A Sudden Change

"I never expected the Golden Ancient Tree to give birth to a Tree Spirit in a mere ten thousand years."

Tang San held the tiny, glowing golden seed in his palm and pondered.

"Good thing I left a contingency inside the Golden Tree back then. Otherwise, this could have become a serious problem."

"The Golden Tree's spirit... It even noticed those two little ones..."

Light shifted in his sea-blue eyes as he considered the matter.

"Mu En is nearing the end of his life. Sending a fragment of my spirit into him would be a waste. Xuan Zi, though, is a decent choice. It's a shame his body isn't quite up to the task."

"So be it. Some unknown force has sealed off the entire Douluo Continent. This will have to do for now."

"If I need help later, I can go to the Clear Sky Sect and ask those two beas— ahem, those two brothers. With them around, handling problems on the Douluo Continent shouldn't be too difficult."

At Shrek Academy, inside the Sea God Pavilion.

The Trident mark on the Golden Tree's trunk suddenly erupted with dazzling sea-blue light.

"Place your hand here. I have little life energy left. I can no longer offer the Golden Tree much help."

Mu En's weary voice sounded slowly.

Xuan Zi frowned and examined the mark for a moment before nodding.

Still somewhat doubtful, he slowly raised his hand.

"Mu En, here? What happened to the Golden Tree?"

Mu En sighed softly. "Place your hand on it, and you'll know."

Xuan Zi asked no more questions. He pressed his palm gently against the Trident mark.

In the next instant, something changed.

Xuan Zi's eyes flew wide open, his gaze turning vacant.

Then blue light swirled through his eyes. Only after a moment did his frozen body slowly begin to move again.

"My martial soul still has a flaw..." Xuan Zi looked down at his body and murmured, "I'll have to deal with that first, or it could cause trouble later."

Night fell over Star Luo City.

Inside VIP Room Three at the Starlight Auction House.

Song Que, Huo Yuhao, Long Aotian, and the others sat together. They took in the room's lavish furnishings with quiet amazement.

Behind them, Du Busi clicked his tongue. "I have to say, the Star Luo Royal Family is rich. Just looking at all this makes my hands itch."

Vena laughed softly beside him. "Sect Master, you're a man of standing."

Du Busi chuckled. "Ha! I'm only talking. I may be a rough fellow, but I'm still the master of the Body Sect. I wouldn't actually do anything rash."

Vena shook her head helplessly and let the matter drop.

Just then, the enormous soul-tool screen at the front lit up. The first lot was presented.

"Lot one: the Overlord Tiger Soul-Refining Blade, a rank-eight Close-Combat Soul Tool! Forged around a ten-thousand-year Overlord Tiger right arm bone, it contains the soul bone skill Overlord Blade Slash and increases the attack power of all blade-type soul skills by fifty percent!"

"..."

Song Que stared at the blade on the screen, interest flickering in his eyes.

But he was making plans in his head. Good stuff. Barring a surprise, Dai Yueheng will end up buying it.

When we face each other later in the tournament, I'll have the Hōgyoku swallow that blade. That'll be quite a feast.

After repeated tests, Song Que had more or less confirmed that the Hōgyoku could consume objects directly.

There were limits, however.

So far, the Hōgyoku could consume many precious natural treasures and Rare Metals.

But it would not consume anything with Soul Power flowing through it, nor anything of poor quality.

When they fought, he only needed to find a way to knock the blade from Dai Yueheng's hand. Without Soul Power sustaining it, the Hōgyoku should be able to swallow it whole.

I wonder how Dai Yueheng will react when I swallow the rank-eight soul-tool blade he paid so much for.

Consider it an advance payment of interest from the Dai family.

Vena noticed Song Que staring at the screen with a foolish grin, and a glint passed through her eyes.

"Song Que, if you like that blade, I can bid on it for you."

"I can't afford the final treasure, but my savings can cover this one."

Song Que paused and looked at Vena for several seconds.

Her cheeks reddened under his gaze, and she turned away shyly.

Only then did Song Que laugh. "Thanks, but I have no use for it."

"To be precise, Dai Yueheng is going to buy it and 'give' it to me."

"Hm?" Vena looked at him in confusion. "You..."

Song Que reached out and lightly brushed the tip of her nose. "What are you imagining, my little rich girl?"

"Don't worry. You'll find out in a few days."

"You... Hmph!" Vena shot him a glare, her face bright red, and said no more.

Beside them, Long Aotian silently watched the two tease each other. An odd feeling rose in his chest, as though he had lost something.

The auction continued, with one coveted treasure after another sold.

Soon, one of the night's major lots appeared: the Ice Jade Scorpion Soul Bone.

"That's the one, isn't it? Don't worry. Leave it to me." Du Busi stared at the screen, his voice calm.

Song Que glanced at Huo Yuhao beside him. Seeing his distant, unfocused gaze, he did not interrupt.

The Ice Empress was probably speaking to Huo Yuhao in private.

"VIP Room Eleven bids twelve million Gold Soul Coins!"

Du Busi frowned. "What is Shrek doing getting involved?"

He raised his voice. "Auctioneer, raise my bid to thirteen million Gold Soul Coins!"

Huo Yuhao looked at Du Busi hesitantly and said quietly, "Teacher, only someone with an Ultimate Ice martial soul can absorb this Ice Jade Scorpion Soul Bone. It would be useless to anyone else. Maybe we should—"

"Don't say anything. Just bid." Song Que cut him off.

"Even if you tell them, the auction won't stop, and it won't lower the price. If the Star Luo Royal Family behind the auction house decides to do you a favor and hand it over for free, you'll be stuck. You won't know whether to accept it or refuse."

He shook his head slightly. "Too much trouble. There's no need for us to get too entangled with the Star Luo Royal Family."

"Exactly," Du Busi agreed. "It's only a few tens of millions. Hardly worth mentioning."

"Besides, the Body Sect has no need for favors from the Star Luo Royal Family."

"VIP Room Eleven raises the bid to fifteen million Gold Soul Coins!"

Song Que's brow furrowed. Since when was Shrek willing to spend this much? Could they really be buying it for Ling Luochеn?

Ling Luochеn is talented, but she isn't among Shrek's very best. That calculating Yan Shaozhe wouldn't spend this much on her. How strange.

Meanwhile, inside VIP Room Eleven.

After Ma Xiaotao bid fifteen million, Yan Shaozhe frowned beside her.

"That's enough, Xiaotao. The price is already high. Don't bid again."

Ma Xiaotao lowered her eyes and said softly, "I know, Teacher. I just don't want to owe her a favor..."

Yan Shaozhe shook his head gently. "You're overthinking it. The academy has its own plans."

"The academy has nurtured her for years. It's only right that she make some sacrifices for it."

"The academy will compensate her in other ways afterward."

"You're the student I value most, and you may succeed me one day. You need to look further ahead."

Ma Xiaotao nodded silently and said no more.

"VIP Room Three bids twenty million Gold Soul Coins!"

Hearing the bid, Ma Xiaotao sighed softly and gave up the contest for good.

After a long while, the auctioneer's excited voice rang out again:

"And now, it's time for tonight's final lot!"