"He starts by talking about strengthening support-type Spirit Masters, then suddenly turns around and invites me to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect...
"I see. He wants to bypass Spirit Hall and trade with me directly for spirit tools, strengthening the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's support-type Spirit Masters."
After thinking for only a moment, Wu Ling understood Alistair Jewel's meaning, and his previous behavior became clear as well.
Wu Ling did not speak after figuring it out. He waved over an attendant, placed his empty glass on the tray, picked up a fresh glass of wine, then turned back toward the night scenery and slowly sipped.
If this were an ordinary person, being left hanging like this by Wu Ling would have made them break out in cold sweat. But Alistair Jewel was still the master of a sect. He could treat Wu Ling as a peer because of Wu Ling's strength and potential, and he could lower his posture slightly for a transaction, but going any lower was impossible.
After all, those spirit tools were more useful than simple embellishment, but they were not life-saving charcoal in winter. Besides, if even the world's greatest support-type sect could not obtain them, then other sects would certainly obtain only a limited number. Confirming that information meant his attitude just now had not been wasted.
Seeing that Alistair Jewel was not anxious, Wu Ling gave up on keeping him suspended. Then he said, "Sect Master Jewel, you really did come to the right person for this matter. When it comes to spirit tools, I can take direct responsibility. But you also know that although I am the Pope's disciple and the current Holy Son, Spirit Hall is not a one-man hall. So if you want to purchase spirit tools, you will need to pay extra."
Alistair Jewel was stunned for a moment by Wu Ling's bluff, then laughed openly. When he heard the first half, he had thought there would be some special condition. In the end, it was only more money. That was easy. The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect had the largest chamber of commerce on the continent. Money was the one thing they did not lack.
"Good, good, good. Price is not a problem. This is not a suitable place for detailed discussion, and the hour is late. Whenever Your Highness comes to my sect, please inform me in advance. I will prepare to welcome you with the highest courtesy."
After speaking, Alistair Jewel raised his glass toward Wu Ling. Then he tilted his head back, drank the small mouthful of red wine in one gulp, and left.
And Alistair Jewel was indeed right. The banquet had reached the time when it should end.
Wu Ling returned to the center of the banquet. After the old-fashioned thanks and speech, the banquet with Wu Ling as its protagonist came to a close.
Everyone rode their carriages back toward their inns. Looking at the street lamps standing one after another along the road, a feeling difficult to describe appeared in their hearts.
Tomorrow, they would each return home. But after seeing so many advanced things in Spirit City, its convenient way of life even gave them the thought that living here might not be bad after all.
On Wu Ling's side, he also mentioned the matter of trading with the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect to Bibi Dong. This was not because Wu Ling could not decide it himself. It was the most basic respect he could offer his teacher. Matters involving one of the upper three sects were something she had to know about eventually. If Wu Ling said nothing here and nothing there, even if Bibi Dong still trusted him after learning of it, each incident would be like dripping water boring through stone, gradually producing something called suspicion in her heart.
Wu Ling truly was not afraid of leaving Spirit Hall. But even a pet raised for six years could inspire attachment, let alone several people who genuinely cared about him. Since such problems could be avoided, he would avoid them as much as possible.
Early the next morning, everyone began their journeys home. Spirit City was good, but it was not their home.
The convoy belonging to the Star Stripe team was especially noticeable. Compared to when it had arrived, it now had one more spirit-tool car. Most importantly, the driver of that car was a Spirit King.
A Spirit King counted as a pillar, even an upper-level figure, in almost any power. Having someone like that drive, combined with the emblem on the vehicle, made the identity of the person inside obvious at once.
Spirit Hall's Holy Son, Wu Ling.
"Hmph. That fellow actually said I cannot exchange it for spirit coins and that I have to personally go collect the reward. Heh. I bet he is having people organize the treasury right now. By the time I choose, there will probably only be a few slightly better pieces of trash left." Wu Ling, eating snacks, spoke unhappily. This round trip would take almost a month of his time.
"Little Lingling, do not be angry. Is this not because you have become too popular recently? So many people want to build a relationship with you or negotiate spirit-tool transactions. I suspect the Star Stripe emperor also wants to speak with you in person," Yue Guan said with a light laugh as he appeared across from Wu Ling.
"Aunt Yue, please do not laugh at me. Is this not because Teacher said she could not accurately judge the spirit-tool production rate, so she made me responsible for these matters? You know how lazy I am. I even have Ember and the others help me with cultivation. Once Rose writes out the manufacturing process, the first thing I will do is push this matter away." Wu Ling scratched his head in feigned distress.
Originally, Wu Ling had wanted to call Yue Guan Grandpa Yue, but under Yue Guan's strong insistence, he eventually changed the address to Aunt Yue.
Yue Guan merely smiled at Wu Ling's appearance of complaining from a position of privilege. Wu Ling did, after all, have the qualifications to do so.
"Aunt Yue, since we have nothing to do right now, tell me about the Star Stripe Empire. I mostly deal with the Polaris Empire, so this is my first time going to the Star Stripe capital." As Wu Ling said this, he was muttering inwardly, "Mainly because the original Soul Land barely said anything about it. Such a huge empire, and even the name of its ruler was never mentioned. He only showed his face a little at the end when they fought Spirit City, and even then he was pure background scenery."
Yue Guan pinched a grape delicately between his fingers, then placed it lightly between his red lips. A glint of juice at his lips made them look even more tender.
"That is true. Little Lingling, you really have had very few dealings with the Star Stripe Empire.
"Put simply, Spirit Hall follows the high-end route. If we only talk about the number and quality of Spirit Masters, no one on the continent can compare with us.
"The Polaris Empire has the upper three sects within its borders, plus the Five Elements Academies and one of the lower four sects beneath it. Its high-end combat strength cannot compare with Spirit Hall, but it is still decent. Aside from Spirit Masters, what it has that Spirit Hall lacks is the lowest-level ordinary army. In raw numbers, we cannot match that.
"Finally, there is the Star Stripe Empire. It has three of the lower four sects, but in the whole empire, there is not a single Titled Sage. In high-end combat strength, it is the weakest. Yet it can still stand alongside Polaris as one of the two great empires because it relies on low-level combat power.
"The Star Stripe Empire has the largest army, several times larger than the Polaris Empire's, and its military capability is extremely strong. You should also have heard about its royal family. Every emperor kills his way to the throne. Because of that, its suppressive control over those below is also extremely powerful."
"In simple terms, Spirit Hall has strong high-end combat power and weaker low-level combat power. The Polaris Empire has decent high and low-end power, but its emperor lacks enough deterrence and cannot fully mobilize that strength, so it appears somewhat mediocre. The Star Stripe Empire has weak high-end combat power, but extremely strong low-level combat power. Correct?"
Hearing Wu Ling's summary, Yue Guan nodded in satisfaction.
"A teachable child."
"Then, Aunt Yue..."
Amid that casual conversation, half a month passed quickly. Wu Ling's group finally arrived at the capital of the Star Stripe Empire.
End of Volume 3.