Chapter 146: Blondie? Exchange

"Senior Sister of the Inner Court—anyone who isn't completely ignorant of Shrek Academy's Inner Court should have heard of her." Lin Yun had also returned to his usual gentle demeanor, showing no trace of his earlier surprise.

Being stunned by someone's beauty was one thing, but Lin Yun wasn't the type to let Zhang Lexuan's looks cloud his judgment. At most, he'd be briefly taken aback at first sight.

Zhang Lexuan didn't comment on Lin Yun's words, only offering a reserved smile in response.

She was well aware of her reputation and prestige within the Inner Court. As the strongest student there, her influence even surpassed that of many Inner Court teachers, and she was deeply admired by numerous Inner Court disciples.

Ah… and there was also the matter of affection.

In the past, she had bound herself with a sense of obligation, unwilling to let go of the little boy in her heart. But now that she had cast all that aside, Zhang Lexuan felt much lighter.

Seeing that Zhang Lexuan remained silent, Lin Yun took the initiative to steer the conversation: "May I ask why Senior Sister sought me out? Please speak plainly."

Zhang Lexuan didn't bother correcting his form of address. Senior Sister was fine—it sounded much more pleasant and intimate than Dean Zhang, and she was already used to being called that anyway.

That said, she would have preferred if Lin Yun called her Sister Lexuan, but she knew that was unlikely.

After all, this was only their first meeting.

For some reason, even though Lin Yun's hair was a bright gold, Zhang Lexuan found it increasingly pleasing to the eye the more she looked at it. Unconsciously, her tone softened as well: "I called you here for official business. Do you remember your agreement with Dean Yan? The Academy has prepared the six 100,000-year spirit bones you requested. When would you like to proceed with the exchange?"

"Oh, the immortal herbs!" Lin Yun nodded in understanding.

It seemed Shrek Academy was in quite a hurry. To be honest, Lin Yun hadn't expected them to actually offer six 100,000-year spirit bones for the trade.

From Lin Yun's perspective, a single immortal herb wasn't worth six 100,000-year spirit bones—especially since what he was handing over was the Blazing Flame Scorching Sunflower.

He had already absorbed its spirit ring, spirit bone, and Scorching Sun Essence, leaving only the herb's main body, which retained its 100,000-year cultivation.

Without the spirit ring and spirit bone, the remaining Blazing Flame Scorching Sunflower was, at best, comparable in medicinal efficacy to a portion of Scorching Sun Essence. It would definitely be enough to help Ma Xiaotao purify her Evil Fire and achieve the level of Ultimate Fire Phoenix, but as for giving her the potential to become a god…

Have you asked the Buddha Tang up in the heavens about that?

Lin Yun had initially assumed they would at least haggle with him to lower the price. His bottom line was three 100,000-year spirit bones—after all, you had to aim high to settle for a decent deal.

But Shrek was being this straightforward?

For a moment, Lin Yun almost suspected that Shrek was planning to pull a move similar to what the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineering Academy had done.

Back then, Jing Hongchen had traded a pile of rare metals for a set of dubious soul tool blueprints from Huo Yuhao, only to later send the Holy Ghost Church's Dragon Emperor Douluo, Long Xiaoyao, to ambush him.

Now, Lin Yun was extorting six 100,000-year spirit bones from Shrek in exchange for an immortal herb. Would they send that old bastard Xuan Zi to intercept and kill him?

Surely not… right?

…Actually, that's very possible!

Lin Yun felt it was absolutely necessary to stay vigilant. Just having the Ice Empress around wasn't enough—if he ever had to leave in the future, he'd have to drag the Beast King along too, and maybe even Sheng Xin!

As a healer, the Radiant Unicorn might not be as overpowered as the Jade Phosphor Serpent, but she was definitely reliable.

Must. Stay. Cautious.

He couldn't afford to fall before the Buddha Tang only to capsize in Shrek's tiny gutter.

Watching Lin Yun's ever-shifting expressions, Zhang Lexuan tilted her head slightly, her eyes filled with confusion.

"Junior, junior?" she called softly, her red lips parting.

"Ah, my apologies, Senior Sister. I was lost in thought for a moment," Lin Yun snapped back to reality and offered an apologetic smile before continuing, "Since the Academy has already prepared the payment, I'll now explain the immortal herb I'm offering."

"This herb is called the Blazing Flame Scorching Sunflower, a 100,000-year-grade immortal herb. The Sea God Tang San once consumed this very herb, so its effects need no further explanation. If a fire-attribute soul master refines it, it will undoubtedly help evolve their martial soul to the level of Ultimate Fire."

With that, Lin Yun retrieved an exquisitely crafted fire-jade box from his soul tool and placed it on the table, slowly opening it.

A surge of scorching fire-attribute soul power immediately spread from the box, causing the paper documents on the table to yellow and warp slightly, as if they might burst into flames at any moment.

As the fiery energy gradually subsided, Zhang Lexuan looked down into the box and finally saw the Blazing Flame Scorching Sunflower in its full glory.

Rather than a plant, it looked more like a piece of premium fire-jade carved into the shape of a Chinese cabbage. Each of its crystalline, smooth leaves was flawless, and within its stems and foliage flowed energy resembling molten lava.

"This… is an immortal herb?" Zhang Lexuan murmured, her voice barely above a whisper as she stared in awe.

"Indeed, this is an immortal herb," Lin Yun affirmed with a nod and a smile.

He had no qualms about revealing it so openly because he had absolute confidence. Even if Shrek were shameless enough to attack him right within the Academy, all he had to do was signal the Ice Empress, and her Eternal Frozen Domain would instantly encase the entire Shrek Academy in ice before whisking him away.

Only those lacking confidence would hesitate. With the backing of the Star Dou Great Forest, Lin Yun feared no schemes or threats—at least not within the Douluo Continent.

Zhang Lexuan gave a slight nod before handing Lin Yun a soul storage ring. "These are the six 100,000-year spirit bones. Please inspect them, junior. If everything is in order, I'll take this immortal herb on behalf of the Academy."

Lin Yun didn't waste time either. He retrieved all the contents of the ring, and six heavy boxes materialized around him.

Each box was primarily made of lead, supplemented with other metals capable of isolating soul power—designed specifically to preserve spirit bones and mask their energy fluctuations.

Lin Yun opened them one by one. Inside each lead box lay a single bone, each from a different part of the body, yet all radiating terrifying soul power.

Even someone as composed as Zhang Lexuan couldn't help but feel a flicker of desire upon seeing these six spirit bones. The allure of spirit bones to a soul master was incomparable, let alone when they were all 100,000-year ones.

She forced herself to look away, refusing to let her gaze linger on them any longer.

If she kept looking, she feared she might succumb to greed.

(End of Chapter)

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