Douluo Continent: Starting with the Tiger Emperor Template

"you?"

Xuanzi raised an eyebrow, his eyes cold.

"I must admit you are a prodigy. A level 47 Soul Master, you possess a physical body and mental strength comparable to a Soul Saint, and you can even contend with Soul Saints of higher levels."

"But I am a level 98 Super Douluo. In the face of absolute strength, any genius is just a joke."

He took a step forward, and his imposing aura intensified.

"For example, right now, if I were to kill you on the spot, what way could you possibly escape my attack?"

He stared into Lu Ren's eyes, trying to see fear, panic, or even the slightest wavering.

But there was nothing there.

Those eyes were as calm as a stagnant pool.

Seeing this, Xuanzi frowned.

"Oh, now I understand what you rely on so calmly in the face of me."

His gaze fell on the bulging pocket at Lu Ren's waist.

"Is that the soul tool in your pocket? The kind that's connected to the entire academy's alarm system. As long as you pour soul power into it, the entire alarm will go off."

Xuanzi extended his hand, his tone leaving no room for argument:

"Take it out."

Lu Ren remained unmoved.

Xuanzi snorted coldly, his arm passing through the less than an arm's length distance between the two, reaching into Lu Ren's pocket, and taking out the silver-white spherical soul tool.

The surface of the sphere is smooth, and the fine patterns of the soul-guiding magic array can be faintly seen.

He turned the ball over and found a drop of red blood on it.

The blood had dried up, yet it still emitted a faint fluctuation of soul power, as if it had been deliberately preserved.

Xuanzi paused for a moment, about to lean closer for a closer look, when he heard Lu Ren's voice coming from the other side, carrying a hint of nonchalance:

"It seems you're very confident in Shrek Academy. Aren't you afraid of losing the competition?"

Xuanzi's attention was instantly drawn back by Lu Ren. He casually tossed the spherical soul tool aside, and the sphere rolled a few times on the ground before coming to rest in the shadows of the corner of the wall.

"Shrek Academy is the number one academy on the entire continent," Xuanzi said in a relaxed tone, "so naturally I'm very confident. No one can end Shrek's championship."

"That's precisely why I didn't choose Shrek Academy," Lu Ren said.

"Oh?"

"You've won too many championships already, you don't need my strength, and you don't need another championship. But the Sun Moon Royal Soul Master Academy is different. In order to win this championship, they are willing to give me a 100,000-year soul bone after it's all done."

Xuanzi's pupils suddenly contracted.

"A soul bone from 100,000 years ago?!"

His voice rose a few decibels, and his cloudy eyes widened.

He looked at Lu Ren, trying to find any trace of a joke on that young face.

Lu Ren's expression was as serious as if he were signing a life-or-death document at a negotiating table, showing no sign of lying.

"The Sun Moon Empire is being so generous?" Xuanzi's voice deepened. "You're asked to lead them to victory against Shrek Academy, and all they give you is a 100,000-year-old soul bone? They're really going all out."

He took a deep breath, his chest heaving violently a few times.

"You bastard..."

He cursed, his voice filled with suppressed anger:

"Do you know how tense the situation is on the mainland right now? Once the Sun Moon Empire defeats the three former empires and Shrek Academy in the competition, what will they do next?"

"They will wage war, flatten the entire continent, and unify the world!"

His finger poked at Lu Ren's chest.

"If the Sun Moon Empire wants to dominate the continent, the first thing it needs to deal with is not Star Luo, not Heavenly Soul, and certainly not Fighting Spirit."

"They're targeting Shrek Academy, because only we have the ability to unite the three kingdoms and work together to resist the Sun Moon Empire."

"Only we have enough high-end strength to contend with their top-tier Soul Masters."

"The Sun Moon Empire doesn't dare to test our strength with a major battle, but they have been probing us. And the best way to do that is through the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Battle Tournament."

Xuanzi paused, his gaze fixed on Lu Ren.

"So, young man, I see you have absolutely no connection with the Sun Moon Empire, yet you want to help them? What are your intentions?"

Lu Ren's expression remained unchanged.

"I'm an orphan, what does the situation on the mainland have to do with me? I only need to benefit from it, that's enough for me."

Upon hearing this, Xuanzi clenched his teeth:

"In that case, Shrek Academy is willing to offer you a 100,000-year-old soul bone! As long as you are willing to join us."

His voice was deep, emphasizing each word:

"Besides, do these Soul Masters even have any experience dealing with 100,000-year-old Soul Beasts?"

"If we're talking about which faction has the most 100,000-year soul rings, it's definitely Shrek Academy."

He took a step forward, his imposing aura slightly diminished, replaced by an almost earnest seriousness.

"If you are willing to join Shrek Academy, we are willing to hunt two 100,000-year-old soul beasts for you, and the soul rings and soul bones will all be yours."

"At the same time, I will also help you assemble a complete set of soul bones, each of which is at least 80,000 years old."

He held up two fingers and waved them in front of Lu Ren.

"What do you think of these terms?"

Lu Ren shook his head.

"I've already made a contract with the Sun Moon Royal Soul Master Academy." His tone was calm. "It's the kind of contract I swear on with my martial soul; I can't break it."

Although the deal agreed upon with Jing Hongchen was not sworn by martial soul, it was a mutual bond established between Lu Ren and Jing Hongchen. This is different from self-imposed bonds, and the party that breaches the contract will pay a more terrifying price.

He couldn't afford the price, and neither could Jing Hongchen.

"Besides..." Lu Ren paused, "If I go with you today because you offer better terms, what if someone else offers better terms tomorrow? Should I go with them too?"

"Would you dare hire someone like that?"

Xuanzi opened his mouth, but for a moment he couldn't refute it.

He was silent for a moment, then took a deep breath.

"Impossible. No other force can offer better terms than us."

He stared at Lu Ren, a hint of annoyance in his eyes.

"What exactly do you want in order to join Shrek Academy? Do you intend to spend your entire life at this Soul-Breaking Instructor Academy?"

"I'll only stay until graduation," Lu Ren said. "As for where I'll go after graduation, that's uncertain."

"Then come to Shrek Academy!" Xuanzi blurted out. "We'll treat you at the highest level!"

Lu Ren looked at him and suddenly smiled.

The smile was faint, like a thin layer of sunlight in winter—not warm, but carrying something indescribable.

"How about we make a bet?"

Xuanzi raised an eyebrow.

bet?

At this time?

What does it mean?

"If I lead the Sun Moon Royal Soul Master Academy to victory over your Shrek Academy in the continent-wide competition a few months from now, you will unconditionally hand over a 100,000-year-old soul bone to me."

"What if you lose?" Xuanzi asked in return.

"If I lose," Lu Ren said without any change in tone, "I'll join Shrek Academy and work for you for the rest of my life."

"I'll do whatever you tell me to do, even if you treat me like a dog."

"Not only that, I don't want the soul bone set that Shrek Academy helped me collect. Instead, I will help you hunt down 100,000-year-old soul beasts and fill all the soul bones into your treasury."

Upon hearing this condition, the corridor fell silent instantly.

Xuanzi frowned, the wrinkles on his face deepening into deep furrows.

After a long silence, he spoke:

"Playing this hard?"

Lu Ren's tone carried a subtle hint of provocation:

"What? You're too scared? Or is Shrek Academy really that weak, afraid of a mere four-ring Soul Master like me?"

"Is the glory of your Shrek Academy really so afraid of being ended by a mere four-ring Soul Master like me?"

"If you win, I will have no complaints about Shrek Academy and will admire you from the bottom of my heart. After the competition, I will immediately withdraw from Sun Moon Royal Soul Master Academy and join Shrek Academy."

Xuanzi's expression changed. He stared at Lu Ren for a long time, so long that the soul guide lights in the corridor dimmed by one degree.

"it is good."

Xuanzi finally uttered this word, his voice hoarse:

"I'll bet you!"

Given such a foregone conclusion, and the fact that Shrek Academy would gain a top-tier genius afterward, what reason did he have to refuse?

He also wouldn't mind cracking down on the kid's arrogance.

It was just a bet.

Xuanzi was extremely dismissive of this.

"A verbal agreement doesn't count," Lu Ren said. "You have to swear an oath with your martial spirit."

Xuanzi paused for a moment.

How can he be so confident?

Could Shrek Academy really lose?

He couldn't imagine the scene. With the strength of this year's participants from the academy and the legacy of the Shrek Seven Devils, how could they possibly lose to a group of Soul Masters who only knew how to hide behind their Soul Guidance Devices?

Even with Lu Ren joining, he would still only be a four-ring Soul Master.

Thinking of this, Xuanzi sneered, his soul power condensing in his palm, transforming into a ball of pale golden flame. Within that flame, the phantom of Taotie appeared, its huge mouth wide open, as if it were about to devour the heavens and earth.

"I, Xuanzi, swear by my martial spirit, Taotie."

His voice was deep and solemn, echoing in the corridor.

"If Lu Ren leads the Sun Moon Royal Soul Master Academy to victory over Shrek Academy in the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Battle Tournament, I am willing to wager a 100,000-year-old soul bone, and I will never go back on my word."