The Whereabouts of the Blade of Life and the Platform of Gods

"As for the academy, it's settled then. Disciple, write up a charter, and I'll hand it over to the elders to carry out."

Du Busi made the final decision.

Lin Ran nodded.

After discussing the academy, Du Busi rose to his feet first and said to Lin Ran, "Come with me. I have something to tell you privately."

Lin Ran followed him with some curiosity.

After arriving at an empty room, Du Busi sat in a chair and looked at Lin Ran solemnly.

"Disciple, I heard from Laicai Douluo that you asked him to look for a ranked carving knife called the Spirit Devouring Fierce Blade?"

"Has it been found?" Lin Ran asked in surprise.

He was not surprised that Laicai Douluo had told Du Busi about this.

Laicai Douluo was more like a merchant, always looking to reduce the risks he had to bear.

Du Busi shook his head and asked seriously, "What exactly is so special about that thing that you want to buy it? Do you want to learn soul tools? Disciple, you must understand that soul tools are ultimately just a crooked path. A soul master's foundation lies in strengthening oneself. There's no need for you to distract yourself by learning soul tools."

Lin Ran shook his head and smiled at the stern-faced Du Busi. "Teacher, of course I know what path I'll take in the future. I already have more cultivation tasks than I can finish—how could I spare the attention to learn soul tools? As for soul tools, it's enough to know how to use them."

"As for the Spirit Devouring Fierce Blade, it's actually a rare treasure. Its true nature has merely been concealed by the evil spiritual aura on it."

Du Busi's brow remained tightly furrowed as he warned, "That thing is steeped in evil. Don't let it lead you down the path of an Evil Soul Master."

Lin Ran said solemnly, "I only want to get my hands on it first. I'll find a way to purify it before I use it."

Du Busi's expression eased slightly. With a faint sigh, he said, "Since you insist on having it, I'll tell you what I know."

"According to what Laicai Douluo found out, that fierce blade was bought by someone four years ago."

"Hm?"

Lin Ran was stunned, then frowned deeply.

Dai Yuhao had not reincarnated seven years ago, so who had bought the Spirit Devouring Fierce Blade?

Could there be another expert?

He carefully recalled the information concerning the Spirit Devouring Fierce Blade in the Original Work.

The Spirit Devouring Fierce Blade first appeared in the Sun Moon Empire three thousand years ago. Its first owner was a Level 9 Soul Master—and also an Evil Soul Master.

After that Evil Soul Master died, his resentful spirit and evil thoughts attached themselves to the Spirit Devouring Fierce Blade, forging its sinister nature.

Over the next three thousand years, the carving knife passed through the hands of one soul master after another. Every single one of its owners died tragically, and several even became Evil Soul Masters.

Even so, the Spirit Devouring Fierce Blade still ranked ninety-ninth among the ranked carving knives.

According to the Original Work, the Spirit Devouring Fierce Blade eventually ended up at the Starlight Auction House of the Star Luo Empire. After failing to sell more than ten times, it was acquired by Huo Yuhao.

Could this buyer from seven years ago have been one of the Spirit Devouring Fierce Blade's previous owners?

Lin Ran looked at Du Busi and asked, "Teacher, do we have any information on the buyer?"

Du Busi shook his head. "The person bought it anonymously, so there's no precise information. However, I heard that a Level 9 Soul Master from the Sun Moon Empire used the Spirit Devouring Fierce Blade within the past two years."

As he spoke, Du Busi took out a dossier and handed it to Lin Ran. "This is the information on that Level 9 Soul Master."

"A Level 9 Soul Master?"

There was actually a Level 9 Soul Master stubborn enough to buy such a vicious blade?

Lin Ran accepted the dossier, still frowning as he swiftly read through it.

"Wu Feng, Level 9 Soul Master, skilled in crafting sealing-type soul tools. Personal signature soul tools: Level 9 Soul Tool Seal Demon Seal, Level 9 Soul Tool Platform of Gods..."

"Platform of Gods?"

The moment Lin Ran saw the name of this soul tool, his gaze abruptly sharpened. He turned the name over in his mind again and again.

He remembered that when the Snow Empress took human form, she had been captured by an unknown Level 9 Soul Master from the Sun Moon Empire. The soul tool used to capture her was called—the Platform of Gods.

Now that he recalled this plot from the Original Work, it seemed full of suspicious points.

Why would a Level 9 Soul Master travel to the Extreme North and, by such an incredible coincidence, overcome countless obstacles to encounter the Snow Empress while she was taking human form?

Why had the Platform of Gods, which captured a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast embryo, ended up at the Starlight Auction House in the Star Luo Empire?

Every Level 9 Soul Tool in the Sun Moon Empire was strictly controlled. Without special circumstances, they would never be sold to the Douluo Three Kingdoms.

Which Level 9 Soul Master would dare openly put a Level 9 Soul Tool he had crafted up for sale in the Star Luo Empire?

Especially together with a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast embryo?

And didn't that Level 9 Soul Master want to study such a rare Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast embryo? Yet he simply sold it? Worse, it had been used by the Star Luo Empire to swindle their own people from Mingde Hall of the Sun Moon Empire.

That could already be considered treason.

As Lin Ran looked at the information on this Level 9 Soul Master named Wu Feng, then thought of the Spirit Devouring Fierce Blade that had fallen into his hands, he suddenly found himself unable to make sense of it all.

After pondering for a moment, he looked at Du Busi and said, "Teacher, can we send people to keep an eye on this Level 9 Soul Master? I have a feeling that he'll definitely leave the Sun Moon Empire and come to our side."

Du Busi said irritably, "Do you think a Level 9 Soul Master is so easy to track? Even in our Body Sect, there aren't many who can manage it."

Lin Ran thought for a moment, then said solemnly, "This matter is very important."

It concerned not only the Blade of Life, but also Snow Empress's embryo. She was a seven-hundred-thousand-year Soul Beast; whether used as a soul ring or soul bone, she was an invaluable treasure.

Even if she was not turned into a soul ring or soul bone, simply saving Snow Empress would earn them a favor from the ruler of the Extreme North.

Seeing how serious Lin Ran was, Du Busi's expression turned solemn as well. He said:

"Since you put it that way, I'll have the Second Elder keep watch over him. The Second Elder's martial soul is his eyes—he'll definitely be able to keep Wu Feng's whereabouts under constant watch."

He did not ask why Lin Ran cared so much about that Level 9 Soul Master. When Lin Ran wished to tell him, he naturally would.

Lin Ran nodded in relief and looked at Du Busi with a smile. "Then thank you, Teacher."

Du Busi looked at Lin Ran and snorted coldly. "You brat really know how to make trouble for me and the sect elders. All you do is order others around. Count it up—how many problems have you caused already? How about I step down right now, and you become Sect Master?"

Lin Ran chuckled. "Being busy is good. If you don't work hard, and the sect elders don't work hard, how can the sect possibly have a bright future? It's all for the sect's future! The burden of the Body Sect still has to be borne by you, Teacher."

As for me, Lin Ran, I'm naturally the future of the Body Sect! Teacher, you said that yourself.

Du Busi's expression eased somewhat, and he nodded. "Ever since you joined the sect, it really has been flourishing more and more."

Star Dou Great Forest, Great Fierce Land.

Di Tian was not in a good mood. It could even be said that his mood was terrible.

He had mobilized every Soul Beast in the Star Dou Great Forest, yet in the end, he still had not captured that human child.

What enraged him even more was that Titled Douluo who had stopped him. He had already spared the man, yet that scruffy old fellow had actually turned around and launched a sneak attack on him.

It was utterly baffling!