Auctioneer Xu Jiujiu

Lin Ming and Zhang Lexuan bought a horse. Lin Ming rode it, taking Zhang Lexuan toward Star Luo City, the capital of the Star Luo Empire.

"Lexuan, hold on tight!" With his exceptional sense of balance, Lin Ming easily got the hang of riding.

Zhang Lexuan wrapped her arms around Lin Ming's waist. Looking at the young man galloping ahead, she unconsciously pressed her face against his back.

"Whoa!"

As if a cyclist had suddenly slammed on the brakes, Zhang Lexuan lost her balance from the abrupt stop and crashed bodily into Lin Ming's back.

"What's wrong, Lin Ming?" Thinking they had hit something, Zhang Lexuan asked worriedly.

"It's nothing, Lexuan. Just a little accident." Lin Ming casually brushed it off before urging the horse onward again.

In truth, that sudden stop had not been an accident. Lin Ming had done it deliberately, savoring the soft pressure against his back and secretly delighting in it.

"Ow! What is it this time, Lin Ming?" Another sudden stop sent Zhang Lexuan crashing into Lin Ming's back once more.

"My mistake, my mistake. Sit tight, Lexuan. I'm speeding up!"

Zhang Lexuan reluctantly decided to trust Lin Ming one more time, though she was already beginning to suspect that the brat was up to no good.

Lin Ming, meanwhile, continued secretly enjoying himself.

Then, not long afterward, "Ow!"

This time, Zhang Lexuan absolutely refused to let Lin Ming keep riding. She insisted on taking the reins herself.

Lin Ming did not argue and obediently sat behind her.

"Since Lexuan wants me to sit in the back... heh heh heh!"

Just as Zhang Lexuan was concentrating on riding, a pair of arms suddenly wrapped around her slender waist. "Lexuan, this horse is too bumpy. I need to hold you."

Clinging to Zhang Lexuan like a stubborn plaster, Lin Ming pressed his entire body against hers.

Zhang Lexuan's face flushed, but she did not seem inclined to refuse. "Then sit steady and hold on tight..."

Her voice was extremely soft, and she had assumed Lin Ming would not hear it.

Who could have expected that Lin Ming's hearing was now sharp enough to catch even the faintest sound? He heard every word Zhang Lexuan said clearly.

"Got it!"

He wriggled forward again, hugged Zhang Lexuan tightly, and buried his head in her soft hair, blissfully inhaling her fragrance.

Feeling his breath against the back of her neck, Zhang Lexuan's heartbeat sped up considerably.

Before long, Zhang Lexuan heard steady breathing behind her. Lin Ming had actually fallen asleep.

Several days later, after traveling at an unhurried pace, the two finally entered the Star Luo Empire and arrived at Star Luo City.

At that moment, inside the Star Luo Auction House.

The staff were selecting suitable lots for the auction three days later.

The auction three days from now would be quite large in scale, so the choice of lots was especially important.

Just then, someone entered the storage room.

Hearing the movement, the staff turned around to see who it was.

The newcomer wore a luxurious purple-gold gown with not a scrap of excess fabric, perfectly accentuating her figure.

"Your Highness!"

The staff hurriedly bowed.

For someone to appear at the Star Luo Auction House while also being a princess of the Star Luo Empire, her identity was self-evident.

She was Xu Jiujiu, the beloved younger sister of the current Star Luo Emperor, Xu Jiawei.

Xu Jiujiu had been interested in auctioneering since childhood, and Xu Jiawei doted on his sister immensely. Even if Xu Jiujiu had wanted the stars and moon from the sky, Xu Jiawei would have found a way to pluck them for her, let alone merely wanting to become an auctioneer.

Thus, Xu Jiawei arranged for Xu Jiujiu to work as an auctioneer at the Star Luo Auction House.

Xu Jiujiu was usually very approachable. Whenever she appeared at an auction, the lots generally sold for good prices.

"Rise. I merely came to see how preparations for the auction three days from now are going."

Upon hearing this, the staff member quickly reported, "In reply to Your Highness, the finale lot has already been prepared. However, several of the final lots have yet to be decided."

The general pattern of auctions was to proceed from lower-value items to higher-value ones.

Naturally, the last few lots were the most precious items in the auction aside from the finale lot.

Xu Jiujiu nodded and walked over to the display cases. "Then let me decide on the final few lots. I will personally host the auction three days from now."

The staff member was overjoyed. "Thank you, Your Highness!"

The reason he was so happy was that Xu Jiujiu would be hosting it personally.

As mentioned before, within the Star Luo Empire, the approachable Princess Xu Jiujiu possessed a certain celebrity appeal.

With her as the host, this auction would surely be a great success.

When the time came, as the person responsible for selecting the lots, this staff member would also receive some benefits—enough to buy a few things he liked.

Xu Jiujiu nodded and walked among the display cases.

Based on her own judgment, she selected several relatively precious items whose value would not surpass that of the finale lot to serve as the final few lots.

Now, only one last item remained.

Xu Jiujiu swept her gaze around and finally took notice of one display case among the many.

Inside was a specially made box. The box was closed, yet black smoke seeped out through its cracks.

"What is that?"

When the staff member saw that Xu Jiujiu was interested in the item, he immediately became anxious. "Your Highness, that thing may not be suitable. Why not choose another?"

It was already rare enough for Xu Jiujiu to host an auction. If things went wrong, he would not receive his bonus.

Hearing him say that only made Xu Jiujiu more interested.

"Tell me quickly. What is it?" Xu Jiujiu's tone was clearly calm, yet it carried the majesty of royalty. The staff member could not bring himself to resist and could only obediently explain.

"In reply to Your Highness, it is a Ranking Engraving Knife."

Upon hearing the words "Ranking Engraving Knife," Xu Jiujiu became even more confused. "Then why were you trying to stop me? Things like this usually sell very well at auction."

There were only one hundred Ranking Engraving Knives on the list. Their rarity needed no explanation; they were treasures countless Soul Engineers dreamed of obtaining.

Moreover, Ranking Engraving Knives were treasures that could only be encountered by chance. One put up for auction should have been highly sought after.

A complicated expression appeared on the staff member's face. But since he was facing a princess of the empire, he could not conceal anything.

"Alas, Your Highness, to be honest, it is indeed a Ranking Engraving Knife, ranked ninety-ninth. But the problem is that it is called Spirit Eater—the Spirit Eater Carving Knife."

Xu Jiujiu understood at once, and a grave expression appeared on her face. If it was the Spirit Eater Carving Knife, then it truly seemed difficult to sell.

Xu Jiujiu had heard the story of the Spirit Eater Carving Knife before.

It was said that the knife bore a curse, and all who used it died young.

Therefore, if this knife were put up for auction, selling it at all would likely be difficult, much less fetching a good price.