Chapter 59 – Who Do You Think You Are, Daring to Run Your Mouth Here?
The next day, by dusk.
Inside the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineering Academy's lounge.
"Sigh, Shrek is really disappointing. Today's round-robin against Yunluo Soul Engineering Academy— that fellow named Bei Bei wasn't impressive at all. Honestly, it was a letdown."
Xiao Hongchen sneered. Beside him, Meng Hongchen pursed her lips, her voice dripping with sarcasm.
"Yes, yes, Brother is the greatest. You're the strongest, alright?"
"Meng, you're mocking me again! Yuhao, say something already!"
At that moment, Huo Yuhao was still deep in thought. Seeing his expression, Meng Hongchen leaned closer with a playful smile, her cherry lips parting softly.
"Yuhao, what's on your mind?"
Pulled from his thoughts, Huo Yuhao shook his head.
"It's nothing. I just feel… something's not right. During today's match, I had this constant sensation that someone in the audience was watching me from the shadows."
As a spiritual-type soul master, his Spiritual Detection now extended farther and with greater clarity than before. This wasn't a feeling that came from Wang Dong, but rather from somewhere in the spectator stands.
The Body Sect, perhaps? Or maybe someone from another faction?
Strangely, Huo Yuhao always felt that the state of the Blue Silver Entanglement was truly off, but he couldn't pinpoint exactly what was wrong.
"What? Who's so bold, daring to set their eyes on you? Tell me, and I, Xiao Hongchen, will kill him myself!"
Huo Yuhao simply waved his hand. He didn't want to dwell on it further. Whether it was Wang Dong or the Body Sect, he already had a plan in mind. Overthinking wouldn't help.
"Forget it. Isn't there a soul guidance device auction tonight? Let's go check it out."
His eyes gleamed with expectation. The Devourer Carving Knife—that was what he'd been waiting for.
Just what kind of strength would he gain once it was in his possession? Perhaps… it was time for Electrolux, Elder Yi, to finally awaken.
Hearing his suggestion, Xiao Hongchen and Meng Hongchen both smiled. While they didn't hold Douluo's soul guidance devices in high regard, they loved participating in such events nonetheless.
And besides, it would be interesting to see what kind of soul guidance devices these Douluo Three Kingdoms could bring to auction.
"Let's go."
---
Meanwhile, at Shrek's side.
Wang Yan gathered the group. "Tonight there's a soul guidance device auction. I intend to equip you with some soul guidance devices to bolster your strength. Any objections?"
At his words, most wore indifferent expressions. Growing up in Shrek's atmosphere, they had developed a natural aversion toward soul guidance devices.
Of course, Bei Bei and He Caitou were exceptions. Bei Bei practiced the Tang Sect's hidden weapons, while He Caitou was the core disciple of Shrek's Soul Guidance Department. Both knew very well the tremendous benefits soul guidance devices could provide.
But the strangest expression belonged to Wang Dong. In the past, she didn't just dislike soul guidance devices—she despised them. Yet now, for reasons she couldn't understand, that deep hatred had lessened.
Even she herself couldn't explain why her attitude was changing.
Wang Yan, naturally, understood their resistance. It wouldn't be easy to change their views overnight. Still, for the sake of Shrek's future, he had to try.
Not only for the upcoming matches, but for the paths these children would walk in years to come.
"You don't need to make those faces. You should know that in this tournament, over eighty percent of the teams are equipped with soul guidance devices. Like it or not, the combination of soul masters and soul guidance devices is already the inevitable trend of this era."
"If we cling to the past, we'll only fall behind. Think about it, children—if in our previous battle against the Evil Soul Masters, our team had been equipped with invincible shields, would the outcome have been the same?"
"Even a mere level 5 soul guidance device could have cut your injuries by more than half."
His earnest words finally stirred them. Bei Bei and He Caitou were the first to step forward.
"No need to say more, Teacher Wang. We'll go."
Wang Dong bit her lip, then took a step forward as well. "I'll go too."
"Good, good!"
Wang Yan's heart filled with relief. These students weren't like the obstinate elders of Shrek's upper echelons. In this era of change, Shrek still had hope.
---
That evening, at the soul guidance device auction.
"What's this…?"
As fate would have it, Huo Yuhao, Xiao Hongchen, and Meng Hongchen inevitably ran into Shrek's group.
Bei Bei had seen them before, but to others like Wang Dong and Jiang Nannan, Huo Yuhao was a stranger.
"Hmph, even the Sun Moon Empire lacks soul guidance devices?!" Dai Huabin was the first to sneer, picking a fight.
His brother's life or death remained uncertain, and the last time he had been humiliated by Huo Yuhao. Seeing him again, he couldn't hold back his venom.
Xiao Hongchen's eyes lit up. "Oh, you brat. Who do you think you are, daring to run your mouth here?!"
Bei Bei quickly stepped forward to diffuse the tension. "My apologies. He didn't mean it."
Turning to Yuhao, he asked, "Are you here to buy soul guidance devices as well?"
But before Yuhao could answer, Meng Hongchen noticed Wang Dong's gaze lingering on him. Something about that look felt… odd.
Smiling sweetly, she slipped her arm through Yuhao's and teased, "This is a soul guidance device auction. If not to buy soul guidance devices, then what—just to sightsee?"
Bei Bei realized how foolish his question sounded. Scratching his head, he fell silent.
Just as the group was about to enter, Wang Dong suddenly stepped forward.
"Hey, you're called Yuhao, right? Have we met before?"
Yuhao's instincts flared. The [Destiny Echo] within him activated, yet nothing abnormal revealed itself.
"No. Don't know you. Don't bother me."
By now, he was nearly certain—Wang Dong's question was nothing more than a slip of the tongue. She wasn't being manipulated by that 'Certain God King.' If so, then the only explanation was that that entity's divine consciousness had suffered some kind of problem.
Could it be… that Death God Envoy had done something, making Wang Dong suffer in his place?
If so, then all the dangers he had been bracing for might no longer exist.
Wang Dong herself was puzzled as to why she had even asked that question. She was sure she had never met this person. Shaking her head, she dismissed it and followed Bei Bei's lead into the auction hall.
"Yuhao, are all Shrek people this… strange?"
Meng Hongchen had her attention entirely on Yuhao. She didn't sense anything unusual about Wang Dong. Instead, when she saw the handsome youth, she felt a faint sense of danger rising in her heart.
Could it be… he was interested in Yuhao?
No way. That guy must be scheming something. Yuhao belongs to her. That pretty boy can forget about it!
Huo Yuhao could tell exactly what she was thinking from her pouting lips. With a soft knock on her head, he chuckled.
"Let's go. You really do let your imagination run wild."
Meng Hongchen snorted, but happily followed after him. Xiao Hongchen stood stunned for a moment. Had he just become the third wheel? …No, surely not.
"Wait up for me!"
Meanwhile, hidden in the shadows, Lang Ya and Yu Tao continued their covert surveillance of Huo Yuhao.
Yet neither realized that, beyond their vision, Kong Deming was also quietly observing them.
"The Body Sect… are they here for Yuhao?"
The Body Sect claimed to be the home of all body-type martial souls across the continent. They possessed unique methods for awakening martial souls a second time, along with unparalleled research in that field.
Perhaps… These people could help Yuhao walk further down the path of a soul master.
"It seems… this old man may need to have a little chat with that undying poison geezer."
A teacher always had to think for their students' sake. If the Body Sect could serve as Yuhao's backing, then perhaps it could also become an ally to the Sun Moon Empire.
(End of Chapter)