Douluo Continent: The Peerless Hunting Heavenly Lord, Huo Yuhao!

"Hey? Are you juniors here for the auction too?" Tang Ya, with her sharp eyes, spotted Huo Yuhao and his group of four at a glance. She immediately greeted them with a smile, "Hello, juniors. I'm Tang Ya, a third-year student at Shrek Academy. This is my companion, Bei Bei."

Her gaze swept over the four people, lingering on Huo Yuhao, Gu Yue, and Ning Tian for a few more seconds, a hint of amazement flashing in her eyes.

To receive an invitation to the Jubaoge auction in her first year, she is undoubtedly the most outstanding genius among the freshmen, and exactly the fresh blood she needs to rebuild the Tang Sect.

Huo Yuhao nodded slightly to Tang Ya, displaying impeccable manners, much like Emperor Liu Bei of Han introducing himself: "First-year student, president of the Lionheart Society, Huo Yuhao."

Ning Tian, ​​Gu Yue, and Wu Feng exchanged glances. Although they didn't understand why Huo Yuhao had specifically added the suffix "Lionheart Society," they tacitly followed suit and spoke:

"First-year student, Lionheart Society, Ning Tian."

"First-year student, Lionheart Society, Gu Yue."

"First-year students, Lionheart Society, Witch Wind."

Each of the four sentences contains the words "Lionheart Society," clearly stating their stance.

Tang Ya's smile froze instantly, the enthusiasm in her eyes faded, leaving only deep disappointment.

She had originally thought that these new students were exceptionally talented, and she could invite them to join the Tang Clan to help her expand the sect. However, it turned out that they already had their own organization, and judging from the name, it was obviously quite large.

"Xiaoya, who are these four?" Beibei walked over quickly, her refined gaze sweeping over Huo Yuhao and the other three with a hint of doubt and wariness.

Tang Ya listlessly introduced the four people. Upon hearing this, Bei Bei's face lit up with a look of sudden realization. She smiled and cupped her hands in greeting to Huo Yuhao: "So it's Junior Brother Huo. No wonder your name sounded familiar. Recently, your name has been all over the Foreign Languages ​​Department. You're the overall champion of the freshman competition, the founder of the Lionheart Club, and are known as the strongest freshman of this year. I've heard so much about you."

"You flatter me, senior. It was just good luck." Huo Yuhao smiled, glanced at Gu Yue beside him without leaving a trace, and nodded slightly to the two of them. "If there's nothing else, we'll go in first. Please forgive us, seniors."

He really didn't want to spend any more time with Tang Ya and Bei Bei.

There's no other reason than that Tang Buddha, who lives far away in the divine realm, might cast a curse across different dimensions.

The thought of Tang San's all-encompassing control in the original novel made Huo Yuhao feel extremely uncomfortable.

Not to mention, the Imperial Bow of Fate in his palm had been trembling slightly ever since he saw Tang Ya. The murderous aura of the Star God of Hunting was stirring, as if it had sensed something else and was on high alert.

He showed no reaction to Ma Xiaotao's phoenix bloodline, yet he made such a commotion with the faint, yet unawakened, devouring power on Tang Ya's body, which made him wary.

(In a magnificent golden temple in the God Realm, Tang San suddenly sneezed, rubbed his nose, and roared through gritted teeth, "Damn God of Destruction!!")

"Since you have something to do, junior, please do as you wish." Bei Bei was very perceptive and immediately saw Huo Yuhao's aloofness. She smiled and pulled Tang Ya, who was about to say something, and politely stepped aside, her tone carrying just the right amount of distance.

There was no gratitude for meeting as depicted in the original work, nor any camaraderie in fighting side by side. Politeness was a given, and distance was the norm; this was simply the most normal way for strangers to get along.

Huo Yuhao and the other three nodded to the two again, then turned and walked into the gate of Jubaoge.

……

None of them noticed that in the shadows of the alley not far away, a pair of bloodshot eyes were staring intently at Huo Yuhao's back.

Dai Huabin stood in the shadows, his hands clenched tightly, his knuckles white, his nails digging deep into his palms, oblivious to the blood seeping out.

The crushing defeat in the freshman competition, the replacement of the class teacher of Class Zero, and the rumors of "Huo Yuhao being the strongest freshman" spreading throughout the entire academy—each of these events was like a knife, stabbing into his proud heart.

"Huo Yuhao... Dai Yuhao... you bastard!" Dai Huabin gritted his teeth, his voice squeezed out from between his teeth, filled with bone-chilling hatred and resentment, "So what if you climbed up the high branch of the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile School? So what if you stole my glory? You dare to block my path to rebuilding the glory of the White Tiger Clan, I will definitely kill you!!"

After speaking, he gave the entrance of the Treasure Pavilion a sinister look, then turned and disappeared into the deeper shadows.

……

The moment you step through the gates of Jubaoge, a warm and pleasant fragrance wafts over you, shutting out the noise of the outside world.

Everywhere you look, there is a dazzling, magnificent, and grand atmosphere.

The floor was paved with gleaming white jade, and a huge crystal chandelier hung overhead, casting dappled light that illuminated the entire hall as if it were daytime.

The transparent display cases on both sides showcase all kinds of rare and precious natural materials, each with a detailed description, making it dazzling to look at.

On either side of the entrance stood beautiful, scantily clad young women who bowed to the four men with gentle smiles.

Huo Yuhao glanced at it subconsciously, but the next second...

It's black in front of you.

Her left eye was covered by a soft, warm hand, carrying the faint scent of gardenias from Ning Tian; her right eye was covered by cool fingertips, carrying Gu Yue's unique, refreshing scent.

Huo Yuhao: "..."

Wu Feng, following behind: "..."

She watched the scene unfold before her, her lips twitched, she rolled her eyes dramatically, and turned her head away speechlessly.

It's unbearable to look at, absolutely unbearable to look at! Even walking down the street is disgusting!

Huo Yuhao was stunned for two seconds, then couldn't help but laugh.

It's true that when people are extremely speechless, they really can't help but laugh.

He grabbed Ning Tian and Gu Yue's wrists precisely with his left and right hands, gently pulling their hands down, and said helplessly, "Ning Tian, ​​Gu Yue, what are you two doing? I have very high aesthetic standards, this scene is not enough to make me unable to take my eyes off it."

Ning Tian's cheeks flushed slightly, and she gave a soft snort, but she didn't break free from his hand. She just said arrogantly, "What are you looking at? What's so interesting? It's just that you're dressed a little scantily. Hurry up and let's go, the auction is about to start."

Gu Yue didn't speak, letting Huo Yuhao hold her hand, her fingers tightening slightly, her steps following closely beside him.

Huo Yuhao smiled and shook his head, then led the two of them straight inside.

He spoke lightly, but inwardly he couldn't help but feel a sense of感慨 (gǎnkǎi, deep emotion/reflection).

A single bottle of century-old medicinal herbs in the display case costs over a dozen gold soul coins, while a rare and exceptional herb is priced at over a thousand gold soul coins.

Currently, besides the Void Soul Bone given to him by Yan Shaozhe and the Secret Technique Soul Bone given to him by Mu Jin, he also has a bottle of useless Glazed Phoenix Tears. The only liquid funds he can use are the 100,000 gold soul coins approved by the Martial Soul Department as start-up capital for the club, which he dares not spend recklessly.

Just then, his gaze was drawn to the freestanding display case in the center of the hall.

The golden left arm bone that should have been displayed here in the original work is nowhere to be found. Instead, there is a head bone lying quietly on a warm jade base.

The soul bone was translucent and had a glassy texture. It was about the size of a palm and had silver-purple light patterns flowing inside, like nebulae. Wisps of pale white mist emanated from the soul bone and were then gathered back by the magic array on the display case.

Just by looking at him through the glass, one could feel a gentle warmth that could soothe the sea of ​​the mind, and it resonated faintly with the Heavenly Eye Martial Soul between his brows.

Huo Yuhao stopped abruptly, a burning glint in his eyes.

A spirit-type head soul bone! And judging by its aura, it's definitely a ten-thousand-year-old level!

It should be noted that the head soul bone is the rarest and most precious of the six soul bones, and the mental type is even rarer!

The Heavenly Eye Martial Soul is inherently an ultimate spiritual attribute, and this Soul Bone is practically tailor-made for him!

In the private room on the top floor of Jubaoge, an elderly woman with white hair stood quietly by the window, her gaze falling on Huo Yuhao, who was standing below, through the one-way glass.

She is Lin Huiqun, the head of Jubaoge Pavilion and one of the elders of Haishenge Pavilion.

Looking at the burning desire in the young man's eyes below, he sighed softly and murmured to himself, "Old Master Mu, I hope you're right. Can this child truly shoulder that responsibility..."

No one knows that Huo Yuhao's smooth establishment of the Lionheart Society, his ability to obtain support from the Martial Soul System's shops, and his journey to where he is today are all thanks to the silent support of Mu En, the Sea God Pavilion Master and Limit Douluo.

From the moment he joined Shrek Academy, Moon had already set his sights on this exceptionally talented and determined young man.

This skull of the Void Dreamweaver was obtained by Mu En during his early travels across the continent. He had treasured it all this time, waiting for a mental genius who could match it.

Huo Yuhao's appearance prompted Mu En to take out the soul bone without hesitation and put it in this quarterly auction, just to give him a legitimate opportunity to obtain it.

Lin Huiqun tapped her fingertips lightly on the windowsill, her gaze falling on Huo Yuhao again, a knowing glint in her eyes.

She already knew the core function of this soul bone by heart: using her own spiritual origin as a guide, she could weave a completely realistic and exclusive spiritual dream realm.

The maximum coverage area and basic duration of the domain are determined by the wearer's current total mental energy. The basic duration is no more than the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, and the maximum domain range is no more than one kilometer.

The number of targets that can be pulled in at the same time is limited by the wearer's mental energy capacity. For each additional target pulled in, the mental energy consumption doubles. The more targets whose mental energy is weaker than the wearer's, the more difficult it is for them to break free from the domain's constraints.

This is practically a god-level soul skill tailor-made for Huo Yuhao's ultimate spiritual power!

Huo Yuhao downstairs was unaware that this soul bone had already been tailor-made for him.

He looked at the spirit bones in the display case, his fingertips tightening slightly, and the light in his eyes growing brighter.

He must get his hands on this soul bone!

Ning Tian and Gu Yue exchanged a glance, both seeing the understanding in each other's eyes.

Ning Tian gently tugged at Huo Yuhao's arm and whispered, "Want it? If you want it, we'll bid on it. If you don't have enough money, I have some here."

Gu Yue nodded, her purple eyes filled with certainty: "If you want it, take it. No one can take it from you."

Huo Yuhao looked at the two of them, his heart warmed, and he shook his head with a smile: "Don't worry, I have a way. The red card that Teacher Qian Duoduo gave me will come in handy. If all else fails, our Lionheart Society's future catering empire is sure to make this much money!"

Wu Feng rolled his eyes and urged impatiently, "Alright, alright, stop being so lovey-dovey. The auction is about to start. If we don't leave now, all the good spots will be taken!"

Huo Yuhao laughed and took Ning Tian and Gu Yue's hands, walking towards the VIP room on the second floor.

Chapter 34 Auction, Jade Liquor

The VIP rooms on the second floor were completely different from the hustle and bustle of the lobby on the first floor.

The heavy solid wood door shut out the noise from the outside world, and a thick cashmere carpet was laid underfoot, making it feel completely silent when you stepped on it.

Facing the auction stage is a huge one-way floor-to-ceiling glass wall, which allows a clear view of everything on the stage, but those outside cannot see any of the scene inside.

The room was furnished with soft leather sofas, and on the long ebony table in front of it were chilled fruit drinks and exquisite pastries, exuding ultimate luxury in every detail.

Huo Yuhao looked around curiously, his eyes filled with a sense of novelty.

Whether he was born into an ordinary family on Earth in his previous life or a commoner boy from the Star Dou Great Forest in this life, he was a genuine "poor man." This level of VIP treatment was something he had never experienced before.

Huo Yuhao sank into the sofa, tapped the smooth tabletop with his fingertips, and couldn't help but marvel: "Wow, Shrek Academy really knows how to enjoy life. This place is more than ten times more luxurious than my dorm."

"What's so interesting about it? It's just a room." Ning Tian sat down next to him, looking at his curious expression, and couldn't help but ask, "You've never been to a place like this before?"