Alliance with the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect

Ning Zi bowed slightly.

"Uncle Tang, what did you need me for?"

Tang Yue smiled at Ning Zi. "Nothing much. I'm going to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, and you haven't been home in a year. I thought I'd take you back for a visit."

Ning Zi nodded. "Thank you, Uncle Tang."

Tang Yue waved a hand. "No need to thank me, Zi."

With that, Tang Yue took Tang Chen in his left hand and Ning Zi in his right, then flew toward the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.

Three hours later, the three of them arrived at the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.

Sensing Tang Yue's arrival, Ning Quan and Aodebiao came out together to welcome him.

"Sect Master Tang, forgive us for not coming out sooner to greet you."

"You're too courteous, Sect Master Ning," Tang Yue said.

He set down the two people he had been carrying.

The moment Ning Zi saw Ning Quan, she greeted him cheerfully.

"Second Uncle, did you miss me?"

Ning Quan was delighted to see her. "Of course I missed you, Zi. You've grown taller in the year we've been apart, and stronger too."

Ning Zi raised her chin so proudly it nearly pointed at the sky.

"Second Uncle, I haven't slacked off for a moment this year. I'm already at level fifteen."

Seeing how far Ning Zi had come, Ning Quan felt a surge of emotion.

"You really have worked hard this year, Zi."

Then Ning Quan looked at Tang Chen.

"And who might this young man be?"

Tang Yue explained, "This is my son, Tang Chen."

Tang Chen stepped forward and cupped his fists. "Greetings, Sect Master Ning."

"So you're Sect Master Tang's son," Ning Quan said at once. "A fine-looking young man indeed."

Then Ning Quan asked, "May I call you Chen?"

"Of course, Sect Master Ning," Tang Chen replied quickly.

Ning Quan put on a stern expression. "None of that 'Sect Master Ning.' Call me Uncle Ning."

Tang Chen took the hint. "Hello, Uncle Ning."

Ning Quan nodded in satisfaction.

Pleased to see his son getting along with Ning Quan, Tang Yue said, "Sect Master Ning, I came today to discuss something with the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect."

Ning Quan promptly turned his attention to business, his manner becoming composed and refined.

"Please, Sect Master Tang."

The five of them made their way to the sect master's hall.

Once inside, Tang Yue sat down with Tang Chen.

"I'm here on behalf of the Clear Sky Sect to propose an alliance with the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect," he told Ning Quan. "To show our sincerity, we're willing to share a secret."

Ning Quan asked with interest, "Oh? What secret?"

Tang Yue took a piece of Whale Rubber from his Storage Ring. "This is the secret. Whale Rubber does more than strengthen a man's virility. Once heated and softened, it can also increase Soul Power. More importantly, absorbing it strengthens a Soul Master's body, allowing them to absorb older Soul Rings."

Ning Quan shot to his feet.

"Is that really true?" he asked.

Tang Yue nodded. "Of course. My son has already used it."

He gestured for Tang Chen to summon his Soul Rings.

Tang Chen did so. Two Soul Rings, one yellow and one purple, circled his body.

At the sight of them, Ning Quan laughed with delight.

"Hahaha! Good, very good! Sect Master Tang, you've shown us great generosity. On behalf of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, I accept an alliance with the Clear Sky Sect. From this day forward, our sects will advance and retreat together, sharing life and death."

With that, Tang Yue had achieved one of his two main goals for this visit.

Seeing Ning Quan in such high spirits, Tang Yue seized the moment. "Sect Master Ning, the Clear Sky Sect has spent more than half its Gold Soul Coins purchasing Whale Rubber. Resources are rather tight for us now, so I hope..."

Before Tang Yue could finish, Ning Quan understood what he meant.

"You needn't say more, Sect Master Tang," Ning Quan replied without hesitation. "After the trust you've shown the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, we would never shortchange an ally."

He took a stack of banknotes from his Storage Ring.

"Here are two hundred million Gold Soul Coins. Put them to use, Sect Master Tang. If you need more, just ask."

As far as Ning Quan was concerned, anything money could solve was no problem at all.

The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect was said to be wealthy enough to rival a nation. It could not match the Heaven Dou Empire in resources, but in wealth alone, even the entire empire would struggle to compare with it.

Tang Yue could hardly believe Ning Quan had produced two hundred million Gold Soul Coins without so much as blinking.

The entire Clear Sky Sect could not scrape together even one hundred million. Yet the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect could hand over twice that on a whim. Damn. One side dies of drought while the other drowns in a flood.

Tang Yue made a show of declining. "I couldn't possibly... But since it's your kind offer, Sect Master Ning, I won't refuse."

He was a little embarrassed, but he accepted the money with remarkable speed.

Ning Quan watched the money vanish from his hand before he could even react and chuckled inwardly.

After accepting it, Tang Yue explained in detail how to absorb Whale Rubber and what side effects it had. He even shared a way to lessen one of those side effects.

Once Tang Yue had told Ning Quan everything, down to the smallest detail, he prepared to leave.

Before they departed, Ning Quan placed a piece of ore in Tang Chen's hand.

"Chen, this is a gift from your uncle. Don't refuse it."

Tang Chen did not know what it was, and this was hardly the place to examine it closely. He cupped his fists toward Ning Quan. "Thank you, Uncle Ning."

After a few more pleasantries, Tang Yue took Tang Chen and Ning Zi from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and flew toward the Clear Sky Sect.

As soon as the three had gone, Ning Quan summoned the head of the Seven Treasure Chamber of Commerce.

"Sect Master, you sent for me?"

A plump, middle-aged man approached. His friendly smile made people instinctively feel they could trust him.

He looked remarkably like a heavier Ning Fengzhi.

When he arrived, Ning Quan said, "Ning Jinbao, I have a task for you."

Ning Jinbao cupped his fists. "Please give me your instructions, Sect Master."

"Starting now, the Seven Treasure Chamber of Commerce is to spare no effort in buying every piece of Whale Rubber on the market. Leave anything in Spirit City alone, of course. I'm setting no price limit. Buy it regardless of age, though the older it is, the better. Make this your highest priority. Everything else can wait."

Hearing how seriously the sect master spoke, Ning Jinbao nodded. "Understood, Sect Master. But if I may ask one question—should we still buy it if the price rises severalfold?"

"As long as it isn't in Spirit City, buy every piece you can find," Ning Quan replied.