"You want a potion? That's fine."
Zhuge Lan named his price:
"But I left in a hurry this time and didn't bring any servants."
"For the rest of your time at Shrek, you'll wash my clothes, dishes, and the like."
"Before you obtain your third spirit ring, I'll guarantee an increase of over 3,000 years on your spirit ring limit."
*[Emotion Points +2333]*
Oscar's eyes lit up, and he nodded eagerly!
—This deal is way too good to pass up!
"No problem!"
"From today onward, everything you need is on me, Oscar!"
"Brother Lan, are you tired?"
"I'll get you a chair!"
He sprinted off, returning shortly with two wooden chairs in one hand and two cups of tea in the other, eagerly serving Zhuge Lan and Zhu Zhuqing.
Watching from the side, Dai Mubai felt a pang of envy.
*[Emotion Points +666]*
Indeed!
He was envious.
An additional 3,000 years on his spirit ring limit?
Taking one step ahead could make all the difference.
Looking at Zhuge Lan, a mere level 35 Spirit Elder, making even a level 37 Spirit Master like Dai Mubai wary was enough to show how deep his background ran. Dai Mubai was also tempted by the secret formula.
But...
Oscar had already taken on all of Zhuge Lan's chores.
What could he offer in exchange? A condition, like Zhu Zhuqing?
Hmm...
He thought of the deal between Zhuge Lan and Flender.
—Maybe gold soul coins would be a good idea!
He was about to try his luck when Ning Rongrong stepped forward faster than he did, standing before Zhuge Lan.
Sweetly, she said, "Zhuge, how about I offer you 100,000 gold soul coins for that formula?"
Take note!
She said *"buy the formula"* instead of "buy the potion."
The mention of 100,000 gold coins shocked Tang San and the others, but Zhuge Lan remained unmoved.
How much talent could the whale glue formula foster if it was in the hands of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan? How much value could it generate?
A mere 100,000 gold coins was just a fraction of that.
"If you really want the formula, have your father come talk to me," Zhuge Lan said casually. "Or either Sword Douluo or Bone Douluo will do, but no one else."
Dai Mubai and the others didn't think anything was strange about this.
Such a valuable formula would indeed require a titled Douluo or one of the Three Great Sects' masters to negotiate.
But...
*[Emotion Points +1999]*
Seeing the numbers above Ning Rongrong's head, Zhuge Lan smirked.
Did he say something particularly insulting?
Nope.
She was just mad because things weren't going her way.
*[Emotion Points +2999]*
*[Emotion Points +3999]*
Oh!
Another hidden gem with the "getting more angry the more you think about it" skill?
Frustrated, Ning Rongrong dropped her sweet facade.
Her face no longer gentle, her eyes gleamed with arrogance.
She put one hand on her hip, and pointed at Zhuge Lan with the other.
"Hey, kid!"
"I'm offering you 100,000 gold soul coins for the formula because I'm showing you respect!"
"Do you really think just because you have a tiny little formula, everyone needs to beg you?"
"Be smart and cooperate. Or I'll have my servants drag you to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan!"
Tang San and Xiao Wu looked at her in shock.
The usually gentle girl suddenly said something so harsh?
But Dai Mubai and Zhu Zhuqing had strange expressions.
Ning Rongrong clearly thought Zhuge Lan was just a lucky nobody.
But based on his behavior earlier...
Could that be true?
Well! Zhuge Lan truly had no influential background.
But he had the system!
'System, if Ning Rongrong's people show up, can you handle it?'
'Maybe summon a wild Titled Douluo?'
*[This system only provides product exchanges. No "summon people" service available!]*
'Then list items that can take out a Spirit Douluo that I can afford.'
*[The host may consider renting soul tools!]*
*[8th-level melee soul tool: Floating Sword — 100,000 Emotion Points per minute.]*
*[8th-level ranged soul tool: Eye of Flame — 100,000 Emotion Points per minute.]*
*[8th-level fixed soul tool: All-Terrain Self-Propelled Soul Cannon — 100,000 Emotion Points per minute.]*
Perfect!
Zhuge Lan immediately stood straighter, summoning his Wuhun, the Li Jing Sword, glowing with his million-year first spirit ring.
Ning Rongrong, who had just been acting all high and mighty, suddenly knelt before Zhuge Lan, holding up the Li Jing Sword in her hands.
▄█〓█(╯●Д●)シ!
Ning Rongrong struggled, but her body wouldn't budge.
*[Emotion Points +4444]*
*[Emotion Points +4444]*
*[Emotion Points +4444]*
The little princess had never experienced such humiliation before.
Her face twisted with rage as she glared at Zhuge Lan.
"Kid!"
"You're dead!"
"I'll mobilize all of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan's power, and even if you flee to the ends of the earth, I'll hunt you down!"
Zhuge Lan gave her a pitying look.
"Are you stupid?"
"You're still under my control, and you think you can threaten me?"
"If it were some reckless maniac, he could just kill you and then run. Even if he's caught later, you'd still be dead."
*[Emotion Points +4999]*
Ning Rongrong's eyes flashed with panic but quickly steadied.
"You wouldn't dare!" she raised her head proudly. "My father must've sent someone to follow me. The moment you make a move, they'll kill you!"
Zhuge Lan sighed and rubbed his forehead.
He knew Ning Rongrong had a bad attitude, but he didn't realize she was so naïve.
He knew her background and still made a move without hesitation.
What did that say about his confidence?
In normal people's eyes, Zhuge Lan's background must at least be on par with Ning Rongrong's.
But Ning Rongrong didn't see the problem. She smiled smugly.
*[Emotion Points +2333]*
"Hah, scared now, huh?" she sneered. "Let me go and kneel until I'm satisfied. Maybe I'll spare you."
Zhuge Lan rolled his eyes and ignored her.
*[Emotion Points +4444]*
"Hey!" Ning Rongrong shrieked. "Didn't you hear me? Are you really asking for death?!"
Zhuge Lan casually dug his ear, continuing to ignore her.
*[Emotion Points +4999]*
"Fine, fine, fine!" Ning Rongrong gritted her teeth. "You want to die, right? Servants! Kill him for me!"
A gust of wind blew by.
Nothing happened.
*[Emotion Points +5555]*
Zhuge Lan had expected this.
This time, Ning Fengzhi had assigned someone to follow Ning Rongrong, but in order to correct her spoiled nature, they had strict instructions to not intervene unless her life was in danger.
More importantly, Zhuge Lan's identity remained a mystery to Ning Rongrong's followers.
If they didn't show themselves, it was just a conflict between juniors.
If they intervened, it would escalate into a confrontation between factions!
Staying hidden was the wisest choice.
"What's going on here?!"
Flender suddenly appeared, gliding over.
"This is the academy! Who told you to start fighting?"
"Zhuge, let Ning Rongrong go!"
Zhuge Lan complied, retracting the Li Jing Sword.
The first thing Ning Rongrong did upon getting up was to try and kick Zhuge Lan.
But he casually summoned his Thorn Armor.
—Come on, try it!