After the assessment, as expected, Furina also received a Red Card, allowing her to take one item for free, regardless of the price.
She spun the card between her fingertips, the corners of her mouth curling up slightly.
"Not bad. Let me think about what I should pick."
In this Treasure Gathering Pavilion appraisal meeting, the highest-priced item was the Golden Radiance Left Arm Bone that Wang Dong had his eyes on, valued at nine point five million gold coin. The next most expensive was the Rank 7 Soul Tool Blueprint she had scanned earlier, priced at two point eight million gold coin.
A price like this was indeed quite terrifying; it was already comparable to a decent ten-thousand-year soul bone.
She had originally taken an interest in another ten-thousand-year soul bone, but when she went to inquire, it had already been purchased. Well, that saved her the trouble of choosing.
Then this blueprint it is.
Furina calculated clearly in her mind: taking this blueprint back would definitely be a huge deal for the Axis Cult's Soul Tool Department. Cultivating a Soul Engineer required more than just talent. No matter how high the talent, without enough blueprints to feed them, their horizons would never expand.
It was written clearly in the second book that many Rank 7 Soul Engineers might only be able to design a single Rank 7 spirit tool in their entire lives. However, if those lower-ranked Soul Engineers looked at more Advanced blueprints, their growth speed would be completely different.
So, this item was worth it.
"This is the one."
Furina stowed the blueprint away and turned to leave. The appraisal meeting was about over anyway.
As for the matter of owing Shrek a favor, she didn't take it to heart at all. The favor would certainly be repaid, but if they thought they could use this to bind her to the Shrek war machine? Not a chance.
Stepping out of the Treasure Gathering Pavilion, the night wind blew against her face, feeling chilly.
Furina looked up at the sky and then toward the direction of Shrek City.
According to the development of the original work, Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong should be running into trouble soon. One Spirit Emperor and five Spirit Kings—that kid Dai Huabin really was willing to spend a fortune.
However, she wasn't particularly worried.
Huo Yuhao's mental force was currently ridiculously strong, and he was carrying a bunch of self-defense spirit tools. Combined with the few pieces of Nut Cake she had given him, surviving an ambush of this level shouldn't be a big problem.
Consider it practice for him.
As for whether Dai Huabin would actually send people...
Furina felt that given that kid's petty nature, it was almost a certainty.
He was stepped on by Huo Yuhao during the New Student Assessment and stepped on again during the Promotion Assessment; anyone would hold a grudge. Not to mention a young master like Dai Huabin who grew up being pampered—how could he stand it?
Sending people to take out Huo Yuhao once and for all was indeed something he would do.
"Alright then, be careful."
Furina withdrew her gaze and turned to walk in another direction.
...
On the other side, Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong had already left Shrek City.
The two walked with light steps, both in high spirits.
"Tonight, you go back and start the Fusion with that Golden Dragon first." Wang Dong pumped his fist, looking radiant. "Tomorrow, after I get my Spirit Bone, you can act as my Protector. With this thing, even if I go head-to-head with that Dai Huabin guy, I can win for sure!"
Huo Yuhao looked at his triumphant expression and couldn't help but smile.
"Though it's still not as good as your Third Soul Skill," Wang Dong said, suddenly shivering. "That thing is just too abnormal..."
She still remembered the scenes she saw after being hit by that skill during her first conflict with Huo Yuhao. It was terrifying, almost like the methods of an Evil Soul Master.
However, she knew in her heart that Huo Yuhao couldn't possibly be an Evil Soul Master. Absolutely impossible.
Just as Huo Yuhao was about to speak, Tianmeng's voice suddenly rang in his mind: "Yuhao, there's Killing Intent. It's coming for you."
Huo Yuhao didn't stop walking, and the smile on his face didn't change, but his heart instantly became alert.
"How many?"
"Six. One Spirit Emperor, five Spirit Kings." Tianmeng paused. "But they're far worse than those guys in the Shrek Inner Court. Still, with your current strength and that little girl, it'll be tough."
"Understood."
Huo Yuhao calmly activated the Spiritual Detection sharing.
Wang Dong froze for a moment, then immediately caught on. He didn't make a sound, only glancing sideways at Huo Yuhao.
Huo Yuhao's mental force quickly spread out, locking onto the several people lying in ambush ahead.
He reached out and grasped Wang Dong's hand, which was even softer and more slender than a girl's. Hao Dong Power instantly began to flow between their bodies, connecting them as one.
Huo Yuhao lowered his voice, speaking quickly: "There's an ambush ahead. It's further to the Academy than back to Shrek City. In a moment, I'll count to three. We turn around and run toward Shrek City with everything we've got. Understand?"
Wang Dong nodded: "Mm. Who would have sent them?"
"I don't know, but they're definitely not good people." Huo Yuhao counted in a low voice as they walked, "One... two..."
"Three!"
Huo Yuhao suddenly threw out a smoke bomb. Smoke instantly exploded, blocking the view from behind. He gave a low shout, scooped up Wang Dong, and bolted back!
The Rank 3 Soul Tool Thruster on his back instantly activated, a surge of thrust coming from behind. The two of them covered nearly a thousand meters in the blink of an eye. After running some distance, Huo Yuhao turned off the thruster and set Wang Dong down.
Wang Dong immediately activated his Light Goddess Butterfly Martial Soul, carrying Huo Yuhao as they continued flying toward Shrek City.
Huo Yuhao glanced back, his spirit locked onto the six figures chasing them.
His gaze turned cold.
"Try my Third Soul Skill—Demon Eye!"
A massive eye suddenly opened in the sky, and a terrifying spiritual pressure instantly enveloped the six people.
The faces of the six ambushers turned pale simultaneously. Their steps halted abruptly, their eyes filled with fear.
Huo Yuhao silently estimated the effect in his mind—not bad, it could hold them back for a few seconds.
Tianmeng spoke triumphantly in his mind: "Of course! Look at how abnormal your mental force is now. The Cultivation Technique that Furina girl gave you, combined with your spiritual-type Martial Soul, plus the help of me and Old Yi... Tsk tsk, by the time you reach Level 40, you might be able to directly crush an ordinary Titled Douluo."
"Then by the time I become a Titled Douluo, won't I be touching the threshold of Godhood?" Huo Yuhao joked.
"Heh, I can't say for sure." Tianmeng's tone sounded a bit indifferent. "I've never become a god, so how would I know where the threshold is?"
Electrolux's voice cut in steadily: "The Realm of Gods... to reach that level, one needs a sufficiently powerful body to carry it. Do not rush; take it step by step."
"Mm."
Huo Yuhao responded and raised his hand to fire another signal flare into the sky.
A red orb of light exploded in the night sky, exceptionally conspicuous.
Shrek City was right next to Shrek Academy. The Academy would never tolerate anyone hunting down students on their own turf. As long as they saw the signal, they would definitely send someone to investigate.
By then, even if those people behind them broke free from the Demon Eye's effect, it would be too late.
Wang Dong looked at him sideways, his eyes sparkling: "Yuhao, you're too amazing!"
Huo Yuhao's lips curled up as he replied casually, "Just average, third in the world."
"Hmph! Keep bragging!"
"Alright, alright, don't be careless." Huo Yuhao wiped away his smile. "Until we fly back into Shrek City, we can't relax for a second."
Wang Dong nodded, his smile fading as he looked ahead seriously.
The night wind whistled past their ears, and the silhouette of Shrek City gradually became clear.
In the distance, the signal flare was still burning in the night sky like a red star.
Behind them, the six ambushers finally broke free from the illusion of the Demon Eye, only to watch helplessly as those two figures flew further and further away, disappearing into the lights of the city gate.
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