Chapter 73 – Make Way, Fat Sausage, No Time to Play with You
Huo Yuhao's gaze had been fixed on Su Tong earlier, but after Xiao Hongchen spoke, he withdrew his eyes.
He couldn't recall who this ice-attribute Soul Master was. From his impression, Shrek Academy didn't seem to have such a person.
"Yuhao, tonight the Starlight Auction House is hosting a top-tier auction. Let's go together when the time comes."
No one paid attention to the ever-annoying "poser," who had once again sidled up to Huo Yuhao with his usual cheeky grin.
As for Xiao Hongchen, even though he had lost several million gold soul coins after consecutive bets, he waved it off casually. To him, it was nothing more than pocket money.
"Starlight Auction?"
Even without Xiao Hongchen's reminder, Huo Yuhao had already marked this event in his heart.
The Snow Empress Embryo, the seventy-thousand-year-old Ice Jade Scorpion Left Arm Bone—these treasures were dazzling enough to blind anyone's eyes. How could he possibly miss them?
Although that left arm bone might not be useful to him at the moment, the importance of the Snow Empress Embryo far surpassed that so-called soul bone imbued with the Ice Explosion technique.
In the original course of events, this embryo was taken back to Mingdu by Sun Moon despite knowing it was a trap. But now that his teacher was here, he could have her directly secure it at the auction.
Speaking of the Snow Empress, one couldn't help but sigh. A soul beast whose cultivation neared seven hundred thousand years, the beloved child of the Extreme North, had actually failed her tribulation and ended up sealed by a human soul engineer with a ninth-tier soul guidance device.
How that soul engineer had ventured so deep into the core of the Extreme North—and why he just happened to have such a sealing tool—was something difficult to explain.
---
That Night, Starlight Auction House.
"Hey, have you heard? The Shrek competition team was nearly wiped out by a Soul King-level Evil Soul Master!"
"No way, seriously? Doesn't Shrek secretly have powerful experts protecting them? How could they almost get annihilated by just a Soul King?"
"Tch, that's what you don't know. Yesterday, during the two-two-three elimination format, Shrek was nearly disqualified. Their Taotie Douluo had to step out and explain, and in the end, the Sun Moon Empire exposed the truth. That's how the matter came to light!"
"Hiss… so you're saying Shrek really is that weak? And they even wanted to conceal the truth during the tournament to win fame? This… is this really the number one academy of the continent?"
"It's hard to say. Shrek's performance lately has been utterly disappointing. Whether they can even make it into the top four is questionable."
"Damn it! I bet my entire fortune on Shrek winning the championship! Isn't this a complete disaster now?!"
"Shh, quiet! The Shrek people are here."
---
Inside the auction house, yesterday's incident was already fermenting. Thanks to Xuan Zi's ridiculous maneuvering and Wang Yan's betrayal from within, half of Star Luo City now knew about Shrek's "glorious deeds."
The Star Luo Empire revered strength. In fact, most soul masters across the continent revered strength. Shrek could blitzkrieg and meddle in the politics of three nations all they wanted—no one cared.
But with such a lofty reputation, to nearly be wiped out by a Soul King Evil Soul Master, and then shamelessly attempt to hide the truth to steal credit at the tournament? Sorry, but when the crowd decides to follow the wind and spread rumors, you're out of luck.
At this moment, the expressions of the Shrek group entering the Starlight Auction Hall had turned a shade resembling pig liver.
"Hmph! It's all Wang Yan's fault. That traitor! He actually joined Sun Moon to backstab us. I knew he wasn't a good person!"
Ma Xiaotao nearly lost control of her evil fire. If this were in Shrek City, she would have already taught these mocking people a lesson.
Ling Luochen, however, silently ridiculed. The plan to eliminate the Evil Soul Masters had been devised by the academy, or rather, by Elder Xuan. The team's losses were entirely because Elder Xuan was lazy. Wang Yan simply disagreed with them, and Elder Xuan needed a scapegoat to drive him out.
Now they dared to blame him? Back then, why didn't they stand up for themselves? In truth, Wang Yan's doubts and the accusations from Sun Moon were all based on real events. Shrek had no grounds to refute them.
What, you drive someone out and then forbid them from finding another job? That makes no sense at all.
Now, with everyone pointing fingers, the blame didn't lie with just one person. Elder Xuan had been far too careless, exposing Shrek's secrets without proper preparation.
Among the group, Wang Dong stayed silent, Ning Tian frowned deeply, while the others refused to speak up.
What could they say? Would they just add fuel to the mocking gazes surrounding them?
And if anyone felt the most miserable at this moment, it was Wang Dong. Yet her suffering didn't stem from Shrek being ridiculed, but from her own failure.
Born in the Clear Sky Sect, she had always been the brightest among her peers at Shrek. She had never experienced true defeat.
Yet in the previous battle, even after revealing her second martial soul, she had still failed to turn the tide. It was as though the Goddess of Luck had abandoned her. For the first time, she felt powerless before her own strength.
Strangely, ever since she first met that Sun Moon student named Huo Yuhao, she had felt a peculiar sensation—something she couldn't put into words.
She had joined Shrek because of that feeling, and later wanted to go to Sun Moon because of it too. But after the Evil Soul Master ambush, when she woke from unconsciousness, that sensation had completely vanished.
Not only that, she now felt as if some great malice in the world itself was targeting her, making everything she did far harder than before.
What on earth was happening?
("Hmph, will of Douluo… If I can't strike your grandfather, I'll just crush you instead. Just you wait.")
---
"Wow, so this is the Starlight Auction Hall? I have to admit, it's luxurious. Still… compared to our Sun Moon auction houses, it falls way short."
Just as the Shrek group was about to enter the venue, a voice came from behind them.
"Well, well, if it isn't the righteous paragons of the continent—the mighty Shrek, who fell before a Soul King, dragging along their pitiful, crooked little squad of 'champions.' What a small world, huh?"
Xiao Hongchen had his hands in his pockets, smirking with a face begging for a beating.
Meanwhile, Huo Yuhao was chatting with Ma Rulong and the others. He had long since turned off his [Destiny Echo]. With that pest out of the way, no one could interfere with his fate. As for Wang Dong, she was destined to have no connection with him.
If necessary, and if not for the risk of the two remnants of the Clear Sky Sect going berserk—or that pest shamelessly interfering—he could easily arrange for Wang Dong to "die by accident" in the upcoming matches, removing her forever.
The thought made his blood boil. Why were those two soul beasts so loyal anyway? Their Xiao Wu had already become that pest's shadow. Even as mere stuffed animals, they wouldn't have a chance. And yet they still insisted on their ridiculous chastity and loyalty—pathetic!
As expected, Shrek took the bait instantly.
"Bastard, what did you say?!"
Huo Yuhao stepped in to stir the pot, "Don't be angry. Hongchen meant no harm; he just wanted to be friends. No need to take it personally."
Xiao Hongchen instantly played along, "Friends? Oh no, I wouldn't dare befriend the great Shrek. Yuhao, remind me again—what's the most important thing when it comes to making friends?"
Huo Yuhao smirked, "First is sincerity. Second is sincerity. And finally, it's still damn sincerity!"
Xiao Hongchen nodded, "Exactly! And we don't make friends with a bunch of hypocrites. Disgusting!"
Even the best-tempered among the Shrek group was now fuming. Since when had they, who always caused trouble for others, ever been so viciously ridiculed?
"Damn it! I'll teach you a lesson!"
But before anyone could act, Huo Yuhao and Xiao Hongchen quickly stepped back and shouted in unison:
"Look, everyone! Shrek's picking a fight! Someone stop them!"
The commotion drew a crowd. Ma Xiaotao and the others clenched their fists in fury.
"Hmph! So all Sun Moon people are cowards, is that it? Do you dare to fight us head-on and prove who the real trash is?"
A trap for the foolish. Huo Yuhao could see that Shrek was desperate. With the auction about to begin, only an idiot would waste time fighting them.
"Make way, Fat Sausage. We don't have time to play with you."
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(End of Chapter)