The Auction

Dai Yueheng glanced at his younger brother. "I thought you were fooling around at first. I never expected you to stumble onto something."

Dai Huabin snorted. "What's that supposed to mean, big brother?"

"I didn't expect him to be that little bastard, either."

"Perfect. We can find a chance to get rid of him here in Star Luo City."

Dai Yueheng frowned. "Don't do anything reckless. The tournament's underway, and we can't just make a move. Wait until it's over."

"Of course, if we face him in a match, that's another matter..."

Early the next morning, Ma Xiaotao woke from a deep sleep, dazed.

She rubbed her aching head and sat blankly for a moment.

The last time her evil fire had erupted at Shrek Academy, it had overwhelmed her completely, leaving her unconscious.

Her memories of that period were hazy.

This time was different. Yan Shaozhe had arrived in time to suppress the evil fire as soon as it erupted.

Fragments of what had happened still lingered in her mind.

Then several intimate images flashed through her head. Startled, she sat bolt upright.

"Was that real...?"

"No... It couldn't have been..."

"I... I can never show my face again!"

She quickly looked around. Finding no one else in the room, she let out a long breath.

But when she turned and saw the large patch of dried "sweat" near the foot of the bedsheet, her cheeks flushed.

"Ling Luochen..."

"Has she... left?"

Time flew by.

In the next four matches, neither Just Sky Academy nor Shrek Academy faced an opponent capable of threatening them. Both advanced without trouble.

Just Sky Academy had Song Que and Ye Wuqing holding the line, giving them formidable overall strength.

Bei Bei, Xu Sanshi, and the others also took turns competing and won with ease.

Even without using their awakened martial soul abilities, their exceptional talent let them hold their own against Soul Kings, drawing admiration from the crowd.

Meanwhile, Shrek Academy grew much stronger with the addition of Dai Yueheng, Xixi, and Ning Tian. Ling Luochen's absence due to injury made little difference.

They charged through the group stage, finishing second with six wins and one loss to secure a place in the knockout rounds.

"The knockout bracket is out."

Ye Wuqing hurried back to the hotel meeting room and called everyone together.

Song Que asked with a grin, "Well? Did we draw Shrek or the Sun Moon Team?"

"No." Ye Wuqing rolled his eyes at Song Que and shook his head.

"We're facing Konoha Academy in the round of sixteen. They're decent. Three of their members are Soul Kings."

Song Que nodded. "All right. We'll take them on."

"Shrek Academy has grown much stronger since Dai Yueheng and the others joined," Ye Wuqing said. "Don't underestimate them."

"Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineering Academy has a Soul Emperor this time, and the rest of their team is strong too."

"If we meet either team later, we can't let our guard down."

Song Que nodded. "Then keep an eye on them."

"Everything else stays the same."

Everyone nodded.

Not long after the meeting ended, in another room on the hotel's top floor, Song Que and Huo Yuhao came through the door. Vena and Du Busi smiled when they saw them.

"Yuhao, you've reached level thirty?" Du Busi asked, delighted.

Huo Yuhao nodded. "Yes, Master. I broke through a little while ago."

"Wonderful!" Du Busi stepped forward and patted his shoulder. "Come on. I'll take you to hunt a Soul Beast and get your third Soul Ring right now."

"Hold on, Sect Master Du." Song Que quickly stopped him. "The Soul Ring can wait."

Vena smiled and agreed. "Yes, Sect Master. Yuhao has only just broken through, and the tournament isn't over. Let's give it some time."

She turned to Song Que. "By the way, Song Que, you asked us to come here. Is something going on?"

Du Busi sat back down. "Exactly. You didn't call us here just to chat. Out with it."

Song Que nodded. "Vena, remember the auction you mentioned a few days ago?"

"The auction?" Vena paused, then caught on. "I do. It starts tonight. What, do you want to buy something else?"

Remembering how Song Que had kept coming to her for resources these past couple of days, she puffed out her cheeks. "I'm telling you now, I don't have much spending money left. Don't count on me at the auction."

Song Que gave an awkward smile. "I wouldn't dream of it, my little rich girl... Ah, I mean, Princess Vena."

"But there'll be a real treasure tonight. Your savings alone definitely won't be enough."

"Oh?" Vena's interest was piqued. She studied him. "You know what's being auctioned tonight?"

"Just a little inside information," Song Que said.

Du Busi eyed him suspiciously. "A real treasure? Why call me here? The Body Sect doesn't have much saved up."

Song Que joked, "No money? That's fine. We can always 'borrow' it from the buyer afterward. Won't cost us a thing."

"How dare you!" Du Busi raised an eyebrow and snorted. "What do you take me for? I'm a level ninety-eight Super Douluo and the leader of the Body Sect. You think I'd stoop to stealing?"

"Hold on. Hear me out first."

Song Que waved a hand, his expression turning serious. "Two treasures at tonight's auction would be especially suitable for Yuhao. But their prices will be frightening."

Vena blinked, glanced at Huo Yuhao, then looked back at Song Que in surprise.

"The first is a Ten Thousand Year Soul Bone," Song Que said. "An exceptional Ice Jade Scorpion Left Arm Bone. It's a perfect match for Yuhao's Ultimate Ice martial soul and incredibly hard to come by."

"If we can, we have to get it."

Vena and Du Busi exchanged a glance, then nodded. "An Ice Jade Scorpion? That's worth bidding for."

Song Que continued, "The second treasure would tempt any soul master, not just Yuhao."

"It's the embryo of a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast caught while taking human form."

"What?!"

Vena and Du Busi cried out together, stunned.

"Such an embryo exists?" Du Busi asked in disbelief.

Vena hurried to ask, "What exactly is it? Did someone capture a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast just as it was about to take human form?"

"More or less," Song Que explained. "It seems someone captured a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast with an ice attribute at that point, then forcibly sealed it in the God-Sealing Platform, a level-nine Soul Tool from Virtue Hall."

"The embryo could yield a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Ring and a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bone. Supposedly, there's even a tiny chance it could give someone an additional martial soul."

Both their expressions changed.

A Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast was precious. Even Du Busi would have to put in some effort to capture one.

And as for the claim that it could grant another martial soul, who knew whether that was true?

Du Busi thought for a moment. "That is a treasure. It really would be worth 'borrowing'."

Song Que looked at him with a knowing smile. Du Busi's aged face reddened, and he turned away, refusing to meet Song Que's eyes.