Ju Zi

Seeing such a lukewarm response from the audience, the auctioneer could not help letting out a quiet sigh inwardly.

Although the Starlight Auction House had anticipated this situation, actually witnessing it still left him feeling rueful. But things had already reached this point, so the auctioneer could only steel himself and announce:

"The first item in this auction is the Spirit-Devouring Carving Knife, with a starting bid of three hundred thousand Gold Soul Coins. You may begin bidding."

Even after his words fell, the entire auction house remained silent.

"It seems no one wants to buy this carving knife."

Kong Deming chuckled, then bought the Spirit-Devouring Carving Knife at its starting price just before it went unsold.

Soon, a staff member carrying a tray delivered the Spirit Devouring Fierce Blade to the VIP room where Xu Tiance and the others were seated.

As he studied the unremarkable carving knife, curiosity immediately surfaced in Du Busi's eyes. "Is this knife really that sinister? It looks like nothing more than an ordinary little carving knife."

Hearing this, Kong Deming could not help glancing at him. "Why don't you try injecting some soul power into it and find out?"

Du Busi promptly gave two soft coughs, then turned toward Xu Tiance, his tone becoming much gentler. "Tiance, are you sure you can purify the curse on this knife?"

Xu Tiance did not answer. He simply took a deep breath.

He neither rashly released his spiritual power nor injected soul power into the Spirit Devouring Fierce Blade. Instead, he immediately released his martial soul. In an instant, an extraordinarily rich aura of light filled the entire VIP room.

Fortunately, the VIP room had been built from special materials. Otherwise, such a powerful aura of light would inevitably have leaked out and been sensed by outsiders.

A dazzling golden light fell upon the Spirit-Devouring Carving Knife, and the seemingly unremarkable-even utterly ordinary-knife suddenly let out a metallic ring.

Then, under Kong Deming's and Du Busi's slightly astonished gazes, the Spirit-Devouring Carving Knife began to tremble faintly.

At the same time, Ye Guyi released her martial soul at Xu Tiance's signal.

The holy angel martial soul manifested around Ye Guyi, and an aura of sanctity immediately rippled out from her. As though sensing the light and divine auras, the Spirit-Devouring Carving Knife began trembling more violently. An intensely vivid azure light burst from the knife, forming a malevolent face in midair, like a howling evil spirit.

Both Kong Deming and Du Busi felt a slight chill in their hearts.

That malevolent face was the evil intent and curse left behind by the culprit who had originally created the Spirit Devouring Fierce Blade. It was precisely this trace of evil intent and this curse that had shrouded the gold of life in dust, reducing it to a carving knife infamous for devouring its masters.

Xu Tiance could not help sighing inwardly.

Although his ultimate light attribute and Ye Guyi's divine attribute, which rivaled an ultimate attribute, were both extremely effective at suppressing such evil intent, the two of them were still too weak. At that moment, the evil intent, like a malicious ghost, seemed poised to turn the tables and devour his aura of light and Ye Guyi's divine aura.

In other words, working together, he and Ye Guyi did have a chance of clearing away the evil intent and purifying the curse. It would simply be difficult to accomplish in the short term.

After this brief attempt, Xu Tiance immediately withdrew his martial soul along with Ye Guyi.

The light and divine auras slowly dissipated. As though it had lost every target, the hideous face gradually blurred, while the azure light flickering over the Spirit-Devouring Carving Knife subsided once more, returning it to its original appearance.

"Tiance, you weren't affected, were you?"

Meeting Kong Deming's concerned gaze, Xu Tiance shook his head. "I'm fine. After all, this curse was left behind by a Level 9 Soul Engineer. Guyi and I can't completely remove it as we are now. We may have to wait until we're stronger. Until then... this knife will have to serve as nothing more than an ornament."

Kong Deming nodded at his words. "In that case, we'll leave it for another day."

"This trip has taken quite some time. Since our business here is finished, let's pack up and prepare to head back."

Xu Tiance naturally had no objections.

Although the auction at the Starlight Auction House was still continuing, the next few items were all Level 6 soul tools, and Xu Tiance truly had little interest in them.

A small border town in the Sun Moon Empire.

A girl who looked no older than seven or eight stood quietly beneath the lingering glow of the setting sun. Her eyes were somewhat vacant, and she looked a little lost.

This was a border town without even a name, one of the most ordinary little towns in the entire Sun Moon Empire.

Yet this very town had become the greatest source of pain in the girl's heart.

Several years earlier, she had still had a happy, loving family. Her father was an exceptionally skilled cook, and everyone in town praised his cooking to the skies, often visiting their family's restaurant. Though her father and mother were busy every day, they loved her dearly.

All her happiness and peace had been shattered two years earlier.

The Star Luo Empire's army had invaded in force, harassing the Sun Moon Empire's border. The emperor of the Sun Moon Empire at the time had sent no reinforcements whatsoever. Left with no choice, the border commanders had forcibly conscripted soldiers to resist the Star Luo Empire's incursions. Her father had been among those conscripted.

Just yesterday, she had received the news.

Her father had died on the border battlefield.

Although the Star Luo Empire's army had retreated, her father would never return.

After her father joined the army, her mother had already been working day and night to keep the restaurant running alone. Upon receiving the news, she had closed her eyes forever, never to open them again.

In the blink of an eye, she had become the sole survivor of what had once been a happy, loving family.

And the chief culprit behind all of this was Dai Hao, the White Tiger Duke of the Star Luo Empire!

Ju Zi gazed toward the Star Luo Empire, a trace of hatred gradually emerging in her vacant eyes.

She would have her revenge... she would kill Dai Hao, the White Tiger Duke, destroy the Star Luo Empire, and avenge her father and mother!

Ju Zi clenched her fists tightly and took a deep breath. The confusion in her eyes vanished completely, and determination settled over her face.

Her strength alone was far too meager to destroy the White Tiger Duke's Mansion, which, to her, was nothing short of a colossal beast. She had to grow stronger and gain enough power!