Before long, they reached the auction of Jiang Huai's item, the Spiral Wheel. The auctioneer, Li Shuang, walked over carrying a tray covered with red cloth.
Li Shuang lifted the cloth and said, "Ladies and gentlemen, this item is extraordinary. It's a deadly weapon that can easily tear through a ten-centimeter-thick steel plate, then return to the person who threw it without wearing out."
The guests began discussing it among themselves. They doubted that such a small sphere could really tear through a ten-centimeter-thick steel plate.
Seeing that no one believed her, Li Shuang pressed a button beneath the table. A huge screen appeared behind her. Everyone's faces in the footage were blurred. Jiang Huai could be seen tossing the Spiral Wheel. It transformed into three serrated Strangling Wheels, which tore through the four steel plates around them.
The Strangling Wheels tore the steel plates apart, then vanished and reformed into a single sphere, landing in Jiang Huai's palm.
At the sight, all the guests stood up. Among them, Prince Xue Xing stared at the screen in disbelief.
A man seated in front of Jiang Huai smiled and gestured to the sharp-eyed, sword-browed man beside him, signaling him to raise his bid.
Li Shuang continued, "The starting price for this item is 180,000 Diamond Soul Coins. Each bid must increase by at least 10,000."
At the man's gesture, the sharp-eyed, sword-browed man wearing a mask raised his bidding paddle and called out, "One million Diamond Coins."
The others began bidding against him. The first bidder was clearly displeased, but then Prince Xue Xing raised his paddle and called, "Ten million."
The man again signaled to his companion to raise the bid. The companion lifted his paddle and said, "The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect bids fifteen million Diamond Coins."
The moment he named the sect, the room fell silent. No one dared bid again. Even Prince Xue Xing angrily slammed a fist against the armrest of his chair.
Li Shuang began counting. "Fifteen million, once. Fifteen million, twice. Fifteen million, three times! Sold!"
The auction house staff brought the item to the gentleman. The sharp-eyed man swiped a diamond card, paying fifteen million Diamond Soul Coins, then put away the auction receipt. The refined, mild-mannered man beside him collected the Vortex Wheel.
A staff member presented the proceeds to Jiang Huai with both hands and said quietly, "Mr. Jiang Huai, our auction house has a policy of taking a portion of the proceeds from every sale. The administrator has set aside your earnings. Would you agree to a deduction of one million Diamond Soul Coins?"
The refined, mild-mannered man in front of Jiang Huai said quietly, "I suggest you don't take a cut. Otherwise, I'll have a word with your administrator."
The staff member jumped at that and hurried off to discuss it with the administrator and A Nu.
Soon, the administrator personally arrived with the full amount. Respectfully, he handed Jiang Huai a card containing fifteen million Diamond Soul Coins.
Jiang Huai tucked the card into a small inner pocket of his clothes, then used his diamond card to flick out a Diamond Coin and toss it to the administrator. "Here's a tip."7
The administrator bowed and thanked him repeatedly, then left the guest seating area and hurried back to his office.
The man who had been sitting in front of Jiang Huai stood up and took the seat beside him. Smiling, he asked, "Young man, did you make this?"
Jiang Huai answered calmly, "I did. Why?"
The man introduced himself. "I'm Ning Fengzhi, current sect master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. This is Sword Douluo, one of our sect's guardian elders. His name outside the sect is Chen Xin."
Sitting in his chair, Jiang Huai replied, "Greetings, Sect Master Ning. Greetings, Senior Sword Douluo."
Chen Xin turned to look at Jiang Huai and froze. He could sense an aura about Jiang Huai that was just like his master's.
Gu Yue was sitting beside Jiang Huai. She tugged at his clothes, and he turned to her, puzzled. "What is it?"
Gu Yue picked up the Soul Guidance Communicator on her wrist. "Xiao Wu says someone at the academy is looking for you. It's Tai Long and his father, Tai Nuo."
Ning Fengzhi asked, "Which academy do you attend? Perhaps I can help."
Jiang Huai smiled. "The one your daughter attends."
With that, Jiang Huai took Gu Yue's hand, stood up, and left. Xiao Wu went around to his other side, and the three of them walked out of the auction house.
Gu Yue looked at Jiang Huai and asked, "Are we going back to the academy?"
Jiang Huai shook his head. "Not yet. We'll have lunch out here first. We shouldn't let troublemakers think we'll come running whenever they call."
Xiao Wu hopped along as she said, "Brother Huai, I want a feast!"
Jiang Huai took out the diamond card. "Come on. Order whatever you want, but don't waste anything."
After the three of them ate lunch, they returned to Shrek Academy.
Outside the academy, Tai Long was waiting with his father. Tang San was confronting Tai Nuo and Tai Long.
Tai Nuo didn't dare do anything to Tang San. A while ago, Tang San had beaten him, so he'd gone to get his father. But then Tang San's Second Martial Soul had scared him half to death.
Tai Nuo didn't believe the whole of Shrek Academy belonged to his family. Before long, Jiang Huai returned with Gu Yue and Xiao Wu.
Tai Nuo didn't need Tai Long to point Jiang Huai out. He knew at once who he was and immediately threw a punch at him.
Jiang Huai's expression turned cold. He carried Gu Yue and Xiao Wu out of the way. That was just great—Tai Nuo still hadn't filled in the hole he'd made earlier, and now he'd made another one.
All the anger Tai Nuo had been bottling up these past few days erupted at once. He furiously unleashed all his boosting skills, releasing the pressure of a Soul King.
Jiang Huai couldn't be bothered with him. He kicked out, sending Tai Nuo flying. Tai Nuo was left questioning everything.
He could tell Jiang Huai was only thirteen, but his Soul Power was ridiculously high—level forty-six.
Although Jiang Huai's Soul Power was lower than his, it was terrifying that someone so young had already reached the Soul Ancestor rank at level forty-six.
Tai Nuo asked, "Kid, which great clan are you from?"
Jiang Huai raised one finger and wagged it. "I'm not from any great clan, but I know someone who can teach you a lesson."
As soon as he finished speaking, a pungent, fishy smell filled the air. Tai Nuo jumped and turned around to find Dugu Bo standing behind him. His legs went weak with fear.
He knew Dugu Bo was Poison Douluo, a man with a fearsome reputation—a name he'd earned through sheer dominance and poisonous mists. He was known as the Poison Overlord of the World.
Dugu Bo's eyes were cold, and the Jade Phosphor Serpent Emperor appeared behind him. In a chilly voice, he asked, "What are you doing to my brother?"
At the word "brother," Jiang Huai's face darkened. "You old geezer! Who's your brother?"
Dugu Bo raised an eyebrow. "Hmph! Who cares? You're the only brother I recognize. If anyone wants to cause trouble, they'll have to get past me first."
Before you continue