Chapter 51: The Night of the Auction
Wang Dong wasn't ready to give up. Just as she was about to surge forward to continue the one-on-one fight, she heard someone cough up blood. A bright patch of blood stained the ground before Huo Yuhao, and the corner of his mouth was smeared with it.
He had spat blood from the intensity of his fury.
Wang Dong asked, clearly worried, "Huo Yuhao, are you all right?"
Huo Yuhao slowly wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and said, "Don't worry, Wang Dong. I'm fine."
"You bastard!"
Wang Dong clenched her fists, ready to rush Ji Lin and fight to the end, but Huo Yuhao caught her and stopped her.
Wang Dong," he said calmly, "even if you go, you won't gain anything against him. His body and close-combat ability are not to be underestimated — we are not his match."
What are we supposed to do then? I can't swallow this humiliation!
Huo Yuhao's eyes narrowed; a chill crept into his gaze. "Wang Dong, don't forget… we are Spirit Farmers. Although I discovered when I scanned him earlier that his spirit power approaches Spirit King level, don't forget we have trump cards. As long as we're together, we're the strongest on the battlefield."
Wang Dong curled her lips into a fierce smile. Right — through fusion we're stronger. We're the strongest! If I meet him in the arena, I'll teach him a lesson he won't forget!
Even as she spoke, a sharp pain still lingered in her chest.
Huo Yuhao replied in a low, resolute voice, "Rest easy, Wang Dong. I won't let him get away with it either."
The next day,Elder Ma met with Ji Lin.
According to Elder Ma, he had received accurate information that the Starlight Auction House would be holding a special auction for Soul Tools that very night, and that the Ominous Soul-Devouring Knife—also known as the Life Guardian Blade—would be the final item up for auction.
In any case, there was nothing Ji Lin didn't already know; he was well aware from the original storyline that the Life Guardian Blade would appear at the auction—and that it would be one of the key opportunities destined for Huo Yuhao in the future.
Once he confirmed the exact details, Ji Lin sprang out of bed and said eagerly,Elder Ma, let's go quickly!
Elder Ma smiled calmly and replied,Very well.
As the two stepped out of their room, they suddenly sensed something and turned around—only to see the students of Shrek Academy leaving their rooms as well.
Their leader, Wang Yan, was walking ahead, leading the group downstairs. It seemed they, too, had some sort of evening activity planned.
Seeing that they were heading in the same direction, Ji Lin instantly realized their destination was likely the same as his own.
Yet, that realization only deepened his smirk as he thought mockingly to himself: Snatching a chance right from the chosen one's hands… that will be quite satisfying.
At that very moment, just as Ji Lin and Elder Ma noticed the Shrek team, the Shrek team had noticed them as well.
And as the saying goes—when enemies meet, flames ignite in their eyes.
Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong glared at Ji Lin with eyes burning with anger, while the rest of the team cast cold, sharp looks his way.
Everyone knew what Ji Lin had done previously—he hadn't only insulted Wang Dong, but had slapped Huo Yuhao in front of everyone.
For a school like Shrek, which held honor above all, that was an unforgivable humiliation.
From that moment on, Ji Lin became despised by every member of the Shrek team.
Yet, it was also quite clear that some of Shrek's girls were only pretending to hate him—their gazes carried something closer to admiration than hostility.
Ji Lin, however, paid it no mind. Instead, he chuckled lightly and said with biting sarcasm: So what? Are you going to bite me? If that's the case, then have the grown men like Huo Yuhao step back, and let Jiang Nannan and the others handle it."
The moment his words landed, the Shrek team froze, the atmosphere turning tense and heavy.
Elder Ma gave a cold snort, and a majestic aura burst forth from him—
the aura of an eight-ring Spirit King—instantly flooding the corridor with overwhelming pressure.
The faces of Shrek's students paled under the crushing weight of that spiritual force—except for the girls, who instinctively took a few hurried steps back.
It was now clear that the leader of the Sun Moon Team was far from an ordinary instructor—he was an eighth-level Spirit Master!
The Shrek team members were all visibly shocked. Even Wang Yan, with his five rings, seemed utterly insignificant before such a formidable presence.
With a weary sigh, he spoke in a calm tone after feeling the weight of that terrifying aura: Let's go."
He turned around and led the Shrek team away, while Ji Lin remained where he stood, wearing that same faint, confident smile as he watched them leave.
Wang Yan had no other choice — his strength was no match for Elder Ma's.
Had Elder Xuan been present, the situation might have turned out very differently…
After clearing Shrek's group from the way, Elder Ma spoke calmly,
"Young Master, let us go now.
Ji Lin nodded lightly. "Hmm.
Under Elder Ma's lead, Ji Lin arrived at their destination — the Starlight Auction House.
The building towered ahead with a high, pointed roof, its entrance glittering with crystal lights, as though announcing the beginning of a grand night of deals and fortunes.
But the moment he stepped inside, Ji Lin realized that the dazzling structure aboveground was merely a façade. The true world of the auction lay beneath — an enormous underground hall crafted with breathtaking skill, bathed in the glow of luminous stones and etched with runes that suppressed spiritual energy.
Descending a long, spiraling staircase alongside Elder Ma, they finally reached the registration office.
Elder Ma had already completed the necessary arrangements in advance, so the staff greeted them respectfully, presenting each of them with a small numbered plate engraved with the auction's emblem.
Only with that plate could a young woman in a crimson dress escort them further inside.
Ji Lin glanced at his plate — the number (66) gleamed faintly in gold.
Following the red-dressed attendant with composed steps, he and Elder Ma entered the auction hall and proceeded to Room Twelve.
Inside, each of them received a sleek black mask made of fine silk.
After putting them on, they took their seats in the sixth row — close enough to clearly see the stage without drawing attention.
Ji Lin's main objective that night was to acquire the Ominous Soul-Devouring Knife,but he had no intention of letting any other treasures slip away — especially after noticing that the Shrek Academy students were seated right in the front row.
With a sly grin, he leaned toward Elder Ma and said softly, Elder Ma,I'll buy everything that's presented at this auction.
Elder Ma raised a brow slightly and asked calmly,Young Master, what need have you for these low-level soul tools?
Ji Lin smiled faintly, his tone unreadable.
I have my reasons.
Hearing that, Elder Ma did not press further — he knew well that this youth's mind worked on levels far beyond his understanding.
So he bowed his head respectfully.
As you command, Young Master. Understood.
Then Ji Lin suddenly recalled something important and turned quickly to ask,Elder Ma, did you bring enough money?
Elder Ma chuckled softly and reassured him,Do not worry, Young Master. Our academy holds a credit account with the Starlight Auction House — all payments will be settled directly through the academy's funds."
Ji Lin nodded in satisfaction and leaned back into the soft velvet chair, perfectly at ease, trusting completely in Elder Ma's competence.
And Elder Ma did not disappoint him. Throughout the auction — from the Tier 3 Paralysis Ray at the start, to the Tier 4 Spiritual Milk Bottle near the end — Elder Ma won every single bid without exception.
Though those items might not have seemed remarkable at first glance, each bidding round met fierce competition, filling the auction hall with tension and astonishment at every deal Elder Ma successfully claimed.