Yu Xiaogang stood with both hands behind his back.
With a plan firmly in mind, he said, "I know what I'm doing."
"Give me the remaining two Gold Soul Coins."
"I have a way to solve the academy's funding shortfall."
Flender's mouth twitched.
He had never imagined that Yu Xiaogang would reach out and take even those last two Gold Soul Coins.
"Xiaogang, are you planning to go into business?"
"With this little money..."
"I'm afraid you couldn't even rent a storefront."
Zhao Wuji turned his head away.
Once those two Gold Soul Coins were gone, they wouldn't even have money left to buy rice tomorrow.
"Business?"
"Yes, a big business deal, in fact."
"We aren't far from Suotuo City."
"And Suotuo City has a Great Soul Arena. Tomorrow, I'll have Xiao San and Xiao Wu go there for Soul Fighting, feign weakness before their opponents, and wager both of these Gold Soul Coins."
"As long as they can keep winning..."
"Shrek Academy will have an endless stream of funds."
Yu Xiaogang spoke confidently.
Within the Soul Elder Realm...
He didn't believe anyone could be stronger than the disciple he had trained.
A winning streak... was within easy reach.
Even Lu Ning entering the competition would be useless.
Because Lu Ning was no longer a Soul Elder-level Soul Master. Even if he wanted to stop them, he had no way to do so!
"You're certainly confident."
Flender heard nothing wrong with the plan.
He merely offered a reminder.
"But if Xiao San loses, our entire academy will have to go begging."
Yu Xiaogang's face was full of confidence.
"Impossible."
"Someone who can defeat Xiao San in the Soul Elder Realm..."
"Has never appeared anywhere in Suotuo City!"
Yu Xiaogang left with those two Gold Soul Coins.
He headed for Tang San's dormitory.
At that moment, neither Tang San nor Oscar had gone to sleep.
Tang San sat cross-legged on his bed, cultivating, while Oscar twirled a sausage in his hand, his face full of boredom.
Recently, he had abruptly lost his goal in cultivation.
He didn't know what he was cultivating for.
People like Tang San-even Xiao Wu-still had the goal of surpassing Zhu Zhuqing and Ning Rongrong, but he had rather little to do, and he had grown even more withdrawn.
"Xiao Ao, if you're really that bored, go stroll around Flower Willow Lane with Fatty."
"He's been going there every day lately."
Tang San looked at Oscar, who kept making noise, and spoke helplessly.
Oscar put on a pitiful look.
"Those women... are too old!!"
"They're all in their early forties, and they aren't even good-looking. Only Fatty could stomach them."
"Even Boss Dai and Brother Ning..."
At the mention of Lu Ning, Oscar cautiously glanced at Tang San and abruptly changed tack. "Ning Rongrong, Zhu Zhuqing, and your Xiao... are still the pretty ones."
"It's been ages since I last saw a proper beauty."
Hearing Oscar start to discuss Xiao Wu, then seeing him abruptly stop himself, Tang San smiled gently. "You will."
Knock, knock, knock.
A soft knock came at the door.
Oscar quickly got up and opened it.
Yu Xiaogang stood outside, his face betraying neither joy nor anger, and said calmly, "I'm here for Xiao San."
Oscar saw that face.
He froze for a moment.
"Grandmaster?"
"Xiao San's inside. Let me call him for you."
Inside the room, Tang San had already sprung up from his bed upon hearing Grandmaster's voice. He walked toward the door and bowed slightly to Grandmaster, his face filled with respect.
"Teacher."
"Come outside for a moment. I have arrangements for you." Grandmaster held his hands behind his back and gestured for Tang San to head outside. "We've used up the academy's funds."
"Tomorrow, I plan to send you and Xiao Wu to the Soul Fighting Arena."
"For this first match, I'll bet the academy's remaining funds on your victory. Tomorrow, you must pretend to be weak. Remember not to reveal your true strength before the match begins."
Tang San nodded and took out a dozen or so Gold Soul Coins. "Teacher, these are my savings. If they're of any use to you, please keep them for now."
Yu Xiaogang was touched.
He patted Tang San heavily on the shoulder.
"Don't worry."
"I'll make sure you surpass Lu Ning!"
"Your talent is no worse than his, and your family background surpasses his. With my guidance on top of that, there's no way you'll lose!"
Star Dou Great Forest.
A temporary campsite.
Zhu Zhuqing sat beside Lu Ning. They had just finished chatting, and drowsiness was washing over him when he suddenly remembered something. He opened his hand, and a dark black Soul Bone appeared in his palm.
That black Soul Bone startled Zhu Zhuqing so badly that she nearly jumped.
"Th-this is?!"
Lu Ning looked at the Soul Bone he had just taken out of System Space.
"A Fifty-Thousand-Year Thunder Shadow Leopard Left Leg Bone."
"It's a good fit for you."
"Don't want it?"
Lu Ning had obtained this left leg bone a long time ago.
It had been gathering dust in System Space all this time.
As far as Lu Ning was concerned...
This left leg bone wasn't particularly suitable, and none of Shrek's teachers were a good fit for it either. Now that he had taken Zhu Zhuqing a dozen or so times over two days, this left leg bone was only sitting there anyway, so he might as well give it away.
Obtaining something better was child's play for Lu Ning.
With two Martial Souls, he could assemble a full set of Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bones just by hunting Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beasts.
This one... really did fall a little short.
"N-no."
"It's just that this is far too precious."
"Even the Star Luo Imperial Family couldn't casually produce a Soul Bone, let alone..."
Zhu Zhuqing lowered her head, not daring to look at Lu Ning.
Let alone the two of them, "classmates" who hadn't even defined their relationship.
"To other people, this really is pretty important." Lu Ning casually tossed the Thunder Shadow Leopard Soul Bone in his hand, clearly unconcerned about it. "But to me, it's nothing special."
"If you don't need it..."
"I'll leave it here to await someone destined to find it."
As he spoke...
Lu Ning made as though to throw it into the forest.
Seeing that movement, Zhu Zhuqing was immediately alarmed.
"Don't!"
"I want it!"
"I just don't know how to repay you."
"I've never heard of... anyone casually giving away a Soul Bone."
Lu Ning casually stuffed the Soul Bone into her arms.
To say Lu Ning had no selfish intentions at all...
Would have been complete bullshit.
Whatever else happened, he would never really throw this Soul Bone into the forest.
He gave it to Zhu Zhuqing mainly because it could improve her strength.
At least, when she faced Tang San in the future...
She would have another trump card.
There was nothing wrong with using something he couldn't use himself to strengthen his own fleshlight.
"How about..." Looking at Zhu Zhuqing's unease over accepting it, Lu Ning teased, "We do it again tonight?"
At his words, Zhu Zhuqing's cheeks abruptly flushed red.
Even the Soul Bone in her arms felt somewhat hot to the touch now.
The shape of that Soul Bone really did resemble Lu Ning's...
"All right."
"If you want to."
"I don't mind."
Zhu Zhuqing spoke very quietly.
This was the first time she had agreed to Lu Ning's request.
But as she spoke, she kept looking toward Ning Rongrong's tent.
"Then is Ning Rongrong... really going to be left to fend for herself tonight?"
"You can't possibly want both of us, can you?"
Before you continue