Chapter 68 Arriving at the Xingluo City Auction HouseThe full-speed flight of a Titled Douluo was indeed far beyond what ordinary transportation or a Spirit Ancestor's own flight could achieve. Ling Ya, in his Ice Feather Eagle true form, carried Dai Youheng, like an ice-blue meteor streaking across the sky. In just one day, they arrived from the remote outskirts of the Extreme North Land to the capital of the Star Luo Empire, the grand and prosperous Star Luo City.Recalling when Dai Youheng first came to this World, it took him over a month of arduous travel on foot from the Extreme North Land to Star Luo City. Compared to that, the convenience brought by strength was a World apart.In a secluded mountain forest about ten li from Star Luo City, the giant eagle slowly descended.Dai Youheng lightly leaped off the eagle's back, and Ling Ya also dispelled his Spirit true form, returning to human shape, standing respectfully to the side."Ling Ya," Dai Youheng instructed, "After entering the city, we will act separately. Unless necessary, in front of others, pretend we don't know each other; there's no need to greet me. Your task is to protect me in secret. Unless I encounter danger I cannot handle, you don't need to speak to me."He paused slightly, then added, "If there is indeed urgent information to communicate, in public, you can use the'Sound Transmission into Secrecy' method."This was not some peerless secret technique; many major Sects had similar spirit power application skills, and the cultivation method Dai Youheng possessed naturally included it.With Ling Ya's current cultivation as a Titled Douluo and his precise control over spirit power, achieving this was effortless.Dai Youheng needed Ling Ya to remain hidden for now, becoming a sharp blade concealed in the shadows, rather than an overt guard.At least during this period in Star Luo City, it was relatively safe. After all, he held the dual identities of White Tiger Duke's illegitimate son and a Shrek Academy student. Both the Dukes Mansion's power and Shrek's teachers and fellow students were mostly gathered here. Who would dare to act rashly against him?"Your subordinate understands, and will not fail Young Master's trust!" Ling Ya responded in a deep voice, then his figure flickered, and he merged into the shadows of the mountain forest like a Gui Mei, his aura completely concealed. A Titled Douluo who intentionally hid would be extremely difficult to discover, unless a powerful individual of the same level deliberately sought him out.Dai Youheng adjusted his robes, then unhurriedly walked towards Star Luo City. After entering the city, he did not return to the Dukes Mansion or seek out the Shrek Everyone. Instead, he headed directly towards the main venue of the competition.His timing was just right. When he arrived at the magnificent competition stadium, he happened to catch a Shrek Academy match.Their opponent was a Soul Engineer academy named Yunluo Academy, whose strength was quite ordinary.Because Shrek's main team suffered far more casualties than in the original story, Shrek fought more difficultly. Fortunately, Bei Bei and the others were not weak, so they would not lose to an academy like Yunluo.Dai Youheng glanced from the edge of the venue and then paid no further attention.He knew his luck was good, and he had arrived at just the right time. According to his memories of the original story, it was after easily defeating Yunluo Academy that Shrek participated in their first auction in Star Luo City, and that auction would feature his primary goal for this trip: the Spirit Devouring Dagger!After Shrek Academy won and exited without suspense, Dai Youheng did not linger. He turned and walked towards another direction in the city, the Treasure Gathering Pavilion auction house.Meanwhile, after finishing their match, the Shrek Everyone, led by Zhou Yi, walked through several bustling streets and stopped in front of an ancient-style building with a spire-shaped roof.This building did not appear particularly ostentatious; compared to some of the tall shops and restaurants around it, it was even somewhat low-key. But above its main entrance hung a striking emblem: a golden hammer beneath an auction platform."Here we are, this is the auction house," Bei Bei said within the group, looking experienced. "Truly good items, rare treasures seldom seen on the market, often only appear in places like this. Xu Sanshi has brought me to such places several times."From his demeanor, he was clearly a regular at such high-end venues.This was not surprising; the Xuanming Sect, from which Xu Sanshi hailed, was one of the wealthiest Sects on the Continent. Its accumulated wealth was even comparable to the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect, famous for its treasure appraisal.If the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect's way of generating wealth was treasure appraisal, then the Xuanming Sect's pillar was elixirs! The Continent-renowned Mysterious Water Pills, and the even more precious Mysterious Tortoise Golden Pills, were all top-tier cultivation resources that major powers and countless Spirit Masters eagerly sought after. The Xuanming Sect used this to accumulate vast wealth and a large network of connections.No wonder he used to bring Bei Bei here to spend.The team leader, Teacher Zhou Yi, brought everyone here not only to broaden the students' horizons, but also for another important purpose: to purchase and equip spirit tools for the team.The structure of this All-Continent Advanced Spirit Master Academy Soul Fighting Competition was already vastly different from previous editions.The most significant change was that purely Spirit Master academies were becoming fewer and fewer; most academies were exploring the integration of Spirit Master and Soul Engineer systems.For many ordinary academies, the most practical approach was to diligently cultivate their own Spirit Masters, then directly purchase finished spirit tools to equip them. There was no need for Spirit Masters to learn the complex process of spirit tool crafting; simply knowing how to operate and use them could greatly enhance combat power. Pure Spirit Masters were gradually being phased out by the times.Just like their opponent today, Yunluo Academy, if it weren't for the low Spirit Master ranks of its students, the spirit tool equipment alone would have been enough to cause Shrek no small amount of trouble.In contrast, on Shrek Academy's side, apart from Huo Yuhao and He Caitou from the Soul Tool Department, almost no one else had any decent combat spirit tool equipped.This kind of conservatism, clinging to past glories, was very dangerous.Zhou Yi hoped to use this opportunity to make these proud children realize the value of spirit tools and to supplement the team with some necessary equipment.Everyone passed through an underground passage, descending about twenty meters, before arriving at the identity registration counter.Zhou Yi had already completed the relevant procedures. She distributed a numbered token to each student, which would serve as their identity for participating in the auction bidding later.After receiving their tokens, the Shrek Everyone were led into a relatively private VIP room.Shortly after they entered the VIP room, Dai Youheng also stepped into the auction hall. He also received a numbered token, then calmly found an inconspicuous seat in the back row of the hall and sat down.Almost at the same moment he settled, Ling Ya, having changed into different robes and deliberately concealed his aura, also entered the hall through another entrance like an ordinary bidder, sitting two or three seats away from Dai Youheng.Their eyes did not meet; they were like strangers who had never met, perfectly blending into the crowd of the auction hall. A struggle concerning the Spirit Devouring Dagger and other treasures was about to quietly unfold in this seemingly calm auction hall.
