As Huo Yuhao stepped down from the Competition Arena, the siblings Xiao Hongchen and Meng Hongchen immediately surrounded him.
"Huo Yuhao!"
Xiao Hongchen's voice carried a hint of urgency, his heterochromatic eyes—one blue and one green—staring intently at Huo Yuhao, scanning him up and down.
"This strength of yours... you didn't tell us about it!"
Meng Hongchen also kept nodding beside him, her large blue eyes filled with a complex expression.
"Exactly, exactly! Isn't this too exaggerated? Four ten-thousand-year Spirit Rings."
Looking at the pair in this state, Huo Yuhao couldn't help but smile.
"You guys never asked."
Xiao Hongchen was immediately choked by these words. His mouth hung open, but he realized he truly had never asked about Huo Yuhao's Spirit Ring configuration.
But who would have expected your Spirit Ring configuration to be four ten-thousand-year ones?
Xiao Hongchen took a deep breath, opening his mouth to ask the question burning in his heart: how did Huo Yuhao manage to make all four Spirit Rings ten-thousand-year ones?
However, with the words at the tip of his tongue, Xiao Hongchen hesitated again.
One must know that a Spirit Master's First Spirit Ring is generally a hundred-year one. While some can achieve a thousand-year second Spirit Ring, it requires powerful physical fitness, top-tier auxiliary resources, and Heaven-Defying luck.
Even he, with his grandfather's full support, hadn't been able to make his second Spirit Ring a thousand-year one.
Not to mention the third and fourth rings both being ten-thousand-year...
This was simply a fantasy!
Xiao Hongchen's gaze fell upon Huo Yuhao, and he thought of that Shrek Academy built thousands of meters high in the sky.
Xiao Hongchen's throat bobbed as a suspicion formed in his mind.
Perhaps this wasn't a matter of Huo Yuhao's personal talent at all, but rather that Shrek Academy in the sky possessed some unknown secret.
Could it allow students to break the hundred-year limit for their First Spirit Ring?
Could it allow a student to possess four ten-thousand-year Spirit Rings at the age of twelve?
The more Xiao Hongchen thought about it, the more his scalp tingled.
He gave Huo Yuhao a deep look and ultimately forced the words back down his throat.
For something involving the core secrets of an academy, even if he asked, Huo Yuhao wouldn't necessarily tell him.
Moreover... a flash of shrewdness crossed Xiao Hongchen's eyes.
Some things cannot be learned simply by asking.
Beside him, Meng Hongchen didn't have as many convoluted thoughts as her brother.
"Huo Yuhao!"
Meng Hongchen asked directly, her voice full of curiosity.
"How exactly did you do it? All four Spirit Rings are ten-thousand-year? How is that possible? Isn't the human body's limit..."
"Meng!"
Xiao Hongchen quickly interrupted his sister, his brow furrowing slightly as he gave her a meaningful look.
Meng Hongchen froze for a moment, then realized something and closed her mouth somewhat unwillingly.
Huo Yuhao found the siblings' reaction rather amusing.
He smiled and spoke in a relaxed tone.
"If you are willing to join our Shrek Academy, you can do it too."
As soon as these words were spoken, both Xiao Hongchen and Meng Hongchen were stunned.
They exchanged a glance, both seeing a flash of bewilderment in the other's eyes.
Good grief.
They hadn't even started trying to recruit Huo Yuhao, yet Huo Yuhao had started recruiting them first?!
And... listening to Huo Yuhao's tone, it sounded as if they could just casually obtain ten-thousand-year Spirit Rings if they went to that academy?
Just what kind of gathering place for monsters was that academy?
The curiosity in Xiao Hongchen's heart regarding that Shrek Academy in the sky grew even more intense.
However, he quickly understood the meaning behind Huo Yuhao's words.
Huo Yuhao's Spirit Ring configuration was indeed related to his Shrek Academy.
Xiao Hongchen nodded gently and did not press further.
At that moment, Ji Juechen, who had not yet left, also overheard Huo Yuhao's words.
He stood not far away, gripping that black longsword, his pale complexion having recovered somewhat.
Those cold eyes fell upon Huo Yuhao, a thoughtful expression flashing through them.
Joining that academy... it can be done there too?
A faint sense of curiosity surged within Ji Juechen's heart.
However, he didn't ask anything, simply standing there quietly.
Seeing the atmosphere turn slightly subtle, Meng Hongchen quickly spoke to break the silence.
"Alright, alright, let's not talk about this."
She waved her hand, a gleam of excitement flashing in her large blue eyes.
"Huo Yuhao, you haven't been to the auction house here yet, have you?"
Huo Yuhao was slightly startled and shook his head.
"Not yet."
"Then it's perfect!"
Meng Hongchen clapped her hands, a smile appearing on her face.
"There's an auction later. I was planning on going anyway, so I'll take you along to see it!"
"The auctions in our Sun Moon Empire are quite interesting; there are many good things you can't buy outside!"
Hearing this, Xiao Hongchen also nodded.
"Yeah, it's good to go take a look. You might encounter something useful."
Huo Yuhao thought about it and nodded.
"Okay."
The three of them then walked toward the academy exit.
Ji Juechen watched their departing figures, remained silent for a moment, and then turned to walk in another direction.
...
Sun Moon Empire, Royal Auction House.
This was a magnificent building, constructed entirely of white megaliths. Two tall stone statues stood at the entrance, carved with lifelike Spirit Beast patterns.
Entering the auction house, what met the eye was a massive circular hall, surrounded by layers of VIP boxes. In the center was a wide auction stage covered in red velvet, looking exceptionally grand under the lights.
By this time, many people were already seated in the auction house, talking in low voices in small groups.
Xiao Hongchen was clearly a regular here. As soon as he entered, a waiter came forward respectfully.
"Young Master Xiao Hongchen, your box is ready. Please follow me."
Xiao Hongchen nodded and followed the waiter toward a VIP box on the second floor.
The box wasn't large but was quite exquisitely decorated, with soft leather sofas and a mahogany tea table set with fine snacks and tea.
Through the crystal glass at the front of the box, every detail on the auction stage below could be seen clearly.
Huo Yuhao sat down on the sofa, his gaze passing through the glass to fall upon the auction floor below.
"It's starting."
Meng Hongchen sat next to Huo Yuhao, her tone carrying a hint of excitement.
On the auction stage, a well-dressed middle-aged man stepped up, holding a small gavel with a professional smile on his face.
"Distinguished guests, welcome to the Royal Auction House. Today's auction begins now!"
"The first item: Thousand-Year Cold Iron, weighing approximately thirty pounds. Its texture is pure, making it an excellent material for crafting Class 5 Spirit Tools. Starting price: XX gold coins!"
Huo Yuhao looked at the piece of metal emitting a faint cold glow shown by the auctioneer. He gave it only a casual glance before looking away.
Thousand-Year Cold Iron?
It was indeed considered a good item outside, but in their Shrek Academy's warehouse, it didn't amount to much.
Xiao Hongchen noticed Huo Yuhao's expression and couldn't help but feel curious.
"What? Not interested?"
"Our academy has plenty of it too."
Xiao Hongchen's mouth twitched as he secretly wondered just how wealthy this guy's academy was.
The next few items were basically rare metals and Ores.
Blaze Copper, Profound Ice Stone, Stardust Sand...
Seeing Huo Yuhao's look of someone who had seen it all, Xiao Hongchen's sense of frustration deepened.
"Next is today's fifth item!"
The auctioneer's voice rang out again, tinged with excitement.
"This is a Class 4 Spirit Tool, the thunder bracer! When activated, it forms a layer of lightning shield around the body. Its defensive power is quite astonishing! Starting price: XX gold coins!"
Huo Yuhao finally looked up.
His gaze passed through the crystal glass and landed on the Spirit Tool on the auction stage.
It was a silver-white bracer, its surface inscribed with dense Spirit Power circuits that flickered with faint blue electrical arcs under the lights.
Huo Yuhao's eyes narrowed slightly.
The design of this thunder bracer... he hadn't seen it before!
He wanted to dismantle it and then study it.
Seeing Huo Yuhao's interested expression, Xiao Hongchen couldn't help but smile.
"What? You like it?"
"Yes."
Huo Yuhao nodded.
"I haven't seen the design of this bracer before. I want to buy it to study it."
"That's simple."
Xiao Hongchen smiled and waved his hand.
"I'll lend you the money. You bid first, and you can pay me back slowly later."
"No need."
Huo Yuhao shook his head, his tone calm.
"I have my own money."
Xiao Hongchen was stunned for a moment, then thought of something, and his mouth couldn't help but twitch.
True, that Soul Guided Car this guy had—if it were put up for sale, it would probably fetch an astronomical price.
How could he be short on money?
"thunder bracer, XX gold coins! Any more bids?"
The auctioneer's voice echoed through the auction house.
...
The price rose steadily.
Huo Yuhao picked up the bidding paddle on the tea table and pressed the button on it.
"XX!"
A number jumped onto the display screen outside the box.
After this number appeared, no one else competed with Huo Yuhao, and he successfully won the Spirit Tool.
As for the subsequent Spirit Tools, Huo Yuhao had seen them in the blueprints Xiao Hongchen had given him, so he didn't buy any more.
"Alright, distinguished guests!"
The auctioneer's voice rang out again, his tone carrying a hint of mystery.
"The next item up for auction is quite special."
"It is not metal, not a Spirit Tool, nor is it a Medicinal Pill."
"Instead, it is a... Carving Knife."
----------------------------------------------
A/N:
5 Power Stones = 1 Bonus Chapter
1 Review = 1 Bonus 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.