Douluo Continent: We agreed on a simulation, but they've come to life?

The so-called reward now seems stingy, and it's only one more Immortal Grass than the second place winner.

Even if he sold it on the black market, he could get his hands on it for just over two thousand gold soul coins. The entire team's championship reward combined was only a little over twenty thousand gold soul coins.

So don't tell me the most valuable thing here is your status as a core disciple?!

They really don't treat the outer court disciples like human beings.

Ning Cong, a man of great wealth and influence, turned pale. Was this really not a deliberate attack? Who were you insulting by giving this as a reward?!

"After a unanimous decision by the higher-ups of the Martial Soul Department, Shrek Academy disciples need to undergo tempering. This tempering is meant to toughen their minds and strengthen their bodies. You kids are too impetuous these days. Back when I joined Shrek Academy to cultivate, the environment was incredibly harsh... hundreds of people were fighting for one toilet. You're much better off now, only one toilet per floor. The cultivation resources back then were even more... cough cough." Du Weilun coughed twice, somewhat displeased, seeing the bewildered look on Ning Cong's face and that of many other new disciples.

He was well aware that this was a disrespect to geniuses like Lu Cheng.

But Shrek Academy is never short of monsters!

The name itself is a golden brand. As long as Shrek Academy stands here, it will attract a steady stream of geniuses, and year after year, it will remain the number one academy on the continent.

This is why every Shrek member looks at others with a sidelong glance.

Do we need another genius like you? Do you really think you're something special?

Of course, he was referring to Ning Cong, whose dark expression made him feel somewhat offended... although he was already a little lacking in confidence.

As for Lu Cheng, he still hoped that the child could understand the Dean's good intentions. Giving him soul bones in the early stages could easily raise his threshold, but later he would inevitably have higher requirements for Shrek Academy. It was necessary to take it step by step to make him more loyal to Shrek Academy.

“We…” Ning Cong was about to speak with a dark expression.

But Lu Cheng stopped him.

"Thank you for your kindness, Dean. We will accept these resources." Lu Cheng raised his head, his face full of a bright smile.

pretty good.

Now he finally saw things clearly.

These guys don't treat him like a human being. In the original story, Huo Gua and Wang Dong'er were given two soul bones. Now they're giving him this piece of junk and calling it tempering his character.

Does that mean we have to be grateful to Shrek Academy for being their lackeys?

But it's alright now.

The brighter Lu Cheng's smile, the more disappointed he became with Shrek Academy.

Yan Shaozhe... he really is petty and short-sighted.

If someone like that can become the dean, there's no reason why the Martial Soul System in the original work wouldn't decline.

That's good, though. You can train your dogs all you want. When I'm discovered and removed by the Body Sect, don't bring up any grand principles anymore.

"Hahaha, look how high this kid's awareness is!" Du Weiren was overjoyed.

It still has to be Dean Yan.

I was worried that the child would be dissatisfied, but I didn't expect that everything was within Dean Yan's plan.

After all, Dean Yan had hesitated to grant Lu Cheng the status of a core disciple, intending to first grant him a probationary core disciple status, but this was sternly rejected by Vice Dean Cai Meier.

"Acheng, why are you stopping me?" Ning Cong frowned slightly.

"This is clearly targeting them. If Shrek Academy can't afford to hold one, then don't. My Nine Treasure Glazed Tile School holds a small internal competition and gives much more generous rewards than this. I don't want their charity. Isn't this an insult to me?"

Chapter 56 Rescue; Two Soul Bones

On the tree-lined path back to the dormitory, Lu Cheng sighed softly.

He had already guessed why Yan Shaozhe was being so stingy, even to an unbelievable degree. It was most likely because of the simulation; although the other party hadn't retained any memories, he probably still had some latent impressions of him…

Since that's the case, the path of seeking help from Shrek Academy to save Jiang's mother is now completely blocked.

Shrek probably wanted to discipline him, while simultaneously launching into a long, morally superior lecture of psychological manipulation, much like how they treated Huo Gua in the original story. This approach would be devastating for children who lack love, but for him...

Ha ha.

"There's no need to argue with him, just go along with what he says." Lu Cheng smiled and shook his head.

He tossed the soul-guided storage ring to Ning Cong.

"This is something we worked hard to earn, it would be such a waste to lose it."

“Look at his stingy face, it makes me uncomfortable. What is he pretending for… He gave me such a pittance, and I should thank him? Besides, this is obviously targeting us, suppressing and lecturing us. Cheng, you have to be careful, it’s coming for you…” Ning Cong, as a disciple from a prominent family, naturally had a keen eye, and he saw through Shrek Academy’s intentions at a glance.

After all, this method was a deadly blow to a disciple who came from a poor background and had no one to rely on.

Lu Cheng smiled.

"Don't worry, I'm not stupid."

"However, there's something I'd like to ask for your help with."

“Just say it!” Ning Cong said boldly.

"Help me save someone..." Lu Cheng said thoughtfully.

He originally planned to ask Ma Xiaotao for help, or go to Zhang Lexuan, but after hesitating for a moment, he gave up. The former was always impulsive and not reliable in her work. She was strong enough, but he really didn't feel comfortable entrusting such an important matter as the Mingdou Mountain Range to her.

He asked Ma Xiaotao about the latter and learned that Zhang Lexuan had gone out to carry out a mission for the inspection team. As for where she was, it was hard to say, but at least they couldn't contact her for the time being.

Therefore, after hesitating for a moment, he decided to trouble the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile School.

As a sect that has endured for tens of thousands of years, it is not just about being extremely wealthy. These days, chatting with Ning Cong, I discovered the Ning family's extravagant business empire. Their businesses are spread across almost the entire continent, and their influence is deeply entrenched. Even in the current generation, the strongest member is only a Title Douluo.

But with Limit Douluo retiring from the world and Super Douluo relegated to the second line, having Title Douluo in charge is enough.

Asking the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile School to save them would be a safer option.

……

Ning Cong didn't even go back to his dormitory.

He rushed off to contact the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile School's leader stationed in Shrek City. He sensed that this was the best opportunity to win over Lu Cheng, this super genius. In fact, the moment Lu Cheng spoke, he was already trembling with excitement.

This was a genuine act of kindness in his time of need, and from the moment Lu Cheng asked him for help, it showed that his efforts in the past few days had not been in vain, and that he truly regarded him as a brother.

Is he rich? Yes.

But he spent it very carefully.

Because gold coins can't buy many things, such as trust and friendship like this initial public offering (IPO) shares, he had been worried these days that the class difference would gradually distance him from Lu Cheng, but at this moment, he finally breathed a sigh of relief.

A surge of excitement welled up inside him. It was the thrill of investing, an ingrained feeling, a feeling that flowed in the blood of the Ning family, a feeling of going all in after successfully discovering such a genius.

Shrek City.

In a quaint and antique courtyard.

Ning Cong rushed in, and the servants along the way looked surprised but did not stop him. Everyone recognized this direct descendant of the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile School.

"Xiao Cong?"

In the courtyard.

A sprightly old man with white hair stroked his beard, looking slightly surprised at the panting young man who ran in. He smiled and waved, and a waiter beside him handed him a cup of tea.

"Gulp..." Ning Cong swallowed hard and wiped his mouth.

"Uncle Ye! Your return to the sect tonight is a once-in-a-millennium opportunity for our Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect to turn the tide!"

"Tell me carefully." Upon seeing this, the old man named Uncle Ye's expression gradually became serious.

"..."

Several minutes later, after Ning Cong explained the matter of Jiang's mother in detail, the white-haired old man finally let out a long sigh of relief.

The corners of his mouth unconsciously curled up.

“Xiao Cong, you did the right thing. Shrek Academy is short-sighted when it comes to such rare geniuses. My Nine Treasure Glazed Tile School is not like that… Don’t worry, I will handle this personally. The person you want will appear in Shrek City in three days, completely safe and sound.”

"Hehe, thanks, Uncle Ye," Ning Cong said casually.

"Oh right, bring out a ten-thousand-year soul bone, no, a hundred-thousand-year soul bone..." Ning Ye waved his hand at the attendant beside him and said, "Remember to get a fire-attribute soul bone, to convey the sincerity of our Nine Treasure Glazed Tile School."

He wouldn't mind giving Shrek Academy a piece of his mind.

……

"I guarantee the person will be rescued within three days."

Inside the dormitory, Ning Cong said with a grin.

The Nine Treasure Glazed Tile School may have declined, but rescuing someone from the Xuanming School is still no problem. Not to mention that Jiang's mother is not even under the guard of a major town. It would be best not to have a conflict with them. Even if they really fight head-on, the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile School is definitely not afraid of the Xuanming School.

“Those old bastards dared to steal your sister, hmph, beat them so badly they can’t even get out of their shells.”

"Oh right... there's also a soul bone."

Ning Cong pulled out a crimson left arm bone from his pocket, patted his chest and said, "Shrek Academy is unwilling to give it, so I'll give it to you, brother. I'll just pay for the competition rewards myself."

He then handed Xue Ling'er a ten-thousand-year-old earth dragon soul bone.

"..."

Lu Cheng's eyes were strange.

Is this the number one angel investment family in mainland China?

He had witnessed firsthand this exaggerated boldness.

No wonder dynasties changed hands constantly in the previous life, but the powerful families remained standing. Many times, when kings and nobles were starting out, without the help and support of powerful families, most of them would have died halfway through their journey...

"Alright." Lu Cheng pondered for a moment, took the crimson left arm bone, exhaled a breath of stale air, and nodded slightly.

……

Inner courtyard.

Lu Cheng skillfully walked through a tree-lined path and arrived at a secluded courtyard.

This is where the inner disciples cultivate.

He had no choice but to promise Ma Xiaotao that he would come to see her every day.

Inside the courtyard, Ma Xiaotao was soaking in a hot spring. Her graceful figure was partially obscured by the rising steam. A large white bowl floated on the surface of the water, its surface marked with deep grooves. She scooped up a puddle of water with her delicate hand and poured it onto her fair, porcelain-like skin. Her long, narrow phoenix eyes were gazing at Lu Cheng in the distance.

He waved.

The white skin swayed even more violently.