The light in the workshop was soft and still.
Only the faint rasp of an Engraving Knife sliding across metal drifted through the air.
Lu Xuan leaned forward slightly, his expression focused as he explained the technical knowledge of Soul Tool engraving.
To help Qian Renxue understand more directly.
He casually picked up an unremarkable scrap of metal from the workbench and began demonstrating it himself.
His slender fingers held a fine Engraving Knife.
As his wrist turned, the tip flew across the hard metal surface.
Even though it was only a piece of scrap, under Lu Xuan's control, precise to the smallest fraction.
An intricate, delicate miniature array was taking shape at a speed visible to the naked eye.
It faintly emitted weak fluctuations of soul power.
Qian Renxue stood pressed close beside Lu Xuan.
The distance between them was so small that they could feel each other's breathing.
At first, she watched the metal intently, trying to memorize those complicated patterns.
But before she knew it, her gaze seemed to slip out of her control.
Quietly, little by little, it drifted toward Lu Xuan's profile.
His eyelashes are so long...
Qian Renxue silently marveled to herself.
Sunlight streamed through the skylight, casting an attractive shadow along Lu Xuan's high nose.
His focused expression held an indescribable appeal.
What made Qian Renxue secretly envious was that, despite being a boy, his skin was so flawless that she could not even see his pores.
It was even finer than that of many girls who meticulously cared for their skin.
"Well? Did you understand?"
Lu Xuan stopped his Engraving Knife, turned his head, and asked softly.
"Ah?!"
Like a startled fawn, Qian Renxue abruptly came back to her senses.
The embarrassment of being caught sneaking looks instantly sent two blushes flying onto her fair cheeks.
To hide her embarrassment, she quickly puffed out her cheeks, pointed at the scrap of metal, and complained in distress:
"This... this is so hard! These patterns and arrays don't look like anything that should exist in this era. Where on earth did you find them to learn?"
Seeing her sweet, innocent manner, Lu Xuan could not help chuckling.
He turned around, pulled a thick thread-bound book from a nearby shelf piled with drawings, and held it out to Qian Renxue:
"Take your time. There's no rush. Read this book first."
It was a book on the fundamentals and practical techniques of Soul Tools that he had personally compiled in his spare time over the past few years.
Although it was still only a preliminary edition, it was already detailed enough for beginners.
Qian Renxue took the book curiously and flipped through a few pages, a trace of surprise flashing through her beautiful eyes:
"So, to make Soul Tools, you not only need to understand arrays, but also have to learn metal forging first?"
"Yes. The purity and toughness of the metal directly determine the upper limit of soul power a Soul Tool can withstand," Lu Xuan explained patiently.
At the words "metal" and "forging."
A thoughtful gleam flashed in Qian Renxue's eyes.
If one were to ask which place on the entire continent had the richest metal resources and the most high-ranking blacksmiths.
It was undoubtedly the "City of Metal" within the Star Luo Empire-Gengxin City.
She secretly made up her mind.
Since Lu Xuan liked making Soul Tools so much, she would find a way to bring all of Gengxin City into her grasp.
She absolutely had no other intentions.
It was only a gift in return.
It was just that this return gift was a few years late.
"If you want to practice, it's best to start with the lowest-grade metals."
"Don't use rare metals right away. It's easy to waste them."
Lu Xuan pointed at a row of exquisite tools on the table.
"Also, this is the Engraving Knife set I usually use. I'll leave it here for the time being. If you want to practice, you can use it whenever you like."
"All right!"
Qian Renxue nodded obediently, hugging the thick book to her chest.
Lu Xuan looked at her, a trace of barely perceptible, complicated emotion flashing through his eyes.
He fell silent for a moment before speaking softly:
"Would you... come for a walk around the city with me? I might not have much free time for a long while after this."
Once Slaughter Body Tempering began, it would mean inhuman torment, day after day, without end, with absolutely no possibility of stopping midway.
Hearing that trace of heaviness in Lu Xuan's words.
Qian Renxue keenly sensed something.
But she did not ask any further questions. She simply set the book carefully on the table, stood up, and broke into a smile. "Mm, let's go!"
Spirit City basked in bright afternoon sunshine, its streets bustling with crowds and an endless stream of carriages and horses.
Lu Xuan and Qian Renxue walked side by side along the busy streets.
Both possessed peerless looks and otherworldly bearing, standing out among the crowd like cranes among chickens and instantly drawing the gazes of countless passersby.
Yet despite their amazement, not a single person dared approach to strike up a conversation.
They did not even dare come within three feet of them.
There was no other reason.
Qian Renxue's long golden hair, cascading like a brilliant waterfall, was simply too dazzling in the sunlight.
In Spirit City, every resident knew exactly what golden hair represented.
It was the symbol of the Angel Clan, the supreme bloodline of Spirit Hall.
Their status was even a hundred times more exalted than that of the royal families of the two great empires!
And so the two strolled leisurely beneath everyone's reverent gazes.
Suddenly, Qian Renxue stopped in front of a small candied hawthorn stall.
Looking at the translucent hawthorn fruits coated in glossy red syrup.
She swallowed and, like an ordinary little girl, gently tugged at the hem of Lu Xuan's clothes, pointing at the stall as she said:
"I want some!"
"Sure." Lu Xuan smiled indulgently and instinctively reached for the Storage Soul Tool at his waist.
But the moment his hand reached inside, his expression froze.
(⊙﹏⊙)
I'm done for... He suddenly remembered.
Before leaving earlier, he had casually given the last few Gold Soul Coins he had to the maid Xiaoyu as a reward.
Now, he could not produce so much as a single Copper Soul Coin!
Seeing Lu Xuan's stiff movements and increasingly embarrassed expression.
Qian Renxue was stunned at first, then realized what had happened and could not help covering her mouth with a sweet giggle.
There was no need to guess. This fellow was now a penniless pauper.
She rolled her eyes at Lu Xuan.
Casually taking a glittering Gold Soul Coin from her storage ring, she handed it to the vendor. "Two skewers of candied hawthorn, please."
The vendor's eyes went wide at the sight of the Gold Soul Coin, but then his face fell, and he waved his hands repeatedly:
"Oh dear, honored miss, this is only a small business."
"A skewer of candied hawthorn costs just two Copper Soul Coins. For this Gold Soul Coin of yours... I really can't make change!"
Qian Renxue paused. The transactions she usually dealt with involved large sums, and she truly had never considered the issue of small change.
She frowned slightly, then changed tack and grandly pointed at the entire straw holder:
"You can't make change? All right, then give me all these candied hawthorns, stand and all. Keep the rest!"
"Huh? Yes, of course! Thank you, miss! Thank you, miss!"
The vendor froze for an instant, then nodded and bowed in wild delight, swiftly handing over the entire straw holder bristling with candied hawthorn skewers.
The God of Wealth had truly manifested today-he had made a fortune!
Qian Renxue took the heavy candied hawthorn stand.
Turning around, she plucked a large handful of bright red candied hawthorn skewers from it.
Without allowing any argument, she imperiously stuffed them into Lu Xuan's arms, lifted her delicate chin, and smiled until her eyes curved into crescents. "Here, eat!"
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