Word Count: 3,019 Words
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The final three auction items were the highlights of the Starlight Grand Ceremony. With a captivating undertone in her melodious voice, Xu Jiujiu said:
"I believe the discerning Spirit Masters present have noticed this right arm spirit bone originates from the top-level light-attribute spirit beast, the Heavenly Dragon Horse.
The Heavenly Dragon Horse is the offspring of a Light Holy Dragon and a Heavenly Horse, possessing the pure bloodline of the Light Holy Dragon. Legend states that upon surpassing 100,000 years of cultivation, the Heavenly Dragon Horse will purify its bloodline and evolve into a Light Holy Dragon soaring through the skies.
The Heavenly Dragon Horse that produced this right arm spirit bone had reached 90,000 years of cultivation and grown dragon scales and dragon wings. Had it not encountered human Spirit Masters, perhaps the Douluo Continent would have gained another 100,000-year Light Holy Dragon.
Without further ado, this 90,000-year Heavenly Dragon Horse right arm spirit bone, suitable for light-attribute and dragon-type Spirit Masters, has a starting price of 10 million spirit gold coins, with each increment no less than 50,000 spirit gold coins. You have ten minutes to consider!"
The Starlight Auction House had invited numerous light-attribute and dragon-type Spirit Masters to the Grand Ceremony. Thus, the revelation of a 90,000-year Heavenly Dragon Horse spirit bone immediately unleashed a torrent of fervent debate within the VIP rooms.
In Shrek Academy's VIP room, Bei Bei clenched both fists so tightly that veins bulged along his arms. He could only roughly estimate the spirit bone's age since it was displayed via a light-projection Spirit Guidance Device. Even so, he had underestimated the Starlight Auction House's generosity; they were actually willing to sell a spirit bone of such caliber!
He possessed the Light Holy Dragon bloodline, just like the Heavenly Dragon Horse. The entire Douluo Continent would be hard-pressed to find a Spirit Master more suited to absorbing this spirit bone than he was.
Wang Dong naturally understood this. He saw Bei Bei practically radiating excitement. Considering he had joined the Tang Sect and Bei Bei, its Big Senior Brother, had always taken good care of him, he took the initiative to say:
"This spirit bone is most suitable for Big Senior Brother. Teacher Wang, please help us bid for it."
"Thank you, Wang Dong."
Spirit bones were already exceedingly rare, and finding one so precisely compatible with one's Martial Spirit was a near once-in-a-lifetime occurrence. Bei Bei felt deeply grateful to Wang Dong at this moment.
Wang Yan smiled. "Since you have reached an agreement, I will use the academy's credit voucher to purchase it."
Before departing from the academy, Yan Shaozhe had given Wang Yan a special credit voucher with instructions to acquire valuable items for Bei Bei and Huo Yuhao if opportunities arose.
Bei Bei was Dragon God Douluo Mu En's great-grandson, a direct descendant and exemplary student of Shrek Academy. Huo Yuhao was a rising star, and Shrek needed to bestow favors to win him over.
As for why not Ling Bai...
A famous saying circulated throughout the Douluo Continent: "Only the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Clan and the Illustrious Virtue Hall hold the world's greatest wealth."
Since Ning Tian, the little princess of the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Clan, was present in their group, Shrek Academy would not embarrass itself by trying to help Ling Bai buy things.
Just as everyone thought the Heavenly Dragon Horse spirit bone was practically in Bei Bei's pocket, a clear voice shattered the harmonious atmosphere.
"Apologies, but I'm also interested in this spirit bone."
As soon as Ling Bai spoke, all eyes instantly converged upon him.
"Aren't you already in possession of a right arm spirit bone? Why are you trying to snatch Big Senior Brother's?"
Wang Dong blurted out. His words, though sharp, voiced the doubts in everyone's hearts.
Bei Bei had been present when the Blazing Bone Dragon Vulture was slain. Ling Bai had later used the skill of his 10,000-year Blazing Bone Dragon Vulture right arm spirit bone during the Inner Courtyard's spirit duels and when he accepted Du Weilun's request to fight one hundred opponents alone. This was not a secret.
"Snatching?" Ning Tian retorted coolly. "Please get your facts straight. This is an auction house; the rule is the highest bidder wins."
Ning Tian unconditionally stood on Ling Bai's side. She had long been displeased with Wang Dong for daring to show Ling Bai a sour face. Hence, she immediately retorted.
Wang Dong stood up angrily. "But he clearly has a right arm spirit bone already! Buying another one is useless!"
Ning Tian calmly replied, "The Heaven's Treasury is missing a lamp; this spirit bone happens to be suitable for lighting."
"Uh..."
Wang Dong was effectively tongue-tied, his momentum instantly deflating. He plopped back down beside Huo Yuhao like a defeated rooster.
Everyone else was similarly speechless and envious. They finally experienced firsthand the outrageous wealth of the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Clan.
Bei Bei fixed his gaze on Ling Bai. "Ling Bai, this spirit bone is very important to me. With it, my Light Holy Dragon can awaken steadily ahead of time...
Of course, as Junior Sister Ning said, the Heavenly Dragon Horse spirit bone belongs to the highest bidder. I'm personally just curious—why you want it?"
"The Blazing Bone Dragon Vulture is a spirit beast evolved from a Blazing Bone Griffin that devoured the corpse of a Light Holy Dragon. Its spirit bone contains the bloodline power of the Light Holy Dragon, and its spirit bone skill is one of the Light Holy Dragon's signature abilities: the 'Holy Dragon True Form.'"
Ling Bai continued, not stingy with his explanation, "The Blazing Bone Dragon Vulture and the Heavenly Dragon Horse are both descendants of the Light Holy Dragon. Using a secret method's fusion effect, two spirit bones of the same position and similar attributes can be merged into one.
A 10,000-year Blazing Bone Dragon Vulture, a 90,000-year Heavenly Dragon Horse, and then finding a high-quality secret method spirit bone as a medium... my right arm spirit bone will transform into a 100,000-year spirit bone, a 100,000-year Light Holy Dragon spirit bone."
"I see." Bei Bei shook his head with a bitter smile.
He understood why Ling Bai was competing for the Heavenly Dragon Horse spirit bone. It was precisely because it was a right arm bone with the Light Holy Dragon bloodline. If it were a 90,000-year Bright Goddess Butterfly right arm bone, Ling Bai probably would not even bother.
No one could resist the temptation of a 100,000-year spirit bone, let alone transforming a 10,000-year Blazing Bone Dragon Vulture spirit bone into a 100,000-year Light Holy Dragon spirit bone.
In terms of financial resources alone, even ten Shrek Academies combined could not match the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Clan. Bei Bei could only consider himself unlucky.
However, his good fortune lay ahead. Dragon God Douluo Mu En had at least three 100,000-year spirit bones. After his passing, they would surely be passed on to Bei Bei, his only blood relative.
In the end, Ning Tian successfully won the 90,000-year Heavenly Dragon Horse right arm bone with a bid of 24 million spirit gold coins.
There was a knock on the door, and an attendant delivered the Heavenly Dragon Horse spirit bone.
Ling Bai had saved 20 million spirit gold coins as pocket money, and Ning Tian, as the young clan leader, possessed even more. She didn't even need to present the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Clan's credit voucher; the payment was completed in one smooth motion. Jiang Nannan, a child from a poor family, gazed with starry eyes at this sight, silently adding herself to the money-worshipper club.
Rich lady, I'm hungry! Feed me!
"Here you go, Bai-ge."
Ning Tian paid without batting an eye and handed the jade box, containing the 24-million-spirit-gold-coin spirit bone, to Ling Bai.
Ling Bai put away the jade box and, sensing the gazes around him like searchlights, felt inexplicably embarrassed.
He already looked like a pretty boy, and now he was doing pretty boy things. As a man, it was quite shameful!
The problem was the Radiant Glory had emptied his little treasury. Even selling the Class 8 Spirit Guidance Device, the Aura Barrier, would only cover a fraction of the Heavenly Dragon Horse spirit bone's cost.
His heart was willing, but his funds were insufficient!
Ling Bai's desire to make money reached its peak. He secretly thought:
Robbing the rich to feed myself is the way to go, especially those Class 9 Spirit Guidance Masters. Each one of them is loaded!
Xu Jiujiu's dazzling figure reappeared on the Spirit Screen to introduce the eighth auction item:
"The eighth item is also a spirit bone, but it is truly unique. Everyone, please take a look."
What appeared on the screen was a left arm spirit bone with an emerald-green surface that seemed to be embedded with tiny crystalline nodules. Under the lights, it glowed as if carved from the finest gemstones. Above its surface rose a mist of icy vapor, gorgeous and dreamlike.
"HUMANS!!!"
"Huh?"
The instant this emerald-colored left arm spirit bone appeared, simultaneous voices rang out in both Ling Bai's and Huo Yuhao's Spiritual Seas. For the former, it was a furious Snow Empress who froze his Lake of Life; for the latter, it was Skydream, startled awake from its death-like slumber.
"This spirit bone is between 50,000 to 70,000 years old and comes from the super spirit beast Ice Jade Scorpion of the Extreme North. Ice Jade Scorpions are group-living spirit beasts. Hunting a 50,000-year Ice Jade Scorpion in the Extreme North is nothing short of a miracle, even more difficult than entering the Core Region of the Star Dou Forest to hunt a 100,000-year spirit beast. Even rarer, this Ice Jade Scorpion dropped a spirit bone."
Xu Jiujiu's tone was sonorous, fully stirring the guests' emotions: "As we all know, the top ten ranked spirit beasts on the Douluo Continent are known as the 'Ten Great Beasts.' The ruler of the Ice Jade Scorpion clan, the Ice Jade Scorpion Empress, ranks seventh among them.
Those who enter the Ten Great Beasts rankings are, without exception, the most supreme beasts of the current era. In terms of attributes, the Ice Jade Scorpion Empress is among the top five, even competing for the top three within the Ten Great Beasts, because the Ice Jade Scorpion clan is a rare Ultimate Ice species.
Spirit bones from Ultimate Ice species are both a blessing and a curse for Spirit Masters, as they limit the absorber to only ice-attribute Spirit Masters. According to joint appraisals by several top appraisers at the Starlight Auction House, this Ice Jade Scorpion spirit bone contains a rare solidified spirit skill: the Ice Explosion Technique."
BOOM—
The Snow Empress completely lost her composure. Ling Bai's previously vibrant Spiritual Sea instantly transformed into a world of ice and snow resembling the Extreme North's core region. Her sky-blue eyes filled with murderous intent, as if ready to devour someone. Even the Death Abyss Spider Emperor in the sky silently flipped over to avoid her wrath.
Ling Bai gently closed his eyes, and his soul dived into his Spiritual Sea.
"Ice Explosion Technique... another Scorpion King!"
The Snow Empress's figure appeared before him as soon as he materialized in the icy world.
"There are only a few Scorpion Kings in the Ice Jade Scorpion clan. Even Bing'er has not awakened such a powerful Ultimate Ice skill as the Ice Explosion Technique!"
The Snow Empress spoke, her voice as cold as deepest winter. "A royal Ice Jade Scorpion can definitely break through to 100,000 years of cultivation. With the Ice Explosion Technique at its disposal, it would have certainly taken over Xiao Bai's and Ah Tai's responsibilities to become the most powerful guardian of the Extreme North. Yet, humans tragically slew it!"
"In just one short year, the Extreme North has lost two Ice Jade Scorpion Kings," Ling Bai said meaningfully. "If even the Ice Jade Scorpion clan suffers like this, other species in the Extreme North must be faring even worse. That is why becoming a God is a pressing matter."
"Indeed!"
The Snow Empress nodded heavily, her expression gloomy. "You have reminded me of something. That bastard Huo Yuhao will definitely want the Ice Explosion Technique. Anyone can absorb the Ice Jade Scorpion spirit bone, but it absolutely cannot be him!"
Ling Bai's words stirred the deep hatred in the Snow Empress's heart. As a former ruler of the Extreme North, protecting the spirit beasts there was her mission. The traitor Skydream had led human Spirit Masters to assassinate spirit beasts of the Extreme North. She hated Huo Yuhao and Skydream to the core.
Ling Bai was not surprised. The Snow Empress was actually quite reasonable. She didn't force him to waste money buying this spirit bone, which was only suitable for ice-attribute Spirit Masters, just to leave it collecting dust. She merely stated her bottom line: Huo Yuhao must not absorb the Ice Jade Scorpion spirit bone.
In other words, the Snow Empress allowed him to use the Ice Jade Scorpion left arm spirit bone to recruit someone useful.
Ling Bai fell into deep thought. Outstanding ice-attribute Spirit Masters of this era...
Red Eyed Ice Toad, Meng Hongchen; Snow Lotus, Wei Na; Ice Element, Ling Luochen.
He didn't know Wei Na and wasn't familiar with Meng Hongchen. Rashly giving the spirit bone to them would be like throwing meat buns to a dog. It seemed he did not have many options.
Though the Ice Jade Scorpion spirit bone was exceptional, it was only suitable for ice-attribute Spirit Masters.
While Ling Bai communicated with the Snow Empress, Ning Tian noticed he seemed uninterested in the spirit bone. She casually picked up a bottle of juice, indicating to everyone that the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Clan had no interest in collecting the Ice Jade Scorpion spirit bone.
Social etiquette, after all.
Earlier, they had fought off fierce competition to snatch the 90,000-year Heavenly Dragon Horse right arm bone, at least with a legitimate reason. If they now competed for the Ice Jade Scorpion spirit bone without any reason, especially as it involved Shrek's rising star Huo Yuhao, those old fogies in the Sea God Pavilion would likely raise a huge fuss.
Wang Yan felt relieved. He turned to Huo Yuhao and Ling Luochen and solemnly said, "If you both agree, I can give it a try."
Huo Yuhao and Ling Luochen were smart people. They instantly understood Wang Yan's meaning. The significance of the Ice Jade Scorpion left arm bone to Huo Yuhao went without saying, and it was also of great benefit to Ling Luochen.
One could compare the Ice Explosion Technique's power to the Death God Envoy's Corpse Explosion to grasp its might. The Death God Envoy could not guarantee always having a pile of corpses available, but ice-attribute Spirit Masters could easily condense countless pieces of solid ice. When it came to creating ice rapidly, the Ice Element Martial Spirit was top among ice-attribute Martial Spirits.
With the Ice Explosion Technique, Ling Luochen's overall strength would leap to a new level, greatly benefiting her future development.
The two looked at each other, and silence fell over Shrek's VIP room.
"Yuhao, let's be generous and let her have the Ice Jade Scorpion spirit bone," Skydream said with a grin.
"But why, Brother Skydream?" Huo Yuhao was completely baffled.
Skydream began to lay out his plan: "I've seen the memories of that 10,000-year royal Ice Jade Scorpion. The first requirement for humans to absorb Ice Jade Scorpion spirit rings and spirit bones is to possess Ultimate Ice. Without the physique of an Ultimate Ice Martial Spirit, it's impossible to absorb the spirit rings and spirit bones produced by Ice Jade Scorpions. This is the pride of the Ice Jade Scorpion clan!
Ohhh, my dear Bing Bing, I miss you so much… boohoohoo…"
After expressing his longing, Skydream continued, "That little girl absolutely will not be able to fuse with the Ice Jade Scorpion spirit bone. The least severe consequence of a failed spirit bone fusion is losing a left arm. At that time, you can step in and guide the spirit bone into yourself, thereby scoring both the spirit bone and a favor of gratitude. How about it? Isn't that a foolproof plan from your Brother Skydream?"
"Brother Skydream's brilliant plan brings peace to the world!"
Huo Yuhao admired Skydream to the point of prostration. So wise and resourceful, truly wise and resourceful!
The auction process went very smoothly. Shrek Academy defeated the Sun Moon Imperial Academy with a bid of 30 million spirit gold coins, obtaining the Ice Jade Scorpion left arm bone amidst Meng Hongchen's unwilling wails.
Xu Jiujiu smiled with satisfaction after bringing down the gavel. The Seraphim and the Ice Jade Scorpion represented two Ultimate Martial Spirits. The Star Luo Imperial Family had investigated their backgrounds: one was from the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Clan, the other an orphan from the Star Luo Empire. After some consideration, they had decided to bet on both sides. The Heavenly Dragon Horse and Ice Jade Scorpion spirit bones had been prepared for them. Clearly, both parties obtained what they wanted.
Due to Huo Yuhao's feigned modesty, Ling Luochen began absorbing the Ice Jade Scorpion left arm spirit bone on the spot.
"For spirit rings, age matters, but for spirit bones, quality is paramount. There is no precedent in human history of absorbing an Ice Jade Scorpion spirit bone. Ling Luochen, you need to be cautious."
Wang Yan subtly hinted that he hoped Ling Luochen would give up the Ice Jade Scorpion spirit bone.
Ling Luochen took a deep breath and said, "Teacher Wang, I must consider whether this is the only opportunity in my life to change myself. Moreover..."
She tilted her head slightly, her gaze fixed on the figure deep in thought on the sofa. Then, she whispered in a voice only she could hear:
"I have always wanted to beat you once."