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Looking at Shui Rou'er and the other two elders, Dugu Bo chuckled. "It's been a long time since I've seen you three old-timers. I thought you'd already kicked the bucket."
Upon hearing this, Shui Rou'er and the others rolled their eyes. Though their lifespans couldn't compare to that of a Title Douluo like Dugu Bo, they were only in their sixties and still Soul Douluos. With proper care, living to a hundred was practically guaranteed.
Strictly speaking, Dugu Bo and Shui Rou'er's generation were contemporaries. However, given that Dugu Bo was now a Title Douluo, Shui Rou'er could only suppress her irritation and respond in a low tone:
"Poison Douluo jests. Let's get down to business."
Seeing that they weren't engaging with his banter, Dugu Bo shrugged, slightly bored, and then gently nudged Ye Wen forward.
"Then you all talk. This old man isn't the star of today's show."
"Respectfully greeting the three seniors," Ye Wen said with a slight bow.
Shui Rou'er and the others nodded approvingly. Then Shui Rou'er spoke:
"Young Master Ye Wen, the three of us have discussed it. Our three families agree to join the Medical Alliance. However, our families aren't ordinary clans, so we'd like to inquire about the terms…"
Ye Wen was momentarily taken aback. He hadn't even started persuading them, yet they had already come forward to pledge allegiance. However, he quickly understood. This was the advantage of being part of an organization like the Medical Alliance, which boasted multiple Title Douluos and wasn't limited to a single martial soul clan.
Because of its diverse membership, there was no room for exclusion—power and ability determined who held authority.
However, Ye Wen merely smiled faintly and didn't immediately agree. Instead, he took out the same Leader Token he had used to recruit Yang Wudi.
"The positions within our Medical Alliance are reserved for those with the greatest ability. To enjoy the highest level of benefits, one must possess the highest level of strength.
What I'm holding now is called the Leader Token. Its primary purpose is to establish the core composition of our Medical Alliance.
I believe the three seniors can see that this token still has vacancies—it currently holds only four imprints. There are ten slots in total. Allow me to clearly state that if your family wishes to imprint its crest on this token, you must reach the level of a Title Douluo in either cultivation or combat strength.
Without such qualifications, you cannot be imprinted on the token and thus won't be eligible for the alliance's highest benefits."
Upon hearing this, Shui Rou'er and the others immediately changed expressions.
Though the Leader Token still had vacancies, Ye Wen's message was clear: to be imprinted on it, one must at least reach the level of a Title Douluo in some aspect!
In the current climate where the Spirit Hall was concealing its true strength, the Medical Alliance—with its foundation of four Title Douluo-level members—was undoubtedly the most top-tier faction on the surface.
But human nature was greedy and lazy.
Shui Rou'er hesitated before responding, "I see. Young Master Ye Wen truly has great ambitions.
However, as you mentioned earlier, Bing'er is destined to reach the Title Douluo level in the future. Might it be possible for our Water family to secure a position on the Leader Token ahead of time?"
In response to this negotiation attempt, Ye Wen simply smiled faintly.
"Senior's reasoning is sound.
However, our Medical Alliance is no longer what it once was—not just anyone can join.
If your family wishes to enjoy the highest level of resources, you must have the corresponding strength. I will not make exceptions.
And may I ask, have you ever heard this saying?
A genius who grows strong enough to survive is called a powerhouse. But if they perish along the way, they are nothing."
Faced with Ye Wen's firm words, Shui Rou'er and the others remained calm. At their age, they had experienced far too much for mere bargaining to shake their resolve.
Moreover, they caught the underlying threat in Ye Wen's words.
Now that Ye Wen had exposed Shui Bing'er's secret, no matter what, they would need to seek protection by allying with a major faction. Otherwise, they would face suppression from various powerful forces.
Shui Rou'er sighed softly. "Young Master Ye Wen truly has a hard heart. But that's good. As the future leader of the Medical Alliance, without such resolve, you wouldn't be able to command such a formidable force."
Neither Ye Wen nor Dugu Bo showed any reaction to Shui Rou'er's revelation of the alliance's hidden intentions. Ye Wen merely asked in a soft tone:
"So, what is your decision, seniors?"
Shui Rou'er and the others exchanged glances, then simultaneously declared, "We join."
Ye Wen chuckled. Dealing with pragmatic individuals was always so easy.
Though the Water, Fire, and Wind families currently lacked Title-level combat strength and couldn't enter the alliance's inner circle, they were still prestigious second-tier families. Therefore, Ye Wen offered them additional benefits. For instance, if young members of the Medical Alliance matched the attributes of their academies, the alliance would designate their institutions as specialized training hubs to strengthen the lower-tier soul masters of the alliance.
Of course, this service wasn't free—it was a welfare initiative funded by the Medical Alliance.
In the end, the three academies not only joined the Medical Alliance but also gained a new avenue for profit. In the near future, the three families would discover many promising talents among these grassroots soul masters, whom they could recruit into their own families to further bolster their foundations.
All of this, however, was a story for another time. After wrapping up the final arrangements, Ye Wen departed alongside Dugu Bo.
Later, Shui Rou'er exchanged a few more words with Huo Lie before parting ways.
Walking through the dimly lit academy, Shui Rou'er sighed softly, occasionally rubbing her lower back.
The Tianshui Academy, as a special institution that only admitted female soul masters with water and ice attributes—and required high beauty standards—naturally harbored some unsavory practices.
"Bing'er, why are you still out so late? Go rest soon. Tomorrow is another match, and your grandmother is counting on you to bring back a good result for the family," Shui Rou'er said gently.
In the distance, under the dim lamplight, a slender yet graceful figure stood silently. It was none other than Shui Bing'er.
Shui Bing'er opened her mouth, her expression complex, but the words she wanted to say wouldn't come out.
Shui Rou'er slowly approached Shui Bing'er and patted her shoulder.
"Don't worry, little Bing'er. Your grandmother hasn't arranged a marriage for you."
The girl initially looked panicked, as if her secret had been uncovered, but then visibly relaxed. However, she avoided meeting Shui Rou'er's gaze.
For years, the Water family had relied on external marriages to maintain its interests. If Shui Bing'er hadn't possessed extraordinary talent—if she hadn't inherited the Ice Phoenix martial soul or the spirit fusion technique with her sister—the two of them would have long been married off to outsiders.
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