"I personally represent the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School to sincerely invite you to join us. As long as you are willing to join my Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School, everything is negotiable."
After receiving the other party's nod of approval, Ning Zihu stated the purpose of his long wait here.
When mentioning the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School, Ning Zihu's tone carried a faint sense of pride; it was the pride of being a member of the continent's top power, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School.
"To be honest, I have only just stepped onto the path of cultivation, and I don't know what my future will be like. Therefore, I am sorry, but I do not plan to join any power for the time being."
Yu Yan was willing to meet the representatives of the major powers staying in Balak City because they had waited here for a full two months. If he didn't meet them once, it would be unreasonable.
But this did not mean Yu Yan would accept their invitations and join them.
As he had said before, if he really wanted to join a major power, he would have made his choice back during his Spirit Awakening.
"That's normal. Yu Yan, your talent is extraordinary, and you indeed need to consider carefully before making a decision. I can understand that."
As a support-type Sect, although the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School felt pride in their hearts, their external attitude was relatively much gentler. Even if recruitment failed, goodwill remained; there was no need to sour the relationship.
Moreover, after recruiting a large number of civilian geniuses, they had accumulated quite a bit of experience.
Since the primary recruitment plan failed, Ning Zihu prepared to implement the plan to establish good relations.
"Thank you for your understanding. If there is nothing else, I still have things to..."
Yu Yan didn't finish his sentence, but his meaning was already very clear; the other party should be able to understand his intention to see the guest out.
"Little brother Yu Yan, since you are unwilling to join the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School, I won't force you, but please accept this VIP card."
As Ning Zihu spoke, he took out a shimmering gold card embossed with the insignia of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda and handed it to Yu Yan.
"Our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School Master Ning, Ning Fengzhi, very much wishes to make your acquaintance after hearing about your deeds. This is a gift he asked me to give you. With this card, you can enjoy a thirty percent discount when spending at the industries of our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School."
Ning Zihu's words were very polite and tactful; no one could find any fault or error in them.
If it were anyone else native to the Douluo Continent, hearing that the Sect Master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School—one of the Upper Three Sects—wanted to befriend and get to know them, they might have jumped for joy on the spot.
"I truly appreciate School Master Ning's kindness, but I cannot accept a reward for nothing. I really can't be thick-skinned enough to accept this gift."
The industries of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School spanned across the Heaven Dou and Star Luo Empires. The temptation of a thirty percent discount with this card was a truly grand gift; Yu Yan was a bit afraid to accept it.
"This is a gift the Sect Master ordered to be given to you, without any conditions or strings attached. Use it if you want, or just leave it there if you don't. Little brother Yu Yan, just think of it as helping me out so my task doesn't fail, otherwise I'll be scolded by the Sect Master when I return."
Ning Zihu did not give Yu Yan a chance to refuse. He quickly stuffed the golden VIP card into Yu Yan's hand and stepped back to create some distance.
"This is really..."
Looking at the golden VIP card in his hand, Yu Yan was momentarily dazed. He inexplicably thought of the scenes during the New Year when his grandmother, who didn't earn money easily, would insist on giving him a red envelope and force it into his arms despite his refusal.
"Little brother Yu Yan, do not decline. You aren't the only one with this VIP card, so feel free to use it. The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School will absolutely never use this to make you do anything."
"I still have matters to attend to. Little brother Yu Yan, we shall meet again if fate allows."
Before Yu Yan could finish speaking, Ning Zihu explained once more, and without giving Yu Yan a chance to refuse, he used his spirit power to quickly leave the area.
Watching Ning Zihu vanish from his sight in the blink of an eye, and then looking at the golden VIP card in his hand, Yu Yan sighed softly.
Sometimes, things that are free, require no compensation, and have no conditions attached are actually the most expensive.
Stowing the golden VIP card away, Yu Yan made up his mind that unless it was absolutely necessary, he would never use this golden VIP card from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School.
Of course, if a time truly came when it had to be used, Yu Yan would certainly not be a pedantic or stubborn person.
Under normal circumstances, Yu Yan's moral standards were quite high.
Under abnormal circumstances, Yu Yan's moral standards could also be very flexible.
But in specific circumstances, Yu Yan could also stand firm on his inner morality and not yield a single step... After seeing off Ning Zihu of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School, the next to arrive was an envoy sent by the Crown Prince of the Heaven Dou Empire, Xue Qinghe (Qian Renxue).
In the same room where he had met Ning Zihu, Yu Yan met the envoy representing Xue Qinghe. The man exuded a feminine aura and did not look like a normal man.
"You are Yu Yan?"
As soon as the man's shrill voice spoke, combined with his status, Yu Yan concluded that this person was likely a eunuch.
Yu Yan, who had never seen a eunuch before, sized him up for a few moments before nodding to indicate that he was indeed Yu Yan.
"His Royal Highness the Crown Prince has heard of your deeds and has developed a strong interest in your situation of having two Spirit Abilities with one ring. His Royal Highness said that as long as you are willing to join, he will arrange a suitable teacher for you, provide the resources needed for your cultivation, and once you have succeeded in your cultivation, he can even confer upon you the title of Viscount."
Without any preamble, the envoy sent by Xue Qinghe faithfully conveyed the message Xue Qinghe wanted to express.
Ning Zihu had recruited Yu Yan for the sake of the Sect and himself, so he would test Yu Yan's attitude to increase the chances of success.
This envoy came to recruit Yu Yan because of the Crown Prince's orders; he personally had no thoughts on whether Yu Yan would agree or not.
Faced with the recruitment, Yu Yan repeated the explanation he gave to Ning Zihu, stating clearly that he had no intention of joining any power for the time being.
After a couple of rounds of back-and-forth with Xue Qinghe's envoy, the envoy, knowing the outcome, spoke a few more words to Yu Yan before getting up and leaving.
'Tsk tsk tsk, directly promising a 7,000-year right arm Spirit Bone, Qian Renxue is really willing to invest heavily.'
Among the conditions given by Xue Qinghe's envoy, in addition to the noble title, there was also the promise of a 7,000-year right arm Spirit Bone.
In this era of Douluo I where Spirit Bones were scarce, a 7,000-year Spirit Bone could make countless people willing to become Xue Qinghe's most loyal subordinates... Following the envoy of Crown Prince Xue Qinghe, the one who appeared before Yu Yan was the Deacon of the Balak City Main Spirit Hall.
Accompanying the Deacon was the guide who had awakened Yu Yan's Spirit, Gong Fenghua, whom he hadn't seen in a long time.
The intent behind bringing Gong Fenghua was obvious: to draw closer to Yu Yan and pave the way for the subsequent recruitment plan.
When Gong Fenghua saw Yu Yan and confirmed that the Yu Yan they were here to recruit was indeed the same Yu Yan whose Spirit he had awakened, he spoke with a look of pleasant surprise:
"Yu Yan, it really is you. I didn't expect your Mutated Spirit, the Ice and Fire Twin Fish, to be so powerful."