"Teacher Wang, do we have enough money?" Bei Bei asked softly.
He was happy with his defense soul tool, but worried about the money—it'd be troublesome if they were short...
"Xiao Wen has a black gold card, and the academy gave him a credit certificate," Wang Yan explained.
"..."
Bei Bei nodded—he knew Su Wen was rich. All of Shrek Academy's nearly hundred milk tea shops were his. Even now, with a cup of milk tea selling for just one copper soul coin, the profits were still a terrifying number. Of everyone present, only the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Clan's Ning Tian could hope to compete in wealth, and maybe not even then—but Su Wen kept a low profile.
As for the credit certificate, it meant Shrek would cover any amount.
Notice Wang Yan's wording—Su Wen got that certificate.
Bei Bei sighed to himself.
The gap between people really is huge.
He was clearly Elder Mu's great-grandson by blood, but the way Elder Mu treated Su Wen and him was... well, he knew it was because of Su Wen's talent, but still, it was hard not to feel something.
Just then,
Xu Jiujiu smiled and said, "All items in this auction can be given to you for free. In the Star Luo auction, I have that much authority."
But Su Wen refused.
He was here for the upcoming top-tier auction.
The grand finale, the Snow Empress Embryo—if present, it would save him over 10 million gold soul coins. Even if it wasn't, anything that could be the finale would be extraordinary.
Xu Jiawei's "apology" couldn't be wasted.
He actually wasn't short of money. The milk tea shop profits alone were over 3 million gold soul coins a year. For safety, he'd asked Elder Mu for a credit certificate, and if that failed, he could always borrow from rich girl Ning Tian.
The Nine-Treasure Glazed Tile Clan had declined, but their business empire was vast. Every clan leader was a business genius; they were still rich as a nation—just weak in power, which was why they sought allies.
"The final item!"
As Qing Ya announced, a cart was wheeled up, covered in red cloth. Gold was the highest status in the auction house; red was second only to gold.
Everyone fell silent.
"This is not a soul tool, but it is essential in the process of making them. To be the finale here, it won't disappoint..."
Swish!
Qing Ya lifted the red cloth,
Revealing an ancient, pitch-black short blade with deep and shallow patterns carved into it, about half an inch wide and six inches long. At first glance, it seemed ordinary, but after staring for a few seconds, a gloomy, oppressive aura seemed to envelop you.
"It's actually that!!!"
In his spiritual sea, a voice was full of surprise.
"Life Gold!"
"Elder Yi, is this enough to restore your divine sense?" Su Wen asked calmly.
"Plenty!" Electrolux was a little excited. "You really are something! But don't worry—we're both pitiful souls far from home. I'll keep your secret."
"Then... can you help heal Elder Mu's injuries?" Su Wen finally asked the question weighing on his heart.
In the original, a huge chunk of Life Gold was extracted—even Electrolux was amazed by the size. If Skydream Ice Silkworm's vitality was a single tear, this Life Gold chunk was hundreds of times that!
With such vitality, could it really not save Mu En? And with someone of Electrolux's caliber?
Was it because the original had Tang San from the God Realm intervening? For now, Su Wen could only blame Tang San; he didn't want Electrolux revived.
"There's hope!" Electrolux considered.
He'd met Mu En once.
That withered, dying life force—spotted with dark lesions—had reached the heart and dantian, cracks like spider webs, life force draining fast. Only his Limit Douluo-level vitality kept him going.
"It's worth a try!" Electrolux nodded confidently.
"Once I restore some divine sense with this, healing his injuries may not be hard at all. Such a big piece of Life Gold... tsk tsk..." Electrolux marveled.
"..."
There was hope!
Su Wen breathed a silent sigh of relief.
Elder Mu was truly Shrek's pillar in the original. Beyond their close relationship, just the threats from the Body Sect and Spirit Hall were enough of a headache. With him around, Ma Xiaotao probably wouldn't lose control to Phoenix Evil Fire—but those guys were sharp, and might recognize her.
A sneak attack on Shrek Academy was always possible.
Elder Xuan alone might not hold the line.
Only a Limit Douluo could set everyone's mind at ease.
"What is it?" Wang Dong'er asked curiously.
"The Engraving Knife List—rank 99, the Spirit-Devouring Engraving Knife. It's ranked so low not because it's weak, but because of its notorious reputation. Thirty-seven people have owned it, but most fell to evil or died mysteriously, so its ranking kept dropping," Su Wen explained softly.
"..."
Everyone understood, a flash of fear in their eyes.
Xu Jiujiu was stunned, staring for a moment before recovering, her beautiful eyes sweeping across Su Wen's face.
Shrek Academy was famous for prioritizing martial souls, and they could afford to look down on soul tools. But for a monstrous genius like Su Wen, who still stood out even among Shrek's freaks, she hadn't sensed the usual disdain for soul tools—instead, he discussed them knowledgeably!
This Shrek was... unorthodox!
"Are we bidding?" Wang Yan whispered.
"Of course. It's a listed engraving knife—if nothing else, it'll be a great display for the soul tool academy." Su Wen smiled.
"Mm." Wang Yan nodded.
"Starting price: 100,000 gold soul coins! Minimum bid increment: 5,000 gold soul coins..." Qing Ya looked expectantly.
But the hall was silent.
Clearly, few would spend 100,000 gold soul coins for a notorious object in a white-tier auction.
"100,000!"
Wang Yan called out.
"Number 166, 100,000 gold soul coins!" Qing Ya said excitedly.
"Once, twice, three times... Sold!"
The silent hall—
Many people looked curiously at number 166.
Only Su Wen's face remained unchanged, but inside, he breathed a long sigh of relief.
Got it!
…
After saying goodbye to Xu Jiujiu, the Shrek team returned to the hotel by dusk, each to their rooms to rest for the next day's matches.
In Su Wen's room—
A gray mist rose from Su Wen's spiritual sea, condensing into an old figure. Electrolux stared at the Spirit-Devouring Engraving Knife in Su Wen's hand, a flash of surprise in his eyes—such luck!
Gray mist swirled, enveloping the room, forming a faint, transparent gray membrane.
He lightly touched the tip of the knife.
At once, the black blade seemed to become a devil, countless black shadows emerging, howling and clawing at Su Wen like vengeful spirits.
"..."
Su Wen was unmoved.
The specters seemed to be tethered, unable to touch Su Wen.
At Electrolux's fingertip, a white thread wound around the knife.
In seconds, the evil soul master spirits faded, then disappeared.
When the last wisp of black mist dissipated, the knife revealed its true form—pale blue, warm as jade. No longer draining vitality, it now exuded life force.
"Whew..."
Electrolux exhaled. "Didn't expect to be so weak. Merge with it quickly—if I'm hidden in your spiritual sea, it's easier to use."
…
"Hiss—"
Pain—agonizing pain swept through Su Wen.
His face twisted; he gripped his clothes tightly, trying to suppress any sound. The Spirit-Devouring Engraving Knife felt like it was stabbing into his brain, its sharpness drastically altering his spiritual sea.
But there were benefits.
His "pond" of spiritual sea, a few square meters in size, was torn apart by the incoming life force, then remade anew, slowly reshaped through his suffering.
"Huff—huff—"
Who knew how long passed before Su Wen recovered, panting hard.
His back was soaked in cold sweat.
Electrolux stood beside him, smiling—obviously, the fusion had succeeded...
That chunk of Life Gold entered his body, bringing not only a transformation to his spiritual sea, but also his physical strength.
If his previous physical strength matched a level 62–63 Soul Emperor, now he was equal to a Soul Sage!
Pale blue liquid circulated within him, glowing faintly, repairing meridians, entering his bones, visibly improving his physique.
Such a huge change?
Su Wen was stunned.
He remembered in the original, after Huo Yuhao absorbed it, his soul ring age only increased by about a thousand years.
Maybe because Su Wen's body was strong to begin with, he could handle it better? The Life Gold didn't need to be absorbed carefully; it could be used boldly, giving faster benefits!
"Not bad," Electrolux said with a smile.
"Look at your forehead."
He waved his hand, conjuring a gray mirror.
"My eyes? Life Gold's Eye?!!"
Su Wen was surprised.
It seemed that absorbing Life Gold always produced this Life Gold Eye, like a synthesis material. If he and Mu Qiu'er got close, would it evolve into the Eye of Destiny?
Quite possible.
But honestly, he and Mu Qiu'er had never tried a martial soul fusion skill yet...