Bargaining, Two Sects Cooperate

"I—sigh, Fengzhi, have it your way! Old Gu and I will be your final safety net."

Chen Xin knew that evolving the Seven Treasures Glazed Pagoda was the obsession of Ning Fengzhi's life, a fixation that had reached its peak ever since he reached level seventy.

Now that there was a chance to realize it, how could Ning Fengzhi possibly give up?

"Uncle Sword, Uncle Bone, thank you! Regardless of whether this succeeds or not, I will settle down after this."

Ning Fengzhi had already poured a vast amount of energy into searching for a way to evolve the Seven Treasures Glazed Pagoda.

Although he hoped Ning Rongrong could break through the limits of the pagoda, the probability of achieving a martial soul mutation through talent alone was simply too low.

The next morning, at dawn.

Yu Yuanzhen brought Yu Hengqing and arrived outside the gates of the Seven Treasures Glazed Sect by carriage.

The guards stationed outside recognized the Sect Master of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect and immediately sent someone to notify Ning Fengzhi.

"Sect Master Yu, please head to the reception hall for some tea first. I have already sent word to our Sect Master!"

The captain of the guards smiled as he led Yu Yuanzhen and Yu Hengqing into the reception hall, pouring tea for them.

No sooner had Yu Yuanzhen picked up his cup for a sip than Ning Fengzhi appeared before him, having arrived via Gu Rong's soul skill teleportation.

"Hahaha, Brother Yu, it has truly been a long time! Had I known you were coming, I would have been waiting at the gate since early this morning!"

Ning Fengzhi smiled and extended his hand, acting as if he and Yu Yuanzhen were old friends.

However, Yu Hengqing knew that Ning Fengzhi had only crossed paths with Yu Yuanzhen at large-scale events; they had never met otherwise, let alone shared a personal friendship.

Nevertheless, as leaders of the Upper Three Sects, they had to maintain the appearance of a good relationship, even if they weren't close.

"Indeed, we haven't met since the conclusion of the last Spirit Master Tournament."

Yu Yuanzhen set down his teacup and smiled, shaking Ning Fengzhi's hand.

"Might I ask, Brother Yu, is the young man behind you your youngest son?"

Ning Fengzhi desperately wanted to ask if Yu Yuanzhen had come regarding the matter in the letter, but now was not the time; only by keeping his composure could he find room to bargain.

"Yes, this is my third son, Yu Hengqing! Xiao Qing, hurry up and greet your Uncle Ning Fengzhi!"

Yu Yuanzhen nudged Yu Hengqing, who was standing beside him, signaling for him to greet Ning Fengzhi.

"Hello, Uncle Ning!"

Yu Hengqing did not act coy; he stepped forward and naturally addressed him as Uncle Ning.

"He has grown so much in the blink of an eye! He is as dashing as you, Brother Yu—a true pillar of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect!"

"My Rongrong is about the same age as him. She happens to be in the sect right now; you two should get to know each other and build a friendship!"

Having finished praising Yu Hengqing, Ning Fengzhi prepared to get to the point, naturally hoping the boy wouldn't stay.

"Sect Master Ning, there will be plenty of time for that later. Let us discuss the important matters first!"

Seeing Ning Fengzhi try to send Yu Hengqing away, Yu Yuanzhen immediately took control of the conversation.

Though Ning Fengzhi was puzzled as to why Yu Yuanzhen wouldn't let the junior leave, he didn't press the issue, considering he was the one asking for a favor.

Besides, having a junior present might even have an unexpected effect.

"Since you have been direct, Brother Yu, I will not beat around the bush. I would like to ask, Sect Master Yu, what price must I pay for you to be willing to trade with me?"

Ning Fengzhi did not want to make the first offer, lest he bid too high without knowing it.

"I did not come here to empty your coffers, Sect Master Ning. As long as you deem it worthy, I am willing to offer a 'friendship price'."

There it was—the problem had been kicked right back to Ning Fengzhi.

Looking at the immovable Yu Yuanzhen, Ning Fengzhi realized that unless he showed his sincerity, Yu Yuanzhen would not be willing to negotiate.

"I am willing to offer two large-scale mines and two soul bones over five thousand years old."

Ning Fengzhi stated his expected price with a look of feigned "heartache." Such an offer would neither bankrupt the Seven Treasures Glazed Sect nor fail to show his sincerity.

"It doesn't feel good to be stuck at the Spirit Saint level, does it? What if, after the Seven Treasures Glazed Pagoda evolves, it could reach the Title Douluo level?"

Yu Yuanzhen did not discuss the price immediately, choosing instead to continue provoking Ning Fengzhi.

As a Sect Master, Yu Yuanzhen knew full well that Ning Fengzhi's offer was nowhere near his limit.

Given the current amplification of the Seven Treasures Glazed Pagoda, if a martial soul evolution were truly achieved, wouldn't the amplification ratio jump from seventy percent to ninety percent?!

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 will have the potential to reach the Title Douluo level?"

At this point, Ning Fengzhi was already growing excited, his speech noticeably quickening.

"How could I possibly give a cast-iron guarantee on such a thing? I have, at most, a seventy percent certainty."

Last night, Yu Hengqing had presented the Tulip of Romance and given his word to Yu Yuanzhen.

As long as this immortal herb was consumed, the evolved Seven Treasures Glazed Pagoda would indeed possess the capacity to reach the Title Douluo level.

However, Yu Yuanzhen certainly couldn't promise Ning Fengzhi the same way Yu Hengqing had; that would only lower the perceived credibility.

After all, nothing in this world was one hundred percent certain.

Hearing that Yu Yuanzhen was seventy percent certain, Ning Fengzhi pondered for a moment; seventy percent was enough to give it a try.

"I will add one ten-thousand-year spirit bone and a medium-sized mine!"

This was the greatest sincerity Ning Fengzhi could offer; adding any more would surely plunge the Seven Treasures Glazed Sect into a financial crisis.

Moreover, Yu Yuanzhen had stated that this method could only be used once, making it not worth the risk for Ning Fengzhi to gamble so heavily.

"How about this: I only want two medium-sized mines, one large mine, and two spirit bones of around five thousand years, but Sect Master Ning must promise me one thing."

Yu Yuanzhen knew this was already Ning Fengzhi's highest offer, and it was time to achieve the goal of his visit.

Seeing Yu Yuanzhen suddenly relent, Ning Fengzhi secretly thought it was a bad sign; he would rather spend more money than agree to certain conditions.

Debts of favor were the hardest to repay!

"Since Sect Master Yu has made concessions, it would be tactless of me not to agree."

Ning Fengzhi could only console himself that once he obtained the method, Ning Rongrong could become the first person in the history of the Seven Treasures Glazed Sect to break through to the Title Douluo realm!

"I hope Sect Master Ning can engage in comprehensive cooperation with our Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect, advancing and retreating together through thick and thin!"

After hearing Yu Yuanzhen's condition, Ning Fengzhi fell silent.

Cooperation between two sects was normal, but comprehensive cooperation—Ning Fengzhi could guarantee that such a thing had not happened more than a few times in the entire history of the Douluo Continent.

Agreeing meant the Seven Treasures Glazed Sect could no longer remain aloof from the world; refusing meant this deal would likely fall through.

Ning Fengzhi could see that Yu Yuanzhen had come to the Seven Treasures Glazed Sect specifically for this matter.

"Sect Master Yu, if our Seven Treasures Glazed Sect agrees to this condition, how will your Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect guarantee our safety?"

"Two of the Upper Three Sects suddenly entering into comprehensive cooperation will surely be targeted by Spirit Hall and the two great empires."

Ning Fengzhi did not believe that Yu Yuanzhen would have proposed such a condition without being prepared!

Upon hearing this, Yu Yuanzhen did not answer Ning Fengzhi immediately; sometimes, words alone were not enough to be fully convincing.

Setting down his teacup, Yu Yuanzhen unleashed the powerful aura of his level ninety-seven Title Douluo cultivation.

This aura, it's a level ninety-seven Title Douluo!

Chen Xin, who had been silent and acting as a background figure, looked at Yu Yuanzhen, somewhat losing his composure.

He had not expected that in the few years they hadn't met, Yu Yuanzhen would have broken through from level ninety-five to level ninety-seven.

Before Chen Xin could recover from his shock, he discovered that Yu Yuanzhen's spirit power was distinctly different from theirs.