Xu Jiujiu, however, was not surprised by this.
"Please don't worry, seniors. The Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast Embryo hasn't been sold to anyone else. It is still being kept in our Star Luo Empire's treasury."
Hearing this, Yan Shaozhe took a gold card from his Storage Ring and placed it on the tea table. "Here are eighty-five million Gold Soul Coins, not a coin short. We intend to take it back to Shrek Academy today."
Xu Jiujiu picked up the gold card and said, "Senior, before that, I must still explain the exact circumstances surrounding this Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast Embryo."
"This hundred-thousand-year soul beast was captured in the Far North by an unidentified expert using the God-Sealing Platform, a Level 9 Soul Tool, at the critical moment of its transformation into human form. The soul beast inside most likely has an ice attribute, and since its transformation was interrupted, its resentment is bound to run deep. You must be careful when opening it."
"Furthermore, our soul master scholars believe that if the soul beast inside can be made to sacrifice itself, there is a chance of acquiring a second martial soul later in life. However, this is risky, and the odds are extremely low, so we recommend killing it directly to obtain its soul ring and soul bone."
As he listened to Xu Jiujiu's description, Yan Shaozhe nearly leaped up in excitement. If the soul beast inside really was the Snow Empress, those eighty-five million would have been money exceedingly well spent.
Yan Shaozhe stood up and said, "Your Highness, there is no time to lose. Please take us to retrieve it now."
As the strongest of the Three Kingdoms of the Original Continent, the Star Luo Empire's ruling imperial family naturally possessed immense wealth. The Star Luo Imperial Family stored all the money, treasures, and goods it had acquired over the years in the Imperial Treasury.
The wealth accumulated there could even fund a Soul Saint Legion more than a thousand strong...
Naturally, security around such an important place was extraordinarily tight. Even Xu Jiujiu, an imperial princess, could not enter without the emperor's permission.
Inside the Imperial Palace Hall, Emperor Xu Jiawei was reviewing memorials when a maid approached and said, "Your Majesty, Her Highness the princess and the people from Shrek Academy request an audience."
Xu Jiawei's hands paused. They arrived this quickly?
He immediately said, "Let them in."
Led by Xu Jiujiu, Chen Tian, Yan Shaozhe, and Xuan Zi entered the hall.
The moment he entered, Xuan Zi gave an almost imperceptible cold snort. He could sense at least two Titled Douluos secretly protecting Xu Jiawei...
Upon seeing Xu Jiawei, the three did not kneel. Instead, they placed their right hands over their chests and bowed slightly to him. None of them belonged to the Star Luo Empire, and Yan Shaozhe and Xuan Zi were both Super Douluo-level experts.
Moreover, all three represented Shrek Academy, so this was already the greatest respect they could offer. They also had a favor to ask of the Star Luo Emperor today; otherwise, the two elders would not even have bothered going through the motions.
"There is no need for such courtesy, seniors," Xu Jiawei said from his dragon throne.
Yan Shaozhe straightened and looked at him. "Your Majesty, I assume you know why we have come."
Xu Jiawei smiled and nodded. "Naturally."
As he spoke, he rose from his dragon throne and walked over to them.
Xu Jiawei's gaze settled on Chen Tianyuan, and he chuckled. "Young Brother Chen, I watched your match that day. With your talent, I doubt there are many on the continent today who can stand shoulder to shoulder with you."
Chen Tianyuan cupped his hands. "You flatter me, Your Majesty."
Then, under Xu Jiawei's guidance, the group arrived outside the Imperial Treasury.
An enormous formation protected the entire Imperial Treasury. In addition, more than three Seven-Member Soul Saint Squads patrolled its surroundings, and a Super Douluo kept watch over the place.
Xu Jiawei took a specially made crescent-shaped key from his Storage Ring and fitted it into the Level 8 Soul Tool Alloy Gate.
Boom!
The round gate let out a tremendous rumble, then began rotating upward, revealing the interior.
Chen Tianyuan had thought this was the final layer of protection, only to discover a second barrier inside.
Had a Level 8 or higher soul engineer been present, they would undoubtedly have recognized the defensive installation.
It was none other than the Level 8 Linked Soul Tool Shield. This was not a single Level 8 soul tool installation; it contained nine Level 8 formation cores. These cores were linked, so when one was triggered, the other eight would activate automatically. The nine layers of shielding overlapped, giving it defensive power that surpassed even some Level 9 Soul Tools.
It had originally been invented by a Level 9 Soul Engineer from the Sun Moon Empire's Illustrious Virtue Hall. However, its cost was exorbitant and its applications limited, so it had been sold to the Star Luo Empire...
Xu Jiawei led the four inside.
Gold and precious jewels made up most of the treasury's contents, while Gold Soul Coins accounted for only a small portion. Beyond those were soul bones.
The Star Luo Empire's current imperial family traced its origins to the Star Crown Sect, which had already existed ten thousand years ago. The tokens issued by Spirit Hall back then had borne an engraving of its inherited martial soul, the Star Crown.
With a cursory glance, Chen Tianyuan could tell there were no fewer than a hundred soul bones inside.
On a pedestal at the very center of the treasury rested an Egg-Shaped Soul Tool the size of an infant.
It was studded with gemstones of many different colors, but a closer look revealed that these were no gemstones at all. They were individual Soul Tool Formation Cores that together formed a powerful Sealing Formation. White vapor constantly seeped from within the eggshell, gathering around the soul tool without dispersing. It seemed to be trying to break through the seal, only to be firmly suppressed by the Sealing Formation.
Yan Shaozhe stared unblinkingly at the soul tool. Imprisoned inside was the seven-hundred-thousand-year-old Heavenly Snow Woman. Even with a Level 9 Soul Tool isolating her, he could still sense the immense energy within.
Looking at the soul tool, Xu Jiawei said, "Dean Yan, this is the Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast Embryo. Please take it."
Yan Shaozhe nodded, then stepped forward and placed it in his Storage Ring.
He nodded to Xuan Zi, then looked at Xu Jiawei. "Your Majesty, now that we have what we came for, we must return to Shrek Academy immediately. Farewell."
"Your Majesty, that was a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast Embryo! It could have fetched at least a hundred million Gold Soul Coins at auction. Was selling it to Shrek Academy like this truly worthwhile?"
Xu Jiawei closed his eyes and rubbed between his brows. Slowly, he said, "The Sun Moon Empire has grown increasingly brazen in recent years. We have fallen far behind in soul guidance technology research, so far that catching up is difficult. To contend with them, we must still rely on Shrek Academy's strength. If they choose to remain neutral, I fear our Star Luo Empire will soon be toppled..."
He sighed and looked at Xu Jiujiu beside him. "Little sister, I hope your choice was right."
Shrek Academy.
Inside the Sea God Pavilion, the assembled elders looked at the Egg-Shaped Soul Tool on the table. Rather than the excitement one might have expected, they stood on full alert, as though facing a formidable enemy.
Sealed within was the Heavenly Snow Woman-the Snow Empress-ranked third among the Ten Great Ferocious Beasts, foremost of the Great Heavenly Kings of the Far North, with seven hundred thousand years of cultivation!
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