In a VIP reception room at the Heavenly Dou Royal Academy, reserved for important meetings, the atmosphere was solemn yet elegant. Incense smoke curled upward while the aroma of tea filled the air. When Marco entered the room guided by academy staff, Ning Fengzhi, the leader of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School, Bone Douluo Gu Rong, and Ning Rongrong were already present. Clearly, this was a formally arranged bilateral meeting.
"Young friend Marco, please have a seat," Ning Fengzhi said with a gentle smile, rising to greet him with composed manners that fully displayed the dignity of a leader from one of the top three sects. Bone Douluo Gu Rong merely gave a slight nod, though a glint of sharpness flashed through his seemingly dull eyes the moment Marco entered. Ning Rongrong stood obediently beside her father, her lively eyes filled with curiosity and a trace of barely noticeable anticipation.
"Leader Ning, Senior Bone Douluo, Sister Rongrong," Marco calmly returned the greeting and took his seat with composure. He knew perfectly well that the core of this meeting must be the skull soul bone obtained from Shinian.
After attendants respectfully poured tea for everyone and quietly withdrew, gently closing the door behind them, only the four remained in the room, making the atmosphere instantly more formal.
Ning Fengzhi didn't engage in excessive pleasantries. After taking a sip of clear tea, he directly addressed the main topic, his tone peaceful yet carrying undeniable seriousness: "Young friend Marco, the reason for our abrupt invitation today is primarily to discuss the Ten Thousand Year Skull Soul Bone in your possession, the one obtained from Shinian."
Before he finished speaking, Ning Rongrong had already understood his meaning. She retrieved a foot-long jade box from her storage soul tool. The box, made of warm, smooth jade carved with exquisite cloud patterns, was clearly extraordinary. She carefully placed it on the sandalwood table at the center of the room and gently opened the lid.
Immediately, a vast and pure life energy spread through the air along with a faint exotic fragrance, refreshing everyone's spirits. Inside the jade box, lined with dark brocade, lay a bone. The entire bone appeared warm and milky white, shaped like a human leg bone but more slender and elegant. Its surface naturally bore pale pink, lifelike begonia flower patterns, with gentle yet powerful soul power fluctuations undulating like tides.
"This is the Seventy Thousand Year Begonia Flower Right Leg Bone," Ning Fengzhi's voice carried the gravity of introducing a treasure. "It comes from a Magnificent Begonia King with seventy thousand years of cultivation. The spirit ability it contains is likely a top-tier healing or enhancement skill, possibly even combining both effects. Most remarkably, its attributes are balanced and gentle, containing vast sea-like life energy, making its compatibility with the Nine Heart Begonia Spirit... practically perfect."
Almost simultaneously with Ning Fengzhi's explanation, Marco also willed it and retrieved the jade box containing the rainbow-colored skull soul bone, placing it on the table. When the lid opened, the egg-sized, iridescent soul bone emitting mesmerizing spiritual fluctuations was revealed. The two soul bones lay side by side—one magnificent and dreamlike, the other warm and substantial—their auras distinctly different yet both priceless beyond measure.
Gu Rong's hoarse voice chimed in at just the right moment, carrying a hint of scrutiny: "The Seven-Colored Phantom Lizard head Soul Bone appears to be around eighteen thousand years in quality. The mental illusion-type skill it carries is indeed rare, highly useful for mental, control, and even support-type Soul Masters. But..." He shifted his tone, his gaze sweeping over the begonia flower Soul Bone, "When compared to this seventy-thousand-year begonia flower Soul Bone, the gap in terms of age, contained energy, and its strategic value for specific Martial Souls... is self-evident."
Ning Fengzhi took over, looking at Marco with sincere expression: "Young friend Marco, to be frank, the mental protection and illusion abilities attached to this head Soul Bone in your possession are crucial for the cultivation of our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School's core disciples. To demonstrate our sincerity, our sect is willing to exchange it for this treasured begonia flower Soul Bone."
Marco's gaze lingered on the begonia flower Soul Bone for a long time, his mind truly stirred. He understood better than anyone the significance of this Soul Bone for Ye Lingling, and even for the entire Nine Heart Begonia Ye Family. Not only could it greatly enhance Ye Lingling's strength, but it might also provide substantial benefits for Mother Ye's physical ailments caused by her Martial Soul defect. Ning Fengzhi's move struck right at the heart of the matter, demonstrating immense "sincerity."
However, Marco's mind was exceptionally sharp. He slowly raised his head, looking calmly at Ning Fengzhi as he spoke bluntly: "Sect Leader Ning, the value of this begonia flower Soul Bone far exceeds that of the head Soul Bone in my possession. Such an extravagant gift surely isn't just for this ten-thousand-year head bone, is it? The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School is the wealthiest under heaven, and likely doesn't lack one or two Soul Bones."
Ning Fengzhi and Gu Rong exchanged glances, both showing a "just as expected" expression in their eyes. He sighed softly, his smile carrying a touch of complexity and solemnity: "Young friend speaks frankly and perceives with great insight. Since that's the case, I might as well be direct."
He leaned forward slightly, his tone becoming extremely serious: "The current situation in the world, as you must have observed. The Spirit Hall's influence is vast, its ambitions clear for all to see. The future of the continent may not remain peaceful. Although our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School is the wealthiest under heaven, we are ultimately an auxiliary-type sect that must rely on strong allies. Your father, the newly titled Godly Spear Douluo, possesses unfathomable strength; you yourself are a prodigious talent with limitless future potential; the Ye Family maintains close relations with the Li Family, and the Nine Heart Begonia Spirit is also a strategic treasure."
Ning Fengzhi looked intently at Marco: "My purpose in coming today, beyond the Soul Bone transaction, is even more to hope for an alliance between our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School and the Li and Ye Families, to watch each other's backs and jointly withstand the storms of the future. This begonia flower Soul Bone serves both as an item of exchange and as our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School's sincerity in forming this alliance! What are your thoughts, young friend?"
These words constituted a blatant attempt at recruitment and an alliance invitation! Gu Rong's aura also subtly intensified as he awaited Marco's response. Ning Rongrong watched Marco nervously, her small hands unconsciously clenching.
The room fell into sudden silence, the air seeming to solidify. What Ning Fengzhi had put forward was not merely a Soul Bone, but a crucial decision concerning future faction alignment.
Marco remained silent, his fingers lightly tapping the armrest of his chair, his eyes profound and unreadable. He naturally understood Ning Fengzhi's implication. Accepting this Soul Bone would mean, to some extent, accepting the olive branch extended by the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School. In the future, he would inevitably be bound to the Upper Three Sects and face the pressure from the Spirit Hall together. This contradicted his original intention of pursuing detachment and avoiding early entanglement in factional disputes.
But... this Begonia Soul Bone was far too important for Ye Lingling and her daughter. A direct refusal might not only mean missing out on the Soul Bone but also needlessly offending the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School.
Time passed bit by bit. Ning Fengzhi's smile remained gentle, yet a trace of barely perceptible tension flickered deep in his eyes. Gu Rong, the Bone Douluo, slightly furrowed his brow.