Spirit City, inside a luxurious restaurant.
In a top-grade private room.
There were four people inside the private room: Su Yunlin, Tang Wutong, Ning Tian, and Wu Feng.
Wu Feng looked at the table full of dishes. They were all things she liked to eat, and her drool was almost about to flow out. Ning Tian, however, wore a serious expression. She could not quite understand why Su Yunlin had sought her out. Had he finally come around?
Ning Tian felt that the possibility was not high. After all, Tang Wutong was so beautiful that even she found her beautiful. In terms of appearance, she had already lost. As for the power behind them, Tang Wutong had the Clear Sky Sect behind her, which was also far stronger than hers.
For 10,000 years, the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect had never won against the Clear Sky Sect. 10,000 years ago, they had been suppressed by the Clear Sky Sect, and even now, it was still the same.
"Ning Tian, can I start eating?" Wu Feng could barely endure it anymore. If she did not eat soon, the food would go cold.
Ning Tian's face darkened. How did she have such a foolish best friend? But Ning Tian could only spoil her. Right now, the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect lacked successors. Only Wu Feng had good talent and had hope of becoming a Titled Douluo, then inheriting the position of sect-protecting Douluo. Most importantly, Wu Feng was loyal, absolutely obedient to her words.
Of course, loyalty was all Wu Feng had left. Ning Tian really wanted Wu Feng to carry a little more brain with her. Just a little would be enough.
"Pfft~"
Su Yunlin and Tang Wutong laughed at the same time. This little fire dragon really was interesting.
"Ah? What are you laughing at?" Wu Feng was completely confused. She did not know why Su Yunlin and Tang Wutong were laughing.
Su Yunlin coughed and stopped smiling. "Young Sect Master Ning, we're classmates. Although I do have business to discuss with you, there's no need to be so restrained. If Little Fire Dragon wants to eat, let her eat."
Ning Tian sighed. "Fengmei, eat."
"Okay Ah-wu"
The moment Wu Feng heard that she could eat, she immediately began wolfing down the food, as if she had been reborn from a starving ghost.
Ning Tian: …
Tang Wutong also began eating. She was only accompanying Su Yunlin. As for business matters, she did not understand them very well. It was enough for her to be beautiful.
Su Yunlin also picked up his chopsticks. "Young Sect Master Ning, I have a business deal here. I wonder whether you're interested?"
"Oh? What business?"
Su Yunlin took out a jade box and opened it. Inside lay a tulip. This tulip looked elegant and noble from top to bottom. Its roots and leaves were like trailing curtains of vines, delicate and intricate. At the top was a golden flower, releasing a rich fragrance.
The moment she saw this tulip, Ning Tian could no longer sit still. She stood up directly and stared at the tulip in disbelief.
"This! This is!"
Su Yunlin smiled faintly. "That's right. It is the Beautiful Silk Tulip!"
A line of clear tears slid down Ning Tian's pretty face. The Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect had searched for the Beautiful Silk Tulip for nearly 10,000 years. She had never expected to encounter it here.
When Wu Feng saw Ning Tian crying, she immediately stood up and wiped her tears.
"Name your price. No matter what material thing you want, I can think of a way to get it for you. Even if you want this person, that's fine too!"
The moment Ning Tian saw this Beautiful Silk Tulip, she was determined to obtain it.
"Dream on. The Beautiful Silk Tulip in my hands is the remnant essence of a 100,000-year Beautiful Silk Tulip. The remnant essence of a 100,000-year Spirit Beast. What kind of beautiful dream are you having?"
Su Yunlin closed the jade box.
Ning Tian naturally understood what Su Yunlin meant. "Then what do you want?"
Su Yunlin chuckled softly. "Heh. I have long heard that the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect is wealthy enough to rival nations. You lack many things, but money is not one of them. However, your sect's current situation isn't good, is it?
"Your chief sect-protecting Douluo is already old and fading. The other sect-protecting Douluo cannot take over. On top of that, the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect currently has no worthy successors. The continent is about to become unstable, and your Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect must be considering going into seclusion, right?"
Ning Tian's pupils shrank. She had not expected Su Yunlin to know the sect's secrets.
Su Yunlin sneered. "There's nothing for you to hide. The Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect is indeed formidable, but before Shrek Academy, it is still not enough!
"You are the next Sect Master of the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. As for me, I am the next Master of Sea God's Pavilion. I imagine you know what Sea God's Pavilion represents, right?"
"As Young Sect Master, your status barely makes you equal to me. That gives you the qualification to make a deal with me."
Ning Tian had not expected that the man she admired would have already reached such a level. Even more than that, she had never expected that he was about to become the next Master of Sea God's Pavilion, the highest seat of authority in Shrek Academy.
Su Yunlin continued, "I have a business deal that requires cooperation with your Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. This is my list!"
Su Yunlin tossed out a list.
After Ning Tian received the list, she also sucked in a breath of cold air. The transactions listed on it contained many things that the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect currently needed, such as advanced soul tool technology.
As a sect with an auxiliary-type Martial Soul, the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect had very broad vision. As long as something could strengthen the sect, they did not care about anything else. Take soul tools, for example. Across the entire Douluo Continent, perhaps only the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect was the most accepting of external soul tools.
Ning Tian herself carried quite a few soul tools for self-defense, and the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect even had a level 8 soul engineer whose status was equivalent to a sect-protecting Douluo.
Ning Tian took a deep breath. "This matter, I may…"
Su Yunlin slapped the table. "Since you are the next Sect Master, then you must get this done for me. My additional condition is that I will help you evolve into the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda!
"This is your only chance! If you can't do it, then forget about this Beautiful Silk Tulip. And if you intend to seize it by force, then those old fellows of your sect, along with those useless Titled Douluo, won't be able to withstand a single blow before my grandfather!"
Ning Tian was very tempted. If her Martial Soul could evolve into the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, then her position as Sect Master would become incomparably stable, and her upper limit would no longer be stuck at level 79.
However, her current voice within the sect was not especially strong. The mission she had been given when she first came to Shrek Academy had not been completed outstandingly. She did not possess absolute authority.
Ning Tian was also a shrewd businessperson. She was weighing how to profit from this transaction.
"Stop thinking. Even if you think until your head breaks, it will be useless. Before absolute strength, those little tricks of yours have no use! Your father is indeed a shrewd merchant, but in the end, he is only a merchant.
"On the Douluo Continent, strength is supreme. Your Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect is so wealthy that you definitely can't avoid being coveted by enemy forces. I imagine that within the Heavenly Soul Empire, you've suffered no small amount of pressure as well, right?"
That was right. The Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect was also a sect within the territory of the Heavenly Soul Empire. In the current Heavenly Soul Empire, the Body Sect was the head of all sects, holding the position of guardian sect of the empire.
The Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect had already been pushed onto the cold bench.
It was precisely because the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect lacked capable successors, while also sitting on a mountain of gold, that no small number of people were eyeing them.
Ning Tian looked at Su Yunlin. "Your Excellency Su Yunlin, may I ask whether you can represent Shrek Academy?"
Su Yunlin nodded. "Naturally. Your Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect now only has two paths. Either retreat into seclusion in disgrace, or cooperate with me! I am confident that I can bring new life to the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect!"
Ning Tian took a deep breath. "Good! I agree to this transaction."
"Mm. Since that's the case, I'll give you something good first. Open your mouth!"
"Ah?"
Ning Tian let out a soft "ah," and suddenly, a streak of light flew into her mouth.
Ning Tian felt as though it was some kind of small pellet. It melted the moment it entered her mouth. In the next instant, Ning Tian sensed a surge of pure energy and immediately entered a cultivation state.
"Ning Tian! You bastard, what the hell did you feed Ning Tian?!" Wu Feng instantly pounced forward.
Tang Wutong stood up, grabbed Wu Feng, and casually sealed her Spirit Power and Martial Soul. Then she tied Wu Feng up firmly and threw her onto the sofa at the side.
"You pair of dog—mmph!"
Tang Wutong even used a rag to block Wu Feng's mouth.
"Quiet now."