"Join the White Tiger Martial Arts Hall?" Shi Feng was momentarily stunned.
Poaching between martial arts halls and training halls wasn't exactly uncommon—it happened quite frequently, in fact. But it generally only involved students. Coaches were rarely targeted because a coach at any martial arts hall or training hall was already considered mid-level backbone talent. The cost of poaching one was far higher than poaching a student, and unlike students, coaches didn't compete in tournaments to bring glory to the hall. So such moves were rare, let alone going after someone like him, a head coach.
If the position offered was too low, there was no way to lure them away. But if a matching position was offered, the higher-ups at the White Tiger Martial Arts Hall probably wouldn't agree.
After all, the White Tiger Martial Arts Hall was a top-tier institution. The number of head coaches was strictly limited, and each one was core management. The implications for the internal power structure were enormous. Poaching from a training hall like Beidou that had only recently been established was, without question, an insane move.
"That's right. I hope you'll join us, though not as a coach at the White Tiger Martial Arts Hall—as a coach specializing in Divine Realm combat instruction," Jiang Tianyuan said slowly. "The Divine Realm has been growing more and more popular, and our White Tiger Martial Arts Hall wants a share of that pie. But combat in the Divine Realm is still somewhat different from real-world fighting, so we want to invite some Divine Realm experts to teach. I've heard that your Zero Wing Guild is quite skilled when it comes to training experts, so I'd like to hire you as a Divine Realm coach. Naturally, the compensation package would be equivalent to that of a senior coach at the White Tiger Martial Arts Hall."
The White Tiger Martial Arts Hall, as a top-tier institution, had plenty of coaches, but senior coaches were extremely rare. Each one was a master of dark force—someone even the hall master himself had to treat with respect. The treatment they enjoyed was the envy of countless martial artists.
Jiang Tianyuan's offer even caught the four bodyguards beside him off guard.
Though they were bodyguards, they were experts from the Black Eagle Alliance, and their understanding of the White Tiger Martial Arts Hall far exceeded what ordinary people knew. They understood just how formidable a senior coach at the White Tiger Martial Arts Hall truly was—even the backbone members of their own Black Eagle Alliance had to show them proper respect. Sometimes they even had to request those senior coaches to train the Alliance's people, and that was only if the coaches were willing…
It was hard to imagine that a kid barely in his twenties would be offered a senior coaching position at the White Tiger Martial Arts Hall.
"A senior coach position doesn't interest me," Shi Feng shook his head. "Are there any other benefits?"
He had no interest in the title of senior coach at the White Tiger Martial Arts Hall. It might be a great opportunity for someone looking to build a reputation and expand their network, but for him, it was meaningless.
"Other benefits?" Jiang Tianyuan looked at Shi Feng with surprise, genuinely curious. "What exactly are you looking for?"
A senior coaching position was a rare chance to make a name for oneself—something countless people would kill for. And Shi Feng was turning it down…
"Either S-rank nutrient potions or Spirit Nourishing Tea would work," Shi Feng said after a moment's thought. "The exact number of bottles depends on how many people we're training. Roughly one bottle per twenty people, and I guarantee they'll reach at least the fifth floor of the Trial Tower in a short period of time."
Whether it was S-rank nutrient potions or Spirit Nourishing Tea, both were enormously helpful for cultivating guild experts. Far more practical than a senior coach title.
Besides, Shi Lin Town had an arena—the fastest place to train experts. On top of that, anyone who could become a student at the White Tiger Martial Arts Hall already had a solid foundation. Reaching the fifth floor of the Trial Tower within a short time wasn't particularly difficult.
The moment Shi Feng finished speaking, the four bodyguards rolled their eyes in unison.
Even highway robbery wasn't this fast. On the market, a single bottle of S-rank nutrient potions went for one million Credit Points. Training just twenty gaming experts and demanding one million Credit Points for it—just for reference, when the Black Eagle Alliance hired senior coaches to train two or three hundred elites, the monthly cost didn't even reach one million Credit Points. And now this guy wanted one bottle for every twenty people? It was practically armed robbery.
"Your price is too high." Jiang Tianyuan furrowed his brow slightly. He had looked into the Divine Realm to some degree and understood well what kind of level a fifth-floor expert represented. His White Tiger Martial Arts Hall's disciples were combat experts to begin with—reaching the fifth floor through self-discovery alone wouldn't be a problem. "I can offer at most one bottle per hundred people, five hundred people initially, for a period of one month, and they need to reach at least the sixth floor of the Trial Tower."
"Reaching the sixth floor within a month is far too difficult. If you want all five hundred to reach it, you'll need at least fifty bottles of S-rank nutrient potions. Otherwise, Hall Master Jiang, you'll have to find someone else." Shi Feng hadn't expected Jiang Tianyuan to be this well-informed, though his understanding still wasn't deep enough. Reaching the sixth floor of the Trial Tower meant the level of a first-tier guild's top experts. Even with a strong foundation, it required a tremendous amount of time to hone one's skills. A few exceptional prodigies might manage it, but not everyone was a prodigy.
Moreover, the resources required to invest in five hundred people would be staggering. Back in the day, the Black Water Consortium had spent who knew how many people, how many resources, and how much time to cultivate a large batch of experts. Now the White Tiger Martial Arts Hall was only offering S-rank nutrient potions, with zero support from the Divine Realm itself. There was no way one bottle per hundred people was feasible—if he agreed to that, he'd lose his pants and then some.
Jiang Tianyuan stared at the completely unyielding Shi Feng and fell silent for a moment.
"We can't possibly hand over that many S-rank nutrient potions. Ten bottles at most—the rest can be paid in Credit Points." Jiang Tianyuan conceded a step.
S-rank nutrient potions were extremely precious to the White Tiger Martial Arts Hall as well. Every national tournament consumed massive quantities, and the world tournament required even more. There was only so much they could spare.
"I only accept S-rank nutrient potions and Spirit Nourishing Tea," Shi Feng said firmly. "If Hall Master Jiang can't make a decision right now, you can go back and discuss it further."
If it was Credit Points he needed, he could earn those himself. Moreover, the city was still under construction. Once it was complete and the virtual industry's potential fully erupted, Credit Points would pour in by the truckload.
"Fine. I'll go discuss it again, though the outcome may not be too optimistic," Jiang Tianyuan sighed.
After that, Shi Feng left the reception room.
No sooner had Shi Feng departed than another person entered the room from a side door. This man had features as striking as the stars and moon, and wore a martial robe in alternating black and white. He radiated an inexplicable warmth, and the moment he stepped into the room, it felt as though the entire space revolved around him.
"Hall Master, that kid is way too ungrateful. You personally extended the invitation and he not only refused to appreciate it, but he had the nerve to make an outrageous demand. Should I go to Beidou Training Hall and put him in his place?" the man said with a hint of irritation.
"Forget it. It was just something I floated, anyway. Even if he agreed, there's no guarantee the Grand Hall Master would accept it—after all, the other hall masters have also recommended quite a few people." Jiang Tianyuan waved his hand dismissively. "The setback here in Jinhai City is more of a concern—it won't bode well for our White Tiger Martial Arts Hall's next phase of expansion. You'll be taking over from Qi Wen from now on. Do your best to restore the White Tiger Martial Arts Hall's reputation in a short time, and get our first batch of students into the Divine Realm to take a look around and familiarize themselves with the situation. That way, they won't be going in completely blind."
"Don't worry, Hall Master. I've already made the arrangements. Every student has been equipped with a high-grade virtual headset, and the advanced students all have full-immersion virtual cabins. Before the other hall masters even start making their moves, we'll have already established a solid foothold in the Divine Realm." The man, called Tianji, smiled.
Meanwhile, Shi Feng returned to the Greenwater Villa and immediately logged into the Divine Realm.
His first-class job transfer quest—he had only just begun to find some direction. But Xing Huo's challenge had caused too much of a stir. If he didn't accept it, he'd become a laughingstock in White River City, and Beidou Training Hall would suffer the fallout as well. He wasn't about to let such a promising situation slip away.