"Mu Chen, is this your first time in Ming Capital? Are you planning to join an academy? Our Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineer Academy is really great!"
Faced with Meng Hongchen's barrage of questions, Mu Chen simply replied calmly, "It's my first time here. I came to buy a few things, and then I'm leaving. I have no plans to join an academy here."
At those words, Xiao Hongchen was the one who relaxed the most.
In his eyes, Mu Chen's hair wasn't blue, but yellow.
Now that he'd heard Mu Chen wouldn't be staying in Ming Capital, the image of him in Xiao Hongchen's eyes turned blue-haired again.
"Okay..."
Meng Hongchen looked a little disappointed.
She'd originally thought that if Mu Chen had come here to join an academy, she could introduce him to the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineer Academy. That way, she and Mu Chen could become classmates.
"Mu Chen, try this. The fish here is delicious!"
Meng Hongchen picked up a piece of fish and placed it in Mu Chen's bowl.
"Thank you, Miss Meng."
Mu Chen's smile instantly dispelled the little cloud hanging over Meng Hongchen's heart, bringing a smile to her face.
Xiao Hongchen gripped his chopsticks tightly, silently repeating to himself, Just hold on a little longer. Just hold on a little longer!
Mu Chen tried a bite of the fish, then didn't take another.
Because it wasn't as good as Zhang Tao's cooking.
After the meal, the three of them went out into the street.
Mu Chen said goodbye to the two of them. "Thank you both for the meal. I'm leaving soon, so until we meet again."
Only then did a genuine smile appear on Xiao Hongchen's face. "Then I wish you a smooth journey, Brother Mu Chen."
As long as Mu Chen didn't steal his sister away, Xiao Hongchen could greet him with a smile.
Meng Hongchen merely waved mechanically.
Watching Mu Chen's departing figure, Meng Hongchen stood there for a long time, unable to come back to herself.
"Come on, stop staring. Just think of it as a beautiful encounter."
Meng Hongchen left with Xiao Hongchen in a daze. She would probably remember this encounter for a long time.
After leaving Ming Capital, Mu Chen headed to his next destination, Star Luo City.
According to the timeline of the original story, if he went there now and tried his luck, he might be able to get the Life Blade.
That thing's price was practically fixed at a hundred thousand Gold Soul Coins, and no one was buying it anyway.
Mu Chen had more than a million Gold Soul Coins on him, so buying the Life Blade would be a piece of cake.
After leaving Ming Capital, Mu Chen headed toward the Douluo Three Kingdoms.
His destination was Star Luo City, in the Star Luo Empire.
In the original story, Xu Jiujiu, the Star Luo Empire's eldest princess, was an auctioneer at a major auction house in Star Luo City.
Mu Chen only needed to go to that auction house, find her, and explain the situation. He should then be able to buy the Spirit-Devouring Carving Knife without a hitch.
After several days of travel, Mu Chen finally reached Star Luo City, the capital of the Star Luo Empire.
After asking around, Mu Chen found out where Xu Jiujiu's auction house was.
As a princess who kept close to the people, Xu Jiujiu was as famous in Star Luo City and throughout the Star Luo Empire as a celebrity.
Mu Chen headed straight for the auction house. Whether or not he'd run into Xu Jiujiu would come down to luck.
After all, she was a princess of an empire. She couldn't possibly stay here all the time.
Mu Chen arrived at the auction house's entrance. There was no auction that day, so the place seemed rather quiet.
Just as Mu Chen was about to go in, the guards stopped him.
"It's not auction time. If you want to enter, state your reason and show the relevant proof!"
Mu Chen had already thought of an excuse. "Big Brother Guard, I'm here to consign something for auction."
Hearing that Mu Chen had come to consign something, and seeing that he was dressed appropriately, the guard went inside to report it.
Before long, Mu Chen was allowed in.
The person who received him was an elderly man. Mu Chen could tell that the other man was definitely stronger than him.
"Little friend, what treasure are you looking to consign? Would you let this old man have a look?"
The two of them entered a private room, and the old man asked.
Mu Chen shook his head. "Old sir, I'm not here to sell anything. I'm here to buy something."
A trace of displeasure showed on the old man's face, but he maintained his composure. "In that case, little friend, you should come back when there's an auction."
"The item I want to buy would fail to sell even if you put it up for auction."
As soon as he finished speaking, a terrifying pressure crashed down on Mu Chen like a raging tide.
"Little friend, are you here to cause trouble? If so, you've come to the wrong place!"
A jade-green eagle appeared behind the old man. Beneath his feet were six Soul Rings: two yellow, two purple, and two black.
A Soul Emperor powerhouse.
Yet Mu Chen didn't move at all under the pressure, which surprised the old man.
This boy, who looked no older than twelve or thirteen, could withstand his pressure without even releasing his Martial Soul?
"Supervisor Li, what's all this commotion about?"
Just then, a woman in a luxurious purple-and-gold qipao walked in.
She looked dignified and imposing, as well as beautiful.
"Greetings, Your Highness!"
The old man hurriedly withdrew his Martial Soul and bowed to her.
Mu Chen understood. This must be the famous Princess Xu Jiujiu of the Star Luo Empire.
After bowing, Supervisor Li pointed at Mu Chen. "Your Highness, this boy seems to be here to cause trouble. I was just about to teach him a lesson."
Xu Jiujiu looked at Mu Chen. When her gaze met those deep blue eyes, she inexplicably felt dazed.
However, she quickly regained her composure.
"Cause trouble? What do you mean by that?"
Only then did Mu Chen speak. He hadn't tried to defend himself earlier; after all, saying that an item at an auction house would inevitably fail to sell did sound a little like he was there to cause trouble.
"Your Highness, here's the situation. I came to your auction house to buy something, and I believe Your Highness knows what it is."
Mu Chen glanced at Supervisor Li. "The reason this senior said I was here to cause trouble was that I claimed your auction house had an item that would inevitably fail to sell. That's the item I was talking about."
Unlike Supervisor Li, Xu Jiujiu didn't get angry. Instead, she looked at Mu Chen with interest.
"Then Jiujiu is curious. What exactly is this item you speak of, young friend?"
Mu Chen looked at her and slowly replied, "The ninety-ninth-ranked carving knife on the rankings—the Ferocious Blade, Spirit-Devouring."
As soon as he said this, the smile vanished from Xu Jiujiu's face.
Quite a few people knew about the Spirit-Devouring Carving Knife, but this was the first time anyone had wanted to buy it.
Hearing that Mu Chen wanted to buy the Spirit-Devouring Carving Knife, Supervisor Li's anger faded.
After all, Mu Chen's words hadn't been wrong.
The thing really had failed to sell before.
Seeing Xu Jiujiu's expression, Mu Chen knew he'd come to the right place. The Spirit-Devouring Carving Knife was definitely here.
If he wanted to buy something else, Xu Jiujiu might have to consider how much it would fetch at auction. But the Spirit-Devouring Carving Knife was different.
To be honest, Xu Jiujiu had no confidence that it would sell.
The carving knife was good, but having the money to buy it and not living long enough to enjoy it was another matter.