Chapter 151: The Trade

Thank you to our new Patrons: ArcherArchX, pande tusan, Alberto Cervantes, jaycehunter, nkdmon, Drako343, Shisui34, Keith Lighthill, Damass 13 and RrJ! Your support means the world to me <3 We are up to Chapter 295: The Pinnacle Battle of Whale and Shark on Patreon!

There's something for free patrons too! Free Patrons receive 1 chapter in advance :)

I've also recently started a new translation, please check it out and show your support! It's called Douluo: Martial Soul Seven Kill Sword, The Sword Opens Heaven's Gates. As always, Patrons will have unrestricted access to all of my stories including futures ones!

---------------------------------------------------------------------

Li Luochen returned to Shrek Academy. Their soul-hunting expedition this time had been incredibly short and smooth. Who would have thought that the two "licking beasts" (simps) would charge head-on, only to be utterly crushed?

The entire hunt for the two beasts took less than ten minutes—a barrage of eighth and ninth soul skills from seven Title Douluos severely wounded them, leaving Li Luochen and Dugu Yan to finish the job.

The process was straightforward: half the time was spent traveling, and the other half was spent absorbing soul rings. At this moment, Li Luochen felt like shouting, "Is there anyone else?!"

Upon returning to Shrek Academy, Li Luochen was informed by Flender that Ning Fengzhi had visited and agreed to proceed with the trade. They could arrange a time to discuss the details at their leisure.

Li Luochen naturally accepted the offer and instructed the academy's administrator to deliver a message: "Li Luochen awaits the esteemed visit of Lord Ning at Shrek Academy."

Next, Li Luochen decided to assist his grandfather. His grandfather, Li Yusong, had been stuck at level seventy-nine for some time. Fortunately, Li Luocheng still had two high-year dragon-type spirit bones with golden bloodline attributes—perfect for his grandfather.

Li Yusong didn't say much. Whatever his grandson gave him, he would use. He knew full well that his grandson already possessed a complete set of hundred-thousand-year spirit bones and wouldn't care about these lower-tier ones.

Li Yusong felt somewhat speechless. Based on his talent and soul ring configuration, he was destined to remain a Spirit Sage at best—and the weakest kind of Spirit Sage at that, given the low years of his soul rings.

However, his grandson was reliable. Not only had he used immortal-grade herbs to enhance his aptitude, but he also provided spirit bones to boost his cultivation. Currently, Li Yusong possessed two ten-thousand-year spirit bones: a fifty-thousand-year Golden Python head bone and a left arm bone that had originally been nine thousand years old but had since been upgraded to the ten-thousand-year tier.

Now, Li Luochen prepared to give his grandfather two more spirit bones: a ninety-thousand-year Golden Unicorn Dragon right arm bone and an eighty-thousand-year Golden Python right leg bone.

These two spirit bones were highly suitable for Li Yusong. After absorbing them, he smoothly broke through to the Soul Douluo level. With a bit more refinement of his spirit power, he would be ready to hunt for a soul in the Great Star Forest.

Li Luochen had already prepared an eighth soul ring for his grandfather in the Great Star Dou Forest. Located at the boundary between the mixed zone and the core zone in the northeastern corner, there was an eighty-thousand-year Golden Crocodile Dragon—a perfect soul ring for Li Yusong. After completing the trade with Ning Fengzhi, Li Luochen planned to assist his grandfather in hunting for it.

---

Three days later

Ning Fengzhi arrived at Shrek Academy with his daughter, Ning Rongrong, and Sword and Bone Douluo. The reception from Shrek Academy was equally grand.

First and foremost was the protagonist, Li Luochen, followed by Dugu Yan. Then came Dugu Bo, a ninety-seven-level Super Douluo, and You Tianshang, whom Li Luochen had invited to serve as a background presence.

Additionally, the two Tiger Brothers—Dai Tianxing and Dai Tianyuan—arrived, along with the principal and two vice-principals of Shrek Academy.

In essence, all of Shrek Academy's top-tier strength was present. This lineup made even Ning Fengzhi feel a slight tremor. Though he himself was a seventy-nine-level Spirit Sage specializing in auxiliary abilities, his senses were sharp.

He could sense the cultivations of Dai Tianxing, Dai Tianyuan, and the principal of Shrek Academy—they were all Soul Douluo-level experts.

What surprised him most were Li Luochen, Dugu Yan, and the young man in green beside them.

Dugu Bo he knew—a Super Douluo with a spirit power of ninety-seven levels. He had expected this. But what was going on with Li Luochen and Dugu Yan?

"Lord Ning, it seems they're here to intimidate us. Let's not mention Old Poisonous One—he's grown even stronger. As for this Li Luochen brat, he's emitting the aura of a Soul Douluo, and it feels extremely dangerous. I suspect he has a hundred-thousand-year soul ring.

On the other side, Old Poison's granddaughter also emits a similar aura, though weaker than Li Luochen's. She likely has a hundred-thousand-year soul ring as well, boosting her cultivation to level eighty-five.

As for that young man in green, his spirit power is lower than mine and Old Bones', but he's no less dangerous. His spirit power is probably around ninety-three levels, but in a real fight, he'd likely be formidable.

It seems they've come fully prepared," Sword Douluo whispered to Ning Fengzhi.

Ning Fengzhi, who had initially appeared calm and composed, now felt beads of sweat forming on his forehead. His original plan—to bring Sword and Bone Douluo to ensure they wouldn't lose face—had been shattered. He hadn't anticipated that Shrek Academy would have Title Douluos. 

Moreover, aside from the two Title Douluos, everyone else present was at the Soul Douluo level, and their auras weren't weak. At least a few of them matched or even surpassed the eighty-nine-level elder of his Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect.

It seemed today would require significant concessions. Ning Fengzhi sighed inwardly. As a merchant, he had brought all the hundred-thousand-year-level spirit bones from his sect. There was no way around it—advancing his martial soul and breaking through bottlenecks was his lifelong dream. He wanted to take this chance.

If his martial soul evolved, transforming the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda into a Nine Treasures—or even an Eight Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda—he would gladly accept it. He could still father more children. Ning Rongrong would eventually marry, and there was no guarantee her martial soul would be passed down. But Ning Fengzhi, with his many wives, could always produce more heirs.

"Welcome, Lord Ning! Please follow me to the meeting room," Flender said first, as he was the principal of Shrek Academy and equal in status to Ning Fengzhi.

"Thank you, Principal Flender," Ning Fengzhi nodded graciously before turning to Ning Rongrong. "Rongrong, go play around the academy while Father discusses matters with the principal and teachers."

"Okay, Father, I'm off!" Ning Rongrong skipped away cheerfully. She knew the upcoming discussion was a trade between Director Li and her father, but she wasn't particularly concerned. For now, her focus was on cultivating and having fun.

Li Luochen, accompanied by Ning Fengzhi and Sword and Bone Douluo, entered the meeting room. The atmosphere wasn't overly formal—snacks and drinks were laid out on the table, creating a relaxed environment for the discussions.

Only Sword and Bone Douluo from the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect and Ning Fengzhi entered the meeting room. Representing Shrek Academy were Li Luochen, Dugu Bo (the Poison Douluo), and You Tianshang (the Wind God Douluo).

Others didn't enter because there was no need—the intimidation phase was over, and everyone else went about their own business. Dugu Yan disliked such formal meetings and went to find Ning Rongrong to play instead.

Li Luochen sat in the main seat, sipping his drink with a calm demeanor. Dugu Bo closed his eyes to rest, while You Tianshang sampled the snacks, appearing completely at ease.

On the other side, Ning Fengzhi maintained a composed exterior, though his mind was far from calm. He understood the content of the trade, but he still had no idea how outrageous Li Luochen's demands might be.

"Lord Ning, it seems you're a bit unsettled. Let's get straight to the point," Li Luochen said, pulling out a brocade box. Opening it revealed a golden pill inside.

"This is the Beautiful Silk Pill—the same one Rongrong consumed. I'm a fair businessman, so you can test its efficacy first. If you regret taking it afterward, well, I'm not afraid of your regrets."

Li Luochen handed the Beautiful Silk Pill over without hesitation. He wasn't worried about Ning Fengzhi trying to renege on the deal.

Ning Fengzhi's eyes gleamed with excitement at the sight of the pill, but he quickly regained his composure.

"Haha, Director Li, there's no need for such formalities. We can proceed with a normal trade. How could I possibly take advantage? Since Director Li is so generous, I won't hold back either."

With that, Ning Fengzhi took out a storage-type soul-guided device and released its contents.

------------------------------------------------------

Support my writing journey: patreon.com/EphemeralShadow