Understanding the implication behind Jiang Shengyu's words, Ning Tian's face flushed red. She quickly stammered,
"No! It's not what you think! My father will be coming to Shrek Academy in a few days. He said he wants to meet with you — to discuss cooperation!"
At the mention of cooperation, Jiang Shengyu frowned slightly.
"How many people know about this?" he asked.
Ning Tian shook her head.
"Other than Wu Feng, no one else knows. After all, this concerns the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. But… since my father is the sect master, the Academy will certainly be informed of his visit."
Jiang Shengyu nodded lightly.
"Then we'll talk when Sect Master Ning arrives."
After explaining her reason for coming, Ning Tian still made no move to leave. She watched Jiang Shengyu cautiously for a moment, then asked softly,
"During your training journey… you visited the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, didn't you?"
"We did," Jiang Shengyu replied with a nod.
"Were you satisfied with the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect?" Ning Tian suddenly asked.
Her question made Jiang Shengyu immediately understand what she was thinking.
"Miss Ning," he said, shaking his head, "it's still too early to talk about that."
Ning Tian blinked, then nodded.
"You're right. I understand. Then I won't disturb your rest any longer. See you in a few days."
She rose, bowed politely to him, and left.
As she stepped outside, she nearly ran into Xiao Hongchen, who had just returned with a bag of sunflower seeds. Seeing Ning Tian hurry away, he frowned.
"What's going on? I just went to buy these!"
"Eat them yourself," Jiang Shengyu said, suppressing a laugh as he looked at him standing in the doorway.
Three days after Ning Tian's visit, Ning Haoyu — the Sect Master of the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect — arrived at Shrek Academy.
As befitted his status, his first destination was the Sea God Pavilion, where he went to meet Xuanzi.
Though one might call it a meeting, paying respects was the more accurate term.
No matter whether it was a sect master or a king, anyone who came to Shrek Academy was required to bow before the Sea God Pavilion Master.
It was a rule that had not changed in thousands of years.
A few days later, Ning Haoyu and Ning Tian finally managed to arrange a private meeting with Jiang Shengyu.
Accompanying them was another unexpected figure — Tang Ya.
Seeing Tang Ya, Jiang Shengyu raised his brows in surprise.
"Master Tang, what brings you here? Does Shrek Academy know about this?"
Tang Ya shook her head.
"I came as an accompanying disciple under the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's delegation. I haven't met with Elder Xuan or the others."
Jiang Shengyu nodded, saying nothing further. After inviting everyone to sit, he turned to Ning Haoyu.
"So, Sect Master Ning — have you made up your mind? Do you wish, like the Tang Sect, to pursue deeper cooperation with our Sun Moon Empire?"
Ning Haoyu did not answer directly. Instead, he asked,
"May I ask, Young Master Jiang… is it true that you have a way to evolve the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda?"
Under the expectant gazes of both father and daughter, Jiang Shengyu slowly nodded.
"I do."
Ning Haoyu's eyes lit up with excitement.
"What is this method?" he asked eagerly.
"Sect Master Ning," Jiang Shengyu replied with a slight smile, shaking his head,
"asking for my trump card before we've even discussed terms of cooperation — isn't that a bit improper?"
"Please, Jiang Shengyu!" Ning Tian blurted out anxiously. "Please believe in the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect!"
Ning Haoyu took a deep breath, calming his daughter before speaking apologetically,
"My apologies — that was rash of me. If your empire can guarantee that our Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect will hold the same standing within the Soul Hall as the Tang Sect, and that our martial soul can truly evolve… then I am willing to cooperate."
To him, talk of founding another Spirit Hall or letting one force dominate the entire continent meant nothing compared to the survival of his sect.
What use were "future consequences" when the present itself could not be survived?
After hearing him out, Jiang Shengyu chuckled softly and shook his head.
"Sect Master Ning, you can't just expect to get something for nothing. The Tang Sect can offer the Soul Hall its legitimacy and a formal claim to orthodoxy. But what can the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect offer us in return?"
Ning Haoyu froze, momentarily at a loss for words.
Ning Tian, gritting her teeth, said firmly,
"Jiang Shengyu… if you can truly give the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect a future — then whatever you ask of me, I'll do it!"
At that, Jiang Shengyu raised his hand, stopping her.
"That won't be necessary."
His refusal left Ning Tian momentarily stunned.
Looking at the two of them, still caught off guard, Jiang Shengyu continued calmly,
"How about this — the Soul Hall can provide your sect with combat-type soul master disciples, defensive soul tools, and… the evolution of your martial soul isn't out of the question either."
"What does Young Master Jiang require from the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect in return?" Ning Haoyu asked gravely.
After thinking for a moment, Jiang Shengyu replied,
"Serve as logistics. Support the army."
A vast number of auxiliary-type Tool Soul Masters could provide tremendous aid, both to the Soul Engineer legions and to ordinary soldiers.
Ning Haoyu's eyes widened slightly.
"Young Master Jiang… do you mean to have the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect assist the Sun Moon Empire's army in invading the three nations of the original Douluo Continent?"
Ning Tian's body tensed as well, disbelief in her eyes.
"Don't put it so harshly," Jiang Shengyu said with a smile. "We call that unification."
"The Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect will never help the Sun Moon Empire invade the three nations of the Douluo Continent!" Ning Haoyu shook his head, rejecting the demand outright. "That is our bottom line!"
Jiang Shengyu only smiled faintly at his words. From his hand, he produced a black dragon scale, flicking it into the air like a coin before catching it again.
"Then I'm afraid I have no choice. To ensure this matter remains secret… I'll have Ditian place a seal on you."
"Ditian? Did you just say—Ditian?!"
The instant Jiang Shengyu spoke the name, Ning Haoyu's pupils contracted. Shock and fear filled his face.
He could sense a terrifying aura emanating from that black dragon scale — could it truly belong to Ditian himself?
Jiang Shengyu nodded lightly, running his fingers across the scale.
"By chance, I had an encounter with Ditian. You may consider him my protector."
Protector…? Ditian?
The foremost being on the continent — the leader of the Ten Great Beasts — as his protector?
Jiang Shengyu's words left the other three utterly shaken. None of them doubted him; his tone and that dragon scale both carried undeniable authenticity.
Toying with the scale in his hand, Jiang Shengyu looked at Ning Haoyu and said softly,
"So, what will it be? Will the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect choose destruction… or obedience?"
The words struck like a mountain pressing upon Ning Haoyu's shoulders. Under that suffocating pressure, his resistance crumbled. Bowing his head, he said through gritted teeth,
"I… accept Young Master Jiang's terms!"
Jiang Shengyu raised his hand. A wisp of black flame leapt from his palm. With a flick, he sent one flame each toward Ning Haoyu and Ning Tian.
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