Chapter 97: Xu Jiujiu's Surrender

"Since you're Jiujiu's younger brother, I'll call you Xiao Ming. If you want to host the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Soul Fighting Tournament in Hǎiyuān City, I can help you, but you should also understand that there are simply too many implications involved."

Xu Jiawei shot a glance at the anxious Heavenly Eagle Douluo, signaling him to calm down and let him handle the matter. Then, he turned his gaze to Lu Jingming and spoke straightforwardly. Originally, he had planned to wait for Lu Jingming to actively persuade him, but now that he and Heavenly Eagle Douluo had a favor to ask, he might as well just grant this favor directly.

How could Lu Jingming be foolish? From Heavenly Eagle Douluo's previous attitude, his barely concealed expression upon learning of Changli's martial soul, combined with Heavenly Eagle Douluo's own martial soul, a brief thought allowed him to guess the general idea. He didn't answer immediately but turned his gaze to Changli. Affairs involving exchanges of interests and cooperation should be decided by Changli.

"Your Majesty, Hǎiyuān City can give up all the financial profits generated from hosting this tournament. At the same time, we can also build ten sky-air soul-guided warships for the Empire and share a portion of our soul tool technology. What do you think, Your Majesty?" Changli's tone was calm, yet her words made Xu Jiawei's entire body tremble.

The profits from hosting the tournament were one thing, but ten sky-air soul-guided warships and soul tool technology were the true keys that excited Xu Jiawei. Xu Jiawei had long heard that Hǎiyuān City had the capability to construct sky-air soul-guided warships.

The Sun-Moon Empire also possessed similar technology, though they focused more on the development of flying soul tools. However, the original three empires of Douluo had completely lacked this technology before. What's more, he was currently in urgent need of soul tool technology.

In recent years, the Star Luo Empire had heavily collected soul tools for research, especially those produced by Ming De Hall and Black Pagoda, which were recycled at high prices.

Their purpose was to reverse-engineer soul tool technology. Now, with Changli actively offering a portion of their soul tool technology, it couldn't be better.

Lu Jingming wasn't concerned about the conditions Changli proposed. The profits from hosting the tournament were, simply put, just money, and Hǎiyuān City had no shortage of it.

While sky-air warships had good performance, most Soul Masters on the Douluo Continent could equip flying soul tools, making it difficult for sky-air warships to gain absolute air superiority in battle.

This was also why the Sun-Moon Empire didn't invest too much effort in this area. As for soul tool technology, it was merely something discarded by Black Pagoda. It might be important to others, but for Hǎiyuān City, it wasn't.

What Lu Jingming truly valued was the massive influx of people that hosting the Soul Master Tournament would attract, and the opportunity to establish Hǎiyuān City's reputation.

Those tangible benefits could be entirely given up as bargaining chips for cooperation, but the potential benefits were what mattered most to Hǎiyuān City. For nearly ten thousand years, only national capitals had been able to host the Soul Master Tournament; even the renowned Shrek City had never been granted the qualification.

If Hǎiyuān City could successfully host it now, it would undoubtedly spark endless imagination and curiosity about Hǎiyuān City in the world. Whether they had heard of Hǎiyuān City before or not, people would be compelled to explore the city for themselves.

Lu Jingming wanted to develop Hǎiyuān City. Simply having wealth was far from enough; it also needed sufficient population and reputation to attract a large influx of people and make Hǎiyuān City increasingly prosperous.

This was his true purpose for insisting on hosting the Soul Master Tournament in Hǎiyuān City; earning money from it was not the most crucial factor. After all, the profits brought by the simulated universe login device were already sufficient to support Hǎiyuān City's development and construction.

Not only that, he also planned to implement a VIP system in the simulated universe, where users who recharged more would experience a richer and more diverse range of functions. He intended to arrange various dazzling special effects and exquisite skins, confident that he could make money this way.

Since Xu Jiawei was willing to help, and Hǎiyuān City was willing to concede some benefits, the subsequent negotiations naturally proceeded much smoother.

"The Empire can only take half of the profits from hosting the Soul Master Tournament. At the same time, I will also allocate several thousand square kilometers of land near Hǎiyuān City to you as Hǎiyuān City's new territory, but I have one request." After Xu Jiawei and Changli engaged in thorough and detailed discussions on the distribution of benefits, he finally summarized.

"Oh? I'd like to hear the details," Changli's lips curved into a faint smile. In her heart, she had already guessed what Xu Jiawei was about to say.

"I wish to ask Your Excellency Lihuang to condense a drop of Phoenix essence blood and gift it to Elder Eagle to aid his breakthrough." Xu Jiawei did not hide anything, directly stating his request. He knew well that from the beginning, his and Elder Eagle's needs had been exposed, so there was no need to hide anymore.

"Regardless of whether I can ultimately break through, this old man will owe Your Excellency a favor," Heavenly Eagle Douluo also spoke up at this moment, expressing his stance. He felt that he had nothing else to offer besides his decent strength. At this moment, only by offering this strength in exchange could he show his sincerity.

"Good!" Changli answered very straightforwardly. It was just a drop of essence blood. Although it would consume some of her cultivation, she could quickly recover with a little recuperation; it wasn't a big deal.

To exchange this drop of essence blood for a larger territory and the favor of a Titled Douluo who was very likely to reach Level 98 in the future, it was a profitable deal no matter how one looked at it. After all, for her, compensating for this loss was not difficult. Both Lu Jingming's Abyss White Flower and Honkai Energy could quickly help her recover her vitality.

Just like that, both sides smoothly reached an agreement. Lu Jingming was very satisfied, as Hǎiyuān City finally got the chance to host the Soul Master Tournament as desired. Xu Jiawei was also very satisfied. This cooperation not only brought the Star Luo Empire and Hǎiyuān City closer but also provided Heavenly Eagle Douluo with an opportunity to advance further. If Xu Jiujiu's relationship with Lu Jingming could become even closer, that would be even better.

However, Xu Jiawei understood that matters of the heart couldn't be rushed. Moreover, Lu Jingming was still young, so he couldn't be too hasty. Nevertheless, Xu Jiawei still made some arrangements.

Changli went into seclusion in the imperial palace to condense Phoenix essence blood, while also assisting Heavenly Eagle Douluo in breaking through his bottleneck.

As for Xu Jiujiu, under Xu Jiawei's special arrangement, she took Lu Jingming to tour Star Luo City, experiencing the city's unique scenery and local customs. Heavenly Eagle Douluo's breakthrough would certainly not happen overnight, and Changli would also need some time to recuperate after condensing the essence blood.

And so, Lu Jingming stayed in Star Luo City for a month. With Changli's Phoenix essence blood, coupled with the assistance of the Southern Brightness Li Fire, Heavenly Eagle Douluo finally broke through to Level 98 as he wished, successfully joining the ranks of powerhouses like Gourmand Douluo and Body Douluo, standing at the peak of visible strength on the Douluo Continent.

During this month, Lu Jingming and Xu Jiujiu's relationship progressed by leaps and bounds. A princess of unparalleled beauty and noble status actively showed affection, passionate and fervent.

And Lu Jingming was not the type to remain aloof when a beauty was near; on the contrary, he was more like an aggressive Tyrannosaurus Rex. In such a situation, it would be somewhat illogical if the two had continued to maintain that distant brother-sister relationship.

"Mmm!" A soft, delicate moan gently escaped Xu Jiujiu's lips. Her hands tightly embraced Lu Jingming's neck, her entire delicate body nestled in his broad, warm embrace.

Her soft tongue was dominantly yet gently held and sucked by Lu Jingming, and her breathing grew increasingly rapid. It wasn't until Xu Jiujiu felt she was about to suffocate, instinctively pushing against Lu Jingming's chest, that Lu Jingming reluctantly let go, their lips slowly parting

 A glistening silver thread quietly broke as they separated. Xu Jiujiu gasped for fresh air, her pretty face flushed red from lack of oxygen. Her delicate fists gently hammered Lu Jingming's chest, and she spoke in a slightly petulant, rushed tone: "Do you want to suffocate your sister?!"

"My apologies, I was too engrossed. However, this also precisely proves your charm, Sister Jiujiu!" Lu Jingming wore a charming smile, gently reaching out to brush away a few slightly messy strands of hair from Xu Jiujiu's forehead, speaking in a soft, low voice.

"You and your slick words, I truly wonder how many girls you'll corrupt in the future?" Xu Jiujiu recalled the moments they had spent together over the past month. 

Although she had initiated the approach to Lu Jingming, she hadn't expected Lu Jingming to be so skilled. In less than a month, he had almost completely conquered her. If she hadn't held onto her last shred of self-restraint, she might have been completely "eaten" by Lu Jingming already.

Lu Jingming's charm was undeniable. Outstanding looks, unique temperament, powerful strength, astonishing talent, solid background—he had everything. And his personality wasn't annoying either.

It was precisely because Lu Jingming almost perfectly matched all her fantasies and requirements for a partner that she mustered the courage to take the initiative. After all, as a princess, she would eventually have to marry. Rather than being forced to marry someone she neither knew nor liked later, it was better to find someone she truly desired and felt no repulsion towards now. Lu Jingming was undoubtedly the most suitable candidate in her heart, so she actively pursued him, and Lu Jingming responded enthusiastically.

Unbeknownst to them, various boundaries between them were gradually broken. In this month, Xu Jiujiu had only managed to preserve her final innocence. If Lu Jingming were a bit older, she might not even have been able to hold onto this last boundary, as Lu Jingming displayed extreme dominance at times, a powerful aura that she simply couldn't refuse.