Toji stood in the center of the vault, his gaze sweeping over mountains of Gold Soul Coins, a dazzling array of heavenly treasures, and all manner of Soul Tools and rare materials.
The wealth in the vault was enough to make anyone green with envy.
"I really didn't expect you to make this much money." Toji casually picked up a piece of rare metal that gave off a faint glow, examined it for a moment, then put it down and turned to Liang Wu, who stood beside him.
"Sure enough, the fastest ways to make money are the ones that can't stand the light of day. I never thought you could make so much from a Soul Fighting Arena."
Liang Wu lowered his head.
"I accumulated all this bit by bit over the years. It wasn't just the Soul Fighting Arena, but also a lot of gray-market businesses, like gambling..."
Toji nodded and said nothing more. Looking at the precious Soul Tools and rare materials, he was already starting to plan his next move.
Finally, he made a circuit of the vault, and his gaze settled on an imposing greatsword.
The sword was over two meters long, with a thick hilt engraved with intricate runes. Its broad blade gleamed with a metallic sheen.
Toji walked up to the greatsword and gently ran his hand over the hilt, feeling the raised and recessed runes beneath his fingers.
For some reason, he found himself taking a liking to it.
Seeing Toji's interest in the sword, Liang Wu felt a pang of heartache, but hurried to explain.
"My lord, this is a level-six Soul Tool called the Heaven-Breaking Sword. It has formidable attack power and can also provide defense. I bought it at a high price at an auction."
"I originally intended to keep it for myself... but it was simply too heavy. I got tired after using it only a few times, so I was waiting until my cultivation improved and I got stronger before using it again."
A flicker of surprise crossed Toji's eyes. He hadn't expected the sword to be a level-six Soul Tool.
He lifted the greatsword from its rack without hesitation. The blade was heavy, but his great strength made handling it look effortless.
Although he couldn't use Soul Power to bring out a hundred percent of the Soul Tool's true power, it only needed to be durable enough.
It wouldn't break in a fight, and it was very heavy. It was exactly the kind of thing Toji loved.
Toji picked up the greatsword and swung it a few times, feeling its weight and balance. He was very satisfied.
"Mm, it suits me perfectly."
Seeing that Toji wanted the Soul Tool, Liang Wu felt an even sharper pang of heartache.
"Help yourself, my lord." Liang Wu forced a smile. He didn't know whether trading his entire fortune for his life was a loss or a gain.
But it was better than dying.
All of this had been his!
"Uncle Zhang, you have a Storage Soul Tool, right?" Toji asked, looking at Uncle Zhang.
"I do."
"See if you can pack everything here up, and leave a little for him," Toji said. "With so much stuff sitting here, if someone stole some of it one day, it would be a loss."
"No problem. My Storage Soul Tool happens to have plenty of space left. It can hold it all." Father Zhang brightened up too.
He had been somewhat dejected after the Zhang Family was gone, but now that he had so many resources to manage, he no longer feared that the Zhang Family couldn't rise again.
"There's no way I can keep competing in the Soul Fighting Arena, so find a way to keep it running yourself," Toji instructed Liang Wu.
"Give me the best food and the best training environment every day. Clear out everything that belongs to you and give it to me. Understood?"
Liang Wu was almost crying inside, but he nodded vigorously.
"Understood."
You're really going to suck everything I've poured my heart and soul into dry. Even a vampire isn't as ruthless as you.
But Toji's next words made Liang Wu's heart stop for a moment.
"One more thing. Can you contact the Shrek disciples who sold me here five years ago?"
Liang Wu jerked his head up and stared at Toji in utter shock.
"Don't be surprised. I know about it." Toji's expression was calm. "Since they could sell me to you, and you give them a share of the profits, you must have a way to contact them."
"I do..." Sweat poured down Liang Wu's back. "Are you planning to deal with Shrek's students? Every one of them has hands and eyes that reach the heavens, with astonishing backing. Offending even one of them would be enough to bring disaster on our whole family..."
"I'm not trying to get myself killed to that extent. I remember there were only three of them. I'll deal with them one at a time, kill the weakest first, then kill the others." Toji snorted. "Since you have a way to contact them, do everything you can to get the weakest of the three to come here alone."
"Don't think you can play tricks just because Shrek will help you. If you really call in other helpers from Shrek, I'll take you down with me first. Don't doubt it-I really can do it."
"Yes... I wouldn't dare play tricks." Liang Wu assured him over and over.
Toji raised his chin.
"Uncle Zhang, keep an eye on him yourself. Wherever he goes, you go."
"Understood."
Seven days later.
Heaven Dou City was ablaze with lights at night. People streamed through the streets, and the city was bustling with prosperity.
The city's most famous auction house was hosting a grand auction.
Outside the auction house, nobles, wealthy merchants, and Soul Masters filed in, making for a lively scene.
Meanwhile, Toji, dressed to look quite mature, walked up to the entrance of the auction house and stopped.
Toji wore a well-tailored black suit, its fabric embroidered with patterns that made it look elegant without being ostentatious. He stood tall and straight, with a broad-shouldered, narrow-waisted figure and a composed expression.
His black hair was combed impeccably, with a few loose strands falling casually over his forehead, lending him a touch of unruliness.
His arrival immediately drew the attention of those around him. Noble young ladies and wealthy, prominent figures alike found their gazes drawn to him.
Toji, however, seemed not to notice their stares and walked straight toward the entrance.
"Uncle Zhang said they're auctioning Soul Tools here. I brought several tens of millions of Gold Soul Coins with me, so let's see if I can improve my strength."
Toji had come for the Soul Tools. He already had the Heaven-Breaking Sword, which suited his hand, but he still needed others.
Things like a higher-grade Storage Soul Tool and Soul Tools that could bolster his defenses.
For the time being, his body couldn't make another breakthrough to the limit. In terms of Soul Power cultivation, he had reached a bottleneck at level thirty-nine, only one step away from becoming a Soul Ancestor.
He had also come to see if there were any strange treasures that could help him kill that Shrek Inner Court disciple.
After all, the people of the Inner Court were Soul Kings at the very least. Five years had passed, and that disciple's cultivation could only have risen, not fallen. There was a strong chance he was a high-level Soul Emperor, and even Liang Wu and Uncle Zhang, both Soul Emperors, wouldn't be his match together.
Anyone who could enter the Shrek Inner Court was a genius among geniuses. Toji had to make every possible preparation.
As soon as Toji entered the auction house, a rich fragrance washed over him. It carried faint traces of face powder and flowers, stirring his senses.
He glanced to either side and saw two orderly rows of beautiful women in qipaos. Every one of them was tall and shapely, their perfectly tailored dresses outlining their curves.
Through the slits in their qipaos, glimpses of their long, lovely legs could be seen. As they moved with light steps, their skirts swayed gently, like flowers in bloom, further stirring the desire to explore within.
Every beauty wore exquisite makeup, with picturesque brows and eyes and slightly parted red lips curved in alluring smiles. Their long hair was pinned up, revealing slender, fair necks. Crystal earrings adorned their earlobes, swaying gently with their movements and glinting with a captivating light.
"Welcome to the Heaven Dou Auction House, honored guest," they said in unison. Their soft, melodious voices were like a spring breeze brushing over one's face, refreshing the heart and mind.
Toji's expression remained indifferent, but his gaze had already switched on its aimbot. After a few glances at the peaks on their bodies, he continued farther inside without pausing.
He thought how nice it was to have money. Normally, he couldn't bear to spend it on a place like this.