Auction House

As usual, they ate, studied, and competed in the Promotion Tournament. The day passed quickly.

However, throughout the day, Tang Wuyang and the other three were pointed at and discussed countless times, naturally because of yesterday's incident blocking the door.

What puzzled many people was that Tang Wuyang and the other three had not received any punishment from the academy. Everything continued as usual, as if nothing had happened.

Even more students gathered to watch Wu Changkong, and many teachers even joined them.

Yesterday's battle had elevated the reputation of the Cold and Arrogant God within the academy to another level. He was no longer merely the girls' god; he had become the god of the entire academy.

But Wu Changkong himself showed no reaction to any of it and remained as he always was.

In the after-school match against Class Two of First Grade, Tang Wuyang, Tang Wulin, Gu Yue, and Xie Xie did not have to put in much effort. Their opponents had only one Soul Master with a yellow Century Soul Ring.

Against the four's teamwork, they had no ability to fight back. With Tang Wuyang and Gu Yue providing fire support, Tang Wulin and Xie Xie easily crushed the opposition.

Three battles, three victories. Combined with yesterday's door-blocking incident, Grade One Class Five had become the most watched class in Eastsea Academy's Intermediate Department.

Tomorrow was a rest day. After that, they would face the challenge of Class One of First Grade.

Class One in every grade was completely different from the other classes, because it gathered the most outstanding geniuses of that year.

At Eastsea Academy, there had not been a single case in twenty years of Class One in the same grade being defeated by a lower-ranked class during the Promotion Tournament.

After dinner, Tang Wuyang, Tang Wulin, and Xie Xie were preparing to return to their dormitory when Gu Yue blocked their path.

"What are you three doing tomorrow? Tell me the truth right now, or don't blame me for getting rough with you." Gu Yue stood with her hands on her hips, looking remarkably fierce.

She was not exceptionally beautiful, but she was still quite lovely. Looking like this now, she was truly rather amusing.

"Why should we tell you what we're doing?" Xie Xie snorted.

Gu Yue curled her lips. "I heard you talking while you were eating just now. You're going out tomorrow."

"Fine if you won't tell me. I'll go find Teacher Wu right now and ask him to give us extra training. Neither of you will be going anywhere tomorrow."

"Anyway, we're about to compete against Class One. This is the perfect time for extra training."

"Why are you so annoying?" Xie Xie glared at Gu Yue with widened eyes.

Gu Yue gave a cold snort. "I'm this annoying. So what? Are you going to tell me or not?"

Tang Wulin hurriedly tried to smooth things over. "Gu Yue, I wanted Xie Xie to take me to the auction house tomorrow for a look. I've never been to one before."

Gu Yue turned her gaze toward Tang Wuyang. "Wuyang, are you going too?"

Tang Wuyang nodded firmly. "Yeah. I've never been either, so I want to take a look."

Gu Yue smiled. "Then let's go together!"

Xie Xie looked disgusted. "Who wants to go with you? This is our business. Why should we bring you along?"

Gu Yue said, "I never said I was going with you. Looking at you, I'd rather just go with Wuyang."

Xie Xie looked at her suspiciously, then at Tang Wuyang, who was only nine but already very handsome. "Don't tell me you like Wuyang?"

"No way. How old are you? Isn't that developing way too early?"

The Tang brothers were quite popular at the academy. With the Promotion Tournament approaching, their outstanding performances, coupled with their refined looks, had earned them quite a few female fans.

"Do you have a death wish?" Gu Yue raised a hand, and an ice ball shot toward him.

Xie Xie hurriedly dodged. "Ha ha, I guessed right, didn't I?"

"I'm going to tell Teacher Wu that you're misbehaving at such a young age."

"If you want to die, I'll grant your wish." Gu Yue lunged at him, lights flashing across her hands as she chased after Xie Xie.

The brothers exchanged a helpless glance as they watched the two. They had long grown accustomed to this sort of squabbling and could only raise their hands and retreat from the battlefield together.

In the end, early the next morning, the four of them still set out together.

"Xie Xie, where is the auction house?" Tang Wulin asked curiously as they walked.

Xie Xie glanced at Gu Yue, who was following beside Tang Wuyang with a smile. "At the East Sea Museum! Eastsea City's auction house is jointly run with the museum."

"The museum has a dedicated auction item exhibition area, and auctions are held regularly."

"We just need to visit the exhibition area. There are also notices there about when the auctions begin."

Tang Wuyang looked at Tang Wulin inquisitively. "Brother, you still haven't told me why you suddenly want to look at Spirit Fruit."

Tang Wulin brushed it off. "I just had a sudden urge. We're only going to take a casual look."

The East Sea Museum was located slightly south of the center of Eastsea City. It was a cluster of ancient-looking buildings consisting of one main building and two side buildings.

The main building displayed specimens of all kinds of rare Soul Beasts, artifacts bearing witness to Eastsea City's history, and objects from various eras.

The side building on the left was the auction house exhibition area Xie Xie had mentioned. As for the actual auction venue, it was on the upper floors of the main building.

The side building containing the auction exhibition area required no admission ticket, so they could enter directly. Quite a few people had come to browse.

The side building had four floors. Although it was only a side building, it was enormous; from the outside, it was at least two hundred meters wide.

As the second-largest city in the Eastern Coastal Region and the only city there with an auction house, the scale of Eastsea City's auction house was easy to imagine.

The first through fourth floors were all auction item exhibition areas, with items displayed according to their classifications and grades.

Of course, some especially rare and expensive items were displayed only in dedicated areas, which were not open for everyone to see.

As soon as they entered, the four saw a huge sign indicating that the first floor of the auction exhibition area was divided into two main sections: the Soul Tool Zone and the Non-Soul Tool Zone.

The Soul Tool Zone was further divided into several areas, including the Rare Metal Zone and the Soul Tool Finished Product Zone.

"Where should we go first?" Xie Xie vaguely guessed that Tang Wulin had come to the auction house for a reason, so he asked directly.

Tang Wulin said, "Let's go to the Non-Soul Tool Zone. I want to see whether they're auctioning the kind of Spirit Fruit I told you about."

"Brother, do you really want to buy one?"

Tang Wulin denied it. "I don't want one. I'm just curious and want to take a look."

Although Tang Wuyang still had his doubts, seeing his brother evade the question again, he guessed that Tang Wulin did not want to reveal the reason.

"Then let's go take a look." Xie Xie had clearly not come here for the first time. He led the three of them into the auction item exhibition area with ease.

"This is the Spirit Fruit Zone. Take a look yourself." Xie Xie stopped when they arrived at a spacious rectangular room.

The room was about three hundred square meters in size, displaying all kinds of Spirit Fruit and rare plants. Every kind of Spirit Fruit had a label beside it.

Tang Wuyang had no need for these Spirit Fruit. Gu Yue, who was equally uninterested, pulled him ahead, gradually widening the distance between them and Tang Wulin and Xie Xie.

After making a circuit around the first floor, they saw many things they had never heard of, as well as some familiar forged products.

Tang Wulin spotted his target item at one of the counters.

Kongling Fruit, fifty years old. Space Attribute Spirit Fruit. Rare. Nourishes Space Attribute Martial Souls and can provide a certain increase in Soul Power.

Starting bid: two hundred thousand Federation Coins. Estimated final price: two hundred forty thousand to two hundred seventy thousand Federation Coins.

The Kongling Fruit looked crystalline and translucent, entirely silver-gray in color. Under the lights, faint silver-white halos seemed to flow within it.

"Yes, that's it." Xie Xie appeared from nowhere and leaned close to Tang Wulin. "This is Kongling Fruit."

Tang Wulin said, "But this isn't a Century Spirit Fruit!"

Xie Xie said, "This is an auction house. The more precious the item, the higher the floor where it's displayed."

"The first floor only displays ordinary auction items. I think there should be Century Spirit Fruit on the second floor."

"But we can't go up to the second floor either."

Tang Wulin asked, "Why not?"

Xie Xie said, "To visit the auction items on the second floor, you have to pay a deposit and obtain bidding qualifications."

"Or you can visit freely if you're a Level Three Professional or above."

"A deposit? How much?" Tang Wulin asked.

Xie Xie gave him an odd look. "It seems you really do want a Century Kongling Fruit. Otherwise, why are you taking this so seriously?"

Tang Wulin sighed. "Don't ask. Just tell me."

Noticing the bitterness that flashed through Tang Wulin's eyes, Xie Xie could not help frowning. "Wulin, did something happen to you?"

Tang Wulin shook his head. "I don't want to lie to you, but I can't tell you either. If you won't tell me, I'll ask myself."

Seeing him make as if to leave, Xie Xie hurriedly said, "All right, I'll tell you. The deposit is one hundred thousand to enter the second floor."

"To enter the third floor, you need one million. The higher you go, the more valuable the auction items become. And the deposit isn't refunded."

One hundred thousand?

Tang Wulin had actually saved up some money over the past few months. He did have one hundred thousand.

But the words nonrefundable made him hesitate.

Then he immediately recalled what Xie Xie had said about Level Three Professionals. "Does any kind of Level Three Professional qualify?"

Xie Xie said, "Of course. Level Three Professionals are already part of the elite class. But you're still quite far from the third rank for Soul Masters, Soul Grandmaster, aren't you? I'm almost there myself."

Soul Master?

Tang Wulin was naturally still far from Level 20, but he was also a Forging Master!

After completing tasks at the Forging Master Association these past days and learning more about the association, both brothers had learned that Thousand Forging was the entry requirement for a Third-Level Forging Master.

It was only because Mang Tian had forbidden them from revealing it that they had not taken the Third-Level Forging Master examination.

After leaving the auction house, Tang Wuyang deliberately pulled Tang Wulin back so they fell behind Xie Xie and Gu Yue.

"Brother, what happened? What's wrong?" Tang Wuyang looked at Tang Wulin seriously.

Tang Wulin hesitated. "Wuyang, there's a dragon inside my body. A Silver Dragon."

"My Second Martial Soul seems to be related to that dragon too."

"That dragon has Eighteen Seals on its body."

"A Divine Consciousness told me that I have to obtain a Spirit Fruit and five drops of Dragon-type Soul Beast blood to break the First Seal. Otherwise, I'll die." At this point, Tang Wulin could not help giving a bitter smile.

Tang Wuyang's eyes suddenly widened at those words.

He had not expected his brother to have a situation similar to his own.

It seemed that he, too, should originally have needed certain external items to break his seals, just like his brother.

Now, because the seal inside him had been replaced by the Golden Dragon King's divine sense, that requirement had been erased.

Seeing Tang Wulin's low spirits, Tang Wuyang did not reveal his own situation so as not to worry him. He merely comforted him, "It's okay, Brother. Didn't that Divine Consciousness say that as long as you get those things, it'll be fine?"

"Teacher will be coming this afternoon. We can suggest that he let us take the Third-Level Forging Master examination. That way, we'll earn more rewards. The two of us can work together, and I'm sure we'll save enough soon."

Tang Wulin pressed his lips together. How could he not understand that Wuyang intended to use his own recent earnings to help buy Spirit Fruit for him?

Seeing this, Tang Wulin did not refuse. Instead, he simply nodded at Tang Wuyang.

The four of them did not eat lunch outside. They returned to the academy and went to the cafeteria.

It was not that they did not want to eat outside, but Tang Wuyang's appetite was simply too astonishing. Add Tang Wulin, whose appetite was double or even triple Xie Xie's, and since the brothers did not want Xie Xie and Gu Yue to treat them, returning to the academy for free food was more cost-effective.

"Wuyang and I are going to the Forging Workshop this afternoon. You two should go back and cultivate too."

As if recalling something, Tang Wuyang added, "Oh, and if you have time, gather some information about Class One. We still know nothing about them."

Xie Xie knew the brothers' routine. Every rest day, they went to the workshop.

"Fine, go ahead. Isn't it just Class One? I can deal with them by myself." Xie Xie spoke arrogantly.

"Aren't you afraid the wind will cut your tongue?"

Just then, a somewhat mocking voice rang out. "Four little trash fish from Class Five, and you dare make such boasts?"

Tang Wuyang, Tang Wulin, Xie Xie, and Gu Yue turned around at the same time and looked toward the source of the voice.

Several Intermediate Department students who appeared to be around their age stood not far away.

The speaker was one of them, a youth with a middle part.

He was fairly good-looking, but his lips were somewhat thin. Together with his cutting words, it made him difficult to like.

The youths beside him were also looking at Tang Wuyang's group with disdain.

Xie Xie's face turned cold. He slapped the table and abruptly stood, about to walk over, but Tang Wulin grabbed him.

Tang Wulin whispered in his ear, "We've already caused Teacher Wu plenty of trouble lately. Endure it a little."

Xie Xie said coldly, "You guys are from Class One, right? After tomorrow, you'll be Class Two."

The youth with a middle part burst out laughing. "Fine. I'd like to see what ability you have to turn us into Class Two."

As he spoke, his eyes suddenly lit up. Then his body abruptly grew several inches taller and seemed to become extraordinarily flexible. Two yellow rings rose beneath his feet at the same time.

Not only that, but bluish scales emerged across his neck, and his eyes turned into vertical pupils.

Two Ring? A Soul Grandmaster?

Tang Wuyang and the other three were all shocked.

If he was truly a Class One of First Grade student, then he should only be nine, just like them!

A nine-year-old Soul Grandmaster was absolutely unheard of.

Tang Wuyang took a step forward and stood in front of Gu Yue. Although the other side radiated a powerful aura, he remained fearless.

Tang Wulin, who had already been standing in front of Xie Xie, had a white Soul Ring rise beneath his feet. Blue Silver Grass surged in his palm with a blue glow.

"Ha ha, trash with only a Ten-Year Soul Ring dares to act arrogant? This is too funny."

"Don't worry, I won't deal with you now. When we get to the Competition Stage, I'll show you the difference between geniuses and trash."

"Remember my name. Class One of First Grade, Wei Xiaofeng!"

After saying that, Wei Xiaofeng suddenly withdrew his Soul Power, returning everything about himself to normal before turning and leaving arrogantly.

"Bastard!" Xie Xie was about to rush after him when Tang Wulin used a strand of Blue Silver Grass to Entwine his waist and pull him back.

The instant the Blue Silver Grass around Xie Xie's waist loosened, Tang Wuyang stepped forward and placed his right hand on Xie Xie's shoulder. "Don't fall for it. He just wants to provoke us and lure us into attacking. If we do, the academy will punish us. We'll settle it tomorrow on the Competition Stage."

A cold light flickered in Xie Xie's eyes. "Hmph! What's so great about Two Ring? We'll see."

Tang Wuyang said, "Brother and I are going to the workshop first. Teacher Wu won't help us analyze our opponents; he always makes us solve things ourselves."

"You two should find a way to investigate Class One first. Once we're back tonight, we'll discuss a strategy."

Although Xie Xie was deeply unwilling to accept it, Wei Xiaofeng's display of Two Ring strength still placed considerable pressure on all four of them.

How could they possibly be certain of victory against an opponent like that?

A nine-year-old with Two Ring was absolutely a genius among geniuses. Under normal circumstances, even Class One students in other grades would need to be at least third-years before Two Ring Soul Masters appeared.

Even Xie Xie, who considered himself exceptionally gifted, was still a little short of Two Ring.

"Fine! We'll teach them a lesson tomorrow." Xie Xie left first with a gloomy expression.

Gu Yue came to Tang Wuyang's side and gave a light laugh. "Don't mind them. We'll definitely win."

Tang Wuyang turned to look at her. There was no arrogance in Gu Yue's eyes, only confidence.

In the previous matches, none of them had truly displayed their full strength. Especially Gu Yue—in their group of four, Xie Xie gave the impression of being the strongest.

But in truth, the truly powerful one should be this girl beside him. Even Teacher Wu had praised her talent!

Gu Yue patted his shoulder and left on her own. Her petite figure was quickly swallowed by the crowd of other students.

The brothers exchanged a glance and saw their eyes filled with fighting spirit.