Continental Advanced Spirit Master Academy Elite Tournament

Life in the Inner Court was boring.

Or rather, doing the same thing over and over again would eventually become tedious, even if it was fun...

Every day, Mu Baobao forged and cultivated. His powerful spiritual power had already allowed him to adapt to Level Six Spirit Refinement, and he spent the rest of his time meditating.

He had originally wanted to learn how to carve Soul Guidance formations as well... but he gave up. He simply was not cut out for it.

Being able to settle down and meditate was already quite good. In the later stages, one could not raise one's rank through meditation alone anyway; one still had to rely on all sorts of cheats. Soul Guidance formations were simply far too complicated... no less difficult than Blue Star's specialty... students' homework.

He still preferred solving things with his fists. Even if he never showed up to register for classes, no one could do anything to him.

He was the creator of the Battle Armor system. That alone could sustain him for the rest of his life. The master of the Sea God Pavilion, Dragon God Douluo, was his ancestor. Anyone who touched him would be courting death!

Qian Duoduo... had initially been somewhat disappointed. With such outstanding spiritual power, carving miniature Soul Guidance formations should have been easy. He had repeatedly tried to persuade him, but Mu Baobao simply was not suited for it, so he had no choice but to give up.

Eight months, a Level Two Soul Engineer. Only after Huo Yuhao returned did attention shift to him.

This was an exceptionally rare genius, and he even had a spiritual-type Martial Soul. In the past, he definitely would not have received much attention, since Soul Rings were simply too difficult to find.

With the Battle Armor system being unveiled, Shrek Academy lacked talents in this area. Then the Ice Empress Scorpion was exposed—a Body Martial Soul, an ultimate Martial Soul... all appearing in one person. Even Yan Shaozhe, who had initially despised him in every possible way, directly caused a scene at the Sea God Pavilion meeting.

"Hey, hey, you really guessed it. That junior really isn't ordinary. A mutated Body Martial Soul, an Ultimate Ice Empress Scorpion..."

Winter break ended, and the new semester began. Time passed quickly. Ma Xiaotao came to his home and said,

"What? You saw that he has Ultimate Ice and is also a fresh young face... so you want him to help suppress your Evil Fire, because you can't control it anymore?" Mu Baobao asked with a smile. Ma Xiaotao immediately flew into a rage. "Pah! He's six years younger than me. Just how much gossip would that cause?"

If Mu Baobao had not suddenly appeared, Ma Xiaotao really would have had Huo Yuhao constantly taking advantage of her in the name of being siblings... Naturally, he would have drawn plenty of attention.

"The teachers even took it to the Sea God Pavilion meeting. In the end, Mu En made the final decision and allowed him to cultivate in both the Soul Guidance Department and the Spirit Department. A Level Two Soul Engineer in eight months is indeed extremely rare. It's probably because of his Body Martial Soul!"

And that was indeed the case. If not for the Spirit Eye giving Huo Yuhao powerful spiritual power, no one else could have achieved this so quickly. It would have taken at least one or two years.

"But he's still no match for you. An ordinary scorpion and an eye can't compare to a giant dragon. Even with a mutated Martial Soul and ultimate attributes, he only has one Martial Soul with one ability each. You fucking have two Martial Souls, each with two..."

"If I told everyone that you weren't a Radiant Sacred Dragon, Mu En and all of Shrek Academy would worship you like an ancestor... And that junior only has such talent in Soul Engineering because of his Martial Soul. Without it, he'd probably be ordinary. You, on the other hand, created the Battle Armor system!"

Ma Xiaotao curled her lips. This was the real monster—and he could even perform a Martial Soul Fusion Skill by himself. "So don't provoke me, or I'll tell them."

She clenched her delicate fist threateningly. Mu Baobao paid her no mind. "You know I don't like burdensome responsibilities. I even refused the honor of becoming a Sea God Pavilion member at eighteen. If that happened, I would have no choice but to leave Shrek Academy, live like an idle wanderer, roam the world, and travel across the continent."

"Take me with you!" Ma Xiaotao blurted out excitedly. She still missed the peaceful three months they had spent with the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan.

"Hm? Weren't you threatening me?"

He looked teasingly at the red-haired girl. Only then did Ma Xiaotao realize that what she had said sounded somewhat suggestive, so she could only continue telling Mu Baobao what happened next.

"You know about the Continental Advanced Spirit Master Academy Elite Tournament, right? Every academy sends a team to compete. The age limit used to be twenty-five, but now it's twenty!" Ma Xiaotao said. Mu Baobao pondered it. Judging by the timeline, it really was about to begin.

"Our Shrek Academy is undoubtedly first every time. A team has seven members and four substitutes, but we have two teams of seven."

That was undoubtedly against the rules, but the first team lacked four members while the second was a group of children. With one side weakened and the other strengthened, the other academies were naturally willing to accept it, because of the prestige of the Shrek Seven Devils.

"That kid became a reserve team member again. Although his talent is indeed impressive... he isn't the strongest, but he's extremely good at controlling the team. He forcibly teamed up with the others and earned a place on the reserve team."

Mu Baobao still remembered this. Among the second generation of the Shrek Seven Devils, only Beibei and Xu Sanshi were famous figures in the Outer Court. He Caitou was even the direct disciple of Fan Yu, director of the Soul Guidance Department, and a candidate for the Ultimate Soldier Project. That project equipped people with personal Soul Guidance weapons, turning them into war machines.

But in order to win over Huo Yuhao, that position was changed to his. Wang Dong, Xiao Xiao, and Huo Yuhao... the three of them had Twin Martial Souls, but they were only in their twenties or thirties in rank, so they held no advantage among the freshmen.

Jiang Nannan completely coasted through the whole process. Her talent was average... It was only because they knew one another that she got this easy spot among the Shrek Seven Devils. Dai Huabin and Zhu Lu had higher Soul Power than them and could even use a Martial Soul Fusion Skill, yet neither was selected. There was also Ning Tian from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, whose support abilities were stronger than Xiao Xiao's.

However, by the second Spirit Master Tournament, Beibei, He Caitou, Xu Sanshi... had just passed the age of twenty, so they were brought in as substitutes.

But so what? It had completely become the personal show of Huo Yuhao, Tang Wutong, Wang Qiu'er, and the others. The previous reserve team would count as the next official team, and they could take the field against weaker opponents.

Although they were all Shrek Seven Devils, they could only hold the title for five years. In order to give them lifelong titles, they specially had that drunken old man Xuan Zi lead the team.

He insisted on carrying out a mission, only for three team members to be blown to death and several others to be severely injured... Huo Yuhao and the others were forced to compete. Only after Ma Xiaotao and the others recovered did they begin steamrolling their opponents and win the championship.

Mu Baobao disliked Yan Shaozhe, that scumbag. As for Xuan Zi, he had learned absolutely nothing. A team he led on a mission had once been wiped out, yet he was still so careless.

If his martial uncle had not been Mu En, he would probably have been expelled from the Sea God Pavilion, or even from Shrek Academy.

Yet he ultimately became the next Pavilion Master.

"The substitutes are still short on people, right? Pull some strings for me. I want to go with you!"

"What the hell?" Ma Xiaotao froze slightly. "Is that something connections can solve? Weren't you uninterested in being one of the Shrek Seven Devils? And if our second team weren't all Outer Court students, would the other academies agree? They'd join together and impeach us."

Their official team was enough to crush every team except Sun Moon Academy's. The reserve team could probably only compete in lower-tier matches. Why would they need any substitutes?

If Mu Baobao went too, there would be no need to compete at all. He could probably fight a team match by himself.

"Then forget it. At least get me a ticket, all right?" Mu Baobao muttered. This was still the age of firearms, after all. There was no high-tech broadcast viewing whatsoever, which meant there was no internet.

To watch a broadcast, one had to be there in person. The continent-wide Spirit Master tournaments in Douluo Continent and Peerless Tang Sect were entirely exclusive to the upper class, meant for selecting outstanding Spirit Masters.

What the hell could ordinary people see? All they heard was who won and who lost. Without knowing the process, how could they fantasize about it?

"That won't be a problem. Shrek can probably get several hundred tickets!" Ma Xiaotao recalled. After all, they were one of the continent's three great powers.

Mu Baobao smiled. With that drunken old man Xuan Zi leading them, even if they developed Battle Armor, they would only have one or two sets of Three-Word Battle Armor... Their equipment would probably only be Two-Word Battle Armor. If the plot remained unchanged, even if no one died, they would be seriously injured or left on the brink of death.

Positions... wouldn't that leave vacancies? Then it would be his turn to take the field. He was completely unhappy about letting this bunch of second-generation brats show off. He was going to change history.

The effect would not be huge, though. The Spirit Master Tournament was merely a certain honor, and there were far more achievements to come afterward.

The Treasure Appraisal Fair was a grand occasion at Shrek Academy.

As an Inner Court student and the creator of the Battle Armor system, Mu Baobao naturally received an invitation.

When the invitation was turned over, its back displayed a gold-embossed map marking the location of the Treasure Gathering Pavilion. He had even obtained the highest gold-level authorization.

Mu Baobao had not originally wanted to go, since he did not need anything inside. Huo Yuhao had a red card and could take one treasure away each year, yet he only used it to exchange for a Soul Bone for Tang Wutong and did not go again.

In the Outer Court, only core disciples received invitations, numbering only a few dozen... fewer than the Inner Court students. Those without money had no need to go, and those without any need for treasures did not go either. Mu Baobao suddenly became interested.

Shrek City's streets were orderly and well-policed, while the Treasure Gathering Pavilion was extremely conspicuous... After all, it had been organized by Lin Lao, a Sea God Pavilion member. It stood four stories tall, over twenty meters high, and its exterior was resplendent in gold and jade.

It resembled a treasure bowl. On either side of the entrance stood young women in long dresses serving as greeters, seventeen or eighteen years old.

They had slender figures and sweet faces. Their shoulders were bare, their ample chests proud, their skin fair.

Against the Treasure Gathering Pavilion's glittering architecture, they had a distinctive charm. The old Mu Baobao would definitely have been excited, since he had never been qualified to visit such a place on Blue Star. But compared with Ma Xiaotao, Zhang Lexuan, Han Ruoruo, Wu Ming...

These senior sisters, they were not even in the same league. But their strength was not particularly high, so he did not dare provoke them... To put it bluntly, he was somewhat afraid of them.

"Oh? Your self-control is pretty strong. Then again, you've endured for more than ten years. Seriously, are you incapable or something?" Ma Xiaotao was like a little tagalong at his side. She had not come to this Treasure Appraisal Fair before.

It seemed she had come before after all... Dai Huabin deliberately caused trouble for Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong, and when they sent out a signal during a life-or-death crisis... she saved them. He had not interfered in Outer Court affairs, so it would probably still happen.

He did not say anything else. For example, looking at things he should not look at would give him a stye. He had admired her from head to toe long ago, and now she clung to him over everything... Wasn't that obvious enough? She practically wanted to say it outright and pounce on him!

Before the two reached the entrance of the Treasure Gathering Pavilion, one of the smiling greeters walked over. After all, they wore Shrek Academy uniforms, and they were even Inner Court uniforms.

Along the way, they had endured countless stares. Outer Court students were already rare talents in the major nations, while Inner Court students were even more exceptional.

Mu Baobao was just about to take out his gold card and hand it over to show off when someone had already arrived.

"Isn't this our Inner Court's little monster?"

The elderly voice carried a hint of teasing. Everyone in the hall fell silent, because this old man's status was terrifying. He was a Sea God Pavilion member... Lin Lao, master of the Treasure Appraisal Pavilion and controller of Shrek's finances.

Mu Baobao rolled his eyes. "More than a monster. I'm practically a starry sky behemoth!"

"Lin Lao!" Everyone bowed, but Mu Baobao showed no manners at all, because he did not need to.

Their heads hurt. Just who was this kid? He was so casual before Lin Lao. Even Lin Lao's own children would have to behave themselves, wouldn't they?

Lin Lao waved his hand, indicating that he would personally lead them inside. Aside from imperial nobles, who else had that kind of privilege?

The Treasure Gathering Pavilion's interior was even more extravagant and decadent, entirely covered in gold... Crystal chandeliers could be seen everywhere, and there were young women inside as well.

Compared with those outside, they were even more eye-catching—young, wearing even less fabric, exposing fair, slender legs... Lin Lao was an old man.

Dressed like a nouveau riche, Mu Baobao secretly cursed the old man for being improper, playing around so extravagantly.

"Welcome, honored guests."

They suddenly bowed to the two of them. If Lin Lao personally brought them in, could their identities possibly be anything but noble?

Ma Xiaotao was fine, clearly not visiting for the first time. Mu Baobao, however, twitched slightly and curled his lips. "Uh, it seems I still can't stay in the Inner Court all day. I can't even adapt to this atmosphere!"

"Haha, young man, you need to learn how to enjoy yourself. That gold card is the highest authorization I can give you at the Treasure Appraisal Pavilion. If an allowance of one hundred million and three treasures isn't enough, I can add more. As for that Battle Armor of yours... help me negotiate with Qian Duoduo. Make a set for me first."

His pleading manner undoubtedly stunned many wealthy merchants. They wanted to come up and introduce themselves, but Lin Lao waved them away and drove them off.

"Who is that kid? Is Lin Lao begging him?" Lin Lao slowly led them to the second floor of the Treasure Gathering Pavilion, leaving those people standing there in confusion, unable to figure out why.

Compared to the first floor, the second floor was much quieter. A display stand was placed every short distance apart, each covered by a huge crystal glass case containing different items. People continuously moved about. This was clearly the Treasure Appraisal Pavilion fair!

"Sure. When I get back, I'll personally forge a set of Two-Word Battle Armor for you. That's already my limit. I'm giving Lin Lao plenty of face here."

Mu Baobao said with a smile. Lin Lao knew he was messing with him and replied irritably, "You have the same sharp tongue as Qian Duoduo. One-Word Battle Armor and Two-Word Battle Armor are equivalent to Soul Bones that are thousands or even tens of thousands of years old. I'm the master of the Treasure Appraisal Pavilion, one of the richest people on the continent!"

"I gathered Ten Thousand Year Soul Bones long ago. Although Three-Word Battle Armor is said to be roughly equivalent, also at the ten-thousand-year level, it can evolve into One Hundred Thousand Year Four-Word Battle Armor. It can repair itself and manifest external defenses. Qian Duoduo and Tie Wuji both said Four-Word Battle Armor cannot be made, but it does exist!"

Four-Word Battle Armor was scarce even in the era of Legend of the Dragon King, since forging the stuff consumed far too much life force...

Even Zhen Hua, a Divine Craftsman, had probably forged only a few sets. Tang Wulin possessed the Golden Dragon King's origin and did not fear the consumption, which was why so many people at Shrek Academy possessed it.

Most Four-Word Battle Armor Masters had evolved from Three-Word Battle Armor. Five-Six-Word Battle Armor evolved from Four-Word Battle Armor, so even some powerful Spirit Masters capable of evolving from Three-Word to Four-Word Battle Armor desperately desired it.

The Five-Six-Word Battle Armor system was equivalent to the divine equipment of a third-class god. As for the Seven-Eight-Word Battle Armor of a second-class god, who knew whether Douluo Nine could produce it.

"I want a custom-made version, not mass-produced goods. Give me a set, and I'll fully support the Soul Guidance Department!" Lin Lao said grandly.

The Battle Armor system had only just been unveiled. Rare metals and Soul Guidance formations... all required money.