Du Busi stroked his chin, deliberately drawing out his voice. "Oh-?"
"Shrek Academy really is bleeding its coffers dry this time."
Ma Xiaotao and the other two exchanged glances.
These terms could hardly be called anything but generous.
First came the Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beasts.
Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beasts were rare to begin with. Water- or ice-attribute ones were manageable; such Soul Beasts surely existed in the Far North and the oceans.
But as for mental-type Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beasts, the only ones publicly known on the entire continent were the Evil Eye Clan in the Sun Moon Empire's Evil Demon Forest.
This meant Shrek Academy would have to take Huo Yuhao deep into the heart of the Sun Moon Empire for Soul Hunting, an extremely dangerous undertaking.
And permission to view all the academy's materials was tantamount to displaying Shrek's accumulated educational foundations before the Body Sect with almost nothing held back.
As for the opportunity to call on Shrek Academy's assistance in a fight, that was equivalent to lending the Body Sect Shrek's ten thousand years of accumulated resources and connections for one use, making Shrek the Body Sect's ally.
Amid the continent's increasingly delicate circumstances, this would undoubtedly trigger numerous chain reactions.
Du Busi narrowed his eyes, the smile at his lips growing more teasing. "Old ox, Shrek Academy is being so generous this time that you're actually scaring me a little. I hardly dare make this deal with you."
"Enough of your snide remarks! Since Mu En made that promise, he must have his reasons!" Xuan Zi retorted.
Huo Yuhao stood quietly to one side, continually pondering just what Mu En's objective was.
He glanced sideways at Ma Xiaotao and found her expression equally complicated. Clearly, she had not expected Shrek Academy to pay such an enormous price for her.
By now, she too had come back to her senses, and the look she gave Huo Yuhao became exceedingly complicated.
Yan Shaozhe had told her that she only needed to find every possible way to provoke Huo Yuhao into attacking her, using the suppression of his Ultimate Ice energy to purify her Evil Fire. She had never expected Mu En to explain everything to Huo Yuhao and negotiate a deal.
"Huo Yuhao..." Ma Xiaotao could not help speaking, but she did not know what to say.
She clenched her fists, an inexplicable sense of unwillingness surging in her heart.
She neither wanted to owe Huo Yuhao a favor nor wanted the academy to give up so much for her.
Huo Yuhao raised his eyes and said with a smile, "Senior Ma, why are you looking at me like that? The Body Sect hasn't agreed to this deal yet."
The hatred in Ma Xiaotao's eyes deepened.
Du Busi came over to Huo Yuhao, laughing as he clapped him hard on the shoulder. "My good disciple, since Shrek Academy is being so generous this time, we can't be stingy either."
"However," he turned toward Song Yunzhi, a sharp gleam in his eyes as he rubbed his fingers together and revealed a mercenary smile, "Shrek Academy has to pay a little deposit first."
"What do you want?" Song Yunzhi asked.
Du Busi said, "Simple. One mental-attribute medicinal herb and one ice-attribute medicinal herb."
"After all, ice and fire are incompatible, and Yuhao's cultivation rank is too low right now. What if something goes wrong while he's treating Ma Xiaotao?"
Xuan Zi shook all over with anger. "Du Busi, this is outright extortion!"
Du Busi said indifferently, "I'm extorting you, so what? Shrek has such vast holdings-are you really short of these few things? You should know this is money I'm demanding to keep Yuhao alive!"
"If you have the guts, haul Ma Xiaotao back with you. I certainly won't stop you."
"Besides, this is only an advance deposit, not a binding one. Whether we agree still depends on His Majesty's decision."
Song Yunzhi gritted her teeth. "Fine, I agree. But these things can only be delivered after Xuan Zi returns to Shrek City."
"Decisive!" Du Busi waved his broad hand, then turned and winked at Huo Yuhao. "Disciple, did you see that? This is your master's first lesson: when it's time to fleece someone, never go easy."
Ma Xiaotao listened from the side, her face livid and her clenched fists cracking.
Huo Yuhao said, "Your teaching is sound, Master. I will certainly engrave it in my heart."
The people from the Body Sect and Shrek went their separate ways, heading toward Heaven Dou City.
Huo Yuhao secretly transmitted his voice to Du Busi with his mental power. "Master, something is wrong here."
"You noticed too?" Du Busi replied.
Huo Yuhao nodded. "If they're willing to pay this much, either Ma Xiaotao's Evil Fire problem is far more serious than we imagined."
"Or they have something else in mind."
Du Busi narrowed his eyes. "You, for instance."
Huo Yuhao's expression remained unchanged. "Perhaps both."
Du Busi said, "Although Mu En's thoughts run deep, his Radiant Sacred Dragon is far more upright than that Fake Bright Phoenix of Yan Shaozhe's. Even if he's plotting something, it won't endanger your life."
"You can rest assured of that. Mu En and I are old rivals. I know what sort of man he is."
Du Busi glanced at the three from Shrek behind them, then frowned slightly. "Mu En really is nearing his end. Otherwise, he wouldn't be in such a hurry or pay such a price to resolve Ma Xiaotao's Evil Fire problem. It seems Shrek's lack of successors is a serious issue."
Huo Yuhao's gaze flickered slightly. "Master, are you worried about the Sun Moon Empire?"
"The grudge between the Body Sect and Shrek Academy is a private feud." Du Busi sighed. "Following the coup in Sun Moon a few years ago, their new emperor stationed troops along the borders with Heaven Dou and the Star Luo Empire. He urgently needs a great victory to consolidate his rule."
"Under the present circumstances, perhaps Mu En is also taking that into account and wants to cultivate both you and Ma Xiaotao as two people with Ultimate Attributes. After all, shameless as Shrek may be, its defense of the Douluo Continent truly is beyond reproach."
However, Du Busi soon sank into thought again.
"But the biggest problem is that Shrek's hands have begun reaching a little too far over the years. Back then, they could already command all the Titled Douluo on the continent. Now that more than four thousand years have passed, their influence is probably even more terrifying."
Huo Yuhao transmitted, "Do they have people among the imperial officials?"
Du Busi shook his head. "Hard to say. Right now, they're only showing signs of it and still don't dare meddle in domestic affairs on a large scale. What I fear is Mu En using you and Ma Xiaotao to lay out Shrek's future."
"After all, Mu En has little time left. Even if nothing goes wrong with Shrek in his hands, not one of Xuan Zi, Song Yunzhi, and Yan Shaozhe has a far-reaching vision. It's hard to say what the future holds."
"Mu En can deliver the Soul Beasts he promised you. But after he dies, Shrek will most likely renege. That's why I said His Majesty must decide whether to treat Ma Xiaotao. That gives you a safeguard and ensures they won't cheat you out of what they owe."
"And," Du Busi stroked his chin, "I can understand hunting Soul Beasts for you and lending the Body Sect a hand in a fight, but I can't quite make sense of this permission to read Shrek's documents."
Huo Yuhao pondered for a moment, then said, "Master, at this point, we can only watch quietly and see how things develop. Since they're willing to pay the deposit first, we'll accept it."
"As for the rest of the deal, we can slowly probe their true intentions."
Du Busi grinned. "Good lad, you certainly can keep your composure. But you must be careful too. That girl Ma Xiaotao has far too fiery a temper. If the Evil Fire goes to her head, she could very well pose a threat to you."
"Don't worry, Master. I'll be careful."
Du Busi nodded, then said, "Poor old white dragon. A hero all his life, yet in the end, he doesn't even have a qualified successor."
"From what Ma Xiaotao said, Yan Shaozhe is actually her teacher. A perfectly fine, noble phoenix, and Yan Shaozhe raised her into a fighting cock. Ruined. He really has ruined her."
"Tsk, tsk. I hardly dare imagine what Shrek will do with Ma Xiaotao to throw its weight around once the old white dragon dies."
Huo Yuhao smiled. "When soldiers come, send generals to meet them; when water comes, bank it with earth. If they really dare cause trouble then, I'll suppress Ma Xiaotao on Heaven Dou's behalf. The empire can also seize the opportunity to root out their dirty hands and feet within its borders in one stroke."
Du Busi laughed heartily and clapped Huo Yuhao on the back.
"Good! Then I'll wait for the day you drag Shrek off its high horse!"