Flender saw Lu Ning look his way.
The smile on his face remained unchanged.
"This is Prince Xue Qinghe of the Heaven Dou Empire."
"The terms he offered our Shrek Academy are..."
"All serving teachers at Shrek will be granted the title of Viscount. Moreover, Shrek Academy will retain its name and teaching methods."
"We will nominally be affiliated with Heaven Dou Royal Academy, but will not fall under its jurisdiction."
"As for admissions..."
"Priority will be given to candidates from the Heaven Dou nobility."
There was indeed a measure of temptation in Flender's eyes.
He himself did not care about these so-called terms.
He had just obtained his Eighth Soul Ring and was a bona fide Soul Douluo powerhouse. If he wished, even becoming an Earl or Marquis in the Heaven Dou Empire would be within easy reach.
But Xue Qinghe's offer was to grant noble titles to every serving teacher.
That forced him to consider his old companions.
He did not care himself.
But he could hardly neglect to consider those old companions.
"If you think it works, Teacher, that's fine."
Lu Ning yawned and glanced at Xue Qinghe out of the corner of his eye. There was not the slightest trace of a woman about him. What an excellent disguise! No wonder even the palace attendants serving him at close quarters couldn't tell.
But how did he hide his periods?
Lu Ning could not figure it out.
Flender, however, nodded lightly. "Mm, I'll discuss the details of the relocation with His Highness the Crown Prince some more."
"Xiao Ning, take this..."
"Miss Dugu Yan for a look around our academy."
Flender winked at Lu Ning. Clearly, Dugu Yan had not come with Xue Qinghe to discuss Shrek Academy's relocation, but had made the trip specifically to find Lu Ning.
Lu Ning glanced at Dugu Yan.
He led her outside.
Dugu Yan's figure was no less impressive than that of Zhu Zhuqing, who had yet to fully develop. Nor did she have Zhu Zhuqing's icy air; instead, she possessed a mature woman's seductive charm. She wore a turquoise, form-fitting long dress that covered most of her figure, leaving only her fair, straight legs and undergarments intermittently visible. The skirt was slit up to her crotch, and she seemed entirely unconcerned about Lu Ning seeing anything.
Lu Ning swept his gaze around.
"Your grandfather didn't come?"
Lu Ning asked casually.
The Must-Eat Douluo List was quite well-known. Even if Lu Ning did not consider himself, Zhu Zhuqing and Ning Rongrong also needed the Immortal Herbs there to improve themselves. He had not gone yet because he could not beat Dugu Bo and had no way of identifying the Immortal Herbs.
Otherwise, he would have been ready to start harvesting long ago.
Dugu Yan shook her head.
"No."
"But my grandfather is quite interested in you."
Lu Ning's sphincter tightened. Looking at Dugu Yan, he asked earnestly, "He's interested in me?"
"Are you serious?"
Dugu Yan clicked her tongue, ignoring Lu Ning's little reaction.
"He's very interested in your Soul Skill."
"Once you move to Heaven Dou Academy, he might find time to meet you."
"Also..."
Dugu Yan stopped walking.
She moved closer to Lu Ning.
Her scent wafted toward Lu Ning's nose, carrying a faint herbal freshness mixed with the rich fragrance of her rouge and powder.
"How exactly could you tell that toxins were spreading throughout my body?"
"And my grandfather is clearly full of toxins too. There's no reason he can live while I have less than two years left, is there?"
Dugu Yan blinked her beautiful eyes.
This was her real purpose in coming today.
She wanted to get a clear answer from Lu Ning.
Ever since returning, she had been unable to figure out why this was happening.
She could say she did not believe him, but Lu Ning's certainty back at the Great Soul Fighting Arena and the changes in her own body could not lie.
She could say she believed him, but she and Lu Ning had only met once, and had never seen each other before that. How could she trust his words?
"That's why people call your grandfather an old venomous monster."
Lu Ning spoke offhandedly.
"There are so many Jade Phosphorous Serpent Soul Masters, but your grandfather is the only one who can truly be called the Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor."
"Besides him..."
"Have you ever seen another Jade Phosphorous Serpent Soul Master become a Titled Douluo?"
Dugu Yan lowered her head and her eyes.
She understood that Lu Ning's words were true.
It was precisely because of cultivating his Martial Soul that her father had...
If she continued down this path, she would inevitably reach a dead end. When that happened, Dugu Bo would be left all alone, guarding the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.
"You're right."
"Is there a way to fix it?"
Dugu Yan looked intently at Lu Ning, wanting an answer.
Lu Ning shrugged.
"Yes."
"Find a Soul Bone and force the excess toxins into it."
Lu Ning gave her the answer directly.
Dugu Yan's condition was not as severe as Dugu Bo's and did not require any special treatment. A suitable Soul Bone would solve her problem. Soul Bones over ten thousand years old were hard to find.
But for a Titled Douluo like Dugu Bo...
Hundred-year and thousand-year Soul Bones would not be difficult to obtain.
Slaughter enough Soul Beasts in Sunset Forest, and there would always be a chance of a Soul Bone dropping.
"Really?"
Dugu Yan had not expected Lu Ning to tell her the answer without setting a single condition. A peculiar look flashed through her eyes.
"You're not asking for anything?"
Lu Ning shook his head.
"I'm not Tang San."
"If you really feel bad about it, just repay me as you see fit."
Dugu Yan lowered her eyes.
She would rather Lu Ning state a clear condition.
Even asking her grandfather to help kill someone would be better than this "repay me as you see fit."
The less he asked for...
The less she dared offer him a meager repayment.
What if... Lu Ning was hiding some side effect he had not told her about?
As the granddaughter of Poison Douluo Dugu Bo, she had never been willing to believe that such "good people" still existed in this world.
"...Mm. Once you move to Heaven Dou Academy, I'll give you a definite answer."
"The answer will definitely satisfy you."
Dugu Yan raised her eyes again and looked at Lu Ning, a trace of determination flashing through her gaze.
Lu Ning, however, paid it no mind at all.
Instead, he was inwardly working out how to enter the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.
This little favor so far...
Would it be enough to trade for two Immortal Herbs?
At noon.
Lu Ning took Dugu Yan around the village, which was too poor to show off. Dugu Yan no longer had the seriousness she had shown during their negotiation. Instead, she looked relaxed, and even took the initiative to talk to Lu Ning about the Heaven Dou Empire's local customs.
Her swaying skirt drew many gazes.
Yet the skirt seemed specially designed.
No matter how long anyone watched...
They could never catch a glimpse of the sights beneath it.
"Then it's settled."
Outside the dean's office, Xue Qinghe reached out and shook Flender's hand. Their conversation had been very pleasant, and they had clearly finalized the details of the relocation. Flender's face was full of ease.
He, too, had never expected His Highness the Crown Prince to be so generous.
He had not even needed to haggle over the details.
His Highness the Crown Prince had approved everything.
"Xiao Ning." Flender looked toward Lu Ning, who had just returned, and said warmly, "Xiao Ning, see His Highness the Crown Prince off for me. You needn't escort him ten li, but at least accompany him beyond Shrek Academy's grounds."
Lu Ning nodded slightly.
He led Xue Qinghe toward the village entrance.
They had not gone far.
The refined expression remained on Xue Qinghe's face, but he leaned close to Lu Ning's ear and spoke.
"Young Brother Lu Ning."
"What do you think of Spirit Hall?"
Before you continue