My starting summon is a small skeleton-Chapter 223 - 210 Jiangnan University

Jiangnan University, outside Zhang Wentao's office.

Lu Wu came out first, teasing his Summoned Beast Dudu while waiting for Zhao Kai Ming, who was held up by Zhang Wentao.

After a short while, the office door opened, and Zhao Kai Ming came out wearing sunglasses.

"Uncle Zhao, why are you wearing sunglasses?" Lu Wu was quite curious.

"The sun is too bright, too bright. Let's go; you wanted to visit the treasure vault, right? I'll take you there."

Saying this, Zhao Kai Ming quickly walked a few steps and moved in front of Lu Wu.

He was afraid that Lu Wu would see his face.

As he walked, he cursed Zhang Wentao in his mind for not being a good guy.

He had to give him a black eye too, claiming what's shared in blessing should also be shared in adversity.

'Damn it, the trouble is mine to face, but where's my share of the blessings?'

Of course, it seemed there weren't any blessings to enjoy on their side of Jiangnan University.

Zhao Kai Ming, huffing with anger, led Lu Wu out of the Administrative Building and toward the treasure vault.

On their way, they passed the university's training areas, went through the challenge zone, and the research area.

Zhao Kai Ming didn't forget to introduce the environment of Jiangnan University to Lu Wu.

"We just visited the training area, which covers 5 acres. There are over a hundred small and large training grounds, which can accommodate Leader Level Summoned Beasts at the highest. But there's only one of each type of training ground, and it's currently out of order.

Then we have the challenge zone over here.

The challenge zone is mostly comprised of Secret Realms, which were transformed into challenging environments by the predecessors of Jiangnan University.

Originally there were 38, but now due to problems with Energy Operation, 23 artificial realms have shut down."

Lu Wu did know what these so-called Artificial Secret Realms were - facilities constructed using buildings, equipment, and items for training purposes.

Lu Wu didn't expect Jiangnan University to have such high-end facilities, and in such a large number—23 in total.

This showed how wealthy Jiangnan University used to be, and conversely, how impoverished it was now compared to then.

Zhao Kai Ming's mood seemed to lower a bit: "Now in the challenge zone we only have 15 natural realms left, among which 1 is Elite, 10 are Boss Level, 2 are Leader Level, there's also a Lord, and one of a special level.

Some of these realms are quite interesting; you should come and see them when you have the time."

Saying this, Zhao Kai Ming sped through the challenge zone without giving Lu Wu a chance to look around, and took him to the research area.

"The research area here is where the instructors and professors have their labs. Currently, there are 123 labs of various sizes, of which 88 are idle or abandoned, and the rest are still operational.

Many of these operational labs have interesting projects. Xiao Lu, you should visit them when you have time."

As he spoke, Zhao Kai Ming suddenly remembered something: "Right, Old Zhang mentioned that if you're interested, you can set up a lab at the university. The school provides the space."

Having been beaten, Zhao Kai Ming also sold out Zhang Wentao's secrets: "Don't think this old geezer is kind-hearted. He's very crafty. He sees that you have money and is planning to swindle you into funding a lab.

He might even hope for a cut of any research achievements you make, considering he's been drooling over your White Bone Wild Boar Soup for not just a day or two."

After speaking, Zhao Kai Ming thought for a bit and then added: "But the old man is also pitiful. Jiangnan owes so much money; it's nearly crushed him, which is why he's doing this.

Well, Xiao Lu, if you can help—how should I put this..."

Zhao Kai Ming scratched his head, feeling a bit embarrassed for a moment, but finally said.

"If you can, please help him and help Jiangnan University."

Lu Wu scratched his head.

He hadn't planned on setting up a research lab lately.

His mind was consumed by thoughts of becoming stronger, which were primarily caused by Zhang Yuechu.

In fact, until today, Lu Wu had felt quite content with his progress—immersing himself in research, developing his company, growing and improving steadily.

After all, with a rich woman backing him, as a child with a rich patron, Lu Wu could grow up happily.

But after witnessing Zhang Yuechu's display today, dominating 13 bigshots of Jiangnan University single-handedly, and then seeing the rich woman's performance throughout the ordeal, Lu Wu suddenly felt that his family's rich woman might not be that powerful.

Lu Wu sensed that the rich woman was at a disadvantage when faced with Zhang Yuechu.

Considering that Zhang Yuechu was the daughter of the rich woman's rival, and the fact that just this daughter could outclass his rich woman, if the rival herself also stepped in, wouldn't his rich woman be devoured?

Wouldn't his own puny arms and legs be gnawed on as well?

Would it be too late then for him to accept another mother?

Lu Wu felt it was precarious.

This left Lu Wu feeling very insecure, his mind fixated on becoming more powerful.

However, Lu Wu didn't outright refuse the idea of a research lab.

"Um, about the research lab, I'll consider it."

While fobbing off the issue, Lu Wu took the opportunity to ask a question that had puzzled him for a long time.

"Uncle Zhao, I heard that we, Jiangnan, owe Jiangbei University 500 million points. Is that true?"

Zhao Kai Ming obviously hadn't expected Lu Wu to suddenly steer the conversation in this direction and was taken aback for a moment, but still nodded quickly: "Yes, indeed we have a debt of 500 million points."

"How did we get into that much debt? 500 million points, if you convert that into money, that's fifty trillion. How can our school still owe so much?

And having borrowed 500 million points, why are we still in such poverty?" Lu Wu was especially puzzled.

As for Zhao Kai Ming, it seemed he was prepared to let Lu Wu understand the current state of affairs at Jiangnan University, without hiding anything.

Since there was still some distance to the treasure vault, Zhao Kai Ming went on to explain bit by bit to Lu Wu.

"First, we should talk about the 500 million points, it's Jiangnan University that owes Jiangbei 500 million, but it's not like Jiangbei actually gave us 500 million.

Let alone Jiangbei, even the Education Bureau, if you asked them to cough up 500 million points all at once, they would have a tough time doing it."

"Secondly, regarding points and money, they can be exchanged for each other, but it's not an unlimited exchange.

The creation of this points system was specifically intended to serve Summoners.

It acts like a wall, segregating Summoners from ordinary people."

"It's a bit inappropriate to put it this way, but from a certain perspective, points indeed serve this function.

In today's world, although almost everyone can be a Summoner, not everyone can grow to become one.

Talent, resources, and other factors mean that real Professional Summoners actually make up only about five percent of the population, or even less.

Most of the world's people are just ordinary people with Summoned Beasts.

They live together with Summoners, in the same society, but the resources they control and need are different, hence the need for two separate currency systems."

"Points and money are two different systems, they're interconnected but cannot be fully integrated.

You can exchange them on a small scale, but you can't surpass a certain limit because the economic system of ordinary people would easily collapse."

Regarding points and money, Zhao Kai Ming had a lot to say and said it well, but listening to it made Lu Wu somewhat frantic.

So are you telling me, after all this, that 500 million points does not equal fifty trillion money? Can you be any more roundabout?

Hmm, Zhao Kai Ming obviously sensed Lu Wu's grievances and quickly got to the point.

"Also, in the world of Summoners, the points system can sometimes be rather unreliable, because an item's rarity or a person's power can cause sudden shifts, with prices becoming outrageously high just for a little bit of something."

Lu Wu knew this.

In his previous life, there were many strategic rare items that cost tens of millions or even hundreds of millions per gram.

At the same time, Lu Wu also understood why Jiangnan owed Jiangbei so much money.

"Did we borrow some important items from Jiangbei?"

Zhao Kai Ming shook his head: "Not items, people!"

"People?"

"Yes, about over a decade ago, Jiangnan University initiated a project that, when it came to a critical moment, lacked both manpower and materials. At that time, the relations between Jiangnan and Jiangbei were still good.

So when they faced difficulties, Jiangnan immediately thought of Jiangbei.

Jiangbei was very righteous back then and came to our aid without a second word, led by a Nationally Treasured Cultivation Master from Jiangbei who was just one step away from Grandmaster.

That Master brought along their students to join in on this project."

At this point, Zhao Kai Ming paused and couldn't help but feel a wave of emotion.

Lu Wu then understood.

"It failed?"

Zhao Kai Ming didn't care for that comment.

"What kind of talk is that? Saying it failed? They died!

Not only did that Nationally Treasured Master from Jiangbei die, but three of our Jiangnan's Nationally Treasured Masters died along with them.

Their deaths not only cost Jiangbei, who had initially signed an agreement with us stipulating compensation in case of failure, and even more so if it was a total loss, but nearly bankrupted us at Jiangnan.

Add to that, at the time, there was still another Nationally Treasured Master supporting.

So Jiangbei didn't see much change.

But our Jiangnan suffered, without Nationally Treasured Masters at the helm and our foundation having been drained; we've been on the decline from ten years ago up till now.

And so, Jiangnan ended up owing Jiangbei a huge sum, we've paid a lot, but still owe five hundred million."

Lu Wu truly understood now.

Research has risks, Jiangnan really suffered!

And talking about this, Zhao Kai Ming's mood had lowered significantly, and Lu Wu didn't continue to probe his wounds, although he was quite interested in the project that doomed Jiangnan University.

The rest of the way was silent.

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Under the guidance of Zhao Kai Ming, Lu Wu arrived at the treasure vault of Jiangnan University...

...

I'll make up for it tomorrow, yeah, at least twelve thousand words tomorrow. If I don't finish, I'll live stream dressed as a woman in wrath!!!