The Spirit-Eating Carving Knife and Tang Wulin

"Let me see what tasks are available today."

Inside the Liu Family Pharmacy, a black-haired youth around 1.6 meters tall, with a clean-cut and handsome face, sat behind the counter.

He appeared utterly bored,

but in truth, his gaze was fixed blankly ahead.

He was Liu Yuan.

Over the past three years, he had continuously accepted suitable tasks from the platform. Although rewards as easy and lucrative as the Mysterious Heaven Treasure Record and the Light Bloodline had never appeared again, he had obtained plenty of Whale Rubber, along with the bloodline powers of many different plant-type soul beasts, allowing his Source Willow Martial Soul to evolve.

However, none of those evolutions had been as dramatic as the Light Bloodline. It could only be said that small gains accumulated until they eventually produced a qualitative change.

Even so, his strength was no longer what it had once been.

His Soul Power fluctuations, already nearing the level of a Soul Elder, proved everything.

Moreover, Liu Yuan's second Soul Ring had reached the thousand-year level. Its Soul Skill, "Absorb," was equally formidable, allowing him to selectively absorb an opponent's vitality, nutrients, Soul Power, and physical strength. If he was not careful, he might even be treated as an Evil Soul Master.

[Ding!]

Liu Yuan brought up today's task panel, but his expression gradually turned helpless. Of the ten tasks, either the rewards were meaningless to him, or they were beyond his ability to complete.

With a thought,

he tapped the refresh button, which still had three refreshes remaining.

As the panel updated, ten brand-new tasks appeared.

"Wait! This is..."

All of a sudden, Liu Yuan's eyes burned with excitement.

Because in this round's [Task Nine], he saw a reward that stirred his heart beyond measure—the Spirit-Eating Carving Knife!

One had to know that it was a massive piece of Gold of Life!

He had originally thought he would need to wait until the Soul Master Tournament and bid for it at the Starlight Auction House, but to his surprise, another one had appeared on the platform.

He had to get this task!

Liu Yuan hurriedly checked [Task Nine].

[Task Nine (Wasteful Evil Soul Master): ...]

"That nickname really is perfectly fitting."

Liu Yuan could not help complaining before continuing to read.

[... A piece of an extremely rare metal is needed (valid for: 1 year). Reward: Spirit-Eating Carving Knife (non-negotiable)]

"Non-negotiable?"

Liu Yuan did not believe that an Evil Soul Master capable of creating the Spirit-Eating Carving Knife had no other valuables.

Likewise, he did not believe such an Evil Soul Master would offer the carving knife as payment for a piece of rare metal.

In other words... this Evil Soul Master had most likely sensed that something was wrong with the Spirit-Eating Carving Knife and wanted to use the platform to dump this hot potato on someone else. Of course, it would be even better if he could get another piece of rare metal from some fool.

"This guy really has it all planned out."

Liu Yuan sneered.

But he was willing to be that "fool"!

Then, he could use it to attract Electrolux. And if he later obtained the Spirit-Eating Carving Knife from this world as well, he would have two whole pieces of Gold of Life. It would be an absolute steal.

He immediately tapped [Accept],

then moved the task into the [Retention Zone].

After all, obtaining a suitable piece of rare metal was no easy matter. In the era of Soul Tools, every rare metal was considered a strategic resource. Given the Liu Family's circumstances, acquiring one would not be easy.

He could either try his luck at an auction or on the black market,

or look for an opportunity on the Order Taking Platform.

In any case, one year was still plenty of time.

"Let me see whether there are any other tasks I can accept." Liu Yuan shifted his attention to the remaining tasks, but none were satisfactory. He kept operating the panel until he reached the final refresh available for today.

[Ding!]

The task panel flashed and finished refreshing.

With a thought from Liu Yuan, the tasks began scrolling upward.

But before long, the task panel stopped in the middle.

"Should I say that my luck is good?"

His brows rose involuntarily. The contents of [Task Five] showed him an opportunity to obtain rare metal.

[Task Five (Future-Protagonist-Type): I want a suitable first Soul Spirit (valid for: 3 days); reward: 30,000 Federal Credits; additions may be negotiated (negotiable)]

"Interesting."

The corners of Liu Yuan's lips rose.

If it had only said "Future-Protagonist-Type," he would not have known who it referred to. But once it involved a first Soul Spirit and 30,000 Federal Credits, the target was obvious.

Tang Wulin!

In the era of Legend of the Dragon King, rare metals were treasures as well. However, forging techniques that did not exist during the era of Peerless Tang Sect had already emerged then. It did not matter if he could not obtain true rare metal, but what about Thousand-Refined Metal, or even Spirit-Refined Metal?

It was not rare metal, yet it was better than rare metal.

It completely met the requirements of the "Wasteful Evil Soul Master."

As for a Soul Spirit...

He truly did not have one.

But he did not lack suitable hundred-year plant-type soul beasts.

With a thought, he tapped [Negotiable] and changed the original [30,000 Federal Credits; additions may be negotiated] into [Thousand-Refined Metal with a light attribute; I do not have a Soul Spirit, but I can provide you with a hundred-year plant-type soul beast. If you cannot provide Thousand-Refined Metal with a light attribute, that is fine as well].

The former was the changed reward;

the latter was the information he was conveying.

This usage could be considered exploiting a loophole in the platform.

Once Liu Yuan submitted the altered reward, the [Negotiable] beside the task reward changed to [Under Consideration].

In a universe similar to Legend of the Dragon King,

at home, Tang Wulin lay on his bed with vacant eyes.

He had never imagined that after working hard for three years and finally saving enough money to purchase a Soul Spirit, he would only be able to draw one at random—and might even end up with a defective one.

If not for the platform that allowed him to post tasks,

he might really have chosen the random draw back then.

But his reward was only 30,000 Federal Credits, with perhaps a verbal addition at most. Would anyone really accept the task?

If it truly did not work out...

Knock, knock, knock—

A knock on the door interrupted Tang Wulin's thoughts.

Tang Ziran pushed the door open. Seeing his son like this, his heart ached terribly. "Son, Dad will think of something else. If it comes to it, I'll borrow some money and try to scrape together seventy thousand for you..."

"There's no need, Dad."

Tang Wulin stood and shook his head, maturity showing on his face. "You and Mom are already exhausted every day because of us. Besides, my Martial Soul is only Blue Silver Grass. If nothing works out after three days... then we'll leave it to luck. Maybe heaven will favor me and give me a decent Soul Spirit."

"Ah..." Though Tang Ziran did not know why his son insisted on waiting three days, he did not think too much about it. He merely sighed painfully. "It's all because Dad is useless."

Tang Wulin had just been about to comfort him when a sound echoed in his mind...

[Ding!]