Mu Ye's Return

The box had only just opened a crack when a fierce aura eagerly shot out from within.

Xu Tianming's gaze sharpened slightly, and his previously indifferent expression turned serious.

Ignoring the sword-like aura, Xu Tianming calmly opened the box completely.

Shadow Douluo, standing nearby, secretly nodded at the sight.

"Not bad. At such a young age, you've already tempered your body to this extent. This engraving knife will not be wasted in your hands."

Xu Tianming said nothing, his eyes fixed firmly on the item inside the box.

It was an entirely dark-gold engraving knife, its blade covered in fine crimson lines resembling veins.

The entire knife had a slight curve, and its handle bore five circular indentations, like the handprint of some humanoid creature.

"This is...?"

Xu Tianming naturally recognized it as an engraving knife.

Yet this engraving knife was clearly different from ordinary ones. The sharp aura that seemed capable of tearing apart everything made it feel more like a formidable weapon.

"This is the Dark Gold Engraving Knife, ranked eighteenth among the imperial family's secret collection of Ranking Engraving Knives."

Seeing that Xu Tianming did not recognize its value, Shadow Douluo immediately began explaining.

"This engraving knife was forged from the palm bone of a fifty-thousand-year Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear, supplemented with ten-thousand-year Black Iron Essence, Geocentric Gold Essence, and patterned Tungsten Steel."

"Even among Ranking Engraving Knives, its sharpness ranks within the top ten. It can carve Core Arrays onto any metal."

"Furthermore, Soul Tools crafted with this knife will naturally gain a tearing property, greatly enhancing their ability to penetrate defenses."

At this point, Shadow Douluo paused.

"You will gradually come to understand its many mysteries while crafting Soul Tools in the future."

The palm bone of a fifty-thousand-year Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear was an External Soul Bone, and it could even be called a top-tier External Soul Bone.

Such a treasure of blood and slaughter held tremendous allure even for Title Douluo-level experts.

Yet someone had been willing to use such a priceless treasure to create a Soul Tool.

It could only be said that the Sun Moon Empire's people had truly delved into Soul Tool research to the very marrow of their bones.

"His Highness the Crown Prince has shown me such great favor... I truly feel unworthy of accepting it."

Though he said that, Xu Tianming honestly put both the engraving knife and its box into his storage ring.

"You are a close relative of the imperial family, and you possess Innate Soul Power and a mutated Martial Soul. His Highness the Crown Prince thinks very highly of you."

Shadow Douluo could naturally see at a glance that Xu Tianming's words did not match his actions.

"Cultivate properly. Cause your father less trouble. Your future potential is limitless."

Xu Tianming hesitated slightly before suddenly asking with curiosity:

"Your Excellency Shadow Douluo... do you know my father?"

From Shadow Douluo Xue Chen's actions, Xu Tianming could clearly sense his care toward him, which was why he asked.

Not to mention that broken sword so similar to the Angel Holy Sword.

Without Shadow Douluo's help, he did not believe that broken sword could have ended up in his hands.

"Do not ask what you should not ask."

Shadow Douluo waved his hand and instructed the soldier outside the door:

"Someone, escort the son of Dongyang City's lord back to the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Master Academy!"

"Yes!"

A man in military uniform immediately entered the room and bowed to accept the order.

"Wait!"

Seeing Shadow Douluo turn to leave, Xu Tianming hurriedly called out:

"Where is my mentor, Zhang Tiezhu?"

"Why isn't he returning with me?"

"He will return, but you will have to wait a while longer."

Shadow Douluo paused, but did not turn back.

"Thank you, Your Excellency Shadow Douluo!"

Xu Tianming let out a sigh of relief and gratefully bowed to Shadow Douluo.

By the time he straightened up, Shadow Douluo had already vanished from the room.

"Young Lord, please follow me."

The man beside him was clearly extremely respectful toward Xu Tianming as he led him out of the military camp.

Outside the gates of the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Master Academy, Xu Tianming stepped down from the carriage and looked at the familiar entrance, his heart filled with mixed feelings.

No matter what, his gains from this trip to the black market had been quite substantial.

A divine artifact fragment, a Spirit Douluo Summoning Card, and a Dark Gold Engraving Knife ranked seventeenth among the Ranking Engraving Knives.

With such gains, Xu Tianming had begun to wonder whether he had replaced Huo Yuhao as the Child of Destiny.

"But now that Xu Tianran has noticed me, I don't know whether that is a good thing or a bad thing."

Xu Tianming's eyes flickered.

"This Xu Tianran can be considered a formidable figure. Though cooperating with vermin like the Holy Spirit Cult is morally questionable, he is certainly generous when he acts."

"Since the Xishui Alliance has already appeared, it seems this determined Crown Prince has begun cooperating with the Holy Spirit Cult."

Xu Tianming had already figured this out when he was captured.

Both the Pingfan Alliance and the Otto Chamber of Commerce had powerful figures from Ming Capital backing them. They had dominated Ming Capital's underground forces for so many years, yet no one had dared to interfere.

But this time, they had merely held a small auction, yet it had drawn the Royal Soul Master Legion and a Title Douluo expert like Xue Chen.

Most interestingly, the Xishui Alliance had not participated in this auction.

Wasn't that clearly the Xishui Alliance and Xu Tianran setting a trap for these two underground powers?

"Your Highness has remained outside the academy for so long. Could it be that you have already discovered me?"

As Xu Tianming pondered these matters, a familiar voice rang out not far behind him.

Xu Tianming froze, then suddenly turned around, a flash of wild delight appearing on his face.

"Elder Mu?"

The newcomer was Mu Ye, whom Xu Tianming had previously sent to the Far North.

"I returned several days ago. I heard that Your Highness had become entangled in some trouble, so I have been waiting at the academy gates for you."

After a pause, Mu Ye's expression became somewhat solemn.

"If I still failed to find Your Highness, I was planning to wreak havoc in Ming Capital."

Although Mu Ye was only a level ninety-four Title Douluo,

with the Body Sect Secret Technique, four Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Rings, and especially the enhancement of Battle Armor, his strength was no weaker than that of a level ninety-nine Limit Douluo.

If he truly caused havoc in Ming Capital, only Long Xiaoyao and Ye Xishui joining forces could likely stop him.

"There's no need for that, no need for that."

Knowing he was in the wrong, Xu Tianming quickly changed the subject.

"Elder Mu, have you taken care of the matter I asked you to handle?"

"It has been taken care of."

Mu Ye nodded. Just as he was about to say something, Xu Tianming raised a hand to stop him.

"There are too many people here. This is not a suitable place to talk."

"Since the matter has been handled, then I must trouble Elder Mu to accompany me on another trip to the Far North."

After pondering briefly, Xu Tianming continued:

"However, before going to the Far North, I still need to return to the academy."

"After all, there are some matters I need to arrange as well."