Life Gold

As he studied Xu Zihuang and the others' expressions, the fat shopkeeper began to feel uncertain. But in the face of profit, he could still bear a little risk.

"Carving knives are essential tools for every Soul Engineer. A good carving knife is even one of the most important things for becoming a high-level Soul Engineer. This young master has probably heard of Ranked Carving Knives, yes? It means carving knives that have made it onto the rankings."

"The carving knife rankings of the Douluo Continent record only the top hundred carving knives. The one on this tray is among those hundred, a Ranked Carving Knife—the one I just mentioned. I happened to acquire it not long ago and had originally planned to send it to the Yueshu Auction House for auction later. I never expected that you, young master, would happen to take an interest in it."

"If you truly want it, young master, two hundred thousand Gold Soul Coins will do. Consider it the price of making a friend."

Meng Lang and the others standing behind Xu Zihuang exchanged glances, then unanimously cast scrutinizing looks at the carving knife on the tray.

If it really was a Ranked Carving Knife, then two hundred thousand Gold Soul Coins was absolutely not expensive. It could even be called ridiculously cheap.

"Two hundred thousand Gold Soul Coins?" A teasing smile curled Xu Zihuang's lips, but his next words made the middle-aged fat shopkeeper's heart skip a beat.

"The ninety-ninth Ranked Carving Knife, the Spirit Devouring Carving Knife. Three thousand years ago, it appeared in the Sun Moon Empire. Its creator was an extraordinarily talented Soul Engineer, who was said to have eventually become a Level 9 Soul Engineer. But this Level 9 Soul Engineer was also a Soul Master—a terrifying Evil Soul Master. Three thousand years ago, he brought a storm of bloodshed upon the continent."

At this, Meng Lang and the others' gazes instantly turned icy.

He deserved to die!

The smile on Xu Zihuang's face remained unchanged as his gaze shifted to the Spirit Devouring Carving Knife on the tray. "The Spirit Devouring Carving Knife was made by that Evil Soul Master in his later years. Not long after creating it, he encountered the greatest enemy of his life. That peerless genius, and monstrous villain, fell soon after. Yet when he died, he did not keep the Spirit Devouring Carving Knife by his side. Over time, it passed into civilian hands. As far as I know, all of this vicious knife's later owners seemed to have died miserably. Not one of them met a good end."

"Am I wrong?"

When Xu Zihuang was young, he had read illustrated guides and descriptions of Ranked Carving Knives. He had even personally handled quite a few of them. The dark purple dragon-pattern carving knife he had used before was one of them: the Purple Sun Brilliant Dragon, ranked third among Ranked Carving Knives, which his father had once used. It had been passed down through generations within the Sun Moon Empire royalty and could only be used by someone who possessed the Purple Blazing Sky Dragon Martial Soul. When Wang Xiao had fled from the pursuit of Xu Tianran and his father, he had deliberately taken this carving knife with him. Not long ago, he had given it to Xu Zihuang.

Cold sweat streamed down the middle-aged fat shopkeeper's forehead, and he did not dare meet Xu Zihuang's eyes. At the same time, a burst of applause suddenly rang out behind Xu Zihuang.

"Truly, heroes emerge in their youth. You may be young, little brother, but your knowledge is quite extensive."

A blond young man dressed in an extravagant platinum-colored robe approached with a gentle smile, clapping his hands. The golden star patterns on his chest shone brilliantly beneath the glazed ceiling lamps.

"I am Xi Gu, a steward of the Starlight Auction House of the Star Luo Empire. We arrived on Yueshu Island aboard the same merchant ship earlier. Do you remember me at all, little brother?"

Xu Zihuang nodded slightly, but he was not swayed by Xi Gu's act. "May I ask what advice Steward Xi has for me?"

"Advice would be too much." Xi Gu narrowed his eyes, surprise flashing deep within them. But he had considerable interest in the Spirit Devouring Carving Knife and naturally could not give up so easily.

"Since you have recognized this carving knife's origins, little brother, I imagine you will not be such a fool as to buy it at that price." As he spoke, he turned to the middle-aged fat shopkeeper and said confidently, "One hundred thousand Gold Soul Coins. I'll take it. How about it?"

Before the middle-aged fat shopkeeper could speak, Xu Zihuang bluntly interrupted him.

"My apologies, but I happen to like being that fool."

"Could you give the Starlight Auction House some face, little brother?" Xi Gu's expression shifted. He glanced at the five imposing figures behind Xu Zihuang and forcibly suppressed his displeasure.

Xu Zihuang indifferently withdrew his gaze and swept the Spirit Devouring Carving Knife into the Storage Ring on his left index finger.

"Why should I give face to an auction house from the Star Luo Empire while standing on the territory of our Sun Moon Empire?"

Leaving aside his own lack of goodwill toward the Star Luo Empire, merely knowing the value of this Spirit Devouring Carving Knife was enough for him to do this.

This was an entire piece of Life Gold.

"You..."

Xi Gu steadied his emotions and opened his mouth, but ultimately said nothing. Suppressing his fury, he flicked his sleeve and left.

He could sense that at least four of the guards behind Xu Zihuang possessed Soul Power cultivation no weaker than his own. If he acted rashly, he would be the only one to suffer. Moreover, for Xu Zihuang to have experts of this caliber serving as guards, his identity was obvious.

Put simply, he had chickened out. After all, this was not the Star Luo Empire. No matter how powerful the backers behind the Starlight Auction House were, they could not extend their reach into the Yuenan Islands of the Sun Moon Empire.

"This young master..." The fat shopkeeper looked at Xu Zihuang pitifully, silently cursing himself for letting greed blind him.

Xu Zihuang did not even spare him a glance. Light flashed from the Storage Ring on his left index finger, and a warm, lustrous Crescent White Jade Token appeared in his hand.

"Go to the City Lord's Mansion later and collect the money."

With that, Xu Zihuang turned and led the others out of the shop, leaving only the middle-aged fat shopkeeper with a bitter expression.

Collect the money? Collect his ass!

The City Lord of Yueshu City was the ruler of Yueshu Island, and his credit was indeed usually guaranteed. But the shopkeeper had clearly intended to swindle Xu Zihuang earlier. Even if he were given ten times the courage, he would not dare go to the City Lord's Mansion to ask for payment now.

Xu Zihuang held the City Lord's Token. There was no need to think about it to know that his relationship with their City Lord was far from ordinary.

Meanwhile, Xu Zihuang continued toward the center of Yueshu City. Even with his temperament, his heart was somewhat stirred. He had never expected to encounter the Spirit Devouring Carving Knife from the original story, which had appeared at the Starlight Auction House of the Star Luo Empire, here in Yueshu City.

The Evil Soul Master's soul and curse contained within the Spirit Devouring Carving Knife would not affect him at all. After all, the Ultimate Lightning and destruction attributes of his Second Martial Soul, the Purple Sun Thunder Prison Dragon, naturally restrained the methods of Evil Soul Masters.

With this piece of Life Gold, perhaps he could begin attempting the Second Awakening of the Body Martial Soul.

It was said that the Body Sect possessed a secret method for the Second Awakening of the Body Martial Soul, but he knew perfectly well what the true opportunity for it was: repeatedly standing at the brink of death and completely drawing out one's own potential.

"Young Master, shall I have someone kill that fat man and Xi Gu?" The young man with short cyan hair, who had silently followed behind Xu Zihuang all this time, suddenly spoke.

Xu Zihuang glanced sideways at him and earnestly advised, "Qing Mu, young people should not be so hot-headed. Your killing intent is too heavy. You need to change."

The moment he said this, everyone wore strange expressions. Meng Lang in particular could not help complaining inwardly.

Was it really appropriate for you to say that, Young Master...?