Douluo Dalu 2: The True God King

Credits: Alma

 When Wang Yan returned, he was met with the sight of a group of Shrek Academy students, all wearing grim expressions. Seeing their dark faces and the oppressive atmosphere, Wang Yan looked at them in confusion.

"What happened? Everyone looks like they're in a bad mood," he asked with a faint smile. No one responded. Bei Bei remained silent, Xu Sanshi's face was grim, and Dai Huabin's gaze was as cold as ice. Jiang Nannan kept her head down, acting as if everything had nothing to do with her, while Zhang Lexuan sat on the sofa nearby, sipping tea with an amused look, as if she hadn't noticed the change in atmosphere. Wang Yan's eye twitched.

"Can someone explain what happened?" he asked, glancing around the room.

"Bei Bei, you tell me."

Bei Bei felt a bit helpless, but since Wang Yan had called on him, he had no choice but to answer.

"It's nothing serious. We just had a little friction with the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineering Academy's representative team," Bei Bei replied cautiously.

"Huh? Did they bully you guys?"

Wang Yan's expression darkened.

"Despicable! Their main team took advantage of our core members being away, huh? Typical bullying tactics."

Bei Bei's mouth twitched, and even Chu He and the others reacted similarly.

If it had been the main team, they wouldn't have been in this state.

"It wasn't the main team. It was their reserve team, led by that Su Yu guy," Bei Bei said quietly, lowering his head in embarrassment. Their opponent was only a reserve team, yet Shrek's group, which included four official team members, hadn't dared to act. They had been humiliated, forced to watch Su Yu's group mock them before walking away.

Wang Yan's face twitched.

"Don't tell me you guys were bullied by their reserve team..."

Perhaps to salvage some dignity, Chu He added hesitantly, "Their reserve team is pretty strong. At least three of them are at the Soul King level."

This was an attempt to justify why they hadn't fought back—not because they were afraid, but because it wasn't worth it to engage someone that strong.

In truth, Chu He and the others had been completely intimidated by Su Yu and his companions. They hadn't even reached rank 55, unlike the former main representative who had previously been in an accident.

Meanwhile, Su Yu, along with Xiao Hongchen and Meng Hongchen, were no pushovers. Xiao and Meng Hongchen were formidable, able to hold their own even against ordinary Soul Emperors.

As for Su Yu?

He could have defeated all four of them by himself. It was technically a 3-vs-4 situation, but Su Yu's side had completely crushed their morale. None of them dared to make a move.

Shrek Academy students, especially the elites, were known for their tactical thinking and would rarely engage in a battle they knew they'd lose. Wang Yan thought, "Are you hearing yourself right now? A full-fledged member of the main team claims he was overpowered by the reserve team?"

Despite his inner disbelief, Wang Yan kept silent. He knew better than to openly criticize them. Each of these students had a higher status than he did, and he needed to maintain team cohesion. Wang Yan had long accepted the reality of his situation. At over 40 years old, he was still just a Soul King. His talent was limited, so he had chosen the path of a researcher, much like the Grandmaster, one of the founders of Shrek Academy. His goal was to become a respected authority on martial soul research. Taking a deep breath, Wang Yan decided to smooth things over.

"You're not wrong. The Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineering Academy's reserve team is indeed strong, especially that Su Yu."

"I've watched his matches closely. His strength is deep and unpredictable. He's a strong rival for you all," Wang Yan said, mixing sincerity with encouragement. Half of what he said was true; the other half was just to reassure them. He had no interest in pushing them into a corner. With the team's current state, he'd rather maintain unity. Besides, with Ma Xiaotao and Dai Yaoheng returning to the team soon, things would change. Both of them were geniuses from the inner court. Once they returned, Wang Yan wouldn't have to worry as much.

Wang Yan smiled and changed the subject.

"Alright, let's not dwell on that. I have some good news for everyone."

"Since everyone has been working hard in the competition, I've arranged for us to relax a bit tonight. There will be an auction at the venue near the Star Emperor Hotel."

"An auction?"

Bei Bei and the others were surprised but quickly nodded in agreement. Attending an auction to unwind sounded like a good idea. Zhang Lexuan sipped her tea in silence, her thoughts drifting.

An auction, huh?

Xiao Yu will probably be there too.

Her eyes flickered with a subtle gleam as she took another sip of the slightly bitter tea.

...

The night sky slowly blanketed Star Luo City in darkness. Underneath it, the city lights illuminated the streets with a warm glow.

The reserve team of the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineering Academy, led by Su Yu, departed from the Star Emperor Hotel. Another figure quietly followed them—a Level 8 Soul Engineer from the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineering Academy. It was clear that the academy's leader, Elder Ma, was not going to let this group of youths roam the city unguarded.

After all, while it was unlikely anyone would attack participants in a major tournament, Elder Ma was not one to leave things to chance.

The group moved through the streets, following Su Yu, who seemed to know the city by heart. After weaving through a few alleyways and side streets, they arrived at a tall, spire-like building with a modest appearance.

A sign at the entrance displayed the image of a small hammer striking a golden platform—the universal symbol of an auction house.

"Looks like we found the right place," Su Yu said with a smile. But his brows furrowed as he suddenly glanced toward the street. Xiao Hongchen and the others followed his gaze and were met with a familiar group of people approaching from the other end of the street. The sight made Xiao Hongchen click his tongue.

"Ugh, just our luck. Those pests are everywhere."

Su Yu grinned, his eyes sharp with amusement.

"Ignore them. Just a bunch of clowns who only pick fights when they're sure they'll win."

"True enough," Xiao Hongchen said, chuckling as he recalled Chu He's earlier behavior. Laughter erupted among the group, and they entered the auction house without sparing Shrek's team another glance.

Once inside, they registered at the front desk, where each of them received a number card. After that, a young woman in a red dress guided them further inside.

They walked through an ancient wooden door, and the scenery ahead suddenly changed. In front of them lay a vast space filled with the glow of gold. Gold decorations adorned the walls, seats, and even the chandeliers above, creating a dazzling spectacle.

The elegant yet extravagant design of the auction hall left a deep impression on them.

"Fancy place," Xiao Hongchen remarked, scanning the hall with his eyes.

Su Yu nodded, excitement glinting in his gaze. But hidden beneath his casual demeanor was a hint of determination.

This is the right place.

The auction's main attraction tonight is a piece of Life Gold.

Life Gold was a precious material found in the Lake of Life in the Star Dou Forest, but taking it would upset the balance of the forest's ecosystem.

However, this Life Gold was different. Since it was up for auction, Su Yu had no reason to hold back.

For him, this treasure was of great significance.

As the group followed the woman in red into the hall, Su Yu's lips curled into a faint smile.

Tonight's prize will be mine.

Meanwhile, back at the entrance, the Shrek Academy team stared after them.

"It's them again!"

Xu Sanshi and Dai Huabin's faces twisted with anger.

"Yeah, it's them," Bei Bei muttered, narrowing his eyes...

"Move," Su Yu said with a smirk as he pushed past them.

"You little—!"

Dai Huabin clenched his fists, ready to lash out. But Su Yu didn't even look back. His group entered the auction hall as if Shrek's team didn't exist.

"Ugh, that guy pisses me off!"

Dai Huabin seethed with rage. Chu He's face turned pale.

"Those three again…"

None of them dared to pursue it.

The opulent decor of the hall was even more luxurious than the Star Emperor Hotel.

"This is the largest auction house in Star Luo City—the Starlight Auction House. In terms of scale and financial backing, it ranks among the top because its backer is none other than the Star Luo royal family," Su Yu explained as he walked forward with the group. The Starlight Auction House wasn't a place you could enter just by wanting to. It required both wealth and connections. Normally, applicants had to undergo a rigorous financial review that could take up to half a month.

However, with just a little help from Su Yu's connections and just a little cash, he managed to bring everyone inside.

The girl in red glanced at Su Yu in surprise when she heard his words.

He knows about the background of the Starlight Auction House? she thought.

But maintaining her professional demeanor, she said nothing and simply led them through several grand corridors until they arrived at a smaller auction hall.

Su Yu glanced at the girl in red and said calmly, "Please tell us about the details and specifications of today's auction."

"Of course, honored guests."

The girl spoke in a sweet, professional tone.

"Today's event is a specialized auction focusing on soul tools. Only soul tools of Level 6 or below will be auctioned, so the overall level of the event is lower than our top-tier auctions. According to our internal classification, this is a Tier 4 auction. Our auctions are divided into five tiers, with Tier 5 being the lowest and Tier 1 being the most prestigious. Only Tier 1 auctions are held in the main hall. This particular hall, Hall 12, can accommodate up to 200 participants."

"I see. Thanks for the explanation," Su Yu nodded.

Once inside, each of them was given a mask. It was a standard rule in auctions like this to maintain anonymity. Su Yu and his companions received black masks. After putting them on, they entered the hall. Their seats were relatively close to the front, providing them with a good view of the stage.

They quietly settled in, waiting for the auction to begin.

Not long after, another group of people entered the auction hall. Although they were also wearing masks, Su Yu and his group recognized them instantly. After all, that unmistakable dung-green color was hard to forget.

"Ugh, disgusting," Xiao Hongchen muttered with a grimace. Su Yu remained silent, leaning back with his arms and legs casually crossed. Meng Hongchen sat quietly next to him, snuggling into his side. Wang Dong'er, on the other hand, glanced around like a curious child seeing the world for the first time.

Before long, a server approached and asked if they wanted any drinks. Su Yu ordered a cup of tea. Wang Dong'er, ever the child at heart, ordered a glass of orange juice and sipped it with visible delight.

About 15 minutes later, the lights around the auction hall dimmed, and the stage lights turned on with a radiant glow.

"Welcome, honored guests, to the Starlight Auction House. Our auction will begin shortly."

Not long after, a woman in a purple gown gracefully stepped onto the stage. She appeared to be in her early thirties, with a mature, well-rounded figure. Her face radiated elegance and refinement, and the form-fitting purple gown highlighted her exquisite curves—slim where it should be slim, full where it should be full. Paired with her mature charm, she exuded an irresistible allure.

Many eyes in the audience locked onto her figure, including those of Xiao Hongchen, whose eyes were practically glued to her. His neck stretched forward, trying to get a better view.

Su Yu raised an eyebrow at the sight.

So, my future brother-in-law likes this type, huh? he thought.

It was understandable, though; this kind of woman had a charm that ordinary girls simply didn't possess. With a sly smile, Su Yu teased Meng Hongchen, "Hey, Meng, look at your brother."

Meng Hongchen glanced over, her eyes following Su Yu's gaze. She immediately spotted Xiao Hongchen stretching his neck like a crane, his eyes fixed on the auctioneer. Her face turned black with embarrassment.

"Shameless," she scolded, her voice filled with disdain.

"Getting mesmerized by an auctioneer? How pathetic."

This brother is hopeless, she thought.

"I can't blame him," Su Yu said with a chuckle.

"This type of woman is attractive. A beautiful auctioneer like that can naturally stir up feelings in men. It's a strategy designed to increase the bidding."

He looked at the auctioneer for a moment and sighed.

The Starlight Auction House knows how to pick them, that's for sure.

A beautiful auctioneer wasn't just for show; their presence could heighten the emotions of the bidders, leading them to make higher bids on impulse.

But when Meng Hongchen heard Su Yu's words, her face suddenly changed. Her gaze flickered with unease as she tugged on Su Yu's sleeve, looking up at him with wide, worried eyes.

"Su... you don't like that kind of woman, do you?" she asked softly, her voice filled with apprehension.

Her pretty face was anxious, and her delicate features seemed on the verge of tears.

"Relax," Su Yu said, taking her hand in his own and rubbing it softly.

"I'm not interested in auction house women. I prefer girls like you, Meng—pure and sincere."

His words instantly brightened Meng Hongchen's mood. She squeezed his hand, her face turning a shade of pink.

"You promise?"

"Of course."

Su Yu interlocked his fingers with hers, reassuring her.

Seeing this display of affection, Wang Dong'er, who had been happily drinking her orange juice, felt her good mood vanish.

Hmph!

Wang Dong'er snorted in annoyance. Her bright mood instantly darkened.

Dog couple!

Publicly displaying affection like this in broad daylight? Despicable!

With Su Yu and Meng Hongchen flirting, the auction finally began.

The auctioneer, Qing Ya, now had full control of the stage, her graceful voice echoing through the room.

"Welcome, esteemed guests, to today's soul tool auction," she announced.

This was a soul tool auction, which naturally didn't interest people like Xiao Hongchen.

After all, no one in the hall could match the craftsmanship of Illustrious Virtue Hall.

Even the newer members of the reserve team, like Yang Xu, regarded the auction with disinterest.

What a joke.

Why would I need to buy soul tools when I can just make my own? Yang Xu thought.

Su Yu, himself a Level 4 Soul Engineer on the verge of advancing to Level 5, wasn't impressed either. He had seen too many soul tools to get excited by ordinary items.

The primary reason he came to this auction was not for the soul tools on display.

I'm here for the Life Gold, Su Yu thought.

The first item to be auctioned was a Level 3 soul-guided ray launcher made by a Level 6 Soul Engineer. Its effect was a paralysis shot, one of the most common types of soul-guided rays.

The only reason it was put up for auction was that it had been crafted by a Level 6 Soul Engineer, making it a collectible of sorts. A Level 6 Soul Engineer was no small figure. Even within the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy, a Level 6 Soul Engineer was guaranteed entry into Illustrious Virtue Hall, the academy's most elite institution.

But for the members of Su Yu's group, this kind of soul tool was nothing more than an appetizer.

None of them even batted an eye at it.