Ning Jingchen's mouth twitched slightly.
They were both businessmen, and he immediately understood Jing Hongchen's meaning.
In short—
"You'll need to pay more."
With Jing Hongchen's status in the Sun Moon Empire, accepting two students from the Douluo nations was not difficult at all.
His current attitude clearly meant he wanted to take advantage of the opportunity to profit.
However, Ning Jingchen wasn't particularly angry.
In business, free things are often the most expensive.
If Jing Hongchen was willing to name a price, it meant the deal was still open for negotiation.
For people in the business world, profit was everything. As long as sufficient benefits were offered, there was no need to worry about their children being mistreated in the academy.
Ning Jingchen spoke in a steady voice.
"Hall Master, you must know the situation of my sect."
"Our core members are support-type soul masters with very limited self-defense capabilities. Because of that, we've always had to rely on combat-type soul masters."
"Recently, after internal discussion, our sect has decided to change our development strategy."
"We want to strengthen the self-protection ability of our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Tower soul masters."
Jing Hongchen raised an eyebrow.
"You mean…?"
"We want to equip every core member of our sect with a Level 5 soul tool set, delivered over five years."
As he spoke, Ning Jingchen took out a document he had prepared in advance and handed it over.
Jing Hongchen accepted the paper and narrowed his eyes as he scanned it.
A pleased smile slowly spread across his face.
"Five hundred sets of equipment like this?" he said.
"That's quite a sum, Sect Master Ning."
According to Jing Hongchen's estimate, a single Level 5 soul tool set had a market value of about 200,000 gold soul coins.
Five hundred sets meant a total value of one hundred million gold soul coins.
That amount alone was enough to purchase a legendary 100,000-year soul bone.
Of course, from Jing Hongchen's perspective, this was also an extremely attractive deal.
Although Mingde Hall's wealth could hardly be measured purely in gold soul coins anymore, a transaction worth one hundred million was still exceptionally rare.
Moreover, the soul tool market was notorious for its high profit margins.
Even after subtracting material costs, Mingde Hall could easily earn nearly eighty million gold soul coins from the deal.
Ning Jingchen calmly asked:
"It's indeed not a small sum."
"But doesn't that just prove our determination to transform our sect?"
Jing Hongchen laughed.
"Haha, you're right. I underestimated you."
He stood up with a broad smile.
"Don't worry. Leave the enrollment to me."
"I'll make sure the two children are admitted."
"Jiayi, arrange dormitories for the two children first."
"As for Sect Master Ning—let's have a private conversation."
"Yes."
Lin Jiayi nodded respectfully and prepared to escort Bai Chen and Ning Tian out.
At that moment, Ning Jingchen suddenly stopped him and whispered a few instructions.
Lin Jiayi paused, surprised.
He glanced at the two children with a slightly amused expression, then nodded.
After watching the children leave with Lin Jiayi, Ning Jingchen turned back toward Jing Hongchen.
"Hall Master Hongchen," he asked calmly,
"What exactly did you want to discuss with me?"
Jing Hongchen smiled warmly, his tone meaningful.
"Of course…"
"The future transformation of your sect."
Ning Jingchen silently took a seat across the desk.
The two of them talked for an entire afternoon.
By the time Ning Jingchen left, the sky outside had already turned the color of the evening sunset.
Lin Jiayi returned once during their conversation, but Jing Hongchen sent him away, claiming he was discussing important matters.
When Lin Jiayi finally re-entered the office later, he asked curiously:
"Hall Master, what did you two talk about for so long?"
"Quite a lot."
Jing Hongchen replied cheerfully.
"The future of soul masters and soul engineers, the advantages of soul tools, and the future path of their sect."
Lin Jiayi hesitated.
"Did you invite them to come develop in the Sun Moon Empire?"
"Yes."
Jing Hongchen admitted it readily.
He scratched his head and sighed.
"Unfortunately, he didn't give me a definite answer."
"He said he'd wait to see the children's results after five years."
Lin Jiayi frowned slightly.
"It sounds like he's not planning to join us."
"At least not for now," Jing Hongchen replied calmly.
"But there's no need to rush."
"There are still five years."
"If we can bring the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect into our camp, our empire's strength will increase even further."
"And even if we fail, a deal worth one hundred million gold soul coins is still extremely profitable."
Lin Jiayi cautiously asked:
"Then… should we make things difficult for the two children?"
Jing Hongchen burst out laughing.
"No need."
"As long as we don't teach them our core technologies, it doesn't matter if they learn some basics."
"The technological gap between the Sun Moon Empire and the Douluo nations isn't something two children can close."
Jing Hongchen never considered Bai Chen or Ning Tian to be significant threats.
The technological gap between the Sun Moon Empire and the three Douluo nations spanned over a thousand years.
Even if the three nations worked together, they could never catch up easily.
In the original story, the only reason the Douluo nations eventually narrowed the gap was because Huo Yuhao copied countless Mingde Hall blueprints.
Almost every soul tool he saw was secretly duplicated and brought back to Shrek Academy.
Combined with the extraordinary genius of Huo Yuhao and Xuan Ziwen, they were barely able to close some of the gap.
Even then, by the end of that era, the Douluo nations still lagged far behind the Sun Moon Empire.
According to Jing Hongchen's intelligence, war would begin within thirty years.
And what could thirty years accomplish?
Even the most talented soul master would probably only reach the level of Title Douluo in that time.
One Title Douluo alone could hardly change the outcome of a continental war.
Rather than sabotaging Bai Chen and Ning Tian, Jing Hongchen believed it was better to treat them well.
If they left with a good impression, perhaps the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect might eventually lean toward the Sun Moon Empire.
After all—
A true businessman knew that small costs could bring enormous returns.
Unfortunately for Jing Hongchen…
He had no idea what kind of monster he had just welcomed into his territory.
There was a phrase:
"Letting a wolf into the house."
And Bai Chen—
The wolf he had just invited in—
Was undoubtedly a wolf king.