trademark

"Young friend Chu Feng, may I ask, how much time does it take to craft this Milk Bottle?" An elderly man with graying hair looked toward Chu Feng, his voice trembling as he spoke.

The gazes of the others were also fixed firmly on Chu Feng, awaiting his reply with bated breath.

"As long as one is familiar with the engraving of the Core Array, a second-level Soul Engineer can generally complete one within an hour," Chu Feng said confidently.

This was no boast; his Core Array could be considered the most simplified version in existence. While the Anti-Theft Array integrated into his design added a layer of difficulty, it was not significant enough to be a hindrance.

"One... one hour to craft a single Milk Bottle!!"

"Heavens, how is this possible!"

"Is young friend Chu Feng perhaps joking?"

Several Soul Engineers were nearly driven mad upon hearing this!

Even for a second-level Milk Bottle, for Soul Engineers of their caliber—sixth or even seventh-level—the engraving of the Core Array alone would typically require five or six hours.

Yet now, Chu Feng claimed that a second-level Soul Engineer could produce one in a single hour?

This was nothing short of a fairy tale!

"Do not think I am boasting, everyone. The Milk Bottle I craft requires only two Core Arrays to function."

Too lazy to waste breath on them, Chu Feng crushed two empty Milk Bottles, dismantled the Core Arrays before everyone's eyes, and tossed them out.

The old men scrambled to pick them up for inspection, and immediately, they were struck as if by lightning.

Chu Feng was right; setting aside the connecting arrays, there were indeed only two Core Arrays.

But how could this be?!

Even the simplest Milk Bottle currently in existence required a combination of at least seven Core Arrays. The fact that he could manage it with only two was incomprehensible!

Madness, this world had gone completely mad!

These men, all highly respected figures within the Soul Master circle, now huddled together like children with a new toy, eagerly studying Chu Feng's Core Array.

However, their efforts were destined to be in vain.

"There is no need for you to waste your efforts. This is an encrypted Anti-Theft Array," Chu Feng said with a faint, amused smile as he watched them.

"Ah, this..." Upon hearing this, the old men sat back down, looking rather embarrassed.

No wonder they couldn't make heads or tails of it; it was encrypted. Nevertheless, they looked at Chu Feng with newfound respect. Integrating an Anti-Theft Rune into a Core Array was an incredibly difficult encryption technique. That he could master it at such a young age clearly marked him as a genius in the field of Soul Engineering.

The information Ning Tian had sent, suggesting the boy had simply gotten lucky and stumbled upon the Milk Bottle's Core Array, was clearly a massive miscalculation.

"Young friend Chu Feng, we are willing to purchase the complete Core Array for the second-level Milk Bottle. Name your price."

Seeing this, Ning Zhiyuan had a rough idea of Chu Feng's value. He looked at the boy with a beaming smile. While an encrypted Core Array had its value, it was far inferior to the complete version. Though he was not a Soul Engineer himself, he understood at least that much.

Moreover, he valued not just the Soul Tool's Core Array, but Chu Feng himself. The boy was the same age as his daughter; if he could recruit Chu Feng into the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect...

Ning Zhiyuan pondered this, his gaze toward Chu Feng growing increasingly warm.

"A flat price of 10 million Gold Soul Coin, plus a 20% sales commission every month," Chu Feng said, not standing on ceremony.

After all, if his complete second-level Core Array were crafted with higher-grade materials, it could produce a fourth-level Milk Bottle. 10 million was truly not a high price, and the commission he requested was standard, not an attempt to gouge them.

"Very well, it's a deal."

Ning Zhiyuan agreed readily. 10 million Gold Soul Coin was only enough to buy a single fifty or sixty-thousand-year-old soul bone; it was nothing to the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect. While a 20% commission was a bit steep, it was not unacceptable.

After all, this was a monopoly, and the research value of a complete second-level Core Array was immense. If they could fully decipher it, the value it would bring to the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect would be immeasurable.

Of course, he was certain Chu Feng possessed more than just this one Soul Tool core. If they could maintain a good relationship, perhaps there would be more opportunities for cooperation in the future.

Furthermore, the fact that Chu Feng did not make an exorbitant demand showed that his character was entirely trustworthy.

From every angle, this Chu Feng was outstanding—he was simply perfect to be the son-in-law of the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect.

Ning Zhiyuan was delighted; this trip had truly been worth it.

"By the way, I have other new types of cores and blueprints from the Soul Engineering Department. I will provide you with the templates for free, and you will be responsible for exclusive sales, but I want a 70% commission," Chu Feng continued, bringing out several more common Soul Tools and their blueprints to place before them.

The Soul Engineers, upon hearing this, eagerly picked up the samples Chu Feng provided, only to be shocked once again.

Although these blueprints were for fourth-level Soul Tools—Shock Cannon, Laser Gun, Interference Shell, and other common items—the Core Arrays within them were outrageously simple!

"Sect Master, if we manufacture according to the blueprints designed by young friend Chu Feng, the production time could be cut in half, and the cost reduced by over 60%!" An old man looked at Ning Zhiyuan, his aged face trembling with excitement.

They had studied Soul Tools for decades, yet this was their first time seeing designs that were so simplified yet fully functional. It was an eye-opening experience for all of them.

Even if they couldn't get their hands on the Core Arrays, they could gain plenty of inspiration from the design of the Soul Tool casings! This was a deal that could not possibly result in a loss.

"Very well, 70% it is. Everything will be done as young friend Chu Feng says," Ning Zhiyuan agreed without a second thought.

He was not a mere merchant, but the Sect Master of the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect; his vision was naturally much broader.

If he could establish a long-term partnership with Chu Feng, he would agree even if the boy asked for 90%. If Chu Feng were willing to join the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect, he would even be willing to take a loss and give him 100% or 110%. Whether they made a profit or not was secondary, as long as the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect was guaranteed not to suffer.

The group finalized the remaining details, and soon, a contract was drawn up and signed by both parties with great satisfaction.

Although this world remained one where the strong were respected, such commercial contracts were managed by the respective empires. The larger the power, the more they valued rules and reputation.

After all, if order were to collapse, it was not the common people who would suffer the most, but these very powerful and influential factions.

Ning Zhiyuan was quite generous, immediately handing over a golden card containing 10,000,000 Gold Soul Coin.

This type of card could only store Gold Soul Coin, and one needed assets of at least 1,000,000 Gold Soul Coin to apply for it. It was highly convenient, as it could be redeemed directly at any large chamber of commerce within the Three Great Empires.

"Oh, right, I have one last small request," Chu Feng said hurriedly, having suddenly thought of something.

"Please, speak your mind, young friend Chu Feng," Ning Zhiyuan replied.

"As a Soul Engineer, I naturally want my Soul Tool creations to be recognized by all soul masters. Therefore, I hope to add my own unique mark to every Soul Tool I produce."

As Chu Feng spoke, he took out a tiny Core Array.

The function of the array was simple: once added to a Soul Tool, it would manifest a unique phantom whenever the device was in use, much like a trademark from his past life.

However, such trademarks only appeared on the highest-grade Soul Tool; they were rarely seen on ordinary ones.

"Of course, that is perfectly fine," Ning Zhiyuan naturally had no reason to refuse such a small request.

"A pleasure doing business with you. If you ever have the time, young brother Chu Feng, you are welcome to visit our Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect." Ning Zhiyuan stood up and reached out a hand toward Chu Feng, his attitude toward the young man having undergone a massive shift.

From initial curiosity to later shock, he now held complete respect for Chu Feng, even regarding him as an equal.

"A pleasure doing business with you."

After leaving the Heavenly Star Pavilion, Chu Feng went straight to an agent and spent 800,000 Gold Soul Coin to rent a shop on a bustling street in Shrek City, located near the back gate of Shrek Academy.

Although he now possessed a large sum of Gold Soul Coin, it was still a drop in the bucket if he wanted to open his own Soul Engineer academy.

Chu Feng was not in a rush; after all, founding an academy on his own was extremely difficult and would inevitably invite endless suppression.

Therefore, he had to rely on attracting investment to survive his initial period of weakness.

Before that could happen, he needed to build his own reputation.

The "trademark" he gave to Ning Zhiyuan was also key to this.

As for the design of the trademark, it was naturally his true form—the Panda.

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