Bonus Chapter. Enjoy!
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The auction was to be held in the evening, but after having dinner, Huo Yuhao headed to the Starlight Auction House ahead of schedule.
As night fell and the city lights began to flicker on, the largest auction house in Star Luo City appeared exceptionally magnificent in the darkness.
Huo Yuhao made his way to the top floor with practiced ease and knocked on a familiar door.
As expected, Princess Xu Jiujiu, the secret boss behind the Starlight Auction House, was currently in the office. Huo Yuhao pushed the door open and entered, his gaze pausing for a brief moment the second it landed on her. Princess Xu Jiujiu, who was already beautiful, had actually applied makeup today.
The light makeup perfectly outlined her eyes and brows, making her look even more radiant and moving than usual. Even Huo Yuhao was momentarily stunned by the sight upon first seeing her. However, it was only for a moment.
"Young Master Huo has arrived quite early," Princess Xu Jiujiu said with a faint smile on her face, though her eyes sparkled with a shrewd light. "The auction hasn't even started yet!"
She thought to herself that no matter what Huo Yuhao came for today, she had to seize the initiative in the conversation. During their last meeting, she had unknowingly been led by the nose by Huo Yuhao; she couldn't let that happen again this time.
Huo Yuhao sat down with a calm expression. His posture was as relaxed as if he were in his own home, without the slightest bit of restraint.
His voice was flat: "I came here this time to make a deal."
"A deal?" Princess Xu Jiujiu raised an eyebrow, instantly understanding what Huo Yuhao meant.
She chuckled softly: "This is a top-tier auction; Grade 6 Spirit Tools aren't quite up to standard."
She looked at Huo Yuhao, her gaze fixed tightly on his face, seemingly wanting to see a hint of embarrassment, a trace of distress, or the awkwardness of being called out. But the result disappointed her.
Huo Yuhao's expression didn't change much. In fact, a faint smile even surfaced on his face. The smile was slight, yet it carried an indescribable composure.
He looked at Princess Xu Jiujiu and spoke slowly: "Grade 6 Spirit Tools aren't up to standard..."
"Then what about a Grade 9 Spirit Tool?!"
Upon hearing those words, Princess Xu Jiujiu's heart skipped a beat! Despite her efforts to manage her expression, the surprise in her eyes leaked out involuntarily.
The original three Douluo nations didn't have a single Grade 9 Soul Engineer, so naturally, it was impossible for them to produce Grade 9 Spirit Tools.
On the entire continent, only the Sun Moon Empire possessed existences of that level. Princess Xu Jiujiu believed that Huo Yuhao wouldn't joke about such a matter. After all, a smart person surely knows that sincerity is the foundation of cooperation.
Could he really produce a Grade 9 Spirit Tool?!
As soon as this thought emerged, Princess Xu Jiujiu's heart rate quickened a bit.
She then couldn't help but ask: "Where did you get a Grade 9 Spirit Tool from?"
Huo Yuhao gave a mysterious smile, one that carried a hint of profound meaning. "Naturally, I cannot make a Grade 9 Spirit Tool right now."
"But who does Princess Jiujiu think I learned my Spirit Tool crafting from?"
Princess Xu Jiujiu didn't answer, but she already had an answer in her heart. That was, behind Huo Yuhao, there stood a Grade 9 Soul Engineer!
In this instant, the level of importance Princess Xu Jiujiu placed on Huo Yuhao rose another step! Princess Xu Jiujiu was very curious; where did Huo Yuhao find a Grade 9 Soul Engineer to be his teacher?
Could it be that Shrek Academy's Soul Tool Department Dean, Qian Duoduo, had achieved a Breakthrough?!
That shouldn't be possible, right?
Despite her curiosity, Princess Xu Jiujiu didn't ask further. Even as partners, some secrets were better left untouched.
Princess Xu Jiujiu took a deep breath and asked: "Then I wonder what Grade 9 Spirit Tool Young Master Huo is prepared to present?"
Huo Yuhao didn't waste words and directly extended his right hand. His slender palm was originally empty.
But in a flash, a sphere shimmering with starlight appeared in his palm! The sphere was about the size of a baby's fist, crystal clear throughout, and emitting a faint blue glow. Within the light, starlight seemed to flow, as if a piece of the starry sky had been condensed inside.
Princess Xu Jiujiu keenly noticed that this sphere had not been taken out from a spatial Spirit Tool. That sensation was more like it had instantly surged out from within Huo Yuhao's body. The sphere looked as if it were naturally formed, but her perception told her it was indeed a Spirit Tool.
It was her first time seeing such a Spirit Tool, and she had no idea what its functions were. However, she didn't sense any threat from it; no matter how deep her trust in Huo Yuhao was, a hint of doubt couldn't help but rise in her heart right now.
This is a Grade 9 Spirit Tool?
Seeing the doubt in Princess Xu Jiujiu's eyes, Huo Yuhao spoke slowly.
"This is a Grade 9 defensive Spirit Tool."
"Named... Starry Glazed Shield."
A flash of surprise crossed Princess Xu Jiujiu's eyes. So it was a defensive Spirit Tool; no wonder there was no domineering aura leaking out.
Huo Yuhao continued his introduction: "This Grade 9 Spirit Tool can be set with two modes."
"One is active activation, controlled by the user themselves; the other is passive activation, triggered automatically after receiving a certain level of attack."
"Regardless of the method, as long as the Starry Glaze is activated, it will cover the Spirit Master's body with a layer of translucent glazed soft armor."
At this point, Huo Yuhao paused, looking at Princess Xu Jiujiu's 'attentive' expression as the corners of his mouth curled slightly.
Then, he continued: "Once this Grade 9 Spirit Tool is activated, it is sufficient to withstand a single strike from a Limit Douluo."
"Under the condition of sufficient Spirit Power, it's no problem to withstand multiple attacks from a Super Douluo!"
As soon as he finished speaking... Princess Xu Jiujiu's face instantly froze! Those large, watery eyes widened suddenly, and her cherry-like mouth slowly hung open. That expression could no longer be described simply as' baffled'!
Sufficient to withstand a strike from a Limit Douluo?!
Withstand multiple attacks from a Super Douluo?!
What... what kind of concept was this?!
This meant that as long as one possessed this Spirit Tool, it was equivalent to having an extra life!
It meant having the capital to save one's life when facing the top experts of the continent!
It took a moment before Princess Xu Jiujiu snapped out of it.
She swallowed hard, her voice trembling slightly: "What you said... is it true?!"
Huo Yuhao smiled.
"Of course it's true."
"After all, the effects can be known with a single test; there's no need to lie."
After so many traversals between the two worlds, Huo Yuhao had already figured out the patterns. Any external objects could not be carried over. However, if it was an object fused with him, it was an exception. For example, the Battle Armor he forged using metal containing spirituality, the scale Gu Yue gave him, and this Grade 9 defensive Spirit Tool Aunt Leng gave him—the Starry Glazed Shield.
This Starry Glazed Shield was no ordinary Grade 9 Spirit Tool; it was a top-tier defensive Spirit Tool capable of linking with Battle Armor.
Furthermore, the Limit Douluos from Ten Thousand Years in the future were quite a bit stronger than the Limit Douluos of this era.
Therefore, Huo Yuhao absolutely did not exaggerate the defensive power of the Starry Glaze. The reason Huo Yuhao chose to put it up for auction was also to increase his leverage here with the Star Luo Empire. After all, only if the Star Luo Empire valued him enough would many future matters be easier to discuss.
A lone Huo Yuhao and a Huo Yuhao with a Grade 9 Soul Engineer standing behind him were completely different concepts.
The former was just a youth with astonishing talent, worth investing in and befriending. The latter represented not just a Titled Douluo, but strategic resources sufficient to change the strength of an Empire.
One must know that the original three Douluo nations were incomparably desperate for Grade 9 Soul Engineers!
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A/N:
5 Power Stones = 1 Extra Chapter
2 Reviews = 1 Extra Chapter
I hope all of you are enjoying this story so far. I would appreciate some Power Stones if you can spare any. Leave a review if you like the story. Thank you.