Aside from a few high-priced advanced soul tools and soul bones at the auction, there were still plenty of cost-effective treasures at the Treasure Appreciation Fair.
For example, some pills that nourished the body and blood, or medicinal herbs and soul beast body parts rich in energy. Although Huo Yuhao himself couldn't identify the properties of these energies, under Electrolux's guidance, he still bought them all.
The medicinal materials and soul beast body parts that could be displayed at such an event had already been inspected by the Treasure Gathering Pavilion. Most of them could be used directly, either to strengthen a soul master's body or to improve cultivation efficiency in specific aspects.
Naturally, Huo Yuhao didn't overlook the piece of black ten-thousand-year whale glue. With the help of the Skydream Iceworm, his soul power continuously refined his body. Although he was only at rank twenty-four, his physical strength far surpassed others of the same level.
With that whale glue, combined with the potion Electrolux would refine using the other pills, herbs, and beast parts, Huo Yuhao's physical body would become even stronger.
This also meant that his body would be able to withstand a higher intensity of soul power circulation, thereby accelerating his cultivation speed until both aspects balanced out.
As for potential side effects from using external resources to strengthen the body? At least to Huo Yuhao's knowledge, in the Douluo Universe,perhaps due to the author's sense of humor,ninety percent of all medicinal side effects that affected protagonists were related to... arousal.
Or, to put it more delicately, agitation of blood and energy. But with the dual assistance of the Skydream Iceworm and Electrolux, Huo Yuhao had no reason to worry about such things.
The five of them wandered around, mostly watching Huo Yuhao buy item after item. For Ning Tian, Wu Feng, and Nanmen Yun'er, training resources weren't something they had to worry about personally,their clans handled that.
Ning Tian, as a direct disciple of the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, needed no further explanation. Wu Feng and Nanmen Yun'er came from affiliated families under the same sect, each with cultivation methods passed down through millennia.
Being chosen to accompany the young sect master to study at Shrek Academy showed that their families valued them highly. The resources they needed in the early stages of cultivation were never something they had to personally seek out.
They were mainly there to help Ning Tian win Huo Yuhao over, and perhaps to see if they could find any rare treasures for themselves.
Wang Dong also made a number of purchases along the way. Huo Yuhao noticed that most of them were medicinal herbs, mainly those that nourished the body and blood.
Each item at the fair came with a description, and most were recorded in the books Huo Yuhao had studied in Shrek Academy's outer court, making it easier for him to select what he needed.
"Senior Brother!" Wang Dong suddenly called out, waving toward a familiar figure.
The people she was greeting were Beibei and a young man in black with thick brows and bright eyes. Huo Yuhao immediately recognized the latter as Xu Sanshi, Beibei's equal in the outer court.
Beibei smiled slightly when he saw them and walked over. "Junior brothers, long time no see." He nodded politely to Ning Tian and her companions as well.
Huo Yuhao didn't reply, instead moving toward a nearby display case, leaving Wang Dong to chat with Beibei and Xu Sanshi.
Their conversation naturally turned to topics about the Tang Sect, as well as Xu Sanshi's attempts to have Beibei invite Jiang Nannan to join so he could get closer to her.
As for Xu Sanshi and Jiang Nannan's messy situation, Huo Yuhao had no interest. What had started as a normal transaction had somehow turned into Xu Sanshi falling head over heels and clinging to her like glue.
They'd both been children back then,only on the Douluo Continent would something that bizarre happen.
Meanwhile, Ning Tian followed after Huo Yuhao alone, leaving Wu Feng and Nanmen Yun'er behind.
"How is it? Have you found anything else you like?" she asked in her calm, clear voice. "I noticed that the items you've bought range from a few hundred to several thousand gold soul coins. They're effective but not immediately so,long-term use is needed. Would you like the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect to provide you with a steady purchasing channel? I can even offer you some extra discounts."
"Let's hear it," Huo Yuhao said, studying a soul tool in the display case,a defensive-type tool. It was a fourth-level soul tool that could be barely used by a Grandmaster-level soul master, though a Soul Elder could wield it more freely.
"I can sponsor you personally," Ning Tian said. "The level of support would match the Treasure Gathering Pavilion's investment in you. The only condition is that you owe me a personal favor within Shrek Academy. What do you think?"
Huo Yuhao used his purple card to buy the soul tool, called the Glazed Barrier, and asked the staff to deliver it directly to the academy before turning back to Ning Tian.
"A favor, huh? That sounds light. With my current ability, I doubt I've caught the full attention of the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect."
"Of course," Ning Tian replied with a smile. "This isn't the sect's investment,it's my personal judgment. I believe that supporting you will prove more than worthwhile in the long run."
"Besides, the Tang Sect and the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect have always had a good relationship. Even though the Tang Sect has declined, we still help when we can."
"Then thank you, Miss Ning Tian," Huo Yuhao said with a grin. "I'll sort out what I need later and contact you."
"Good," she replied, still smiling. "We have a business branch in Shrek City. Just mention my name when you go."
Huo Yuhao nodded. Judging from her demeanor, she was clearly experienced in such dealings,no doubt she'd been cultivating her own network within Shrek.
After their discussion, they returned to find the others. The area was now quite lively,Xu Sanshi had once again managed to annoy Jiang Nannan.
Seeing the disgust in Jiang Nannan's eyes, Huo Yuhao sighed and dragged the amused Wang Dong away.
"Let's go. We've seen enough for today," he said. "Ning Tian, we'll head back first."
Ning Tian nodded slightly and led Wu Feng and Nanmen Yun'er off in another direction.
"Wow, Senior Sister Jiang really kicked him hard," Wang Dong muttered, watching Xu Sanshi get sent flying. "I wonder what really happened between those two."
"Come on, it's late," Huo Yuhao said. "We should get some rest. The term starts tomorrow. The fair wasn't bad,decent gains overall." He pulled Wang Dong along as they left.
In his mind, Xu Sanshi deserved what he got. The deal had been done,there was no need for further contact. Yet the fool insisted on pestering her.
After leaving the fair, Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong strolled around Shrek City for a while. Mainly, it was because Wang Dong was starving,she had gone nearly a full day without eating, having only nibbled on some food Huo Yuhao brought earlier.
For soul masters at their level, before they could directly absorb heaven and earth's energy into soul power, cultivating consumed vast amounts of physical energy. What she'd eaten before wasn't nearly enough.
After a proper meal, the two returned to Shrek Academy.
Since they hadn't gone through the "face-slapping side quest" with Dai Huabin, there was no ridiculous assassination subplot this time.
Really,who would dare send a few Soul Kings and Soul Emperors to assassinate Shrek's core students during the Treasure Fair? Were their brains fried by soul power?
Especially since the fair attracted many Titled Douluo who were secretly on patrol. Anyone foolish enough to stir trouble now would practically be erasing Shrek's next generation.
No one in their right mind would provoke Shrek at such a time,but Shrek, of course, maintained strict vigilance regardless.
The next two days passed peacefully. With the new term starting, there were plenty of preparations and lessons to attend to.
However, for Huo Yuhao and those with powerful backers, these activities didn't make much difference.
Huo Yuhao had already read all the outer court's materials, and others had received private tutoring from their families or sects. Only the commoner students found it overwhelming.
During this time, Huo Yuhao focused on processing the herbs, beast parts, and pills he had bought from the Treasure Gathering Pavilion.
While Electrolux couldn't directly help him refine potions within the academy,it would draw too much attention,he had another method: using Huo Yuhao's body as the vessel for the refining and fusion process.
By following a precise sequence and pharmacological logic, Huo Yuhao wrapped the processed materials with his soul power, ingesting them, and then used his spiritual and soul power to guide and merge their essences within his body.
Though extremely difficult, with Huo Yuhao's fully-opened meridians, Electrolux's precise control, and the Skydream Iceworm's vast spiritual reserves, the process ultimately succeeded.
Feeling the endless surge of strength within him, Huo Yuhao knew it was only an illusion.
The medicinal power from the fusion of the whale glue, herbs, beast parts, and pills still resided in his dantian, continuously nourishing his body.
According to Electrolux, this potion would be classified as a fifth-tier potion on the Saint Demon Continent,one of the highest among that level.
Once fully absorbed, even without any further cultivation, Huo Yuhao's physical strength alone could reach the level of a Soul Elder, perhaps even close to a Soul Ancestor.
Moreover, as long as the potion's effects persisted, any injuries or internal damage would heal at remarkable speed.
That was why Huo Yuhao felt so powerful,his body was temporarily capable of feats beyond his current rank, though it was just a misperception caused by the potion's potency.
In Zhou Yi's office, all of the second-year Class One's core disciples had gathered. The small room was packed tight.
Zhou Yi nodded and said, "I've called you here today because there's an important announcement. In three days, the outer court will hold a selection tournament for core disciples. Originally, it had nothing to do with our class, but the academy has decided that second-year core disciples will also participate. Be prepared."
The students began murmuring among themselves.
"That's strange. Weren't we supposed to have our own internal selection first?"
"Yeah, I thought only seven people from our class would go."
Huo Yuhao frowned slightly. Fortune or misfortune, it had to be faced.
Even with that unreliable Drumstick Douluo, Xuanzi, he still needed to enter the Shrek Reserve Team,after all, the Life Gold was too valuable to pass up.
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