Before he knew it, Bai Ran, the protagonist himself, had arrived before Sea God Island, the symbol of Shrek Inner Court.
Originally, Bai Ran had planned to visit the teaching building and see what classes at Shrek Outer Academy were actually like.
But on second thought, he would experience it himself next year anyway. Why was he in such a hurry? Was he rushing to see how his seniors suffered in prison?
Standing on the shore and looking at the lake before him, Bai Ran suddenly felt a little lost.
As a Food-type Soul Master, even though Soul Tools could make up for his lack of combat power, compared with the Soul Tools of the Sun Moon Continent, the Soul Tool technology on the Douluo Continent was clearly several eras behind.
On today's Douluo Continent, even Shrek Academy, which claimed to be the best academy on the continent, did not have a true ninth-rank Soul Engineer.
"A Food-type Soul Master like me still needs to find a powerful and reliable other half to protect me."
Build a harem?
With women being strong and men weak, building a harem really could get his legs broken.
(Three-Eyed Ruishou: Go on. I'm listening.)
Still, matters as significant as that were far too distant for Bai Ran at this stage.
Rather than thinking about that, he might as well consider what still needed improvement at his first Luckin Coffee Shop in Shrek Outer Academy.
For example, he could customize a batch of packaging bags printed with the Luckin Coffee logo, or order a few advertising boards to place outside the shop and explain the benefits and effects of coffee as a beverage.
Besides that, the simplest and most straightforward method would be to have his uncle promote it for him.
But if he did that, Bai Ran was afraid he would truly become a miserable corporate slave.
Therefore, the instant that thought surfaced, Bai Ran ruthlessly dismissed it.
"Little one, what are you doing here?
The lake is deep. Be careful not to fall in by accident."
Just as Bai Ran was sending a voice transmission to his uncle and waiting for him to come pick him up,
an old man's voice suddenly rang out beside his ear.
Bai Ran hurriedly looked toward the source of the voice and saw an old man reclining in a lounge chair, holding a newspaper in his hands.
Bai Ran had met nearly all of Shrek Inner Court's higher-ups except Mu En.
If nothing unexpected happened, this should be Mu En, Elder Mu.
Yet something seemed off. Because Mu En had been poisoned by the former sect master of the Body Sect, he could practically only sit in a wheelchair.
But this old man was casually crossing his legs, looking nothing like Elder Mu.
"I'm waiting for someone here. What are you doing here, Grandpa?"
Although Sea God Island had the word "sea" in its name, it was ultimately just an artificial lake.
Sitting by the lake to sunbathe during the hottest part of the day?
Bai Ran felt that something about this man was more or less abnormal, so he quickly moved two steps away.
"Oh, what a coincidence. This grandpa is waiting for someone too."
"Who are you waiting for, Grandpa?"
That damned curiosity still made Bai Ran unable to stop himself from asking.
"There. He's here."
The old man had barely finished speaking
when a familiar figure landed steadily on the shore.
It was none other than Bai Ran's uncle, Ye Tian.
"Huh? Why did Master Ye come personally?"
Upon seeing the newcomer, the old man, who had been rather carefree just moments ago, immediately stood up and put away the lounge chair and everything else.
"Since Senior Tianyang has come in person, how could this junior possibly neglect you?"
Ye Tian remained quite respectful toward the old man.
He had originally thought that the Dou Ling Empire would casually send over a Soul Douluo. He had not expected them to send not only a Title Douluo, but the Dou Ling Empire's strongest Title Douluo—the Tianyang Douluo, known as the guardian deity of the Dou Ling Empire.
Of course, Shrek Academy's rules could not be broken. As the core of Shrek Academy, the Inner Academy could not be casually entered by anyone unrelated to Shrek Academy.
Even though Tianyang Douluo was a level 97 Super Douluo, he could only remain within the Shrek Outer Academy grounds.
Unless there was an urgent matter and he had received an invitation from the Inner Academy's higher-ups.
But clearly, Tianyang Douluo had come for personal business.
If there really had been something urgent, he would not have been so idle as to drag out a lounge chair and sunbathe while reading the newspaper.
"Uncle, this old—"
Before Bai Ran could finish speaking, his uncle Ye Tian covered his mouth with a hand.
Ye Tian: Without him even speaking, I already know what my nephew wants to call him. It's either old bastard or old fart.
"Master Ye, this child?"
"My nephew. My biological nephew."
"No wonder his features resemble Master Ye's so closely."
Tianyang Douluo knew something of Ye Tian's past, so he did not say much more.
"Senior Tianyang, this is what you wanted. It is best to consume it within three days."
Ye Tian took an insulated box from his Storage Ring and handed it over.
"Thanks, Master Ye."
After accepting the item, Tianyang Douluo prepared to take his leave.
"Master Ye, come visit Douling City when you have time. The gates of the Dou Ling Empire will always be open to you."
After accepting the item, Tianyang Douluo slowly made his way toward the academy gates.
Non-members of Shrek Academy were forbidden from flying within the academy.
Tianyang Douluo would not challenge rules established by others for no reason.
The Dou Ling Empire was already the weakest of the Douluo Continent's three great empires, so it needed to maintain a good relationship with Shrek Academy the most.
Even the son of the former princess, Xue Lingxun, was studying at Shrek Academy. (Who else could it be besides Xu Sanshi?)
Watching Tianyang Douluo's departing figure, Bai Ran headed toward the Inner Academy with his uncle. Driven by curiosity once again, he asked, "Uncle, what was inside that insulated box?"
"Can't you tell me?"
When he saw that his uncle had not responded for a long time, Bai Ran asked again.
"It's not that I can't tell you. You're just too young. It's better not to know about this sort of thing."
There was actually nothing much inside that box.
The current emperor of the Dou Ling Empire had no sons. In order to produce an heir, he had sought out all sorts of famous physicians. Now, having heard that Shrek Academy had a "divine chef" skilled in medicinal cuisine, he had come seeking help.
Given the relationship between Shrek Academy and the Dou Ling Empire, there was no way they would refuse such a request.
Thus, Ye Tian had used the virility-boosting parts of one ten-thousand-year Soul Beast and eight thousand-year Soul Beasts to prepare a powerful tonic.
As for why it was better to consume it within three days?
It was entirely because the insulated box could only retain heat for three days. Once that time was up, the nourishing effects of the food inside would not be greatly affected.
But the flavor would suffer drastically, especially that fishy, gamey smell. Given the Dou Ling Empire emperor's usual debauched nature, there was a one-hundred-percent chance that it would go to waste.
"Ranran, did the coffee sell well at noon?"
Because he had spent the past two days cooking that powerful tonic, Ye Tian had not paid much attention to his nephew.
Mainly because Bai Ran had said beforehand that he did not need to come support the shop. He was afraid that if business was too good, Bai Ran would be too busy to handle it.
"It was all right."
"Wait, are there really people who like drinking that bitter stuff?"
Having never tried a Raw Coconut Latte, Ye Tian sighed helplessly. The world truly was full of wonders.
"Uncle, once you try the Raw Coconut Latte coffee I make, you won't say that anymore."
"All right, all right. Your uncle will definitely have a good taste later.
By the way, Ranran, are you used to the food in the Outer Academy cafeteria? If you aren't, I'll have someone deliver meals to you tomorrow."
Bai Ran: Uh, I actually haven't eaten any.
Since he did not know how to answer, he simply responded with silence.
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