Treasure Appreciation Fair!

That afternoon, Class Four's lesson was Brief History of Soul Tools.

This was a course introducing the history of soul tool development. Although the Three Kingdoms of the Original Douluo Continent were deeply hostile toward soul tools, as the continent's number one academy, Shrek Academy would not ignore this new power system that was already influencing—and would continue to influence—the continent's situation, regardless of its reasons. From first through sixth year, Outer Court students would learn knowledge related to soul tools, such as their development history, common types of soul tools, and basic methods of use.

However, that was all they could do. Anyone who truly wished to study and create soul tools had to join the Soul Tool Department.

Zhu Ziyang was fairly interested in soul tools, though not overly so. He did not reject them, and he was even quite willing to use them in battle. But asking him to research and create soul tools was something he would never agree to.

After all, no external power was as reliable as one's own strength. This was a world where individual might decided everything. The Sun Moon Empire's soul tool technology was so advanced, yet wasn't it still suppressed by Shrek Academy's soul masters?

Moreover, based on what Zhu Ziyang knew, the more powerful a soul tool was, the more powerful Soul Power it required to operate. Although those soul tool weapons that could be used without high-level soul masters had performed well in war, the key factor that truly determined the outcome of a war ultimately lay in battles between top-tier soul masters.

After the afternoon classes ended, Zhu Ziyang and the other three finished dinner and decided to head to Shrek City.

The reason was that Beibei had gotten hold of four invitations to the Treasure Appreciation Fair at the Treasure Gathering Pavilion.

The Treasure Gathering Pavilion was the largest merchant guild in Shrek City. Its background ran deep, and it had countless ties to Shrek Academy's Inner Court. The Treasure Appreciation Fair, meanwhile, was a grand event jointly hosted by the merchant guilds of Shrek City. Its purpose was simple: to win over Shrek Academy's students. After all, Shrek students were universally recognized as a gathering of geniuses from across the continent.

Normally, only Outer Court Core Disciples and Inner Court students were qualified to receive invitations to such a fair. As freshmen who had only arrived a few days ago, Zhu Ziyang and the others clearly had no such qualifications. The four invitations Beibei had acquired had obviously come through special channels, and each bore one of their names.

Zhu Ziyang naturally would not refuse something that could broaden his horizons and perhaps even let him find a bargain. Still, he understood that they were only going there to look around tonight. The items put on display were bound to be the very best, and perhaps not a single one would be something he could afford.

"Is this Shrek City?" After entering Shrek City, Jiang Nannan linked her arm through Zhu Ziyang's and looked at the bustling, dazzling sights around them, unable to hold back a sigh.

"Isn't it prosperous? I was shocked too when I came here for the first time." Tang Ya held Beibei's hand as she walked over to Jiang Nannan's side. "I thought Heaven Dou City was already huge, but compared to Shrek City, it falls so far short."

"Shrek City was built with the combined strength of the Three Kingdoms of the Original Douluo Continent, so of course it's more prosperous than Heaven Dou City," Beibei said with a smile.

"Let's get moving. Don't block the road here." Zhu Ziyang glanced at several people behind them who looked displeased, smiled apologetically, then pulled Jiang Nannan forward.

Beibei and Tang Ya hurried after them as well.

The four arrived at the venue of the Treasure Appreciation Fair: the Treasure Gathering Pavilion.

The Treasure Gathering Pavilion was an exceptionally luxurious building, and its appearance certainly lived up to its name. The four young girls responsible for receiving guests at the entrance were clearly surprised when they saw the four wearing white Shrek Academy uniforms. However, having been selected as hostesses, they naturally possessed excellent professional standards. They would not look down on anyone because of their appearance or clothing. After all, this was Shrek City, with Shrek Academy right beside it. Age truly meant nothing here.

After Zhu Ziyang and the others showed their invitations, they entered the Treasure Gathering Pavilion without issue. Following a hostess's guidance, they arrived at the Second Floor of the Treasure Gathering Pavilion, where the Treasure Appreciation Fair was being held.

"Should we stick together, or..." Beibei asked, his intention already obvious.

"Let's look around separately for now. We can meet at the entrance before it ends." Zhu Ziyang naturally went along with it. Since he could stroll around alone with Jiang Nannan, he certainly did not want all four of them together.

"Alright! See you later." Beibei exchanged a knowing look with Zhu Ziyang, then pulled Tang Ya away without even asking for her opinion.

"Let's go too." Jiang Nannan had no objections. Happily hugging Zhu Ziyang's arm, she followed him in another direction.

They moved from one display stand to another, looking at item after item that was exquisite, rare, or eye-catching, and the two of them could not stop marveling. Zhu Ziyang had seen quite a few of these items in books. All he could say was that the real thing truly differed from pictures.

Quite a few of the exhibits were soul bones, most of them thousand-year soul bones, with only a very small number being ten-thousand-year ones. As for Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bones, sorry, there was simply no way they would appear at a Treasure Appreciation Fair like this. Zhu Ziyang spotted a soul bone that suited Jiang Nannan very well: a seven-thousand-year Ethereal Demon Leopard Left Leg Bone. According to its description, it could increase a soul master's speed and also grant a decent offensive skill. He had wanted to buy it, but the moment he saw its price, the thought vanished.

A seven-thousand-year left leg bone actually cost one million Gold Soul Coins!

Sure enough, he was still far too poor. Zhu Ziyang shook his head inwardly.

After leaving the soul bone section, the two continued wandering around. Suddenly, Zhu Ziyang was drawn to a circular exhibition area.

"Nannan, let's go take a look over there." Zhu Ziyang took Jiang Nannan's hand as he spoke.

"Okay." Jiang Nannan nodded obediently.

The two arrived at the circular display area. A ring of jade porcelain bottles sat atop the stands, and the bases beneath them recorded information about the exhibits.

"Soul Ascension Pill, a mid-grade pill. A wood-attribute pill that can increase Soul Power. The amount of Soul Power increased is approximately equal to the Soul Power required for a level thirty-one Soul Elder to advance to level thirty-two. Price: one hundred thousand Gold Soul Coins per pill!" Jiang Nannan read the information on the porcelain bottle closest to them. When she finished, she was stunned, her little mouth hanging wide open. "Oh my god, this is too outrageous! Such a tiny pill costs one hundred thousand Gold Soul Coins each!"

"That's normal." Zhu Ziyang looked at the ring of porcelain bottles on the display stand. Clearly, they all contained pills. "After all, the benefits a single pill can bring a soul master are immeasurable."

"That may be true, but it's still hard to accept..." Jiang Nannan muttered.

Zhu Ziyang paid it no mind and began circling the display stand to inspect the pills.

"Soul Spirit Pill... high-grade pill... five million Gold Soul Coins each..."

"Profound Water Pill... mid-grade pill... two hundred and fifty thousand Gold Soul Coins each..."

"Bone Forging Pill..."

"Hundred Cures Pill..."

"..."

There was a vast variety of pills on the display stand, yet even the cheapest cost one hundred thousand Gold Soul Coins each. Zhu Ziyang and Jiang Nannan were left dumbfounded, experiencing the importance of wealth so vividly for the first time.

As he looked at those tempting pills, Zhu Ziyang's heart stirred, and delight appeared on his face.

He had thought of a way to make money!