Chapter 376: Xiaoya?
Ning Tian was somewhat unwilling to accept this outcome. As a support type Soul Master with the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda, her core principle was always survival first only by staying alive could she continue to provide support. Invincible Barriers were an essential tool for self preservation. However, given the circumstances, she had no choice but to proceed with the current transaction.
On one hand, she wanted the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect to quickly acquire this batch of Soul Tools. On the other, she sought to build a good relationship with Huo Yuhao. She then began negotiating the purchase details with him, ordering a large quantity of essential Soul Tools. However, she did not attempt to use conventional business tactics such as asking for discounts due to bulk purchases because she was well aware of the reality.
Even if the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect didn't buy these Soul Tools, others would. Mingde Hall's products were always in high demand, and even if she refrained from purchasing, plenty of others would line up to do so.
A short while later, Ning Tian and Huo Yuhao finalized an order worth a staggering ten billion gold soul coins. As per their agreement, Ning Tian also pledged to provide the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy with rare metals unavailable within the Sun Moon Empire free of charge.
Many rare metals that were impossible for the Sun Moon Empire to acquire directly from the Douluo Three Nations or Shrek City could be easily obtained if the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect acted as an intermediary.
In exchange, Ning Tian secured a talent development agreement for the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. This allowed her sect to discreetly send Soul Engineers to study at the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy with higher level engineers gaining access to Mingde Hall.
Of course, once trained, these engineers would not be allowed to take Sun Moon citizenship and were required to return to the sect to repay their debt and serve the organization. This ensured a steady improvement in the overall strength of the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.
Huo Yuhao wasn't concerned that these engineers might behave like Shrek Academy's past students stealing blueprints and designs after studying at Mingde Hall.
After the last incident, Mingde Hall had installed comprehensive surveillance measures. Security Soul Tools monitored every corner, and powerful guards patrolled the premises. Stealing blueprints had become nearly impossible. Besides, the most critical documents were stored in a highly secure location, inaccessible to ordinary visitors.
Even if someone did manage to steal something, it would only be minor blueprints nothing of real strategic value.
"Once we've gathered all the Soul Tools you need, I'll have someone inform you so you can pick them up at the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy. If there's nothing else, I'll take my leave now," Huo Yuhao said with a polite smile.
"Alright." Ning Tian nodded, watching as Huo Yuhao turned and walked away, his figure gradually disappearing from sight.
Standing beside her, Wu Feng seemed displeased. She nudged Ning Tian lightly with her elbow. "Ning Tian, he's already gone. Why are you still staring?"
Wu Feng couldn't help but feel jealous. Ning Tian had never looked at her like that before. Was this the difference in treatment?
Ning Tian quickly withdrew her gaze and turned to Wu Feng. "Wu Feng, what's wrong? I feel like you seem a little hostile toward Huo Yuhao."
Wu Feng forced a smile. "He defeated me in the tournament. It's only natural for me to feel a little resentment. If it weren't for him, Shrek Academy would have made it to the semifinals. Even though I belong to the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, Shrek Academy still nurtured me."
She couldn't exactly admit that she was unhappy because she had feelings for Ning Tian and disliked the idea of her growing closer to Huo Yuhao. That would only complicate their relationship.
"I see." Ning Tian nodded, fully believing Wu Feng's excuse. They had known each other for years, and she trusted Wu Feng deeply.
Ming Yue Hotel
Bebe stepped out of the hotel, intending to take a walk around Mingdu to clear his mind.
Although he had led Tang Sect to victory over Heavenly Dragon Sect, which possessed the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Martial Soul, and secured a spot in the semifinals, the upcoming matches would be extremely difficult.
As soon as the semifinal matchups were confirmed, their only goal would be to win at all costs.
However, all potential opponents were formidable.
First, the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy he never imagined that someone he once considered weaker than himself, Huo Yuhao, had now grown so powerful that he could only look up to him.
Huo Yuhao's strength was overwhelming. If Tang Sect faced him, defeat was almost certain. If Tang Sect lost, Shrek Academy's thousand year legacy of dominance would be shattered.
Then, there was Holy Spirit Sect a team that employed sinister, malicious techniques and seemed anything but an upright organization. Their name alone, eerily similar to Holy Spirit Church, made it clear that they had ties to Evil Soul Masters.
Lastly, Snow Demon Sect Bebe still didn't understand why, on that one night, Elder Xuan suddenly launched an attack on them without informing the students.
However, one fact was clear Elder Xuan had been blocked by "Undying Venom," leading Bebe to suspect that Snow Demon Sect had connections to the Body Sect.
Perhaps Snow Demon Sect was an affiliated faction of the Body Sect, similar to how the Four Great Clans were once vassals of the Clear Sky Clan.
If that was true, it meant the Snow Demon Sect team likely had Body Sect experts.
Truthfully, Bebe had never fought a Body Sect expert before, but their reputation alone was intimidating.
If not for the fact that, years ago, the Body Sect had slaughtered seven hundred thousand year old soul beasts in the Star Dou Forest, enraging Di Tian and triggering the Beast Tide, Shrek Academy would never have had to make that pact with Di Tian.
Walking alongside Bebe were Wang Dong and Xiao Xiao, two of Tang Sect's core members and his most trusted companions. Since they also wanted to explore Mingdu, he had brought them along.
As the three exited Ming Yue Hotel, a group approached from the opposite direction.
Leading them was a stunningly beautiful young woman with pale skin. She walked briskly, seemingly in a hurry to return to the hotel.
It was Tang Ya.
Upon seeing Bebe, her brows furrowed slightly.
She had actually noticed Bebe before back when she was in Ming Yue Hotel's Physical Testing Room.
However, the Scorpion Tiger Douluo, who was responsible for protecting her at the time, had seen Cai Mei'er and Elder Xuan approaching Bebe's group at the testing room entrance.
Not wanting a confrontation, Scorpion Tiger Douluo had immediately taken Tang Ya away.
He then used his connections through Xu Tianran to arrange a separate time slot for her to submit her test results, ensuring they avoided any interaction with Shrek Academy.
After that, Scorpion Tiger Douluo had advised Tang Ya to compete while wearing a long black robe and a mask to conceal her identity.
His reasoning? To prevent Shrek Academy from targeting her as the Holy Spirit Church's Saintess.
However, the real reason was that he didn't want to fight Elder Xuan.
After all, he wasn't strong enough to win.
Even though Elder Xuan had since been captured, who knew if Shrek Academy had sent other powerful figures to Mingdu?
Avoiding conflict was the safest option.
Yet now, she had unexpectedly run into Bebe.
"Xiaoya?" Bebe stared at Tang Ya in shock.
Thank you for the support, friends. If you want to read more chapters in advance, go to my Patreon.
Read 30 Chapters In Advance: patreon.com/Albino1