Kong Rong Gives Up Pears? Wrong, Xiao Xiao Gives Up Soul Bones!

The night breeze brushed past, carrying a hint of chill.

Upon hearing the words "it's going to cost extra," Yan Shaozhe's feet slipped, and the dignified rank-95 Super Douluo nearly took a tumble on the flat grass.

Ma Xiaotao, standing beside him, also stumbled, her eyes wide as she stared in disbelief at the junior who was taking advantage of her predicament.

After steadying himself, Yan Shaozhe's mouth twitched, and he raised a hand to rub his temples to soothe a sudden headache.

"You brat, you certainly know how to calculate." Yan Shaozhe sighed helplessly. "Tell me, what kind of compensation do you want? Let's be clear first: the Spirit Soul Department's treasury already took a massive hit for that ten-thousand-year spirit bone, so don't go asking for the moon."

Xiao Yan folded his hands into his sleeves and chuckled, his expression appearing very humble.

"Dean Yan, you jest. How would I dare to name a price so casually?" Xiao Yan's deep black eyes met Yan Shaozhe's, his tone calm and unhurried. "Just consider the strategic value of an Ultimate Fire-attribute spirit master to Shrek Academy, and give me whatever reward you see fit."

The smile on Yan Shaozhe's face froze instantly, and black lines of frustration appeared on his forehead.

He called this not naming a price? This was clearly knowing exactly how to name one!

By refusing to make a specific demand, he had kicked the ball right back into Yan Shaozhe's court, while firmly pinning it to the highest possible value tag.

Yan Shaozhe knew better than anyone what an Ultimate-attribute spirit master meant to Shrek.

They were the ballast that could ensure the academy's prosperity for at least a century to come.

Furthermore, Ma Xiaotao was no ordinary student; she was the elite of the elite within Shrek, a successor being groomed by the Sea God Pavilion to be the future Pavilion Master.

Additionally, for an Ultimate-attribute spirit master, the stage between level 30 and level 70 involved such intense spirit power compression that their cultivation speed became exceptionally slow.

However, Ma Xiaotao had already reached the Spirit Emperor rank. Once the hidden danger of her evil fire was completely eradicated and her spirit successfully evolved into Ultimate Fire, she would perfectly bypass that most grueling stage for an Ultimate-attribute spirit master!

Adding all these conditions together, finding a reward of equal value was harder than ascending to the heavens.

Tossing over a few ten-thousand-year spirit bones to fill the quota would be an insult to the worth of Ultimate Fire.

If it were to be truly equivalent, it would have to start at the hundred-thousand-year spirit bone level.

With Shrek Academy's ten-thousand-year heritage, they naturally possessed such treasures.

But those were the foundation of the academy, and it wasn't just a Spirit Soul Department Dean like him who lacked the authority to hand them out; even the elders of the Sea God Pavilion could not authorize such a thing alone.

Yan Shaozhe put aside his thoughts of bargaining, his expression turning solemn.

"This matter is of too great a consequence; I cannot make the decision."

"Give me some time to consider it, and I must consult the Sea God Pavilion. But rest assured, Shrek will never treat you unfairly!"

Xiao Yan nodded noncommittally, not pressing the issue.

Yan Shaozhe did not linger. After nodding to Xiao Yan, he took hold of Ma Xiaotao—who was still in a state of shock—and soared into the air, transforming into two streaks of light that vanished into the thick night.

Watching the direction in which they disappeared, Xiao Yan turned and pushed open the door to his dormitory.

He stepped into the room, pondering what kind of price Mu En, the Sea God Pavilion Master, would offer.

He never doubted that old man's generosity.

The Sun Moon Empire's spirit guidance technology had been advancing rapidly in recent years, and they were growing restless, while the situation among the three original nations of the Douluo Continent was rife with undercurrents.

Shrek Academy's current top-tier combat power was suffering from a gap between generations, and the situation they faced was far from optimistic.

At such a juncture, for a seedling with Ultimate Fire who had the potential to become a Limit Douluo, Mu En would absolutely be willing to pay any price to secure her future.

The night passed without incident.

Early the next morning, the sunlight had just pierced through the thin mist and spilled onto the window lattice.

"Thump, thump, thump!"

Xiao Yan's door was hammered so hard it rattled, the thick wood trembling violently.

"Brother! Wake up! The sun is already high!"

Xiao Xiao's crisp, loud voice came from outside the door.

Judging by the force of the knocking and her indignant tone, it was clear the little girl was venting her frustration at being ruthlessly kicked out of the room the night before.

Xiao Yan finished his cultivation of the

Art of the Fuxi Emperor

, rose from the bed, and leisurely smoothed the wrinkles on his freshman uniform before walking over to open the door.

The moment the door swung open, Xiao Xiao's small fist, raised in mid-air to continue the assault, froze.

Xiao Yan didn't waste words; he raised his right hand, curled his index and middle fingers, and flicked Xiao Xiao firmly on her smooth forehead.

"Ouch!"

Xiao Xiao clutched her forehead, gasping in pain as she glared at Xiao Yan with a wronged expression.

"Is this how you treat your brother?" Xiao Yan crossed his arms, feigning a light threat. "It seems someone doesn't want that spirit bone I'm getting as compensation."

Upon hearing the words "spirit bone," Xiao Xiao's hand stopped mid-motion.

Her large, emerald-green eyes darted around, her grievance vanishing in an instant, replaced by her signature adorable smile.

She grabbed Xiao Yan's arm and began to sway it gently.

"No way! I was just worried that Brother would be late for class!" She smiled until her eyes curved into crescents, her tone cloying and sweet; the speed of her mood swing was truly breathtaking.

Xiao Yan ignored her clumsy excuse, pulled his arm away, and turned to walk back into his room.

Seeing this, Xiao Xiao was terrified he might change his mind, so she trotted after him, closed the door with a sharp "click" behind her, and even pressed her ear against the door panel to listen for any movement outside before scurrying over to the desk.

In the center of the desk sat the pitch-black brocade box, resting in silence.

Xiao Yan reached out, unlatched the lock, and lifted the lid.

Heavy earth-attribute soul power began to permeate the cramped room.

The dark-gold right arm bone lay quietly on the red velvet cushion, its surface etched with mysterious, mountain-like patterns that radiated a profound luster, brimming with primal, savage power.

Xiao Xiao's eyes went wide, fixed on the object.

She could clearly feel her Three Lives Soul-Suppressing Cauldron martial soul throbbing wildly within her; it was the intense longing that arose when a martial soul's essence encountered something perfectly compatible.

Xiao Yan pushed the brocade box toward Xiao Xiao.

"A sixty-thousand-year Earth-Shaking Desolate Bear right arm bone. Earth-attribute, focused on strength." Xiao Yan's steady voice echoed in the room, providing a concise introduction.

"The attached soul bone skill is called 'Desolate Bear Earth-Splitting Strike.' It not only significantly increases the user's strength, but every attack also carries a high-frequency vibration attribute. It is undoubtedly a perfect fit for your Three Lives Soul-Suppressing Cauldron martial soul."

Xiao Xiao nodded repeatedly as she listened, her gaze completely unable to tear itself away from the soul bone.

"Take it out." Xiao Yan gestured toward the brocade box.

"Sit cross-legged right now. I will use the Fuxi Zither to protect you and harmonize the violent, savage aura of the bear within it. We don't need to attend this morning's classes; let's seize the time to absorb it."

Xiao Xiao reached out with both hands, preparing to lift the soul bone.

But the moment her fingertips were about to touch the dark-gold bone, her movements came to an abrupt halt.

The room fell silent for several seconds.

Xiao Xiao slowly withdrew her hands, her knuckles tightly intertwined.

She lowered her head, her lips pressed together.

When she looked up again, her clear, emerald eyes met Xiao Yan's gaze directly, revealing an unusual sense of determination.

"Brother..." Xiao Xiao pursed her lips, her voice soft but her words heavy with conviction. "You should be the one to absorb this soul bone!"

Xiao Yan raised an eyebrow slightly, not rushing to respond, waiting quietly for her to finish.

"If it were an ordinary ten-thousand-year soul bone, I would have absorbed it immediately because I know you'll definitely be able to get something better later on." Xiao Xiao looked away from the right arm bone, which continued to emit an alluring aura, and continued.

"But this soul bone is too precious. Besides, with the boost from this sixty-thousand-year soul bone, your strength will definitely be able to advance even further. My cultivation is already quite high; I can't just hog all the good things for myself."