Lu Ning stared at Flender before him.
He spoke again.
"What your disciple asked wasn't whether the academy had money."
"It was whether you did."
Looking at Lu Ning's serious expression, Flender hesitated for a long time before nodding firmly.
"Your teacher really doesn't have much money left either."
"You know how it is."
"The money my little shop makes has basically all gone toward supporting the academy."
"Apart from some unsold stock."
"Your teacher really has no gold soul coins available."
Hearing this, Lu Ning did something.
He took a Million Gold Soul Coin Card from the System Warehouse.
It was something the system had randomly gifted him over the years.
Lu Ning had never used it.
The Spirit Hall emblem stamped on it proved that it could be redeemed anywhere on the continent.
As Flender looked at the card Lu Ning handed him, his pupils instantly widened. He had never imagined that the disciple he had raised for over a decade had such an enormous fortune hidden away.
"This money isn't for the academy."
"It's for you."
"You taught us and helped us grow. Providing for your retirement is only right. As for how you use it, that's your business. Your disciple only wants to say..."
"Just don't feed this money to the dogs."
With that, Lu Ning turned and left.
Flender had raised him for years.
Compared to that kindness, this money was nothing more than a single hair off nine oxen.
Giving it to Flender was only right.
Just accompanying him into the Inner Area to hunt soul beasts was worth more than this, wasn't it?
"Xiao Ning!"
Flender accepted the card.
His face was filled with disbelief.
The people around him felt even worse as they watched.
Earning money for the academy was their responsibility as teachers, yet in the end, a student had to shoulder it?
Zhao Wuji looked at Yu Xiaogang with even greater disgust.
This fellow couldn't even measure up to a child!
He had brought over a few hundred gold soul coins and kept showing off, while Lu Ning had tossed out a million without even looking back. He didn't care in the slightest about spending money on his teacher.
By comparison.
Even calling Yu Xiaogang a beast was giving him too much credit.
"No one... is allowed to touch this money!"
Flender put away the Gold Soul Coin Card and spoke with ironclad resolve, his tone firm.
"This is the money Xiao Ning gave me for my retirement."
"I won't spend it on the academy."
"Whoever spent the academy's funds will earn them back themselves. If it affects the students' studies or the academy's operations, they can get the hell out!"
No sooner had Flender finished speaking.
Zhao Wuji, beside him, spoke as well.
"Exactly."
"With the academy's original plan and Dai Mubai's annual support, there was enough for the students to use for an entire year. Whoever changed the plan can bear the consequences themselves."
"You can't expect all of us to shoulder everything together."
"At worst, the academy closes down, and I'll retire too. I've never heard of a Soul Saint starving to death."
Shao Xin also tied the bag of gold soul coins tightly shut, giving Yu Xiaogang no chance to reach in for more.
"Exactly."
"I'm taking this money to pay the grain suppliers."
"Even if the academy closes down, we can't leave debts unpaid. After all, I put my old face on the line to borrow from every one of them."
All three directed their barbs straight at Yu Xiaogang.
Even Flender, who had previously considered their old friendship, had been jolted awake by Lu Ning's million-gold-soul-coin card. He had already done enough. There was no reason for him to keep wiping Yu Xiaogang's backside.
If Yu Xiaogang hadn't offended Lu Ning and Dai Mubai one after another.
How could the academy have fallen into such dire straits?
This year, Dai Mubai hadn't given them so much as a copper coin.
That had already left the academy struggling to make ends meet. Combined with Yu Xiaogang's medicinal baths, which spared no expense, the academy's funds had been completely exhausted within a month of the school year beginning.
Yu Xiaogang should bear... that cost!
"Fine!"
"In that case."
"I'll take responsibility for what I've done!"
"I'll take Tang San with me and earn every last coin back for you."
Yu Xiaogang spoke indignantly.
He no longer dared to look at the bag of gold soul coins in Shao Xin's hands.
He turned and left immediately.
Zhao Wuji snorted coldly. "Don't act so self-righteous. This is what you ought to do!"
"Apart from Tang San and Xiao Wu."
"Have any of the other students received preferential treatment from you?"
"Has their strength improved noticeably? You used the academy's money to subsidize your own disciple, so your disciple should earn it back for the academy!"
Yu Xiaogang's steps faltered, and he clenched his fists. Without arguing, he left the village entrance and headed toward his room.
That night.
Lu Ning sat cross-legged on his bed and began absorbing the sword bone.
The soul skill of that Left Leg Bone tempted Lu Ning.
Especially its absolute suppression of sword-wielding soul masters.
Dai Mubai had already fallen asleep. Ma Hongjun hadn't come back; he had probably gone to Flower Willow Lane to have fun.
It took an entire night.
Only then did Lu Ning finish absorbing the sword bone.
This was Lu Ning's first soul bone, and the improvement it brought him could almost be described as a metamorphosis. Not only had his physique improved, but the soul bone had rapidly driven up his soul power, alongside the boost from the "Lust" trait brought by his earlier loving care for Zhu Zhuqing and Ning Rongrong.
His soul power had now reached rank forty-six.
If Little Lu Ning put in a little more effort during this period.
He could go hunt his fifth soul ring and advance to become a Soul King.
Lu Ning opened his eyes.
Dai Mubai was still resting in bed.
Yu Xiaogang was taking Tang San and Xiao Wu to the Soto Great Soul Arena. He truly had no energy left to continue teaching the others during this period, leaving them to their own devices.
Knock, knock, knock.
Someone knocked softly on the door.
Lu Ning opened the door. Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing stood outside. Without ceremony, Ning Rongrong took the Wine Gourd from Lu Ning's waist and drank a full mouthful.
"Wake up earlier next time!"
"The effects of the wine have already worn off for us!"
"If we keep wasting time like this, we really won't be able to keep up with Tang San and the others."
Ning Rongrong spoke with her hands on her hips.
Zhu Zhuqing, however, seemed much calmer.
"I heard Grandmaster took Tang San and the others to the Soul Fighting Arena for training today."
"With your Wine Gourd, our soul power levels won't rise any slower than theirs, but actual combat is a problem. Neither Ning Rongrong nor I have much practical combat experience."
"Besides, Shrek Academy requires a certain number of wins at the Soul Fighting Arena to graduate."
"Should we go?"
With the soul bone Lu Ning had given her.
Zhu Zhuqing was clearly more confident than before.
Aside from building practical combat experience.
What she wanted even more... was actually to take down Tang San!
She had always remembered Yu Xiaogang's earlier mockery of Lu Ning. She hadn't said anything before only because she and Lu Ning hadn't been close. She couldn't possibly stand up for someone she barely knew.
But now...
Lu Ning was her man.
She wouldn't allow anyone to look down on him.
Her silence didn't mean she had forgotten.
She would restore Lu Ning's dignity in her own way. This fellow who ran rampant over her body was hers alone to bully.
"Want to show off before everyone?"
"Then let's go."
Lu Ning didn't refuse Zhu Zhuqing.
Tang San had a soul bone, and so did she.
Although neither of them would most likely use their soul bones, if they truly did, she wouldn't be any worse than Tang San!
Before you continue