Spirit-Devouring Engraving Knife

As for Wu Feng's, there was no need for anything too particular. Huo Yuhao planned to make her a self-activating protective barrier—Battle Soul Masters naturally had more condensed Soul Power than auxiliary-type Soul Masters, as well as better reflexes and defense.

Morning light fell across the paper spread before Huo Yuhao, and the outline of a bracelet gradually took shape beneath his pen. The patterns imitating the Seven Treasures Glazed Pagoda were not mere decoration. Every curve corresponded to the path Ning Tian's Soul Power took when she released her boosts—when she raised her hand to summon the Seven Treasures Glazed Pagoda, the bracelet on her wrist would sense the fluctuations in her Soul Power at the same time. Without requiring any additional Soul Power, it could deploy a translucent glazed shield within 0.3 seconds.

"These patterns..." Ning Tian lightly traced the paper with her fingertips. Though she was not a Soul Engineer, she knew a little about Soul Tools. "Some of these are core formations for amplifying Soul Power, right?"

"Mm." Huo Yuhao paused his pen and added a miniature energy-gathering formation at the base of the tower. "When you use your own soul skills, it'll amplify them, letting you achieve greater effects with the same amount of Soul Power." He looked up at Ning Tian, the patterns on the paper reflected in his Spirit Eye. "What auxiliary-type Soul Masters fear most is having their boosts interrupted by a sudden attack. This bracelet is like your 'second reaction.' You won't need Heart Separation Control—it'll remember to protect you on its own."

Ning Tian picked up the paper and examined it under the morning light. The intricate patterns glimmered with a faint golden radiance, much like the halo of her Seven Treasures Glazed Pagoda. "You even thought of that..." she said softly, unable to hide the smile in her eyes. "Thank you, Huo Yuhao."

"What are you thanking me for?" Huo Yuhao lowered his head and began drawing the blueprint for Wu Feng's protective barrier. "Once you use it to block a sneak attack and can keep boosting Wu Feng and me, that'll be the best bargain."

As he spoke, Huo Yuhao suddenly remembered something. "This Soul Tool will be quite difficult to make. When you have time, find someone to buy something for me at the Starlight Auction House. It's a Ranked Engraving Knife."

Ning Tian froze at his words, her fingertips stopping over the blueprint. "A Ranked Engraving Knife? One of the hundred on the continent?" Having come from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, she had heard a little about rare artifacts across the continent. "I heard there are only a hundred Ranked Engraving Knives in total. Every one of them provides an enormous boost when crafting Soul Tools, and they're the most suitable for engraving core patterns. Which one do you want? I'll inform the sect and have them buy it for you at any cost!"

Huo Yuhao hurriedly waved his hand. "Ordinary Ranked Engraving Knives are too expensive. A single one can cost tens of millions of Gold Soul Coins. I found out that the Starlight Auction House has the ninety-ninth-ranked engraving knife—the Spirit-Devouring Engraving Knife."

"The Spirit-Devouring Engraving Knife?!" Ning Tian abruptly stood up. Anyone with even a slight understanding of it knew how terrifying its infamous reputation was. "No, there's a curse on the Spirit-Devouring Engraving Knife. Every owner it's had met a miserable end. Isn't it just money? Our Nine Treasures Glazed Sect has plenty. You don't need to save money for me. I'll have the sect search for an ownerless engraving knife or one that's up for sale as soon as I return."

Huo Yuhao's charcoal pen stopped over the paper, and an ink blot spread into a small stain. He looked up at Ning Tian, the blue light in his Spirit Eye dimming slightly. "I know it's cursed."

"You know, and you still..." Ning Tian's voice was filled with urgency. The records of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect clearly documented the rumors surrounding the Spirit-Devouring Engraving Knife—ever since its first Evil Soul Master owner had placed the curse on it, every subsequent owner had either lost all Soul Power or gone insane. None had met a good end.

Huo Yuhao smiled gently. "Don't worry. When have I ever done something without being sure of it? I only asked you to buy that knife because I have a way to deal with the curse. Besides, that knife has a surprise. You'll know once you buy it."

Ning Tian looked at the certainty in Huo Yuhao's eyes. Her fingers loosened slightly around the hem of her skirt, yet she remained standing instead of sitting down. "What method? You have to explain it clearly. The records of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect say that even a Titled Douluo's purification soul skill couldn't stop that curse. You're only a Three-Ring Soul Master..."

As she spoke, Ning Tian reached out and grabbed Huo Yuhao's hand. "It's fine even if you don't make a Soul Tool for me. I don't want you taking risks for my sake."

A cool touch came from the wrist she held. Her grip was not strong, but it carried an unmistakable stubbornness. Huo Yuhao lowered his head and looked at Ning Tian's tense profile. The string of glazed beads on her wrist swayed gently, making the worry in her eyes flicker like scattered light.

In that instant, Ning Tian before him seemed to merge with Qiu'er from his memories. Qiu'er had also held his hand and cried out for him not to take risks.

Huo Yuhao's fingertips paused lightly against the back of Ning Tian's hand, as though touching fragile glass. He suddenly remembered Qiu'er's sacrifice, the final look in the Golden Lion-Tiger's eyes before her figure vanished amid the light of the soul ring. It had been just like this—concern wrapped in unquestionable determination, as though she were saying, "You have to live well."

"There used to be someone who always stopped me like this." His voice was as light as morning mist, and a layer of moisture spread through the blue glow of his Spirit Eye. "She was much fiercer than you. She would drag me back directly and say, 'Huo Yuhao, just try dying.'"

Ning Tian's fingers twitched, but she did not pull away. She merely asked softly, "Was she... someone very important?"

"Mm." Huo Yuhao nodded, and the warmth in his fingertips deepened slightly. "Important enough to... leave her chance to live to me." He did not explain the sacrifice. Those memories were too heavy, like the snow of the Far North Icefield. Besides, they had not yet happened. It was best to bury them in his heart. "So later, I learned to calculate every route of retreat before taking risks. I would never betray someone else's concern."

He looked up at Ning Tian, his Spirit Eye shining as though it contained melted starlight. "So I won't take risks."

Ning Tian looked into his eyes. There was not the slightest trace of recklessness in them, only certainty refined by experience, like the solid ice beneath the Far North Icefield—steady enough to put one at ease. At last, her fingers completely loosened. The string of glazed beads slid back against her wrist bone with soft, scattered clinks, like a tightly drawn string finally relaxing.

"Alright." She answered softly, her voice still slightly hoarse. "But I have conditions."

Huo Yuhao smiled, and the blue glow in his Spirit Eye softened. "Go ahead."

"I'll have strong people guard you. If anything happens, you must call out immediately." Ning Tian raised one finger, her tone serious.

She paused, then raised a second finger. "I'll have the sect send over a Spirit-Cleansing Stone. You're not allowed to try anything before it arrives."

Finally, she looked at Huo Yuhao, her eyes filled with stubbornness. "After the knife arrives, first have a light-type Soul Master use a purification soul skill on it for three days to suppress the vengeful aura on its surface to the lowest possible level—you are not allowed to touch the untreated blade."

All three conditions were for his safety. Warmth filled Huo Yuhao's heart as he listened, like ice warmed through by morning sunlight, gradually melting into gentle ripples. "I'll do as you say."

The corners of Ning Tian's lips curved upward, and most of her previous solemnity faded away. There was also more trust in her eyes when she looked at Huo Yuhao. "Then I'll arrange for someone to deliver the engraving knife right away."

"Go on." Huo Yuhao waved the charcoal pen in his hand. "I'll finish drawing the last few patterns for the Glazed Ring first. Once the knife arrives, we can begin."

Ning Tian walked out of the dormitory building, the smile on her lips nearly impossible to suppress. Wu Feng stood beside her, completely baffled. "Young Mistress, why are you suddenly so happy? No matter how good the Soul Tool Huo Yuhao makes is, it shouldn't compare to one the sect bought at a huge price, right?"

Ning Tian did not answer. She merely turned back to glance at the location of Huo Yuhao's dormitory.

Today's greatest gain was not any Soul Tool. It was simply that her relationship with Huo Yuhao had grown a little closer. That was all.