"Is this the auction house?"
"This is my first time here, Butterfly. Have you been here before?"
Feng Jin shook Xia Die's shoulder beside her, her pink-to-blue twin ponytails swaying slightly in the air as she curiously surveyed the auction house before her.
Although this was the Star Luo Empire's top auction house, the Starlight Auction House's exterior decoration wasn't luxurious; its size was roughly the same as a typical RT-Mart shopping mall in the Tian Dou Plain.
The exterior still featured the Star Luo Empire's favorite art sculptures, lifelike statues mainly depicting mountains, rivers, and magnificent battle scenes, showcasing the region's traditional culture.
Thousands of years ago, when the Star Luo Empire's royal family was still the Dai family, the Star Luo Empire revered martial prowess even more than it does now.
There was even a "chicken-eating" competition within the royal family.
Following this example, gladiatorial arenas and soul-fighting arenas were ubiquitous throughout the empire.
When the Xu family came to power, the Star Luo Empire's cultural atmosphere shifted towards poetry, the gladiatorial arenas were largely destroyed, and the royal "chicken-eating" competition disappeared.
However, the influence of the White Tiger lineage can still be faintly seen in past poems.
"I...I've never been to an auction house either."
"But Shrek City and Xilu City do have auction houses of similar size." "
The auction house in Xilu City isn't far from my home. If you're interested, we can go together next time we go back to Xilu City."
Xia Die softly responded to Feng Jin beside her, feeling the girl's warmth and vibrant spirit. Her face held a hint of anticipation, like a little girl wanting to go out and play with her friends.
For Xia Die, she didn't need to go to the auction house to find her desired resources. If there were any suitable treasures there, Adam would bring them over without Huo Yuhao even needing to ask.
Xilu City's ability to collect rare and precious materials far surpassed that of the Starlight Auction House.
If she wanted, she could flaunt her pile of immortal herbs at home without anyone interfering.
However, she wouldn't actually do that.
It was only because Huo Yuhao's soul bones were all ice-type that he had given her a complete set long ago.
The girl, more like a strawberry cake than Roman, happily hugged and shook Xia Die's arm, saying,
"It's a promise, Die Bao!"
"When we get back to Shrek City or Xilu City, we must go to the auction house there together!"
Seemingly having overheard Feng Jin and Xia Die's conversation, Aglaia, walking at the front, gently turned her head and said in a slow, ethereal voice,
"I seem to have forgotten to tell you."
"When we get back this time, all of you can go to the Treasure Pavilion in Shrek City."
"You can all choose items unconditionally within the prescribed limit."
Xu Sanshi, behind her, quietly nudged Bei Bei and said,
"Treasure Pavilion?"
"Is that place related to Shrek Academy?"
The relationship between the Treasure Pavilion and Shrek Academy was not public knowledge; only the inner court students knew about it.
After all, the Treasure Pavilion, in a sense, was collecting protection money.
Cities in the Tiandou Plain that wanted protection would secretly offer a sum of money to the Treasure Pavilion.
The same was true in Xilu City before, but since Bai E and the others came to Shrek Academy, enthusiasm has surged, and no one has bothered with this policy anymore.
Mu En also intends to change this abnormal relationship.
Bei Bei felt the soreness from the sensitive soft flesh of her waist, and her palm, covered with electricity, suddenly touched Xu Sanshi's waist.
This made him widen his eyes, his hair stand on end, and he almost jumped up, giving him a good kick from his internet addiction.
"I'm really going to give you a shock!"
"The head of Jubaoge is Elder Lin of the Sea God Pavilion, who is the most senior person besides Xuanzu and Elder Xuan. Um, now there should also be Elder Long."
"In short, as a high-level member of the academy, Elder Lin is in charge of the academy's finances.
Now you should know the relationship between Jubaoge and the academy, right?"
"Also, don't talk about this. It seems the academy is trying to hide it."
Xu Sanshi's body still trembled from time to time, and the residual electricity was still surging in his body. Now his voice was electrified.
"I know, I know, I understand."
"Um, um, could you... could you help me turn off the electricity?"
"I have to play in a match tomorrow."
According to the draw results this afternoon, Shrek Academy will face off against the Royal Advanced Soul Master Academy of Spirit Fighting tomorrow.
If all goes as expected, the reserve team and the regular team will alternate teammates.
Elder Zhuang asked Bai E to observe him for a while longer; the danger of the Destructive Power is too high, and they must be extremely careful.
Shrek Academy has existed for ten thousand years, and this is the first time both the Ultimate Light and the Destructive Power have appeared, especially on the same person.
No one has any experience with this.
As for Xia Die, they believe that as a passionate young lady, she must have her own cultivation method, so they don't need to worry too much.
The group stepped into the auction house.
The interior space was much larger than what they saw from the outside, with a corridor that seemed to stretch endlessly.
A beautiful woman in a black dress had been waiting for a long time.
Her eyes lit up when she saw the Shrek Academy emblem, and she immediately came over.
"Greetings, everyone."
"I am Qingya, a Black-level auctioneer at the Starlight Auction House."
"I am in charge of the auction matters for the distinguished guests from Shrek Academy."
"Your clothes have changed; I almost didn't recognize you."
Bai E and the others were no longer wearing the strange dark green outfits with earth beast patterns on their chests, but new blue-gold school uniforms that exuded artistry and power.
These were new uniforms designed by Aglaia according to Shrek Academy's requirements, and they were gradually replacing the old uniforms within the academy.
Mu En believed that if reform was to be carried out, it should be thorough, leaving no detail overlooked.
The dormitories were already under renovation, with a designer from Xilu City hired for a comprehensive overhaul, expected to begin around the winter break.
Of course, Bai E still kept the yellow-purple storage soul tool given to him by Huo Yuhao on his wrist; it was his last stubborn adherence to aesthetics.
Just as the Bull Warrior never took off his mask, Bai E would not give up his yellow-purple symbol!
He was even recently considering whether he could cover the dark purple part with an extreme light when activating his Destruction Stance, forming a highly saturated bright purple.
Just imagining it makes me feel so cool!
"Hello, Auctioneer Qingya, please lead us to the auction hall."
Qingya bowed to Aglaia, Wang Yan, and the others, then smiled, her cheeks adorned with alluring dimples.
"Please follow me."
Qingya led them to the end of the corridor, where two maids in golden gowns were already waiting on either side.
Upon seeing Auctioneer Qingya, they stepped aside, their manners impeccable and pleasing to the eye.
Qingya placed her palm on the wall, which scanned downwards with a blue light—this was the Douluo Continent version of the biometric authentication system.
Long ago, the Sun Moon Empire first designed such a system, which later spread to the Douluo Three Kingdoms.
In Xilu City, this technology had been iterated to the same level as in her previous life, employing four authentication methods: pupil, fingerprint, soul power, and mental power.
The walls slowly opened, revealing a bright room, approximately two hundred square meters in size.
The decor was much bolder: white jade walls, jewel-encrusted chandeliers, and furniture made of precious wood.
Qingya guided everyone to a sofa made of some kind of animal hide.
Two maids in long golden dresses immediately brought various exquisite pastries and placed them on the table.
Qingya gently pressed a button on the white jade wall, and a light screen appeared on it. The screen gradually cleared, displaying an auction platform.
"This is a soul-guided screen imported from the Heavenly Dou Plain. If you have any items you wish to bid on, you can do so through the screen."
Qingya then led the two maids to one side of the sofa and waited quietly.
Seeing this, Aglaia smiled and said,
"Auctioneer Qingya, please have a seat too."
"No need to be so polite."
Qingya offered a few words of flattery and sat down on the sofa. Soon, a blonde figure appeared on the screen.
Na Kexia, sitting on the sofa browsing the magic network, glanced at it and said,
"It's about to begin."
"On stage is Princess Xu Jiujiu of the Star Luo Empire, and also a participant in this competition, your future opponent."
"Her martial soul is quite interesting."
Qingya was a little embarrassed; she was about to introduce Xu Jiujiu, but Na Kexia beat her to it.
"That's right, this is our princess, and she is also the only gold-level auctioneer in the auction house."
"She only hosts the auction at this time of year."
Aglaia glanced at Na Kexia and noticed he was watching Di Tian's forum program, "Appraising Popular Dragon-Seeing Videos on the Magic Network."
"Stop playing with your magic network."
"No matter how you design it, I won't approve your Earth Beast project."
Na Ke Xia glanced at her and snorted coldly,
"Do you expect me to approve it?
I'd rather set up a stall than use your money."
"I'll handle everything myself."
"And Aglaia, you'll regret this one day!"
Aglaia smiled sweetly.
"I'm waiting."
"Teacher Na Ke Xia, remember to bring me this semester's lesson plans in a few days."
"If they're not up to par, they'll have to be rewritten."
Na Ke Xia clenched his fists, his blushing face speaking volumes.
For him, working with Aglaia was more terrifying than death, and even more terrifying was that Aglaia was his boss!
Wang Yan and Bai E trembled beside him, just watching them made him feel the tension between the two.
Wang Yan was afraid of being caught in the crossfire, after all, the other party was also his boss.
He was quite grateful to Na Ke Xia, because she had been taking the brunt of the dean's firepower.
"I must treat Professor Anaxagoras to a meal later."
"So Professor Nakaxia also gets asked to write reports, hehe."
Feng Jin secretly glanced at the red-faced Nakaxia, finding it amusing.
Soon, Xu Jiujiu's actions interrupted everyone's thoughts. A tattered map appeared on the red tray in Xu Jiujiu's hands.
"Distinguished guests, welcome to the Starlight Auction."
"The first item up for auction this year is this map in my hand."
"According to our auctioneer's estimate, this map is tens of thousands of years old.
The map is made from the hide of an unknown soul beast."
"It is entirely golden and extremely tough, possibly from some unknown super soul beast."
"Even after ten thousand years, this map still carries a trace of power.
The person who could make a map with this hide is extraordinary."
"The target the map points to may contain the other party's inheritance."
"However, this map is very tattered, and much information needs to be deciphered.
Therefore, the starting price is 200,000 gold soul coins, which can be exchanged for 10 Dream Coins."
Medmos's body suddenly trembled.
The aura on the map drew his mind, and his subconscious told him that this map was very important!
Leaning against Feng Jin, Xia Die felt the map looked familiar, then her purple eyes widened slightly.
She thought silently,
"I think I saw this map in my father's study."
"Father said he was aging the map."
"Father, how awful."
This map wasn't from ten thousand years ago, but from last year.
Huo Yuhao made it from the skin of a golden-haired lion-dog, dripping with its essence blood—presumably to lure Medmos.
The map pointed to the Thunderous Hell Vine Canyon, where Huo Yuhao kept the golden-haired lion-dog's soul ring and soul bone, along with the 100,000-year-old Thunderous Hell Vine soul bone and the fiery glue of the Fiery Apricot. In a fantasy
world, accidentally obtaining a secret realm map is perfectly reasonable.
There are always powerful figures who like to leave behind legacies, seemingly to benefit future generations, but actually to show off.
To tell those who come after, "I was incredibly powerful at birth, incredibly powerful in my youth, even more powerful in my prime, incredibly powerful in my middle age, and in my later years, I left behind a legacy—don't forget just how powerful I was."
Although Douluo Continent is a fantasy world, similar things do exist; one can inherit self-created soul skills and soul bones, though these are rare.
In a world where bloodlines are the foundation, these things are usually left to the younger generation of the family.
(End of Chapter)
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