Chapter 134

Xue Lingyun picked up the core and examined it, then casually set it on the table. Leaning back against the backrest, he rolled his wrist. The knuckles of his index and middle fingers were a little sore, and the engraving knife's handle had left a red mark in the web between his thumb and forefinger. He rubbed it, then put the engraving knife back into its case.

Fan Yu emerged from the inner room carrying a cup of water. He set it on the table first, then glanced at the glowing object on the workbench—his footsteps stopped.

He walked over and picked up the core for inspection. At first, he merely gave it a casual look, his gaze sliding from the beginning of the pattern to its end, then back again. Then his brow furrowed, and his eyes widened. He turned the core beneath the Soul Guidance Lamp, then leaned closer to inspect the patterns along its edge.

"Level Five?" Fan Yu's voice was plainly shocked as he looked up at Xue Lingyun. "You engraved this?"

"Mm." Xue Lingyun stood and put the engraving knife case into his Storage Soul Tool. "Teacher Fan Yu, may I leave now?"

Fan Yu froze for a moment. He looked down at the core in his hand, then back at him. His lips parted as if he were hesitating over something, but in the end, he swallowed the words.

"You may." Fan Yu said, his tone somewhat more polite than usual. "This core... could you lend it to me?"

Xue Lingyun glanced at him. "Keep it. I still have materials."

Fan Yu's lips moved as though he wanted to say something, but in the end, he only nodded. "All right. Thank you."

Xue Lingyun picked up his coat and draped it over his shoulder