"Tch, so what if you're 97th rank? Look at how smug you are." Bone Douluo curled his lips. "Didn't you see how Golden Crocodile got beaten like a dog?"
Sword Douluo: "..."
Are you saying that at 97th rank, I'm worse than a dog?
"Ahem..." Seeing the two elders at it again, Ning Fengzhi helplessly tried to mediate.
"Uncle Bone, Uncle Sword, why don't you settle your differences later? We still have quite a few matters to discuss here."
Sword Douluo and Bone Douluo exchanged disdainful glances before turning their heads away, adopting an "out of sight, out of mind" attitude.
After briefly calming the situation, Ning Fengzhi decisively changed the subject. "Rongrong, regarding the external spirit bone I remember you mentioned 'cleaning' it to avoid potential risks when we returned."
"What exactly did you have in mind?" The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan was a merchant clan, after all they always sought maximum profit with minimum risk.
"Cleaning" the external spirit bone would at least prevent future complications if Tang Hao's side ever discovered it.
While the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan wasn't afraid of such things, everyone knew that risks were best minimized whenever possible.
"Cleaning it? That's simple!" Ning Rongrong played with the bangs on her forehead, thinking for a moment before explaining.
"Have someone disguise their identity, take it to the auction house in the Heaven Dou Empire for a round, then buy it back. That way, even Tang Hao wouldn't be able to raise any objections."
After all, Mie Haotian was already dead.
Blown apart by Tang Hao's Spirit Ring Detonation, the durable external spirit bone was probably sent flying who-knows-where before being accidentally picked up by some low-level Soul Master.
Realizing such a treasure was beyond his means, that small-time Soul Master would rush to auction it off in Heaven Dou City.
Then, the fabulously wealthy Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan would coincidentally hear the news and purchase it at a high price thus "cleaning" it.
"I see... that's certainly one way to do it." Ning Fengzhi was somewhat surprised by Ning Rongrong's unconventional thinking.
"Couldn't something go wrong?" Sword Douluo voiced his concern.
While the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan was indeed wealthy, that was only on the surface. In terms of financial power, the Spirit Hall likely surpassed them.
"No need to worry. As long as we claim the seller urgently needs money and push for a quick transaction while keeping the spirit bone's information from spreading too widely it'll be fine."
"With insider knowledge, there's no way we wouldn't be able to buy it back."
"I see..."
Ning Fengzhi stroked his chin, considering Ning Rongrong's words.
Indeed, with preparation against an unprepared opponent...
The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan, fully mobilized, would secure the external spirit bone far quicker than the Spirit Hall's people.
Holding a rushed, low-profile auction also aligned with a small-time seller's desire to quickly offload a hot potato and avoid danger.
"However, we'll probably need to delay this for a while," Ning Fengzhi murmured to himself.
After all, the external spirit bone had just been acquired. Selling it off too quickly for "cleaning" might seem suspicious like protesting too much.
It would be more appropriate to wait until the current commotion died down before auctioning it.
Hmm... perhaps three months or half a year later.
"Dad, I'll leave the transaction details to you." As she spoke, Ning Rongrong stepped down from her seat and handed the Eight Spider Lances to Ning Fengzhi.
While she was clever in her own way, she paled in comparison to Ning Fengzhi a commercial titan who managed the entire Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan's operations.
He would handle this flawlessly, leaving no room for suspicion.
Returning to her seat, Ning Rongrong pondered for a moment before speaking. "Dad, Grandpa Bone, Grandpa Sword... do you have any thoughts about the new Blue Silver Emperor of the Blue Silver Forest?"
"Speaking of which, I do have some concerns," Sword Douluo said hesitantly.
"Rongrong, are you absolutely sure you can control that spirit beast?"
"My instincts tell me it's hiding something. I can't shake the feeling it might bite us when we least expect it."
There wasn't concrete evidence just his wariness toward the Blue Silver Emperor.
Sword Douluo had a vague premonition that keeping that creature might lead to heavy losses for the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan.
"But it honored its agreement and erased the imprint on Ah Yin's 100,000-year spirit bone, didn't it?" Ning Rongrong countered. "Besides, we're only helping it survive one tribulation lightning before evaluating its behavior."
"Grandpa Sword, you remember, don't you? I only mentioned my own soul power rank not yours."
"I'd like to see whether that Blue Silver Emperor is truly loyal to the previous Blue Silver Emperor, Ah Yin."
"If not, that's fine too. It could serve as a bridge for future communication between our clan and the Star Dou Great Forest. The Star Dou Great Forest places great importance on healing-type 100,000-year spirit beasts."
"That's why I want to subdue it." Ning Rongrong's tone then shifted. "And if the Blue Silver Emperor has any ulterior motives... well, that would just make it another treasure trove, wouldn't it?"
"Not only would we get a 100,000-year spirit ring, but also a brand-new 100,000-year spirit bone." Ning Rongrong's sweet, innocent voice delivered words that would make anyone sweat.
"Either way, we don't lose. Of course, if the Blue Silver Emperor fails its first tribulation lightning, then forget I said anything."
Surely a Blue Silver Emperor with such strong determination wouldn't just be all talk without even a sliver of chance to survive the tribulation, right?
If so, Ning Rongrong would just have to accept her bad luck, having wasted Ah Yin's 100,000-year spirit ring as nourishment.
Ahem " Ning Rongrong cleared her throat lightly and looked up at Ning Fengzhi, who was listening attentively.
"...Ah Yin's 100,000-year spirit bone is quite compatible with you, Dad. You should absorb it as soon as possible."
After absorbing Ah Yin's spirit bone, Ning Fengzhi would likely reach the 89th rank.
As for whether his martial soul could evolve into the Nine Treasure Glazed Pagoda... Ning Rongrong wasn't entirely confident.
But if one 100,000-year spirit bone wasn't enough, they could always add another! It all depended on whether that new Blue Silver Emperor behaved.
If it cooperated, then working together wouldn't be a problem the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan wasn't the type to burn bridges after crossing them. But if it planned to betray them... then there was no need to talk about morality.
The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan was a small business that operated with integrity but if the other side lacked integrity, then they'd just have to be even less principled.
"Grandpa Sword, Grandpa Bone... you two won't fight over this spirit bone and the potential next one, will you?" Ning Rongrong asked timidly.
Admittedly, she was being somewhat biased.
Reserving two 100,000-year spirit bones and one 100,000-year spirit ring for her father was a bit excessive.
Add the Evil Spirit Orca King's 100,000-year spirit bone to that...
Hisss
In the future, Ning Fengzhi might possess a terrifying total of three 100,000-year spirit bones.
His physique, his kidneys...
Ahem! Getting off track!
"Rongrong, what do you take me and that coward for?!" Bone Douluo shrugged nonchalantly. "If Fengzhi grows stronger, doesn't that mean we grow stronger too?"
"Besides, if his martial soul can evolve into the Nine Treasure Glazed Pagoda, it'll only benefit the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan."
"He's right. Though Bonehead often talks nonsense, I agree with him this time." Sword Douluo nodded thoughtfully.
"Rongrong, you're overthinking this. While 100,000-year spirit bones are precious, what matters most to us is strengthening our power and the clan."
"Thank you both so much, Grandpa Sword, Grandpa Bone."
Ning Rongrong stood up and bowed deeply to the two Title Douluo elders.
If ordinary spirit bones were priceless, then 100,000-year spirit bones were enough to stir bloody storms!
The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan was merely a support clan. Without these two elders, they wouldn't stand a chance against even a 10,000-year spirit beast let alone a 100,000-year one.
They certainly wouldn't be in a position to casually discuss 100,000-year spirit beasts like this.