Xu Jiawei

You Jie and Zhang Lexuan spent the entire day wandering around Star Luo City, thoroughly enjoying their relaxing and pleasant time together. Their Storage Soul Tools had also gained plenty of new things.

You Jie had made quite a bit of pocket money by offering ideas to the Soul Tool Department, while Zhang Lexuan, as the eldest senior sister of the inner court, had a fairly substantial amount of savings of her own.

So the two of them bought things for each other and exchanged gifts, having a wonderful time.

If the inner court disciples saw Zhang Lexuan like this, their jaws would surely hit the floor in shock.

The Zhang Lexuan of right now was completely different from her usual dignified, solemn image in the inner court, the kind of person one could only admire from afar. She seemed especially lively and cute, and when she was with You Jie, she radiated the glow of youth.

They had just come out of a rather upscale restaurant in Star Luo City and were preparing to head to the Starlight Auction House for the high-level auction being held that evening.

As for how they had managed to get into such a restaurant, with its high barrier to entry, on a whim...

A jade token from the Sea God Pavilion. Need I say more?

"As expected of a top-tier restaurant said to be second only to the imperial kitchens in the Heaven Dou Empire. Its standards could even rival those of Aunt Lu in the inner court..."

On the way to the Starlight Auction House, You Jie couldn't help praising the restaurant in his heart.

Zhang Lexuan didn't say much, but back at the restaurant, she had ordered one of every dish on the menu and polished them all off with You Jie. Her thoroughly satisfied expression now proved just how pleased she had been with the restaurant.

However, when they returned to the Starlight Auction House, they found a staff member in a fitted black dress waiting for them at the entrance.

When she saw them arrive, the woman's professional smile brightened. She hurried over to them.

"Welcome, honored guests. Please follow me to your private auction room."

Mu En had caught up with the two of them just moments earlier, so the three followed the staff member into the depths of the Starlight Auction House.

You Jie and Zhang Lexuan exchanged a glance and immediately understood.

"Just as I thought. She's the staff member who sold the Spirit-Devouring Evil Blade to the Mystic Ancestor yesterday. Looks like it's just as the original story described: thanks to the commission from the blade, she's been promoted by one rank at the Starlight Auction House."

They followed the staff member through a secret passage and entered a luxurious room.

In terms of extravagance, it was even more luxurious than their suite at the Star Emperor Hotel. One entire wall was made of special materials and served as a Soul Tool Screen. Facing it stood an exceptionally large sofa and a table made of jade.

Well, the jade didn't have any special purpose. It was just there to look luxurious.

All kinds of drinks, wine, and fruit were laid out on the table for You Jie and the others to help themselves to.

However, You Jie and the others paid no attention to the sofa or table. They all went straight to the Soul Tool Screen and stared at it intently.

"Is this the Soul Tool Screen from the original story, the one that can be activated with a particular kind of ore?

"Are the people of the Sun Moon Empire idiots, or is everyone on Douluo Continent a total clown? How has no one realized that this is an entirely new way to obtain Soul Power, one that doesn't require a Soul Master or Soul Beast to draw it from the world around them?!"

As the staff member explained the screen, You Jie repeatedly checked its details, cursing up a storm in his mind.

Mu En's expression remained unchanged, like an ordinary old man curious about something new, but inside, he was far from calm.

If combat Soul Tools could also obtain Soul Power in a similar way,

then a Soul Engineer's combat strength could hardly be measured solely by their cultivation.

Moreover, if the Sun Moon Empire could even draw Soul Power directly from nature, it could gather the Soul Power of countless Soul Engineers as well.

Then the advantage Douluo Continent still held—the one that relied on powerful Soul Masters—would vanish completely.

"I wonder if it's still in time to push for the rapid development of the Soul Tool Department... Alas, I left this burden to the next generation after all."

Mu En wanted nothing more than to transform into Kong Deming and single-handedly drive the entire Shrek Academy Soul Tool Department to develop at full throttle, striving to surpass the Sun Moon Empire with maximum speed, efficiency, and quality. But obviously, that was impossible.

Though he was unwilling, all Mu En could do was provide some assistance. Revitalizing the Soul Tool Department would have to be left to Qian Duoduo, Xian Lin'er, and You Jie...

A little while later, the image on the screen changed. A young woman in a red dress appeared and bowed to everyone watching from beyond the screen. The auction officially began.

Although this was a top-tier auction at the Starlight Auction House, and most of the items on display were sure to appeal to the participants, You Jie and Zhang Lexuan didn't have much need for anything to begin with.

Even when a few Soul Tools from Mingde Hall appeared at the auction, the Soul Tool Department at Shrek Academy had similar products.

What nearly made You Jie lose his composure was that a Soul Tool he had proposed improvements for, and Qian Duoduo had manufactured, also appeared at the auction—and sold for a handsome price.

As for the Soul Bones and rare treasures at the auction...

They were nowhere near as good as the collection at Shrek Academy's own Treasure Gathering Pavilion.

Unless the Star Luo Empire could fully develop the Sunset Forest in the Heaven Dou Empire and ransack the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, which God King Tang had surrounded with Jade Phosphor Nine Absolute Flowers, neither You Jie nor Mu En would be interested in the rare treasures at the auction.

By the end of the auction, You Jie had bought only an exquisitely crafted bracelet-shaped Storage Soul Tool, which would suit Zhang Lexuan well, while Zhang Lexuan had bought a piece of rare metal for You Jie.

However, just as the auction officially ended and the group rose to leave, someone suddenly knocked on the door.

Mu En raised a hand slightly, signaling You Jie and Zhang Lexuan to stay where they were, then nodded to the staff member.

The staff member promptly opened the door, and Xu Jiawei, the current emperor of the Star Luo Empire, walked in with several attendants.

Under normal circumstances, someone would have performed a grand bow in a situation like this. But Mu En was the Sea God Pavilion Master and a Limit Douluo, so his status was naturally beyond compare. The people present simply exchanged brief greetings.

"It's been many years, Dragon God. You're as imposing as ever. May I ask whether Your Eminence and your two young friends have enjoyed your time visiting my Star Luo City?"

After greeting them, Xu Jiawei asked Mu En warmly.