Unexpectedly, Yu Daoyun didn't say the outrageous things Zhang Lexuan had imagined.
Things like, "Senior Sister, your cultivation... You wouldn't want to..."
That sort of thing was impossible.
Yu Daoyun took the Silver Moon Wolf King's leg bone out of his Storage Soul Tool and smiled. "Senior Sister, you've done so much for the academy, but you still don't have a suitable Soul Bone, do you? I can't use this one, so I'll give it to you."
Give it to me?
Zhang Lexuan gazed at the Ten Thousand Year Soul Bone, which radiated an attribute identical to her Martial Soul's. Her eyes trembled slightly, and she stood there in a daze for a long while.
In all these years, this was the first time someone had treated her this way.
Perhaps she didn't need a Soul Bone or the academy's rewards. Everything she had achieved today had been given to her by the academy.
But... this little fellow before her was not only willing to comfort her, he was even offering her a priceless Soul Bone.
Did this little fellow really not know how valuable a Soul Bone was? No... Yu Daoyun definitely knew, yet he was still giving it to her. It wasn't because he couldn't use it.
Zhang Lexuan was flustered. She said earnestly, "Senior Sister can't use it either. You should keep it. I already have a better Soul Bone..."
As she spoke, her voice grew choked with emotion.
Yu Daoyun put on a stern expression and said earnestly, "Everyone else has one. You should have one too!"
His words crashed into Zhang Lexuan's calm heart like a boulder into the sea, completely shattering her emotional defenses.
Zhang Lexuan reached out and wrapped her arms around Yu Daoyun. Tears slid silently down her cheeks.
After being at the academy for so long, she had felt the warmth of a home.
The Soul Bone wasn't that important to her, but the person giving it to her was someone she couldn't live without.
As long as Yu Daoyun remained at the academy, Zhang Lexuan swore she would protect him well.
Elsewhere.
In the Sea God Pavilion, Mu En sprang up from his chair when he heard what Yan Shaozhe had told him.
Mu En asked, "Shaozhe, did Daoyun really defeat Long Aotian?"
Yan Shaozhe chuckled and said loudly, "Of course! And, Teacher, do you know? Long Aotian was beaten into the ground. Yu Daoyun hadn't even gone all out when that kid lost."
"Good, good, good..."
Mu En said "good" three times in a row, so excited he could barely contain himself.
His investment had paid off!
He hadn't let down the hopes of Shrek's forebears. He was about to cultivate a Limit Douluo.
At the thought, Mu En hurried out of the Sea God Pavilion, intending to have a good talk with his disciple.
Yu Daoyun wasn't just his family's hope. He was Shrek's hope too.
On Lake Heart Island, after giving Zhang Lexuan the Soul Bone, Yu Daoyun went to the cafeteria for a meal.
Nothing mattered more than eating.
He planned to go have some fun in Shrek City later and unwind while he was at it.
After a long stretch of cultivation, he needed to relax and ease the fatigue in his body and mind.
Before long, he finished eating and walked out of the cafeteria, where he ran into Mu En, who had been sitting outside and basking in the sun.
Yu Daoyun cupped his hands in greeting. "Elder Mu."
Mu En nodded. "Shaozhe told me your Soul Hunting expedition didn't go smoothly, but you were the one who resolved the crisis in the end. You even defeated Long Aotian, so I've decided to reward you with some resources. Ask for whatever you like."
At that, Yu Daoyun's eyes lit up at once.
Who said Shrek was no good? Shrek was fantastic.
When it came to resources, they really handed them out.
Yu Daoyun immediately thought of the Golden Dragon King's seal.
The first three layers didn't require any special conditions to unlock; he only needed to be strong enough. But the later layers required special items to temper his body and break them open.
The items he needed for that would cost an astronomical sum.
He promptly made several requests, hoping Mu En would grant them.
For example, Dragon Scale Fruit, Hundred Year Blood Vine, and Thousand Year Earth Dragon Tendon.
As soon as he said them, Mu En was startled.
This child really knew how to ask. Every item was expensive, and some were worth a fortune.
Their value was in no way inferior to that of a Soul Bone.
Mu En asked, "Daoyun, what do you need these things for?"
Yu Daoyun thought it over. "Elder Mu, I keep dreaming of a golden dragon when I sleep. It says there's power sealed inside my Martial Soul, and that I need these things to assist my cultivation and release it."
"So I want to give it a try."
Mu En's expression immediately grew solemn.
This wasn't something a child would make up. A child of just a few years old had no reason to lie.
If it was true, then Daoyun's Golden Dragon Martial Soul might well possess intelligence. He might have been chosen by a dragon soul from the moment he was born.
But he didn't have all those things on hand.
After thinking it over repeatedly, Mu En took out an invitation and a card for the Treasure Appraisal Meeting. "This is an invitation to the auction in Shrek City. It has the things you're looking for, and the academy will cover all your expenses."
"The auction should be held within the next couple of days."
An auction!
Yu Daoyun's mouth curled into a grin at the news. He accepted the invitation and card.
With the academy paying, that made things much easier.
He could buy whatever he wanted without having to beg Mu En for it.
Mu En sighed and silently turned to leave.
If he'd known, he wouldn't have offered to reward the kid with anything. Now he couldn't take it back, so he could only let Yu Daoyun go on a spending spree himself.
Yu Daoyun didn't forget to say, "Take care, Elder Mu."
Two days passed in a flash. After returning, Yu Daoyun continued training with his Golden Dragon Martial Soul without the slightest slack.
He grew stronger as he fought Shrek's students, his strength rising with every battle.
His Soul Power still increased as slowly as ever, like a caterpillar inching along. Only his strength kept growing.
He trained until nightfall before slowly exhaling a breath of stale air. Taking out the auction invitation, he murmured to himself, "Once I get the things I need, I can break through three layers of the seal at once. There should be some unexpected changes."
"I hope Shrek's auction won't disappoint me too much!"
Then Yu Daoyun left the Inner Court and headed to Shrek City to attend the auction.
It took him just over ten minutes to reach the city.
The bustling streets and the guards visible everywhere showcased Shrek City's power.
Even the buildings lining the streets were all magnificent, standalone pavilions.
Following the map on the invitation, Yu Daoyun finally reached the auction house's entrance.
Just then, he ran into a few familiar faces: the Beibei Trio, with Xu Sanshi, the Intelligence Turtle, among them.
"You've gotten stronger again!"
Beibei gazed at Yu Daoyun's back, his eyes filled with complicated emotions.
A nine-year-old Four-Ring Soul Ancestor—was that supposed to be slow cultivation?
Beibei himself was still only a three-ring Soul Elder.
Yu Daoyun slowly turned around and smiled at the dejected Beibei. "Well, if it isn't my distant cousin Beibei. Are you here for the auction too? You've been slacking off in your cultivation lately. You're still a three-ring Soul Elder."
Beibei fell silent at once.
Seeing his brother take such a blow, Xu Sanshi stepped forward and said, "Kid, don't get cocky. Beibei will surpass you sooner or later."
Beibei's expression grew even worse.
Could he really surpass Yu Daoyun just by running his mouth?
He honestly couldn't do it.
Yu Daoyun smiled faintly and raised his fist. "Forgot the pain once the wound healed? Bring out your Turtle Shield and let's have another match."
Xu Sanshi was immediately overcome with fear and didn't dare say another word.
Last time, this guy had beaten him so badly he'd been stuck in bed for ages. He still shuddered at the memory.
At that moment, Beibei spoke up. "Sanshi can be a little rude. Don't take it to heart."
Yu Daoyun had no intention of continuing to chat with the Intelligence Turtle. Instead, he turned to Tang Ya and asked, "Sect Master Tang, do you have any money on you?"
Beibei's expression changed at once. Something was wrong.
Hadn't this kid said he wouldn't join the Tang Sect? Why was he being so attentive to Tang Ya now? Had he changed his mind again?
Tang Ya lowered her head and said, "I don't..."
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