Xu Zihuang stood outside another spacious testing area, a metal box strapped to his left arm. The box opened, and three slender metal tubes simultaneously spat out beams of white light, striking with perfect accuracy the moving iron discs flying from the opposite side.
"Bang, bang, bang—" A series of crisp metallic collisions rang out as the three discs slammed heavily into the metal wall behind.
What he was using was the level-three Soul Light Ray that He Caitou had once personally helped him assemble. The Soul Light Ray, also known as the Soul Tool Ray, was a very common ranged soul tool.
Beside Xu Zihuang, Ning Tian also wore a level-three Soul Light Ray on her fair wrist. Another three metal discs flew past, but the beams of white light from her right hand failed even to graze the edges.
Somewhat frustrated, Ning Tian removed the metal box from her wrist, then cast a sideways glance at the flawless profile beside her.
At that moment, Xu Zihuang also withdrew his level-three Soul Light Ray into his soul tool, turned his gaze, and the two met each other's eyes.
A trace of shyness flickered across Ning Tian's watery blue eyes. She was indeed more mature than her peers, yet every small interaction when alone with Yu Tianhuang stirred her heartstrings. That faint joy and delight was something she had never experienced in her twelve years of life.
Perhaps at first she had approached him because of his extraordinary talent, but now she had unknowingly fallen deeply in.
Xu Zihuang, however, remained far calmer, offering her only a slight smile.
"It's getting late. Let's just have dinner here in the Soul Tool Department."
"Mm." Ning Tian responded softly. Even she failed to notice how the heavy nasal tone in her voice completely revealed her emotions.
The two lingered in the testing area for nearly an hour. Outside, the sky was dimming, and the soul tool lamps along the road glowed brightly, stretching their shadows long.
Compared with the Martial Soul Department, this side of the Soul Tool Department was much quieter.
Until the two entered the Soul Tool Department's cafeteria, they encountered only a handful of people.
The cafeteria here was similar in overall structure to that of the Martial Soul Department, but as they were core disciples of the Martial Soul Department, eating top-grade dishes here required their own payment.
There was only one window for top-grade dishes, and the options were far fewer than on the Martial Soul side. Without exaggeration, the treatment of Martial Soul core disciples was worth twice that of Soul Tool core disciples.
Xu Zihuang and Ning Tian chose the same dishes: a bowl of stewed century-old silver-patterned deer leg, a plate of stir-fried century-old lotus seeds, a bowl of savory golden sea cucumber and abalone soup, plus a standard bowl of crystal white jade rice.
They sat facing each other, chatting as they ate.
Their family backgrounds and knowledge were well matched, making conversation easy and pleasant.
Ning Tian picked up a tender piece of deer meat with her chopsticks, placed it into her bowl, then suddenly asked:
"By the way, what did Teacher Fan Yu want with you today?"
"Nothing special. He just asked me to go with Senior He this week during our day off to test some special fixed soul cannons outside the Academy." Xu Zihuang answered casually—then caught sight of a familiar figure out of the corner of his eye.
Sensing his gaze, that person looked back as well.
In Xu Zihuang's line of sight appeared a boy of average build with short black hair. Everything about him seemed ordinary, except for his deep blue eyes.
Xu Zihuang raised his brows in surprise. He hadn't expected to run into Huo Yuhao on his very first visit to the Soul Tool cafeteria this term.
Huo Yuhao's face was gloomy, his demeanor extremely sullen. In front of him sat the cheapest of meals—only a few meager vegetables.
When he saw Xu Zihuang and Ning Tian, who looked perfectly matched and both outstanding in appearance and bearing, his lips pressed tight. He made no effort to greet Xu Zihuang, but instead lowered his head and wolfed down his food.
His black bangs fully hid his eyes.
Xu Zihuang understood that Huo Yuhao's pride had been wounded, so he deliberately pretended not to notice. He actually bore no ill will toward Huo Yuhao, but reality was cruel. Without the Skydream Iceworm, his future achievements were already predictable.
Just then, crisp footsteps suddenly echoed across the otherwise empty cafeteria.
A girl of about seventeen or eighteen entered, wearing a short golden skirt. Her features were sweet, her figure slim, and the short skirt revealed long, fair legs.
Her appearance immediately drew every gaze in the cafeteria. Yet after a quick sweep of her eyes, she walked straight toward Xu Zihuang and Ning Tian.
The girl bowed respectfully to them both.
"Honored Mr. Yu and Miss Ning, our Treasure Gathering Pavilion invites you to tonight's Treasure Appreciation Gathering."
Her shoulders were bare, her chest tightly wrapped, and as she bent forward to bow, the motion became even more pronounced. As she spoke, she presented two gold-embossed red invitations.
"Treasure Appreciation Gathering?" Xu Zihuang murmured, taking the invitations and handing one to Ning Tian.
"Yes, Mr. Yu, Miss Ning. Tonight's gathering is specially tailored for core disciples like yourselves. If you are free, please come and witness it firsthand.
"Our Treasure Gathering Pavilion warmly awaits your presence."
After another bow, the girl sashayed away.
Ning Tian flipped through the gold-embossed paper and said softly:
"I've heard of Shrek City's Treasure Appreciation Gatherings. They're mainly divided into three kinds. The first is organized for the Academy itself, purchasing things like rare metals for the Soul Tool Department, teaching supplies for the Martial Soul Department, or precious ingredients ordered by the Academy. Other than Academy or teachers' purchases, those usually don't have much of value.
"The other two are aimed at students like us, and often have far better things. One is for inner court students, where everything is top grade—soul bones appear every time. The other is the one written on this invitation, for outer court core disciples like us.
"Things like elixirs, medicinal herbs, custom soul rings, and various fine soul tools often show up. Are you interested?"
"Let's go take a look." Xu Zihuang chuckled.
If nothing unexpected happened, there should be a piece of ten-thousand-year whale glue at this gathering. For him, that was highly useful—worth attending for that alone.
There was still half an hour until the gathering began. The two finished their meal at leisure, then left Shrek Academy with the invitations.
They were surely not the only core disciples invited—outer court disciples from every grade received invitations. The two had been harder to find in the Soul Tool Department, so their invitations arrived relatively late.
It was not their first time entering Shrek City. From the map embossed on the back of the invitation, the Treasure Gathering Pavilion was near the north gate, so naturally they entered the city from that side.
As the most prosperous city in central Douluo Continent, Shrek City was bustling at dusk. Crowds surged, noisy voices filled the streets.
The thoroughfares were jam-packed, hawkers shouting all around, adding to the chaos.
Following behind Xu Zihuang, Ning Tian was nearly swept away by the crowd. Before she could react, Xu Zihuang had already grasped her wrist.
"Don't get separated." Xu Zihuang smiled gently.
His voice in her ear gave her a sense of reality at last. Her ears burned hot, but she nodded gracefully.
"Mm."
The map on the invitation was precise, and Shrek's streets were neatly laid out. After about fifteen minutes, they arrived at the Treasure Gathering Pavilion.
The Pavilion itself was a large shop dealing in all kinds of items related to soul masters and soul engineers. From afar, the four-story, twenty-meter-tall building glittered magnificently, like a giant treasure basin.
At the entrance, a girl in a white dress with a faint smile approached them respectfully.
"Are you two soul masters here for the Treasure Gathering?"
Wearing Shrek Academy uniforms, they were easy to recognize.
Xu Zihuang knowingly produced his invitation from his soul tool, while Ning Tian's motion lagged half a beat.
Though Xu Zihuang had let go of her hand earlier in a quieter spot, her heart still hadn't calmed.
Unaware, she had silently shifted from hunter to prey.
The girl checked the invitations, her smile softening.
"Honored guests, please follow me."
With a graceful gesture, she led them inside.
Luxury enveloped them instantly. The golden hall gleamed under a grand chandelier. On both sides stood two rows of girls in golden skirts, dressed identically to the one who had delivered their invitations.
"Welcome, honored guests." The golden-skirted girls bowed in unison to ninety degrees.
Xu Zihuang and Ning Tian remained calm—neither was inexperienced.
The white-dressed girl then led them up the golden staircase to the second floor.
Compared to the first floor, it was much quieter. What looked like scattered displays were in fact arranged with perfect logic and prominence, each enclosed by huge crystal cases. Different items rested within each showcase.
The girl in white stopped.
"Welcome, honored guests, to the Treasure Gathering. Please browse freely. If you find something you desire, go to the west side to register your purchase. If you need to buy on credit, evaluations will be done there—the results will determine your discount and credit limit."
Xu Zihuang and Ning Tian nodded faintly. Neither had any intention of seeking credit.
As heir of the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, Ning Tian had never lacked money. The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Martial Soul granted an innate sensitivity to gems and rare metals. Even when their sect had nearly been destroyed ten thousand years ago by Spirit Hall, wealth had never been their concern.
With the spread of soul tools, the value of rare metals had skyrocketed geometrically. Though now hidden from the world, the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's foundation was stronger than ever.
Xu Zihuang, meanwhile, did not expect to find anything here to truly move his heart.
But just a few steps later, surprise flashed in his eyes.
A particularly large display showcased a soul bone, golden-purple in hue, floating within. It was a small right leg bone, radiating golden-purple light—no, lightning.
Undoubtedly, this was a lightning-attribute soul bone.
Not only they, but nearly everyone who passed by noticed it. Its display case was at least twice the size of the others, golden lightning surging within, the massive crystal cover amplifying its dazzling brilliance.
Beneath the soul bone sat a plaque, covered in text:
Right Leg Bone of the Source of Lightning.
Originating from a ten-thousand-year Thunder Beast, lightning attribute. Suitable for lightning-attribute soul masters. Its attached skill is estimated to be offensive, and absorption would greatly increase a soul master's speed. However, the lightning energy within is too violent—if the soul master's Martial Soul quality or foundation is insufficient, forcibly absorbing it would bring immense risk.
Price: ten million gold soul coins.
Thunder Beasts embodied both lightning and agility. In both speed and explosive power, they ranked among the top of all soul beasts. Yet no Thunder Beast had ever reached one hundred thousand years. Their foundation was too strong—if they reached that stage, they would become uncontrollable. Thus, in the world of soul beasts, Thunder Beasts were never allowed to live that long.
As a result, Thunder Beasts were nearly extinct.
Xu Zihuang had once imagined that when cultivating his second Martial Soul, he might seek out a Thunder Beast to hunt for a soul ring.
But he had not expected the Treasure Gathering Pavilion to possess a soul bone from a ten-thousand-year Thunder Beast.
And the reason for its appearance was even more intriguing.
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