Soon after, the Star Luo Emperor, Xu Jiawei, personally came to Shrek Academy's VIP room to greet them. Through his intelligence network, he had gathered quite a bit of information.
Among them, the two people who interested him most were Su Yunlin and Huo Yuhao.
Huo Yuhao was a native of the Star Luo Empire—one of his own subjects. According to the intelligence reports, Huo Yuhao likely possessed an Ultimate Ice Martial Soul, so Xu Jiawei intended to use the Ice Jade Scorpion left arm bone to build goodwill with him.
As for Su Yunlin, he came from the Heavenly Soul Empire. Theoretically speaking, the Star Luo Empire and the Heavenly Soul Empire were enemies.
However, there was currently a far greater threat—the Sun Moon Empire.
Because of that, the three Douluo nations maintained an alliance to jointly resist the Sun Moon Empire.
Still, that did not stop Xu Jiawei from trying to recruit Su Yunlin.
He knew of the Dark Night Duke's Estate, which had once rendered countless contributions to the Heavenly Soul Empire, only to be continuously suppressed in recent years.
The current Heavenly Soul Emperor was much closer to the Body Sect, while the Dark Night Duke's Estate had been pushed aside.
Xu Jiawei had also received another interesting piece of information: the current Dark Night Duke had once advocated for equipping the military with soul tools, only to be rejected by the Heavenly Soul Emperor, who had even stripped him of military authority afterward.
Xu Jiawei genuinely wondered if the emperor was an idiot.
The man had tried to strengthen the military, yet instead of being rewarded, he was punished. Wasn't that equivalent to stabbing oneself?
Since the Heavenly Soul Emperor didn't want such talent, Xu Jiawei certainly did.
He urgently needed capable people like the Dark Night Duke. He had heard that the duke had brought his family to Star Luo City to watch his son compete.
Xu Jiawei intended to befriend the Dark Night Duke and later find a way to recruit their entire family into the Star Luo Empire.
That was why the auction house had staged the earlier bidding war themselves—buying their own Spirit Bone so they could later present it as a favor.
After Xu Jiawei left, Su Yunlin more or less understood the situation. Even Wang Dong, who usually wasn't the quickest to catch on, figured it out.
Wang Dong patted Su Yunlin's arm. "Yunlin, you've become quite the hot commodity. Everywhere you go, people want to recruit you."
Su Yunlin spread his hands helplessly. "Can't help it. I'm just too outstanding. Everyone likes me wherever I go."
At that moment, Dai Yueheng's expression subtly changed.
He could tell that the emperor wanted to recruit the Dark Night Duke's Estate. But if the Dark Night Duke's Estate joined Star Luo… what would happen to the White Tiger Duke's Estate?
Meanwhile, Su Tianxuan returned.
Su Jinming looked puzzled. His father had come back awfully quickly. Had he already succeeded? Did he really just rob the auction house on the spot?
Su Tianxuan's face twitched slightly before he took out a Spirit Bone—the very same eighty-thousand-year Dark Nether Hell Right Arm Bone from earlier.
"Dad… you really snatched it directly from the auction house?" Su Jinming exclaimed.
Su Tianxuan shook his head. "No. That brat surnamed Xu gave it to me. The entire bidding process earlier was staged by them to recruit our family into the Star Luo Empire."
"Tch. Quite the generous bargaining chip." Su Jinming clicked his tongue. "Compared to this, the Heavenly Soul Emperor looks more and more like a complete idiot."
"It can't be helped." Su Tianxuan sighed. "Your mother was a princess of the Heavenly Soul Empire. You inherently possess half of the imperial bloodline. According to Heavenly Soul customs, if the imperial family ever loses power, an outsider with royal blood like you can directly inherit the throne."
"The token your mother left you before she passed away—is it still with you?"
"Of course."
Su Jinming pulled down his collar, revealing an ancient necklace hanging around his neck. The pendant bore the two characters: Heavenly Soul.
"This is the key to your claim to the throne," Su Tianxuan said solemnly. "Right now, while the imperial family is stable, it's meaningless. But if a major upheaval ever occurs within the royal family, this token will become immensely important."
"I know. Mother already told me all that." Su Jinming's voice was calm. "She even said it would be best if Lin'er inherited the throne someday. But Lin'er definitely won't be interested, so I never cared much about it."
"Besides, Lin'er already said our whole family will move to Shrek later. What does the Heavenly Soul Empire have to do with us anymore?"
Su Jinming held deep resentment toward the Heavenly Soul imperial family.
He knew very well that the reason he had been suppressed was because he possessed the qualifications to contend for the throne. He had never even told his son about this matter.
After all, Su Jinming himself was already a Titled Douluo, and not even particularly old. His father was a Super Douluo—the chief worshiper of the Heavenly Soul Empire's Hall of Offerings.
With connections like that, how could the emperor not feel threatened?
A Titled Douluo with the right to compete for the throne, backed by a Super Douluo father—
How could any emperor sleep peacefully under those circumstances?
Su Tianxuan nodded. "Lin'er truly dislikes these kinds of matters. Since he wants to remain in Shrek, then we'll move there together. The sooner, the better."
"Yuer is pregnant now. Recovering beneath the Golden Tree will be best for her and the child."
"After this Spirit Master Tournament ends, we'll personally make a trip to the Sea God Pavilion. Since Lin'er has already arranged everything for us, we might as well move over sooner rather than later—save certain little brats from getting restless."
"Mm."
Su Yunlin had no idea what his grandfather and father had discussed. To him, as long as his parents and grandfather were alive and living freely, that was enough.
Unfortunately, his grandmother had encountered complications while trying to break through to Titled Douluo. Her body suffered irreversible damage, and she eventually passed away from natural causes. At the time, Su Yunlin had only been four years old.
Back at the auction—
The final item, the "hundred-thousand-year Spirit Beast embryo," was ultimately purchased by the Sun Moon Empire delegation.
While they were proudly celebrating their success, they had no idea that this was all part of Emperor Xu Jiawei's scheme.
Afterward, the Shrek Academy group left the Starlight Auction House and happened to run into the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy team.
At that moment, Xiao Hongchen looked extremely smug. He now believed he possessed the qualifications of a twin Martial Soul user and was certain he could defeat Shrek Academy's prized genius.
"Su Yunlin! Remember this—I will defeat you!"
Su Yunlin raised a brow. This chuuni teenager was acting up again.
Tilting his head slightly, he replied, "Who are you again?"
Wang Dong instantly understood Su Yunlin's meaning and tilted his head as well.
"Uncle, who are you?"
"Uncle? Me?" Xiao Hongchen pointed at himself in disbelief.
"Pfft—HAHAHAHA!"
The students from the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy burst into laughter.
Xiao Hongchen's face darkened. "Do I really look that old?"
"Not exactly old," Wang Dong said innocently, "but not young either. Uncle should be the team leader of the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy, right?"
Crack.
Xiao Hongchen felt like his soul had shattered.
He was only fourteen years old! And he was being called "uncle"?!
Was it just because he kept facial hair?
At that moment, Meng Hongchen walked over with a smile.
"Little brother, my brother is only fourteen this year. He's not some uncle."
Wang Dong turned toward Meng Hongchen—the lovestruck girl she remembered.
Then she smiled brightly.
"Big sister, you're really pretty."
Meng Hongchen froze instantly.
Her heart began pounding violently, and her pretty face flushed red.
"You're really handsome too… and the one beside you is handsome as well."
Wang Dong smiled faintly.
"So that uncle is your brother? You really don't look alike. Are you actually siblings? The difference feels pretty huge."
"You brat, are you looking for a beating?!" Xiao Hongchen exploded on the spot.
Wang Dong's roundabout insults dealt critical damage to his fragile young heart.
"Brother, why are you being so fierce?!" Meng Hongchen hurriedly stopped him.
"Meng… don't tell me you actually—" Xiao Hongchen looked utterly speechless. His lovestruck little sister was already falling again?
By then, Wang Dong had already pulled Su Yunlin away, and the rest of Shrek Academy followed behind them.
Every single one of them was trying desperately not to laugh.
Only after they had gone a fair distance did Su Yunlin finally burst into laughter.
"I never expected you to be some legendary heart-stealer. Meng Hongchen's practically wrapped around your finger already."
"Of course~ And who do you think I am?" Wang Dong proudly raised her chin. "Too bad I'm a girl. Otherwise, I'd definitely build a harem!"
Su Yunlin smacked a hand onto Wang Dong's head.
"You still want a harem? Am I not enough for you alone?"
"Tsk tsk, someone's jealous The vinegar smell is so strong" Ma Xiaotao chimed in teasingly.
"Hahahahaha!"
The atmosphere on Shrek Academy's side was incredibly cheerful.
Not far behind them, the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy team was just as lively.
"Let's go, Uncle Xiao Hongchen!"
"Ma Rulong, I'm seriously gonna hit you!" Xiao Hongchen instantly exploded again.
"Oh my, Uncle's hitting people! Uncle's hitting people!"
"Hahahahaha!"
After all the joking around, the atmosphere within the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy became even more harmonious.
Even Xiao Hongchen wasn't truly angry anymore.
In fact… he found the atmosphere rather nice.
...
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