In Douluo Continent, the Pope used me as a substitute for my first love.

Chapter 386 Ning Rongrong, who is completely out of place with Shilaike

After a few brief exchanges, the eight people in the cafeteria had gotten to know each other. The strange atmosphere lasted only a short while before someone broke the silence.

"Oh, by the way, Tiger, you said yesterday that the academy is poor, but why is it poor? Some of the teachers we met were over level 60, and some were over level 70. Judging by their levels, the subsidies they receive from the Spirit Hall are astronomical. Supporting such a small academy shouldn't be a problem, right?"

It was Xiao Wu who asked the question.

Dai Mubai gave her a slightly strange look, then shook his head and explained:

"If it were as you say, the college wouldn't need to worry about revenue, but that's not the case."

"The subsidies from the Spirit Hall are actually funded by the Empire and distributed by the Spirit Hall. The subsidies are only given to those at the Soul Master level. They receive one hundred gold coins each month, just like I am now."

"After exceeding the Soul Master level, not only will the subsidy not increase, but it will also disappear. In other words, Soul Masters above the Soul Master level, including Soul Grandmasters, will not be able to receive any subsidies from the Spirit Hall. Every month when you go to the Spirit Hall to collect your subsidies, there will be a Soul Power test, right? That's to determine whether your Soul Power exceeds level 40. Once it exceeds level 40, the subsidy will immediately stop being issued."

"Huh? What happened?"

Xiao Wu was momentarily stunned.

In response to Xiao Wu's question, Dai Mubai simply explained the Empire's expenditures and the treatment of rogue Soul Masters by various countries and forces.

Xiao Wu nodded, and finally said with some indignation, "If that's really the case, then the Spirit Hall is truly shameless."

"Who says it isn't?"

Ma Hongjun agreed upon hearing this.

He didn't even consider that he had just gone to the Spirit Hall branch in Soto City to collect his subsidy yesterday.

Most of the people sitting in the cafeteria did not refute this, only Ning Rongrong, who was eating breakfast and listening quietly not far away, had a strange expression on her face.

Over the years, thanks to her older sister who loves reading, Ning Rongrong has indirectly learned many secrets about the mainland that she would not have known otherwise.

This includes the truth about the "Spirit Hall subsidy". It is said that this matter can be traced back to the early days of the Spirit Hall's rise to power. It had not yet reached the point where it dominated the continent and had branches of the Spirit Hall in any place, big or small, on the continent.

At that time, the empires on the continent were still committed to resisting the Spirit Hall's disguised "invasion," that is, they did not want the Spirit Hall to expand its branch halls on a large scale within their respective national territories.

Amid this already tense situation, the Spirit Hall suddenly took the initiative to offer subsidies to all Soul Masters on the continent who were below the Soul Master level, including but not limited to commoner Soul Masters or Soul Masters from aristocratic families. Moreover, the Spirit Hall itself was paying for it, and it had no intention of exploiting the Empire's assets.

Unexpectedly, the two great empires at the time regarded it as a means for the Spirit Hall to win over the hearts and minds of the people. They even suspected that the Spirit Hall was recruiting Spirit Masters from all over the continent and was trying to undermine the foundation (the masses) of the major countries. So, instead of listening to the polite offer, they immediately and decisively expressed their disagreement with the Spirit Hall issuing subsidies to grassroots Spirit Masters across the continent, even if it was with their own money!

After all, none of the major nations, even the most powerful empires, had ever considered providing subsidies to ordinary soul masters to support their growth.

As for why it specifically refers to "commoner Soul Masters"?

Would a wealthy and powerful Soul Master even care about such a small subsidy?

Ha, actually it's just that all the major forces want to suppress commoner soul masters, unwilling to let them easily achieve class leapfrogging and become new "cake dividers".

This undoubtedly angered the Spirit Hall, which had initially intended to "talk things over." Immediately afterward, the Spirit Hall dispatched a large number of powerful figures to visit the capitals of various countries for tea, and then... nothing happened.

The Spirit Hall's subsidy policy was not only successfully implemented, but it also demanded that the major countries on the continent contribute funds, which would then be distributed by the Spirit Hall.

In response, major nations, including empires, dared not speak out against it, and eventually, things gradually evolved into what they are today.

In conclusion, regardless of its initial motives, the Spirit Hall undeniably brought benefits to ordinary soul masters. The claim that the Spirit Hall is shameless is utter nonsense; it's simply a case of the powerful nations of that time failing to recognize the situation, refusing to heed advice, and ultimately reaping what they sowed…

Of course, Ning Rongrong knew all this, but she had no intention of speaking up for the Spirit Hall at this moment. After all, she was the young sect master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School. Even if she disapproved of Xiao Wu and her group's wanton slander of the Spirit Hall, she would not choose to speak out for justice due to her position.

Before long, Dai Mubai, his face beaming with pride, said excitedly, "Do you know? In the twenty years since our Shrek Academy was founded, we have enrolled more than twenty students, which is a little over one per year on average. If it weren't for the Dragon Couple's arrival a few years ago, which caused a sensation across the continent, Shrek Academy would have enrolled even more students in these twenty years."

As they spoke, Dai Mubai and the others in the cafeteria all cast subtle glances at Ning Rongrong, but quickly looked away with serious expressions.

Dragon Couple...

Wang Zhao, the current master of the Dragon King Palace, is none other than one of the well-known Dragon Couple.

Dai Mubai then added, "Shrek Academy has enrolled four new students this year, which is a record. Before this, the academy hadn't received any students for two years."

"Why not try lowering the standards?"

At this moment, Xiao Wu, acting as the straight man, spoke up and asked.

Dai Mubai's smile deepened.

"Lowering the standards? That's impossible. Because, as the Dean said, it's better to have none than to have bad ones. No matter what, even if Shrek Academy closes down, we will never accept trash, only monsters!"

"Do you know what the graduation requirements are for this academy? We're neither an intermediate nor an advanced Soul Master academy. That's because our requirements are different from theirs."

"We only accept students under the age of thirteen, and they must be exceptionally talented. The graduation requirements for the academy are to be above level forty, and to reach the Soul Master realm before the age of twenty."

"To date, the academy has admitted more than forty students, but only about ten have actually graduated. Oh, by the way, those students who were taken away by the Dragon Couple should be excluded from these forty-odd students."

"Those who successfully graduated all became world-renowned figures after leaving the academy. The most outstanding one is now the youngest elder in the Spirit Hall, second only to the Pope in authority. The rest who did not graduate were either unable to complete level 40 cultivation before the age of 20 or died while hunting spirit beasts. The Dean said that if you are not level 41, don't go out and embarrass him."

After hearing this, Ning Rongrong's expression became noticeably strange.

(End of this chapter)