"The level of her talent and strength already meets the admission standards for advanced students at the academy. However, it still depends on her own willingness. The academy operates on a full-time teaching schedule, and no long leave is allowed during the semester for family visits," Ning Tianchen explained.
Advanced students were akin to graduate students in his previous life.
Though this term didn't exist on the Douluo Continent, it was Ning Tianchen who proposed adding it.
Separating advanced students from regular ones would simplify the academy's management and resource allocation.
After all, new students couldn't compare with those who had been studying at the academy for several years.
In the past, failing to distinguish between these groups had led to significant waste of teaching resources.
Hong Xinyue quickly agreed, "I'm willing! Can I really study at the Seven Treasures Academy?"
Ning Tianchen nodded affirmatively.
She continued, "Are there many geniuses at your Seven Treasures Academy? What if I fall behind in cultivation? Does the academy conduct evaluations every semester?"
Ning Tianchen patiently answered her questions and finally added, "The academy also offers scholarships every semester. As long as you keep improving, not only can you cover your tuition, but even your food and living expenses can be earned back. By the end of the semester, you might even take some money home."
Hong Xinyue immediately became interested.
Observing keenly, Hong Kui chuckled, "Such an innovative approach—no wonder the Seven Treasures Academy has such strength."
Imagine this: talented students from poor families, motivated by the scholarship system, would naturally work harder in their cultivation.
With scholarships, they wouldn't need to take part-time jobs to support themselves, completely avoiding the issue of civilian soul masters having too little time to cultivate.
…
The Hong family was determined to ally with the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect, and Hong Kui was even willing to sacrifice some family interests.
However, the Hong family's position was quite unique.
They dealt in the military horse trade, and by observing the number of horses delivered each month, one could deduce the affairs of the Star Luo military. Therefore, their dealings with the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect must remain completely confidential, especially from the upper echelons of the Star Luo Empire.
"The Hong family can abandon this business. Military orders may be stable, but our profit margins are extremely thin—we're barely scraping by."
Ning Tianchen shook his head, "Unless absolutely necessary, there's no need to sever ties. The profits from selling military horses belong to your family. Acting too abnormally might draw unwanted attention. Everything should continue as usual."
On the journey, both parties meticulously discussed numerous matters.
A month later, the carriage did not enter Tiandou City but instead headed directly to the headquarters of the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect.
After settling Hong Kui and his daughter in the reception room, Ning Tianchen immediately went to the main hall for discussions.
At that moment, Ke Jie was discussing the academic exchange conference with Ning Fengzhi in the hall.
Gu Rong remarked, "Old Ke, following your idea, this academic exchange conference could become a bottomless pit. The sect could invest two million gold spirit coins or even two hundred million—it's all possible. But shouldn't we have a detailed plan?"
Ke Jie looked helpless.
It wasn't that he didn't want to create a detailed plan; rather, there had never been a precedent for hosting an academic exchange conference, so he didn't know where to start.
An academic exchange conference would require inviting highly respected academic masters from across the continent. Their accommodations, meals, travel, and appearance fees all needed to be accounted for.
Of course, the academic exchange conference wasn't just a waste of money.
Under Ning Tianchen's influence, everyone in the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect understood that while a soul master's cultivation was hard power, culture was soft power. Hard power could only ensure the sect's safety but couldn't bring about other achievements.
Throughout the continent's tens of thousands of years of history, there had been no shortage of sects with immense martial strength. Yet, hadn't all of them eventually vanished into the annals of history?
Take, for example, the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Family.
Their entire sect revered martial strength and pursued militarism. And what was the result? In recent years, their sect faced a generational gap, and their governance was a mess.
"Initially hosting the academic exchange conference might burn through funds, but once we establish a reputation, countless scholars will surely flock to us. At that point, we'll be able to turn losses into profits," Ke Jie added.
Ning Fengzhi still couldn't make up his mind.
Over the years, almost all major initiatives undertaken by the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect had been proposed by Ning Tianchen.
And Ning Tianchen usually prepared detailed plans beforehand, including all potential expenses.
The previous inter-academy exchange tournament, though not proposed by Ning Tianchen, was already a mature event with a ready-made framework that could be implemented directly.
Ke Jie's inability to produce a detailed plan left Ning Fengzhi feeling uneasy.
The Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect had earned substantial profits in recent years, but investments had also been significant. To expand their commercial footprint, Ning Fengzhi had recently begun construction on seven Seven Treasures Commerce Halls in other cities.
The investment required for the academic exchange conference was considerable, and he wasn't particularly optimistic about it.
Just as he was hesitating, a disciple reported from outside the hall, "Master and the three elders, Young Master Ning Tianchen has returned."
"That brat, he's finally back!" Chen Xin, who had been dozing off, immediately perked up.
He stood up and walked to the entrance to greet him.
"Brother Ke, hold on a moment. Let me ask Tianchen's opinion first," Ning Fengzhi waved his hand.
Ke Jie returned to his seat.
Outside the hall, Ning Tianchen saw Chen Xin waiting for him as soon as he entered.
"Grandpa, aren't you being a bit too enthusiastic?"
Chen Xin retorted, "What's wrong with an old man checking on his grandson?"
"Eh~ You've improved so much in just two years—you're already a Soul Emperor!"
In the environment of the Slaughter City, the more people you killed, the more soul power you could plunder.
Otherwise, how could someone like Ning Tianchen fail to suppress his killing intent?
Originally, he hadn't planned to return to the sect.
His killing intent was difficult to control, and most inner disciples were auxiliary-type soul masters. If he accidentally injured someone, it would be troublesome.
However, after his killing intent was purified by the Asura God, and with the intention of recruiting the Hong family, he decided to return to the sect briefly.
Of course, the person he most wanted to see upon returning to the sect was Ning Rongrong.
Inside the hall, Ning Fengzhi and the others inquired about his experiences during his training journey.
…
Ning Rongrong had just finished handling her affairs and was about to rest when a disciple rushed in to report the situation.
Ning Rongrong was overjoyed and asked again, "Are you sure Brother Tianchen is back?"
The disciple replied, "Young Mistress, Young Master Tianchen even greeted me."
Without hesitation, Ning Rongrong immediately rushed to the main hall.
Inside the hall,
Upon learning the situation, Chen Xin exclaimed, "No wonder I sensed such a strong killing intent from you. But you, brat, dared to deceive me and sneak off to a place like Slaughter City!"
"If you hadn't made it out, the Seven Kill Sword lineage would have lost its inheritance."
Evidently, he was well aware of Slaughter City.
Ning Fengzhi chuckled, "Uncle Sword, Tianchen came out unscathed. There's a difference between a dangerous situation with a safe outcome and an actual disaster. We shouldn't blame Tianchen."
Gu Rong jealously remarked, "Old Sword, be content! If you want a qualitative leap in strength, how can you avoid danger? Ordinary people who enter a place like Slaughter City don't come back. The fact that Tianchen made it out proves his strength."
After exchanging a few barbs, Ning Fengzhi smoothly changed the topic, "By the way, Tianchen, Uncle Ke wants to host an academic exchange conference. Do you have any suggestions?"
Ning Tianchen thought for a moment.
In his previous life, academic exchange conferences were commonplace. But on the Douluo Continent, there had been no such precedent.
Though he supported Ke Jie's idea, actions couldn't be based solely on a whim.
After some thought, he said, "We need to identify influential figures in academia beforehand, preferably those with great reputations. First, set a tentative date, communicate with them, and then consider the details of the academic exchange conference."
Hosting an exchange conference could be done anytime, but the key was having someone to anchor the event.
Though Ke Jie's reputation in academia was prominent, as a member of the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect, having only him present might lead outsiders to think they were merely self-promoting.
Ke Jie nodded, "I've contacted a few old friends, and they're all available. The only issue is how we'll pay their appearance fees. If we offer too little, it might seem like we lack sincerity. If we offer too much, they'll think we're easy targets."
Ning Tianchen couldn't help but chuckle.
Chen Xin sighed, "Brat, if you have any clever ideas, just spit them out. There are no outsiders here!"
Ning Tianchen smiled, "Dean Ke, as a leading figure in academia, why do you want to host an academic exchange conference?"
Ke Jie shared his original intention, "Relying solely on one person's knowledge is always limited, and correspondence is often inconvenient. So I thought, why not bring everyone together to discuss academics collectively? Additionally, through the conference, we can discover a new generation of scholars interested in theoretical research."
Ning Tianchen countered, "If you have this idea, don't other leading figures in academia share the same sentiment?"
"My suggestion is simple. Suppose Wang Er and Zhang San both want to meet each other. When you invite Wang Er, tell him that Zhang San has confirmed attendance, and vice versa."
"Do people deeply involved in academic research lack money? We're simply providing a platform for exchange. At most, we'll cover their meals and lodging, but they can cover their own travel expenses."
Ning Fengzhi and the others exchanged glances.
Though Ning Tianchen's proposal was somewhat shameless, it indeed solved the problem.
Some leading figures in academic research locked themselves in their rooms day and night for their studies. With such a platform, they could exchange experiences with each other. Such a beneficial opportunity would leave them with no reason to refuse.
The key lay in Ning Tianchen's ability to paint a grand vision.
Even Ning Fengzhi had to admit that this was indeed a good method.
"In this way, the sect only needs to cover the venue costs and some incidental expenses. At most, we'll spend a bit on publicity. The total cost won't exceed three million gold spirit coins."
Such a small expense could bring great prestige to the sect—Ning Fengzhi had no reason not to invest.
"Uncle Ke, discuss the details with Tianchen later and quickly draft the conference charter."
Ke Jie accepted the order.
As they spoke, Ning Rongrong rushed into the hall.
"Brother Tianchen!"
She excitedly threw herself into Ning Tianchen's arms.
Ning Tianchen was equally delighted.
He had planned to find Ning Rongrong later after handling his affairs, but she had come to him instead.
"Rongrong, you've grown taller over these two years and become even more mature," Ning Tianchen gently stroked her hair.
Ning Fengzhi and the others chuckled and turned away, not wanting to disturb the two.
After a moment of tenderness, Ning Rongrong bombarded Ning Tianchen with questions.
Then, straightening her chest proudly, she declared, "Tianchen Brother, have you been cultivating diligently? Rongrong is now at Level 54, the same soul power level as when you left."
For an auxiliary-type soul master to increase seven levels in just two years was unprecedented.
Ning Tianchen replied warmly, "Rongrong is very impressive."
"Alright, Rongrong, I still have official matters to discuss with Uncle Ning. Let's talk later?"
Hearing this, Ning Rongrong stepped aside and stopped interrupting.
After a pause, Ning Tianchen explained his idea of recruiting the Hong family.
"We've just established a branch in the Star Luo Empire. If we secretly infiltrate their market through agents behind the scenes, it might backfire on us," Gu Rong expressed doubt about the proposal.
Dai Weisi had shown goodwill toward the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect. They only needed to wait for the right opportunity to directly enter the Star Luo Empire's market—why take unnecessary risks?
Not only him, but everyone present was skeptical of the proposal.
Ning Tianchen immediately explained the benefits of the plan and the theory of not putting all eggs in one basket.
Ning Rongrong, being relatively more aggressive, agreed with his idea.
However, the more conservative Ning Fengzhi and others remained unconvinced.
"The Hong family has business acumen. Why not let them join the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect and hold important positions in the Seven Treasures Chamber of Commerce?" Ning Fengzhi proposed a compromise.
He trusted Ning Tianchen's judgment of people.
Ning Tianchen shook his head.
Recruiting the Hong family wasn't about commerce—it was about using them to infer the status of the Star Luo Empire's military based on the number of warhorses they supplied.
This was part of long-term planning, though it would take time to bear fruit.
Ning Fengzhi furrowed his brows, his expression displeased. "Tianchen, the Hong family's position is too sensitive. Any contact with them might provoke dissatisfaction from Dai Weisi, affecting our cooperation with him."
Dai Weisi was a staunch supporter of the Star Luo imperial family—he wouldn't allow potential threats within. The Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect's cooperation with him would only yield minor benefits.
The simplest example was the Hao Tian Sect.
In the past, they supported the Star Luo imperial family, but their base was located in the Tiandou Empire. The fundamental reason was that their development within the Star Luo Empire was restricted by the imperial family.
If the Star Luo Empire could be wary of such a protector sect, how much more so the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect, which only had a verbal agreement with Dai Weisi and hadn't signed any formal contracts.
Ning Tianchen didn't voice these thoughts.
He could see that befriending Dai Weisi was part of Ning Fengzhi's future development strategy.
After a long silence, he said, "How about this: we use subcontracting to avoid direct contact with the Hong family. Correspondingly, the benefits we provide to the Hong family can also be delivered through intermediaries."
"By the way, Patriarch Hong Kui is willing to send his eldest daughter, Hong Xinyue, to study at the Seven Treasures Academy. Publicly, we'll claim ignorance of her identity, but privately, she'll act as a liaison between our two families."
This approach was acceptable.
The Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect's ability to thrive on the continent was due in part to its mastery of subtle tactics.
Earlier, Ning Tianchen had helped Ke Jie refine the details of the academic exchange conference. Now, he added, "Master, since Hong Xinyue will be at the Seven Treasures Academy, I can maintain contact with her anytime. Everyone in the academy is one of ours—it's impossible for secrets to leak."
"With Hong Xinyue acting as the intermediary, even if outsiders investigate, they'll only assume it's something the Hong family is secretly doing—it won't implicate us."
Ning Fengzhi's expression softened slightly, and he nodded. "Let's proceed with this for now. Tianchen, call Patriarch Hong here later—I'll discuss the specifics with him personally."
Ning Tianchen bowed respectfully.
Next, Ning Fengzhi presented several internal sect issues to test Ning Tianchen and Ning Rongrong's abilities in handling internal affairs.
…
It wasn't until the afternoon that the two left the main hall.
Ning Rongrong asked curiously, "Tianchen Brother, why would you want to do such a thing? Father is upset because your premise assumes the sect might face unforeseen dangers."
"With Grandpa Sword, Grandpa Bone, and Dean Ke around, how could anything happen to the sect? Next time, don't make Father angry like this."
Ning Tianchen didn't rush to explain but gently touched her forehead. "Rongrong, seeing this far shows that you've done well in your studies recently."
Ning Rongrong smiled sweetly. "Of course, who do you think I am?"
Ning Tianchen sighed and explained, "You can't put all your eggs in one basket. The sect's current system is like a fortress, but in the history of wars on this continent, has there ever been an impregnable fortress?"
"So, I intend to emulate the roots of a tree."
Ning Rongrong analyzed, "Tree roots penetrate deep into the ground, and each root absorbs nutrients to nourish the tree. Tianchen Brother, are you suggesting that the sect should gather external forces, support their rise, and continuously reap benefits from them?"
"But this method is something only the royal family can do. If we attempt it, wouldn't it be considered treasonous?"
Ning Tianchen shrugged indifferently. "That's why I'm adjusting the approach, transforming them into upstream and downstream relationships. As the upstream supplier, we'll earn significant profits with minimal risk. Even if someone tries to cause trouble, this is an impeccable commercial relationship."
Ning Rongrong gradually understood his meaning.
They didn't dwell on the matter for long. After Ning Tianchen summoned the Hong father and daughter to the main hall, he shared the experiences of his journey with Ning Rongrong.
Ning Rongrong listened attentively. Finally, she smiled and said, "Since Tianchen Brother now has sufficient strength, shouldn't you take Rongrong along for your next training journey?"
Ning Tianchen began to consider this.
Two years ago, he hadn't taken Ning Rongrong with him when he went to the Slaughter City. Now, with his strength as a Soul Emperor, traveling across the continent posed little problem.
With Ning Rongrong's assistance, he could potentially unleash the combat power of a Soul Sage.
Thinking this, he agreed, "Sure. But you need to pack quickly—I won't stay at the sect for long."
Ning Rongrong sprang up and pulled Ning Tianchen to her room to help her pack.
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