Reincarnated as the Death Spider Queen, sacrificing Bibi Dong at the start

"In the end, this cooperation is simply because the High Priest is kind-hearted and can't bear to see the people of the mainland suffer and be affected by the war of the Spirit Hall. In addition, there are still some old grudges between us from when the Spirit Hall invaded Seagod Island. The High Priest just wants to use this opportunity to make things difficult for the Spirit Hall."

"Otherwise, Poseidon Island wouldn't need to establish any special trade zone, let alone go through the trouble of building an alliance with weaklings like you!"

Nan Feng walked to the door, stopped, and turned back to give them a look of utter contempt:

"The threat from the Spirit Hall? What a joke! Go ask Qian Daoliu if he dares to lead his Spirit Hall's soul masters to set foot on the ocean, if he dares to face the wrath of the sea god?"

"A bunch of short-sighted landlubbers, you have no idea how terrifying the ocean is!"

As Nan Feng's mocking and arrogant laughter faded from the hall, his small figure strode out of the imperial study and left without even turning his head back.

Only a deathly silence remained in the Imperial Study.

The room, already somewhat oppressive due to Nan Feng's unreasonable and domineering aura, became even more awkward at this moment, with an undeniable air of tension.

Ning Fengzhi took a deep breath. His face, which had been pale from being scolded by Nan Feng, gradually flushed with anger.

He slowly turned his head, his usually gentle and refined eyes now fixed intently on Emperor Xueye, who sat on the dragon throne with a somewhat evasive expression.

Even a clay figure has some temper, let alone the dignified sect leader of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School!

Even with Ning Fengzhi's profound self-cultivation and composure honed over many years, he could hardly suppress the urge to unleash a torrent of curses.

"His Majesty……"

Ning Fengzhi's voice was very low, but anyone could hear the barely suppressed anger and accusation in it: "Isn't this... a bit too unkind?"

Sword Douluo Chen Xin let out a cold snort, his sword energy uncontrollably overflowing as he swept his icy gaze over Emperor Xue Ye.

If it were any other time, he would have already drawn his Seven Kill Sword if someone dared to scheme against the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School like this.

Ning Fengzhi was so angry because of the core safeguards that Nan Feng had mentioned when he was scolding him earlier—the more than 500 high-level sea spirit masters on Purple Pearl Island would be responsible for escorting him throughout the journey, would designate absolutely safe fixed routes, and would regularly patrol and clear out the threat of extreme sea spirit beasts…

These crucial and fundamental security frameworks, which are of utmost importance to businessmen, were not mentioned at all by Emperor Xueye during his private meeting this morning!

Chapter 156 A Tacit Understanding

……

Emperor Xueye only vaguely told him that a peak Douluo with unfathomable strength had arrived at Seagod Island. This person intended to jointly establish a large-scale duty-free trade zone with the Heaven Dou Empire on Purple Pearl Island, a lawless land, and to open up new sea routes.

Now, the other party needs the Heavenly Dou Empire to provide funding and resources to rebuild that dilapidated deserted island.

In return, the Heaven Dou Empire could take this opportunity to establish a substantial interest hub with the mysterious and powerful Seagod Island, thereby using the supreme prestige of Seagod Island to deter and counter the aggressive Spirit Hall.

From Ning Fengzhi's perspective, he knew nothing about the true state of the ocean.

In his mind, Purple Pearl Island was a place that was a vicious and utterly untrustworthy pirate den!

Even though the other party was using the name of Seagod Island and even displayed the overwhelming strength of a peak Douluo.

However, faced with such a huge investment that consisted of only a few empty words and no substantial contractual guarantee, as the leader of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School, he cautiously questioned the risk control and demanded that the other party provide some specific security guarantees...

Isn't this a normal and responsible business negotiation process?!

And the result?!

The Demon God Douluo clearly and explicitly revealed all these safety trump cards and sincerity to Emperor Xueye yesterday!

However, Emperor Xueye deliberately concealed this crucial information, watching helplessly as he, like a petty and greedy fool, went and provoked trouble in front of that eccentric and peerless expert!

What is this?!

Are they using the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School as a pawn, or are they deliberately trying to make a fool of Ning Fengzhi?!

"Sect Master Ning, I..." Emperor Xueye opened his mouth, a hint of embarrassment flashing across his old face, as if he wanted to explain something.

Ning Fengzhi merely glanced at him coldly. Although he was furious, his quick wit was working overtime.

In just a few breaths, he had roughly figured out the old emperor's dark and shady schemes.

The art of imperial rule and the art of checks and balances!

Emperor Xueye is on guard against him!

Poseidon Island was such a powerful backer that it instilled a deep sense of fear and insecurity in Emperor Xueye.

The old emperor was not only worried that the powerful Seagod Island would usurp his position, but also worried that the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School, which was incredibly wealthy and had a great reputation in the Soul Master world, would bypass the Heaven Dou Royal Family and directly align itself with that Demon God Douluo from Seagod Island!

If the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School, with its vast wealth and business acumen, were to forge a close relationship with Seagod Island, or even join forces with it...

In this tripartite cooperation, the Heavenly Dou Royal Family, which is the weakest and has few trump cards, could be completely sidelined at any time and become a dispensable puppet!

Therefore, Emperor Xueye deliberately created this disgusting information gap!

The goal was to set a trap for Ning Fengzhi right there at the negotiating table during their first meeting.

As soon as he arrived, he had a very unpleasant encounter with that Demon God Douluo who extremely disliked business pleasantries and had a domineering personality.

This led that senior to label Ning Fengzhi and the entire Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School with a negative image from the very beginning: "greedy, cowardly, and petty."

This resulted in such a terrible first impression. Even if the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School were to invest a massive amount of money to try and win over Seagod Island and develop deeper cooperation, that Demon God Douluo would definitely be wary of him!

As long as Seagod Island does not completely trust the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School.

In this struggle against the powerful Seagod Island and the terrifying ocean, the isolated Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School naturally had no choice but to continue to be bound to the same war chariot as the Heaven Dou Royal Family and obediently follow the political orders of Emperor Xue Ye.

Otherwise, you'll end up pleasing neither side!

Although he had cursed Emperor Xueye's dark imperial schemes in his heart, Ning Fengzhi was, after all, the head of a sect who had long held a high position and was extremely shrewd.

He knew very well that it was far from the point of breaking ties with the Heavenly Dou royal family.

Ning Fengzhi closed his eyes and took a deep breath. When he opened his eyes again, the anger in his eyes had completely subsided, and he once again put on that gentle and refined mask, which also revealed a hint of aloofness.

"Your Majesty need not say more. I was presumptuous in what happened today."

Ning Fengzhi did not expose the old emperor's trick, but bowed slightly, maintaining the most superficial politeness and dignity: "I am indeed completely ignorant of overseas affairs, which is why I offended Senior Demon God and almost ruined the important matter of cooperation between the Empire and Sea God Island."

"I hope Your Majesty can find a suitable opportunity to apologize to Senior Demon God on behalf of myself and the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School."

Ning Fengzhi straightened up and said calmly, "As for the allocation of funds and materials for the construction of Purple Pearl Island, I will make arrangements immediately after I return. We can discuss the specific details again another day."

"Goodbye."

After saying that, Ning Fengzhi did not linger. He turned around and strode away from the Imperial Study, carrying Sword Douluo Chen Xin, whose sword energy had not yet fully subsided.

Watching Ning Fengzhi's slightly stiff figure disappear outside the hall, Emperor Xueye leaned back weakly on the dragon throne and let out a long sigh.

He knew that after today's events, the unbreakable trust between the Heavenly Dou Royal Family and the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School had inevitably developed a deep rift.

But in order to prevent the imperial power from being completely undermined in this three-way power struggle, he had no other choice.

……

Walking on the bluestone path leading away from the Heavenly Dou Imperial Palace, there was no one else around except for the patrolling imperial guards.

Chen Xin, who had been silent all along, finally couldn't hold back any longer. He frowned and used his soul power, which could be transmitted in a thin line, to ask Ning Fengzhi:

"Fengzhi, what on earth is that old bastard Xueye doing today?! What is he trying to do?"

Chen Xin's voice was filled with suppressed anger: "He deliberately concealed the most crucial information about the safety of the flight path from us, making our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School look like a clown in front of that Demon God Douluo! Isn't he afraid that if what we just said really angered that little monster, he would completely ruin this important matter concerning the confrontation with the Spirit Hall?!"

"not to mention!"

Recalling the terrifying pressure that had suffocated him just now, Chen Xin transmitted his voice with lingering fear: "That was a level 98 peak Douluo from overseas! He has a strange temper and is unpredictable! If Xue Ye really angers him, and he turns on the spot, or even kills someone right here in the Imperial Study... can the Heaven Dou Royal Guards stop him? What an unmanageable situation that would be!"

Upon hearing Chen Xin's telepathic message, Ning Fengzhi shook his head helplessly, a bitter, cold smile appearing on his lips.

"Uncle Jian, you've underestimated Xueye."

Ning Fengzhi replied using his soul power: "The reason he dared to do this is simply because he was shocked by the absolute strength displayed by that senior demon god yesterday. He found that Seagod Island was too powerful and strong, so strong that he felt that... in this game against the Spirit Hall, the help from our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School has actually become 'dispensable'."

"However, he dared not fully trust a strange and uncontrollable Seagod Island. Therefore, he had to use a huge amount of money to forcibly drag our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School into this overseas game, to make us the pawns to check and balance Seagod Island and share the risks, in order to maintain the pitiful sense of security and political balance of his Heavenly Dou Royal Family."

"As for what you said about messing things up... Xueye knows my bottom line and limits very well. He knows that no matter how much I test him or demand security guarantees, I would never act like a shrew and start cursing at a peak Douluo in the Imperial Study, or directly tear off the mask of civility."

"At most, I asked some stupid questions due to a lack of information, just like I did earlier, leaving that senior with a bad impression of being greedy, cowardly, and afraid of trouble. But I would never let the situation get out of control to the point where everyone is stuck at the negotiating table or even starts fighting."

"So, didn't you notice? While that senior demon was berating me, that old fox Xueye sat on the dragon throne without uttering a single word, not even a word to smooth things over!"

Ning Fengzhi snorted coldly: "He's just quietly watching the show, watching me lose face and lose all goodwill in front of this powerful overseas figure!"

After hearing this analysis, Chen Xin frowned even more deeply: "Since you saw through his scheme so early on, why didn't you expose him to his face just now?!"

"Expose him? And then what?"

Ning Fengzhi stopped and looked up at the sky above the Heavenly Dou Imperial Palace, which was divided into squares by high walls. His tone was filled with a deep sense of powerlessness:

"Uncle Jian, to put it bluntly, even if things really fall apart today because of Xue Ye's scheming, does that mean our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School can immediately turn against us and completely sever ties with the Heavenly Dou Royal Family?"

Ning Fengzhi turned his head, looked at Chen Xin, and said with a wry smile, "No way!"

"The Spirit Hall is currently at the height of its power, and their swords could fall at any moment. In this precarious situation, the Heaven Dou Royal Family and our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School are like two withered trees tied together in a storm. We rely on each other and stick together for warmth. At this critical juncture of life and death, neither of us can truly leave the other!"

Ning Fengzhi withdrew his gaze and continued walking forward, his back view appearing somewhat desolate.

"So even though I had already seen through this disgusting imperial scheme, I could only pretend to be stupid and swallow my anger without saying a word."

"After all, tearing off relations now will only make us a laughing stock for the Spirit Hall, and it won't do any good for any of us."

Chapter 157 You Can Bite Me Twice

……

On the other side, Nan Feng left the Heavenly Dou Imperial Palace and strolled towards the direction of Chaoyue Pavilion.

He naturally understood Emperor Xueye's imperial thoughts perfectly well regarding the farce of "discord between generals and ministers" that unfolded in the Imperial Study today.

True political maneuvering is never some underhanded conspiracy hidden in the shadows, but rather an open and aboveboard "open strategy" like the one we're discussing today.

Even if you understand everything, everyone still has to wear masks and tacitly continue to play out this play perfectly.

He knew that Xue Ye was up to something, but as the arrogant "Demon God Douluo," he had to cooperate and show the domineering nature of a powerful figure from overseas, demonstrating his uncompromising attitude.

Ning Fengzhi was the same. No matter how frustrated and upset he felt, he had no choice but to swallow his anger for the sake of the sect's survival.

In politics, it's never simply a matter of who has the smartest brain.

Anyone who sits at the same negotiating table knows what the other is thinking and what they're wary of.

The problem isn't whether you can see it, but whether you can handle it perfectly when you're in the thick of it.

At least in this round, Xueye won.