"I know Brother Yu doesn't like beating around the bush, and since I am a businessman myself, let's be direct."
Ning Guan looked straight into Huo Yuhao's eyes and said calmly:
"Today, the entire direct lineage of my Ning family has arrived here. I wonder how much this level of sincerity is worth to Brother Yu?"
Huo Yuhao revealed a smile. "How does 'Vice Pagoda Master' sound?"
Ning Guan was slightly surprised and chuckled softly: "If I remember correctly, there is already one Vice Pagoda Master?"
"One Pagoda Master, two Vice Pagoda Masters, and four Spirit Transmission Envoys reporting directly to me. Beyond that, thirty-six Elder positions will be established in the future.
"Sister Lexuan will handle internal affairs. External business and diplomacy will be handed over to the other Vice Pagoda Master."
"One internal, one external?"
Ning Guan narrowed his eyes, seemingly weighing the pros and cons. After a moment, he spoke: "If the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect is integrated into the Spirit Transmission Pagoda system, what then?"
"Four Elder positions. However, whether they can hold onto those seats in the future is not something I will interfere with."
"Only four?" Ning Guan asked back, clearly feeling it was a bit low.
"Four is the limit; the other positions are already spoken for..." Huo Yuhao paused slightly. "The minimum requirement is to be a Titled Douluo."
Ning Guan's pupils shrank slightly. He sat up straighter, his expression instantly becoming serious. "Brother Yu, please don't joke."
Huo Yuhao shook his head: "At least half of the Elder positions will be filled within a year."
The extra positions he mentioned were partly reserved for certain Titled Douluos from Shrek after he eventually incorporates them.
Aside from that, they were reserved for the group of 100,000-year-old Soul Beasts in the Star Constellation Great Forest and a portion of the Class 9 Soul Tool Engineers from the Sun Moon Empire.
Elder Yi's research into the Humanoid Transformation secret technique was nearing completion; at that time, he would have the Soul Beasts gradually join his Spirit Transmission Pagoda.
As for the spots left for the Sun Moon Empire, those were intended as the Spirit Transmission Pagoda's "letter of allegiance" to the Empire after it eventually overthrows the three nations of the Douluo Continent.
Even though it would likely be Huo Yuhao himself leading the Sun Moon Empire to crush the three nations—making a move against the Spirit Transmission Pagoda like his left hand hitting his right—this was a necessary tactic for a smooth transition of power and to suppress the various sects and factions of the Douluo Continent.
Seeing that Huo Yuhao's expression didn't seem feigned, Ning Guan instinctively picked up his teacup and took a sip.
He suddenly felt he might have underestimated the Spirit Transmission Pagoda... filling half the seats within a year... wouldn't that mean double-digit numbers of Titled Douluos?
That number of Titled Douluos already exceeded his Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect!
"Ahem... that, well, I think four positions are actually quite a lot. Perfectly sufficient."
Ning Guan cleared his throat, immediately confirming his and the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's position.
It wasn't exactly "offering charcoal in a snowstorm" nor was it "adding flowers to a brocade"; it fell right in the middle—useful, but not essential.
"...So, Brother Yu, does that Vice Pagoda Master position from just now still stand?"
Not far behind him, Ning Tian buried her face in her hand, suddenly feeling her father was quite shameless.
"Of course it stands," Huo Yuhao said with a light laugh.
Whether it was the financial power of the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect or the management capabilities of its members, they were indeed of significant help to the current Spirit Transmission Pagoda.
Previously, the majority of the burden had fallen on Zhang Lexuan. Huo Yuhao had noticed this and was even considering whether to train a few management talents to help her.
But now, there was no need; the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect was right there, ready to be used.
With the official business finished, casual chat began.
The seriousness on Ning Guan faded, replaced by the warmth of a friend.
"I heard Brother Yu is not yet married?" Ning Guan suddenly asked.
"Father!" Behind him, Ning Tian uncharacteristically lost her composure.
"Indeed... however, I already have someone in my heart," Huo Yuhao said calmly.
"Then do you mind having one more?" Ning Guan's tone now sounded like a friendly jest; it wasn't annoying, but rather amusing.
"There is no need," Huo Yuhao replied with a smile. Ning Guan shook his head and said with regret: "My younger sister actually admires you quite a bit, Brother Yu. But since you refuse so firmly, I won't say more."
Ning Guan paused slightly, stood up, and said: "That being said, I suddenly want to tour the Spirit Transmission Pagoda. Would that be alright?"
"Vice Pagoda Master Ning, as you wish."
"Thank you, Pagoda Master."
Ning Guan bowed slightly. Huo Yuhao nodded and looked at Ning Tian: "Ning Tian, take your father for a walk around the Spirit Transmission Pagoda."
"Yes, Teacher."
Ning Tian nodded and led Ning Guan out of the reception room.
The two walked slowly through the Spirit Transmission Pagoda. Father and daughter were silent until suddenly, Ning Guan laughed softly:
"Tian, what were you so anxious about just now? Did you think I wanted to give you away?"
"Teacher is surrounded by many outstanding women. Bringing this up is guaranteed to end in rejection. I simply didn't want you to anger Teacher and affect the deal between the Spirit Transmission Pagoda and the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect."
Ning Tian spoke with logical justification.
"Tian, I've told you many times: when you lie, you must control your eyes. In front of someone who knows you well, the traces of your lying are far too obvious."
Ning Guan reached out and rubbed his daughter's head, saying warmly: "Do what you want to do. Your father is now a Vice Pagoda Master with real power in the Spirit Transmission Pagoda. What is there to fear?"
Ning Tian expressionlessly slapped her father's hand away and said calmly: "I will tell Aunt that you wanted to use her as a bargaining chip. Oh, and I'll tell Grandmother, too."
Having said that, Ning Tian turned and left, leaving a stiff-faced Ning Guan frozen on the spot.
...
As the Sect Master of the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, Ning Guan was indeed capable. In just three or four days, he and Zhang Lexuan had negotiated a brand-new management system.
At the same time, the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect stations across the Douluo Continent began to tilt their resources toward the Spirit Transmission Pagoda. Essentially, as long as a request was reasonable, the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect would provide it directly.
After all, the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect might lack other things, but they had plenty of money and resources.
Ning Guan began to act in his capacity as the Vice Pagoda Master of the Spirit Transmission Pagoda, taking over diplomatic matters from Huo Yuhao. Coincidentally, due to the "Shrek Self-Trial" event, Shrek City was currently a melting pot of various factions. People from all sorts of powers were visiting every day.
Ning Guan didn't mind at all, aggressively making his presence known and broadcasting the collusion... ahem, the powerful alliance between the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and the Spirit Transmission Pagoda to the whole world.
Normally, such an alliance would worry other factions because the Spirit Transmission Pagoda was backed by Shrek. An alliance between the two was equivalent to an alliance between Shrek and the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.
But now...
Shrek's strength had just been drastically reduced, and its future was uncertain. For the Spirit Transmission Pagoda to immediately hook up with the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and show such a thriving appearance—wasn't it obvious that the Spirit Transmission Pagoda had ideas of independence?
Didn't this prove that Shrek and the Spirit Transmission Pagoda were no longer of one mind?
Once this thought emerged, more people naturally began to harbor ulterior motives. And as more people harbored ulterior motives, Huo Yuhao gained more experimental materials.
Mm... what a bumper harvest!