If it were before, Senior Xuan Lao naturally wouldn't have attended, as Senior was unwilling to have deep interactions with the three Empires.
Their Shrek Academy needed to maintain neutrality, and facing the goodwill of the three Empires, they couldn't show favoritism, otherwise, it would easily arouse the vigilance and hostility of the other two Empires.
The Original Douluo Three Kingdoms were not impregnable; they were allies, but even more so, opponents.
Before the Sun Moon Continent drifted over and bordered the Douluo Continent, these three countries were mutually hostile, with constant warfare.
The arrival of the Sun Moon Empire instead made them unite against a common enemy, temporarily putting aside their grudges to fight the external foe together.
But this doesn't mean the grudges between the three Empires have disappeared.
They all wanted to win over Shrek Academy, firstly to better resist the Sun Moon Empire, and secondly, they also harbored thoughts of eliminating each other.
Shrek Academy has maintained neutrality for these years, and the Senior Executives were unwilling to have too much interaction with the royal families of the three Empires.
It was just that this time there was truly no other way. After all, they owed the Xingluo Royal Family a considerable favor, and it was impossible not to give even this much face.
At the banquet, Senior Xuan Lao was still quite giving face, causing the Star Luo Emperor's smile to never disappear from His Majesty's face.
Although Senior Xuan Lao only represented Senior's personal gratitude towards the Star Luo Empire, admitting to owing them a favor, Senior did not represent Shrek Academy.
But this was also a very acceptable outcome. After all, Senior Xuan Lao's strength was formidable, and it wasn't easy to have such a powerful individual owe a favor.
Furthermore, Senior Xuan Lao might very well become the Sea God Pavilion Master of Shrek Academy in the future. What's the difference between having Senior owe a big favor and having Shrek Academy owe a big favor?
The Star Luo Emperor also presented the champion's reward at the banquet, which were three ten-thousand-year Soul Bones. The worst one was over twenty thousand years old, and the best quality one was over fifty thousand years old.
Three such Soul Bones were worth over ten million, much better than the second-place reward.
"Besides these three Soul Bones, the Xingluo Royal Family is also willing to give an additional reward to our honorary enshrined Shi Yu," the Star Luo Emperor looked at Shi Yu, who was sitting relatively close to the front, and clapped His Majesty's hands.
The personal eunuch beside His Majesty held a delicate round plate with both hands and presented it in front of Shi Yu, still covered with golden cloth.
"Your Majesty, isn't this inappropriate?" Shi Yu did not reach out to accept it but looked at the Star Luo Emperor, showing an intention to refuse.
One should not accept rewards without merit. Taking these things means owing a favor; how can they be taken just like that?
Although Shi Yu was very interested in the contents of the plate and vaguely sensed the spatial fluctuations emanating from within, this should be a treasure related to Space, not quite like a Soul Bone.
Senior Xuan Lao took a sip of wine, said nothing, and just watched quietly.
"There's nothing inappropriate. The Sun Moon Royal Academy is powerful. If you hadn't led the team to defeat them, the champion of this Soul Master Academy Competition would have fallen to the Sun Moon Royal Academy."
"The venue was Star Luo City. If the champion was taken by the Sun Moon Empire, that would be a great insult to our Star Luo Empire."
"You leading the team to defeat the Sun Moon Royal Academy not only defended the honor of Shrek Academy but also saved the face of our Star Luo Empire. Don't you think I should give you a separate reward?" the Star Luo Emperor said seriously.
The intention to recruit was obvious, but there was no need to be too blunt on the surface; it was fine as long as the other party understood.
"This..." Shi Yu hesitated.
At this moment, Xu Jiujiu also spoke up to persuade: "This is a ten-thousand-year You Xu Fruit, a rare Space-attribute heavenly materials and earthly treasures. My Imperial Brother had people search throughout the entire Continent to find it, and the difficulty was considerable."
"Leaving aside its value, just considering my Imperial Brother's sentiment, can you bear to disappoint him?"
You Xu Fruit... Shi Yu's eyebrows twitched. He had thought the plate might contain Space-attribute heavenly materials and earthly treasures, but he didn't expect it to be the rare You Xu Fruit.
Ever since obtaining many heavenly materials and earthly treasures at the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, Shi Yu had paid special attention to information about heavenly materials and earthly treasures, and had specifically researched Space-attribute heavenly materials and earthly treasures. He knew about this You Xu Fruit.
It is said that this kind of fruit does not grow on trees, but is a fruit nurtured within some Space cracks.
From its growing environment, one can imagine how extraordinary this fruit is; even at the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, there is no such fruit.
It contains pure Space energy, and it is said that after consumption, it can allow one to briefly enter a Space crack without being injured.
One cannot just casually enter inside Space cracks. Even peak powerhouses dare not enter easily; it is fatal to them.
But after consuming this fruit, it can allow one to enter extremely dangerous Space cracks. Although one cannot stay for long, a few minutes is already quite exaggerated.
Of course, this fruit is also a bit of a mixed blessing. After all, Space cracks are not common, and even if they exist, one doesn't know what can be done inside a Space crack. It sounds very powerful, but in reality, it's not highly valued.
This kind of fruit is more often consumed by Space-attribute Soul Masters to enhance their cultivation, and it can also strengthen the Space abilities of Space-attribute Soul Masters.
In the information Shi Yu read, there were Space-attribute Soul Masters whose Martial Souls evolved after consuming the You Xu Fruit. This person eventually seemed to have cultivated to the peak level.
Shi Yu's heart was moved. This You Xu Fruit was indeed a top-tier heavenly materials and earthly treasures for Shi Yu, even more valuable than other types of hundred-thousand-year heavenly materials and earthly treasures.
"In that case, thank Your Majesty very much." Shi Yu readily chose to accept. Owe a favor, then owe one. In the future, if there's an opportunity, Shi Yu will return two or three heavenly materials and earthly treasures to them. It's about reciprocating goodwill; Shi Yu won't just take.
Among the heavenly materials and earthly treasures Shi Yu possessed, there were indeed some that were quite suitable for members of the Xingluo Royal Family to consume, but it wasn't suitable to take them out now; it could only be discussed later.
The Star Luo Emperor and Xu Jiujiu both revealed smiles.
After the banquet ended, as soon as Shi Yu returned to Shi Yu's residence, Shi Yu began to consume the You Xu Fruit. The fruit, slightly larger than a fist, was swallowed by Shi Yu in just a few bites.
Pure Space energy instantly filled Shi Yu's body, causing Shi Yu to quickly circulate Shi Yu's Soul Power to refine it. Shi Yu's cultivation quickly and steadily improved during this absorption process.
This absorption lasted until noon the next day, taking over ten hours to completely absorb the energy of the You Xu Fruit, which was more time-consuming than absorbing a Soul Ring.
Shi Yu stood up and stretched Shi Yu's body, unable to contain the smile on Shi Yu's face.
"This You Xu Fruit is truly extraordinary," Shi Yu exclaimed. Driven by the fruit's energy, Shi Yu's Soul Power smoothly reached level forty, reaching a new bottleneck. Shi Yu only needed to absorb another Soul Ring to become a four-ring Soul Grandmaster, at which point Shi Yu's strength would further increase.
Most importantly, Shi Yu could cross over again. This time, going ten thousand years into the future, Shi Yu had to plan for more benefits.
Besides the simple increase in Soul Power, Shi Yu's Space ability also improved somewhat, but Shi Yu's Martial Soul did not evolve.
There wasn't much room for improvement for Shi Yu's Space Martial Soul. Although this You Xu Fruit was extraordinarily powerful, it couldn't break through a certain constraint in Shi Yu's Martial Soul level.