Chapter 266
What are the rules?
Lin Xia was taken aback by this sudden remark from an elder. Looking at her delicate little face, which was both feigned innocence and mischievous, she was at a loss for words, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.
He, the dignified Lord of Gengjin City and the young Soul King, was called "uncle" to his face by a girl who was only one year younger than him.
The feeling was truly novel and strange. His lips twitched almost imperceptibly, but he finally nodded, his tone carrying a resigned calmness.
"From a seniority standpoint, you can indeed address me that way."
"No way!"
Ning Rongrong immediately shook her head like a rattle drum, stuck out her pink tongue playfully, and a bright smile bloomed on her face, with a hint of smugness.
"That makes you sound old! Let's just call each other what we call each other, okay? I'll call you Brother Lin Xia, and you call me Rongrong! Okay?"
Seeing Ning Rongrong's "it's decided so happily" expression, Lin Xia was completely speechless.
When he dealt with that old fox Ning Fengzhi, the other party was always gentle, polite, and knew how to behave properly. How could his daughter be so unruly?
Lin Xia could only wave her hand, her tone carrying a hint of barely perceptible indulgence.
"Whatever you want, as long as you're happy."
However, he couldn't help but silently make a mental note of Ning Fengzhi, who was far away at the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School.
A simple, even rudimentary, breakfast ended amidst Ning Rongrong's renewed chatter, Lin Xia's occasional brief replies, and Zhu Zhuqing's quiet companionship.
Just as the three were about to leave the cafeteria, the light at the entrance dimmed, and a tall, imposing figure appeared there—it was Dai Mubai.
Dai Mubai's expression remained somewhat complicated. His golden pupils visibly flickered the moment he saw Lin Xia and the other two, and he instinctively wanted to turn away from this group that made him feel immense pressure.
He tossed and turned all night, his mind filled with Lin Xia's unfathomable strength, Dean Flander's almost humble attitude, and Ma Hongjun's tragic end.
Deep down, he felt awe and even fear towards Lin Xia, and wanted to keep his distance.
However, just as he paused slightly, intending to pretend he hadn't seen her and leave, Lin Xia's calm voice came over, clearly penetrating his ears.
"Dai Mubai."
Those three simple words instantly froze Dai Mubai's body. He took a deep breath, as if he had made a great decision, before slowly turning around, forcing a smile that was as natural as possible but was actually clearly respectful and reserved, and quickly walking over.
"City Lord Lin Xia, Miss Zhu, Miss Ning."
He nodded to the three men in turn, keeping a very humble posture.
Lin Xia didn't notice the change in his address and gestured to the empty seat next to her.
"Please sit down. We're new here and know very little about Shrek Academy. You're a senior student, so tell us about the rules of this academy and how the courses are arranged."
rule?
course?
A huge wave of emotions surged within Dai Mubai's heart, with countless complaints flooding his mind like bullet comments.
rule?
What rules are there in front of you?!
Teacher Zhao is still lying in bed!
The fat man's blood hasn't been wiped clean yet!
Even Dean Flander has to treat you with utmost respect!
The word "rules" is practically invisible to you in Shrek's dictionary!
course?
What will I teach you?
How to string people together like meat skewers using sand and gravel?
How do you summon a monstrous beast? All the teachers here combined probably wouldn't be enough for you to type with one hand!
But he only dared to shout and roar these words in his heart, never daring to show them on his face.
He carefully considered his words, striving for accuracy and objectivity, daring not to add any personal subjective assumptions, for fear of offending the menacing figure before him.
"cough."
Dai Mubai cleared his throat, sat up straight, like a student reporting his homework to the teacher, his voice clear but with a hint of barely perceptible tension.
"Lord Lin, Miss Zhu, Miss Ning, Shrek Academy... it's actually a very... well, unique place. Its rules can be summarized in eight words: 'Encourage fighting, encourage gambling.'"
"Encouraging fighting? Betting on fights?"
Ning Rongrong chimed in curiously, as she had never heard of such a rule at home.
"Yes."
Dai Mubai nodded and explained:
"Dean Flander's core philosophy is that 'a Soul Master who dares not cause trouble is mediocre.' Here, 'causing trouble' mainly refers to daring to challenge and daring to engage in actual combat."
"The teachers believe that while soul power level and theoretical knowledge are important, true strength, especially survival and adaptability, can only be honed most quickly through constant actual combat."
"Through combat, one can most effectively familiarize oneself with the characteristics of one's martial soul, tap into one's potential, master the application of soul skills in different situations, and accumulate experience in life-and-death battles. This is what the academy believes is the most direct shortcut to improving one's strength."
Zhu Zhuqing raised an eyebrow slightly. This idea was quite interesting, and it coincided with her belief in breaking through in actual combat and growing under pressure.
So Zhu Zhuqing gestured for Dai Mubai to continue.
"As for the 'betting match'..."
Dai Mubai paused, seemingly feeling that the word sounded a bit unpleasant, and changed his wording.
"It mainly refers to the frequent exchanges or competitions between teachers, students, and even between teachers and students, where prizes are set."
"From a single gold soul coin or a meal to a rare material or even a promise, the teachers believe that gambling is a psychological game. This can greatly improve a soul master's observation, judgment, resilience, and adaptability."
"The ability to remain calm and make the right decisions under the temptation or pressure of huge profits is especially important for high-level Soul Masters."
"of course."
Dai Mubai quickly added, afraid that Lin Xia would misunderstand that the academy was a gambling den.
"Dean Flander also emphasized moderation. The rules are: in combat and sparring, injuries and serious wounds are permissible, but malicious killing is absolutely prohibited, and things like crippling someone's cultivation and destroying their foundation are not allowed."
"As for the betting, the emphasis is on acting within one's means and 'not losing everything'—meaning that one must hold the line and not go bankrupt or drive oneself to the brink of ruin. As long as these two bottom lines are not violated, the academy generally tacitly approves of or even encourages the fighting and sparring between students."
Ning Rongrong's eyes widened.
"Tacit approval? Encouragement? Wouldn't that mean fighting every day?"
She imagined the chaotic scene, her face flushed slightly, and she was somewhat excited!
Dai Mubai gave a wry smile.
"Pretty much. So here, strength is the greatest power. If you want to cultivate peacefully, you need to have the ability to make people not dare to provoke you."
He glanced at Lin Xia subconsciously, thinking that with her arrival, the entire academy's structure would likely be completely overturned and reorganized.
"What about the courses?"
Zhu Zhuqing's cool voice rang out. She wasn't surprised by the rules of combat; she was more concerned with how to improve herself. (End of Chapter)