The Gold of Life is Obtained

"Are you planning to go to the Star Luo Empire, or are you going to buy something at the Star Luo City Royal Auction House?" Lin Xueli's look of skepticism regarding Lin Yao's train of thought left the latter speechless.

He then said in a deep voice, "Dad, I'm not an idiot. I know full well that the relationship between our three empires is sensitive. If that item didn't offer enough benefits, I certainly wouldn't go, but I have my reasons. Can't you just trust me?"

Watching Lin Yao's determined expression, Lin Xueli rolled his eyes and asked, "Are you certain you can actually make use of that thing you mentioned—that wicked carving knife?"

Lin Yao nodded, then replied to Lin Xueli, "It's only considered 'wicked' because they don't know its true value. In my hands, it won't be wicked at all. On the contrary, it will actually extend the lifespans of everyone in our household. Just trust me on this."

Lin Xueli nodded and said, "Don't be in such a rush. That item hasn't been in the Star Luo Empire for long, and the prices for the first two auctions will definitely be high. As long as we spread enough rumors about that thing and let it fail to sell a few times, the price will surely drop. Then you can go and pick it up for a bargain."

Lin Yao rolled his eyes, thinking to himself that the real bargain wouldn't come until more than three years later, during the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament held in Star Luo.

However, his father's words made sense. One should save where they can and spend where they must; saving money where possible was perfectly reasonable, as long as it didn't hinder him from acquiring the carving knife.

Lin Xueli was an education official in the Douling Empire. Although the empire's overall educational resources were lacking, he had students all over the world. Once he set things in motion, his connections were quite extensive. Under his deliberate marketing, the auction sessions featuring the Ranked Carving Knife couldn't even fill their seats.

Naturally, no one was stubborn enough to ignore the string of bloody incidents associated with the knife just to bid on it. After failing to sell several times, the price of the carving knife had dropped to 250,000 gold soul coins.

This was already quite close to the starting bid of 100,000 gold soul coins mentioned in the original story.

Lin Yao couldn't help but admire the power of the old fox. While he was helpless against a behemoth like Shrek Academy, manipulating the price trends of one or two auction items—especially those with obvious flaws—was something he could handle with ease.

Later, under Lin Xueli's guidance, Lin Yao successfully obtained the Ranked Carving Knife. The moment he opened the box, Lin Yao felt a surge of fierce, malevolent energy rush out from the red satin lining, piercing toward his cheeks like a real blade.

Lin Yao, however, was unfazed. He instantly manifested his Ender Dragon Martial Soul, and with a flap of his wings, a burst of dragon might dispersed the evil power.

Ye Guyi had been startled by the fluctuations of dark energy in Lin Yao's room. Without hesitation, she pushed open his door and rushed in.

The evil energy from the Ranked Carving Knife was currently clashing with the dragon might of Lin Yao's martial soul. Seeing this, Ye Guyi immediately activated her Holy Angel Martial Soul.

When the holy flames of the Holy Angel touched the dark, malevolent energy, it hissed and crackled like water hitting a hot pan of oil. Ye Guyi then began to confront the carving knife.

Under the tempering of the holy flames, the evil energy belonging to the Evil Blade Spirit was gradually suppressed, while the holy flames on Ye Guyi grew increasingly intense. This was the absolute suppression of evil by the holy attribute.

Lin Yao also channeled his Ender Dragon Martial Soul from the side, doing his best to help Ye Guyi disperse the malevolent force and prevent it from counterattacking and injuring her.

After an entire night, as the morning light appeared on the horizon, the Evil Blade Spirit had changed its appearance. The malevolent energy hadn't been completely purified by the Holy Angel, but its urge to devour anyone it touched had been stripped away.

The Evil Blade Spirit now appeared in shades of black and green. A small portion of the evil energy remained, but the core was now dominated by the comforting life force of the Gold of Life.

Ye Guyi panted, a few drops of blood leaking from the corner of her mouth. Once the fierce power of the Evil Blade Spirit had completely subsided, she slumped onto Lin Yao's bed.

"You really have a death wish, don't you? Bringing such an evil thing into your own home. Weren't you afraid that the ordinary people in your house without soul power would be backlashed to death?" Ye Guyi asked, gasping for air.

Lin Yao pointed to his room and replied, "I filtered the room in advance. You were only able to sense it because your martial soul has an inherent, absolute suppression and predatory effect on evil. For ordinary people, it just felt a bit cold."

Only then did Ye Guyi take the time to look around the room. Seeing that he had indeed lined the room with a special material capable of insulating soul power, she took a deep breath and said to Lin Yao, "You don't look like someone who wants to study soul guidance devices. Why were you so insistent on getting this knife?"

Lin Yao shook his head and said, "Not studying it now doesn't mean I won't in the future. Since there's a bargain to be had, I might as well take it. This is a Ranked Carving Knife, after all. Surely you know its value?"

Ye Guyi examined the Evil Blade Spirit in Lin Yao's hand and remarked, "If that's the case, what you say makes some sense. A Ranked Carving Knife—even if you just keep it as a collection piece, the price you paid is quite reasonable."

Lin Yao shrugged and said to Ye Guyi, "Regardless, thank you for your hard work this time."

Ye Guyi waved her hand and lay down on Lin Yao's bed, saying, "Pfft, I've been eating and living at your estate for over half a year now; helping you with this is nothing. I'm just going to borrow your bed for a nap. I'm too tired to go back to my own room. If you want to sleep in my room, feel free."

After saying this, Ye Guyi closed her eyes right there on Lin Yao's bed. Seeing her legs dangling off the edge, Lin Yao couldn't help but chuckle. He reached out, lifted her up, placed her properly on the bed, rested her head on his pillow, and tucked her in with the quilt.

After that, Lin Yao began to fiddle with the Ranked Carving Knife, which had been more than half purified.

The carving knife no longer possessed its wicked nature; only a trace of pure dark energy remained attached to the Gold of Life, preventing it from fully releasing its original luster.

Lin Yao ran his finger along the blade, and he immediately felt a faint, stinging pain...