Treasure Appreciation Meeting

These past few days, Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong had come over to borrow the bathroom almost every day.

The public baths were too crowded, and the two of them had gotten used to coming here instead.

Every evening, there would always be a knock at the door—heavy at first, then light. After knocking, they would wait two seconds. It was Wang Dong's insistence on having a "sense of ritual."

Xue Lingyun thought it was unnecessary, all sneaky and furtive, but Wang Dong insisted, so eventually, they kept knocking that way.

Xue Lingyun could not be bothered to say anything about it. The bathroom was empty anyway.

Today was no different.

After the two finished washing up, Wang Dong sprawled on the sofa, drying her hair while grumbling that the water was not hot enough toward the end.

Huo Yuhao sat beside her and chatted about cultivation for a while before taking his leave.

After seeing them off, Xue Lingyun looked out the window. The sky had only just darkened, and the streetlamps were lighting up one after another.

He sat down by the table and casually flipped through Basic Variations of Soul Tool Core Array, waiting.

Before long, someone knocked on the window.

Xue Lingyun looked up to see Ma Xiaotao already pushing open the window and swinging one leg inside. After landing, she dusted off her hands. "Let's go."

Xue Lingyun closed the book, got up, and draped an outer robe over himself. Ma Xiaotao glanced around the room and asked casually, "Those two kids came over again?"

"Mm."

"They come every day. Doesn't it annoy you?"

Xue Lingyun did not answer and followed her out.

Their relationship was both familiar and unfamiliar. They did not need formalities, but they were not close enough to joke around freely either.

In this sort of relationship, he ended up speaking the least.

Ma Xiaotao was used to it as well. She walked on her own, occasionally saying a few things. When he did not respond, she simply kept talking.

The two left the Dormitory Building and headed toward the North City Gate.

The sky was not fully dark yet, and the last streak of orange-red still lingered on the horizon.

Students passed by from time to time. Some recognized Ma Xiaotao and gave her a few extra looks, then looked at Xue Lingyun beside her with curiosity in their eyes.

Ma Xiaotao was completely unaware of it—or rather, she simply did not care.

Once they passed through the North City Gate, the streets gradually widened.

Shrek City was one of the continent's largest cities, with a permanent population of over a million. Even at dusk, the streets remained bustling.

The shops on both sides lit their lanterns one after another, and the warm yellow light stretched into a continuous glow.

Ma Xiaotao led him through countless turns before finally stopping in front of an enormous building.

Xue Lingyun looked up.

It was a building over twenty meters tall, covering an immense area. Its outer walls were inlaid with golden decorations, making it especially dazzling against the night.

The entire structure resembled an upside-down treasure basin, with upturned eaves and brilliant lights. A massive plaque hung above the entrance—Treasure Gathering Pavilion.

"This is it," Ma Xiaotao said. "The biggest hub for treasures in Shrek City. They deal in all sorts of things related to Soul Masters and Soul Engineers. The Treasure Appreciation Meeting is on the second floor. Let's go."

The two entered through the main doors.

The first-floor hall was brightly lit, filled with transparent display cases. Inside were all kinds of Soul Tools, medicinal herbs, ores, and Spirit Bones, all gleaming enticingly beneath the lights.

There were not many visitors, only scattered groups. A few wore Inner Court School Uniforms, while most appeared to be around the same age as Outer Court Students.

A female receptionist in gray stood at the staircase. When she saw them approach, she bowed slightly. "Are you two here for the Treasure Appreciation Meeting? Please follow me."

Ma Xiaotao nodded and followed her upstairs. Xue Lingyun trailed behind.

The second floor was quieter than the first.

The space was just as spacious, but there were far fewer people.

Display cases were arranged in an orderly yet scattered layout, and every item within them was more refined than those downstairs. Dedicated attendants stood nearby, ready to assist at any time.

The receptionist led Xue Lingyun to a table. "Please register first. We will determine your discount rate based on your information."

Ma Xiaotao stood off to the side without going over.

She had her own VIP card and did not need to register again.

Xue Lingyun sat down at the table. A form and a pen had been placed there.

He looked down. It listed several items: name, gender, age, level, Martial Soul, and honors received.

He picked up the pen and filled them out one by one.

Name: Xue Lingyun.

Gender: Male.

Age: Eleven.

Level: 35.

Martial Soul: Heart.

When he reached the honors section, his pen paused.

Honors received...

Ma Xiaotao leaned over to look and snorted. "What? Can't remember what honors you have?"

Xue Lingyun ignored her. After thinking for a moment, he wrote a line: Class Monitor of Class One of the Freshmen, acting.

The receptionist took the form and looked it over. Her gaze paused briefly at "level 35," then moved to the word "Heart," and she looked slightly surprised.

However, she said nothing more, merely nodding politely. "Please wait a moment." Then she turned and left with the form, disappearing through a door in the corner.

Ma Xiaotao leaned closer and lowered her voice. "The discount rate they give you probably won't be low. Outer Court core students only have a very high chance of reaching Four Rings before graduation, but someone like you... tsk."

Xue Lingyun did not speak. He leaned back against the backrest and waited.

After a while, the receptionist returned, carrying a letter and an exquisite wooden box.

She placed them on the table and said with a smile, "Xue Lingyun, this is your VIP card and this year's discount details. Please check them."

Xue Lingyun opened the wooden box. Inside lay a Black Card, cool to the touch, with delicate patterns carved into its surface.

The envelope contained a sheet of paper detailing his benefits: half price, as well as one free item of his choice this year.

Ma Xiaotao leaned over for a look, her eyes widening slightly. "Choose one item for free?"

Xue Lingyun nodded and put away the card.

Ma Xiaotao stared at him for several seconds before suddenly asking, "Why don't I get treatment like that?"

Xue Lingyun glanced at her. "You're the dean's disciple. Don't they just give you whatever you want?"

Ma Xiaotao choked on her words. She wanted to retort, but she seemed unable to.

She opened her mouth, but in the end only managed, "...Fine. You have a point."

The receptionist smiled beside them without saying anything.

The two began browsing the second floor.

The items in the display cases truly were far better than those on the first floor.

Finished Soul Tools, rare ores, high-quality medicinal herbs, and ancient Spirit Bones—all of them carried steep prices.

Xue Lingyun walked slowly, his gaze sweeping over the cases one by one while keeping the senses of Huangji Jingshi active.

After covering half the floor, his footsteps paused.

Inside one display case was a dull gray object the size of a fist. Its surface was uneven and pitted, riddled with cracks.

The label read: thousand-year Whale Rubber. Appearance degraded due to weathering. Special price: six thousand Gold Soul Coins.

Ma Xiaotao leaned over for a look. "They're selling something in such bad condition for six thousand? Weathered Whale Rubber has its effects greatly reduced. It's not even worth three thousand."

Xue Lingyun said nothing and stared at the object for quite a while.

Deep within its cracks, he could vaguely see a hint of amber-colored luster, completely unlike the dull gray exterior.

That was not caused by weathering. Ten-thousand-year Whale Rubber was naturally that color.

He focused the senses of Huangji Jingshi on it, and the faint fluctuation it gave off was far stronger than that of a thousand-year-old piece of whale rubber.

"I'll take this one," he told the attendant beside him.

Ma Xiaotao froze. "Are you crazy? This thing has weathered. Buying it would be a waste."

Xue Lingyun did not explain. He merely took out his VIP card and handed it over. The attendant accepted it, swiped it through a nearby device, then looked at the Whale Rubber and nodded. "Half price. Three thousand Gold Soul Coins."

Xue Lingyun paid and put the object into his Bracelet.

Ma Xiaotao looked at him, her face practically screaming, "Is something wrong with your brain?"

Xue Lingyun ignored her and continued forward.

When they reached another display case, he stopped again. Inside was a thin booklet with a yellowed cover and severely worn corners.

The label read: Self-made Soul Tool design blueprint by a Level Seven Soul Tool Master, incomplete volume. Price: 3.8 million Gold Soul Coins.

He stared at the booklet for a long time.

3.8 million. He could afford it, but he needed to consider whether it was worth it. It was incomplete, with missing pages, and its ideas might not be fully preserved. But those annotations...

He recalled the letter's words—he could choose one item for free this year.

He gestured to the attendant.

"I'll take this one. Use my free allowance."

The attendant walked over, looked at the booklet, then at the Black Card in his hand, and nodded. She opened the case, took it out, and handed it to him.

Ma Xiaotao's eyes widened beside him. "You really want it? It's incomplete. Will you even understand it when you take it back?"

Xue Lingyun put away the booklet and replied casually, "If I don't understand it, I'll study it slowly."

Ma Xiaotao stared at him for a few seconds before suddenly smiling. "Fine. It's free anyway."