Backstage at the auction, in another quiet and elegant private room.
A young female staff member from Liulitian, dressed in a uniform light blue, spoke softly to the dean of Tianshui Academy.
"Distinguished guest, the Ten Thousand Year Eight-Cornered Mystic Ice Grass you purchased is worth a total of two million two hundred thousand gold soul coins."
"Would you like to pay with your Gold Soul Card, or are there other payment methods?"
The staff member wore a standard smile and held an elegant tray with receipts on it.
The dean of Tianshui College sat upright on the soft sofa. She picked up the celadon teacup in front of her, brought the rim of the cup to her lips, and gently blew on it.
Then, she put down her teacup and began to speak.
"Money is naturally not a problem."
"However, I have something more important to discuss with the person in charge here."
"Please have your supervisor come over here."
The staff member paused for a moment, then nodded.
"Okay, please wait a moment."
She bowed respectfully, tiptoed out, and closed the door behind her.
The room fell silent for a moment.
A short while later, the door was pushed open again.
Ang Lee walked in with a beaming smile and just the right amount of respect.
"Distinguished guest, I'm the manager of this auction house. What can I do for you?"
The dean of Tianshui Academy raised his head, carefully examined Li An, and raised an eyebrow slightly.
"Oh? Isn't this Manager Li?"
"Yesterday, our students from Tianshui Academy participated in the competition. It was you, Manager Li, who personally arranged their accommodation. You really went to a lot of trouble."
Upon hearing this, Ang Lee's smile widened even further.
"So you are the Dean of Tianshui Academy. My apologies for not recognizing you."
"As a sponsor, serving the elites of the Soul Master world is our duty to Liuli Tian, and it is nothing to worry about."
He exchanged a few polite words, then abruptly changed the subject, returning to the main topic.
"Dean."
"However, auction is auction, and accommodation is accommodation. Let's settle the payment for this spiritual herb first, shall we?"
Ang Lee rubbed his hands together, his gaze sincere.
The smile on the face of the dean of Tianshui College faltered slightly.
"Manager Li, don't be in such a hurry."
Her tone became serious.
"I've heard that your Liuli Heaven Academy is currently seeking cooperation with some advanced Soul Master academies, and even has the intention to acquire them?"
"I wonder... if you are interested in my Tianshui Academy?"
Upon hearing this, Ang Lee was taken aback.
"You mean, to your Tianshui Academy?"
He repeated the sentence unconsciously.
Tianshui Academy is a prestigious high-level soul master academy that ranks among the top in the continent. It has a profound foundation and has cultivated countless outstanding water-attribute soul masters.
Would such an academy be willing to... incorporate Liuli Heaven?
If that's true, then it would be quite good for Liuli Tian!
The dean of Tianshui College met Li An's gaze and slowly nodded.
"Manager Li, I can tell you this clearly today."
"As long as Liuli Tian nods, from this day forward, my Tianshui Academy will take Liuli Tian's surname!"
She said it with conviction.
Ang Lee gasped, the surprise coming too suddenly to bear, leaving him somewhat dizzy.
This is Tianshui Academy!
"Of course! Of course you can!"
Ang Lee blurted it out almost without thinking.
However, he quickly realized his lapse in composure and cleared his throat.
"Dean, rest assured, if Tianshui Academy can truly join our Liuli Tian, we will definitely retain your academy's autonomy in student recruitment and teaching, and fully respect your unique educational characteristics."
"Furthermore, Liulitian will allocate a special fund for the construction of academy facilities and the improvement of resources."
Ang Lee's mind raced, and he rattled off all the preferential terms he could think of.
Then, he changed the subject and put forward the core demand of Liulitian.
"However, Dean, let me make this clear from the start."
"We can leave the academy's daily teaching management alone, but outstanding students trained by the academy, especially those with the potential to join the Soul Master Competition team, must be given priority in being recruited by our Glazed Heaven."
"Is this alright?"
Upon hearing this, the dean of Tianshui College did not hesitate at all.
"no problem!"
She waved her hand and said cheerfully.
"As long as Liuli Tian treats my students well and gives them a better future, these are all minor matters."
Upon hearing this, Ang Lee's last remaining doubts vanished.
He couldn't help but burst into laughter.
"well!"
"The Dean is indeed a straightforward person!"
"Please wait a moment, I will go back and draft a detailed cooperation agreement, making sure it satisfies the Dean!"
Ang Lee rubbed his hands together excitedly.
However, after his initial excitement subsided, his smile faded, and he looked at the dean of Tianshui Academy with a hint of embarrassment.
"Um... Dean, we can discuss the cooperation in more detail later."
"Right now, we still need to settle the auction payment for this ten-thousand-year-old octagonal ice grass."
"Two million two hundred thousand gold soul coins is a considerable sum, and it will help me to report back to my superiors."
The generous expression on the dean of Tianshui College's face froze instantly, and he picked up his teacup and took another sip.
"cough……"
The dean cleared his throat, his voice several tones lower than before.
"Um... Manager Li..."
She spoke with some difficulty.
"To be honest... I... I didn't bring that much money."
"No money?"
The smile on Ang Lee's face vanished completely.
The dignified dean of Tianshui Academy bid 2.2 million gold soul coins for a ten-thousand-year-old elixir, and then said he had no money?
Is this a joke?
The dean of Tianshui College felt a burning sensation on his face as he looked at Li An's stunned expression.
She forced herself to remain calm and waved her hand.
"Oh dear, Manager Li, what are you saying?"
"Aren't we family right now?"
"I'm already planning to hand over the academy to your Liuli Heaven, so why are you still so concerned about a mere ten-thousand-year-old spiritual herb?"
"Consider it... Liuli Tian's early greeting gift to Tianshui Academy, how about it?"
Ang Lee's lips twitched a few times, and for a moment he didn't know what expression to make.
That's quite a clever plan.
Two million two hundred thousand gold soul coins is no small sum. Even if Tianshui Academy is willing to merge into Liuli Heaven, the accounts still need to be settled.
He, Ang Lee, was just an auction house manager; he couldn't make decisions on something this big.
"Dean, you've really put me in a difficult position."
Ang Lee sighed.
"Two million two hundred thousand gold soul coins is indeed no small sum. Moreover, such a big matter as acquiring an academy is not something that I, as a supervisor, can decide."
"Alright, please wait a moment, I'll go and ask our sect leader."
"Let's see what the sect leader means."
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