Spirit-Devouring Carving Knife

The street was restored to its clean and tidy state; the law enforcement team acted with extreme efficiency, departing immediately after finishing their work.

"I never expected you to be from Shrek Academy. Thank you for your intervention today," Tang Ya's father hurried forward to express his gratitude.

Zhang Lexuan did not speak, standing quietly by Bei Bei's side as she watched.

She cared nothing for the affairs of the Tang Sect; her eyes held only Bei Bei.

"The Tang Sect and Shrek have deep historical ties, after all. It was merely a small effort," Bei Bei said with a wave of his hand.

He continued, "What are your plans moving forward? While we helped you resolve the threat from the Iron Blood Sect, there is no guarantee that other sects won't harbor malicious intentions toward the Tang Sect."

"The Tang Sect has declined to this point, and no one is willing to purchase our hidden weapons anymore. We can only do our best to sustain ourselves," Tang Ya's father said, sounding somewhat resentful of his circumstances.

"Have you never considered changing? You must realize that Tang Sect hidden weapons are ten-thousand-year-old relics. They may possess exquisite craftsmanship, but they can no longer keep pace with the development of the current era," Bei Bei said.

"I am aware, but how can the laws of our ancestors be altered so casually?" Tang Ya's father shook his head stubbornly, appearing highly resistant to the concept of soul tools.

Bei Bei listened to his words, stunned into silence and feeling utterly speechless.

After composing himself, Bei Bei continued, "Have you considered relocating the Tang Sect to Shrek City? Under the protection of Shrek Academy, you would be able to develop the Tang Sect more effectively and recruit new disciples."

In truth, Bei Bei did not care about the rise or fall of the Tang Sect; what he truly valued was the potential for integrating Tang Sect hidden weapons with soul tool technology.

Many of the Tang Sect's mechanical hidden weapons did not require soul power to activate. If they could be fused with soul tool technology, the development of Shrek Academy's Soul Tool Department would certainly accelerate, narrowing the gap with the Sun Moon Empire.

Bei Bei knew full well that in a little over a decade, the Sun Moon Empire would launch a war, and at that time, Shrek Academy would inevitably be on the front lines.

However, due to the wariness of the three great empires, Shrek Academy did not have its own army, and even the number of teachers in the academy was restricted.

Bei Bei wanted to turn the Tang Sect into an affiliated force of Shrek Academy—nominally independent, but secretly managed and controlled by Shrek Academy.

In this way, the Tang Sect could become a covert base for Shrek Academy's soldiers and weapon reserves.

Upon hearing this, Tang Ya's father could not help but frown slightly. As the sect master of a sect that was once the greatest in the world, he naturally possessed his own pride and was unwilling to live under another's roof, so he politely declined.

Seeing this, Bei Bei stopped trying to persuade him.

Faced with someone so rigid, self-important, and stubborn, no amount of reasoning could change the man's mind.

If he could be easily persuaded, would it have fallen to Bei Bei to waste his breath?

So many sects and forces on the continent had turned to soul tool research after the arrival of the Sun Moon Continent.

He refused to believe that among all the sects on good terms with the Tang Sect, not a single person had tried to convince them to stop clinging to tradition and living off their past glory!

For over four thousand years, the entire continent had been embracing the new things brought about by the collision with the Sun Moon Continent.

But the Tang Sect—for four thousand years—had seen no change and no progress.

Those sects and forces that once had good relations with the Tang Sect likely stopped holding expectations for them long ago.

Because they had already seen the essence of the Tang Sect: they were like mud that could not be plastered onto a wall.

Even if there had once been deep bonds, after several thousand years, they had likely become as thin as water.

If one does not possess benefits that others value, who would be willing to help the Tang Sect, a dilapidated bottomless pit?

Bei Bei looked at Tang Ya's parents, then finally turned to Tang Ya and smiled, "In that case, I look forward to our next meeting. I expect it won't be long."

Without waiting for a response, he took Zhang Lexuan and left.

"Daddy, why didn't you do as the big brother said? Maybe our Tang Sect could have developed again," Tang Ya looked at her father, somewhat confused.

"Xiao Ya, you must remember: no matter how fallen the Tang Sect is, we were once the number one sect. We have our own pride and our own honor!" Tang Ya's father said in a deep voice.

"Daddy is right! The Tang Sect is the best!" Tang Ya echoed her father gently, with a hint of naivety.

"Well said, Xiao Ya! Today, Daddy will teach you how to use the Dragon Whisker Needle, how about that?" Tang Ya's father responded, filled with gratification.

"That's great!" Tang Ya said excitedly.

Immediately, the family of three walked into the gates of the Tang Sect.

On the other side, Bei Bei and Zhang Lexuan prepared to head back.

"Bei Bei, you seem to be in a bad mood," Zhang Lexuan said with concern, watching Bei Bei, who had wiped away his smile and remained expressionless throughout the journey.

"I just saw a pile of mud heading toward a path of inevitable destruction," Bei Bei said softly.

"Every path is chosen by oneself. Even if there is a bottomless abyss ahead, one must grit their teeth and walk forward," Zhang Lexuan smiled.

She couldn't help but recall the vow she had made to Mu En: no matter what, her life belonged to Bei Bei, and it would never change.

"Indeed! There is no need to let a pile of mud affect my mood..." A smile curled at the corners of Bei Bei's mouth, and he returned to his sunny, cheerful self.

"Sister Lexuan, let's go look around over there!" Bei Bei pointed to a street and pulled Zhang Lexuan along.

Not long after, Zhang Lexuan led Shrek Academy to successfully defeat the Sun Moon Academy in the finals, winning the championship of this Soul Master Tournament.

After the awards ceremony, Xuan Zi led the Shrek Academy group on their return journey.

As soon as he returned to Shrek Academy, Bei Bei received good news.

He had previously entrusted someone to go to the Starlight Auction House in Star Luo City to inquire about the Spirit-Devouring Carving Knife.

Now, there was finally news: the Spirit-Devouring Carving Knife had appeared in the auction, been purchased by the person Bei Bei had arranged, and had now been delivered to Shrek Academy.

The Spirit-Devouring Carving Knife ranks ninety-ninth among the listed carving knives; it was crafted three thousand years ago by a genius soul master from the Sun Moon Continent, using a piece of Life Gold as its material.

However, due to improper usage, evil forces contaminated the carving knife, forming a vicious curse that would continuously devour the life force of its wielder, eventually turning it into a notorious blade of ill omen.

Bei Bei was confident that under the light-attribute power of Mu En and the Golden Ancient Tree, the curse and evil forces of this carving knife could be purified, allowing it to reveal its true form once more.

Bei Bei could not wait to open the box containing the Spirit-Devouring Carving Knife, and a fierce, malevolent aura immediately spread outward, the chilling sensation making the room grow several degrees colder.

Inside the box lay a carving knife the thickness of a finger and half a foot in length.

The carving knife had an archaic design and was pitch-black throughout, with a wisp of black aura coiling around it, emanating an extremely evil presence.