Speed Learning Service Shocks the Continent, Poison Douluo Advances (Part 2)

Gu Yuena tapped her fingertip lightly and pulled up the point records. "Including the 100,000 exchanged for the Deep Sea Pearls we just gathered, we have 450,000 in total. We're still short 50,000." She paused, a trace of resolve flashing through her eyes. "Take out the Core of Nature I've been keeping. It's an energy core condensed by an ancient tree that has lived for ten thousand years. It can fetch at least 100,000 points."

"Core of Nature?" Di Tian froze for a moment. It was a treasure Gu Yuena used to stabilize her origin. "Master, that is your painstakingly collected treasure..."

"Now isn't the time to be reluctant." Gu Yuena cut him off, her tone calm yet resolute. "If the 'Weakening' combat skill can be speed-learned to Minor Mastery, the ferocious beasts of the Star Dou Great Forest will have another layer of protection. We'll also be able to face the threat of Spirit Hall with greater composure. One Core of Nature in exchange for the safety of the entire forest is worth it."

Di Tian no longer hesitated and immediately went to retrieve the Core of Nature. Half an hour later, he carried it and his Point Token, transforming into a streak of light as he raced toward the Auction House. Along the way, he could not help imagining the scene after speed-learning it—if he could grasp "Weakening" to Minor Mastery, then when facing a Titled Douluo, all he had to do was release his domain to weaken thirty percent of the opponent's Soul Power. Who would dare provoke the Star Dou Great Forest so easily then?

Meanwhile, Gu Yuena remained in the secret realm, watching the direction Di Tian had departed in as a thoughtful look flickered through her eyes. The Auction House's methods had become more astonishing with every move. From combat skill auctions to speed-learning services, every step precisely seized upon the needs of the major factions. "What kind of spectacle will it be when they introduce speed-learning services for Earth Tier Combat Skills?" she murmured softly. Her awe toward the Auction House deepened further—the influence of this mysterious force on the balance of Douluo Continent might well surpass even that of Spirit Hall.

News that Dugu Bo had speed-learned "Abyssal Poison" to Minor Mastery at the Auction House soon spread across the entire continent as though it had grown wings. The major factions turned green with envy upon hearing it, while their anxiety deepened—those without combat skills desperately tried to save points to buy them, while those who possessed combat skills, like the Star Dou Great Forest, hurried to gather points for speed-learning. The scramble for points across the continent instantly reached a fever pitch.

Within Spirit Hall's Pope's Palace, Bibi Dong listened to the report that "Dugu Bo had corroded through a stone pillar with one palm," her face so dark it seemed ready to drip water. She slammed her hand onto the table, and dark Soul Power shook cracks across its surface. "Forty thousand points to speed-learn Minor Mastery? The Auction House is deliberately widening the gap!" She turned and ordered Ghost Douluo, "Immediately intensify resource extraction at Godfall Abyss. Take out another two Angel Crystals from Worship Hall to exchange for points! At the next auction, we must secure a combat skill no matter what. We absolutely cannot let the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect surpass Spirit Hall!"

Ghost Douluo bowed. "Understood. I'll make the arrangements immediately. It's just that... Great Elder Qian Daoliu may not readily agree to hand over the Angel Crystals from Worship Hall."

"Tell him it is for Spirit Hall's unification of the continent!" Bibi Dong's voice was icy. "If we do not even have combat skills, what unification can we speak of?"

Inside the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's Council Hall, Ning Fengzhi looked at Dugu Bo's message announcing his "Abyssal Poison Minor Mastery" and could not help sighing. "Forty thousand points for Minor Mastery through speed-learning. That Old Poison Dugu Bo is truly lucky." He turned to Sword Douluo. "We need to accelerate the Poison Grass Collection in Myriad Poisons Valley, as well as the exchanges for Mysterious Iron Ore from the Heaven Dou Empire, and gather enough points as quickly as possible. At the next auction, even if we have to fight Spirit Hall for it, we must secure an auxiliary combat skill suitable for Rong Rong."

Sword Douluo nodded, urgency flashing in his eyes. "Dugu Bo's strength has risen another level now that he has a Minor Mastery combat skill. If we remain without combat skills, dealing with Spirit Hall will only become more difficult in the future. I'll arrange for the disciples to increase their search for resources right away."

Within the valley of the Clear Sky Sect, Tang Xiao remained silent for a long while after hearing the news. He looked at the scroll of combat skill rumors in his hand, his eyes filled with longing. "If the Xiao Tian Sect had combat skills like this too, why would we fear being unable to rise?" He turned and ordered the First Elder, "Take out the batch of Ten Thousand Year Soul Bone fragments stored by the sect and exchange them for points at the Auction House! Also, accelerate the hunting of soul beasts in Sunset Forest—we must gather enough points as soon as possible. When the next auction comes, we absolutely cannot miss out on combat skills again!"

The imperial families of the Heaven Dou Empire and Star Luo Empire convened emergency meetings directly. The Heaven Dou Emperor ordered half the gold and gemstones in the imperial treasury to be exchanged for points, while the Star Luo Empire directly transferred mining rights to three mines to the Auction House, all for priority point-exchange eligibility. "If members of the imperial family can obtain combat skills and then speed-learn them to Minor Mastery, the authority of the royal house can be secured." The Star Luo Emperor looked at his ministers, his tone firm. "No matter the price, we must gain the upper hand in the fight for points!"

In a private room on the Auction House's second floor, Lin Yue looked over the speed-learning service statistics report in his hand, a faint smile curling at his lips. Mo Chen stood beside him and reported respectfully, "Master, Dugu Bo has completed the speed-learning of 'Abyssal Poison' to Minor Mastery. After deducting 400,000 points, his remaining 150,000 have been deposited into his account. Di Tian of the Star Dou Great Forest has just arrived. He exchanged the Core of Nature for 120,000 points, bringing his total to 570,000 with the previous 450,000 included. He has completed the procedures for speed-learning 'Weakening' to Minor Mastery and is currently undergoing the process."

Lin Yue nodded, his gaze turning toward the window. The major powers of Douluo Continent were gathering ever more tightly around the Auction House because of the speed-learning service. Points had become hard currency, while the Auction House was the core controlling their flow. "The speed-learning service is only bait," Lin Yue said softly. "Once their dependence on combat skills grows deeper, we'll introduce a 'combat skill upgrade service,' and even auctions for Earth Tier Combat Skills. By then, the cultivation pace of the entire continent will be under our control."

Mo Chen bowed. "Master is wise. All the major factions are currently gathering points like mad, and the Auction House's resource reserves are also increasing rapidly. Whether it is combat skill upgrades or auctions for Earth Tier Combat Skills later, we will have more than enough foundation."

Lin Yue picked up a crystal from the table. Within it was wrapped a thread of golden energy—the origin of an Earth Tier Combat Skill. "No rush. Take it slowly." His fingertips brushed across the crystal, and a profound gleam flashed through his eyes. "Let them first get used to the speed-learning service and experience the increase in strength combat skills bring. Only when they can no longer live without combat skills will the true setup begin."

Meanwhile, inside the speed-learning room, Di Tian had his eyes closed as he sensed the energy of "Weakening." Pale gray energy flowed from the crystal into his mind, and countless insights into cultivation abruptly enlightened him. A moment later, he opened his eyes and released a pale gray domain around himself. Within its range, the nearby rocks faintly took on an air of fragility—this was the effect of "Weakening" at Minor Mastery, capable of reducing the hardness and energy of objects within its range by thirty percent.

"Excellent! It really reached Minor Mastery!" Di Tian let out an excited roar. Retracting his domain, he turned and rushed toward the Star Dou Great Forest—he had to tell Gu Yuena this wonderful news as soon as possible, so that every ferocious beast would know that the Star Dou Great Forest finally possessed a combat skill capable of contending with Titled Douluo!

Within the Poisonous Valley of Sunset Forest, Dugu Bo was practicing the "Abyssal Poison Palm." Palm strike after palm strike landed in the clearing, and amid the billowing Poison Mist, the ground became littered with pitch-black craters. "Once I save up 800,000 points, I'll speed-learn 'Abyssal Poison' to Major Mastery!" His eyes brimmed with anticipation. "Then, even that old bastard Qian Daoliu, I'll dare to trade a few blows with him!"

A cultivation revolution sparked by the speed-learning service was quietly unfolding across Douluo Continent. The major factions fought until their heads bled over points, while the Auction House, like a calm chess player, controlled the entire board with every move. Lin Yue sat in his private room, watching it all, knowing that the next board was already being laid out in secret—and this time, the pieces' desires would be even more intense.