With the crimson-gold card and Wang Yan's explanation confirming Ning Tian's identity, Qing Ya no longer harbored the slightest doubt.
She gestured toward the golden-dressed girl beside her, who quickly understood and began operating the control panel.
On the light-conducting screen, the previously shimmering golden digits solidified instantly—jumping from thirty million to forty million.
Xu Zihuang turned his head slightly, a flicker of emotion passing through his eyes as he looked at Ning Tian beside him.
That Ning Tian would willingly spend so much for his sake was both within his expectations and beyond them.
Forty million gold soul coins—enough to make most of the top powers on the continent tremble. It was only thanks to the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's immense wealth that such a sum could be offered so casually. Any other sect of Soul Masters, even with time to liquidate assets, would likely be unable to produce it all at once.
Moreover, this top-tier soul bone, taken from a nearly sixty-thousand-year-old Thunder Prison Vine, would certainly not sell for only this amount.
"With such an enormous sum, I'm afraid I won't be able to repay you anytime soon," Xu Zihuang said with a wry smile.
This kind of top-tier soul bone indeed tempted him. He didn't bother pretending or hypocritically refusing.
Ning Tian gazed at him earnestly, her clear, water-blue eyes locking onto his noble, deep purple ones.
"Soul bones of this level are nearly impossible to come by. We mustn't miss it. We can talk about repayment after we win it."
"Ha, Tianhuang, you're really a lucky guy. You and Junior Sister Ning Tian actually make quite the perfect pair," Chen Zifeng teased with a grin.
"I'd say you don't even need to pay her back. If you marry her in the future, what's hers will be yours anyway."
Though Chen Zifeng's words were blunt, they hit right at Ning Tian's heart.
Her expression turned slightly uneasy. She looked toward the glowing light-conducting screen before her, a faint blush tinting her blue eyes.
Xu Zihuang merely smiled, saying nothing. Compared to Ning Tian, he appeared far more composed.
Within Room Seven, everyone had different thoughts.
Yet most agreed that Yu Tianhuang and Ning Tian were indeed a perfect match, just as Chen Zifeng had said.
Both were descendants of the ancient Upper Three Sects from ten thousand years ago—one with astonishing talent, the other with immense background. If they continued to support each other, they would surely stand atop the Soul Master world, a pair destined to be admired by all.
If Beibei had harbored any lingering thoughts about the soul bone earlier, they vanished completely when he saw its starting bid of thirty million—and Ning Tian's decisive bid of forty million.
That soul bone clearly had no fate with him.
He did feel a trace of envy toward Ning Tian's willingness to spend so much for Yu Tianhuang, but only that. Having Tang Ya by his side was enough for him.
That was simply his nature—carefree and content, uncompetitive except when it came to the few things he truly cared about.
For example: Shrek Academy's honor and Tang Ya herself.
As for Jiang Nannan, a commoner by birth, what she felt most was a deep and unbridgeable sense of social divide.
Forty million gold soul coins—what an astronomical figure.
Back then, when she needed the Xuanming Sect's exclusive elixir to save her mother, the price of that medicine compared to forty million was like a drop in the ocean.
Both were core disciples of Shrek's outer court, yet Ning Tian could casually take out forty million gold soul coins, while Jiang Nannan had been forced to make such unbearable sacrifices for a single elixir.
For the self-reliant and proud Jiang Nannan, the feeling of helplessness she had once endured returned to haunt her again.
Even the way she looked at Xu Sanshi was now filled with coldness and resentment.
People were never born equal.
Wang Dong still kept his head bowed, lost in thought.
As for Ma Xiaotao, who had always seemed indifferent, she now secretly pouted like a child.
"So what if you're rich…" she muttered under her breath.
——
In Room Two, a handsome young man with heterochromatic eyes stood quietly before a massive light-conducting screen.
His twin irises—one icy blue, one emerald green—gave him a strange, otherworldly aura.
This youth was none other than Xiao Hongchen, the vice-captain of the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy's reserve team.
With his arms crossed, he sighed softly. "What a pity. Such a top-tier soul bone, yet only usable by lightning-attribute Soul Masters."
On the sofa behind him sat the rest of the Sun Moon Academy's team and their supervising teacher—an elderly man with a ruddy complexion and a robust build. His features bore a strong resemblance to Ma Rulong, captain of the main team—obviously, they shared blood ties.
Indeed, the man was Elder Ma, Ma Rulong's grandfather.
Among those present, aside from Ma Rulong, Elder Ma, and Xiao Hongchen's younger sister Meng Hongchen, the other members of the Sun Moon team all showed faint traces of schadenfreude in their eyes.
At the Sun Moon Academy, Xiao Hongchen's overwhelming talent had long bred arrogance—and resentment from his peers.
Thus, none of them truly regretted that this soul bone didn't suit him. On the contrary, they almost wished it wouldn't.
However, Xiao Hongchen's next words instantly wiped the smirks off their faces—replacing them with jealousy and disbelief.
"This soul bone might not suit me," he said, his slender fingers drumming lightly on his arm, "but it could serve as the core material for a ninth-level soul tool. If crafted successfully, its offensive power would surpass most existing ninth-level devices."
Then, smiling faintly, he told the golden-dressed attendant, "Forty-five million."
"Hongchen, is it really worth it to spend so much on a soul bone that doesn't suit you?" Ma Rulong frowned deeply. "At that price, you could already commission most ninth-level soul tools."
Xiao Hongchen turned, his voice calm. "Captain, I'm not using the academy's funds. The quality of this soul bone is extraordinary—and it can absorb lightning energy to evolve. If I acquire it and give it to my grandfather, perhaps he could use it to create a tenth-level soul tool—something never before seen."
Ma Rulong's face twitched, but before he could respond, Elder Ma shot him a sharp glare, silencing him instantly.
——
In Room Three, two middle-aged men sat alone.
One was tall and burly, his right arm unusually thick. When he clenched his fist, explosive crackles filled the air—not from his bones, but from compressed air bursting under the force of his movement.
His aura was like that of a primordial beast.
The other man beside him was short and frail-bodied but possessed a disproportionately large head. Sparse strands of hair clung to his scalp, and his eyes gleamed with cold, eerie light that distorted the very air around them.
The auctioneer and two golden-dressed attendants in the room trembled as their eyes glazed over—clearly, their minds had been forcibly subdued.
Had Xu Zihuang been present, he would have recognized them instantly—they were Lang Ya and Yu Tao, the two men who had previously intercepted him at the Star Emperor Hotel.
Yu Tao spoke quietly, "This soul bone may only suit Soul Masters with top-tier lightning Martial Souls, but those of us with Body Martial Souls have unique advantages. It's not impossible for us to fuse it. Second Brother, why don't we just steal it?"
Lang Ya shook his head. "No. The Starlight Auction House is backed by the Star Luo Imperial Family. Since we arrived, I've sensed at least four powerful auras—no fewer than four Titled Douluo guarding this place. Even if the two of us worked together, we'd gain nothing but death. If one of our sect elders were here, maybe—but not us."
Their conversation alone revealed the arrogance of the Body Sect.
"Besides," Lang Ya continued, "our main objective this time is to bring that young man, Yu Tianhuang, back to the sect. With his talent, he will surely inherit the Sect Master's Legacy Seed. Once he matures, he might lead our Body Sect to its most glorious age."
At those words, impatience flashed across Yu Tao's face.
"I returned to the sect recently. The Sect Master led the elders deep into the sea to hunt a hundred-thousand-year soul beast. Elder Jin said they'd be back soon, but we still don't have a definite time. If the Sea God Pavilion of Shrek arrives before us, things could get troublesome. Second Brother, should we keep waiting?"
After the beast tide more than two thousand years ago, the Body Sect's current master had sworn never again to enter the Star Dou Forest to hunt hundred-thousand-year beasts. Yet, in truth, the sect had never stopped—their focus had simply shifted from the forest to the sea.
The ocean teemed with enormous sea soul beasts, creatures of immense physical strength—perfect prey for those with Body Martial Souls.
Still, only the madmen of the Body Sect would dare venture into the sea to hunt such monsters.
Lang Ya's eyes narrowed. "Don't rush. The Star Luo Royal Family is involved now, and we can't act recklessly. Once the Sect Master and elders arrive, even if the Sea God Pavilion takes Yu Tianhuang back to Shrek first, we'll simply go to claim him. Judging by how long this mission's taken, the Sect Master must have had great success. Perhaps I'll soon be able to fulfill that promise I made to the boy."
From Yu Tao's report, Lang Ya had learned that their Sect Master had led the elders to the sea because the Body Sect's Second Generation Senior Brother had just broken through to Titled Douluo—and that man was fully equipped with soul bones. This meant that if they succeeded in slaying a hundred-thousand-year sea soul beast, its soul bone would remain intact.
And who could resist the temptation of such a prize?
Though the Body Sect was overbearing, it treated its members generously—rewarding strength with resources. Over tens of thousands of years, it had accumulated even more soul bones than Shrek Academy itself.
With fewer disciples, nearly every Body Sect member possessed at least one soul bone—fostering immense loyalty to the sect.
Lang Ya was absolutely certain that their Sect Master would grant that hundred-thousand-year soul bone to Yu Tianhuang, given his unmatched talent.
Even the Body Sect's current young master, Long Aotian, could not compare to him.
Within the Body Sect, ability ruled, and no one would object to such a decision.
——
In Room One, a tall middle-aged man in a black robe sat alone.
If anyone saw his face clearly, they would be shocked—for he was none other than Emperor Xu Jiawei, ruler of the Star Luo Empire himself.
Before him, the golden digits on the light-conducting screen leapt once more—from forty-five million to fifty-five million gold soul coins.
"Another ten-million raise in one go," Xu Jiawei said with a faint smile, setting down his crystal wine glass. "The young lady of the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect truly spends lavishly. It seems this favor I extended was too small."
Meanwhile, in Room Two, Xiao Hongchen's brow twitched as the digits on the screen suddenly jumped to fifty-five million.
His sister Meng Hongchen rose from her seat and whispered, "Brother, let it go. Our funds are limited. If we bid higher, we'd have to sell Mingde Hall's soul tools. There's no need to let the Star Luo Royal Family profit that much."
After a brief moment of consideration, Xiao Hongchen nodded grimly.
Arrogant though he was, he wasn't foolish. His earlier remark about helping his grandfather, Jing Hongchen, break through to tenth-level Soul Engineer had only been talk. Without ninety-fifth-level soul power, creating a tenth-level soul tool was nothing but fantasy.
At best, that soul bone could serve as the core of an exceptionally powerful ninth-level soul tool.
Seeing Xiao Hongchen yield, Elder Ma finally exhaled in relief. If the boy had insisted on bidding further, not even his status could have stopped him.
The golden digits on the light-conducting screen flashed three times—then froze.
The soul bone had been sold.
On the auction stage, Princess Jiujiu gave a few quiet instructions to the nearby auctioneers, then changed into a golden palace gown and headed straight toward Room One through a private passage.
She didn't knock. Placing her palm on the door, it slid open soundlessly, and she stepped inside quickly.
"Brother, how did it go?" asked Princess Jiujiu, her azure eyes filled with curiosity.
Seated on the sofa, Xu Jiawei smiled knowingly.
"The soul bone was purchased by that little girl from the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. Our judgment was correct—Yu Tianhuang truly possesses twin Martial Souls. His second Martial Soul is the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon. That girl's purchase was undoubtedly for him."
Princess Jiujiu's eyes widened. "That little girl from the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect isn't afraid of losing everything? That's fifty-five million gold soul coins!"
Xu Jiawei chuckled softly. "But if she can bind Yu Tianhuang to her sect, then fifty-five million means nothing. Tell me, Jiujiu—if Yu Tianhuang were willing to join our Star Luo Empire, would spending five hundred and fifty million be too much?"
Under her brother's strange gaze, Princess Jiujiu felt a faint chill of discomfort.
But Xu Jiawei didn't linger on the topic. Rising from the sofa, he said, "All right, let's go meet him. It's time to deliver this favor properly."
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