Chapter 250: The Wager

Upon hearing these words from Ning Feiliu, Ning Rongrong bit her lip.

Ning Mingrui sighed and cast a glance at Ning Rongrong.

With Rongrong here now, he and Feiliu certainly could not discuss anything.

It would be better to let Feiliu calm down first.

"Then I will escort Rongrong over first, but Feiliu... could you stay here for a few days? I will come back to find you so we can return together," Ning Mingrui said.

Ning Feiliu thought about it; naturally, there was no reason he could not.

So he nodded and said, "Alright then, I will rest here for a few days and wait for Big Brother to return together."

"Very well. Rongrong, and fellow disciples and Elders, let us go," Ning Mingrui said to Ning Rongrong and the accompanying group.

"Yes..." Ning Rongrong and the accompanying group all said in unison.

Then they turned and left the hotel, boarded the carriage fleet outside, and continued on their journey.

Their destination was... Soto City.

Ning Feiliu turned and took the hotel room voucher upstairs to rest, taking the opportunity to have the hotel staff arrange a sumptuous meal.

Xue Di had not eaten for so long and was quite craving a bite.

On the other side, Soto City was actually not very far from Barak Royal City.

Furthermore, since Ning Mingrui and his group were all Spirit Masters, the horses driven by the carriage fleet were half-Soul Beast horses crossbred with Soul Beasts, just like those of the Heaven Dou Empire's Royal Knights, and their speed was quite fast.

Thus, less than two days later, they arrived outside Soto City.

Just at this moment, Ning Rongrong said to Ning Mingrui, "Big Brother... you can just drop me off here; you should head back first."

She still hoped not to rely on her family and sect. Although her personality had changed, the persistence in her bones had not diminished; instead, it had become even deeper.

"How can that be... I should at least see what that academy of yours is like, so I can entrust the academy's dean and teachers to take good care of you," Ning Mingrui insisted, still wanting to escort Ning Rongrong directly to Shrek Academy.

He truly had the demeanor of an elder brother, possessing a father-like concern for his younger siblings.

"No need... Big Brother, I am very grateful to you, but often I am like San Ge, relying on myself rather than others," Ning Rongrong said to Ning Mingrui earnestly.

She seemed to have sensed something and added, "Of course... I am not saying I must be better than San Ge or anything; I just want to prove myself."

"San Ge is very powerful, he is a genius; I know no matter how I compare, I cannot match him, but I still want to prove that I am not as incompetent as he said. I just want to prove it a little..."

Seeing Ning Rongrong like this, Ning Mingrui let out a long sigh.

Therefore, he did not continue to insist on escorting Ning Rongrong, because he knew that if he continued, it would be equivalent to constantly striking at Ning Rongrong's self-confidence.

This was definitely not a good thing for Ning Rongrong.

Ning Mingrui still genuinely considered things for others; he would not think that just because he felt something was for someone's own good, it truly was.

Moreover, he had other thoughts in mind.

So he nodded and said, "Fine, then I will head back first. Rongrong, remember to be careful while you are out."

"Alright, Big Brother, I understand," Ning Rongrong immediately nodded and replied.

And so, she stepped down from the luxurious carriage of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and headed toward Soto City all by herself.

She remembered that the start date for most advanced Soul Academy programs was still two days away, so she planned to rest in Soto City for a while before heading to Shrek Academy to register in two days.

However, Ning Mingrui was not truly at ease.

He called over two Soul King disciples and instructed, "Two brothers, please look after Rongrong during this time. You may return once Rongrong has registered and entered Shrek Academy."

The period before entering Shrek Academy was still somewhat dangerous; after all, Ning Rongrong was only an Auxiliary System Soul Master without combat ability.

After entering Shrek Academy, he had heard that the dean was a Soul Saint powerhouse, and with numerous teachers, they would certainly protect Rongrong's safety.

By then, they could naturally return.

"Yes, Eldest Young Master," the two Soul King-level outer sect disciples of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect immediately responded.

Then they also left the carriage fleet, hiding in a discreet manner near Ning Rongrong to protect her safety.

At this time, Ning Mingrui gave the order, "Let's go, we are returning to Barak Royal City first to find my third brother."

"Yes!"

Immediately, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's carriage fleet turned around and headed back to Barak Royal City along the original route.

By evening, two young people walked into the west gate of Soto City.

They appeared to be only in their teens, carrying no luggage, one boy and one girl.

The boy was dressed simply, looking about twelve or thirteen years old, standing about 1.7 meters tall, wearing a light blue tight-fitting outfit that looked very neat. Around his waist was a belt inlaid with twenty-four pieces of jade, and his black, medium-length hair barely reached his shoulders. His appearance could not be called handsome, just slightly delicate and pretty.

If the boy looked very ordinary, with only a slight difference, then the girl beside him did not look so plain.

Her silky, smooth long black hair was combed into a neat scorpion braid, and even as a braid, it still hung past her calves. She was half a head taller than the boy, wearing a small pink top that tightly wrapped her already developing figure.

Her waist was so slender it was barely a handful, and most importantly...

Her long, taut legs were wrapped in white trousers, a perfect golden ratio. Although she did not look old and her face still carried a touch of childishness, her rounded, perky buttocks already had quite a bit of charm.

Her curved eyebrows were naturally formed, and a pair of watery, large eyes matched with a slightly round, pink, and tender face; not only was she beautiful, but she also gave people a sense of daintiness. The word "cute" seemed tailor-made for her.

The ordinary boy standing beside her was already overshadowed by her excellent appearance.

Tang San! Xiao Wu! They were the male and female leads of Douluo Continent! They were currently frolicking as they arrived in Soto City, their purpose naturally the same as in the original work: following the instructions of Master Yu Xiaogang to seek education at a Shrek Academy here.

"Finally arrived at this so-called Soto City... I really don't know what Master is thinking. There are clearly several intermediate Soul Academies that offered to recruit us unconditionally, yet he insisted on having you come to take the exam at this broken academy that doesn't even have a grade," Xiao Wu complained directly.

Tang San indulged Xiao Wu in every way; it was fortunate that he had a good temper and could tolerate Xiao Wu's personality.

But his endurance was indeed worth it.

After all, because of his immense tolerance, he later obtained the Soul Ring and soul bone of his late wife, Xiao Wu, who sacrificed herself.

Finally, in order to resurrect Xiao Wu, he not only gained the opportunity to replace his low-level Soul Rings but also obtained the Soul Rings and soul bones of the Azure Bull Python and the Titan Giant Ape.

This was truly worth it. They continued to walk while playing and frolicking according to the original plot, and because the date for advanced academies to recruit Spirit Masters had not yet arrived, they needed to find a place to stay for the time being.

It is precisely because of this that they happened to encounter Dai Mubai, and then Tang San and Dai Mubai began a contest! In the end, Dai Mubai expressed his recognition of Tang San's strength, and at the same time, they began to "cherish each other"... or rather, they became birds of a feather.

……

Ning Feiliu stayed at a hotel in Barak Royal City for about three days.

Then Ning Mingrui returned, and he went directly to find Ning Feiliu.

"Big brother, you've finally returned," Ning Feiliu said with a smile.

"Mm, I just finished dropping off Rongrong," Ning Mingrui nodded and said.

"That's good, let's head back to Heaven Dou City," Ning Feiliu said directly.

He didn't feel bored staying here for these three days; he could even spend time properly feeding Xue Di.

Watching Xue Di eat is quite interesting; it always feels a bit like raising a daughter.

Moreover, someone like Xue Di who loves to eat is simply the best grandchild in a grandmother's eyes—she eats a lot, but doesn't smack her lips, and looks like she's eating very deliciously.

Ning Feiliu finally understands why some people in his past life liked watching eating broadcasts.

It just looks so appetizing.

However, now that these three days have passed, it is time to go back.

To be honest, he also misses Dugu Yan and that cheap teacher of his, Dugu Bo.

Most importantly, he hasn't been in contact for so long; he is truly afraid that Dugu Yan might be worried about him.

So, it is better to go back early, see Dugu Yan early, and put her mind at ease.

However, at this moment, Ning Mingrui looked at him very seriously and said, "Feiliu, do you remember what you promised me?"

"What?" Ning Feiliu was stunned for a moment.

"What I promised big brother? The Immortal Herb? It might not be possible after we go back, it will take a few more years, but it's not a big problem, big brother. Anyway, you haven't reached the bottleneck of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda yet, so the Immortal Herb wouldn't have much effect right now." He seemed to have misunderstood, and after thinking about it, he said this.

Immortal Herbs grown using forced cultivation methods and medicinal agents have their effects greatly reduced; they would probably only have the effect of turning the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda martial soul into a Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda.

The effects of increasing soul power and accelerating cultivation speed would likely be gone.

"Immortal Herb... actually, I don't mind that," Ning Mingrui shook his head and said, "Big brother doesn't really have any other thoughts now; I just hope that all of you—Shou Zong, Xiao Si, Xiao Wu, Rongrong, and you, Feiliu—as well as the sect, are all well, that everything gets better."

"Big brother, what is this about?" Ning Feiliu was still somewhat puzzled.

"Feiliu, you once said before that you have always considered Rongrong your younger sister, and over these years..." Ning Mingrui looked into his eyes and said, "You saw Rongrong's appearance; do you still think she hasn't repented?"

Ning Feiliu did not expect that this was what his big brother Ning Mingrui wanted to talk about—a pack of lies he had told years ago to brush Ning Mingrui off.

Recalling the appearance of Ning Rongrong when he saw her before, it seemed... she really had restrained herself quite a bit?

However, he sneered and said, "That was just her disguise. A leopard cannot change its spots; her nature is still the same. Big brother, don't be deceived by her."

Ning Mingrui immediately frowned and said, "Feiliu, can't you... look at Rongrong's changes? I don't believe she is truly the kind of person you describe. In the past, she was just spoiled. You were indeed right to have her spoiled personality corrected, so... can't you take another look at how Rongrong has become now?"

"Take another look?" Ning Feiliu shook his head and said, "I still stand by what I said: a rotten orange is a rotten orange. Someone like Ning Rongrong, who was an ungrateful wretch who didn't understand the value of family, is an ungrateful wretch for a day, and an ungrateful wretch for a lifetime!"

"Really..." Ning Mingrui was actually the one who calmed down now. He looked at Ning Feiliu and said, "Feiliu, one must see the truth of a matter with one's own eyes. It would be best if you took a look before saying anything."

"How about this, big brother, I'll make a bet with you," Ning Feiliu laughed, saying with great confidence, "Next, Ning Rongrong will expose her spoiled young mistress nature at Shrek Academy and then be taught a lesson by outsiders... I promise you, I will stand up for her this one time, but once she truly is like that, you should be able to see that everything about her is just a disguise, right?"

"At that time, don't try to persuade me about these things anymore, how about it?"

According to the original plot, Ning Rongrong was the one who cheated using soul power during the brainless physical training arranged by Flender, and then her true nature was exposed, followed by her being taught lessons by Dai Mubai, Tang San, and the others.

This was exactly what Ning Feiliu wanted to see; having Tang San and the others teach Ning Rongrong a lesson would have the best effect.

Ning Mingrui frowned, but still said, "I believe Rongrong's change is real; Rongrong is no longer as willful as she was before."

"Then... is it a bet?" Ning Feiliu asked.

"It's a bet. Feiliu, you will see that Rongrong has truly changed," Ning Mingrui also said firmly.

"Good... Big brother, rest for a while, and then we will go to Soto City together," Ning Feiliu said with a smile.

Ning Mingrui only rested for half a day before they set off again.

However, this time it was not the entire caravan traveling together. In order to arrive at Shrek Academy quickly and let his big brother see that Ning Rongrong was still the same willful young mistress, Ning Feiliu took Ning Mingrui and traveled light, arriving at Soto City in just half a day.

……

Just as Ning Mingrui and Ning Feiliu were on their way.

The enrollment ceremony for Shrek Academy was already underway.

Ning Rongrong looked at Shrek Academy not far away and honestly stood in line.

This Shrek Academy looked quite crude; one could see a table placed at the entrance of the village, and behind the table sat an old man over sixty years old. What was jaw-dropping was...

Here, at the village entrance, a somewhat tattered plaque was hung on an archway made of wood, with five simple characters carved on it: Shrek Academy.

Yet, Ning Rongrong was still waiting in line patiently to register. She was no longer as impatient or judgmental based on appearances as before.

Besides, if it could really make her a Battle Soul Master, what did these things matter?

However, just at this moment...

A young man came to the table to register.

The old man said lazily: "The registration fee is ten Gold Soul Coins; just put them in that box."

The young man's father, who was accompanying him, hurriedly took out ten Gold Soul Coins and placed them into a box made of a few nailed-together wooden boards to the side.

"Extend a hand."

The young man extended his hand to the old man as instructed. The old man squeezed his hand twice, shook his head at him, and said: "Your age does not meet the requirements; you can go."

This was not something that would make people dissatisfied, but the fact that this Shrek Academy teacher would not return the ten Gold Soul Coin registration fee was not a good thing at all!

(End of chapter)