The Ice Jade Scorpion soul bone wasn't something just anyone could absorb.
If a soul master didn't possess the Ultimate Ice attribute, the best-case scenario for absorbing the soul bone would be losing the part of the body where the bone fused. Worst case? Their body would explode and they'd die.
But Huo Yuhao didn't warn anyone.
As long as he wasn't the one absorbing it, anyone else attempting to do so was essentially playing with a ticking time bomb.
And no matter whether that bomb went off in Shrek Academy or elsewhere, the resulting chaos would be enough to make both the Starlight Auction House and the Star Luo royal family suffer major consequences.
If Ling Luochen or Wei Na were to absorb the soul bone, Huo Yuhao was confident he could protect them when the explosion happened.
As for the others—they'd just have to hope for the best.
And it wouldn't affect Huo Yuhao's image.
His ancestors had studied soul beasts from the Extreme North, but they never absorbed an Ice Jade Scorpion soul bone themselves, so it made sense that he "wouldn't know" about this side effect~
The bidding began, and the price of the Ice Jade Scorpion soul bone soared rapidly.
When it reached 15 million gold soul coins, the pace finally began to slow.
That's when Shrek Academy made its first offer.
"Sixteen million!" said Ling Luochen.
Someone outside quickly countered.
"Seventeen million!"
"Seventeen million and fifty thousand!" Ling Luochen cautiously raised the bid.
That was already a high price, so she opted for the smallest increment possible.
For this auction, the minimum bid increase was 50,000 gold soul coins.
"Seventeen million one hundred thousand!"
"Seventeen million one hundred and fifty thousand!"
"Seventeen million two hundred thousand!"
"..."
Eventually, only Shrek Academy and one other VIP box remained locked in a fierce bidding war. Neither side was backing down.
The rest of Shrek's group looked visibly tense, palms sweating with nerves.
Wei Na, without even realizing it, had grabbed Huo Yuhao's arm, eyes locked on the bidding screen.
They'd never dealt with such a massive amount of money before. Just hearing the numbers was enough to get their hearts racing—let alone being the ones actually placing the bids!
"The person in that other box… is it the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy?" Huo Yuhao thought, as he received a mental report from Tianmeng Iceworm.
"It must be that Meng Hongchen wants the soul bone? If she ends up crippled—or even dead—because of this, that would surely cause… No, actually, it would be better if this bomb went off inside Shrek Academy."
Between Shrek and the Sun Moon Empire, Huo Yuhao still chose Shrek.
If the Star Luo Empire and Sun Moon Empire got into a conflict, it wouldn't necessarily cause trouble for Star Luo—but it would definitely make the recently intensified tensions between Star Luo and Shrek fade away.
Star Luo would be forced to realign itself with Shrek.
Wouldn't that mean Zhou Yi died for nothing?
On the other hand, if this bomb exploded within Shrek, it could further deepen the divide between Shrek Academy and the Star Luo Empire.
Now that… would be perfect.
As the bidding dragged on, Ling Luochen began to feel the pressure. Beads of sweat appeared on her forehead, and the thought of backing out crossed her mind.
The price had far surpassed what she could afford.
Even if the Academy footed the bill, she'd still owe them a massive debt of gratitude.
She wasn't an orphan—she came from a prestigious background, and back in her homeland, she had even been named the "Snow Princess."
"Come on, Senior Ling!" Huo Yuhao suddenly encouraged her. "We're a team. No matter what we face, we'll face it together!"
"That's right, Luochen, don't be afraid—we're in this together!" Ma Xiaotao added, picking up on Ling Luochen's hesitation and chiming in to support her.
The others joined in one after another.
"Go for it, Senior Ling!"
"Yeah, don't let them beat us!"
"Shrek Academy is invincible! We won't back down!"
Xu Jiujiao was deeply moved by Shrek's unity.
Watching in secret, Xuanzi wiped away a tear and murmured emotionally, "They're all good kids. This money is worth spending!"
"Everyone…" Ling Luochen looked around at her companions. In the end, she gritted her teeth and placed another bid. "Eighteen million!"
What gave her the courage?
Her teammates?
Not exactly.
It was the fact that she had already slept with Huo Yuhao—one of the successors of the Sea God's Pavilion, someone destined to stay at Shrek Academy.
She realized she had no other path but to stay by Huo Yuhao's side.
Because her body could no longer live without him.
At last, the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy stopped bidding.
Shrek Academy, on the other hand, was essentially writing an IOU—like swiping on Huabei, easy to get carried away.
But every bid from the Sun Moon Academy had to be backed by calculating exactly how much they could get from selling off their soul tools. Every increase hurt.
And without knowing about the Ultimate Ice attribute of the soul bone, this price had already hit their projected limit. Any higher, and it would be a loss.
So the Sun Moon Academy chose to bow out, and Meng Hongchen stomped her foot in frustration.
In the end, the soul bone went to Shrek Academy.
Ling Luochen smiled in delight.
Everyone else cheered and offered congratulations.
The soul bone would be delivered soon.
Then came the final item of the auction.
Huo Yuhao was extremely excited.
"The Ice Jade Scorpion soul bone already appeared. Could the next item be the Deification Platform?"
"Next up, we present the final item of the evening—also the most precious item in this entire auction!" came the seductive voice of Zijin.
The soul screen once again turned a dazzling gold. As the light faded, Zijin reappeared on screen, now dressed in a long golden gown.
The fitted design highlighted her alluring curves, making her look breathtakingly radiant.
"I'm sure, dear guests, that my change in attire has clued you in—this final item will be extraordinarily precious!"
"Zijin dares to say, from the founding of the Starlight Auction House to this day, the next item is the most valuable item ever offered—bar none!"
"No phrase like 'one of a kind' or 'worth a king's ransom' could ever do it justice."
Everyone's curiosity peaked. Then, Zijin's next words sent a chill down everyone's spine.
With solemn intensity, her voice rang out:
"If the legends are true, this final item… could serve as the foundation for a soul master's ascension to godhood!"
"What?!"
Everyone's eyes widened in shock.
Ma Xiaotao even jumped up from the sofa.
Although Xu Jiujiao had already known what the last item would be, he still acted stunned along with the others.
The screen flashed, and Zijin's figure vanished.
What appeared next wasn't the suspected Deification Platform, but… a plant.
It was blue-green in color, with nine leaves shaped like human fingers, glowing with the distinct shimmer of a true treasure.
Zijin's voice resumed:
"The Bi Lin Nine-Death Immortal Herb! A new leaf grows every thousand years, and each leaf is deadlier than the last! It is an immortal herb suited for poison-type soul masters. It greatly enhances poison attribute abilities, but anyone with a different attribute will be instantly killed—dissolved into sludge!"
"This is a legendary immortal herb! It's said that ten thousand years ago, the original Seven Shrek Monsters all ascended to godhood, thanks in part to consuming herbs like this one!"
"Which is why this herb deserves to be called—the Foundation of Godhood!"
Zijin's voice rose with excitement, clearly thrilled at having the honor of auctioning off such a treasure.
In the VIP box, everyone turned to look at Huo Yuhao.
Because he was the only poison-type soul master among them.
And Huo Yuhao?
He felt a sudden chill all over.
Never heard of this kind of herb before…
Why is the plant tinged with blue?
Is that… the Sea God's color?
"Crap, it's coming for me!"Huo Yuhao hadn't expected the old Tang Buddha to have such a move up his sleeve!
No—he shouldn't be surprised anymore. That old geezer using dirty tricks? Completely within expectations.
"Isn't this just the Biling Sevenfold Flower dyed a different color? Alright, alright, even a God King is selling fake medicine now, huh!"
Still, Huo Yuhao's powerful self-control kept him from showing any sign of oddity. Under everyone's watchful gaze, he revealed a conflicted expression and finally sighed.
"The Academy already spent a lot of gold soul coins on that soul bone earlier… I really shouldn't—"
However, Xuan Zi's voice transmission interrupted him.
"Yuhao, just go ahead and name your price. I'll handle everything else."
Huo Yuhao: "..."
Well, since Xuan Zi said so, what else could he do?
"Alright then. I'll try my best," Huo Yuhao said, looking deeply moved.
Xuan Zi nodded with satisfaction, his eyes burning with intensity.
"It's an immortal herb! Shrek Academy shall follow in the footsteps of our ancestors—we absolutely must not miss this herb!"
"If Yuhao can use it, with his talent, in a hundred—no, fifty years—Shrek Academy could very well produce a new god! At the very least, he could become a Limit Douluo like Elder Mu!"
"Truly, the Sea God is blessing us!"
Yes, it really did seem like divine intervention.
Huo Yuhao mumbled internally and prepared to join the bidding.
"Tch, such luck!" Jin Qiu'er grumbled, unhappy. "Why does he get all the good stuff?"
The others were equally envious.
Unfortunately, this particular immortal herb was only suitable for Huo Yuhao.
Still, he was their teammate—so the envy wasn't overwhelming.
Xu Jiujiu also silently lamented Huo Yuhao's fortune.
In truth, if the herb hadn't been out of the Star Luo Empire's possession, they would never have allowed it to be used elsewhere. The Empire had tried to buy it privately—but failed.
Immortal herbs were rare, but poison-type soul masters weren't.
Poison users were devastating on the battlefield. If they could nurture one, their empire's combat strength would soar.
However, according to the mysterious expert who delivered the herb, it couldn't be used by just any poison-type soul master.
Zi Jin immediately addressed this issue.
"Before the auction begins, I must explain the unique usage conditions and the risks of this immortal herb."
Everyone held their breath, listening intently.
Even if they couldn't use it themselves, any knowledge about immortal herbs was precious.
Zi Jin said:
"This is the Biling Ninefold Immortal Herb. It has nine leaves, each representing one of the world's most lethal poisons. Combined, they create the ultimate toxic force."
"The auction house once scraped a bit of poison from all nine leaves, just enough to make a single drop—and that drop easily killed a 50,000-year-old Earth Bear King!"
"Hiss—!"
Gasps filled the hall.
Bear-type soul beasts already had strong poison resistance, let alone a top-tier one like the Earth Bear King. And it still died that easily? That showed how terrifying the poison was.
Meng Hongchen's eyes sparkled with excitement.
"So poisonous! I love it!"
Smiling Hongchen, beside her, trembled at the thought of his sister's future toxins reaching that level.
Zi Jin continued:
"To use the Biling Ninefold Immortal Herb, one must consume all nine leaves consecutively, enduring the purification of their unique poisons, transforming their own poison attribute. The risk is enormous."
"But if successful, your poison attribute may ascend—to the realm of Ultimate Poison!"
Ultimate Poison?
It could potentially create a soul master with an ultimate attribute!
All the VIP guests in their booths grew more and more excited.
"We must acquire this herb!"
"Even if I can't use it, I could pass it to my descendants—or recruit a genius with it!"
"If we can nurture an ultimate attribute soul master, our future is secured!"
Zi Jin added:
"However, true immortal herbs are not of this world. They are divine. Immortal herbs possess spirit and choose their own master! If a soul master is not recognized by the herb, they will be killed by its poison."
Huo Yuhao: Bullsh*t!
That single "however" instantly dampened everyone's enthusiasm.
"At the seller's request, before bidding begins, participants must attempt to earn the herb's recognition."
"But please rest assured—the herb will be brought around to each VIP room by auction staff, allowing everyone a chance to try."
"Starlight Auction House pledges on its honor: all booth results and guest identities will remain confidential."
No one had expected such a move—but no one declined either.
Even if they couldn't use the herb, getting a close look at it was a rare opportunity.
All poison-type soul masters except Huo Yuhao were eager to try.
These strange usage conditions hadn't truly killed the mood. Even if they couldn't use it themselves, perhaps their descendants could.
Good things don't have to be for your own use—but they must not fall into enemy hands!
Someone else profiting feels worse than losing yourself.
Next came the cycle of demonstrations.
Everyone waited quietly in their rooms. Some anxious, some calm, some nervous…
Ma Xiaotao comforted Huo Yuhao.
"Little Uncle, it's okay even if you fail. Stay calm—it might even improve your odds."
"Alright. Don't worry," Huo Yuhao nodded obediently.
But he still couldn't resist asking:
"If I fail to bond with it, will we still join the bidding?"
Xuan Zi's voice rang again:
"Of course we will! Heaven's treasures belong to the virtuous! There's no one on this continent more worthy of holding this herb than Shrek Academy!"
Huo Yuhao: "Yeah, yeah, of course…"
The Biling Ninefold Immortal Herb was first brought to the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineering Academy's booth.
A black-robed expert inside discreetly scanned the area—detecting the presence of a powerful protector for the herb.
He said nothing—anything more would imply the Sun Moon Empire lacked grace.
The others crowded around the herb, curious, greedy, awed, and fearful.
"Everyone step back. Give Meng some space! If anyone causes problems during her bonding attempt, don't blame me!" Smiling Hongchen declared, shielding his sister.
Elder Ma coughed awkwardly.
"Alright, none of you are poison-type soul masters. Why are you crowding around? Not afraid of dying? Give Meng Hongchen room!"
Everyone backed off reluctantly, giving space.
Meng Hongchen looked gratefully at Smiling Hongchen.
"Thanks, Xiao."
"Ahem. I just don't want to waste time," he replied, acting aloof.
Meng Hongchen smiled slightly, adjusted her state, and stood before the herb. She asked the staff member who brought it in:
"What should I do?"
"Honored guest, please inject your poison-type soul power into the flowerpot beneath the herb. The herb will respond on its own."
"Got it!"
Meng Hongchen held her breath, focusing her soul power into the flowerpot. As she did, the leaves of the Bi-Phosphorescent Ninefold Celestial Herb slowly began to unfold.
A faint bluish-green glow emerged, enveloping the celestial herb in a halo of light.
This extraordinary sight immediately captured everyone's attention. They held their breath, unwilling to disturb Meng Hongchen's moment of communion.
Eventually, the entire herb radiated with brilliant light.
Outside the private booth, a black-robed powerhouse sensed a sudden disturbance from another concealed expert. A subtle smirk appeared at the corner of his lips.
Someone was clearly panicking.
Xiao Hongchen couldn't hide his excitement and turned to the staff member, pressing, "What's going on? Does this mean the herb has recognized Meng as its master?"
"Uh…" The staff member looked troubled—he didn't know either.
Then Meng Hongchen, flushed with excitement, spoke up to clear everyone's doubts. "Xiao, I can feel it! My soul power has connected with the herb—it accepted me!"
Her cheeks glowed rosy red with joy, her wide eyes sparkling as she stared at the celestial herb.
Though she ceased inputting her soul power, the herb remained unfolded and glowing.
The audience broke into a buzz of surprise.
Even the staff stared in shock.
Who would've thought someone from the Sun Moon Empire would succeed in bonding with the herb?
"Good, good, very good!" Elder Ma shouted with enthusiasm.
Xiao Hongchen, usually calm and composed, was now pacing anxiously, unable to contain himself.
The black-robed man declared, "This herb is clearly fated for our Sun Moon Empire. Name your price—we'll pay whatever it takes."
A blatant show of wealth and confidence.
The Sun Moon Empire never lacked in firepower. What they truly needed was top-tier soul masters.
If this celestial herb could produce a Super Douluo—never mind a god—it would be enough to give the Empire the courage to challenge the original Douluo Three Nations in war.
And Meng Hongchen, being the granddaughter of Jing Hongchen, had an impeccable lineage and loyalty. She was the perfect candidate for the herb's investment.
Clearly, destiny favored the Sun Moon Empire.
But then, a figure stepped between them and the herb.
It was Starshatter Douluo.
His deep gaze fell on Meng Hongchen. Though clearly reluctant, he still offered a polite congratulations, "Congratulations to this Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineering Academy member."
Then came the twist.
"However, the celestial herb will still go up for auction. It won't be sold privately. And let me clarify—bonding with the herb is not exclusive. It does not only connect to one person."
Meng Hongchen's joy was shattered. Her heart dropped, struggling to accept the revelation. "How can that be?"
The rest of the crowd was equally stunned.
What was going on?
So much for a sacred bond. Now it turned out the herb could have multiple links?
She thought she was the chosen one—only to find out she might just be a backup?
Just like that, Meng Hongchen got downgraded—from goddess to side option.
When Starshatter Douluo revealed the herb again, its glow gradually faded, and Meng Hongchen's connection to it disappeared.
Xiao Hongchen's eyes turned red as he glared at the herb, as if it had broken his sister's heart.
Even the black-robed powerhouse fell into silence.
It felt like they'd just been played—albeit in a novel way.
Starshatter Douluo remained composed and said flatly, "If the honored guests still desire the celestial herb, please prepare to compete in the upcoming auction."
With that, he turned and walked away with the herb.
Once the booth door closed again, Meng Hongchen was left despondent, eyes misting with tears.
All eyes turned to the black-robed powerhouse.
He snorted coldly. "No matter the cost, we must obtain that herb!"
"Exactly! No matter the price—once we return to the Empire, my grandfather will pay!" Xiao Hongchen said through gritted teeth.
Jing Hongchen: You two are going to bankrupt me!
Huo Yuhao's eyes narrowed. "So Meng Hongchen succeeded in bonding? And the bond isn't exclusive…"
The Heavenly Dream Ice Silkworm, watching everything from within the herb, relayed what had occurred in the other booths to Huo Yuhao.
So far, only Meng had succeeded in bonding with the herb.
"Brother Hao, since someone else succeeded, does that mean this herb isn't a trap?" the Ice Silkworm wondered aloud.
"Would a trap come with an instruction sign?" Huo Yuhao replied sarcastically via spiritual message. "This is just a tactic—to lower the target's guard and make the reward feel hard-earned."
"As I said—it's all a setup."
The target? Obviously, Huo Yuhao.
The Ice Silkworm was discouraged. "So what now?"
"No worries, Brother Tianmeng. We're not that easy to manipulate. But since they've chosen to reveal the herb… it's time I visit the Sunset Forest."
Huo Yuhao had long known that there were celestial herbs in the Sunset Forest. He hadn't gone before simply due to lack of time and preparation.
Now, after the tournament, he wouldn't be heading to the Sun Moon Empire as an exchange student, giving him more freedom.
With his current strength, he could finally act.
Soon after, the celestial herb was brought to Shrek Academy's booth.
Xu Jiuyou personally received it. When she returned, her face was grim.
"Everyone, I've got bad news."
"What kind of bad news?" the others asked, alarmed.
"A member of the Sun Moon Imperial Academy succeeded in bonding with the herb," she said gravely.
"What?!"
The group was shocked.
Huo Yuhao hadn't expected Xu Jiuyou to reveal this.
Jin Qiu'er caught a strange detail. "Wait, how do you know? Didn't the auction house promise not to reveal anything from the private booths? Isn't that a violation?"
The tense mood immediately shattered.
Everyone turned to Xu Jiuyou with odd expressions. Her face turned awkward.
Xuanzi, hidden in the shadows, looked grim.
Huo Yuhao now understood—when Jin Qiu'er opened fire, she didn't care who got hit.
Luckily, Xu Jiuyou wasn't easily rattled. She quickly regained composure and said solemnly, "Although Starlight Auction House is a business, its owner is from the Star Luo Empire. He still holds deep national pride. He knew if the Sun Moon Empire used the herb to create a powerhouse, it would bring war to the continent."
"So he risked damaging his reputation to inform me—hoping we could stop them."
"But don't worry. No one outside this booth will know what's happening here."
"I ask everyone's help in keeping this a secret. Please!"
She bowed deeply to everyone.
The members of Shrek were moved. They quickly promised to keep silent.
Xu Sanshi thumped his chest. "My word is my bond! Xu Sanshi swears not to leak a word!"
Jin Qiu'er added, "Huh. The auction boss is kinda nice after all."
Xu Jiuyou let out a breath of relief.
"Little Uncle, come try bonding with the herb," Ma Xiaotao invited Huo Yuhao.
Everyone's expression turned serious again.
Huo Yuhao nodded and stepped forward, channeling soul power into the herb.
He also secretly used his spiritual power to examine the herb's internal structure.
As his soul power flowed in, its poison attribute acted like a key—unlocking hidden energy within the herb.
The herb unfolded and glowed once more, recognizing Huo Yuhao.
Xu Jiuyou's eyes lit up. Everyone else was thrilled.
Huo Yuhao examined the herb's condition.
Its medicinal quality was excellent—far superior to any other herb he'd seen in Douluo Continent. If used properly, it could transform someone completely.
But hidden within the herb was a faint, strange energy—like a mark.
If not for his advanced vision ability, he might have missed it.
Clearly, the herb had been artificially cultivated—and was indeed a lure.
But Huo Yuhao simply smiled.
"Brother Hao, what do you think?" the Ice Silkworm whispered.
"Tianmeng, this herb is usable. But to be safe, we'll need extra tools to eliminate all risks."
"Like what?"
"Meng Hongchen also bonded with it, right? She might be the perfect intermediary…"
A furnace vessel isn't just for cultivation—it can also be used to absorb treasures and remove impurities.
After the Immortal Herb was displayed to all, the auction finally began.
Starting price: one hundred million gold soul coins!
Just the starting price alone made many people sigh and fall silent, not daring to bid.
The Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy immediately made an offer.
"One hundred and ten million!" the black-robed powerhouse announced.
"One hundred and twenty million!" Huo Yuhao followed without hesitation.
Since only Meng Hongchen and Huo Yuhao had successfully bonded with the herb, their bids were the fiercest.
Other forces with similar ambitions chose to stay quiet, but they had already noticed something.
"Such aggressive bidding—someone must have succeeded in bonding with the herb, right?"
"They're seriously lucky!"
"Let's try to gather more intel..."
The black-robed man narrowed his eyes and continued bidding. "One hundred and thirty million!"
"One hundred and forty million!" Huo Yuhao responded calmly and unflinchingly.
Xu Jiujiu looked at Huo Yuhao in surprise. She hadn't expected someone so young to remain so composed in the face of such a massive fortune.
Huo Yuhao: Please, it's not my money anyway!
He didn't even care whether Shrek Academy gave him the herb.
In fact, if Xuanzi weren't watching, he might have shouted "One billion!"
Why be scared when you're not footing the bill?
VIP Room 3.
Two burly men grimaced at the numbers on the screen—it was painful to watch.
They were Lang Ya and Yu Tao.
They didn't have enough money to compete in the auction.
"This herb should suit the Sect Master."
"We must inform him!"
"Let's see who's fighting for the herb..."
Whether they could use it or not, once the Body Sect set its eyes on something, it had to be theirs.
Using their spiritual power, the two men instructed the auction staff in their booth to start digging for intel from other rooms.
VIP Room 2.
"It seems someone else also bonded with it—and they're no small figure," the black-robed man muttered. "One hundred and fifty million!"
Meng Hongchen and Xiao Hongchen both tensed.
Other spectators wore varied expressions—nervousness, envy, jealousy...
After all, this herb was being fought over for Meng Hongchen's sake. What an honor! How many people could even dream of such treatment?
Besides envy and jealousy, they could only sigh at their lack of fate and opportunity.
In the original story, due to fewer complications, the powerhouse protecting the Sun Moon team remained in hiding.
But now, he stood openly, giving the Sun Moon Academy more confidence.
"One hundred and sixty million!" Huo Yuhao said with a calm expression.
The others around him looked tense, their hearts pounding.
Even Xuanzi gulped.
Xu Jiujiu hesitated, then reminded him,
"Yuhao, the minimum increment is a hundred thousand, not ten million. No need to be so aggressive."
Huo Yuhao shook his head.
"Princess Jiujiu, it's only my second auction, but I can already tell—it's no longer about money, but psychological warfare."
"I once saw wild dogs fight over food in my village. The winner wasn't always the strongest—just the fiercest and most composed."
A twisted analogy—but with a point.
Xu Jiujiu thought it made sense, though comparing oneself to a wild dog felt... strange.
Still, since Huo Yuhao insisted, she didn't argue further.
Xuanzi nodded slightly.
"He makes sense. A true future of Shrek Academy."
"One hundred and sixty-five million!" the black-robed man said.
"One hundred and seventy million!" Huo Yuhao countered.
Xuanzi began to feel faint.
"Let's hope... this kind of spending won't cause too much trouble for the Academy."
Please don't let me get beaten up for this herb later...
At this point, the black-robed man felt the pressure.
His available funds were running low.
In the Sun Moon Empire, he could have funds transferred endlessly. But here in the Star Luo Empire, he'd have to sell soul tools to raise more.
Not everyone could rely on their reputation like Shrek Academy to borrow on credit.
Plus, no one from the Sun Moon Empire had ever gone to a tournament with billions in funds before.
"One hundred and eighty million!" the black-robed man gave it one last shot.
Then came the fatal blow: "Two hundred million."
At that, the black-robed powerhouse sighed and stopped.
Any higher, and he'd have to start selling ninth-grade soul tools.
"What a pity," he muttered.
Meng Hongchen's eyes welled up with tears.
Xiao Hongchen turned red with rage, even reaching for his storage soul tool to pull out his cannon.
"Damn it! Who's taking this from us?! Damn it all!!!"
He was filled with a desperate, helpless fury.
The black-robed man released a powerful aura, forcing Xiao back into his seat.
"Calm yourself. Is this what a genius of the Sun Moon Empire looks like? Do you think without the herb, you can't become a Rank Nine Soul Engineer?"
Xiao gradually calmed down.
"Even peak-level Douluo can fall to a ninth-grade soul tool bombardment," the black-robed man continued, serious and stern.
"As long as soul tool technology continues to advance—someday, not even gods will be untouchable!"
The statement thundered like a bell, shaking everyone to their core.
Xiao and Meng Hongchen also sobered up.
Indeed, their original plans never included this herb—yet their futures were still bright.
Now, they had even greater ambitions.
"Right! The herb isn't the only path. Even without it, I'll still become a Super Douluo—a Rank Nine Soul Engineer! I'll create soul tools that can threaten gods!" Xiao Hongchen muttered, eyes blazing.
As a genius, he had the confidence—and pride.
Meng Hongchen wiped her tears and stubbornly said:
"Right! I won't give up! Even if they take the herb, Xiao and I will surpass them one day and defeat them!"
"Meng, don't worry. I'll help you win back your honor!" Xiao Hongchen promised seriously.
The black-robed powerhouse nodded in satisfaction.
He stood and spoke gently:
"Children, you are the Empire's future and pride. Don't let worldly temptations sway your faith. One day, the Empire will be proud of you! Do you have faith?"
Everyone stood tall, regaining confidence and shouted:
"We have faith!"
The affirmation of a true powerhouse filled them with honor and resolve.
Even Elder Ma grew emotional.
The black-robed man nodded and said to Ma:
"Elder Ma, once the auction ends, take the kids back to the hotel to rest. Prepare for tomorrow's match. With Shrek in disarray, we might just take the championship this time."
"Yes, Your Grace!" Ma bowed respectfully.
The black-robed man then left.
He didn't say where he was going.
But Elder Ma had a strong hunch.
The auction may be over—but this matter was far from settled.
Until the herb was consumed, the matter was not finished.
And the Sun Moon Empire hadn't just sent one powerhouse.
Realizing the severity, Ma led the students straight back to the hotel at top speed and stood guard himself, ensuring no one left or got harmed.
Meanwhile...
The Ice Jade Scorpion Left Arm Bone and the Jade Phosphor Nine-Deadly Immortal Herb were delivered to the Shrek team but immediately collected by Xuanzi.
"These two items are too valuable. I'll bring them back to the Academy first. We'll decide what to do after the tournament."
No one objected.
Ling Luochen knew she wasn't in the right state to absorb a soul bone anyway. Once she recovered, it wouldn't be too late.
She had already found a path to recovery.
"Xiao Tao, Yuhao, I'll leave the team to you for now. Don't worry, you won't face any more unexpected incidents outside the arena."
"Just do your best in the tournament."
"Remember: Even if you lose, it's fine. I'll bear the disgrace—honor belongs to you."
"I only care that you return safely."
Xuanzi's heartfelt words deeply moved the entire team.
If only the Taotie Divine Bull shadow above his head didn't randomly try to bite others' fate, Huo Yuhao would've been even more touched.
As Xuanzi stored the items, a dark cloud formed above him, making the bull spirit restless.
Unfortunately, it didn't glow red—no blood disaster yet.
"Children, I'm leaving. Get some rest." Xuanzi flew off to return the items and inform the Academy of their massive purchase.
The Ice Jade Scorpion bone's 13 million was just pocket change compared to the 200 million herb.
"Goodbye, Senior Brother." Huo Yuhao waved.
Hope something happens to him!
Outside Star Luo City, the night sky loomed like a beast's maw—dangerous and ominous.
But Xuanzi charged right in, without hesitation.
266
Nightfall.
Outside Star Luo City.
A thunderous explosion suddenly shattered the silence of the night.
Immediately after, a surge of powerful soul energy burst out, extinguishing the blaze of the explosion and making the surrounding air feel thick and sticky.
"Hmph, sneaky little rats, all of you—come out!" Xuanzi shouted angrily. Soul power surged around him, and a flash of bright yellow light erupted. Then, a barrage of meteor-like attacks rained down, obliterating everything around him.
Before leaving, Xuanzi had already anticipated that someone might try to ambush him. But he didn't fear it. In fact, he wanted to see exactly what kind of fools dared to lay hands on someone from Shrek Academy.
The ambush came even faster than he expected.
They had only traveled a few dozen kilometers from Star Luo City before someone had laid a Fixed Soul Tool Shell in ambush, intending to assassinate him.
But Xuanzi wasn't just some nobody.
He might not be the smartest, but his strength was absolutely the real deal.
Xuanzi's meteor attack indeed forced a number of enemies out of hiding.
But they weren't fools either—they all wore black cloths over their faces, hiding their identities and suppressing the revealing of their martial souls.
Moreover, they weren't even from the same faction.
Greed is never exclusive.
Now forced into the open, some recognized Xuanzi and chose to flee. But more of them stayed where they were, staring at him with cold eyes.
Perhaps their numbers gave them confidence.
Whether it was to steal the immortal herb or to hinder Shrek Academy's growth, battle was now inevitable.
Xuanzi gave a low chuckle, a look of disdain in his eyes. "The immortal herb is on me. If you want it, come take it yourself! But once I rip off those masks, you and the forces behind you—prepare to suffer Shrek's wrath!"
In the next second—
A surge of violent soul power exploded—
The battle had officially begun.
BOOM BOOM BOOM—
No one knew the details of this battle, or its outcome.
Only at dawn the next day did some soldiers dare to approach the site, and they found no bodies—only that the terrain had dramatically changed, leaving behind a large, irregular depression.
The great battle had no impact on Huo Yuhao's rest, nor on the tournament the next day.
That night, Huo Yuhao was focused on cultivating. And when the sun rose the next morning, he emerged from his room refreshed and full of energy.
No steamed buns or dumplings for breakfast—he'd had enough the night before.
After breakfast, Huo Yuhao got ready and led his team to the competition arena.
As the Shrek Academy team descended the stairs, they coincidentally encountered the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy team, also exiting under Elder Ma's lead.
But all they could see was the Shrek team's backs.
"Shrek Academy, huh? Hopefully, today's round will reveal more of their hidden cards," thought Elder Ma. His mission was simple: lead the team to defeat Shrek Academy.
Xiao Hongchen and Meng Hongchen also caught a glimpse of the Shrek team, though their thoughts were different.
Xiao Hongchen: "Huo Yuhao, huh? The genius of Shrek's younger generation. I wonder if he'll make it to the finals to face me? I'm actually looking forward to that match."
Meng Hongchen: "I should've come out earlier… maybe I'd get to see his peerless good looks. So annoying~"
Morning. Clear skies. Sunrise. Star Luo Plaza.
The plaza was already packed with a sea of people—so noisy that it could be heard even from the Xingguang Grand Hotel.
The Round of 16 was about to begin.
There would be four matches each day, over the course of four days.
As expected, Shrek Academy would be the first to compete.
Their opponent: Zheng Tian Academy.
The contestants' waiting area had become noticeably emptier.
Huo Yuhao soon noticed that the Zheng Tian Academy team had already arrived.
So had the Nuohua Academy team.
Tu Xijun still stared at Huo Yuhao with a look full of longing and resentment—clearly, their previous battle had left a deep impression.
Maybe even one that lingered deliciously in her mind.
Huo Yuhao, however, was considering whether to take advantage of his free time to sleep with Tu Xijun—otherwise, once Nuohua Academy was eliminated, the Phoenix Qi in her body would vanish too.
Wei Na's Phoenix Qi wasn't as rich or restorative as Tu Xijun's.
He needed to drain Tu Xijun's Phoenix Qi completely before letting her go.
The rest of the crowd's attention was fixed on Zheng Tian Academy.
The first team battle began soon after.
Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, both academy teams entered the arena.
Other academies, seated in the stands, focused intently on the battle, gathering intel and ensuring they missed no detail.
Shrek Academy lineup: Huo Yuhao, Wei Na, Jin Qiu'er, Wang Dong, Xiao Xiao, Jiang Nannan, Xu Sanshi.
Xu Sanshi was just there to fill out numbers.
Ling Luocheng was expected to recover, so wasn't risked.
Ma Xiaotao had no chance of recovery and sat in the audience watching.
Zheng Tian Academy lineup: Ye Wuqing, Yang Yifan, Yu Mengdi, Shangguan Can, Yan'er, Tang Xiaolei, and Xue Lang.
Three Soul Kings, four Soul Elders.
Exactly the same lineup as in the original work.
This was Zheng Tian Academy's strongest team.
The three Soul Kings were team captain Ye Wuqing, Angel martial soul master Yu Mengdi, and Tang Xiaolei, a soul master with the Purple Flower Bow martial soul.
All three were highly capable with strong abilities.
Even Tang Xiaolei, who lacked the best soul ring combinations, was a powerful long-range attacker—nearly unmatched at range.
The strongest was their captain, Ye Wuqing, with 58 levels of soul power, wielding the Golden Leaf martial soul—a power-type battle soul master. He appeared to be about twenty, handsome, with a cold and aloof demeanor.
On the stage, the two teams stood face to face.
From the Zheng Tian Academy team, a powerful fighting spirit radiated.
Especially Ye Wuqing—he had already locked onto Huo Yuhao with a cold, piercing gaze.
Not out of personal hatred, but simply as his way of preparing for battle. His glare was enough to unsettle those without strong mental strength.
But Huo Yuhao simply smiled back at him warmly, effortlessly neutralizing the pressure of his spiritual lock.
This only made Ye Wuqing even more serious.
Zheng Tian Academy wasn't careless—because Huo Yuhao was on the battlefield.
The one who had repeatedly fought one against seven—Huo Yuhao was no ordinary opponent.
Still, based on careful analysis, other academies had observed that as long as you don't provoke Huo Yuhao, he wouldn't use poison—at most, he'd just freeze you with ice.
There was no fear of a repeat where the whole team gets poisoned.
In fact, such behavior was considered quite gentlemanly.
Many contestants and spectators had developed goodwill toward Huo Yuhao. Even those he defeated often held him in genuine admiration—accepting their loss, even hoping to become friends.
Yet, in some people's eyes, restraining oneself in battle is foolish.
If you don't go all out, how can you guarantee victory?
Some even believed that this restraint was Huo Yuhao's greatest flaw, the very thing that would eventually cause his downfall.
"Shrek Academy—Not necessarily invincible!"
Ye Wuqing's eyes flashed coldly.