Douluo Continent: The Peerless Tang Sect - Sharingan Intercepts Tianmeng

Chapter 30: In this world, power and connections matter.

Before Zhang Zhao could finish speaking, Xiao Qiang silenced him with a single word: "My mentor is Jing Hongchen."

His father held a very high official position as Censor-in-Chief and Vice Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices. In Xiao Qiang's previous life, this position would almost be considered equivalent to the level of a vice-state leader. However, in Jing Hongchen's case, it would be considered to be in the top tier even among state leaders.

As someone comparable to Elder Xuan, Jing Hongchen is the second most important pillar of the Sun Moon Empire. Even the Crown Prince and the Emperor address Jing Hongchen as Master Hongchen, showing him great respect.

Therefore, upon hearing the name of his mentor, Jing Hongchen, Zhang Zhao's breath caught in his throat.

Despite his lingering doubts, Zhang Zhao spoke with obvious caution. "Excuse me, you said your teacher is the Master of the Red Dust Hall. Would you mind showing me proof?"

Xiao Qiang took out the token representing his identity as a disciple of Jing Hongchen. He handed it over with one hand, while Zhang Zhao received it with both hands and bowed his head.

After glancing at it, he handed it back with both hands, and then his face was filled with a fawning smile.

"Your Excellency has actually managed to be accepted as a disciple by the Master of the Red Dust Hall. You should know the status of the Master of the Red Dust Hall; he only accepts disciples from among thousands. I never expected you to be such an outstanding person. My apologies for my disrespect."

"It's alright. I need you to deliver something to Bai Qingshan, the vice dean of the East Sea Junior Soul Master Academy. The sooner the better."

As Xiao Qiang spoke, he took out a storage soul tool and handed it over. Zhang Zhao accepted it with both hands and then solemnly stated, "Please rest assured, Your Excellency, I will personally deliver this soul tool. I guarantee there won't be the slightest problem."

"Yes, there's also a soul communication device inside that can transmit over long distances. Once you deliver it, remember to have him call me to confirm."

"Yes, I understand. Is there anything else you need?"

"That's all, just deliver it as soon as possible."

After giving his instructions, Xiao Qiang left the Sun Moon Royal Soul Master Transport Team.

Watching Zhang Zhao drive away from Mingdu City at high speed and then quickly take off, I thought, "I hope he gets there soon. Uncle Bai probably won't have an easy time these days."

…………

Inside the East Sea Junior Soul Master Academy in East Sea City, Sun Moon Empire.

"You want to get an advance on your salary again? Bai Qingshan, I'm not trying to be mean, but this is going a bit too far," said Zhao Yuanbu, the dean of the Donghai Junior Soul Master Academy, banging on the table.

Bai Qingshan stood across the table, looking at the principal who was more than twenty years younger than him, and smiled apologetically. "Dean, this is the last time, just this once. Please be lenient."

"Make an exception? In the past two years, which month haven't you asked me to make an exception? I'm not trying to criticize you, but Xiao Qiang isn't your son. Why are you helping him so hard? If you weren't a food-type Soul Master and a Level 4 Soul Master yourself, you'd probably be struggling to even eat by helping him, wouldn't you?"

Bai Qingshan remained silent, listening to the principal's words. He felt like cursing. Why had he helped Xiao Qiang so much? Wasn't it all because of this principal?

Bai Qingshan possessed innate level two soul power and reached the level of a Soul Master at the age of ten. He first studied at the East China Sea Junior Soul Master Academy, and then returned to the East China Sea Junior Soul Master Academy as a teacher after graduation.

After nearly thirty years of hard work, he finally gained enough experience and his soul power reached level 40. After obtaining his soul ring, he successfully became a Soul Master and was just waiting for the previous principal to retire so he could take over the principal's position.

The results of it?

As it turned out, Zhao Yuanbu was completely devoid of martial ethics. Relying on his status as the grandson of the eldest elder of the Zhao family, one of the three major families in Donghai City, and without ever having served as a teacher or having any connection with the Donghai Junior Soul Master Academy, he suddenly parachuted in here to take over the position of the previous dean.

He had already become the vice dean and was about to take over as dean, but then a newcomer parachuted in and put him back in the vice dean position.

It was at that moment that he realized that in the underworld, power and connections matter.

Without power or background, if he wasn't put in the position of vice dean, who would?

But Bai Qingshan was just a commoner, and he couldn't even find a family with any significant influence.

Just then, Xiao Qiang arrived.

Xiao Qiang proposed a plan to him: he would supply Xiao Qiang with cultivation resources until he was fourteen years old, and by the time Xiao Qiang was in his twenties, he would have grown up and become his backer.

Considering that he probably wouldn't reach level 50 in his lifetime, coupled with Xiao Qiang's innate level 5 soul power and the powerful nature of his original martial soul that he had learned about.

Having just been taught that in the underworld, one must rely on power and connections, Bai Qingshan hesitated for only a moment before choosing to help Xiao Qiang and accepting his offer.

After all, at that time he thought he had nothing left to lose, and even if things got worse, they couldn't get much worse. It wasn't until the last two years, when he sold everything he could at home because of the cultivation resources Xiao Qiang needed, and was still heavily in debt, that he realized things could actually get even worse.

Fortunately, just when he had almost run out of money, there were only two years left until Xiao Qiang turned fourteen. Otherwise, Bai Qingshan didn't know how he would have survived such a money-devouring beast.

"I have to say, you're really something. You give him whatever he wants. You're such a rigid old man. If you had just said you weren't capable enough and lowered the level of resources you gave him, you wouldn't be in this situation now. Look at your clothes, I think you were wearing the same ones when I first met you. You haven't changed them in years. You've sold your house, your family's shops, and all those soul tools. You've gone bankrupt and are now drowning in debt for some kid who has no blood relation to you. Is it worth it?"

"Besides, you are also a four-ring Soul Master and a fourth-level Soul Master. Do you know how much resources he wants? I only used half of the resources he asked for, and it added three servants to my Zhao family. You, a dignified fourth-level Soul Master, were actually manipulated by him. It's truly shameful."

Zhao Yuanbu lit a cigar and continued, "As the dean and a member of the Zhao family of Donghai City, he was actually the first person Xiao Qiang approached to ask for resources. However, because Xiao Qiang wanted too many resources, he refused without hesitation."

Bai Qingshan shook his head. "There's one thing I agree with Xiao Qiang: you can't raise a phoenix with chicken feed. Expecting a high return with negligible costs is simply impossible."

Zhao Yuanbu sneered. "You really expect him to repay you with anything? Don't fool yourself. Even if he grows up one day, how many years will you have left to live by then? Soul Masters do live longer than ordinary people, but you're already over fifty, right? Even if he gives you something, you probably won't need it."

"Face reality, he can't give you anything, and he might not even intend to. If he can give you anything truly good within ten years..."

As Zhao Yuanbu spoke, he tapped the table in front of him.

"I'll eat this table."

(End of this chapter)