Chapter 93: One Piece is Not Enough, Then Two Pieces
One large and one small. Their expressions remained calm, but thoughts surged beneath the surface.
Elder Lin didn't dwell too much on the mysterious force behind Ling Shuang. If even Elder Mu couldn't investigate it clearly, how could she?
Just confirming that there was indeed such a strange and powerful force behind Ling Shuang was already a worthwhile discovery.
"Student Ling Shuang, do you want to sell soul bones?" Elder Lin went straight to the point.
"Yes." Ling Shuang nodded slightly, took out an item, and handed it over to Elder Lin.
Elder Lin took the soul bone, examined it for a moment, and her expression changed slightly.
As the owner of the Treasure Pavilion, a senior of the Sea God Pavilion, and a Titled Douluo, Elder Lin's insight far surpassed that of the woman in the yellow dress from earlier.
She recognized the origin of this soul bone.
This was a ten thousand year Snow Wolf soul bone!
Elder Lin's thoughts deepened. What kind of background did this boy have to casually produce such a thing?
What kind of decent person casually carried around a ten thousand year soul bone?
"Student Ling Shuang, are you selling this soul bone to purchase something?" Elder Lin did not immediately appraise the soul bone, but instead asked another question.
"Yes. I want to buy that golden arm bone." Ling Shuang didn't hide his intentions.
There was no point in hiding it. He was already buying from the Jubao Pavilion—pretending otherwise in front of the Pavilion's owner would just be ridiculous.
"That golden arm bone…" Elder Lin immediately understood.
It was, after all, one of the most valuable items at this treasure appreciation event.
"Student Ling Shuang, this soul bone alone may not be enough."
This wasn't because Elder Lin wanted to take advantage of Ling Shuang. It was simply the truth.
Although both were ten thousand year soul bones, the golden arm bone and the Snow Wolf bone were vastly different in quality.
The Snow Wolf soul bone was fairly ordinary among ten thousand year bones. While still immensely valuable, it was nowhere near the golden arm bone of the Golden Earth Dragon King descendant of the Light Dragon Clan, albeit with diluted bloodline.
Ling Shuang did possess higher-quality soul bones, but he had no intention of using those for trade.
He always prioritized quality over quantity.
He had never expected one Snow Wolf soul bone to be enough to trade for the golden arm bone.
"Student Ling Shuang may consider buying it on credit. With your talent, you certainly qualify." Elder Lin offered a second option one she actually hoped Ling Shuang would accept.
After all, compared to a ten thousand year soul bone, Ling Shuang's potential was far more valuable in her eyes.
"No need," Ling Shuang shook his head.
"What about this one?" He took out a second soul bone.
Elder Lin received it, glanced at it, and was stunned.
Another ten thousand year soul bone?!
Though its appearance wasn't outstanding, it was staggering for a twelve-year-old to pull out two such soul bones.
She couldn't help but look at Ling Shuang. There was a flicker of heartache on his face, which made her feel slightly comforted.
But she didn't realize this so-called "heartache" was put on deliberately.
In truth, Ling Shuang felt nothing of the sort.
After all, the thing he had the most of thanks to the collections of the Ice and Snow Empresses was soul bones.
After countless tribulations in the extreme north, combined with centuries of fallen soul beasts and soul masters buried in the snowstorms, their amassed soul bones were beyond what the outside world could imagine.
There were even quite a few hundred-thousand-year soul bones.
If not for the awkwardness of revealing too much, Ling Shuang could equip himself with a full set of hundred-thousand-year soul bones without any trouble.
If soul masters outside knew this, they'd be gnashing their teeth in envy.
Forget attribute compatibility just having one hundred-thousand-year soul bone was enough to make most soul masters wake up smiling.
But Ling Shuang wasn't about to waste a high-level soul bone on a trade like this.
Ordinary-quality soul bones were more than enough.
"This will do." Elder Lin nodded with both soul bones in hand, though she was slightly disappointed.
Ling Shuang's refusal to owe anyone a favor only confirmed what some other elders suspected that he didn't feel a deep sense of belonging to the academy.
Still, it was just disappointment. Elder Lin wasn't like Xuan Zi, who would go as far as wanting him dead for it.
"Would you like someone to deliver it now, or send it in secret later?" Elder Lin asked.
"Send it later." Ling Shuang wasn't worried about anyone trying to steal it, but it was always better to avoid unnecessary trouble.
Besides, Wang Dong'er would need to return to the dormitory to absorb it.
"Understood. I'll arrange for someone to deliver it." Elder Lin nodded.
After bidding farewell, Ling Shuang and the other two descended the stairs.
"Thank you!" Wang Dong'er stopped and bowed her head slightly to Ling Shuang, her voice serious.
Two ten thousand year soul bones—she knew even as the little princess of the Haotian Sect, that was no small thing.
"It's just a transaction." Ling Shuang waved casually.
It was mutually beneficial there was nothing to thank.
But Wang Dong'er interpreted his gesture differently.
"Tsk, arrogant!" she muttered under her breath, unable to stop a smile from tugging at her lips.
...
Night fell.
The trio didn't encounter anything particularly noteworthy, so they left the treasure appreciation meeting.
Ling Shuang quietly scanned the surroundings no sign of ambush.
It seemed Dai Huabin didn't try to replicate what he did to Huo Yuhao in the original timeline.
That kid had some sense.
If Dai Huabin dared to show up again, Ling Shuang would make sure he disappeared from the world.
Dai Huabin had considered getting revenge on Ling Shuang the boy who made him lose face but he didn't have the means.
The Soul Emperors he could mobilize were nothing but a light snack compared to Ling Shuang, who had defeated the 30,000-year-old Golden Flame Lion King—a beast on par with a high-level Soul Sage.
Dai Huabin might be narrow-minded, but he wasn't stupid.
His limited authority saved his life.
"Xiao Shuang, what's wrong?" Jiang Nannan asked curiously.
"Nothing." Ling Shuang didn't explain.
He couldn't exactly say he was checking to see if anyone was out to kill him, could he?
That would just make Jiang Nannan worry.
"By the way, Nannan, come over tomorrow and absorb the whale glue."
"Xiao Shuang, don't you want it?" Her first instinct was to offer it back.
Ling Shuang shook his head. "That thing doesn't do much for me."
"But…" Jiang Nannan hesitated, only to be cut off by Ling Shuang.
"Nannan, you don't want to fall behind too far, do you?"
That struck her deepest insecurity.
Wasn't the ever-growing gap between her and Ling Shuang what troubled her the most?
"Thank you, Xiao Shuang." She didn't refuse again.
"No show of appreciation?"
Jiang Nannan blushed, then leaned forward and kissed Ling Shuang lightly on the lips.
Wasn't that a proper thank-you?
Wang Dong'er silently turned her gaze away and consoled herself inwardly.
It's nothing. Whale glue is nothing. Ling Shuang also bought her a ten thousand year soul bone!
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(End of this chapter)