Ye Fan did not resist.
Because resisting would only make Meng Hongchen's sneak attacks even fiercer.
Ye Fan and the others returned to the hotel.
Based on Shrek Academy's performance in battle today, Ma Zhanshan analyzed Shrek Academy's current strength for everyone.
"Ma Xiaotao: Soul Power Level: 67, assault-type battle Soul Emperor. Six rings—two yellow, two purple, two black, the optimal Soul Ring configuration. Martial Soul: Evil Fire Phoenix."
"Her martial soul flames are close to Ultimate Fire. High mobility, high burst damage. Danger level: excellent."
"Dai Yueheng: Soul Power Level: 64, assault-type battle Soul Emperor. Six rings—two yellow, two purple, two black, the optimal Soul Ring configuration. Martial Soul: Evil-Eyed White Tiger."
"Balanced offense and defense, formidable physique, capable at both range and close quarters. His fighting style is steady yet domineering, and he excels at frontal clashes. Danger level: excellent."
"Huo Yuhao: Level 35. Martial Soul: Spirit Eyes. Suspected to possess spatial power. Known to be capable of devouring enemy soul skills. Danger level: excellent."
Ma Zhanshan focused his analysis on Ma Xiaotao, Dai Yueheng, and Huo Yuhao.
Since the others had not acted today, Ma Zhanshan had no idea whether they were still hiding other trump cards.
"Based on the current situation, these three will be the greatest obstacles on our path to the championship. Among them, Huo Yuhao is undoubtedly the most troublesome."
"Now, let's discuss how to deal with Huo Yuhao's spatial soul skill."
After Ma Zhanshan finished speaking, he had expected everyone to look anxious and launch into a broad discussion.
Instead, he found them all looking utterly calm.
This displeased Ma Zhanshan greatly. He thought they had begun underestimating their enemy and were taking the matter too lightly.
Just as Ma Zhanshan was about to lose his temper, Ma Rulong spoke leisurely. "Grandpa, there's no need to worry."
"We already know how to deal with Huo Yuhao."
"We only need to do this—then this!"
Ma Zhanshan's eyes immediately lit up. "Rulong, did you come up with that yourself?"
With delight written all over his face, Ma Zhanshan pressed Ma Rulong for an answer.
Ma Rulong awkwardly turned his head toward Ye Fan. "Grandpa, Ye Fan figured it out."
The fire in Ma Zhanshan's eyes dimmed considerably, though a small spark remained.
Seeing that everyone already had a plan to deal with Shrek's members, Ma Zhanshan announced, "Dismissed."
The next day, Meng Hongchen once again sneaked into Ye Fan's room and woke him up.
Ye Fan got up helplessly and followed Meng Hongchen out of the room, where they met up with Xiao Hongchen and the others.
Jing Hongchen, Ma Zhanshan, Ma Rulong, and the rest had clearly been waiting for quite some time.
"Teacher, Teacher Ma, good morning, everyone!"
After many days, Ye Fan and the others arrived at the Starlight Auction House once more. The atmosphere here had already reached its peak.
After more than half a month of continued buildup, coupled with the Continental Soul Master Tournament entering its middle stages and growing ever more intense, soul masters, nobles, and powerful figures from all over had gathered here. The entire auction house bustled with voices and endless streams of people. Elegantly dressed guests and soul masters with deep, powerful auras could be seen everywhere. It was noisy and lively, yet still orderly.
The moment Ye Fan's group reached the entrance, an exceptionally beautiful young woman with a gentle temperament bowed to receive them and led them directly to the most prestigious private rooms on the top floor.
Ye Fan casually swept his gaze over the surroundings and quietly noticed that the top-floor private rooms were occupied by the continent's foremost powers. The room on the left housed Shrek Academy's team, while the one on the right belonged to the veteran powerhouse, Dou Ling Royal Academy. Experts from every side had gathered here, and undercurrents quietly stirred.
The moment Ye Fan and the others took their seats, there was a gentle knock on the private room door.
Xu Jiujiu slowly entered, dressed in an exquisite and luxurious formal gown. Her eyes curved with a smile, and she carried herself with dignified elegance.
At her side stood the same Nebula Douluo, Man Yi.
"We meet again, little brother Ye Fan."
"Jiujiu thanks His Excellency Toad and everyone else for gracing the Starlight Auction House with your presence."
She spoke softly and gave a slight bow, then turned to gesture for the beautiful attendant beside her to step forward and hand everyone a complete list of today's lots.
At the top of the list were the previously known treasures, such as rare Soul Bones and high-grade Soul Tools. Meng Hongchen and the others were not particularly surprised.
Meng Hongchen had initially been wary of Xu Jiujiu's sudden visit, carrying a faint hint of hostility. But when her gaze swept to the end of the list, she instantly cried out in shock.
"Xiao Fan, look! It's a Soul Beast Embryo!"
Hearing this, Ye Fan frowned and lowered his head. He immediately saw that the final lot was labeled—Soul Beast Embryo: confirmed age exceeding 300,000 years.
Xu Jiujiu saw that Ye Fan and the others were all quite tempted by this treasure.
Xu Jiujiu secretly felt pleased.
After all, the Star Luo Royal Family had spent a tremendous price to acquire this Soul Beast Embryo. Their purpose was to stir up the winds and clouds across the continent.
You little things, aren't you still completely in this princess's grasp?
After exchanging a few more pleasantries with them, Xu Jiujiu took her leave with a smile and headed for the other VIP private rooms.
"Didn't I steal the Soul Beast Embryo?"
"How did another Soul Beast Embryo appear?"
"Could the Holy Spirit Cult have rushed one out to meet a deadline?"
Ye Fan had no way of knowing.
However, Jing Hongchen's eyes gleamed sharply. "Excellent. I must obtain this Soul Beast Embryo."
"With Teacher's Soul Spirit Method, whether we give it to Xiao Fan, Xiao Xiao, or Meng Meng as their Soul Spirit, it would be an outstanding choice."
At the same time, there were no shortage of continental powerhouses who shared Jing Hongchen's thoughts.
Some time passed.
Then a voice rang out. "Ladies and gentlemen, esteemed guests, welcome to the Starlight Auction House's premium auction! I am today's auctioneer, Xu Jiujiu. At today's grand event, we will present nine rare lots in sequence, with each item revealed from lowest to highest value."
"Thank you all for coming from afar. We await your discerning selections. This Starlight Auction is now officially open!"
Ye Fan and the others turned their gazes toward the large screen in front of their private room.
At the center of the auction venue, Xu Jiujiu wore a crimson gauze gown tailored to perfection. It was elegant without being revealing, making her snowy skin appear all the fairer.
She was gracefully introducing the first lot of the auction.
Her voice traveled through the venue beneath the spotlight and soon reached the ears of the attendees.
Ye Fan, Meng Hongchen, and the others were no exception.
"It's her. Xu Jiujiu is actually today's auctioneer."
As Meng Hongchen watched the radiant Xu Jiujiu on the screen, she could not help comparing herself to Xu Jiujiu.
In the end, she found that Xu Jiujiu beneath the spotlight possessed an indescribably intellectual, mature beauty.
The warm white spotlights fell entirely upon her. Her crimson gauze gown highlighted her graceful, dignified figure, while her composed and elegant movements and generous speech gave her the noble aura unique to a royal princess.
Even Meng Hongchen, proud by nature, could not help admiring her when she saw her in person, sincerely feeling herself inferior.
Meng Hongchen quietly observed Ye Fan, Xiao Hongchen, Ma Rulong, and the other boys. She discovered that Xiao Hongchen and Ma Rulong had both been captivated by Xu Jiujiu's beauty and voice.
She could not help snorting. "Men really are all pigs."
Fortunately, Ye Fan's gaze was not fixed on Xu Jiujiu on the screen.
Only then did Meng Hongchen relax slightly. At least Xiao Fan isn't.
What Meng Hongchen did not know was that Ye Fan was simply instinctively afraid of the chill that would creep up his lower back if she noticed.
Onstage, Xu Jiujiu was introducing the first lot beneath the spotlight with great enthusiasm. "This item is called the Tyrant Tiger Soul-Refining Saber: an eighth-grade melee Soul Tool forged by Mingde Hall of the Sun Moon Empire. A ten-thousand-year Tyrant Tiger Soul Bone is embedded within it. I'm sure I need not explain what kind of place Mingde Hall is. The starting bid is 600,000 Gold Soul Coins, and each bid must increase by no less than 10,000 Gold Soul Coins."
The moment she said this, fierce bidding erupted throughout the entire venue—except for Ye Fan's private room.
"600,000!"
"700,000!"
"1,000,000!"
The bids came one after another, yet Ye Fan's private room remained unmoved. After all, wasn't Mingde Hall practically Ye Fan's own home?
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