Time passed silently in research, and in a blink of an eye, more than two years had gone by.
Shrek City, top floor of the Mingmeng Chamber of Commerce headquarters.
This was an extremely spacious office, simply furnished yet not monotonous. The air was filled with a faint, calming sandalwood scent, making one feel comfortable at first impression.
"Ms. Ning, this is the Mingmeng Chamber of Commerce's utmost sincerity to the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile School. What do you think?"
A calm voice slowly broke the slightly tranquil atmosphere.
The woman speaking sat in the main seat. She had long chestnut hair, and delicate half-rimmed glasses rested on her nose. Her eyes behind the lenses were calm and steady.
She wore a well-tailored dark professional suit, exuding an intellectual and gentle aura, yet her words were unyielding. Her gaze, slightly assertive, fixed on the elegant and still charming woman sitting opposite her.
The current Sect Master of the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile School, Ning Fengya.
"President Ju Zi offers such generous compensation, I can find no reason to refuse," Ning Fengya said with a light laugh, then her tone became slightly serious: "I, Ning Fengya, current Sect Master of the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile School, hereby represent the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile School and agree to this business deal."
Ju Zi's lips curved into a slight smile. "Happy cooperation, School Master Ning."
Saying that, Ju Zi raised her hand and gently waved it over the table in front of her. Immediately, more than a dozen jade boxes appeared on the table.
Ning Fengya's gaze instinctively fell upon these jade boxes. At this moment, even though she had long navigated the business world and weathered many storms, her eyes couldn't help but show a slight change.
"This is…" Ning Fengya asked knowingly, but more so, she was trying to confirm her guess through Ju Zi.
"Blue Silver · Immortal Herb series, number 06, Blue Silver · Qiluo Tulip."
Ju Zi calmly reported the contents of the jade boxes, confirming Ning Fengya's guess.
Ning Fengya paused slightly, her thoughts churning.
The Qiluo Tulip was the powerful Immortal Herb that, ten thousand years ago, allowed her ancestor Ning Rongrong's Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda to evolve into the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda. It was also the source of their Nine Treasure Glazed Tile School's obsession, sought for ten thousand years without success.
Although Ju Zi in front of her had clearly informed her that this was not the original, but a subspecies of Qiluo Tulip cultivated through special techniques, named "Blue Silver · Qiluo Tulip," with only one-tenth to one-fifth of the original's effect,
However, it still held the possibility of breaking the shackles of their Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Spirit!
The Nine Treasure Glazed Tile School's obsession, passed down through generations, might be broken in her hands!
Ning Fengya had many thoughts in her heart, but her expression remained largely unchanged.
Raising her hand, she collected all the jade boxes, then calmly said:
"If this item truly proves effective, the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile School will not break its promise."
"School Master Ning, you speak too seriously. As long as School Master Ning keeps her word, that will suffice," Ju Zi said with a smile.
Ning Fengya nodded slightly, but held no contempt in her heart.
Over the past two years, the development of the Mingmeng Chamber of Commerce had been nothing short of a miracle.
Since forming a tripartite Alliance with the Body Sect and the Heaven Soul Empire's imperial family, especially after the Body Sect's forceful entry into Shrek City, with Shrek Academy turning a blind eye and offering no interference, the Mingmeng Chamber of Commerce had risen with an unstoppable momentum.
With the tacit approval, and even support, of the Tianhun imperial family, the Chamber of Commerce used swift and decisive methods to integrate key industries throughout the Heaven Soul Empire. Coupled with the Body Sect's iron-fisted approach to clear internal corruption, they implemented a series of dazzling reforms that greatly enhanced the Heaven Soul Empire's national strength.
Subsequently, after stabilizing its base in the Heaven Soul Empire, the Mingmeng Chamber of Commerce began to expand outwards.
Its main businesses, spirit tools and pharmaceuticals, quickly formed a monopoly due to their impossibly low prices, durability, and various types of exceptionally effective "artificially cultivated Heaven And Earth Treasure," forcing back many commercial giants, including their Nine Treasure Glazed Tile School, and almost completely monopolizing the industry.
Originally, there were many murmurs of discontent within the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile School regarding the Mingmeng Chamber of Commerce. Some of the more extreme members had already regarded the Mingmeng Chamber of Commerce as their number one enemy, but due to the Body Sect, they could only endure.
However, what Ning Fengya hadn't expected was that, earlier than the anticipated commercial war, came the Mingmeng Chamber of Commerce's invitation for cooperation, along with information about Immortal Herbs.
Regarding Immortal Herbs, she naturally couldn't sit still and proactively came to discuss. Yet, as they chatted, they began to discuss cooperation.
Truly, circumstances are unpredictable.
A premonition arose in her heart: compared to opposing the Mingmeng Chamber of Commerce and becoming competitors, deep cooperation with the Mingmeng Chamber of Commerce was the right path.
Even further, having the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile School join the Mingmeng Chamber of Commerce might allow the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile School to truly rise!
Of course, the latter was of great importance and could not be decided by her alone. It would require taking the Immortal Herb back, verifying its effects, and then discussing it with the various Elders within the School.
With the most important matter settled, Ning Fengya and Ju Zi both relaxed slightly, beginning their final casual chat and confirmation of cooperation details.
Meanwhile, Ning Tian, who had come with his mother to gain experience, sat obediently, but was diligently listening to their conversation.
As the next successor of the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile School, listening, observing, and learning were fundamental qualities.
As he listened, information about the Mingmeng Chamber of Commerce constantly flashed through his mind.
The overt affairs of the Mingmeng Chamber of Commerce were all handled by the Vice President Ju Zi, who was in front of him. She almost completely managed all commercial operations of the Chamber of Commerce, holding immense power.
However, besides this overt Vice President, the only other publicly known figure was Poison Undying, the super strong Titled Douluo from the Body Sect who had repeatedly attacked Shrek's Taotie Douluo Xuan Zi in the streets. He was the chief enforcer of the Mingmeng Chamber of Commerce, responsible for internal violations and external threats.
Yet, there was no information whatsoever about the President, leading to much speculation.
He truly wondered what kind of existence the President of the Mingmeng Chamber of Commerce, who had developed the Chamber of Commerce to its current level in just a few years, could be.
Ning Tian thought with a mix of curiosity and reverence, as the conversation beside him neared its end.
Ju Zi stood up, a formal smile on her face: "School Master Ning, I'll see you out."
Ning Fengya also smiled in response: "President Ju Zi is busy with many affairs, please don't bother."
Just as the two were exchanging customary pleasantries, ripples, like water waves, appeared without warning in the air in the center of the office.
The next moment, a figure quietly emerged, its face covered by a simple pure white mask, obscuring its features. Only a pair of black eyes beneath the mask looked over with a hint of surprise.
"?!"
From Ning Fengya's shadow, a dark figure instantly emerged, directly shielding Ning Fengya and Ning Tian behind him. The aura of a Titled Douluo flashed, in a defensive posture.
"It seems I've interrupted you," a clear and calm young voice came from beneath the mask, with a hint of apology.
Ning Fengya paused slightly, instinctively pondering the youth's identity, but beside her, Ju Zi turned to look at her, then directly addressed her:
"School Master Ning, then I won't see you out."
Ning Fengya: "..."
If I remember correctly, weren't you just about to personally see me out?
(End of Chapter)
[Get +40 Extra Chapters on - P@tr3on "RinBlaze"]
[Every 15 Power Stones = 1 Bonus Chapter Drop]
[Thanks for Reading!]