"Spirit bones?!" Ma Xiaotao asked, a bit puzzled. "Why do you need spirit bones? I have to say, you're really daring to ask for so much."
"I've already said, I have no interest in helping you suppress that so-called Phoenix Evil Fire. Even if you were to die from the evil fire's backlash, I wouldn't feel the slightest bit of guilt," Huo Yuhao said with a cold laugh.
"But since you said you would agree to any conditions, I won't be polite. I don't lack money or medicinal herbs. If you want to make a deal with me, bring spirit bones!"
Ma Xiaotao's expression changed. Given her status as an inner courtyard disciple and the disciple of Yan Shaozhe, the head of the Martial Soul Department, she wouldn't face any consequences for forcibly suppressing Huo Yuhao. After all, their status and positions were vastly different.
However, Huo Yuhao could control the Phoenix Evil Fire within her, making her hesitant. If he triggered the evil fire's outburst, she could end up losing control. Even if she wasn't permanently grounded or expelled from Shrek Academy for causing a massacre, strong individuals in the city would likely kill her to stop the rampage.
When it came to life and death, offending Shrek Academy wasn't a big deal. Even though Ma Xiaotao had the strength of a Soul Emperor, encountering high-level Soul Saints or Soul Douluo-level experts would spell certain death for her.
"Alright, what type and attribute of spirit bones do you want?" Ma Xiaotao asked.
"I want one ten-thousand-year spirit bone, and two thousand-year spirit bones. If it's a trashy spirit bone from Secret Arts, I want four!" Huo Yuhao said indifferently. "As for attributes and parts, I'm not picky, as long as you have them."
Ma Xiaotao's eyes widened in anger, glaring at Huo Yuhao. Clearly, she was infuriated by the astronomical price he demanded.
However, Huo Yuhao showed no fear, continuing to watch Ma Xiaotao coldly, seemingly ready to end the negotiation at any moment.
With a helpless sigh, Ma Xiaotao wiped her wrist, and two spirit bones—a ghostly blue one and an emerald green one—appeared on the table before her.
"I don't have any ten-thousand-year spirit bones. Here are two spirit bones around three thousand years old: a water-attribute left arm bone and a wood-attribute right leg bone," Ma Xiaotao pointed at the two spirit bones.
Although Huo Yuhao's expression didn't change, he was inwardly astonished. Ma Xiaotao, despite being an inner courtyard disciple with access to plenty of cultivation resources, could so easily produce two highly valuable spirit bones. Shrek Academy was indeed wealthy!
Noticing Huo Yuhao's surprise, Ma Xiaotao softly explained, "Most of Shrek Academy's inner courtyard disciples spend a lot of time away from the academy on surveillance missions, hunting down evil spirit masters causing chaos across the continent. Some of the evil spirit masters I killed carried spirit bones, which naturally became mine upon their deaths. However, I usually trade away these lower-grade spirit bones."
Huo Yuhao nodded, having no issue with this method of combating violence with violence. Since inner courtyard students risked their lives hunting evil spirit masters across the continent, it was only fair for them to keep any spoils.
But now he felt a bit of regret. He should have demanded more! If he had known Ma Xiaotao was so wealthy, he would have extorted a few more spirit bones from her.
"Since you've paid, you can come to me anytime to resolve the evil fire backlash," Huo Yuhao said as he swiftly pocketed the two thousand-year spirit bones.
"However, I must remind you, this only covers my help for the first instance of backlash. Your evil fire backlash won't happen just once. After the first time, you'll need to give me an additional spirit bone each time."
"What?! Why don't you just rob me?!" Ma Xiaotao shouted angrily.
"Robbery? Have you ever seen a robber who helps you heal?" Huo Yuhao chuckled. "These are my terms. You can accept them or not. If you can't, I'll return the two spirit bones to you, and you can leave."
Ma Xiaotao hesitated. Although paying a spirit bone each time she sought Huo Yuhao's help with the evil fire backlash was steep, it bought her valuable cultivation time. This morning, Huo Yuhao had used his technique to absorb her Phoenix Evil Fire, allowing her three months of worry-free cultivation.
Previously, Yan Shaozhe had advised her to stop cultivating since even the elders of the Sea God Pavilion couldn't suppress her Phoenix Evil Fire.
At least now she had found a solution, even if it meant she had to frequently hunt evil spirit masters for spirit bones, which wasn't too difficult for her.
"Alright, we'll do it your way," Ma Xiaotao agreed with a nod.
"One more thing," Huo Yuhao narrowed his eyes, pointing at himself. "You must promise not to report anything you see or hear here to the academy. You can tell them I resolved your evil fire issue, but our transaction and everything here must remain secret. Otherwise, our deal is off."
When Ma Xiaotao arrived, she saw himself soaking in the foundation-building elixir. Combined with the boost in his cultivation from the mysterious green liquid, it was only a matter of time before Shrek Academy's old geezers suspected something.
For Huo Yuhao, steady growth was essential. He didn't want to be treated like a lab rat. If he had to escape to the Sun Moon Empire, all his efforts would be in vain, and he wouldn't be able to avenge the original host.
"Alright!" Ma Xiaotao agreed readily, given everything else she had accepted. "I, Ma Xiaotao, swear by my martial soul that I won't divulge any secrets about Huo Yuhao to Shrek Academy! Is that good enough?"
Huo Yuhao nodded, finally showing a smile. "That'll do. When you can't control your evil fire next time, come find me."
Ma Xiaotao gave Huo Yuhao another look over, her face reddening slightly.
"Do you always talk to people without wearing clothes? You're just a freshman, yet so shameless!"
Huo Yuhao was momentarily stunned. Looking down, he realized with embarrassment that he had jumped out of the bath to confront Ma Xiaotao, and he was still stark naked.
"Ahem, don't worry, you can look all you want; I won't charge you."
Ma Xiaotao's body trembled as she was about to leave through the window. Almost losing her balance at Huo Yuhao's words, she snapped, "Hmph, what's there to see? You're just a little bean sprout."
Then, like a swallow, she gracefully leaped out the window and disappeared into the night.
"Little bean sprout?" Huo Yuhao looked down at himself, then proudly puffed out his chest.
"She's just a clueless girl. What does she know about size? This is like saying bananas aren't sweet just because you can't eat them. Not worth my time!"