The next morning, a formal invitation was delivered to them. It wasn't just any invitation, but a call to witness the most crucial moment for the next generation of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan: the Martial Soul awakening ceremony.
The Awakening Hall felt solemn, filled with a palpable anticipation. In the center of the room, an intricate formation gem glowed softly on the floor. The clan elders stood in their ceremonial robes, their faces serene. Lian Yang, Jingliu, and Bronya were seated in the guest of honor area, their position affording them a clear view of the entire procession.
While several other children from the clan underwent their ceremonies one by one with mediocre results, Ning Fengzhi took the opportunity to approach his guests. He stood beside Jingliu, his posture relaxed but his eyes sharp. He noted how the Moon Sword Douluo's gaze swept over the crowd of children below without a flicker of interest, as if observing common stones.
In a low, respectful tone, the Sect Master asked, "These children are the future of our clan. Do any of them catch your eye, Lady Moon Sword Douluo?"
Jingliu, without taking her eyes off the ongoing procession, simply gave a short nod.
A single nod. No words, no change in expression. Yet, for the astute Ning Fengzhi, that answer was more than enough. He understood. The standards of the woman beside him were in a completely different realm. He smiled faintly and returned to his position, a knowing silence settling between them.
Finally, the long-awaited turn arrived. Ning Rongrong stepped into the center of the formation, her beautiful dress a stark contrast to her face, which was pale with a mixture of nervousness and determination. A shimmering light enveloped her as the power within her awakened, and as the light slowly subsided, a beautiful, translucent seven-story pagoda appeared in her right palm, glittering with the soft light of illusory gems on each level. The hall held its breath as an elder approached with a blue crystal ball. Ning Rongrong's hand touched it, and the ball erupted in a dazzling light. "Innate Spirit Power... Level Nine!" the elder exclaimed, his voice trembling with disbelief. After a moment of silence, the hall erupted in cheers; the greatest talent in the clan's history had been born.
Yet, amidst the celebration, Lian Yang remained silent, his calm eyes observing the seven-story pagoda with the intensity of an analyst. In his mind, Brahma's Brain worked silently, breaking down the symbolism into cold data: seven stories, seven gems, seven spirit rings. The inevitable conclusion was a fundamental limitation—her peak would forever be capped at the Spirit Sage level, stuck below rank 80. His gaze shifted to the ecstatic Ning Rongrong, and a transparent data window appeared in his HUD: [Companion: Ning Rongrong | Tier: 7 | 160 Credit]. The desire to acquire those credits arose naturally, a pragmatic urge to strengthen his entire Retinue. Though the process of binding felt manipulative, he saw it as a symbiosis; he would unlock the girl's true potential, and in return, he would gain the resources to protect everyone he cared about.
After a few moments, Ning Rongrong, her face still flushed with joy, broke away from her father, her two grandfathers, and the crowd. She ran towards Lian Yang. Proudly, she held up her hand, showing off the small, glittering pagoda.
"Look! I did it! Isn't it amazing?" she exclaimed, her eyes shining with anticipation for his praise.
Lian Yang smiled, and his smile was genuine. "Congratulations, Rongrong. Your future potential will be limitless." With me.
However, behind that sincere smile, a sharp glint of calculation flashed through his eyes. It left Ning Rongrong feeling slightly confused for a moment, but she was too happy to dwell on it. For her, today was a perfect day.
---
To celebrate Ning Rongrong's historic talent and to honor the guests, an impromptu banquet was quickly arranged. The atmosphere in the banquet hall was far more relaxed and festive than the solemn ceremony. Soft music from string instruments filled the air, mingling with the joyous buzz of conversation from the clan members, their faces beaming with pride and optimism for their clan's future.
Amidst the relaxed celebratory mood, Bronya approached Ning Fengzhi with a professional demeanor that contrasted with the surrounding merriment. She waited for the right moment when the Sect Master wasn't surrounded by too many people.
"Sect Master Ning." Her voice was calm yet clear. "Congratulations again on your daughter's exceptional talent. However, I would also like to present a business proposal on behalf of our organization, Schicksal."
Ning Fengzhi seemed surprised for a moment. His eyebrows rose slightly. He hadn't expected a business offer to be made directly in the middle of his daughter's celebration party. However, as a shrewd leader, he quickly composed himself. His friendly smile returned, this time with a glint of curiosity.
"A proposal?" he repeated, his tone indicating interest. "From the organization of Miss Bronya and Lady Moon Sword Douluo? Of course, we are interested." He raised his glass slightly as a gesture. "However, tonight belongs to my daughter. How about we discuss the details tomorrow morning? We will await it with great anticipation."
"Of course, Sect Master," Bronya nodded curtly.
With that informal agreement, Bronya retreated politely, allowing Ning Fengzhi to return to the celebration. However, that brief exchange had changed the dynamic of the evening. Ning Fengzhi now viewed their group of guests with a completely new perspective. He hadn't expected the Moon Sword Douluo to already have a faction. Whether it was a new faction or not, that remained to be seen.
On the other side of the room, Ning Rongrong was the center of attention. Surrounded by other children looking at her with admiration, she felt on top of the world. However, her eyes kept darting towards Lian Yang, who stood silently near a pillar, observing the crowd with a calmness unnatural for a child his age. Feeling a little annoyed at being ignored, she made a decision.
Confidently, she strode across the room, her dress rustling. "Hey!" she called out, her tone commanding. "You haven't shown me your Martial Soul, so instead, you have to dance with me!" Without waiting for an answer, she grabbed Lian Yang's hand and pulled him towards the empty dance floor.
Lian Yang, who was mentally an adult man, felt a wave of awkwardness. The idea of dancing with a six-year-old girl felt embarrassing. However, seeing the challenging look in Ning Rongrong's eyes, he knew that refusal would only cause a scene. Resigned, he allowed himself to be pulled along.
The scene quickly became a source of amusement. The clan's pride and joy, who had just demonstrated heavenly talent, was now leading a mysterious boy in a slightly clumsy dance. Ning Rongrong moved with exaggerated enthusiasm, while Lian Yang simply tried to follow along without stepping on her feet. The elders chuckled at the sight, considering it an adorable interaction between children.
After one song that felt like an eternity to Lian Yang ended, Bronya approached, a faint, clearly amused smile on her lips. "Miss Rongrong, a beautiful dance. May I borrow Master Lian for a moment?"
Ning Rongrong pouted slightly at the interruption, but she couldn't refuse a request from her esteemed guest. She let go of Lian Yang's hand reluctantly. "Fine."
The dance between Lian Yang and Bronya was a sharp contrast. Their movements were calm, coordinated, and showed a comfortable closeness. Bronya led with an easy grace, her movements more like an older sister patiently guiding her younger brother through the steps. There was no awkwardness, only a quiet harmony.
From a corner of the room, Jingliu observed all these interactions in silence. An offended smile appeared on her lips, but she did not act even though she wanted a dance as well.
---
The next morning, the festive atmosphere of the previous night had evaporated, replaced by a serious business aura. As agreed, the two parties met in Ning Fengzhi's private meeting room. The room itself exuded wealth and power, with a sturdy, carved wooden table and large windows overlooking the clan's perfectly manicured gardens.
Lian Yang was not present, allowing Bronya to lead the negotiations entirely. He was currently being 'kidnapped' by an enthusiastic Ning Rongrong to continue her 'tour', a development that Lian Yang had anticipated and wanted to take advantage of.
On one side of the table sat the top brass of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan: Ning Fengzhi in the center, flanked by the cold Chen Xin and the restless-looking Gu Rong.
Opposite them, Bronya sat upright, her composure a stark contrast to the power radiating from the three men before her. Jingliu stood silently behind her, her presence like a deadly shadow, a reminder of the physical power backing this business proposal.
Bronya wasted no time. She began in a clear, direct tone, without any pleasantries.
"Sect Master Ning, Sir Sword Douluo, Sir Bone Douluo." She gave a brief nod to each of them. "Thank you for your time. We have come today to propose a business partnership."
Ning Fengzhi smiled, the smile of a master negotiator who smelled a great opportunity. "An honor, Miss Bronya. We are always open to partnerships that can strengthen our mutual positions. Please, we are listening intently."
"We believe," Bronya continued, "that your financial strength and extensive network, combined with our innovative technology and products, can create a market that does not yet exist."
"Those are big words." Ning Fengzhi said simply. "We will see what is on offer before making any decision." If it was any other power, he might have dismissed it, but this was an organization backed by the Moon Sword Douluo.
"Of course." Bronya nodded, then placed the black crystal slab on the table. With a touch of her finger, the device lit up, displaying a holographic screen containing a presentation slide she had prepared earlier.
Seeing that, Ning Fengzhi's eyes widened slightly. Even Chen Xin and Gu Rong couldn't hide their surprise. Such technology did not exist on the Douluo Continent.
"Excuse me, Miss Bronya." Ning Fengzhi's tone was polite but his curiosity was palpable. "A remarkable device. May I ask what it is?"
Bronya replied calmly. "This is a 'Spirit Guide' discovered from ancient ruins." She saw the glint of desire in the Sect Master's eyes and quickly added, "And unfortunately, it is the only one we possess and is not for sale."
Ning Fengzhi smiled faintly, expertly hiding his disappointment and suspicion. "Of course. I understand." He gestured for Bronya to continue.
"There are several products we wish to sell." Bronya explained as she manipulated the hologram to display images of various products.
"The first category is lifestyle products," she began, pointing to images of bars and liquids in elegant bottles on the holographic screen. "We call them soap and shampoo."
Ning Fengzhi narrowed his eyes slightly. "Soap? Shampoo?" he repeated, his tone showing genuine confusion. "Forgive my ignorance, Miss Bronya, but those terms are entirely foreign to us. What is the function of these items?"
Gu Rong snorted softly. "Sounds like children's toys."
Bronya ignored the comment with perfect composure. "They are liquids that aid in cleaning oneself during a bath, Sect Master. Something we believe has a universal market." Without waiting any longer, she requested a bowl of water and a dirty cloth. Once they were provided, she took out a small, ivory-white bar from her Pocket Space that emitted a faint floral scent. She dipped the dirty cloth in the water, rubbed it with the soap bar until a soft lather formed, and then rinsed it. The water in the bowl turned murky, but the cloth she lifted was brilliantly clean again. Silence filled the room as Ning Fengzhi's eyes widened, his mind immediately racing past cleanliness to the economic implications: luxury, status, and an untouched gold mine. "Incredible," he whispered, the admiration in his voice unconcealable.
"Next, agriculture." Bronya continued, the interface shifting to display harvest data. "Enriched synthetic fertilizers, more efficient plow designs, and modern irrigation techniques."
This time, Ning Fengzhi couldn't hide his shock. What was displayed was clearly far beyond any tool the common people of the empire possessed. If implemented, it would surely greatly increase the harvest of the entire empire. This would greatly increase his influence in the empire and the court.
"Finally," Bronya continued, her voice remaining flat as the interface displayed pharmaceutical symbols, "are medicines. We offer them in two tiers: basic healing for the common people, and more potent potions for spirit power recovery for Spirit Masters."
As Bronya finished, Ning Fengzhi finally understood the full scale of their vision. This wasn't just a business proposal; it was a blueprint for building an economic empire from scratch. His mind raced. This was no mere merchant, and this level of analysis... was extraordinary.
Silence filled the room as Ning Fengzhi processed the information. After a few moments, he let out a small laugh, a laugh filled with admiration and a slight sense of awe at the efficiency displayed before him. He looked straight at Bronya, then at the silent Jingliu.
"Incredible," he said, his tone sincere. "Truly incredible, Miss Bronya." He stood up and bowed slightly, a gesture of respect that surprised the two elders beside him. "We accept this partnership."
After that, they proceeded to discuss the details of the cooperation.