"All of them?"
The girls looked confused.
"All of them," An Zhen repeated, his tone mysterious as he added, "But you'll have to wait a few months."
After all, it was a Spirit Bone tens of thousands of years old. With his current Spirit Ancestor cultivation, reflecting it was still a bit troublesome. Ice Burst Technique, explosion is art. While fixed spirit tool cannons were powerful, they required launching and manufacturing, which was less convenient in battle than ice created directly with spirit power, and more troublesome. Fixed spirit tool cannons were more suitable for use in war.
It was very suitable for Huo Yutong and Ling Luochen.
An Zhen didn't plan to absorb it. After all, absorbed Spirit Bones would be assimilated, and An Zhen's requirement for Spirit Bones was that their age limit be as high as possible.
Huo Yutong and Ling Luochen exchanged glances, both seeing the confusion in each other's eyes. However, they chose to trust An Zhen. Once it was bought, he would decide the Spirit Bone's ownership.
Xuan Zi and Mu En subconsciously recalled An Zhen's previous act of creating something out of thin air. Could it be…
"Knock, knock, knock~"
Just then, there was a knock on the room door.
Xuan Zi raised his hand, and his spirit power pulled open the door.
A middle-aged man familiar to the Shrek Academy students and Xu Jiujiu in a red dress walked in, followed by Qing Ya.
"Greetings, Your Majesty." The moment they saw the man, the two golden-robed young women, who had been resting on the sofa, knelt down in panic, their fair foreheads touching the ground.
The person who arrived was none other than Xu Jiawei, the Emperor of the Star Luo Empire. As the owner of the Starlight Auction House, he naturally had to be present at such an important auction. Moreover, the next auction item concerned his plans against Mingde Hall.
"You may all rise."
Xu Jiawei spoke. The Emperor walked quickly and excitedly towards the two white-haired elders in the room, and to the surprise of others, he bowed slightly, "Greetings, Your Excellencies."
"Greetings, Your Excellencies." Xu Jiujiu curtsied, performing a standard junior's bow.
Upon hearing Qing Ya say that Shrek's guests believed there was a problem with the auction item, Xu Jiujiu subconsciously thought it impossible. Then she heard Qing Ya say that an elder claiming to be the Sea God Pavilion Master vouched for it. Xu Jiujiu immediately put everything aside and notified her Imperial Brother to visit. She hadn't expected that besides an unfamiliar white-haired elder, Shrek's Gourmet Douluo was also present. In that case, the unfamiliar white-haired elder was undoubtedly the legendary Sea God Pavilion Master, Dragon God Douluo.
"This old man cannot accept such a courtesy from the Emperor of the Empire." Mu En, with a kind smile, pulled Xuan Zi to the side.
"You and Elder Xuan are seniors. In this room, there is no Emperor of the Star Luo Empire. I once studied at Shrek Academy and am also a Shrek student, so naturally, I am your junior. It is only right for a junior to bow to a senior." Xu Jiawei's attitude was extremely humble, completely like a junior.
"This junior grew up listening to your legends and has long held you in admiration. I never expected to have the honor of meeting you today, Senior."
What great joy!
He was just thinking about how to build good relations with Shrek Academy, and unexpectedly, he directly encountered the Sea God Pavilion Master.
Xu Jiawei looked at the slovenly old man beside him, a deep sense of surprise flashing in his eyes. As a Titled Douluo, he couldn't sense any aura from Xuan Zi, not even if the other party was a Super Douluo at rank ninety-eight. Then…
"It's been many years, Elder Xuan, and your demeanor has reached another level." Xu Jiawei flattered him.
"You're a good lad. You've even touched the threshold of a Super Douluo now," the slovenly old man glanced at Xu Jiawei, offering a rare compliment.
"Elder Xuan, you flatter me. This junior is foolish." Xu Jiawei's face was filled with humility, but his heart was churning with immense waves. Xuan Zi hadn't refuted him. A rank ninety-eight Super Douluo reaching another level meant Shrek Academy now possessed two Limit Douluo!
What powerful backing!
The princess in the red dress stood quietly to the side, her beautiful eyes subtly glancing at the Shrek Academy students.
Xu Jiawei now wished he could stay and talk with the two powerful figures all night, listening to their teachings. However, he had another matter to attend to this time. Originally, his Imperial Sister was supposed to handle the negotiation, but with the Sea God Pavilion Master present, he naturally couldn't miss this opportunity to build goodwill.
Xu Jiawei looked at the young men and women beside him, "The talents of Shrek Academy are truly young and promising, favored by heaven."
"Your Majesty." Dai Yueheng began to kneel.
"There is no Your Majesty today. Just call me Senior," Xu Jiawei helped Dai Yueheng up. "I also studied at Shrek Academy back then, but I never had the honor of representing Shrek Academy in the Soul Fighting Competition like you all."
To build goodwill, the Emperor of the Star Luo Empire adopted a very humble attitude today.
"Senior Xu…" Dai Yueheng felt their relationship was a bit complicated. This was clearly his father's sworn brother.
After a small interlude, the discussion moved to the Ice Jade Scorpion Soul Bone.
"This junior naturally trusts Senior Mu En's guarantee. I never expected there to be such a condition for absorbing the Ice Jade Scorpion Soul Bone." Xu Jiawei's face showed a hint of relief. Fortunately, this Spirit Bone had not yet been sold, otherwise, it would truly ruin their auction house's reputation. Such a Super Spirit Beast that roamed the core regions of the Far North was something ordinary people might never even hear of in their lifetime. There were almost no prior records of spirit rings or Spirit Bones from such Spirit Beasts.
"With this absorption condition added, shall the auction continue?" An Zhen asked.
"Naturally, that won't do." Xu Jiawei gently shook his head. "Since our auction house failed to clarify the absorption restriction before putting this item up for auction, leading to the current situation, we should naturally bear the consequences. I will have the Imperial family bid to purchase it."
Xu Jiawei looked at An Zhen with gratitude, "Speaking of which, I must thank Junior An Zhen for the reminder."
"Princess Xu Jiujiu." An Zhen looked at Xu Jiujiu beside him. "I'd like to ask, what was the original starting bid for this Ice Jade Scorpion Soul Bone?"
"Twelve million gold coins," Xu Jiujiu replied.
"Senior Xu, I wish to purchase it," An Zhen said to Xu Jiawei. "It's useless for you to keep it. I'll buy it at the starting bid. Of course, if Senior Xu thinks the price isn't suitable, we can discuss it further."
Only Pole Ice could absorb this Ice Jade Scorpion Soul Bone.
Twelve million gold coins was a large sum even for Shrek Academy. No fool would be willing to spend such a large sum on a useless item. An Zhen could completely bargain further, as only he had a need for it in the entire world. But since he truly did need it, An Zhen didn't bargain further.
Xu Jiawei shook his head, then spoke with warmth and sincerity, almost reaching out to grasp An Zhen's hand, "This time, we owe a great deal to Junior An Zhen's reminder, which directly saved our auction house's reputation. How could this senior possibly accept money? Since Junior has a need for it, please take it directly."
Pole Ice, if he remembered correctly, Shrek Academy happened to have two such individuals: Huo Yutong, and the main team member Ling Luochen. This wasn't a spur-of-the-moment decision; he had already considered it even before knowing that the Ice Jade Scorpion Soul Bone could only be absorbed by Pole Ice. Such a top-grade Spirit Bone was naturally coveted by all ice-attribute Spirit Masters, and how could Shrek's two Pole Ice users miss out on it?
Moreover, now that he knew this Spirit Bone could only be absorbed by Pole Ice, if he didn't use it to gain favor, it would be completely useless in his hands.
"This—"
An Zhen was about to speak when he was interrupted by Mu En's voice.
"An Zhen, since it's Senior Xu's kind intention, then accept it," Mu En's gentle and benevolent voice sounded.
From Xu Jiawei's enthusiasm upon entering the room, Mu En had already guessed what the Emperor intended to do—build good relations with Shrek. After a trip to the Sun Moon Empire, things were different now. Mu En felt that the Academy needed to be closer to the Three Great Empires to welcome the storm that was about to come.
Xu Jiawei was overjoyed.
As the Emperor, he naturally understood the other meaning Mu En's words conveyed.
"Then I thank you, Senior." An Zhen disliked owing favors, but since his teacher wanted to strengthen the relationship between the Academy and the Star Luo Empire, then so be it. Anyway, everyone would most likely be family in the future.
Having achieved his goal, although he very much wanted to stay and converse with the two Limit Douluo, the current environment was not suitable. Xu Jiawei wisely left with Xu Jiujiu. With such a good start today, there would be more opportunities in the future.
"Teacher." An Zhen leaned closer to Mu En. "How was the situation with the Sun Moon Empire?"
"I'll tell you in detail after we return, but first, tell me about your gains during this period," Mu En's eyes showed a hint of fatigue. His aged hand gently stroked An Zhen's head. Mu En then looked at Wang Yan and the Shrek Academy team members who were still standing. "Children, please sit down. Just treat this old man as an ordinary elder."
Everyone sat down.
An Zhen briefly recounted the events of the past few days, "Xiaotao and Senior Ling achieved Extreme attributes. As for the other competitions, they felt very boring; there wasn't anyone who could put up a fight."
Ma Xiaotao nodded in agreement, smiling as she leaned closer, "Grandmaster, Grandmaster, when are you going to arrange my seventh spirit ring?"
The seventh ring was a very important transformation in a Spirit Master's growth process. Only Spirit Masters with a Spirit Avatar were truly considered to have entered the ranks of the strong. Ma Xiaotao was already eager for her Extreme Fire Spirit Avatar.
"You mischievous girl." Mu En's face was full of comforting smiles. The trip to the Sun Moon Empire had weighed heavily on his heart; the enemy was too strong. But seeing these children, he felt that the future was full of hope.
"Xiaotao, Luochen, extend your hands."
Mu En's spirit power checked Ma Xiaotao and Ling Luochen's meridians.
"Xiaotao, you and Luochen should go into seclusion in the Sea God Pavilion for a while after you return. You are not naturally born with Extreme attributes, but rather achieved them after your cultivation reached over fifty or sixty ranks. Although your foundations are excellent, it's best to stabilize them."
Xiaotao's evil fire was gone, and she had even achieved Extreme Fire. Shao Zhe, that child, could finally let go of the burden in his heart after so many years.
As for why An Zhen hadn't taken out the item before? As elders, they didn't have the ability to solve the juniors' physical problems, so what right did they have to demand An Zhen's treasure? Mu En probably guessed some of An Zhen's thoughts, fearing that he had long been eyeing Xiaotao, that girl.
Forget it. The children were willing, and they were all good children. Why should they, as elders, interfere?
Beside them, Xiao Xiao, Ning Tian, and Wu Feng occasionally looked at the kind and amiable old man, the Sea God Pavilion Master, Dragon God Douluo. But for some reason, they felt as if they had seen this old man somewhere before.
"Ning Tian, what's wrong?" An Zhen noticed the confusion in Ning Tian's eyes and asked.
"Uh…" Ning Tian didn't quite know how to speak.
"Do you think this old man looks familiar?" Mu En said with a humorous tone.
Ning Tian nodded slightly, a bit reserved, "I feel like I've seen you, Pavilion Master, somewhere before."
"Teacher used to sunbathe in front of the dormitory building often," An Zhen said. He had only told Dong'er, Yu Tong, and Na'er about this among the girls. When they usually studied with their teacher, although it was in front of the dormitory building, the students all had classes at that time.
"As one gets older, feeling your vigorous vitality makes this old man feel young again," Mu En smiled slightly.
At the same time, the bidding for the Ice Jade Scorpion Soul Bone also began. No matter how much others bid, there were always people from the Imperial family bidding. The starting bid was twelve million gold coins, and it was finally bought by someone from the Imperial family for thirty million gold coins.
The last auction item.
The spirit tool screen lit up with golden light. When the light disappeared, Xu Jiujiu, wearing a magnificent golden gown and exuding grace and nobility, appeared.
"Golden attire!" Xiao Xiao exclaimed. This meant that a treasure worth over a hundred million was about to appear.
The next moment, another item appeared on the screen. It was a tray made of over a hundred colorful gemstones, with a wooden holder on it. A mass of white airflow moved within it, constantly impacting its surroundings. However, the wooden holder glowed with a golden light at this moment, forming a barrier that stopped it.
"This is?!"
A solemn expression flashed in Xuan Zi's eyes.
"The aura of a hundred-thousand-year Spirit Beast," Mu En whispered.
As Xu Jiujiu's introduction began, everyone also learned what this treasure was: a rank nine spirit tool, the Seal God Stage, and a hundred-thousand-year Spirit Beast embryo. After a Spirit Beast cultivates for a hundred thousand years, it has two choices: one is to transform into a human, and the other is to continue cultivating as a Spirit Beast. A hundred-thousand-year Spirit Beast embryo is captured during this transformation process when a hundred-thousand-year Spirit Beast transforms into a human.
A hundred-thousand-year Spirit Beast embryo had two uses: either directly kill it to obtain a spirit ring and Spirit Bone, or absorb it using the Seal God Stage. Although there was a chance of failure, success would grant a second Spirit.
"Mu En," Xuan Zi looked at Mu En with excitement, "The children need this."
"Mm." A solemn look flashed in Mu En's eyes. However, why would a rank nine spirit tool from the Sun Moon Empire, and such a treasure as a hundred-thousand-year Spirit Beast embryo, end up being auctioned in the Star Luo Empire?
An Zhen mentally asked Electrolux about the aura of this hundred-thousand-year Spirit Beast embryo.
Half a minute later, Electrolux's somewhat surprised voice echoed in An Zhen's mind.
"Extremely pure power of ice and snow, like a Spirit naturally nurtured by heaven and earth."
It was confirmed: the Snow Empress!
Power of ice and snow, Spirit of heaven and earth—unless another hundred-thousand-year Snow Empress suddenly appeared out of nowhere.