Incomplete Crown, Martial Soul Tremors!

Heaven Dou Auction House.

This is the largest auction house in the entire Heaven Dou Empire, having once auctioned off Soul Bones, high-level Soul Tools, and all manner of rare treasures.

However, the event held today is merely an ordinary auction themed around "Curios and Rare Treasures."

The auction catalog consists mostly of historical artifacts with peculiar designs, mysterious incomplete handicrafts, or "ancient Soul Tools" of questionable efficacy.

Rather than a battlefield for Soul Master resources, it is more of a pastime for nobles and collectors to flaunt their discernment and wealth.

The members of the Shrek Academy reserve team are currently seated in a private booth on the second floor.

It would be more accurate to say they are here to join in the fun rather than to participate in the auction.

After all, they are all proud and arrogant young geniuses who have seen countless rare treasures in their daily lives.

It is hard to believe that an auction of such ordinary scale would contain any items capable of stirring their hearts.

Xia Ming, in particular, goes without saying; he has even seen immortal herbs and five-hundred-thousand-year Soul Bones.

Coupled with the knowledge from his past life, there are few treasures on the entire continent that could move him, let alone ones appearing in this auction.

As expected, for several items in a row, everyone showed a lack of interest.

"Next, we have the seventh lot."

The auctioneer is a woman in a red dress with a pleasant voice, though she clearly lacks sufficient confidence in what is to follow.

The attendant lifts the cover.

Appearing on the display stand is an Incomplete Crown.

It is cast from some unknown dark-gold metal, but its surface is covered in scratches and stains, with nearly a third of its main body missing.

The remaining parts are heavily deformed, and the grooves meant for inlaid gemstones are completely empty.

The overall design is primitive, lacking any sense of elegance or luxury; it looks more like metal trash scavenged from some ruin.

"Distinguished guests," the auctioneer tries to make her voice sound persuasive, "This item was discovered in the northern part of the empire, deep within a newly excavated ancient ruin."

"After appraisal, it is not a Soul Tool and possesses no energy fluctuations."

"However, after testing by several of our Soul Masters, including the full-force attack of a Soul Saint, no marks could be left on its surface."

"Its material is incomparably sturdy; even as a collectible or research specimen, it holds great value!"

"The starting price is five hundred Gold Soul Coins, with each increment no less than fifty Gold Soul Coins."

After the auctioneer finishes speaking, not a single person in the room raises a paddle.

Those sitting here are either wealthy, noble, or have a background as Soul Masters.

Five hundred Gold Soul Coins might be an astronomical figure for ordinary people, but it is not unbearable for them.

But to spend money on a piece of junk with such a poor appearance?

Even if it is indeed hard, no one is willing to be the fool.

The red-dressed auctioneer sighs inwardly.

This Incomplete Crown was highly controversial when it was acquired.

Bringing it out today was merely a test to see if they could encounter a buyer with a sharp eye or a taste for the exotic.

Looking at the current situation, it seems it will fail to sell once again.

She is already prepared to begin the first call according to the procedure.

Just then, a paddle is abruptly raised.

"Five hundred Gold Soul Coins."

The person who made this bid is none other than Xia Ming.

After he places his bid, everyone around him is shocked.

Chen Zifeng even speaks up to dissuade him: "Xia Ming, this thing is not worth five hundred Gold Soul Coins."

"The auction house probably just threw it in today as an experiment; it will definitely drop in price in the future."

He is indeed a bit anxious.

Xia Ming has peerless talent, but having been at Shrek Academy for a long time and being young, he might not understand the true value of Gold Soul Coins.

He fears Xia Ming is acting on impulse and wasting his money.

"This crown is useful to me," Xia Ming says with a faint smile, his tone resolute.

Seeing this, the others find it difficult to persuade him further.

Naturally, they do not know.

Just after this crown appeared, an incomparably intense palpitation erupted from the depths of Xia Ming's Martial Soul, surging straight into his sea of consciousness!

In that instant, the soul power within his body nearly spiraled out of control, and a pale golden beast shadow seemed to flash and vanish deep within his pupils!

If not for his mental power far exceeding that of Soul Masters at his level, and his willpower being exceptionally tenacious.

He feared that if he didn't suppress it, he would trigger Martial Soul Possession right then and there.

This unprecedented, violent reaction made Xia Ming realize in an instant.

This Incomplete Crown shared an incredibly profound connection with his Golden-Haired Lion Mastiff martial soul!

This discovery meant that Xia Ming had to obtain this crown, no matter the cost.

Five hundred Gold Soul Coins? That was merely a drop in the bucket.

Even if it were fifty thousand, five hundred thousand, or five million Gold Soul Coins... he was determined to win it today!

Furthermore, he was not without backing.

His teacher, Mu En, had not yet left Heaven Dou City.

If a sky-high price were truly required, he only needed to explain that this item concerned his own martial soul, and the other party would surely open their purse without a second thought.

"Five hundred Gold Soul Coins, going once!"

"Five hundred Gold Soul Coins, going twice!"

"Five hundred Gold Soul Coins, going three times! Sold!"

The auction gavel fell, sealing the deal.

It was not until the attendant confirmed the transaction and began preparing the next lot that Xia Ming finally let out a quiet sigh of relief.

The auction continued, but Xia Ming no longer had the heart to observe the other items.

The other members of the reserve team, however, seemed to have had their interest piqued by Xia Ming's decisive bid.

In the end, Chen Zifeng spent one thousand Gold Soul Coins to secure an item.

As soon as the auction ended, Xia Ming immediately went to collect the Incomplete Crown.

Suppressing the urge to examine it on the spot, he tucked the crown into his storage soul tool and gave the others a brief word: "I'm heading back first."

Before his voice had even faded, his figure was already in motion, moving so fast he left only a blur behind.

Returning to the hotel, he went straight upstairs and immediately locked his door.

The room was silent.

Xia Ming took a deep breath, calmed his racing heart, and walked to the center of the room.

With a flick of his wrist, the crown appeared in his palm once more.

"Let me see, what exactly are you?"

He whispered to himself, placing the crown on the table and completely releasing the suppression on his martial soul.

"ROAR--!"

Without needing any guidance from Xia Ming's will, the Golden-Haired Lion Mastiff martial soul manifested with unprecedented, savage intensity, completing Martial Soul Possession in an instant!

And at the very moment the possession was complete, the crown, which had been resting quietly on the table, suddenly began to vibrate violently!

A massive suction force pulled at Xia Ming, compelling him to touch the crown with his fingertips once again.

"WHOOSH--!"

The crown instantly transformed into a stream of light, flowing along his finger and sinking into his skin!

The moment the light entered his body, Xia Ming felt an irresistible torrent sweep through his meridians.

The torrent eventually converged toward his sea of consciousness at the center of his brow, then vanished without a trace.

His Martial Soul Possession state automatically disengaged. Xia Ming stood frozen in place, taking a long moment to recover before immediately turning his focus inward.

Everything was as it had been; the crown seemed as if it had never existed.

He concentrated on sensing his own body, but found nothing.

Without a moment's hesitation, Xia Ming set out immediately to find Mu En, who had just finished a secret meeting with Du Busi and the Emperor of the Heaven Dou Empire.

Upon hearing his account, Mu En's typically gentle eyes suddenly turned sharp as a hawk's.

"Do not resist," Mu En said in a low voice, gently pressing his right hand onto the top of Xia Ming's head.

The next moment, Xia Ming felt a vast, ocean-like soul power surge into his body.

This power was incredibly precise, probing his entire body inch by inch.

Time ticked away.

Mu En's brows slowly furrowed.

With his cultivation as a ninety-nine-level Limit Douluo, few in the world could rival his soul power and spiritual energy.

Yet, once, twice, three times... there was nothing unusual.

Xia Ming's physical condition was astonishingly good; his foundation was solid, his soul power pure, and his spiritual energy vibrant.

But that so-called crown had left no trace whatsoever, as if everything that had just happened was merely a hallucination.

After a long while, Mu En withdrew his hand, the sharp light in his eyes gradually fading as his furrowed brows slowly smoothed out.

"Teacher?" Xia Ming looked at him.

Mu En exhaled softly, his gaze drifting toward the distant horizon as his voice returned to its usual gentle tone:

"Being unable to detect it is not necessarily a bad thing."

"Perhaps one day, it will serve an unexpected purpose."

Xia Ming nodded slightly upon hearing this, a few guesses already forming in the depths of his mind.

For something to leave even Mu En unable to uncover its secrets, it must surely be the work of divine-level means.

This crown might be related to the godhood of a certain deity, and one closely connected to his own Golden-Haired Lion Mastiff martial soul at that!

Thinking of this, Xia Ming's emotions surged uncontrollably, yet they were immediately followed by even deeper misgivings.

The inheritance of a godhood... could such a thing truly still exist on the current Douluo Continent?

The restrictions imposed upon the Douluo Continent by God King Tang were known to all.

Under his blockade, was there truly any divine position left on the current Douluo Continent that remained beyond his control and capable of being freely inherited?