Now That's an Angel Investor!
"Who exactly are you?" Ning Cong joked. "To have that kind of connection with the outer court's number one beauty."
"We're just... childhood sweethearts." Lu Cheng smiled.
"Tsk~" Ning Cong wore a mischievous grin, disbelief written all over his face.
Lu Cheng paid him no mind. After tidying the dorm room, he sat cross-legged on the neat bed and began meditating.
He cultivated the Golden Core Skill, which aimed to condense a golden core in the dantian. It occupied the center of the body, and with every cycle of the technique, the golden core released a thread of Soul Power like a heart. After flowing through every part of the body, it returned to the golden core, completing one cycle.
Each cycle absorbed the essence of heaven and earth, strengthening his Soul Power.
For him, as long as he stunned everyone in the freshman assessment three months later, he could fully demonstrate his worth, become a core disciple, and use Shrek's strength to break through the trap the Xu Clan had laid.
So right now, increasing his Soul Power mattered even more than researching Soul Tools.
"Hum..."
Night fell.
The corridor outside gradually grew lively.
Unable to sit still, Ning Cong wandered around the freshmen's dormitory floor, mingling with the other freshmen. Perhaps it was the merchant style passed down through generations of the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect: he was refined and witty, generous with his money, and possessed excellent talent, so he was flourishing among them.
He only returned to room 108 at dusk.
He saw golden light flickering all over Lu Cheng's body, especially at his dantian, as though the surrounding spiritual Qi of heaven and earth were constantly pouring into him.
That speed...
Ning Cong stared, dumbfounded.
The Golden Core Skill was one of the preferred cultivation techniques for many disciples of the upper-tier aristocratic clans. But condensing a golden core was difficult and depended on talent, so in many people's eyes, anyone who could cultivate it was essentially a top-level genius.
His younger cousin, Ning Tian, the current young sect master and greatest genius of the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect, cultivated this very technique.
Yet this cultivation speed, the speed of each golden core cycle, left him tongue-tied and wide-eyed.
He had clearly asked during the day. This guy was rank twenty-three.
But... that couldn't be right?!!
The very next instant.
Light suddenly shone around Lu Cheng, and his golden core grew increasingly dazzling. With a crisp crack, something like a bottleneck seemed to break.
Ning Cong: "..."
Lu Cheng slowly opened his eyes and stretched, feeling quite comfortable.
Rank twenty-four. Not bad.
"You... really are only rank twenty-four?" Ning Cong looked bewildered. "With that cultivation speed, if you awakened your Martial Soul at six, you should at least be a Soul Elder by now, right?"
"Awakened at six?" Lu Cheng smiled and shook his head.
"Sorry, I only awakened my Martial Soul at eight. My family was poor and couldn't afford an expensive Awakening Stone..."
Ning Cong: "..."
Poor, with terrifying talent that was even stronger than the young lady's.
His throat bobbed, and he slapped his thigh hard. Some traditional specialty etched into his genes seemed to be gradually awakening.
"This meal's on me!!"
The next day.
Inside the dorm room.
After chatting with Lu Cheng all night, Ning Cong was not tired at all. Instead, he was brimming with spirit. Yes, he had already written a letter back to the sect.
For a disciple of humble origins who had been held back by poverty, now was the easiest time to win him over.
He genuinely intended to compete with Shrek Academy for him.
The more they talked, the more shocked he became. He even had damn Twin Martial Souls!
Now, when Ning Cong looked at Lu Cheng, it was no different from looking at a huge piece of uncut jade waiting to be unearthed. This could also be considered a hidden dragon emerging into the sea. Whether through the platform of Shrek Academy or the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect, his name would definitely resound across the continent in a few years.
As for now... all in! Go all in, hard!
Of course, in the letter he sent to his family, he had also subtly mentioned Ning Tian. If they could win him over through marriage, that would naturally be best. As for whether Lu Cheng was worthy, the upcoming freshman assessment would prove everything.
A crowd had already lined up in the cafeteria.
Lu Cheng sighed softly. There were no stools in the cafeteria, and only one toilet on each dormitory floor.
It was indeed something Shrek Academy would do.
He just wondered whether Yan Shaozhe had fought others for the toilet back in the day too...
Ning Cong ordered two servings each of Azure Dragon hoof tendons, all of the most expensive grade. The upper end of Shrek Academy's food really was outrageous. Perhaps because it backed onto Star Dou Great Forest, quite a few dishes made from thousand-year and even Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Beasts were available.
This single meal for the two of them cost at least several thousand Gold Soul Coins.
"It really is nice to have money..."
Lu Cheng sighed.
The enrollment period lasted over two months in total, and they were among the earliest arrivals, so there was still roughly half a month before school started.
After breakfast, the two went for a stroll through Shrek City.
As they passed a Soul Tool shop.
Lu Cheng gestured with his lips. "Come on, let's take a look inside..."
"You're interested in Soul Tools too?" Ning Cong asked in surprise.
"Don't forget my Second Martial Soul," Lu Cheng said with a smile.
"Hiss... you monster." Ning Cong's face twitched. Spiritual-type Martial Souls had always been the first choice for Soul Engineers. Moreover, his Blood Pupils absolutely qualified as a top-tier Body Martial Soul. His prospects on the path of a Soul Engineer were probably limitless too.
"Customers, what would you like to see?"
"Our shop has every kind of Soul Tool..." An attendant dressed in fine clothes greeted them with a smile.
Although Lu Cheng was dressed simply, Ning Cong beside him was dressed lavishly enough.
Besides, the two were most likely students of the nearby Shrek Academy. Even if they were poor, it would only be temporary. Attendants like them were not that shortsighted.
"Do you have Carving Knives?" Lu Cheng asked after a moment's thought.
He would only take a look first. He probably really couldn't afford those things.
At worst, he could reveal his talent for Soul Tools later and join the Soul Tool Department. But doing so would bind him completely to Shrek Academy.
"Yes. Please follow me, both of you."
The male attendant led them past the display cases. Lu Cheng examined the assorted Soul Tools displayed behind the clear glass, though most were basic rank-four and rank-five Soul Guidance Rays, Soul Cannons, Milk Bottles below rank three, and some ordinary Flying Soul Tools.
Although the selection seemed somewhat sparse compared with the Sun Moon Empire, in this city, it was already enough to meet most Soul Masters' needs.
"Over here..."
The attendant arrived at a counter.
Lu Cheng's gaze was instantly drawn to the row of Carving Knives displayed on it.
"These are all top-grade Carving Knives, only a step away from Ranked Carving Knives. As long as you aren't carving rank-nine Soul Tool core formations or anything higher, these should satisfy virtually all your needs."
"Forty-three thousand Gold Soul Coins, thirty-seven thousand Gold Soul Coins..." The corner of Lu Cheng's eye twitched. Looking at the steep prices, he sighed softly.
Too expensive...
I really can't afford them.
Even though a scarlet Carving Knife with metallic curves pleased him immensely, whether in its feel or other aspects, its price of forty-three thousand Gold Soul Coins made him shrink back.
"Do you have... high-grade-no, low-grade Carving Knives?" Lu Cheng asked after a moment's thought.
"Yes." The attendant's smile remained unchanged, and he was about to walk toward another counter.
But Ning Cong stopped him.
"I'll take this Scarlet Fire Carving Knife." The youth calmly took out a gold card.
"Charge it to mine."