Moments later, Wu Yifan hurried back with the red card in hand.
His demeanor had changed from gentle to a mix of astonishment and a hint of barely discernible fear, all of which was caught by Huo Yuhao.
"Honored guest, this stored-value card was issued by the Star Luo Empire thousands of years ago. However, there are certain things inside that we can't retrieve for you because…"
Wu Yifan hesitated for a while before finally stammering out his explanation.
"What? Are you saying those old guys in the sect have been lying to me?!" Huo Yuhao abruptly stood up and shouted, his eyes blazing with two fiery red lights.
"They told me this was supposed to cover my tuition fees at Shrek Academy. If I can't access what's inside, are those old geezers expecting me to go hungry?!"
Intense spiritual energy rippled through the office, making the room noticeably warmer.
As a manager of the Treasure Pavilion, Wu Yifan was also a Soul King-level soul master. But even he couldn't help but feel secretly impressed by Huo Yuhao's powerful spiritual fluctuations.
This display was intentionally put on by Huo Yuhao for Wu Yifan's benefit. From the moment Wu Yifan entered the office, his somewhat respectful gaze towards Huo Yuhao indicated that he had found out something about the card's background, or rather, about the power behind it.
The Body Sect!
Thus, Huo Yuhao pretended to be a direct descendant of the Body Sect, releasing his Flame God's Eyes martial spirit to deliberately mislead Wu Yifan.
Judging by Wu Yifan's current expression, it seemed he believed Huo Yuhao belonged to the Body Sect.
"Please, honored guest, don't be angry," Wu Yifan said, wiping the sweat from his forehead. "What I meant is that part of the contents of this card cannot be retrieved here. This card contains not only over three million gold soul coins but also serves as a key to a secret vault. However, this vault is located in Star Luo City, the capital of the Star Luo Empire, and we at the Treasure Pavilion in Shrek City cannot access the contents of that vault for you."
Huo Yuhao, however, had no interest in the rest of Wu Yifan's explanation. The only thing that resonated in his mind were the three golden words.
Three million!
Forget it, I should call myself Wang Duoyu, not Gao Qiqiang. Three million, I can't even spend it all in a lifetime!
"Manager Wu, I'd like to know the exact amount in this card," Huo Yuhao said, struggling to suppress his excitement.
"A total of three million four hundred seventy thousand gold soul coins," Wu Yifan replied respectfully.
"Excellent. Thank you for your help, Manager Wu. As a token of my gratitude, I have a major business deal to discuss with the Treasure Pavilion, and I'd like you to handle it," Huo Yuhao said.
He then took out a list from his storage soul tool, filled with a lengthy inventory of medicinal herbs, with the topmost items being the essential ingredients for refining Blood Lotus Pills—Blood Lotus Essence and Ice Spirit Flame Grass.
"These are the herbs I need to purchase. Please have someone verify the quantities and then provide me with a price. Additionally, here is a design blueprint. I need a cauldron crafted from extremely heat-resistant rare metals, and I'd like you to find craftsmen from the Sun Moon Empire to forge it for me."
Wu Yifan picked up the list and carefully read through it, immediately showing a pleased expression.
Most of the herbs on the list were common types. Only a few at the top either came from other parts of the continent or required a more specialized pharmacist to select, which would take some time. However, they could all be collected within three months.
Since Huo Yuhao specifically requested that he handle this business himself, Wu Yifan could at least get a ten percent commission, which would be a significant income for him.
Not to mention the cauldron made of rare metals. Rare metals from the Sun Moon Empire were extremely expensive and strictly regulated for transport to the original Douluo Continent. He was sure to make a substantial profit from this as well.
"Thank you, Young Master Gao. The Treasure Pavilion is always at your service," Wu Yifan said.
"Alright, transfer all the soul coins from this card to a new one and give it to me. Deduct the cost of purchasing these herbs and forging the cauldron from it. That's all." Huo Yuhao nodded, his eyes gleaming.
Thank you, Body Sect. Thank you, Star Dou Forest. This time, I've finally achieved financial freedom!
After seeing Huo Yuhao off, Manager Wu went to the office at the top floor of the Treasure Pavilion and gently knocked on the door.
"Knock, knock, knock!"
A moment later, a gentle voice came from inside the office.
"Come in!"
Manager Wu dusted off his clothes, straightened himself, and then opened the door and entered.
Behind a large ebony desk sat an elderly woman with white hair but a youthful face. She was the Pavilion Master of the Treasure Pavilion and an elder of Shrek Academy's Sea God Pavilion, Elder Lin Huiqun.
The Treasure Pavilion was a business under Shrek Academy but was not directly subordinate to the academy, only being accountable to the Sea God Pavilion meetings. Other than that, only Elder Lin could control all aspects of the Treasure Pavilion.
"Elder Lin, a new student named Gao Qiqiang just came in," Manager Wu respectfully reported. "He had an ancient stored-value card from the Body Sect and came to the Treasure Pavilion to redeem it."
"A card from the Body Sect?!" Elder Lin exclaimed in surprise. "That's impossible. There are no direct descendants of the Body Sect in the academy. All inheritors of the Body Martial Spirits are kept close by that old poison master, never sent to the academy."
"But the student indeed possesses a Body Martial Spirit, and it's his eyes," Manager Wu quickly added. "I personally verified it, so there's no mistake."
"Eyes? Haha, I think I know who you're talking about." Elder Lin laughed heartily and shook her head. "Gao Qiqiang, what a cunning little rascal, haha!"
"Elder Lin, you know who he is?" Manager Wu asked in surprise.
"Yes, I do. But this is an academy secret, so I can't tell you for now," Elder Lin said, waving her hand, a glint of cunning in her eyes. "Little Wu, pass this news to the Heavenly Soul Empire and let the old folks of the Body Sect hear some rumors. When they come to the Treasure Pavilion in the Heavenly Soul Empire to buy information, set the price at five million!"
"Five million?!" Manager Wu's mouth twitched as he mentally gave Elder Lin a thumbs up.
No wonder Shrek Academy entrusted Elder Lin with managing the Treasure Pavilion. She truly knew how to do business. Selling a half-true, half-false piece of information for five million, that's ruthless.
In his hotel room, Huo Yuhao placed three Xuan Water Pills, a wood-attribute spirit bone, and some auxiliary materials purchased from the Treasure Pavilion on the table.
Then, with a flash of light from his black ring, Yaolao appeared. He looked at the various materials on the table and inspected the quality of the auxiliary materials, nodding in satisfaction.
"Very good, Yuhao. This time, I will use the medicinal cauldron to refine a Starting Pill. While watching, you must carefully observe and comprehend. Once the cauldron is forged, I will teach you how to refine pills."
Huo Yuhao nodded and respectfully said, "Please, Master!"