Use with Caution

Ning Tian moved quickly. By the third day, she had dealt with the Spirit-Devouring Engraving Knife and delivered it to him, though her face remained full of concern as she looked at Huo Yuhao.

"Yuhao, are you sure you want this one? With the financial resources of our Nine Treasures Glazed Sect, we could afford to exchange it for another. There's no need to stubbornly insist on this problematic engraving knife."

Huo Yuhao accepted the Spirit-Devouring Engraving Knife, a trace of resolve flashing through his eyes. "Ning Tian, thank you for your concern. But this engraving knife means a great deal to me. I've already thought of a way to handle it."

He gently stroked the intricate patterns on the knife, his gaze focused. The Life-Spirit Gold was the most crucial part of his plan. Nothing could go wrong.

Seeing that his mind was made up, Ning Tian sighed. "All right, but promise me this: if you notice anything wrong, stop immediately. I'll have Soul Masters from the sect standing by at all times."

"Don't worry." Huo Yuhao gave her a warm smile. "By the way, has the Nine Treasures Glazed Sect's business in Bright Capital been going smoothly lately?"

Ning Tian's expression grew somewhat grave at his question. "Recently, the Sun-Moon Empire has been tightening its control over Soul Tools more and more. We're trying to find a way..." Before she could finish, she suddenly noticed a strange green glow rising from the engraving knife in Huo Yuhao's hand.

"Yuhao! Your hand!"

Huo Yuhao's right hand was already covered in icy light, the aura of Ultimate Ice firmly suppressing the restless engraving knife.

Beneath the Ultimate Ice, a streak of white purifying light surged forth, while shrieks echoed from the Spirit-Devouring Engraving Knife.

A fine sheen of sweat formed on Huo Yuhao's forehead. His left hand instinctively pressed against his right arm, trying to steady the arm that trembled slightly from the knife's agitation. The chill of Ultimate Ice spread from his fingertips, forming a thin layer of frost crystals over the blade and locking the strange green glow beneath them, as though shackling a wild and unruly beast.

"Bzzzz—"

The Spirit-Devouring Engraving Knife trembled violently. Black mist roiling through the patterns on its body tried to break through the frost, only to be gently yet firmly enveloped by that white purifying light. Wherever the light passed, the black mist melted like lingering snow beneath the warm sun, releasing faint sizzling sounds. The shrill screams gradually weakened as well, taking on a hint of pleading.

"It's fine." Huo Yuhao shook his head at Ning Tian. His voice was slightly strained from exertion, yet it carried a reassuring strength. "It simply hasn't encountered an aura capable of suppressing it for too long, so it panicked a little."

After the time it took to drink a cup of tea, the engraving knife's trembling finally ceased. The strange green glow vanished without a trace, and the frost crystals gradually melted away, revealing the blade's silver-gray surface. The faint glow within its patterns had become docile and gentle. It even nuzzled Huo Yuhao's fingertip on its own, as though trying to curry favor.

"So... it's done?" Ning Tian's eyes widened. The savage aura that had seemed ready to devour someone moments ago had vanished completely. The engraving knife now lay quietly in Huo Yuhao's palm like an ordinary, exquisitely made carving knife, save for the glimmer flowing along its edge, which now carried a crystalline purity.

Huo Yuhao let out a breath and raised a hand to wipe away sweat that was no longer there. His fingers brushed over the blade, now calm again, sensing the fear it conveyed. "Not yet. I've only placed a seal on it for now. I'll still need time to wear away its hostility."

At his words, Ning Tian's tense shoulders relaxed slightly, though she still could not resist reaching out to touch the edge of the engraving knife. A trace of coolness remained where the frost had covered it, but the sinister chill that had once made one shudder at a touch was gone. Her fingertips paused, and she turned toward Huo Yuhao. Concern mixed with curiosity in her eyes. "Wear away its hostility... What method do you plan to use? The resentment it has devoured has accumulated for decades. Ordinary purification methods will likely be no more than a drop in the bucket."

Huo Yuhao turned the engraving knife over, letting the sunlight fall precisely into a narrow groove on the inner side of its body. A faint green gleam could be seen there, like fragments of starlight clinging to the blade. It was the color of the Life-Spirit Gold within the knife.

"I only need to nourish it with spiritual power."

"Nourish it with spiritual power?" Ning Tian's brows drew together slightly, her fingers unconsciously rubbing the knife's edge. "How could an ordinary Soul Master's spiritual power wear down such long-standing resentment and malice? The moment it came into contact with it, the hostility would probably lash back. At best, it would leave one mentally dazed; at worst, it could damage the Sea of Spirit."

Huo Yuhao smiled and flicked the blade with a finger. Amid a clear chime of "ding," an exceedingly fine thread of spiritual power flowed from his fingertip and slipped into the patterns of the engraving knife like a swimming fish. The faint green gleam immediately rippled, lightly winding itself around the thread of spiritual power. The glow, originally so docile, unexpectedly revealed a hint of childlike attachment.

"Don't worry. My spiritual power is different from everyone else's."

She let out a soft breath, and the last trace of concern in her eyes faded. "It seems I've been ignorant after all. Since you are this confident, I won't ask further. But... if you need help, send someone to the sect at any time. The Nine Treasures Glazed Pagoda's spiritual enhancement might save you some effort."

Huo Yuhao nodded and carefully stored the engraving knife inside his Soul Tool. "Thank you, Ning Tian. Once it's fully tamed, I'll use it to carve a Soul Tool core for you first."

A genuine smile spread across Ning Tian's face, completely dispelling the heaviness that had lingered between her brows. It instead gained a touch of an elder's expectations for a junior. "All right, I'll be waiting. With your talent for Soul Tools, using an engraving knife tamed by your own hands, you'll surely carve something extraordinary."

She raised a hand to straighten her sleeve, her gaze falling toward Bright Capital beyond the window. Her tone became lighter. "Come to think of it, once you produce a finished item, if it can truly evade the Sun-Moon Empire's material restrictions, the Nine Treasures Glazed Sect will be the first to place an order. Then we'll let those people watching our business see who says foreign Soul Engineers can only be manipulated by them."

Huo Yuhao smiled at that. The daylight beyond the window reflected in his Spirit Eye, making it shine as brightly as stars tempered in fire. "Then I'll have to put some serious thought into it and make sure to open your eyes, Ning Tian." His fingers lightly tapped the spot where the Soul Tool was stored. He could clearly sense the Spirit-Devouring Engraving Knife's gentle pulse. "This engraving knife has an excellent foundation. Carving high-precision Soul Tool cores with it will save a great deal of effort, and it may even produce many additional effects."

"With those words from you, I'm relieved." Ning Tian nodded, then turned to straighten a brocade box she had brought. "Oh, right. The sect elders asked me to bring this to you. They heard that you planned to focus on nurturing the engraving knife, so they specially sought out some spiritual herbs that calm the mind. They said steeping them in water can stabilize spiritual power, so they might be useful."

The brocade box opened to reveal several neatly arranged herbs with lustrous leaves, emitting a faint, crisp fragrance. They were Spirit-Calming Herbs, beneficial to a Soul Master's spiritual power. Huo Yuhao picked one up, and as his fingertips touched the leaves, he could sense the pure spiritual energy of vegetation within them. They were clearly precious herbs of considerable age.

"This is far too valuable. I can't accept it." He hurriedly declined.

"Take them." Ning Tian pushed the brocade box toward him, her tone gentle but brooking no refusal. "You've helped the Nine Treasures Glazed Sect solve quite a few problems. What are these little things worth? Besides, once you nurture the engraving knife properly, you'll be able to help us in the future. That's what matters most."

Looking into her sincere eyes, Huo Yuhao stopped refusing and said solemnly, "Thank you, Ning Tian. Please thank the sect elders for me as well."

"Why be so polite with us?" Ning Tian smiled and glanced at the sky. "It's getting late. I need to head back and take care of some matters. Focus on nurturing the engraving knife. If you need anything at all, come find me directly."

"All right." Huo Yuhao rose to see her out.

When they reached the door, Ning Tian suddenly stopped and looked back at him, her gaze carrying a deeper meaning. "Yuhao, do you know that if the engraving knife in your hands can truly be completely tamed, it may be more than just a good tool?"

Huo Yuhao froze.

"The Spirit-Devouring Engraving Knife can devour the origins of energy. It is far more than merely an engraving knife..." Ning Tian paused, lowering her voice. "That ability is practically forbidden. You must use it carefully."

After saying that, she spoke no more and turned toward the academy's administrative office.