Douluo Continent: The Ice Dragon King Martial Soul, Ma Xiaotao is Addicted

"Oh, so how many of the Super Baby Bottles does Mingdetang want, and what are they willing to give in return?"

Ye Chen took a sip of tea, looked at Xiao Hongchen with a half-smile, and asked in return.

His pricing is simply the market price.

For such large clients, there are naturally preferential treatments; as long as the conditions are right, everything is negotiable.

Xiao Hongchen perked up and finally got to the point: "Mingdetang naturally recognizes the value of the super baby bottles. We hope to purchase the first batch, with an initial intention of 1000 level-four super baby bottles."

He paused, then added, "As for the price, we are willing to pay three times the price of comparable baby bottles on the market."

"three times?"

Ye Chen's lips curled into a faint smile, as if he had heard an amusing joke. "A regular level four baby bottle costs 20,000 to 30,000 gold soul coins, and even three times that amount is only 60,000 to 70,000."

"Does Your Excellency believe that my Tang Clan's revolutionary 'super baby bottle' is only worth this little premium?"

Xiao Hongchen frowned slightly, not expecting Ye Chen to have such a big appetite.

"Sect Leader Ye, this price is already quite high. Moreover, we are buying so many. After all, baby bottles are just auxiliary tools. No matter how sophisticated their core technology is, they still need a huge industrial base and advanced materials to realize their maximum value."

"Excuse my bluntness, but I doubt the Tang Sect currently possesses the capability for large-scale production of high-end super baby bottles."

His words carried a subtle hint of superiority, pointing out the Tang Clan's weaknesses.

Ye Chen was not angry. Instead, he said frankly, "That's right. My Tang Clan is newly established and its foundation is still shallow. In particular, it lacks high-grade rare metals, which is exactly the purpose of this transaction."

He leaned forward slightly, looking directly at Xiao Hongchen. "Therefore, I don't want gold soul coins."

Xiao Hongchen was taken aback: "You don't want gold soul coins? Then what do you want?"

"Rare metals, at least four grades higher than the level of the soul tool itself," Ye Chen clearly stated his conditions.

"In other words, if I sell you a level 4 super milk bottle, you need to use level 8 rare metals to trade for it. If it's a level 5 milk bottle, you need level 9 metals. Level 9 rare metals are the upper limit."

"what?!"

Xiao Hongchen almost thought she had misheard, and a flush of anxiety instantly rose on her pale face. "No! This is absolutely not allowed!"

He stood up abruptly, his voice rising!

"How precious are level eight and nine rare metals? We don't even have enough for ourselves, how could we possibly use them to trade for finished level four and five soul tools? This is simply outrageous! At most, we can only offer level five rare metals!"

High-grade rare metals are the lifeblood of the Sun Moon Empire and one of the cornerstones of Mingde Hall's dominance over the continent; he is unlikely to give in easily.

"It must contain level nine rare metals, otherwise it's out of the question."

Ye Chen stood firm, his tone resolute.

He was well aware of the other party's desire for the super baby bottle, and even more aware of the strategic value behind it, which far exceeded a few pieces of rare metal.

Xiao Hongchen took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down, and sat down again: "Sect Leader Ye, to be fair, if what you sold us was the blueprint for the core magic array, then the knowledge and technology contained within might be worth this price, and it's not impossible to exchange it for level nine metal."

"But what you're selling us is a finished product! You've likely added an encryption array to it, so even if we buy it, we can only use it and won't be able to delve into its core secrets. While the Super Milk Bottle is indeed incredibly valuable, it's absolutely impossible for you to ask us to exchange it for rare metals that are four grades higher than its original grade! Your price is outrageous!"

Xiao Hongchen was speechless at this moment.

This was the first time he had ever seen a transaction like this.

Super baby bottles are indeed precious, and his willingness to pay three times the price to buy them shows great sincerity.

Unexpectedly, Ye Chen wanted rare metals, and he even asked for level nine!
Why doesn't he just rob it!
"Hehe, are you really ignorant or just pretending? The core technology of the Super Milk Bottle is worth more than just a little bit. It is enough to change the energy landscape of future soul tools, especially military soul tools. Just considering the potential value of this technology alone, even if you sold your entire Mingde Hall, it wouldn't be enough!"

Ye Chen bluntly pointed out the enormous value of its technological monopoly.

These words struck a nerve with Xiao Hongchen and stirred up his pride as the heir to Mingdetang.

He frowned and argued, "Sect Leader Ye underestimates Mingde Hall. No matter how advanced the technology is, it is not impossible to replicate. As long as we concentrate our manpower and resources and invest in reverse engineering and research, we will definitely be able to build it ourselves within five years!"

"The reason we are buying from the Tang Sect now is simply because we think that Sect Leader Ye's super milk bottle is indeed ingeniously designed and is a good thing. We want to study and learn from it first."

He emphasized Mingdetang's foundation and capabilities, implying that Ye Chen's skills were not insurmountable. "Five years?"

Ye Chen raised an eyebrow slightly and asked meaningfully, "In five years, how much can happen in a war, how many advantages can be established?"

He didn't say it explicitly, but the implied power in his words sent a chill down Xiao Hongchen's spine. Ye Chen's meaning was clear.

By the time you manage to replicate it, it might be too late. The real strategic advantage lies in the time difference, which is its greatest value.

……

The two engaged in a heated exchange, their words sharp and witty.

Although there was no heated argument and their tone remained generally calm and restrained, their verbal exchanges were already fierce and they were determined to fight for every inch of ground.

Every word, every condition, is related to enormous interests.

The business world is like a battlefield; when core interests are truly at stake, no one will easily back down.

Ye Chen urgently needs high-grade rare metals.

Many high-level soul tools in the "Illustrated Catalogue of All Things" require top-quality materials to be created.

Although Shrek Academy has a rich history, high-grade rare metals are extremely scarce.

As a level nine soul master, Xian Lin'er could only barely support the creation of a level nine soul cannon by exhausting the accumulated resources of Shrek Academy over the years.

There are still some reserves of level 8 metals, but level 9... is almost depleted.

The rare metal mineral deposits of the three empires that originally belonged to the Douluo Continent were far less abundant than those of the Sun Moon Empire. This was the main reason why the development of soul tools in the three empires almost stagnated ten thousand years ago.

In contrast, the Sun Moon Empire, despite its relative scarcity of soul beast resources and top-tier soul masters, managed to develop into a soul guide empire thanks to its uniquely abundant mineral resources.

The Sun Moon Empire, or rather the Mingde Hall which controls the lifeline of the Empire's soul tools, has extremely strict control over high-grade rare metals. These are their strategic resources and the foundation for maintaining their leading advantage.

Xiao Hongchen knew this well, so he held fast to his bottom line and refused to back down even a step.

Just as the argument between the two reached a stalemate and the atmosphere became slightly tense, Meng Hongchen, who had been sitting quietly and obediently next to Ye Chen, carefully picked up the teapot and refilled her brother Xiao Hongchen's empty teacup.

"Brother, have some tea."

Her voice was gentle as she softly pushed the teacup towards Xiao Hongchen.

However, her large, icy blue eyes couldn't help but drift towards Ye Chen across from her.

Ye Chen spoke clearly and logically, with a humble yet assertive attitude, and he was not at all inferior even when facing his brother's powerful background representing Mingdetang.

This powerful confidence and sense of control, combined with his handsome face, was simply irresistibly attractive to her.

“It’s perfect…”

Meng Hongchen's heart was pounding. "He's so young and already the deputy sect leader of the Tang Clan. He must be incredibly strong, maybe even stronger than my brother... He's handsome and smart, he's just too perfect! No wonder he's the man I, Meng Hongchen, have chosen!"

The more she looked at Ye Chen, the more charming he seemed. A faint blush crept onto her face. After serving him the tea, she casually brushed her fingers against the back of Ye Chen's hand on the table, then quickly withdrew them, her heart pounding even faster.

Ye Chen naturally noticed the girl's subtle movements and burning gaze, but he was completely focused on the negotiation at the moment, so he only glanced at her briefly and did not say anything more.

Meng Hongchen is indeed beautiful, and also very cute and innocent.

Compared to Princess Vina and Princess Xu Jiujiu, Ye Chen preferred to communicate with Meng Hongchen.

However, now is not the time. Ye Chen should take the opportunity to slaughter this fat pig, Mingdetang.

Rare metals are extremely important, and Ye Chen is determined to obtain them.

Moreover, Ye Chen was confident that Mingdetang would hand over the rare metals.

(End of this chapter)