Chapter 138: Hidden Weapons at the Auction – Part 1
Outside the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, Yu Xiaogang finally exhaled in relief when he saw Flender and Tang San flying out safely.
Flender landed beside the group, still carrying Tang San, whose cheek bore a vivid whip mark.
"Xiao San, what happened?" Yu Xiaogang hurried forward in concern.
Tang San didn't respond. His mind was consumed by the image of the Evil Master—that haunting figure had firmly taken root in his thoughts.
Flender sighed and explained, "We ran into the Evil Master inside. We should leave now before he decides to come after us."
At the mention of the Evil Master, everyone froze. Seeing how tense Flender looked, none dared to ask more.
They quickly left the area and headed in the opposite direction.
…
At Blue Tyrant Academy, a week had passed since Tang San's return from the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.
Since then, he had grown noticeably colder and more withdrawn.
Meanwhile, Ma Hongjun and Oscar's spirit power had skyrocketed thanks to the Blood Demon Ritual, reaching levels 33 and 35—now surpassing Xiao Wu and Zhu Zhuqing, and nearly catching up to Ning Rongrong.
In the training grounds, Ning Rongrong frowned as she watched Yu Xiaogang once again lead a group of male students out of the academy.
Lately, the girls had been sticking together—especially after Xiao Wu joined the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect.
Luo Ling couldn't quite figure out why she had done that, but with Xiao Wu's soul seed now bound to him, there was no need to worry about her identity as a hundred-thousand-year-old spirit beast being exposed.
The girls were already aware that Yu Xiaogang had been secretly giving Tang San and the others special training sessions.
But since Yu Xiaogang never mentioned anything to them directly, they couldn't confront him openly. The atmosphere in the Shrek team had turned increasingly awkward.
"Brother Ling! Do you think Yu Xiaogang is up to something shady? Their power's rising way too fast!" Ning Rongrong said angrily.
"Maybe," Luo Ling said lazily, glancing at her. "Why? You jealous?"
Ning Rongrong pouted and looked toward Zhu Zhuqing and Xiao Wu.
Xiao Wu was at level 33, Zhu Zhuqing had just reached Spirit Elder at level 31—both progressing much slower than Ma Hongjun and Oscar.
"Hmph! I just can't stand it! I don't want Xiao Wu and Zhuqing to get left behind!" she said, frustrated.
"So what do you plan to do about it?"
Luo Ling could already guess what she was thinking—she probably wanted to ask Yu Xiaogang for his so-called quick cultivation method. But that was impossible.
Yu Xiaogang had intentionally excluded the three girls to drive a wedge between them and protect his secret.
Luo Ling knew this well.
And he didn't want the girls involved in the Blood Demon Ritual either. He planned to expose Yu Xiaogang's actions during the upcoming tournament.
If Ning Rongrong and the others were tied to it, they'd be branded as evil spirit masters too. That wasn't a risk worth taking.
"Brother Ling! Doesn't the Spirit Hall still have some immortal herbs? I want to get some for Xiao Wu and Zhuqing! That way their strength can grow faster!" Ning Rongrong said eagerly.
She looked at him with hopeful eyes. After all, her own power had soared after consuming the exquisite Qiluo Tulip—which had come from the Spirit Hall's supply of immortal herbs.
Luo Ling raised an eyebrow, surprised she'd bring that up.
Yes, Spirit Hall still had some immortal herbs—but not many.
After Hu Liena and the other female disciples used theirs to achieve massive breakthroughs, Bibi Dong classified all remaining immortal herbs as top-tier strategic resources. No one was allowed to use them without her approval.
Most of the herbs recovered from the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well had already been distributed as rewards to high-ranking members who had made great contributions to the Hall.
"Rongrong, you understand how rare immortal herbs are. The one you took evolved your Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda—that's no ordinary plant," Luo Ling explained calmly.
"Even in Spirit Hall, immortal herbs are extremely scarce. Teacher Bibi Dong would never allow me to use them freely."
He glanced at Zhu Zhuqing and Xiao Wu, who now bore the insignia of the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect. Though the sect and the Spirit Hall were allies, their bond was still only collaboration—not kinship.
"Really? Not even one?" Ning Rongrong asked, a little disappointed.
Luo Ling smiled faintly. "If you're asking for another immortal herb—no. But if you just want their cultivation to speed up a bit, that I can help with."
"I remember some herbs in the Spirit Hall's stores that can increase spirit power directly. They're not true immortal herbs—so the effects aren't transformative—but they do accelerate cultivation."
"Really?" Ning Rongrong's eyes lit up with excitement.
"Of course," Luo Ling chuckled. "But they're precious, so you'll have to pay for them."
Ning Rongrong waved her hand nonchalantly. "No problem! I'll tell my father right away!"
The lively girl dashed off happily. Luo Ling leaned back, unbothered. It was fine—those herbs had originally come from the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well anyway.
Selling some back to the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect? It was practically poetic.
The herbs could only boost spirit power slightly and had minimal effect on high-level soul masters—but for rookies, they worked wonders.
…
Three days later.
Chrysanthemum Douluo personally delivered the herbs.
When Luo Ling returned to Blue Tyrant Academy carrying them, he was surprised to find that Tang San and the others hadn't gone to the Sunset Forest that day.
Curious, he approached Ning Rongrong. "They didn't go out today?"
"I heard they're heading to the Heaven Dou Auction House," she explained.
Luo Ling frowned slightly. Tang San and his group, who'd been obsessively hunting spirit beasts for months, were suddenly going to an auction?
"By the way, my father's in Heaven Dou City today too—he's at the auction hall!" Ning Rongrong suddenly added.
"Is that so? Then why don't we go take a look as well?" Luo Ling suggested.
"Sure! Let's see what kind of treasures they've got!" Ning Rongrong said excitedly.
Xiao Wu and Zhu Zhuqing nodded in agreement.
The four of them followed Yu Xiaogang and the others toward the auction house.
The Heaven Dou Auction House was bustling with wealth and luxury. Outside, rows of elegant young women stood poised, dressed in pristine white gowns that accentuated their graceful figures.
Ma Hongjun and Oscar—both inexperienced when it came to such extravagance—stared wide-eyed.
These girls were far more beautiful than the ones they'd seen in the taverns of Soto City.
"What's the matter, Fatty, Little Ao? Do you like them? I could buy a few for you," Yu Tianheng said casually, completely unrestrained.
"Huh? What did you say?" both Oscar and Ma Hongjun exclaimed, stunned.
"I said, if you want them, I can buy them for you. They're part of the auction stock. As long as you pay enough, you can take them home," Yu Tianheng explained nonchalantly, talking about the girls as if they were merchandise.
Both Oscar and Ma Hongjun fell silent, horrified. The idea of treating women like property shattered their sense of decency.
Behind them, Luo Ling and the others overheard everything.
Zhu Zhuqing and Xiao Wu frowned instantly, disgust flashing in their eyes.
Only Luo Ling and Ning Rongrong remained calm—he with quiet amusement, and she with an indifferent sigh.
(END CHAPTER)
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