Chapter 82: Nodding Means I Want to Borrow, Shaking My Head Means I Won't Return It
So it was Mu En who acted—Lin Xuan suddenly realized. This made sense; after all, in the entire Shrek Academy, only Mu En had such boldness and authority.
"Are you going to use the Red Card privilege to buy this?" Ma Xiaotao's voice sounded beside him, her tone full of expectation.
In the Spiritual Sea, Tianmeng Ice Silkworm's exclamation also exploded, "My goodness! A hundred-thousand-year dual-attribute Soul Bone! And it's a left leg bone! Lin Xuan, you aren't really planning to take it, are you?"
"Exactly," Lin Xuan affirmed without hesitation.
"Hiss—you really think so!" Tianmeng Ice Silkworm was shocked and hurriedly said, "Wait! Lin Xuan, you don't intend to just use that Red Card's free privilege to take it, do you? You should know without me saying that if you use that one free chance, especially on this item, you'll owe Shrek Academy a huge favor! Money is easy to pay back, but a debt of gratitude is not!"
"Heh, owe a favor?"
Lin Xuan felt like laughing. Now that Shrek Academy had provided this benefit, it would be a waste not to use it. As for the issue of owing a favor?
"A favor is only a debt if I acknowledge it, and it only counts if I choose to repay it."
Ultimately, this thing was just like an online loan; as long as one was thick-skinned enough and knew how to maneuver, the binding force was practically zero.
Nodding means I want to borrow, shaking my head means I won't return it, blinking means I didn't see it, and opening my mouth is to tell you I'm going to double-cross you.
Moreover, he wasn't Huo Yuhao. Did they think a mere hundred-thousand-year Soul Bone could completely tie him down?
Shrek is my home, and I must consider Shrek in everything?
No, no, no, this little bit of stuff wasn't enough. Even if he really had to consider Shrek in everything in the future, there was a prerequisite.
And that was that Shrek already belonged to him.
"Yes, this is the one." Lin Xuan nodded to Ma Xiaotao, confirming his choice.
A spark of light immediately flashed in Ma Xiaotao's eyes, and she said at once, "Then what are we waiting for? Let's go! We'll handle the paperwork now."
As she spoke, she took the lead and turned around, leading Lin Xuan back toward the western counter.
Seeing the two return, the young girl behind the counter immediately showed her sweetest smile.
Ma Xiaotao said straightforwardly, "He wants to use his Red Card privilege to exchange for the holy radiance blazing sun left leg bone."
Hearing this, the smile on the girl's face clearly stiffened for a moment. She quickly turned her gaze to Lin Xuan and asked, "Mr. Lin, are you sure you want to use the Red-level VIP annual exclusive privilege to exchange for the hundred-thousand-year holy radiance blazing sun left leg bone? This privilege is only available once per year."
"Confirmed." Lin Xuan didn't waste words and directly handed over the dark red VIP card.
The girl took the card with both hands, her movements even more respectful than before.
Using the Red Card for a free exchange of the Treasure Appreciation Convention's top treasure—this was the first time she had encountered such a situation since starting her job!
She turned around and operated quickly at the complex spirit tool console behind the counter. A moment later, the operation was complete.
She returned the Red Card with both hands and handed over a receipt at the same time.
"Mr. Lin, the procedures are complete. The holy radiance blazing sun left leg bone has been locked and removed from the exhibit catalog. Because this item is of extremely high value, it will be personally escorted by an Elder of the Pavilion tomorrow morning and delivered to your dormitory at Shrek Academy. Please be ready to receive it. This is your pickup voucher; please keep it safe."
Lin Xuan took the card and the receipt, glanced at them to confirm everything was correct, and prepared to put them away.
However, he did not leave immediately.
Just as Ma Xiaotao and the girl thought the matter was over, Lin Xuan spoke again, "In addition, I also want that piece of thousand-year Whale Glue at the seventh exhibit."
As he spoke, his finger brushed over his storage soul tool, and he took out six thousand gold coins, placing them on the counter.
Ma Xiaotao gave Lin Xuan a somewhat surprised look.
She had also caught a glimpse of that Whale Glue earlier. Its quality was decent and beneficial for tempering the body and consolidating the foundation, but for the current Lin Xuan, it didn't seem to be of much use, did it?
Her lips moved, but in the end, she didn't ask further.
"Very well, please wait a moment."
The girl operated the console again and soon handed over another receipt. "Mr. Lin, you can take the Whale Glue with you now, or it can be delivered along with the Soul Bone tomorrow."
"Send them together tomorrow." Lin Xuan put away the second receipt.
"Understood, I have noted that for you."
With this, the trip to the Treasure Appreciation Convention was completely over for Lin Xuan.
The two didn't linger and turned to leave the counter area.
Ma Xiaotao looked at the sky and then at Lin Xuan, who appeared as calm as ever beside her, her heart filled with mixed emotions.
This guy had just essentially taken a priceless treasure from the academy for free and then casually spent several thousand gold coins, yet not even a hint of excitement could be seen on his face.
He really is a silent type—
"Let's go."
Lin Xuan's voice pulled her back from her thoughts. By the time Ma Xiaotao snapped out of it, she found that Lin Xuan had already left without looking back.
"This guy!"
Ma Xiaotao stomped her foot in annoyance. Was he serious? Ignoring her as soon as the business was done? No matter how you looked at it, I was the one who brought you here. After it's over, you could at least have a better attitude, if not offer to buy me a meal!
In the weeks following the Treasure Appreciation Convention, Lin Xuan's life returned to tranquility. The only thing that could be considered somewhat interesting was the freshman assessment.
However, for the current him, a mere thousand-year Soul Beast was nothing; if he couldn't kill it in one move, it would mean his forty-thousand-year Soul Bone had been absorbed for nothing.
The warm morning light filtered through the window frame, gently falling on Lin Xuan as he sat cross-legged. He slowly opened his eyes, and a restrained glint in his pupils quietly faded away.
He had now completely finished absorbing that hundred-thousand-year holy radiance blazing sun left leg bone and the ten-thousand-year Whale Glue.
The effects were equally significant, but compared to the Soul Ring and Soul Bone of the Ice Empress, they were still a long way off.
Just then, the dormitory door was gently pushed open, and Dugu Qing walked in.
"Lin Xuan, finished with your cultivation? Then let's go now; the others should all be there by now," Dugu Qing said.
"Mm." Lin Xuan nodded and stood up.
A few days ago, Wang Yan, who taught theoretical knowledge, had suddenly notified all the second-year core disciples to come to his office today to discuss an important matter.
Lin Xuan already had some guesses about this.
At this point in time, the only thing that would require such a move was the selection for the preparatory team.
When Lin Xuan and Dugu Qing arrived at Wang Yan's office, quite a few people were already standing inside.
Besides the two of them, more than ten second-year core disciples, including Ning Tian, Wu Feng, Dai Huabin, Zhu Lu, Xie Huanyue, Wang Dong, and Xiao Xiao, had all arrived.
Lin Xuan's arrival instantly drew everyone's attention.
The looks in their eyes held complex and varied meanings: envy, curiosity, jealousy, and even some faint hostility.
However, Lin Xuan didn't care at all, taking a spot near the edge with an indifferent expression.
Seeing that everyone had arrived, Wang Yan, who was sitting behind the desk, stood up, cleared his throat, and said slowly, "I've called you all here today because there's a special situation I need to inform you about."
His gaze swept over these most outstanding young people of the academy as he continued, "This afternoon, the Outer Academy will hold a core disciple selection tournament. Originally, this selection was mainly for third, fourth, and fifth-year students, but after consideration, the academy's higher-ups have made a temporary decision to have all of our second-year core disciples participate in this selection as well. Therefore, you all need to be prepared."
Soon, someone raised their hand and asked curiously, "Teacher Wang, what exactly is this selection tournament for? And what will the selected people be doing?"
A gentle smile appeared on Wang Yan's face as he reassured them, "You don't need to be too nervous. There won't be any punishment for losing this selection tournament. The participants are all core disciples under the age of fifteen from the Outer Academy, including the Soul Tool Department. I've made a preliminary estimate that there are about thirty people in total."
He paused and continued, "From these thirty people, the academy will select seven to participate in an important mission. As for what this mission specifically is, it's currently confidential; only the final winning students will know."
"Everyone, don't be nervous. Just do your best in the competition this afternoon. Even if you are eliminated, it won't have any negative impact on your studies."
Hearing these words, except for Lin Xuan, who already knew what was going on, and Ning Tian and Wu Feng, who had some guesses, most of the other core disciples looked thoughtful, secretly speculating on what the academy was up to this time.
"Alright,"
Wang Yan clapped his hands, drawing everyone's attention back. "Go back to your regular classes first. After school this afternoon, gather directly at the Soul Dueling Area. I'll be waiting for you there. Remember to get yourselves into the right state."
Everyone responded and left the office one after another.
The day's classes soon ended.
The setting sun draped Shrek Academy in a layer of warm golden light.
The dozen or so second-year core disciples gathered in small groups, walking toward the Soul Dueling Area located in the northwest corner of the academy.
Lin Xuan walked alone down the path at a leisurely pace, his expression calm. Suddenly, a clear and pleasant voice rang out from behind him—
"Lin Xuan."
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