"Fifty-five million gold soul coins? This…"
Wang Yan stared wide-eyed at the final transaction price.
That amount was nearly half of Shrek City's entire annual tax revenue. No wonder he hadn't dared to make any decision on his own earlier.
Beside him, Auctioneer Qing Ya was equally stunned by Ning Tian's extravagant gesture.
Ning Tian handed over the crimson-gold card engraved with the pattern of the Nine-Tiered Nine-Colored Pagoda.
"Auctioneer Qing Ya, as I recall, according to the rules of the Starlight Auction House, the item is delivered immediately after full payment, correct? However, I'm afraid I can't pay that large amount right this moment."
Recovering from her shock, Qing Ya respectfully accepted the crimson-gold card from Ning Tian and smiled gracefully.
"Miss Ning, please don't worry. The Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's reputation across the continent is beyond question. The soul bone will be delivered to this Room Seven shortly. And as for your card, there's no need to leave it with us as collateral."
As she spoke, Qing Ya handed the crimson-gold card back to Ning Tian.
Ning Tian didn't refuse. She accepted it with one hand and stored it into her soul guidance device.
"Within half a month, our Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect will send representatives to settle the payment."
Everyone present understood the unspoken truth. A long-standing, ancient sect like the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect would never risk its reputation over a financial transaction.
Even the inner-court disciples present couldn't hide the envy in their gazes toward Xu Zihuang.
Dai Yueheng looked at Xu Zihuang and smiled faintly.
"Congratulations, Tianhuang. To have obtained such a top-tier soul bone."
Xu Zihuang nodded slightly in acknowledgment, then turned toward Ning Tian and said solemnly,
"Thank you."
Perhaps when Ning Tian had first approached him, it was simply because of his overwhelming strength and astonishing talent.
But he didn't reject such an approach.
As someone born into the royal family of the Sun Moon Empire, he had been taught from childhood that being approached with purpose was, in itself, proof of one's value.
After all—there's no such thing as love at first sight.
If you have nothing worth being valued for, why would others choose you?
There must be a beginning for there to be a future.
Ning Tian was now deeply entangled in such a situation, unknowingly drawn in. Otherwise, she would never have spent fifty-five million gold soul coins without hesitation.
Although Xu Zihuang didn't think he was capable of feeling romantic affection at this stage, as long as his own interests were not compromised, he was willing to reciprocate Ning Tian's gesture in his own way.
He had never believed that others' devotion toward him was something he deserved by default.
It was simply that the hardships he had endured since childhood had made it difficult for him to truly open his heart to anyone. For the sake of revenge and his ambitions, he had no choice but to suppress himself—until he possessed sufficient power and influence. For now, he was still too weak.
"Mm." Ning Tian smiled softly in response. Meeting Xu Zihuang's gaze, she knew her goal had already been achieved.
Just as Emperor Xu Jiawei of the Star Luo Empire had said—if they could completely bind Yu Tianhuang and the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect together, what was fifty-five million gold soul coins worth?
Now that she had bought the soul bone for him, the bond between them would only deepen. That was undoubtedly a tremendous advantage.
Moreover, after this event, their relationship had already become much clearer.
At that moment, a sudden knocking sound came from outside the door.
Qing Ya glanced sideways, then looked toward Wang Yan for instruction.
Wang Yan nodded, and only then did Qing Ya go to open the door.
When the door opened, the first to step inside was Princess Jiujiu, dressed in a golden palace gown. Her fair, delicate shoulders were bare, and under the golden light, her elegant beauty shone with noble grace yet carried a hint of refreshing charm. Her stunning face made several of the male students inside Room Seven momentarily dazed.
Fortunately, Jiang Nannan, Ning Tian, and Ma Xiaotao were no less beautiful than the princess herself, preventing the scene from becoming too awkward.
Following behind Princess Jiujiu was a middle-aged man dressed in black robes—none other than Emperor Xu Jiawei, current ruler of the Star Luo Empire.
Seeing Xu Jiawei and Princess Jiujiu, Qing Ya was shocked. She immediately dropped to one knee in salute, while the two golden-dressed attendants beside her both knelt fully on the ground.
The members of Shrek Academy had seen the Star Luo Emperor Xu Jiawei from afar at the Star Luo Square, but none of them had expected the emperor to personally come and visit them.
While the others were momentarily stunned, Dai Yueheng suddenly stood up from the sofa, taking a few quick steps forward before kneeling on one knee before the emperor.
"Your Majesty."
Xu Jiawei's expression was gentle as he looked over the group and personally helped Dai Yueheng up.
"This is an auction house—I am the host, and you are my guests. It is only right that I extend my hospitality; there's no need for excessive formality. Yueheng, I am brothers with your father. You should be calling me Uncle, shouldn't you? Why so distant?"
Though Xu Jiawei had helped him up, Dai Yueheng's expression remained respectfully solemn as he stepped aside.
An emperor's words were not to be taken at face value. He could say you needn't bow, but that didn't mean you should actually believe it.
As the legitimate eldest son of the White Tiger Duke, he had more than enough political awareness to understand that much.
The rest of Shrek's team members also rose and gave a deep, formal bow toward the emperor.
As disciples of Shrek Academy, whose dean's status on the continent equaled that of any monarch, showing excessive subservience would have been inappropriate.
After performing the formal salute, Wang Yan couldn't help but ask in surprise,
"Your Majesty, what brings you here in person?"
Xu Jiawei smiled warmly.
"I came to see you. I've long wanted to meet the outstanding students of Shrek Academy. I've watched all your matches, and your formidable strength and extraordinary talent have left a deep impression on me—especially that student named Yu Tianhuang. In your first two matches, his performance even shocked me. It's been thousands of years since such a genius Soul Master has appeared on our Douluo Continent."
Wang Yan immediately turned and gestured toward Xu Zihuang.
"Tianhuang."
"Your Majesty." Xu Zihuang stepped forward and bowed respectfully beside Wang Yan.
Xu Jiawei studied him for a long moment before smiling kindly and placing a hand on Xu Zihuang's shoulder.
"Good! Truly worthy of Shrek Academy's reputation—a talent both extraordinary in appearance and strength."
"What a pity such a genius isn't of my Star Luo Empire," he added with a faint note of regret before continuing more seriously, "But know this—the doors of the Star Luo Empire will always be open to you."
At this point, Xu Zihuang could, of course, give no clear response.
"Your Majesty overpraises me."
Wang Yan had already anticipated such a situation. With Yu Tianhuang's talent, it was inevitable that every major power on the continent would try to recruit him.
"Your Majesty, please take a seat," Wang Yan said, smoothly diverting the topic.
Xu Jiawei shook his head. Although he dearly wished to bring Yu Tianhuang into the Star Luo Empire, he would not stoop to pestering.
"There's no need to sit. Aside from meeting Shrek's prodigious students, I had another purpose for coming today."
As soon as he spoke, four elderly men in the robes of Star Luo Imperial Offering Douluo entered behind him.
Among them was a face Xu Zihuang recognized—Heavenly Fiend Douluo Huang Jinshu, the one who had helped him resolve the conflict at the Star Emperor Hotel earlier.
Suspended quietly between the four Douluo was a strange soul bone, translucent deep purple in color, its surface patterned with golden bamboo-like veins.
The four offerings channeled their soul power together to completely seal the aura of the soul bone.
Four-colored halos of soul power shimmered faintly, forming a circular barrier.
Princess Jiujiu explained softly,
"This soul bone was taken from a fifty-thousand-year Thunder Prison Vine. It naturally possesses the ability to summon heavenly thunder. Without strong soul power to isolate its aura, it may at any time alter the weather, calling down lightning to temper itself. According to our soul bone experts at the Starlight Auction House, this soul bone is nearing its limit for withstanding thunder energy. Only by fusing with a Soul Master can it continue to absorb and endure further lightning or thunder-attribute soul power."
Xu Jiawei continued smoothly, his tone curious.
"I wonder how the guest who purchased this soul bone intends to handle it? If you wish to fuse it now, I can have these four Imperial Offering Douluo jointly isolate its aura and stand guard for you. If you intend to take it away, a Soul King-level cultivation is sufficient to withstand the thunder it draws. However, if you wish to completely suppress its aura and prevent it from affecting the weather, that would require at least a Titled Douluo's strength."
"Your Majesty," Ning Tian stepped forward and bowed slightly, "I was the one who purchased the soul bone, but the one who will be fusing with it is Tianhuang."
In such a situation, Wang Yan naturally no longer intended to conceal the fact that Yu Tianhuang possessed twin Martial Souls.
"Your Majesty, here's the truth. This student of mine has twin Martial Souls. His second Martial Soul is the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon."
Everyone else present secretly marveled. A soul bone that could summon lightning and alter the heavens—how extraordinary!
Xu Jiawei feigned realization, his eyes glinting as he looked at Xu Zihuang.
"So, a gifted soul master with twin Martial Souls—that explains it."
Xu Zihuang met Xu Jiawei's gaze, uncertain whether the emperor's decision to auction this particular soul bone had been coincidence—or whether he had already known of his twin Martial Souls beforehand.
From Xu Jiawei's calm eyes, he could read nothing. Truly worthy of being an emperor.
Wang Yan glanced at Xu Zihuang seriously and said in a steady voice,
"Tianhuang, why not do as His Majesty suggests? Under the protection of the four Imperial Offering Douluo, begin fusing with the soul bone now."
Yu Tianhuang's second Martial Soul possessed the Ultimate Lightning attribute, and his fourth soul skill came from a thirty-thousand-year soul ring. His physical constitution was more than strong enough. This right leg bone from the fifty-thousand-year Thunder Prison Vine seemed practically tailor-made for him.
"Very well." Xu Zihuang nodded, then turned to Xu Jiawei and said respectfully,
"In that case, I must trouble Your Majesty and the four Imperial Offerings."
"This is no trouble at all—merely the nature of this soul bone. Think nothing of it," Xu Jiawei said with a warm smile before raising his right hand and gesturing lightly.
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