"Jiang Jue…"
Meng Hongchen looked at him in surprise, just about to speak when Jiang Jue stopped her.
"It's decided. Be good and listen."
He ruffled her hair gently as he spoke.
This soul bone, in both age and quality, was worthy of Meng Hongchen. Since it came from an Ice Jade Scorpion, it contained the ultimate ice attribute—there was even a chance it could raise the quality of her martial soul to a higher level.
However, the Ice Jade Scorpion soul bone has absorption restrictions. I'll need the Ice Emperor's help later.
Because of its ultimate attribute, only soul masters with the ultimate ice attribute could absorb it. Meng Hongchen didn't possess true ultimate ice, but with the Ice Emperor present inside Jiang Jue, the issue would be solvable.
Meng Hongchen's icy blue eyes blinked as she looked at the man she had chosen. Her heart rippled softly. Under his firm insistence, she could only give a gentle "mm" in reply.
"Hmph, for the sake of how well you treat my little sister, I'll let it slide."
Xiao Hongchen looked at the two and nodded in a smug, satisfied way.
He knew some things Meng Hongchen didn't. Because Jing Hongchen feared she might think poorly of Jiang Jue if she knew his true identity, he hadn't told her. But before coming here, he had discreetly hinted to Xiao Hongchen to keep an eye on things.
Xiao Hongchen didn't really understand what the Holy Spirit Cult was, but as long as Jiang Jue was good to his sister, he didn't care.
Meanwhile, in Room Seven of Auction Hall One, things were different.
When Xu Jiujiu's announcement ended, everyone except Wang Yan was stunned.
An Ice Jade Scorpion soul bone—five to seventy thousand years old!
The Ice Jade Scorpion was a soul beast at the very top of the food chain, living deep in the Extreme North, and in groups. Even obtaining a soul ring from one was difficult, let alone a ten-thousand-year soul bone.
No one had expected the Star Luo Empire to put such a treasure up for auction. For a moment, they couldn't react.
"Teacher Wang, I want to bid on that soul bone."
The voice came from a young woman sitting on the sofa. It was cool and clear. She wore a long ice-blue dress, her features delicate, her skin fair, and her rare ice-colored eyes matched her aura of cold beauty.
She was Ling Luochen, one of Shrek Academy's only three remaining main team members in the competition. She was a level 55 Control System Battle Soul Master, her martial soul being Ice—an extremely rare elemental type.
Though her ice wasn't ultimate, it was close. But "close" still fell far short—ultimate attributes were absolute.
Faced with a ten-thousand-year soul bone from an ultimate ice soul beast, she admitted she was tempted.
"Senior Sister Ling, I think this soul bone suits me as well."
Huo Yuhao's tone was serious as he glanced at his right arm.
His second martial soul was the Ice Jade Scorpion. He understood its power better than anyone—and he already possessed a ten-thousand-year Ice Jade Scorpion right arm bone.
That bone came from the very Ice Jade Scorpion that had been his first soul ring. Normally, the chance of a soul beast producing a soul bone was extremely low, but his had.
Back then, Tianmeng Iceworm had advised him not to absorb it because it was only twenty thousand years old, but Huo Yuhao had desperately wanted power—he didn't want to remain weak.
To him, a ten-thousand-year soul bone was already a once-in-a-lifetime treasure, so he had insisted on absorbing it. Out of guilt—since he had dragged Yuhao into trouble while searching for the Ice Emperor—Tianmeng had agreed.
If I get this soul bone, I'll have both left and right arm bones from Ice Jade Scorpions—it'll make them much easier to control!
His eyes burned at the thought.
Ling Luochen frowned slightly at his words.
She knew that only she and Huo Yuhao had ice-attribute martial souls in the team. If she wanted this soul bone, there was no avoiding a clash with him.
For any ordinary treasure, she would yield—but this bone could advance her martial soul further. She wasn't about to give it up.
Opportunities like this were rare beyond rare.
And her relationship with Huo Yuhao wasn't exactly warm.
"Ahem, let me say something—Yuhao, Senior Sister Ling, it's useless to fight now. We haven't even won the bid yet, right?"
Sensing the tension, Xu Sanshi stepped in, his comical tone breaking the heavy atmosphere.
Beibei gave him a thumbs up. If the team fell into internal conflict before the matches were over, it would be bad.
Despite his seemingly careless manner, Xu Sanshi's insight was nearly on par with Beibei's.
Wang Yan pushed up his glasses, looking at the two.
"If you two can come to an agreement, I can try to bid for it."
Ling Luochen and Huo Yuhao exchanged glances and both said:
"Teacher Wang, you bid for it first, then we'll decide who gets it."
After Wang Yan's clever tactics had led Shrek to several victories, the team had grown more willing to trust this Soul King-level teacher.
"Alright."
He nodded. In truth, he wasn't sure who should have it.
Based on contributions and potential from earlier matches, the soul bone should go to Huo Yuhao. But as the competition progressed, opponents would grow stronger. Huo Yuhao was only a level 27 Grandmaster, while Ling Luochen was a main team member—and she might handle this powerful soul bone better.
If she absorbed it, it could be more beneficial for the later matches.
Wang Yan might lack top-tier strength, but his decision-making was solid.
"Viewing time is over. The ten-thousand-year Ice Jade Scorpion left arm bone—starting bid, fifteen million gold soul coins, minimum raise fifty thousand."
With Xu Jiujiu's announcement, the auction began.
"Seventeen million!"
The price jumped on the display—an immediate two-million increase.
It was Jiang Jue.
"Junior Brother Jiang, that fierce right from the start?!"
Chen Fei was stunned, staring at the younger boy.
"Relax, Junior Brother Jiang's got the means."
Ma Rulong slung an arm over Chen Fei's shoulder, unconcerned.
"Rich folks, all rich folks… why am I the only one broke…"
Chen Fei put on an exaggeratedly tragic face, but everyone knew he was joking. Jiang Jue only smiled faintly.
He knew the final price wouldn't be under twenty million. Incremental raises would be tedious—better to speed things up and scare off hesitant bidders.
"Huh?"
"Starting off with such a raise—can we even… uh, win the bid?"
Xu Sanshi was also taken aback. Though from a good family, even he was a bit shocked at a two-million raise in one go.
Jiang Nannan stared at the rapidly climbing price, a little dazed.
Coming from a civilian background, sums like this were beyond anything she could imagine.
(End of chapter)