Transformation

Amid his thoughts, Lin Hanye closed his eyes again, circulated his soul power, and sensed his physical condition. He discovered that under the medicinal effects of the Ice Rain Dew, his soul power had already reached level 29, a full six-level increase.

Not only that, his martial soul had undergone earth-shattering changes, enough to be described by the four words "Extreme Ice."

He dared to be certain that if he faced that thousand-year Diamond Wolf again, he would not even need to use the Rasengan. The instant it touched the Mysterious Ice Bind, it would be instantly frozen, with absolutely no ability to counterattack.

The increase in soul power and the transformation of his martial soul were not what made Lin Hanye happiest.

His true gain was awakening an innate domain—the Frozen Domain.

Unlike when Tang San first obtained the Blue Silver Domain, which allowed him to freely change the colors of his soul rings and even use a disguise skill to make opponents unable to see them, the Frozen Domain granted him an active skill and a passive skill.

The active skill, Mysterious Ice Shield, could instantly condense an ice shield to resist attacks. In terms of pure defense, it surpassed the Mysterious Ice Bind, though its defensive range and versatility were not as comprehensive as the Mysterious Ice Bind's.

However, it could continuously improve as the domain evolved.

The passive skill slowed enemies down and disrupted their senses.

Exactly what degree it could achieve still needed to be tested to know.

As for subsequent abilities, they still needed to be known after evolution.

"Just a thousand-year second soul ring already attracted Spirit Hall's attention. If outsiders found out about my current state, wouldn't I become a thorn in everyone's side?"

Amid his thoughts, a gust of light wind blew in from outside the window. Lin Hanye's sturdy lower body felt slightly cold, and only then did he realize he was currently completely naked. He immediately took out a brand new set of clothes from his Soul Tool Ring and put them on.

"Ah, it seems I can't stay in this academy anymore."

His gaze swept over the horribly damaged dormitory, eroded by the cold air. Lin Han sighed in his heart, looked toward the pitch-black window, and, after leaving a letter, departed with the Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass, which had already lost its Ice Rain Dew, and disappeared into the night.

Three days later, Heaven Dou City.

Although Lin Hanye's appearance had changed after his martial soul transformed, to the point that even familiar people would find it hard to recognize him, he still changed into a gray cloth shirt, making himself look like an ordinary soul master.

After entering the city, he also put on a cyan cloak to conceal his face, to prevent his thousand-year second ring—or an even more exaggerated soul ring configuration—from being exposed in the future and making people think of Whale Rubber.

For him, the fewer people who knew this thing's true effect, the better.

Still not completely at ease, Lin Hanye bought and put on a mask. Soon, following the mask vendor's directions, he arrived at the Heaven Dou Auction House.

The Heaven Dou Auction House was located in the center of Heaven Dou City, the capital of the Heaven Dou Empire. It was a hemispherical building with a diameter of nearly five hundred meters.

Its door was also semicircular, and the overall appearance was milky white. Four tall young women stood before it.

Seeing Lin Hanye walk straight toward them, one of them came forward to greet him. With a professional smile on her face, she slightly bowed and said, "May I ask if you need any assistance?"

"Selling something."

Lin Hanye deliberately changed his voice, making it sound like a rough-voiced man.

The young woman was slightly startled upon hearing this. But after carefully observing Lin Hanye's demeanor and confirming that the other party was not joking, the smile on her face grew even more genuine. She knew she had definitely encountered a major client, so she quickly led Lin Hanye into the building and personally escorted him into the hall. She stopped at the appraisal room on the first floor, opened the door, and made a gesture of invitation, signaling for Lin Hanye to enter.

Lin Hanye glanced at the seven or eight appraisers inside, who were busily appraising various items, and shook his head.

With good judgment, the young woman led him into the appraisal room on the second floor.

The second-floor appraisal room was not large in area, much smaller than the first floor. However, it was arranged with some antique tables, chairs, and furniture, elegantly and generously decorated, comfortable and cozy.

What was most astonishing was that in the corner of the room stood a precious incense burner. A stick of incense was slowly burning within it, filling the room with a faint sandalwood scent.

An elegant and refined middle-aged man stood in the room, holding an ancient scroll and reading aloud. He appeared to have not the slightest bit of soul power fluctuation, completely an ordinary person.

However, Lin Hanye knew that high-level soul masters could conceal their own soul power fluctuations, making them impossible for lower-level soul masters to sense. Thus, he remained as cautious as always.

Seeing Lin Hanye come upstairs, the reader calmly closed his book.

The young woman who came up with Lin Hanye quickly stepped forward and whispered a few words sweetly by his ear.

After listening, the middle-aged man cupped his hands and came forward to greet him with a smile.

"I am Ning Zhihui, chief appraiser of the Heaven Dou Auction House. May I ask how to address you?"

"Haibodong!" Lin Hanye borrowed Old Hai's name without hesitation.

At the same time, he guessed in his heart: Surname Ning, an appraiser—he was very likely from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. The Heaven Dou Auction House had countless connections with the nobles of the Heaven Dou Empire. As a prominent clan among prominent clans in the Heaven Dou Empire, it seemed the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect was involved as well.

Some Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda soul masters whose potential was exhausted were invited over to appraise treasures. Nothing could be more suitable.

After all, this martial soul had the ability to appraise treasures.

They could also incidentally transmit messages to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.

That also explained why Ning Fengzhi appeared every time things like "cat girls" with mutated martial souls were brought out for auction in the original work.

"Ah, Brother Hai. Brother, please be seated."

"Go brew a pot of excellent Cloud Mist Tea!" The middle-aged man led Lin Hanye over to sit down, then instructed the attendant.

"No need for tea. Let's just start quickly. These are the items to be auctioned."

Lin Hanye knew that those from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect were more scheming than the last. This fellow before him was probably no better than Ning Fengzhi would be in the future.

He immediately waved his hand beneath his sleeve. Without letting the other party see his Storage Soul Tool Ring, he took out the brocade box containing the Mysterious Ice Turtle Torso Bone.

"This is a soul bone!"

The appraiser named Ning Zhihui opened the brocade box and took a look, a flicker of emotion passing through his eyes.

Although a thousand-year soul bone was not very useful to high-level Soul Masters, it was still a rare item. Some Soul Masters had even cultivated to the level of Titled Douluo without ever obtaining a single soul bone. Who would complain that this thing's age was too low?

"This is the torso bone of a thousand-year turtle-type soul beast. If a Soul Master absorbs it, they should gain a defensive skill no weaker than the Third Soul Skill of a defense-type Soul Master with an optimal soul ring configuration. Give me an appraisal."

Lin Hanye deliberately pretended to be impatient.

"Not bad. It is indeed a turtle-type soul beast torso bone, and its age has passed a thousand years." Ning Zhihui nodded. "Brother Hai, what do you think of this? An ordinary thousand-year soul bone is roughly worth between two hundred thousand and three hundred thousand. However, considering that this is the most valuable torso bone among the six soul bones, I plan to give it a starting bid of three hundred thousand. What do you think?"