Word Count: 3,033 Words
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"Let the younger generation find their own fortunes. Why worry so much?" Elder Lin said with a smile.
Elder Lin, whose real name was Lin Huiqun, was one of the veteran elders of the Sea God Pavilion. She held an esteemed position in Shrek Academy, second only to Dragon God Douluo Elder Mu and Taotie Douluo Elder Xuan.
"Elder Lin, you truly have an open mind, but I have to consider the future of the academy!"
Yan Shaozhe slapped his thigh and enumerated, "Teacher's life is critically ill; Elder Xuan's Godly Taotie Bull Martial Spirit has fatal flaws. You, Elder Song, Elder Zhuang, and the others aren't getting any younger. I know I can't shoulder the heavy responsibility of being Sea God Pavilion Master. As for Old Qian, Lin'er, and Mei'er, their talents fall a bit short by the standards of a Sea God Pavilion Master.
The Seraphim is a light-attribute Martial Spirit, extremely suitable for Teacher to take on as his closed-door disciple. But this kind of young genius, with exceptional talent, a powerful background, and cunning intelligence, is like a hedgehog covered in spikes. I have no way to approach him!
Where lies the path forward for Shrek Academy? I've been losing sleep over this!"
"Shaozhe, the path is walked one step at a time. How can we be so domineering as to think that all the heroes under heaven should belong to Shrek? If we gain them, we are fortunate; if we lose them, it's fate. If that child is willing to join, the academy will naturally cultivate him with all our might. If he's unwilling, then let him return home. As long as he contributes to the Three Great Empires of the Douluo Continent, Shrek Academy will always bless him."
Elder Lin's expression was exceedingly gentle, like a kind grandmother. She said softly, "Lexuan and Xiaotao are rare geniuses. Ruoruo and Wu Ming have already developed the intention to fully join the academy. In the next generation, there's Bei Bei and Xu Sanshi—the Twin Stars of the Outer Courtyard; Jiang Nannan, who possesses the same Martial Spirit as Ancestor Xiao Wu, the Soft Bone Rabbit; and the Spirit Guidance Department geniuses Qian Fufu and He Caitou. When they grow up and form the Sea God Pavilion, they won't be inferior to us old folks in the slightest."
Yan Shaozhe sighed, "To be honest with you, after seeing the best, when I look at Lexuan and the others, I always feel that something is missing in my heart. If done, some things will invite criticism; if not, I'll feel unwilling. Unless the academy suddenly produces an Ultimate Martial Spirit, only then can I give up on trying to win over Ling Bai."
"How could an Ultimate Martial Spirit be so easy to find? In the academy's ten-thousand-year history, there have only been three Ultimate attributes!" Elder Lin advised earnestly. "That old ghost Jianmu never married and has no descendants to inherit his skills. Nearing the end of his life, he finally took in a direct disciple. Shrek doesn't need to forcibly seize him."
"Speaking of Senior Jianmu..."
A past incident suddenly popped into Yan Shaozhe's mind, and his expression toward Elder Lin changed instantly. "I heard from Teacher that back then you seemed to have fallen for him at..."
BOOM—
Elder Lin's aged body suddenly erupted with a majestic aura. She pressed down on Yan Shaozhe, the Bright Phoenix Douluo and Dean of the Martial Spirit Department, forcibly pushing the two words about to escape his mouth back into his belly. A dangerous cold light flickered in her eyes as she said:
"Shaozhe, if you don't understand reason and insist on saying things you shouldn't, this old lady knows a thing or two about fighting..."
"Uh... Elder Lin, I was just joking. Please calm your anger, calm your anger...!"
….
On the second floor of the Treasure Gathering Pavilion, Ling Bai sold his pots and pans, his this and that, and finally scraped together enough spirit gold coins. He swiped his card at the west counter to make the payment, then gazed deeply at the meager two hundred and fifty spirit gold coins left in his account and lamented:
"I was clearly filthy rich just an hour ago. How did I suddenly become penniless!"
Gone, all gone! All the pocket money he'd painstakingly saved over the years was gone, and even the unexpected windfall from looting the two Titled Douluo in the Extreme North was gone!
With only two hundred and fifty spirit gold coins left, he could only be thankful that the Inner Court cafeteria was free; otherwise, he might have to set up a stall selling grilled fish at the East Gate like Huo Yuhao!
Actually, he still had some priceless treasures in his possession: a 70,000-year Scorching Sun Fire Dragon torso bone, a 50,000-year Diamond Mammoth right arm bone, seven Ultimate Ice 10,000-year Snow Lotuses, a Class 9 Spirit Guidance Device God Sealing Altar (damaged), the peak Class 8 Spirit Guidance Device Thousand Illusion Charming Appearance, a Class 8 Spirit Guidance Device Aura Barrier, a Class 8 trigger-type Spirit Barrier (damaged), and a Class 7 Milk Bottle.
Selling them off could instantly amass a huge sum, but Ling Bai had already made plans for most of these items. The only somewhat useless item was the Aura Barrier, a Class 8 Spirit Guidance Device produced by the Illustrious Virtue Hall. Selling it to the unscrupulous buyers at the Treasure Gathering Pavilion wouldn't be as profitable as auctioning it at an auction house.
Ma Xiaotao saw Ling Bai looking utterly despondent and tried hard to suppress her laughter while consoling him, "It's not a loss, not a loss. At least you obtained the bloodline essence of a 300,000-year true dragon spirit beast. It'll greatly benefit your Seraphim Martial Spirit."
Ling Bai glanced briefly at her red lips bearing teeth marks and nodded, "I'll take your word for it and hypnotize myself like that from now on."
"Pfft, hahaha!"
…
The exhibits at the Treasure Gathering Pavilion were all-encompassing. The three of them spent a full three hours browsing. Ling Bai, now transformed into a pauper, could only stare helplessly. Fortunately, no other high-end treasures appeared; otherwise, he'd have to run back to borrow money from the little rich girl Ning Tian.
After pondering for a long time, Ma Xiaotao and Ling Luochen each used their black-ranked VIP cards. They purchased a Phoenix Blood Fruit collected from the depths of a blazing volcano, containing the power of a Fire Phoenix, and a Frost Flower, a unique Heaven and Earth Treasure found in the core region of the Extreme North. These were suitable for the development of their respective Martial Spirits.
The Phoenix Blood Fruit was priced at 500,000, and the Frost Flower at 450,000; together, less than one percent of the Radiance of Glory's price. After enjoying the black-ranked 30% discount, they spent even less. Yet they still wore bitter expressions, lamenting their poverty, unlike a certain fellow who spent 60 million spirit gold coins on a vial of liquid.
Ling Bai immediately decided to cover his ears and distance himself from them. Unintentionally, he noticed an inconspicuous black object in a corner. The price tag next to it prominently read:
1,000-year Whale Rubber, 6,000 spirit gold coins.
"Oh?"
Ling Bai walked over to the display stand of the 1,000-year Whale Rubber. It was a crystal as black as ink, with a dull and uneven surface. Not to mention comparing it to the no noble purple-gold luster of the Radiance of Glory, it wasn't even as attractive as the Phoenix Blood Fruit and Frost Flower the two girls had bought.
Next to it was the treasure's description:
*Whale Rubber is a special substance formed in the brains of whale-type spirit beasts. It has powerful effects of strengthening the body, enhancing bones, and nourishing yin and replenishing yang.
This piece of Whale Rubber was purchased by the Treasure Gathering Pavilion from coastal fishermen. According to the fishermen, their ancestors happened to encounter a severely injured and deceased 1,000-year Deep Sea Demonic Whale while fishing at sea. They then invited a Spirit Master to cut open the whale's brain to extract the Whale Rubber.
The Whale Rubber from a 1,000-year Demonic Whale is originally golden in color and highly valuable. The volume of this Whale Rubber is large enough to cause a Spirit Master's body to undergo a complete transformation. However, the fishermen did not properly preserve this Whale Rubber, and after several decades of weathering, it has slightly deteriorated but can still be consumed normally.*
"Mm, no mistake."
After reading the description, Ling Bai was certain: there's only one truth—you are a 10,000-year Whale Rubber!
Shrek's Treasure Gathering Pavilion didn't recognize it and mistook it for 1,000-year Whale Rubber!
Back then, Ning Fengya had issued a bounty to coastal Spirit Masters for 10,000-year Deep Sea Demonic Whales to enhance the constitution of the clan's future stars. She directly purchased several Deep Sea Demonic Whales in a lavish display and brought them back to dig out the Whale Rubber. To this day, Ling Bai could clearly recall the sticky and greasy mouthfeel of Whale Rubber.
He had eaten so much already that consuming more would be meaningless. It was the same for Ning Tian. Wu Feng's status originally didn't qualify her to have 10,000-year Whale Rubber meal after meal, but Ling Bai and Ning Tian couldn't help but secretly give her extra servings, so she didn't miss out either.
Although Ling Bai didn't want to consume the 10,000-year Whale Rubber, he could engage in the old trade that made the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Clan rich: reselling!
Ling Bai glanced at the two girls who had followed him over, one on the left and one on the right. Ling Luochen stood tall and graceful, cold and aloof, emitting a low-pressure aura that kept strangers at a distance. Ma Xiaotao had a shapely figure and wore a curious expression, as if guessing why he was staring at a piece of extremely low-quality 1,000-year Whale Rubber.
After a brief internal struggle of two and a half seconds, Ling Bai turned to Ma Xiaotao, who seemed easier to talk to and whom he was more familiar with, and said:
"Um, Classmate Ma... could you lend me 4,000?"
With the red-ranked VIP discount, it was 3,600 spirit gold coins. He simply rounded it up.
"What?"
Ma Xiaotao was overjoyed but immediately furrowed her brows, pretending to be displeased. "I'm very happy that you're borrowing money from me because it means you trust me. But I don't like how you're addressing me. Come on, call me Sister Xiaotao; let me hear it!"
Over the past year, perhaps because she had once been beaten up and owed him a favor for resolving the Evil Fire, she naturally lowered herself a notch in front of him. Now she finally had a chance to be smug for once!
"Then never mind. Classmate Ling Luochen!"
Ling Bai instantly changed targets, but his second target, Ling Luochen, had disappeared at some point.
"Hey, hey, hey, don't look for her! I'll give you 4,000 for free! 10,000! Is 10,000 spirit gold coins okay!"
Ma Xiaotao no longer dared to put on airs when she heard him call out to Ling Luochen. In an instant, she proactively offered up 10,000 spirit gold coins.
Dean Yan Shaozhe's character might be debatable, but his grasp of human nature was absolutely first-rate. The two of them weren't even in the same league. Ling Bai could manipulate Ma Xiaotao with just a flick of his little finger.
Ling Bai reluctantly agreed and inwardly sighed, Women, oh women, truly incomprehensible!
Ma Xiaotao pulled out a gold card loaded with 10,000 spirit gold coins and handed it to Ling Bai. She couldn't help but ask, "Can you tell me why you'd rather borrow money to buy this blackened, deteriorated 1,000-year Whale Rubber?"
Ling Bai didn't mind explaining, "This is 10,000-year Deep Sea Demonic Whale Rubber, the cream of the crop among Whale Rubbers. I'll buy it and resell it; in one transaction, at least this amount."
He raised five fingers.
500,000!
"You really deserve to be from the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Clan. Your talent for finding bargains is maxed out..."
Ma Xiaotao was speechless. The true ancestral secret techniques of the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Clan had found a successor!
Just as Ling Bai was about to head to the western counter to make the payment, Ling Luochen suddenly appeared like a ghost on his left side, presenting a receipt bearing the emblem of the Treasure Gathering Pavilion.
"The receipt for the Whale Rubber. I wrote your name on it. It'll be delivered to the Inner Courtyard tomorrow morning along with the Radiance of Glory. Don't forget to sign for it."
While Ling Bai and Ma Xiaotao were chatting and bantering, the action-oriented Ling Luochen had already gone to the front desk to make the payment, and even the invoice was prepared!
"Thank you. I'll pay you back double for the Whale Rubber another day."
Given their lukewarm relationship, Ling Bai hadn't expected Ling Luochen to go to such lengths. He immediately made a promise. Ma Xiaotao, on the other hand, flew into a rage. Her pair of beautiful pink eyes locked onto Ling Luochen. Who are you? Get out of her body right now!
Qian Fufu would be crying!
The journey to the Treasure Appreciation Gathering came to a perfect end. On the way back to Shrek Academy, the three of them chatted aimlessly.
"Did you know? After all the advancement examinations in the Outer Courtyard end in a week, they'll be selecting the next Shrek Seven Monsters Reserve Team for the Continental Elite Spirit Master Academy Tournament," Ma Xiaotao said.
"It's always around this time each year," Ling Luochen added.
"Can we go to the Outer Courtyard to watch?"
Ling Bai knew how much blood and sweat Ning Tian and Wu Feng had poured into this. He hoped they could properly wash away their previous shame and rightfully secure spots on the Shrek Seven Monsters Reserve Team. He wanted to be there to witness it.
"Watch..." Ma Xiaotao hesitated. "In theory, Elder Xuan hasn't forbidden it, but normally, the official Seven Monsters are supposed to maintain an aloof and mysterious image."
"Then that's simple, we'll just watch in secret. I'll get Yao Haoxuan to call everyone. He loves lively events and will definitely drag the others along to watch."
Besides Ma Xiaotao and Ling Luochen, the remaining official Shrek Seven Monsters were Dai Yueheng, Gongyang Mo, Xi Xi, and Yao Haoxuan. Among them, the one who had a slightly better relationship with Ling Bai was the outgoing Yao Haoxuan. Finding Yao Haoxuan for this kind of thing was the right choice.
"Alright, we can also get a preview of who our future teammates might be," Ma Xiaotao agreed. "Let's make a bet while we're at it. Each of us picks an Outer Courtyard student to see if they can make it onto the reserve team. The loser has to sit in the rest area during the first elimination match and isn't allowed to go on stage, just watch others perform!"
"Ning Tian."
Ling Bai unconditionally supported his childhood sweetheart.
"That's biased! Fine, I'll bet on Xu Sanshi."
Ma Xiaotao had a sense of Xu Sanshi's strength. The Outer Courtyard's number one defense-type Spirit Master should be selected.
"Jiang Nannan," Ling Luochen said softly.
She had entered the Inner Courtyard less than three years ago but had already heard about the powerful spirit skills of the Soft Bone Rabbit Jiang Nannan.
"A bet's a bet. Don't you dare back out!"
...
One week later, at Testing Area No.1 of the Spirit Guidance Department.
"Xiao Tian, I've repaired Ling Bai's Class 8 trigger-type Spirit Barrier. Before the tournament begins, I promise to return the Thousand Illusion Charming Appearance to him!"
"Okay, thank you, Teacher's Husband."
Spirit Guidance Department Vice Dean Qian Duoduo handed the Class 8 Spirit Barrier to Ning Tian. He had swallowed his pride on the second day after school started to ask Ning Tian to lend him the peak Class 8 Spirit Guidance Device Thousand Illusion Charming Appearance for a few days of research. It just so happened that Ling Bai wanted to find a high-class Spirit Guidance Master to repair his Spirit Barrier.
The two of them discussed and immediately made a deal on the spot. Qian Duoduo would be responsible for repairing the Spirit Barrier before the start of the Continental Elite Spirit Master Academy Tournament, with the material costs borne by Ling Bai himself. Qian Duoduo's payment was the opportunity to study the Thousand Illusion Charming Appearance for a period of time.
"By the way, today you core disciples of the Outer Courtyard are going to hold a competition. The seven winners will jointly complete a special mission."
Qian Duoduo looked around and, after ensuring there was no one else nearby, whispered, "That's actually just a cover to fool the naïve youngsters. In reality, it's to select the Shrek Seven Monsters Reserve Team. Try your best to win if you can! Last year, Fufu was kicked out of the main team, making your teacher stomp her feet in anger for three days and nights. This year, the Spirit Guidance Department has sent out three core disciples, you and Fan Yu's two apprentices. You must fight for the honor of the Spirit Guidance Department!"
"Rest assured, Teacher's Husband. Perhaps this year, for the first time ever, all three of our Spirit Guidance Department students will be selected." A flawless smile appeared on Ning Tian's pretty face.
"Hehe, then I'll ride directly on Old Yan's shoulders and play horsey!"
"Teacher's Husband, I'll be going now."
"Mm-hmm, do your best!"
Ning Tian left the testing area. Wu Feng had been waiting for quite some time. The former's smile vanished, replaced by an expressionless face. She looked up at the sky, clear and bright with no clouds in sight. It was a good omen.
"Let's go, Xiao Feng. The time has come to wash away our shame."