To this little money-bags who opened with five hundred gold coins and came representing Exotic Beast Academy, Bai He was willing to show the greatest goodwill.
"Teacher Jiang, could you grant Clan Leader Bai He and me a moment in private?"
With only Clan Leader Bai He left in the Speed Clan hall, Yu Yan turned to Jiang Jing, hoping she would give the two of them some space.
"All right, I'll wait outside—just call if you need anything."
Realizing she should no longer be present, Jiang Jing rose, cupped her hands to Bai He, and took her leave.
Once Jiang Jing had gone, Bai He sized Yu Yan up and down, wondering what bargain the youngster wanted to strike.
"Clan Leader Bai He, I've heard your family possesses a crystal dragon blood ginseng; that is what I'm here for."
Ignoring Bai He's appraising gaze, Yu Yan thought briefly and chose to come straight to the point.
Bai He's originally mild expression turned grave the instant the words "crystal dragon blood ginseng" left Yu Yan's lips.
He had never imagined Yu Yan's purpose was the Speed Clan's most precious treasure.
The old fogeys of the Breaking Clan had approached him countless times and he hadn't handed the ginseng over; now a mere brat opened by demanding the clan's treasure—pure fantasy.
"Where did you learn this?"
Anger aside, Bai He was also curious how a child like Yu Yan had obtained the information.
"That's not important. I can pay in gold coins—name your price for the crystal dragon blood ginseng, or set any other condition, Senior Bai He. We can discuss it."
Yu Yan brushed off the interrogation and, still smiling, asked what Bai He required.
Using whale glue as the trade was his final trump card; no one reveals their ace on the first bid.
"Not for sale, not for sale. For Exotic Beast Academy's sake I won't make things hard for a child—but mention it again and don't blame me for turning hostile."
Bai He rejected the request outright; the crystal dragon blood ginseng had been won at great peril by a forebear of the Speed Clan, and he had never entertained selling it.
Besides, if it ever came to that, he would rather sell it to the old codgers of the Breaking Clan than to the boy in front of him.
"Senior Bai He, truly no room for discussion?"
Yu Yan looked at Bai He and asked once more.
"Say no more of it. For Exotic Beast Academy's Face I've let you off—that's the limit. Conduct yourself accordingly."
Bai He slammed a palm onto the table, leaving a clear handprint.
Were Vice Dean Jiang Jing of Exotic Beast Academy not waiting outside, and were the Speed Clan's fighting strength not so lacking, he would already have taught Yu Yan a lesson.
"Senior Bai He, don't be angry. Since ordinary terms don't interest you, how about something extraordinary?"
Just as Bai He, exasperated, was about to scare the boy off with a Spirit Douluo's spirit power pressure, he froze at the sight of the two spirit rings circling Yu Yan.
He rubbed his eyes in disbelief, staring at the twin halos, his gaze fixed on the purple one.
Every Spirit Master knew the second spirit ring was yellow; the recorded limit was 764 years.
Yet Yu Yan's second ring was purple.
It defied all precedent.
Bai He's expression was a kaleidoscope of shock that fascinated Yu Yan.
"Senior Bai He, I offer the method to absorb a thousand-year ring as one's second ring in exchange for the Speed Clan's crystal dragon blood ginseng."
After speaking, Yu Yan paused deliberately; seeing Bai He's breathing quicken, he continued, "What does Senior think?"
Silence fell as Bai He weighed the matter's pros and cons for the Speed Clan.
The ginseng had lain in the clan for ages; he knew its worth but not how to use it.
A method to secure a thousand-year second ring might be useless to the old-timers, but it would be priceless to the youngsters—every Spirit Master knew the benefits of higher-year rings.
"I…"
Words faltered; Bai He hesitated, calculating gains and losses.
The stakes were too high for rashness.
"Young friend Yu Yan, can you outline this thousand-year second-ring method? With only one ring as proof, I can't decide."
Bai He's caution stemmed from a crucial concern: the Speed Clan was poor; if the method required priceless materials, they could not afford it.
The shift in tone showed he was tempted—the method was simply too vital.
"The limit of an absorbable ring depends on Spirit quality, Physical Body strength, and mental force. My method directly boosts Physical Body strength; a Spirit Master whose body rivals a Spirit Elder can naturally take a thousand-year ring."
"Moreover, no one else has discovered this; the materials are cheap and easy to obtain."
Tailoring his answer to the clan's plight, Yu Yan stressed the low cost.
Different-year Whale Dragons carried different price tags; the Speed Clan could buy what they could afford and still profit.
"Truly?"
Bai He leapt up, eyes blazing, seeking confirmation.
"Were it false, how would a mere Spirit Grandmaster dare bargain with a Spirit Douluo like yourself?" Yu Yan gave the answer Bai He most wanted to hear.
"Good! Good! Good!"
After thrice exclaiming, Bai He apologized: "I was discourteous earlier; forgive me, young friend. I accept your terms; the crystal dragon blood ginseng is on me—I can hand it over now."
As Yu Yan expected, in this era no one could refuse a way to raise ring years.
A box of unusual material appeared from the jade storage spirit tool at Bai He's waist and was set on the table.
"Senior Bai He, wait—there are some additional conditions I must state."
Yu Yan did not take the box; the Whale Dragon method was too simple, and to prevent its premature spread certain provisos had to be agreed upon first.