Douluo Continent: Starting with the Tiger Emperor Template

Mingde Hall.

The most mysterious place in the Sun Moon Empire is also the pinnacle of soul tool technology.

Lu Ren followed Jing Hongchen through several tight metal doors and stepped into a building that was completely different from the rest of the academy.

The corridor was lined with all sorts of soul tools, from miniature communication devices to large-scale attack soul cannons, each radiating pure soul power fluctuations. The air was filled with the smell of metal and energy, and the soft lighting exuded a cold, technological feel.

Jing Hongchen's office is on the top floor.

Upon entering, Lu Ren immediately sensed the extraordinary nature of this office. The walls were inlaid with countless soul guidance arrays, the bookshelves were filled with design drawings and ancient books, and the most eye-catching feature was a huge desk with a complete soul guidance display screen embedded in its desktop.

Jing Hongchen took his seat first, and with a light tap of his fingertip, a visible transparent barrier instantly spread out, enveloping the entire office.

Soundproof enclosure.

"Please sit down, young friend Lu Ren."

Lu Ren calmly took his seat, his gaze sweeping over the top expert in the Soul Master field from the Sun Moon Empire.

Jing Hongchen interlaced her fingers and placed them on the table, her sharp gaze fixed directly on Lu Ren, without the slightest hint of ambiguity:

"I'll get straight to the point. Fourteen years old, a level 44 Soul Master, and his fourth Soul Ring is a 50,000-year-old one. Even the core geniuses of Shrek Academy's inner court can only look up to him with envy."

He paused, his tone becoming meaningful:

"Shrek Academy is known as the holy land of soul masters. It has always spared no effort to win over top geniuses, and its treatment, resources, and inheritance are all top-notch on the continent."

"Why did you choose my Sun Moon Royal Soul Master Academy when there were such good places to go? You even went so far as to cause trouble at the gate and force your way in..."

Jing Hongchen's gaze suddenly sharpened:

"I'd like to know why you insist on choosing my Sun Moon Royal Soul Master Academy. Could it be that you have some significant grudge against Shrek Academy?"

Lu Ren already had a plan in mind.

On his face, a faint hint of sarcasm appeared:

"It's not a holiday. It's just that I can't stand Shrek's arrogant and hypocritical attitude of being in control of everything."

He leaned forward slightly, his tone calm yet utterly persuasive:

"I am an orphan, born into a rogue cultivator family. I gained my current strength through a fortuitous encounter in the Star Dou Great Forest."

"But when I was hunting soul beasts alone in the Star Dou Great Forest, I encountered Shrek Academy students who bullied me and even tried to steal my soul rings and opportunities."

His gaze turned cold:

"The so-called holy land of soul masters is nothing more than a gathering place where the strong bully the weak. Even if you knelt down and begged me to join such a place, I would not deign to give it a second glance."

"So, for the past year, I've been going against the people from Shrek Academy's outer court. They're probably searching for me everywhere right now, but they never imagined I'd escaped to the Sun Moon Empire."

These words are half true and half false.

Being bullied by Shrek Academy students is a lie, but robbing them is the truth.

As long as Jing Hongchen sends people to investigate, they will definitely be able to find out that there is indeed a mysterious boy in the Star Dou Great Forest who specializes in robbing Shrek Academy students.

This is enough.

Upon hearing this, Jing Hongchen's brows relaxed slightly.

Being bullied by Shrek Academy is a reasonable excuse, but what's strange is that the Shrek Academy members didn't notice his monstrous talent?

Why didn't they go to great lengths to win him over?

"So, besides wanting to get revenge on Shrek Academy, what other purpose did you have in joining our academy?"

"Of course I do," Lu Ren said frankly. "I need top-notch cultivation resources and a safe cultivation environment, and the Sun Moon Royal Soul Master Academy is my only option right now."

He paused, then offered the most tempting offer to Jing Hongchen:

"Besides, hasn't your Sun Moon Royal Soul Master Academy always been outmatched by Shrek Academy in the Continental Elite Soul Master Competition?"

"This time, with my help, I might be able to help you win the championship, break Shrek's winning streak and dominance, and trample Shrek underfoot. Wouldn't that be a good thing?"

Jing Hongchen frowned:

"Young man, you are arrogant."

"Shrek Academy's current status is definitely not ordinary."

"Your addition will certainly strengthen our team, but it is not enough to guarantee that we can defeat Shrek Academy 100% of the time."

Lu Ren looked at Jing Hongchen and said in a deep voice, "Then let's have a fair deal."

"If joining me doesn't help you crush Shrek under your feet, then from now on, I'm one of you. I'll do whatever you tell me to do."

"If I help you win..." He paused, "I don't want anything else, I only want one thing."

"Please feel free to speak."

Lu Ren spoke without hesitation:

"I want a 100,000-year-old soul bone."

After he finished speaking, the entire office fell silent for a moment.

Jing Hongchen's expression froze.

He suppressed all expression on his face, staring coldly at Lu Ren with eyes as sharp as knives.

"It seems that this is your main purpose."

Lu Ren smiled without saying a word, letting that gaze sweep over him.

"Let's get something else." Jing Hongchen rejected him directly, his tone leaving no room for argument. "As long as it's not a 100,000-year-old soul bone, I can give you even a level nine soul tool."

"However, only a 100,000-year-old soul bone can provide me with the greatest improvement."

Lu Ren spoke calmly and deliberately, as if stating a fact:

"Moreover, once the academy defeats Shrek Academy fair and square in the All-Continent Soul Master Competition and tramples Shrek Academy underfoot, the impact on the original three kingdoms of Douluo Continent will be enormous."

He leaned forward slightly, his gaze fixed directly on Jing Hongchen:

"At least it will open everyone's eyes and let them see who is truly the number one power on the continent. The future Sun Moon Empire will surely unify the continent."

These words moved Jing Hongchen somewhat.

That really hit the nail on the head.

Lu Ren continued, "In this competition, the Sun Moon Royal Soul Master Academy won the championship, crushing Shrek Academy. The academy and the Sun Moon Empire will gain so much."

He spread his hands, his tone calm yet resolute:

"I just want a 100,000-year-old soul bone, is that too much to ask?"

Jing Hongchen stared at him for a long time.

"Do you think a 100,000-year-old soul bone is as common as cabbage?" His voice turned cold. "Leaving aside whether we have the ability to hunt 100,000-year-old soul beasts, even if we did, why should we give you a 100,000-year-old soul bone?"

"Many high-ranking officials are vying for him, not to mention members of the royal family."

Lu Ren did not back down:

"Because, while your soul tools are indeed powerful, you have to admit that powerful soul tools are only effective when used in conjunction with powerful soul masters."

He paused, his tone becoming even more certain:

"Theoretically speaking, if Mingde Hall were to join forces with Shrek Academy and become allies, it would be the most powerful force on the Douluo Continent, without exception."

"But that's just theory."

His gaze was fixed on Jing Hongchen:

"You lack powerful Soul Masters as allies, but my talent and aptitude guarantee that I will become a Limit Douluo in the future."

Using plain words to say the most arrogant things.

Level 99, Ultimate Douluo.

The office was so quiet that you could hear the hum of the soul-guided device running.

Jing Hongchen's expression darkened.

He had been teaching for decades and had seen countless geniuses, but this was the first person to dare to say to him, "I will definitely become a Limit Douluo."

Moreover, looking into those clear yet deep eyes, he really wanted to say something like, "The future is uncertain and unpredictable; how dare you try to fool this old man with such empty words..."

But he was unable to refute it.

The passion he had forgotten deep in the years, the ambitions and dreams he once had in his youth, were gently stirred by the young man's few words.