Chapter 288
We've been set up!
Ning Rongrong ignored the oppressive feeling that seemed to be in tangible form and all the mocking gazes. Step by step, slowly but with unparalleled clarity, she walked towards the only empty seat next to the Star Luo Empire's side, the seat representing the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School.
Every step felt like stepping on his own dignity and pride, on his father's desperate worries, and on the thorny path of protecting the sect's foundation.
Finally, she stood in front of the heavy, carved wooden chair.
She didn't sit down immediately, but slowly raised her lowered head. On her pale face, her glassy eyes, now like tempered ice, burned with pain, anger, and a cold, sharp edge emerging from its cocoon!
She is no longer that fearful little girl, but the future leader of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School!
Her gaze was unwavering, like two newly drawn blades, carrying a nascent chill, sweeping over the faces representing the highest levels of power on the continent around the round table, finally settling on Lin Xia, the one in the main seat who controlled the overall situation and had pushed her into the eye of this storm.
A cold, clear voice, with a barely perceptible tremor yet containing an unprecedented power, rang out like shattered ice in the impenetrable silence of the luxurious private room:
“Ning Rongrong from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School. Representing the school, she is participating in the share competition.”
After a brief silence, a series of low, complex laughs rippled through the round table.
Chrysanthemum Douluo Yue Guan held the Qirong Tongtian Chrysanthemum, formed from his soul power, its petals shimmering with light. A soft, playful smile curved his lips, his eyes gazing as if he were admiring a newly discovered, fragile yet pretentious bonsai.
"Oh? Is the little princess really going to take part in herself? That's quite courageous, truly commendable."
The disdain and indifference in his tone were undisguised.
Davis let out an even louder sneer, his blond hair billowing in the morning light. He leaned back slightly against the wide chair, his gaze filled with naked scrutiny and mockery, as if watching a performance destined to be farcical.
"Ha! What's gotten into Ning Fengzhi? Is the mighty Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School running out of successors? Sending a newbie to fill the void? Fine, one less person to share the pie, this prince is happy to see it."
Zhu Zhan's face was grim, and he let out a cold snort, like a muffled thunderclap, expressing his dissatisfaction with the wasted time and his contempt for Ning Rongrong's overestimation of her abilities.
Yu Luomian's brows furrowed even more, his anxiety deepening. He only wanted to finalize the share as soon as possible and had no interest in this "competition" where the power imbalance was obvious; in fact, he felt it was a burden.
Crown Prince Xue Qinghe maintained his perfect, gentle demeanor, but a faint, almost imperceptible pity and a hint of understanding flickered in the depths of his clear eyes—he seemed to have grasped Lin Xia's deeper intentions, but this did not hinder his subsequent actions.
The representatives of the lower four sects exchanged knowing glances, their lips curling into enigmatic smiles.
In their view, the fact that the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School's little princess personally intervened not only meant that the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School had temporarily lost the threat of a mature negotiator, but also meant... a huge vulnerability that could be exploited at will!
This is an excellent opportunity to easily tear an even bigger piece of flesh from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School!
One less competitor?
No, it's just another fat sheep waiting to be slaughtered!
Lin Xia sat upright in the main seat, seemingly oblivious to the reactions around her.
The silver coin between his fingers began to spin again, faster, gleaming with a cold metallic luster.
He didn't even lift his eyelids, only uttering a single word.
"open."
This word was like a starting gun, instantly igniting the suppressed flame of "interest" within the private room.
Negotiations, or rather, a one-sided hunt, have officially begun.
"Lord Lin."
Crown Prince Xue Qinghe spoke first, his voice still gentle, yet carrying an undeniable sense of control. "The Heavenly Dou Empire has always maintained close cooperation with Gengjin City, especially in the popularization and promotion of soul tools for civilian use, which has yielded remarkable results. This time, regardless of the purpose of the new soul tools, the Empire hopes to obtain at least 30% of the market share. In terms of price, we can refer to the 15% premium of the previous batch of 'Gathering Yuan Arrays,' and promise to prioritize the deployment of a supporting network for the new soul tools throughout the Empire."
He spoke calmly and clearly, directly presenting an extremely high price and highly tempting additional conditions, both to demonstrate his sincerity and to draw an invisible "high price line" for other forces.
Davis immediately retorted, displaying the characteristic toughness of Xingluo.
"Hmph! Xue Qinghe, you dare to ask for such a small premium? The Star Luo Empire has a vast territory and huge military needs. The value of new soul tools in actual combat far exceeds their civilian use! My Star Luo offers a price that is 25% higher than the 'Gathering Yuan Array'! Furthermore, the Zhu family promises to provide three pieces of ten-thousand-year-old Netherworld Cat soul bones as an extra bonus!"
His gaze swept over Zhu Zhan, who nodded slightly, confirming the significance of this extra gift.
Davis's offer not only raised the price but also introduced strategic resources and rare soul bones, making it extremely impactful.
Chrysanthemum Douluo gave a sinister smile; his voice was soft but penetrated the entire arena.
"The Spirit Hall doesn't ask for much, but it must be the best of the best. A 20% share, and the price..."
He deliberately dragged out the last syllable, the chrysanthemum petals at his fingertips trembling slightly.
"We'll proceed with the 25% premium that Prince Davis just mentioned. However, we need to exclusively customize a batch of special models with 'evil-repelling' properties. We can discuss the specific requirements later. His Holiness the Pope has high hopes for this."
He cleverly used Davis's offer as a benchmark and then made even more specific customization requests, thus raising the bar once again.
Ghost Douluo merely let out a low, owl-like laugh, its meaning unclear, as if in agreement.
Yu Luomian took a deep breath, suppressing his anxiety, and spoke with the solemnity of the Blue Lightning Tyrannosaurus Rex family.
"The Blue Lightning Tyrannosaurus family is willing to purchase 15% of the shares at a 20% premium. The family's newly discovered 'Thunder Mine' can be given priority to supply Gengjin City for three years."
He knew that his family's financial resources were no match for the Empire and the Spirit Hall, so he could only offer rare minerals as leverage.
Representatives from the four lower sects, like sharks smelling blood, followed suit. The Elephant Armor Sect leader, Huyan Zhen, spoke with a booming voice.
"Our Elephant Armor Sect is offering an 18% premium, taking half a percent! We are willing to provide City Lord Lin with fifty elite disciples of the Power Hall, who will serve him free of charge for three years!"
Other sects also chimed in, offering prices ranging from 18% to 20%, along with various seemingly attractive but ultimately worthless "add-ons" to top-tier powers.
Their strategy is clear.
They were driving up prices and squeezing out each other's market share, with their main target being the seemingly most "lucrative" yet most "naive" person—Ning Rongrong!
Ning Rongrong sat in her seat, her body taut like a fully drawn bow.
She forced herself to concentrate, her ears straining to catch every offer and every additional condition.
The hazy fragments of memory about business negotiations in his father's study, the snippets of conversation among the sect elders... all the knowledge he could recall seemed so pale and powerless at this moment! (End of Chapter)