"Thunder Prison Vine?! It's actually a Thunder Prison Vine?!"
Wang Yan's hands, resting on the sofa's armrests, clenched tightly as he let out an involuntary exclamation.
In Shrek Academy, there were detailed records of this particular soul beast.
Roughly six thousand years ago, Shrek Academy had produced a peerless genius Soul Master who had successfully fused a ten-thousand-year Thunder Prison Vine soul ring.
That Soul Master's cultivation later reached the peak of the human Titled Douluo realm. Before his death, he recorded in great detail his encounter with the Thunder Prison Vine and the process of transforming it into his own soul ring. That record had been preserved in the Sea God Pavilion of Shrek Academy ever since.
Wang Yan had only been able to read that record recently due to his promotion in position and clearance within the academy.
"Thunder Prison Vine?"
Not only the members of the reserve team, but even the four main team members—Ma Xiaotao, Dai Yueheng, Chen Zifeng, and Gongyang Mo—looked at Wang Yan in confusion.
Although the Thunder Prison Vine wasn't as rare as the Silver Ying Beast, it had nonetheless been lost for countless years.
It was perfectly normal that Shrek Academy's current curriculum on soul beast identification no longer mentioned it.
Wang Yan took a deep breath, steadied his emotions, and began explaining in a calm, measured tone.
"The Thunder Prison Vine is a plant-type soul beast that has stood at the very peak of its kind since birth. It possesses innate intelligence. When it first sprouts, it resembles a small bamboo shoot. It always grows in areas dense with lightning. Its cultivation can only advance during thunderstorms—every time it is struck by lightning, it becomes stronger. A hundred lightning strikes are equivalent to a normal soul beast cultivating for an entire year.
Lightning is among the most violent of all natural forces. Under its trials, the Thunder Prison Vine continues to grow. In its early stages, it grows very slowly, because it must wait for lightning to strike it naturally in order to increase its cultivation.
While other soul beasts might cultivate for one year, it might take the Thunder Prison Vine ten years to accumulate enough lightning strikes—its progress is more than ten times slower than normal beasts.
However, over time, once the Thunder Prison Vine breaks through the hundred-year realm, it can begin actively attracting lightning to strike itself during storms. Often, in a single night, it can accumulate several hundred lightning strikes, causing its cultivation speed to soar.
Because of this trait, once the Thunder Prison Vine's cultivation reaches a certain level, its destructive power becomes terrifying. It can create vast regions filled with lightning pools—areas engulfed in continuous electrical storms. These thunder pools grow larger as the vine's power increases until they completely consume their surroundings, forming a thunder domain akin to a natural disaster.
A ten-thousand-year Thunder Prison Vine can alter the weather itself, summon lightning from the heavens, and wield thunder's destructive might to annihilate everything around it.
But with such immense power comes an equal price. Because it continuously absorbs and compresses destructive lightning to evolve, the energy within becomes exceedingly volatile—enough to cause it to self-destruct at any time.
Depending on its growth trajectory, a Thunder Prison Vine typically self-detonates between twenty thousand and fifty thousand years of cultivation. It's extremely rare for one to surpass fifty thousand years, and no hundred-thousand-year Thunder Prison Vine has ever existed in history.
For soul masters with lightning attributes, this creature is the most coveted of all soul beasts. It possesses three extremely powerful innate soul skills. Soul bones produced by such top-tier soul beasts almost always carry fixed soul skills. In other words, the right leg bone from this fifty-thousand-year Thunder Prison Vine likely carries one of its three innate soul abilities."
Wang Yan sighed softly. "A soul bone of this level is indeed worthy of being the finale of a top-tier auction."
Standing to the side, Qing Ya smiled politely. "Teacher Wang's assessment is perfectly accurate," she said in praise—then added meaningfully, "However, this soul bone possesses another characteristic that all Soul Masters dream of."
"Oh?" Wang Yan looked at her in surprise but didn't interrupt.
He faintly recalled that Princess Jiujiu had also mentioned something similar earlier.
While everyone else was still digesting Wang Yan's explanation, Xu Zihuang's eyes remained fixed on the large light-conducting screen before him.
Truthfully speaking, this soul bone held great attraction for him. Although its age was slightly lacking, its supreme quality more than compensated for that flaw.
After a brief pause, Princess Jiujiu resumed her introduction.
Her initial explanation of the Thunder Prison Vine was nearly identical to Wang Yan's. But when she began describing the specific properties and abilities of this soul bone, everyone's attention sharpened.
"I believe all esteemed guests now understand that this is a lightning-attribute soul bone," Princess Jiujiu said. "Next, I'll explain its key characteristics—both its strengths and its weaknesses—so that you may judge for yourselves."
"First: as we all know, most soul bones have no attribute restrictions and can be absorbed by any Soul Master. Their attached soul skills vary depending on the Martial Soul. Even some hundred-thousand-year soul bones are like this.
However, this Thunder Prison Vine soul bone is different. It can only be absorbed by Soul Masters with lightning-attribute Martial Souls, and its requirements are extremely high. If the Martial Soul isn't of top-tier lightning quality, the violent lightning energy within cannot be suppressed. Forcing fusion may cause severe bodily injury—or even death.
That said, soul bones with attribute restrictions possess power far beyond those without. Once perfectly compatible with its host, its amplification effect will be vastly superior."
"Second: regarding its attached soul skill. After numerous experiments and verification by top soul bone experts of our Starlight Auction House, we have confirmed that this soul bone's attached skill is fixed—it is the Thunder Prison Vine's wide-area domain-type ability: Thunder Hell. However, this also makes it somewhat limited in versatility."
"Third: when the Thunder Prison Vine was discovered, its cultivation had nearly reached sixty thousand years. Unfortunately, it self-destructed under the overwhelming lightning it drew upon itself, leaving behind this soul bone. While its high age is a strength, it also means that anyone attempting fusion must possess exceptional physical resilience."
After explaining this, Princess Jiujiu's tone shifted, her voice carrying suspense.
"Lastly, I must reveal the special property that makes this soul bone every Soul Master's dream.
For any Soul Master, the most precious treasures are hundred-thousand-year soul rings and hundred-thousand-year soul bones. Both grant tremendous power boosts and come with two powerful abilities.
However, there exists another type of treasure equal in value to these—the external soul bone.
The rarest feature of external soul bones is that they evolve alongside their owner's cultivation. Once a Soul Master bearing an external soul bone reaches the Titled Douluo realm, the evolved external bone can surpass even some hundred-thousand-year soul bones.
You may be wondering why I mention external soul bones now. Because this soul bone has perfectly inherited the Thunder Prison Vine's unique property: it can absorb lightning power—or lightning-attribute soul power—to evolve.
As the princess of the Star Luo Empire, I stake the royal family's honor to guarantee the truth of this claim."
"In other words," she concluded, "this fifty-thousand-year Thunder Prison Vine right leg bone is essentially a variant of an external soul bone. If a lightning-attribute Soul Master successfully fuses it and nurtures it with their own lightning power—or natural lightning—it can evolve to the hundred-thousand-year level."
When Princess Jiujiu finished, everyone in Room Seven sat in stunned silence.
Such a soul bone could not be measured in gold. Compared to a hundred-thousand-year soul bone, its only disadvantages were lacking one extra soul skill and requiring time to evolve.
In truth, it could already be regarded as equivalent to a hundred-thousand-year soul bone.
A soul bone of this caliber appearing in an auction was unprecedented on the entire Douluo Continent. Normally, any faction obtaining such a treasure would never sell it—they would use it to cultivate a future powerhouse.
The Star Luo Imperial Family had intended the same, but Xu Zihuang's presence had changed everything.
Wang Yan finally understood the hidden meaning behind both Princess Jiujiu's and Qing Ya's earlier remarks.
That the Thunder Prison Vine's soul bone could possess such a trait was beyond belief.
Wang Yan, being over forty and more experienced than the rest, recovered first. He quickly turned toward Xu Zihuang and Beibei.
After the sparring match between the main and reserve teams, he had learned from Elder Xuan that Yu Tianhuang's second Martial Soul was a mutated Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon, one that carried the power of Ultimate Lightning.
Naturally, he hoped to secure this soul bone for Tianhuang. But Beibei, too, had a chance of successfully fusing with it, leaving Wang Yan conflicted.
"Clap, clap, clap."
Suddenly, Ma Xiaotao lightly clapped her hands, drawing everyone's attention.
"All right, all right," she said lazily. "This soul bone may be incredible, but didn't Princess Jiujiu say only lightning-attribute Soul Masters with the top-tier Martial Souls can fuse it? Just look at you all drooling over it."
Her pink eyes gleamed as she shot a sidelong glance at Xu Zihuang.
Dai Yueheng came back to his senses and nodded. "Xiaotao's right. Not everyone here qualifies to fuse such a bone. Among us, only Beibei fits the condition, doesn't he?"
Everyone turned toward Beibei.
Sitting on the sofa, Beibei's eyes flickered with faint heat. It would be a lie to say he wasn't tempted. Though he possessed the bloodline of the Holy Light Dragon, his current Martial Soul foundation was still the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon. Unlike his ancestor Mu Lao, he wasn't yet certain if he could truly evolve his Martial Soul in the future.
After a long moment, he steadied himself and shook his head.
"Actually, there's someone else among us who meets the requirement."
Chen Zifeng asked in confusion, "Who? Is there another with a lightning Martial Soul?"
Beibei answered calmly, "Tianhuang."
Xu Zihuang met Beibei's gaze, then stood slowly under everyone's attention.
"My second Martial Soul is also the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon."
He understood Beibei's meaning—there was no longer any need to conceal his twin Martial Souls, as long as he didn't reveal the Ultimate Lightning aspect.
"Twin Martial Souls?!"
Dai Yueheng and Chen Zifeng exclaimed, as countless thoughts clicked together in their minds.
Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon… and the surname Yu.
"I see. Tianhuang, you're a descendant of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, aren't you?"
Xu Zihuang nodded silently.
Only Wang Yan, Ma Xiaotao, Gongyang Mo, Beibei, and Xu Sanshi were unsurprised—they already knew.
Even He Caitou, who knew but acted the fool at Shrek Academy, pretended not to.
As for Ning Tian, though she had long suspected, hearing Xu Zihuang admit it still left her dazed.
Jiang Nannan's reaction was similar to Dai Yueheng and Chen Zifeng's.
But the most shaken was undoubtedly Wang Dong, who had always taken pride in his twin Martial Souls.
He had already been awed by Xu Zihuang's strength recently, and now this revelation shattered the last shred of superiority he'd held.
He could no longer find any justification to comfort himself—Xu Zihuang surpassed him in every way.
Recalling his earlier arrogance, Wang Dong felt utterly humiliated. He bit his lip and lowered his head in silence.
Meanwhile, Auctioneer Qing Ya was quietly observing Xu Zihuang, committing everything she saw to memory.
Beibei smiled his usual gentle smile.
"Tianhuang's bloodline is the purest form of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon. Compared to me, this soul bone suits him better. Teacher Wang, please bid on it for Tianhuang later."
Before Wang Yan could respond, Xu Sanshi smacked Beibei's leg approvingly.
"Ha! That's the man I admire—decisive and generous!"
"Get lost!" Beibei punched him lightly in return. Though he hadn't used much strength, Xu Sanshi reacted dramatically, grimacing in mock pain.
Their exchange immediately lightened the previously tense mood.
Wang Yan smiled warmly. Despite their youth, these students had remarkably mature hearts—especially Beibei, who could remain composed before such a priceless treasure.
At that moment, the light-conducting screen displayed the starting bid for the Thunder Prison Vine soul bone.
Golden numbers flashed across the screen.
Seeing the amount, Wang Yan froze.
The starting bid was thirty million gold soul coins.
Thirty million!
To put it in perspective, the annual tax revenue of Shrek City was only a few hundred million.
Had it been around ten or twenty million, he might have tried bidding. Tianhuang's talent was worth such an investment. But starting at thirty million, he couldn't decide so easily.
While everyone was still stunned, Ning Tian calmly gestured to the attendant in the golden dress.
"Forty million."
Though her talent ranked only mid-tier among her peers, none could rival her wealth. As the sole heir of the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, her financial power was unmatched.
The golden-dressed girl blinked in shock and looked helplessly toward Qing Ya, who was equally startled.
"Esteemed guest," Qing Ya asked carefully, "are you certain you wish to raise the bid by ten million gold soul coins in one go?"
Though she remained polite, disbelief colored her tone.
Had she not known they were from Shrek Academy, she might have thought Ning Tian was mocking her.
Who bids ten million in one breath? It defied all sense.
Ning Tian didn't reply. Instead, she took out a crimson-gold card engraved with the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda emblem.
Qing Ya's pupils constricted sharply at the sight.
Wang Yan gave a wry smile and explained, "This student of mine hails from the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect."
Then, turning to Ning Tian, he added, "But Ning Tian, adding ten million all at once is rather bold."
"Teacher Wang," Ning Tian replied with a smile, "the final price for this soul bone definitely won't stop at forty million."
Everyone immediately understood her meaning.
Such a massive raise wasn't recklessness—it was a strategy, a show of strength meant to deter competitors.
"Ha! Tianhuang, you lucky brat," Xu Sanshi grumbled enviously. "People really do get angry just comparing themselves. I've been chasing Jiang Nannan for ages and she still ignores me, while you don't even have to lift a finger—someone's ready to drop forty million gold soul coins on you!"
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