Engraving Knife!

Sun Moon Royal Academy Library.

As the unrivaled research institution for Soul Tools, its collection of books and materials on the subject was unmatched across all of Douluo Star.

Once enrolled, students could borrow the books within and use its vast resources to enrich themselves.

Xu Tianyang borrowed a copy of <Third-Class Soul Tool Formation Arrays, Annotated Edition by Xu Yunxiao>, found a spot with good lighting, and began reading with great interest.

Sure enough, some of the insights gave him tremendous inspiration. His father truly deserved his reputation as the genius most likely to break through to Level Nine Soul Master.

"Boss, I've been looking everywhere for you. Why are you here?"

Zui Hongchen's somewhat subdued voice rang out. Huang Xiuwen, who had gradually become nearly inseparable from him over the course of the semester, sat down on either side of Xu Tianyang.

"Come on, Boss. The final exams are already over, and you're still grinding?" Looking past Xu Tianyang and seeing the book in his hands, Zui Hongchen lowered his voice and could not help wailing.

"Are you even going to leave us poor students a way to survive?!"

Seeing Zui Hongchen's aggrieved expression, Huang Xiuwen was the first to snap. With an unfriendly look on his face, he said, "Fatty, aside from Boss, you were the only one who got a perfect score on the final theory exam. If you're a poor student, then what am I?"

"And don't think I didn't see that <Comprehensive Guide to Common Questions on the Third-Class Soul Engineer Exam> hidden under your pillow. You're the one secretly grinding, aren't you?"

Hearing the angry voice beside him, the flesh on Zui Hongchen's chubby face trembled. He gave an awkward laugh. "Ahem, Old Huang, I'm only trying to improve. Besides, didn't we agree? The two of us brothers, one scholarly and one martial, will assist Your Highness and achieve great things."

"So the academy's on break. Why aren't you two going home? What are you staying at school for?" Xu Tianyang chuckled, closed his book, and turned to ask Zui Hongchen and Huang Xiuwen.

Three months had passed since their last practical battle. The academy had completed its year of classes and begun its break.

Since Xu Yunxiao and Mu Mengyu had yet to return, Xu Tianyang did not go back to the Prince's Mansion. To him, it made little difference whether he stayed at school or at the Prince's Mansion.

Compared to the Prince's Mansion, he preferred staying in the academy library.

"Boss, Starlight Auction House has gotten a few interesting items." Zui Hongchen leaned over with a mysterious expression and whispered.

"Let's go take a look!" Xu Tianyang smiled and rose to his feet.

Starlight Auction House was a long-established auction house near Sun Moon Royal Academy. Because of its location, the academy's students and teachers liked to browse there to see whether there were any new items or opportunities to pick up a bargain.

Xu Tianyang also knew that the Hongchen Family was a shareholder in Starlight Auction House. If even Zui Hongchen found something interesting, it surely would not be anything ordinary. His curiosity had indeed been piqued.

Night fell, and lights began to shine.

As the largest city in the Sun Moon Empire, the Imperial Capital had never needed to fear the ravages of war due to its strength. Its prosperity made it worthy of being called the number one city on the Sun Moon Continent.

The pedestrians moving along the broad streets all wore happy smiles.

The three passed through the academy gates and soon stopped before a peculiar circular building.

This circular building covered an enormous area, with a diameter of at least five hundred meters and a height exceeding one hundred meters at its tallest point. Even within the Imperial Capital, it was an exceedingly rare structure.

The fact that it occupied such a vast area in this land where every inch was worth a fortune showed just how powerful its backers were.

Besides the Hongchen Family, there were several other top-tier families involved, and even the imperial family was among them.

The entrance to Starlight Auction House was also semicircular. Like the auction house's overall structure, it was an ancient black.

Several tall hostess girls stood at the entrance. These girls had clearly been selected through a strict process. Not only were they all around one meter seventy-five tall, but their figures were exceptionally well-proportioned. Though they could not be called breathtaking beauties, their lovely appearances and vibrant youthful energy were still quite alluring.

However, they held no appeal for Xu Tianyang and the other two.

After Zui Hongchen produced a token, the three entered the auction house amid the excited expressions of the attendants.

The interior of the auction house was not resplendent or extravagant. Instead, it exuded simplicity and elegance. The floor was made of milky-white marble, while the surrounding walls were decorated with various relief carvings.

Display cases built into the walls contained rare metals that were either crystal-clear or vividly colored, along with many finely crafted Soul Tools.

The academy gave certain privileges to students it valued, allowing them to spend freely within a specified limit.

This was essentially the academy's early investment in students with talent but poor backgrounds.

When it came to cultivating students, the Sun Moon Empire was serious.

Inside the auction house, within the Hongchen Family's exclusive private room, the most eye-catching feature was the huge floor-to-ceiling window at the front. It was made from an enormous crystal that had undergone special treatment, allowing them to clearly see every corner of the venue.

"Looks like the items at today's auction have quite the background. So many 'important figures' have shown up." Xu Tianyu's gaze swept past one private room after another, all of which emanated fairly strong auras. He smiled at Zui Hongchen beside him.

"These people are like rats. Their noses are too sharp." Seeing this, Zui Hongchen's expression changed slightly as he muttered a curse under his breath.

At this, Xu Tianyang's curiosity was thoroughly aroused, and he watched the center of the auction house with interest.

At that moment, the lights in the auction hall gradually dimmed. Under the illumination of several Soul Tool Crystal Lamps on the stage, a host in a purple dress gracefully stepped onto the platform.

Holding an Amplifying Soul Tool, she glanced at the many top-tier private rooms and began hosting the auction with a charming smile.

As the auction officially began, the noisy audience seats also quieted down.

The first few auction items were not expensive, remaining within ten thousand Gold Soul Coins, but they were more than enough to warm up the atmosphere.

"Sold! Congratulations to Guest Number 476 for winning this Level 4 Blackwater Shield with a bid of twelve thousand one hundred and thirty-eight Gold Soul Coins."

In the ordinary seating area, a young man wore an expression that was half crying and half laughing. Bidding felt great in the moment, but the consequences were brutal afterward. Late at night truly was the peak time for impulsive spending, especially in a place like an auction house that sent one's adrenaline soaring.

"Thank you all for joining us. Now, let us unveil tonight's first major auction item: the Invincible Shield, developed several years ago at the proposal of Crown Prince Your Highness. Though this is only a Level 5 Soul Tool, due to its special nature, the starting bid is one hundred thousand Gold Soul Coins. Bidding will begin in five minutes, with each increase no less than five hundred Gold Soul Coins."

The opening was over, and the real auction had begun. As expected, the very first item set the bidders below ablaze with excitement.

The Invincible Shield was a Soul Tool developed based on the exceedingly rare soul skill, Invincible Golden Body. Through the Core Array, the Invincible Shield could instantly unleash the energy within a Golden Crystal, producing formidable defensive power.

A mere Level 5 Invincible Shield could block any attack from a Soul Master below the level of an eight-ring Soul Douluo for three seconds. Its value was no less than that of a Thousand-Year Soul Bone.

"An Invincible Shield? Isn't this thing prohibited from circulation by the imperial family?" Zui Hongchen blinked his narrow eyes and could not help sneaking several glances at Xu Tianyang.

"Why are you looking at me? If the auction house dares to put it up for auction, they must have received the imperial family's approval." Xu Tianyang noticed his gaze and casually held his drink.

He had not expected the Invincible Shield to have been developed under his father's leadership. A Soul Tool like the Invincible Shield was a life-saving treasure in certain situations. From the moment it appeared, it had been judged one of the Soul Tools most beloved by Soul Masters, with an enormous market. Yet given the current complicated situation, the imperial family had issued a ban immediately after the test results came out, prohibiting its circulation on the market and reserving it for frontline generals.

Such an outstanding defensive Soul Tool could sometimes decide the outcome of a war. With tensions so high, the imperial family had to guard against the Moonflower Empire obtaining the Invincible Shield. If the other side managed to reverse-engineer it, that would amount to aiding the enemy.

Seeing Xu Tianyang's reaction, Zui Hongchen sighed inwardly in relief. Then he rubbed his hands together, staring heatedly at the Invincible Shield in the auction hall.

For a genius Soul Engineer like him, such an excellent Soul Tool held a deadly temptation. Because of the ban, even he had only heard of it from his grandfather and had never seen the real thing.

The instant he saw the actual item, only one thought remained in his mind.

Buy it, crack it, learn it.

"Such a good thing. I really want..." Huang Xiuwen walked to the one-way glass in the private room and stared unblinkingly at the Invincible Shield.

"No, you don't!" Before he could finish, Zui Hongchen immediately turned and cut him off with a serious expression.

Huang Xiuwen rolled his eyes, shrugged, and returned to his seat. Although he studied Soul Tool crafting, he was not as passionate about it as Zui Hongchen, nor was he as talented.

While they were talking, the price of the Level 5 Invincible Shield rapidly soared to three hundred thousand Gold Soul Coins and continued climbing.

Every new type of Soul Tool was an immense temptation to these high-level Soul Engineers, let alone one as outstanding as the Invincible Shield.

"Five hundred thousand!"

In the end, only after Zui Hongchen called out a price of five hundred thousand did the Invincible Shield fall into his hands.

During the process, Xu Tianyang clearly sensed several unwilling gazes. However, after seeing which private room had made the bid, they all gave up on raising the price.

Although the Hongchen Family was no longer as powerful as it had been during Huo Gua's era, it was still among the top ranks. Since the imperial family had already loosened its restrictions, everyone would eventually obtain Invincible Shields through other channels. There was no need to lower themselves by competing over one.

Besides, they had heard that Zui Hongchen of the Hongchen Family was close to His Highness the Grandson. What a pity that their own families did not have any outstanding juniors of the same age.

The next several auction items were all Soul Tools of Level 7 or above. Naturally, the various Soul Tools put up for auction were all the kind that did not involve core technologies.

Xu Tianyang remained a quiet observer and did not bid on a single item. Born into the imperial family, he had seen much and naturally had high standards. In his eyes, these Soul Tools were merely average and not worth buying.

"Next is today's finale item."

The clear, pleasant voice rang out once more. Those who knew the inside details of today's auction could not help sitting up straighter, rubbing their hands as they stared at the auctioneer onstage.

This time, the spectacle was greater than at any previous auction. Two girls carried a dark rectangular metal box in both hands. The auctioneer then slowly walked up to them, stretched out her slender jade-like fingers, and opened the closed metal box while introducing it to everyone.

"This is tonight's final auction item: the Cold Moon Engraving Knife, ranked seventy-eighth on the Engraving Knife Ranking."