"Bastards! How dare they smuggle something like this! The first thing I'll do when I get back is round up all you rats and have you executed!"
In Room Three, Jing Hongchen glared at the twelve standard Grade 6 Fixed Soul Cannon Shells, his face red with rage.
Back then, even Xiao Changfeng, with all his capabilities, knew to write me a letter when he bought Grade 5 Fixed Soul Cannon Shells. I deliberated carefully before letting a group of students deliver substandard products. Where did such a big rat come from in Mingde Hall, daring to sell something like this?!
Soul Guided Devices above Grade 6 were strictly forbidden for smuggling, and Fixed Soul Cannon Shells were the highest level of contraband. You've gone too far!
Neither Xu Tianxi nor the Hongchen siblings had ever seen Jing Hongchen so furious. They exchanged glances, then all stood up. Some massaged his shoulders to help him calm down, others poured tea, and some offered comforting words.
"Grandpa, please don't be angry. It's just twelve Fixed Soul Cannon Shells. We, we can just buy them all back, can't we?" Meng Hongchen gently persuaded him. She had originally intended to say that twelve Fixed Soul Cannon Shells were just about a month's work for a certain deep enthusiast present, but she immediately changed her words as they reached her lips.
Mingde Hall's financial power was undoubtedly the strongest on the continent, and they had brought plenty of funds this time.
Jing Hongchen snatched the tea Xiao Hongchen poured for him and gulped it down. Enjoying the unique calming massage from the Xuan Ming Lineage, he finally let out a long sigh.
He glanced at the auctioneer in the corner of the room, who was introducing auction items and chatting with distinguished guests. Jing Hongchen snorted coldly, not bothering to argue with a small fry.
He knew the Star Luo Empire's purpose in having him come this time: either he would actively bleed money to buy these items back, or he would watch them be sold to others.
No matter the outcome, the Star Luo Empire wouldn't lose.
"Dean, a problem that can be solved with money isn't a problem. Let's just buy these items back for now," Xu Tianxi said quietly through a mental message, looking helplessly at the Fixed Soul Cannon Shells on the screen.
Come to think of it, he was also quite curious how something like this had made it onto the market. He vaguely remembered a Prince Xu in the Sun Moon Empire, named Xu Guozhong, who specialized in smuggling in the original story. He had to check if he could have him investigated when he returned.
Given that it involved a royal prince, especially since this Xu Guozhong was a meritorious official during the current old emperor's palace coup, he wondered if Jing Hongchen would be able to take him down.
Seriously, what kind of names do these people come up with? Guozhong… The more they lack something, the more they advertise it, right? Why not just call him Zhongzheng?
As Xu Tianxi felt a chill in his heart, Jing Hongchen finally calmed his anger for the time being, nodding forcefully.
However, he didn't bid immediately; he knew all too well the ins and outs of auctions. The first one to bid was always the sucker.
Fifteen minutes later, this batch of Fixed Soul Cannon Shells, with a base price of 650,000 Gold Soul Coins, still hadn't received any bids. It was about to be withdrawn from the market, entering its final countdown.
In the last second, Jing Hongchen decisively bid "700,000," securing the auction.
Xu Tianxi couldn't understand why the auction practices here were different from those on Blue Star, where the timer didn't reset after a new bid. But there were many unusual situations on the Hydrogen Continent, so he didn't dwell on it too much.
"Congratulations to the distinguished guest from Box Three for successfully bidding on this batch of Fixed Soul Cannon Shells at a high price. Next, please look at this auction item: a 50,000-year Earth Demon Bear's left arm bone..."
Xu Jiujiu on the screen smiled sweetly, two small dimples appearing on her cheeks with her smile, which was quite charming. But Jing Hongchen's heart was filled only with blazing fury, and his eyes glinted with cold light.
He hadn't realized it until he came out, but there were so many traitors within Mingde Hall, and they had even given the Star Luo Empire an opportunity to exploit him.
You like money, do you? I'll make sure you get it, but don't live to spend it, you reckless fools!
What they didn't know was that in Room Seven, someone else was also cursing their bad luck.
"Damn it, the guy in Room Three is really rich! He added 50,000 in one go. I couldn't outbid him."
Wang Yan, who had also seized the opportunity to bid, but failed because he only had enough funds to add 5,000, sighed with regret. Huo Yuhao and He Caitou, sitting behind him, were also frustrated.
These were Grade 6 Fixed Soul Cannon Shells with immense research value! Even an institution as powerful as Shrek Academy had only managed to research up to Grade 5 Fixed Soul Cannon Shells.
As Starlight Auction House had said, this was indeed the first time such a top-tier auction item had appeared on a continental auction. If they missed this chance, they might never see it again.
"Teacher Wang, are these Fixed Soul Cannon Shells really that valuable? They don't seem like much to me." Du Weilun spoke up, indicating that he didn't understand Wang Yan's and the two Soul Tool Department members' regret.
When Dean Yan extorted Fixed Soul Cannon Shells from Dean Qian, he would ask for fifty or even a hundred at once, though Dean Qian almost always cut the price by at least half.
"You don't understand. If we can research these and even replicate one, it's possible for our academy to achieve a breakthrough in this area," He Caitou explained in a muffled voice. "If we can also research Grade 6 Fixed Soul Cannon Shells, we can then go to auction or negotiate with the Three Great Empires. Wouldn't that be immensely significant?"
"So, it means we can earn a lot of money? Then it truly is a shame."
Du Weilun understood. If the Soul Tool Department could research something like this, they could earn a large amount of funding from the Three Great Empires, and once that funding entered Shrek, the Martial Soul Department would get a share.
"Sigh, if you ask me, the gap between our academy's Soul Guided Technology and the Sun Moon Empire's is indeed huge. To catch up, perhaps the best way is to go and study in the Sun Moon Empire." He Caitou thought about the comprehensively backward Soul Guided system of Shrek's Soul Tool Department, then recalled his childhood days of playing with various precious Soul Guided Devices as toys, feeling a vast difference.
Zhang Lexuan said, "Caitou, you're right. Mu Lao instructed us before his passing to establish exchange programs with the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy. I'll propose this to the elders of the Sea God Pavilion when I return."
Du Weilun frowned. "Lexuan, that bastard Jing Hongchen captured Dean Cai. How can we possibly exchange and learn with them when he's so arrogant and rude? And how can we allow their students into Shrek?"
He had heard Dean Yan mention the exchange program, which involved allowing students from the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy to study in their Martial Soul Department, while they could send students to learn Soul Guided Technology. In his view, this was a guaranteed loss.
Why should they open up the precious resources of the Martial Soul Department to their enemies in exchange for the opportunity for Soul Tool Department students to study there? How could Shrek's foundation compare to the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy's?
Zhang Lexuan shifted her gaze to Du Weilun and said, "Director Du, this was decided by Mu Lao before he passed. He must have had his reasons for considering it."
"And you've seen it too, Soul Guided Devices are not useless. Dean Cai's inability to defeat Jing Hongchen fully demonstrates that Soul Engineers can also become powerful."
In her opinion, Cai Meier was not just no match for Jing Hongchen; that battle was practically a one-sided affair. Not to mention Dean Cai, even Dean Yan probably couldn't contend with him.
Seeing Jing Hongchen's formidable strength, Zhang Lexuan, a relatively clear-headed person from the Martial Soul Department, let go of some prejudices and gradually understood the reason behind Mu Lao's dying wish.
Seeing that Du Weilun still looked unconvinced, Zhang Lexuan's eyes darted. "Besides, Caitou and the others said that after learning, we can produce more advanced Soul Guided Devices to sell to the Original Three Kingdoms. That's good for everyone."
Du Weilun immediately shut up, beginning to calculate how to persuade Dean Yan when he returned.
While Soul Guided Devices weren't inherently good, if they could make money... then they could be reluctantly accepted.
Thinking of Yan Shaozhe, Du Weilun couldn't help but ask, "Oh, right, Lexuan, you sent a message to the Sea God Pavilion for help earlier. Have they responded yet?"
Hearing this, Zhang Lexuan's expression turned serious. "The academy's stance is very clear. We must rescue Vice Dean Cai, and we must ensure her absolute safety."
"So, the academy has agreed to that scoundrel's terms?" Du Weilun's face was filled with indignation.
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Zhang Lexuan gave a wry smile. "What else can we do but agree? Vice Dean Cai is currently in that scoundrel's hands. If he were to do something to her, it would be very difficult for us."
"As for the academy, Vice Dean Yan is severely injured and unable to act. Old Song's old wounds haven't healed yet. Vice Dean Xian and Vice Dean Qian will come, along with two other elders, to deter Jing Hongchen."
With Cai Meier publicly captured by Jing Hongchen, Shrek was at a severe disadvantage in negotiations. Given the Soul Tool Department's level of expertise, they might not even detect a level-nine self-destructing Soul Guided Device that Jing Hongchen could have planted on Cai Meier. If Jing Hongchen were provoked, Cai Meier would have no chance of survival, and this was something Yan Shaozhe absolutely wanted to avoid.
The elders of the Sea God Pavilion would certainly weigh the importance of a Titled Douluo against four Soul Bones; Cai Meier herself possessed three or four Soul Bones.
Reinforcements had to be sent, but Xiao Changfeng's initial attack was too brutal. Old Song and Yan Shaozhe were both severely wounded. Even with Old Zhuang's intervention, the injuries from Ultimate Ice were difficult to heal quickly, not to mention Long Xiaoyao's second attack that wounded Yan Shaozhe again.
In fact, this incident suppressed the Martial Soul Department's momentum at Shrek. The fact that Cai Meier was publicly defeated in a one-on-one battle forced them to acknowledge reality. The idea of "learning from barbarians to subdue barbarians" gradually gained acceptance within the Sea God Pavilion.
Unbeknownst to them, three Soul Bones appeared on the auction screen one after another. Jing Hongchen watched with a calm mind, but the subsequent appearance of top-tier Rare Metal and a level-eight long-range Soul Guided Cannon, crafted by a level-nine Soul Engineer, nearly made Jing Hongchen gnash his back teeth in anger.
Fortunately, this top-tier level-eight Soul Guided Device was not from Mingde Hall, which gave Jing Hongchen a slight sense of relief, though he couldn't help but curse his "pig teammates" under his breath.
"You impoverished wretch, I'll find you when I get back and make sure you're mocked in the level-nine Soul Engineer circle for the rest of your life!"
How could a dignified level-nine Soul Engineer be so desperate for money that he would sell his level-eight Soul Guided Device to the Black Market, allowing it to flow into the Star Luo Empire?
Finally, the main event arrived. A left arm bone, originating from a seventy-thousand-year Ice Jade Scorpion and possessing the divine skill of Ice Explosion, was grandly unveiled by Xu Jiujiu.
As soon as this Soul Bone appeared, Xu Tianxi's Sea of Spirit erupted. The Ice Emperor first cursed humans for being despicable and harming her clan members, then urgently pleaded with Xu Tianxi to bid for this Soul Bone.
She wasn't sure if it was a joke, but she, as the king of the Ice Jade Scorpion Clan, didn't possess this Ice Explosion Soul Skill. Instead, her clan members had a chance to awaken it, entirely depending on randomness.
As for Xu Tianxi… he was a bit hesitant.
He clearly remembered that his senior grand-uncle seemed to be missing a left arm bone.
As for himself… there should still be many Hundred Thousand Year Sea Soul Beasts and even Ferocious Beasts, right? Besides, he planned to bid for the Snow Empress later and negotiate conditions, to see if he could obtain a set of seven hundred thousand-year Soul Rings and Soul Bones.
Back in the Far North Land, he had the opportunity to speak with the Snow Empress but didn't, fearing her immense power. Xu Xiaoyun had once poached Hundred Thousand Year Soul Beasts in the Far North Land, and if Xu Xiaoyun were to be called out, it might lead to a life-and-death battle.
The Snow Empress, whose lifespan was nearing its end, might very well risk her life to drag Xu Xiaoyun down with her. While the Earth Dragon Gate's Ten Thousand Year Mysterious Ice Marrow could be a bargaining chip, if revealed, the Snow Empress could claim it all for herself.
As for the Heavenly Tyrant Ancestor, in Xu Tianxi's view, there was no need to use that favor here. He didn't lack a peak powerhouse like the Snow Empress to protect him, and even winning would be a net loss.
Now it was different. The sealed Snow Empress had suffered significant damage to her origin. Releasing her would allow for dialogue, and she wouldn't be able to turn the tables.
"Ice Emperor, I intend to keep this Soul Bone for an elder of mine. There are countless Soul Beasts in the sea that can be hunted, but for now, I plan to make those who tried to trick us bleed a little…"
After appeasing the Ice Emperor, Xu Tianxi turned to Jing Hongchen and subtly transmitted a few words.
Jing Hongchen suddenly turned his head, his eyes burning with intensity. "Is that true?"
Xu Tianxi nodded solemnly.
At a time like this, only Jing Hongchen's outburst could yield the most benefits.
"Good!"
Jing Hongchen, whose face had been grim all evening, finally found an opportunity to make a scene. Clenching his fist, he gave a cold smile to the auctioneer in the corner and declared loudly:
"There's a huge problem with your auction item! Quickly call your princess over! Otherwise, I, the Hall Master, will spread the word throughout Star Luo City that your Starlight Auction House is plotting ill intentions and trying to harm us, your distinguished invited guests! Hurry!"
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