A few days later, winter had arrived, and Shrek City was shrouded in a bleak chill.
A light snow had fallen a few days earlier. Though it hadn't settled for long, it had made the air even damper and more bone-chilling.
Downstairs from the dormitory, Wang Dong had bundled herself up like an elegant little snowball.
She wore a thick, pure-white, long down-filled academy coat. Its fluffy collar framed her petite face, leaving only her lively pinkish-blue eyes exposed.
Every so often, she stamped her feet and cupped her hands around her mouth, blowing warm breath into them. She was clearly waiting for Ji Jing.
A moment later, Ji Jing appeared at the dormitory entrance.
He was still wearing nothing but a thin long-sleeved shirt and trousers, completely at odds with the frost-breathing cold around him.
The wind tugged at the hem of his clothes, but couldn't trouble him in the slightest.
Cold and heat could no longer assail his body. The changing seasons were nothing more than scenery to him.
"Aren't you cold?"
Wang Dong hurried over and naturally took his hand, tucking it into her coat pocket. She wanted to warm him with her own body heat, but found his palm as warm and dry as ever—in fact, warmer than hers.
Not far away, a petite figure watched everything unfold...
"Not cold."
Ji Jing replied with a smile, letting her hold his hand.
The two walked side by side toward the classroom building. On the way, Wang Dong took two beautifully made invitations from her small shoulder bag and handed one to Ji Jing.
The invitations were made of stiff, crimson card stock, with the words "Shrek Treasure Appreciation Fair" stamped in gold. The Shrek Academy emblem sat in the lower-right corner, gleaming in the winter sun.
"Here. The academy sent these over. We both got one."
Wang Dong spoke with a hint of anticipation in her voice.
"I hear this year's fair is huge. Lots of major merchant associations and sects are bringing out the treasures they've been saving for a rainy day!"
Ji Jing took the invitation and casually looked it over.
This so-called treasure fair was nothing more than a way for the academy to join forces with various powerful factions, offering resources that might tempt ordinary prodigies in order to win them over and consolidate their interests.
As far as he was concerned, the treasures here probably weren't as valuable as the scraps in his own collection.
Still, since Wang Dong was interested, there was no harm in going with her.
As he thought this, memories of the fair suddenly flashed through his mind.
He remembered that, along the original course of events, a Soul Bone that could be of some use to Wang Dong had appeared at this fair—
the Golden Radiance Left Arm Bone.
It was a rare Soul Bone with a light attribute, and the Soul Skill it granted was quite good. In the end, Wang Dong had claimed it along with another secret-art Soul Bone.
Yet Ji Jing's brow furrowed slightly, despite himself.
He remembered clearly: the Soul Bone was only about ten thousand years old.
That was already a priceless treasure for students from the Outer Court, even for the Inner Court's elite.
But Ji Jing felt that it wasn't good enough for Wang Dong.
Over the long life ahead of her, it would only become something forgotten and left to gather dust.
He quietly put away the invitation and smiled at Wang Dong.
"All right. We'll go take a look together when the time comes."
He didn't tell her what he was thinking. There was no need to bring it up until then.
Following the precise directions on the map attached to the invitation, Ji Jing and Wang Dong left the academy. After walking along the orderly streets for about fifteen minutes, they came upon a magnificent, resplendent building.
This was the Treasure Gathering Pavilion, four stories tall and imposing in stature. Its design resembled an enormous treasure basin, lavish to the extreme.
After the guards at the entrance checked their red, gold-stamped invitations, their expressions instantly turned exceedingly respectful. They ushered the two inside and had a dedicated attendant lead them to the fair's private venue on the top floor.
At the entrance, a beautiful attendant respectfully registered them and presented them with exchange tokens made of warm jade and stamped with gold.
Her voice was sweet as she said, "In accordance with the joint decision of Shrek Academy and the Treasure Gathering Pavilion, you two have the highest level of access at this fair, with no limit on credit. You can directly exchange for any exhibit that catches your eye."
Given Ji Jing's demonstrated strength in the Outer Court and his unfathomable background, any special treatment from the academy and the Treasure Gathering Pavilion was only natural.
And Wang Dong, a prodigy capable of performing a Martial Soul Fusion Skill with him, was likewise regarded as a top-tier talent with boundless potential. It was only right that she receive the same treatment.
Wang Dong curiously toyed with the gold-stamped warm jade token, finding the experience of having no spending limit quite novel.
She took Ji Jing's hand and eagerly led him between the dazzling rows of display stands.
The exhibits included all kinds of rare herbs, precious metals, and even powerful Soul Tools. There was so much to see that it dazzled the eye.
Before long, they stopped in front of a display stand protected by a Soul Tool Shield.
Inside the shield, an arm bone that looked as if it had been cast from gold floated quietly, radiating a warm, sacred light.
Brilliant colors rippled across its surface, and its powerful Soul Power fluctuations were easy to sense.
The plaque beside it bore its name—the Golden Radiance Left Arm Bone.
It came from a Golden Earth Dragon King that had cultivated for ten thousand years.
Wang Dong's eyes were instantly drawn to it.
"Ji Jing, look at this!"
She pointed at the Soul Bone, her pinkish-blue eyes sparkling with desire.
"I feel like it'd suit me perfectly."
Ji Jing's gaze rested on the Soul Bone for a moment, then shifted to Wang Dong's expectant face.
He gently shook his head.
"It does match your attributes,"
he said softly, his voice clear in Wang Dong's ears,
"but it isn't good enough for you."
Wang Dong froze slightly.
"Not good enough for me?"
"Mm."
Ji Jing's tone was utterly certain.
"It's only a ten-thousand-year Soul Bone. There are plenty that are stronger. Don't settle."
His gaze was deep and serious, as if he were making a promise of the utmost sanctity.
"I'll give you the best. Something unique, standing above every Soul Bone of this age."
Wang Dong stared into his eyes. In his golden-red pupils, she saw boundless hopes for her future and the care he took to ensure she would never have to settle for anything less than perfection.
Her longing for the Soul Bone was instantly replaced by trust and sweetness.
She nodded firmly, a radiant smile curving her lips.
"Okay. I'll listen to you."
Several nearby Soul Masters who had noticed them wore incredulous expressions.
A ten-thousand-year Soul Bone—a priceless treasure that could drive any Soul King or even Soul Emperor mad—was "not good enough" in this young man's eyes?
Ji Jing paid no attention to the onlookers.
A Soul Bone?
It had wondrous uses, but it still had its limitations.
What he wanted to give Wang Dong was a creation that would turn the world upside down—
Battle Armor!
Battle Armor could enhance a Soul Master's strength across the board and keep evolving as its wearer grew, opening up countless new possibilities.
The technology hadn't even begun to take shape in this age, but Ji Jing already had a complete theoretical framework in mind.
All he lacked were top-tier forging techniques.
That, however, would be no trouble for him.
When the time comes, I'll just go to the Divine Realm and find Biesan.
He thought to himself.
He could ask the Sea God and Asura God for some pointers on forging. Surely he wouldn't refuse.
Once Ji Jing mastered divine-level forging techniques, combining them with his understanding of Soul Guidance Technology would make creating the world's first set of Battle Armor only a matter of time.
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