"I—sigh, Fengzhi, have it your way! Old Bone and I will be your last line of defense."
Chen Xin knew that helping the Seven Treasures Glazed Pagoda evolve was Ning Fengzhi's lifelong obsession. Once Ning Fengzhi had reached level seventy in his cultivation, that obsession had reached its peak.
Now that there was a chance to make it happen, how could Ning Fengzhi possibly give up?
"Uncle Jian, Uncle Gu, thank you! Whether this works out or not, I'll settle down from now on."
Ning Fengzhi had already devoted a great deal of effort to finding a way to evolve the Seven Treasures Glazed Pagoda.
Although Ning Fengzhi hoped Ning Rongrong could break through the limits of the Seven Treasures Glazed Pagoda, the odds of achieving a Martial Soul Mutation through talent alone were simply too low.
The next morning, at dawn.
Yu Yuanzhen brought Yu Hengqing to the gates of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect in a carriage.
When the guards at the gate saw that their visitor was the Sect Master of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect, they immediately sent someone to inform Ning Fengzhi.
"Sect Master Yu, please wait in the reception hall and have some tea. I've already sent someone to notify the Sect Master!"
The captain of the guard smiled as he led Yu Yuanzhen and Yu Hengqing into the reception hall, then brewed tea for them.
Yu Yuanzhen had just lifted his teacup and taken a sip when Gu Rong transported Ning Fengzhi to him with a Soul Skill.
"Hahaha, Brother Yu, it's been far too long! If I'd known you were coming, I would've been waiting at the gate first thing this morning!"
Ning Fengzhi smiled and held out his hand, as though he and Yu Yuanzhen had been friends for years.
But Yu Hengqing knew Ning Fengzhi had only ever crossed paths with Yu Yuanzhen at large gatherings. The two had never met at any other time, let alone had any personal friendship!
Still, they were both Sect Masters of the Upper Three Sects. Even if they weren't close, they had to act as if they were.
"Indeed. We haven't seen each other in ages, not since the last Soul Master Tournament ended."
Yu Yuanzhen set down his teacup and shook Ning Fengzhi's hand with a smile.
"May I ask, Brother Yu, if the young man behind you is your youngest son?"
Ning Fengzhi badly wanted to ask whether Yu Yuanzhen had come about the matter in his letter, but now wasn't the time. Only by keeping his patience could he leave himself room to bargain.
"That's right. This is my third son, Yu Hengqing! Xiao Qing, come over and greet your Uncle Ning!"
Yu Yuanzhen nudged Yu Hengqing, who was standing beside him, forward, signaling him to greet Ning Fengzhi.
"Hello, Uncle Ning!"
Yu Hengqing didn't hesitate. He stepped forward and greeted him naturally.
"Look at how much you've grown! You're as handsome and distinguished as Brother Yu. You're clearly a pillar of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect!"
"My Rongrong is about your age, and she's at the sect right now. You two can meet and get to know each other!"
After praising Yu Hengqing, Ning Fengzhi was ready to get down to business. Naturally, he didn't want Yu Hengqing to stay.
"Sect Master Ning, we can get to know each other anytime. Let's discuss the important matter first!"
Seeing that Ning Fengzhi wanted to send Yu Hengqing out, Yu Yuanzhen immediately cut in.
Ning Fengzhi was puzzled that Yu Yuanzhen wouldn't send the younger man away, but since he was the one asking for a favor, he decided not to say anything.
Besides, having a junior present might even prove useful.
"Since Brother Yu has spoken so plainly, I won't beat around the bush either. May I ask, Sect Master Yu, what price would I have to offer for you to agree to an exchange?"
Ning Fengzhi had no desire to name the first price. Otherwise, he might offer too much without realizing it.
"I didn't come here to drain Sect Master Ning's coffers. If you think well of me, I'm willing to offer you a friendly price."
Well, Yu Yuanzhen had tossed the question right back to Ning Fengzhi.
Looking at Yu Yuanzhen, who wouldn't budge an inch, Ning Fengzhi understood that unless he showed some sincerity, Yu Yuanzhen wouldn't negotiate with him.
"I'm willing to offer two large mines and two Soul Bones that are over five thousand years old."
Ning Fengzhi named his expected price with an expression of "pain." It was enough to show sincerity without draining the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's coffers.
"Doesn't it hurt, knowing Sect Master Ning can only cultivate to the Soul Saint realm? What if, after the Seven Treasures Glazed Pagoda evolves, you could cultivate all the way to the Titled Douluo realm?"
Yu Yuanzhen didn't discuss the price right away. Instead, he continued to provoke Ning Fengzhi.
As Sect Master, Yu Yuanzhen knew very well that Ning Fengzhi's offer was nowhere near his limit.
With the Seven Treasures Glazed Pagoda's current boost, if it truly underwent Martial Soul Evolution, wouldn't its enhancement rate rise from 70% to 90%?
To say he wasn't tempted would be a lie!
"Sect Master Yu, can you guarantee that after the Seven Treasures Glazed Pagoda evolves, we'll have a chance to cultivate to the Titled Douluo realm?"
Ning Fengzhi was already getting excited, and his speech had noticeably quickened.
"How could I guarantee something like that? At most, I'm seventy percent certain."
The night before, Yu Hengqing had shown Yu Yuanzhen the Aromatic Silk Beauty and assured him that as long as someone consumed the Immortal Herb, the evolved Seven Treasures Glazed Pagoda would gain the ability to cultivate to the Titled Douluo realm.
But Yu Yuanzhen certainly couldn't guarantee it to Ning Fengzhi the way Yu Hengqing had to him. That would only make the proposal seem less credible.
After all, nothing could succeed with absolute certainty.
Hearing that Yu Yuanzhen was seventy percent certain, Ning Fengzhi thought it over. Seventy percent was enough to make the attempt worthwhile.
"I'll add one Ten Thousand Year Soul Bone and a medium-sized mine!"
This was the greatest show of sincerity Ning Fengzhi could afford. If he offered any more, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect would definitely face a financial crisis.
Besides, Yu Yuanzhen had said this method could only be used once. It wasn't worth taking such a risk.
"How about this? I'll only ask for two medium-sized mines, one large mine, and two Soul Bones around five thousand years old. But Sect Master Ning will have to agree to one thing."
Yu Yuanzhen knew Ning Fengzhi had already offered his highest price. It was time to accomplish what he had come for.
Seeing Yu Yuanzhen suddenly give ground, Ning Fengzhi sensed trouble. He would rather pay more than agree to certain conditions.
A debt of gratitude was the hardest debt to repay!
"Since Sect Master Yu has made a concession, refusing would make me seem unreasonable."
Ning Fengzhi could only reassure himself that once he obtained the method, Ning Rongrong would become the first person in the history of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect to break through to the Titled Douluo realm!
"I hope Sect Master Ning will agree to comprehensive cooperation with the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect, standing together through thick and thin!"
After hearing Yu Yuanzhen's condition, Ning Fengzhi fell silent.
Cooperation between two sects was perfectly normal, but comprehensive cooperation? Ning Fengzhi could guarantee that it had rarely happened in the entire history of the Douluo Continent.
Agreeing meant the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect would no longer be able to stay out of things. Refusing meant the deal would most likely fall through.
Ning Fengzhi could tell that Yu Yuanzhen had come to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect specifically for this.
"Sect Master Yu, if our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect agrees to this condition, how will your Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect guarantee our safety?"
"If two of the Upper Three Sects suddenly cooperate across the board, the Spirit Hall and the two great empires will surely set their sights on us."
Yu Yuanzhen wouldn't have proposed such a condition without making preparations!
At this, Yu Yuanzhen didn't answer immediately. Sometimes, words alone weren't enough to convince someone.
He set down his teacup and revealed the powerful aura of a level ninety-seven Titled Douluo.
This aura... a level ninety-seven Titled Douluo!
Chen Xin, who had been silently standing by like a piece of the scenery, looked at Yu Yuanzhen in shock.
He hadn't expected Yu Yuanzhen to break through from level ninety-five to ninety-seven in just a few years.
Before Chen Xin could recover from his shock, he noticed something else: Yu Yuanzhen's Soul Power was clearly different from theirs.
Before you continue