Xu Jiujiu's Curiosity...

The engraving knives listed on the Engraving Knife Ranking were indeed exceedingly precious. Between Douluo Continent and the Sun Moon Continent, there were only a mere hundred of them in total.

But precious as they were, one still needed the money to buy one—and the life to use it!

The Spirit-Devouring Engraving Knife was simply too dangerous. With its notorious reputation, hardly anyone dared to purchase it.

No matter how eloquent Xu Jiujiu was, she found it difficult to overturn the evil impression the Spirit-Devouring Engraving Knife had left in people's hearts across the continent.

"The Spirit-Devouring Engraving Knife, starting bid: one hundred thousand Gold Soul Coins. Each increase must be no less than one thousand Gold Soul Coins."

"The auction begins now!"

Xu Jiujiu felt rather helpless as well. The Starlight Auction Venue had acquired the Spirit-Devouring Engraving Knife for auction, yet it had already failed to sell twice. Judging from the current situation, it seemed likely to fail for a third time.

She could understand it, of course. Who would dare auction off such a notoriously vicious engraving knife? Wouldn't that just be asking for trouble?

"One hundred thousand Gold Soul Coins!"

Just as she sighed inwardly, a voice suddenly rang out through the auction hall. Xu Jiujiu could not help but freeze, surprise filling her face.

What had she just heard? Someone had actually bid on the Spirit-Devouring Engraving Knife!

She immediately looked in the direction of the voice, and a young man entered her sight. He was incomparably handsome, but there was clearly no fluctuation of Soul Power circulating around him?

Xu Jiujiu's gaze instantly sharpened. She was a genius of the Star Luo Royal Family. Not only had she awakened the top-tier Star Crown Martial Soul, but she also possessed innate Rank Nine Soul Power.

Now, at only fifteen years old, she had already become a Soul Ancestor. Yet despite being a Soul Ancestor herself, she could not see through the young man's disguise, nor could she detect even the slightest trace of Soul Power from him.

That meant the young man before her was far stronger than she was.

But how was that possible? Though this young man was extraordinarily handsome, Xu Jiujiu was certain that he was younger than her, perhaps even two or three years younger.

How had she never heard of such a genius before? What faction did he come from?

What kind of faction could possibly cultivate such a genius?

Although Xu Jiujiu was deeply shocked, her professional composure as an auctioneer made her bring down the auction hammer heavily. After three strikes, the notorious Spirit-Devouring Engraving Knife finally belonged to Qiangu Qitian.

The auction continued. As for Qiangu Qitian's item, he could only collect it after the auction had ended.

Though Qiangu Qitian wanted to obtain the Spirit-Devouring Engraving Knife as soon as possible, he had no choice but to wait a little longer.

As time flew by, the auction finally came to a complete end.

The moment it ended, a maid entered from outside.

Led by the maid, Qiangu Qitian soon arrived at the rear of the Starlight Auction Venue and entered a perfectly furnished reception room.

The large reception room was not empty. Instead, a pretty young girl was seated inside.

Qiangu Qitian had just seen this girl moments ago. She was Xu Jiujiu, who had hosted the auction!

"I never expected the Starlight Auction Venue to allow its auctioneers to meet with customers after the auction."

"May I ask what Auctioneer Jiujiu intends by having a maid bring me here?"

"It seems that Auctioneer Jiujiu and I do not share much of an acquaintance, do we?"

Looking at Xu Jiujiu, who sat there with a gentle expression, Qiangu Qitian curled his lips into a faint smile and spoke indifferently.

So what if he knew Xu Jiujiu held a lofty status? Was Qiangu Qitian supposed to act humble and subservient before her?

Did she know what it meant to be the final disciple of a Limit Douluo? If his teacher wished it, he alone could turn the entire Star Luo Empire Overturning Heaven and Earth before his death.

"Jiujiu acted on her own initiative. Jiujiu merely wished to make the acquaintance of a genius such as yourself."

"My name is Xu Jiujiu. I am from the Star Luo Royal Family and am a princess of the present Star Luo Empire!"

"May I know how to address you?"

Xu Jiujiu did not show the slightest anger at Qiangu Qitian's somewhat discourteous behavior. Instead, she smiled gently and, with impeccable manners, took the initiative to introduce herself.

"A princess of the royal family?"

"This Starlight Auction Venue truly hides dragons and crouching tigers. A mere auctioneer is actually a princess of the royal family!"

Although he had long known Xu Jiujiu's identity, Qiangu Qitian did not reveal it. Instead, he showed a hint of shock and spoke with a feigned look of astonishment.

"Qiangu Qitian, from Shrek Academy. It is a pleasure to meet you, Princess Jiujiu!"

Qiangu Qitian naturally did not mind becoming friends with Xu Jiujiu. After all, he was a man, and making friends with a beautiful woman could be considered mutually agreeable.

But friendship was friendship; there was no need to speak of anything else. After all, interests would tarnish pure friendship.

"Brother Qiangu is actually a genius from Shrek. But may I ask which country Brother Qiangu comes from?"

"Are you perhaps from the Star Luo Empire?"

That was right. Xu Jiujiu was probing Qiangu Qitian with those words, hoping to learn how deeply tied he was to Shrek.

If those ties were not deep, then as a royal princess, she would poach him.

After all, Qiangu Qitian was simply too gifted. At such a young age, his Soul Power was already at least above hers, and his control over it was so powerful that he could prevent even the slightest trace of Soul Power from leaking out of his body.

"I understand what Princess Jiujiu means, but unfortunately, I have grown up at Shrek since childhood."

How could Qiangu Qitian fail to understand the meaning behind Xu Jiujiu's words? He immediately gave her his answer.

Upon hearing that Qiangu Qitian had grown up at Shrek since childhood, Xu Jiujiu's gaze abruptly narrowed, and a hint of disappointment appeared on her exquisite face.

He came from Shrek and had grown up at Shrek. He was undoubtedly a true core disciple of Shrek!

Then again, how many factions on the continent could cultivate such an outstanding disciple?

After thinking it over, there was only Shrek!

After learning that Qiangu Qitian came from Shrek and was a genuine core disciple, Xu Jiujiu immediately abandoned her earlier intention to recruit him.

Because she knew there was simply no chance of success.

Among the original three great empires of Douluo Continent, the Star Luo Empire was indeed the strongest.

But in terms of powerful experts and available resources, the Star Luo Empire was no match for Shrek.

With such a gap between them, unless Qiangu Qitian had lost his mind, he could never be recruited.

But even if she could not recruit him, it was still necessary to leave behind some goodwill and make an investment.

Xu Jiujiu immediately made her choice...