The three of them passed through the black Space Gate, and the scene before them changed instantly.
The streets of Shrek City vanished, replaced by an elegantly furnished hotel room.
This was a hotel in Star Luo City. After emerging, the three of them saw a man standing not far away.
The man looked utterly ordinary, the sort who would disappear into a crowd without a trace. However, when his gaze fell upon Ling Luochen and Leng Yaozhu behind Lin Fan, he froze for a moment but did not ask too many questions.
The man directly cupped his hands toward Lin Fan, who stood before him, and called out respectfully.
"Pavilion Master."
Lin Fan nodded in acknowledgment.
"The Soul-Eating Carving Knife the Pavilion Master wants is very likely to appear at tonight's Level-One auction."
Starlight Auction Hall was the largest auction house in Star Luo City, backed by the Star Luo Empire's royal family. Its auctions were divided into five levels, from Level One to Level Five. Level One was the highest-class auction, held only once or twice a year, and only the most distinguished guests would be invited to Auction Hall Number One.
Lin Fan was not surprised to hear this. According to the timeline, the Soul-Eating Carving Knife had only ended up at a Level-Four auction after repeatedly failing to sell, where it could be acquired for just one hundred thousand Gold Soul Coins.
If it was appearing at a Level-One auction now, the starting price would be much higher. Of course, that was no big deal to Lin Fan. Anything that could be solved with money was not worth calling a problem.
"Did you secure entry qualifications?"
The man nodded, then took an exquisitely crafted invitation from his robes and presented it to Lin Fan with both hands.
"It's already taken care of. The auction begins at seven tonight."
By now, Hidden Azure Pavilion had gained quite a reputation in the Star Luo Empire. Not long ago, it had sold several Level-Eight Soul Tools. In a place like the Star Luo Empire, Level-Eight Soul Tools were extraordinarily valuable, so Hidden Azure Pavilion was qualified to participate in this top-tier auction.
Lin Fan accepted the invitation, glanced down at it, and stored it in his Storage Soul Tool. Then he nodded to the man before him.
"Thanks for the effort. Go to Senior Zhang Peng to collect your reward afterward."
The man's face immediately lit up with joy. He quickly cupped his hands again in thanks, then wisely did not linger. He turned and hurried out of the room, closing the door behind him.
After the man left, Ling Luochen could no longer suppress her curiosity and asked Lin Fan.
"Lin Fan, what exactly is that Soul-Eating Carving Knife?"
She knew that carving knives were one of the tools commonly used by Soul Engineers, but the name "Soul-Eating Carving Knife" just sounded wrong.
It sounded... like some kind of evil object.
Lin Fan smiled and explained.
"It was created around three thousand years ago by a Level-Nine Soul Engineer from the Sun Moon Empire, who was also an Evil Soul Master, during his later years."
"After that creator died, the carving knife passed into civilian hands. It had more than thirty owners in succession, and every one of them died horribly. Nine of them fell into becoming Evil Soul Masters, and not a single one survived longer than ten years."
Ling Luochen and Leng Yaozhu were both stunned upon hearing this.
"And you still want something like that?"
Ling Luochen looked at Lin Fan with concern in her eyes. Clearly, she did not want him to be affected by that carving knife as well.
"What you just said sounds far too sinister."
Although Leng Yaozhu did not speak, her crimson eyes were also filled with worry.
Lin Fan did not look nervous after hearing that. Instead, he chuckled softly.
"Although this carving knife is sinister, it is not without a solution. As long as the hidden danger inside it is dealt with, it will become an enormous treasure trove. At its core, the Soul-Eating Carving Knife is a piece of Gold of Life."
Upon hearing of Gold of Life, both Leng Yaozhu and Ling Luochen looked puzzled. Neither had ever heard of such a thing.
The two of them truly admired Lin Fan's knowledge. It felt as though he knew a little about everything.
Seeing the two question-mark girls standing before him, Lin Fan smiled and began explaining.
"Gold of Life can be understood as life force refined into solid form. It is an exceedingly rare heavenly treasure."
"It can help Soul Masters open a Second Sea of Consciousness, greatly improve and elevate the body, and comprehensively enhance strength, flexibility, and the toughness of one's meridians."
"At the same time, it can grant Soul Masters powerful self-healing abilities. So long as the brain remains intact, no matter what injuries they suffer, they can heal themselves."
After hearing this, Leng Yaozhu and Ling Luochen both gasped.
"Something this absurdly powerful?"
Leng Yaozhu could not help speaking. Her crimson eyes were filled with shock.
"Do you know how much Gold of Life the vitality of a Million-Year Soul Beast is equivalent to?"
Lin Fan smiled and asked the two of them.
"A Million-Year Soul Beast?"
Ling Luochen looked at Lin Fan in confusion. Million-Year Soul Beasts were practically nonexistent in this world. She had never heard of anyone hunting one. Even Sea God Tang San, ten thousand years ago, had only hunted a Soul Beast close to a million years old.
None of the current Ten Great Ferocious Beasts were Million-Year Soul Beasts either.
"How much?"
At that moment, Leng Yaozhu also asked like a curious child.
"It is equivalent to Gold of Life the size of a teardrop."
Naturally, everyone ten thousand years in the future heard those words as well.
Within Shrek Academy, Long Yeyue's expression turned extremely ugly. She suddenly grabbed a book at hand and began flipping through it. When she reached a certain page, her movements abruptly stopped.
"Found it..."
Her gaze fell upon the text, and her expression became somewhat twisted. Then she gritted her teeth and said.
"Huo Yuhao once obtained an evil carving knife. The records clearly state that he used some method to purify it."
"So Huo Yuhao's overwhelming spiritual power was also helped by Gold of Life!"
She closed the book, her face filled with fury and unwillingness.
"This was supposed to be Huo Yuhao's opportunity, but now it has fallen into Lin Fan's hands!"
The others present were all stunned upon hearing this.
They naturally understood that if the events within the Light Screen truly altered the course of history, then whether Huo Yuhao would still possess such overwhelming spiritual power in the future, and whether he could still become the founder of the Spirit Pagoda, would all become unknown.
Long Yeyue slammed her palm against the table and roared furiously.
"That thief! He actually dares to seize another person's opportunity at will! His crime is utterly unforgivable!"
At that moment, Long Yeyue wished she could rush straight into the world of ten thousand years ago and give Lin Fan a vicious lesson.
Then she turned to the people beside her and coldly ordered.
"Contact the Leng Family and have them find a way to reach that girl named Leng Yaozhu! She must not be allowed to continue altering history! We must set history back on its proper course!"
"Tell them this is the unanimous decision of Shrek Academy's Sea God Pavilion!"