Treasure Appreciation Gathering

The two of them quickly worked together to restore the dormitory to its previous clean state.

Huo Yuhao wasn't in a hurry to move out either. He planned to stay a few more days just for appearances. If he left immediately, how would Wang Dong handle the situation?

If he did that, their relationship would become too awkward.

Life returned to a calm rhythm—classes, meals, cultivation—day after day.

That evening, Huo Yuhao dragged his exhausted body back into the academy. Lately, Wang Qiu'er had been challenging him to spar almost every other day. Just now, he had gotten his ass handed to him.

"Hey, if it isn't little Yuhao! Why do you look like you're running on fumes?" a familiar voice called out.

Huo Yuhao looked up to see Tang Ya and Bei Bei walking toward him.

"Hi Sister Ya, Brother Bei, out this late?" Huo Yuhao asked casually.

"We're heading to the Core Disciples' Treasure Appreciation Gathering. Wanna come with?" Tang Ya said, waving a red gilded invitation in her hand.

"Sure, perfect chance to broaden my horizons. I was actually thinking of asking someone for directions." Huo Yuhao replied.

This so-called Treasure Appreciation Gathering was organized by major merchants within Shrek City. These businesses formed a United Merchant Guild, and when they acquired rare items, they would hold a trading event like this one. Prices were kept low to win favor with Shrek's students.

After Shrek selected what they wanted, the rest would be sold to other factions or individuals.

Some even said the biggest shareholder behind the United Merchant Guild was the Sea God Pavilion, though whether that was true or not remained uncertain.

Huo Yuhao had received an invitation a few days ago—in fact, all core disciples of the academy had received one.

"Heh, don't worry about money. If there's something you really want but can't afford, the guild allows purchases on credit," Bei Bei chimed in cheerfully.

"On credit?"

Tch. Already trying to reel people in at such a young age? Huo Yuhao knew the current leader of Shrek was Bei Bei's great-grandfather, which explained his casual tone. Still, Huo Yuhao played along and asked.

Bei Bei continued, "Being named a core disciple means you're highly talented and full of potential. Graduating from the outer courtyard is basically guaranteed. The minimum graduation requirement is reaching Soul Ancestor level, and our academy's Soul Masters are on a different level from those trained in second-rate schools. Wherever they go—any country or faction—they're treated as honored guests. So of course the merchants want to build ties early."

"As for buying on credit, it's basically an investment from the merchants. The student signs a contract and repays the debt over time, with interest, of course."

So... installment payments. Huo Yuhao silently thought. Damn, they're making money and earning goodwill. Businesspeople really don't miss a trick.

The Treasure Pavilion was a four-story building over twenty meters tall, with a dazzling golden exterior befitting its name. This was the headquarters of the United Merchant Guild. By now, the three had arrived.

Outside, four young girls around seventeen or eighteen welcomed guests. Each one had a sweet face and charming demeanor.

The three stepped forward and showed their invitations. One of the girls then led them inside.

Huo Yuhao couldn't help thinking, What a life of luxury...

Inside, the Treasure Pavilion exuded extravagance. Everywhere you looked, it gleamed with gold and silver. The chandelier above cast a soft, precious glow, adding a touch of nobility to the room.

No exaggeration—if an ordinary person stepped into this place, they'd probably freeze at the door.

Eight girls dressed in short golden skirts stood in neat rows along the hallway. They appeared to be younger than the girls outside—maybe fifteen or sixteen—but each was well-developed, with curvy figures and eye-catching legs peeking out from under their skirts.

"Tsk tsk, look at you leering like a creep. If you like one, go for it—who knows, maybe she'll like you too." Tang Ya teased, catching Huo Yuhao's wandering eyes.

"Hehe, I'm just admiring the view—pure appreciation, I swear. I don't have the energy for anything else," Huo Yuhao replied with a grin, showing no sign of embarrassment.

The reception girl led the three up to the second floor where the Treasure Gathering was being held, then left them.

Dozens of transparent crystal display cases filled the hall. Inside them were the treasures. The trio strolled around leisurely. The collection was dazzling—Soul Tools, rare herbs and pills, even Soul Bones.

Huo Yuhao was overwhelmed. One thought echoed in his mind: Damn, I'm broke as hell.

Sure, he'd looted the belongings of five Soul Ancestors and a Soul King—but standing here, he saw how poor he truly was.

No exaggeration: even the cheapest item here could wipe out his entire fortune.

He saw several items he liked, but he had no choice but to give them up. As for buying on credit? Hell no.

"The item on the right, Yuhao. Get it—no matter the cost." Suddenly, the voice of Skydream Iceworm rang in his mind.

"Skydream? You're awake? What's special about that thing?" Huo Yuhao asked curiously. Ever since he'd subdued Ice Empress, the guy had gotten lazier, sleeping almost all the time.

While speaking, Huo Yuhao looked at an unremarkable gray crystal ball. But when he saw the description—Millennium Whale Glue—it clicked. He remembered in the original story that the Treasure Gathering had mislabeled a Ten-Thousand-Year Whale Glue as a Millennium one, letting Dai Yuhao get a huge bargain. This must be the same item.

Whale Glue was a rare substance produced in the brains of whale-type Soul Beasts. Consuming it significantly enhanced a Soul Master's physical body. Wealthy factions often gave it to their juniors so they could absorb soul rings beyond their age limit.

From what Huo Yuhao knew, Wang Dong had benefitted from this treatment.

Some nobles even used low-grade Whale Glue to treat performance issues in bed—after eating it, they'd become vigorous again, like a Douluo-brand Viagra.

The organizers hadn't recognized the value of the item and mislabeled it. Of course Huo Yuhao wasn't going to miss out. Even if he didn't use it himself, he could resell it later for a high price.

At 6,000 Gold Soul Coins, the item was practically the cheapest in the entire hall. He paid and pocketed it.

[Reader note: Some readers have complained that Dai Hao didn't even know about Huo Yuhao's existence, but Huo Yun'er gave birth to Huo Yuhao openly in the Duke's mansion. How could Dai Hao not know? He probably just forgot about his "untalented" son after years of being away at war. That seems most likely.]

[Also, wow, the writing in Soul Land II is pretty wild. I skipped around a lot, so maybe I missed some things, but the plot holes are insane. The author just wrote whatever came to mind. They had flying soul tools, yet people still traveled by carriage. Make it make sense.]

[In the early chapters, it says the Divine Realm was created by the Creation God, who split into five God Kings. Then in Soul Land IV they change it and say the Dragon God created it. Seriously? If the Dragon God was that powerful, how'd he end up dead? And why would he make a rule that Soul Beasts can't become gods? Total nonsense.]

[Oops, got too into it. These plot twists are really something.]

(End of Chapter)