Spirit Devouring Engraving Knife

Auctioneer Qingya smiled and said, "Our first lot is a Level 3 offensive Soul Tool, a rather common type of soul ray. This Level 3 soul ray, which can be attached to the right arm, was crafted by a Level 6 Soul Master."

"Because this soul ray carries a paralyzing effect, its true name is the Soul-Paralysis Ray. Once hit, any Soul Master below the rank of Soul King will be affected. The degree of the effect depends on the Soul Master's own cultivation."

"This Soul-Paralysis Ray has low requirements for its user, yet it is extremely practical. It is a rare, high-quality item among Level 3 Soul Tools. The starting bid is one thousand gold soul coins, with each increment no less than fifty gold soul coins. We shall begin now."

Before Qingya's voice had even faded, someone immediately raised a paddle, "One thousand three hundred gold soul coins."

"A Level 3 Soul-Paralysis Ray? Can such junk really appear in the Starlight Auction House?"

Xiao Hongchen couldn't help but complain.

"You can't say it like that. This is a Level 4 auction hall, which only auctions Soul Tools of Level 6 and below."

Jing Hongchen, having familiarized himself with the auction rules beforehand, explained.

Following this were more auctions of Soul Tools below Level 7, which Xiao Hongchen found dull; he could craft most of these himself.

"Distinguished guests, our mysterious grand prize is about to appear. This is also the final lot of the night. Its price is extremely high, but I believe that anyone who truly understands it will find it worth every coin. Now, please have our attendants bring out this mysterious grand prize."

A cart was slowly pushed onto the stage from the side. Unlike the previous lots, this cart was not only larger, but the cloth covering it had been replaced with a striking, vibrant red.

Soon, it was pushed to the center of the stage, right beside Auctioneer Qingya.

Is the big one coming? Finally, the main event of the day.

The moment the cloth was lifted, everyone's gaze was drawn to it in unison.

The item itself was small, about half a foot long and only as thick as a finger. It was archaic, pitch-black, and faintly inscribed with patterns, emitting a subtle, ancient aura. Yet, it also felt somewhat oppressive.

Was this not the Soul-Devouring Cursed Blade that Xiao Hongchen had been longing for?

He stopped listening to Qingya's subsequent introduction.

Xiao Hongchen's consciousness had already sunk into his Sea of Consciousness, where the silver-white world was as calm as a mirror.

His gaze turned toward the deepest part, where that gray orb of light floated in place, rising and falling slowly. Xiao Hongchen stared at it for a long time, but there were no signs of it waking up.

Strange. Can Electrolux not sense that blade?

Xiao Hongchen lingered in his Sea of Consciousness for a moment, then retreated.

His consciousness returned.

Qingya's introduction was also drawing to a close.

"...The starting bid for this Soul-Devouring Cursed Blade is two hundred thousand gold soul coins, with each increment no less than five thousand gold soul coins. Distinguished guests, you may begin bidding." She wore a smile, her voice soft, yet she felt no excitement at all.

Based on her nearly ten years of experience as an auctioneer, she could tell from the reaction below—silence, whispering, and no one raising a paddle. This Soul-Devouring Cursed Blade would likely go unsold once again.

"Two hundred thousand gold soul coins."

Qingya's gaze followed the sound. It came from the second floor, from that golden private room. Behind the one-way glass, no one's face could be seen. She only heard a young, somewhat nonchalant male voice.

The bidder was none other than Xiao Hongchen. Although he was very confused as to why the Soul-Devouring Cursed Blade was twice as expensive as he remembered, he placed his bid immediately.

The entire hall fell silent for a few seconds; no one raised the bid. Two hundred thousand gold soul coins to buy a cursed blade—those present either felt it wasn't worth it or considered it an ill omen.

Qingya waited for a moment and raised her auction hammer.

"Two hundred thousand gold soul coins, going once."

"Two hundred thousand gold soul coins, going twice."

"Two hundred thousand gold soul coins, going three times. Sold!"

The hammer fell. Qingya maintained a professional smile on her face. One had to know that a one-percent commission was two thousand gold soul coins! Even if she spent it lavishly, it would be enough to last her a few years.

Inside the private room.

"Brother, why are you buying a cursed blade? Aren't you afraid of the curse on it?" Meng Hongchen leaned over.

"I have a use for it."

Meng Hongchen waited for a few seconds, and finding that he had no intention of explaining, she pursed her lips and turned to Ye Guyi. "Sister Ye, do you know what he's planning?"

Ye Guyi was silent for a moment.

"...I don't know."

But she glanced at Xiao Hongchen before looking away. She was a clever girl and quickly associated this with the time Xiao Hongchen had sought her out a week ago. Could it be that he wants to use my Holy Angel to dispel the curse on that blade?

"Let's go." Jing Hongchen's voice came from the front.

He had just retrieved the cursed blade from the auction house.

The four of them walked out of the auction house in silence.

After returning to the hotel, the usually boisterous Meng Hongchen retreated to her room early, which was rare.

Jing Hongchen handed a tightly sealed small box to Xiao Hongchen.

"Tell me before you start." Jing Hongchen said only this before turning and leaving.

The large corridor was left with only Xiao Hongchen and Ye Guyi.

An awkward atmosphere quickly began to spread.

"It's not what you think."

Although he didn't know why he had said that, and he hadn't sought out Ye Guyi for the sake of using her, it could be considered as such if one insisted. He truly didn't know what he was supposed to say.

Watching Xiao Hongchen's awkwardness, Ye Guyi actually let out a smile.

Xiao Hongchen froze. "...What are you laughing at?"

Xiao Hongchen had anticipated her wariness, her interrogation, or even her turning around and walking away.

But he had never imagined she would smile, nor had he imagined that his heart would skip a beat because of that smile.

He is willing to explain himself to me; doesn't that prove he still cares about what I think of him? He must have me in his heart!

Thinking of this, Ye Guyi's cheeks flushed slightly, but the lingering trace of resentment in her heart vanished without a trace.

"I understand," she said.

Xiao Hongchen looked at her. He didn't know if he should press her to ask, "What do you understand?"

But seeing that Ye Guyi didn't seem angry, he simply stood there blankly, watching her walk into her room.

"...Get some rest early," Xiao Hongchen finally managed to squeeze out.

His voice was as dry as sandpaper scraping against a wooden board.

Ye Guyi's eyelashes fluttered. "...Mm."

The door closed softly.

"Ahhhhhhh."

Xiao Hongchen buried his head in his pillow and let out a low, muffled roar. Recalling his performance just now filled him with shame.

His body twisted into a knot on the bed, his toes curling so hard he could have dug out a three-bedroom apartment.

He could faintly hear Meng Hongchen laughing in the next room; just how loud was she laughing? This was the Star Emperor Hotel, after all...

Ten minutes later, Xiao Hongchen finally calmed down and contacted Jing Hongchen via his Communication Soul Device.

"Grandfather."

Jing Hongchen's voice came through the device: "Are you prepared?"

"Yes. Before I begin, I wanted to let you know," Xiao Hongchen paused, "I intend to open the Sealing Box now."

There was a moment of silence on the other end of the device. "I'm coming over immediately."

Jing Hongchen arrived at Xiao Hongchen's room shortly after.

He took four fist-sized metal spheres from his storage Soul Tool and placed them at the four corners of the table.

A faint golden film of light rose from the corners, enveloping the entire tabletop. It was a Level 7 Isolation Array, capable of blocking the leakage of soul power fluctuations, sound, and the vast majority of curse-type energies.

Jing Hongchen opened the Sealing Box, revealing the Soul-Devouring Cursed Blade inside.