Although the auction staff had not specified which carving knife it was, Xu Zhengyang was absolutely certain that it was the Soul Devouring Carving Knife he wanted.
After confirming the arrangements for entrusting the Soul Bone to the Starlight Auction House for auction, Xu Zhengyang changed his clothes and left the Starlight Auction House through another door.
The Starlight Auction House did well in this regard, protecting its clients' privacy while also ensuring their safety.
After returning to the hotel, Xu Zhengyang did not hesitate much. He swallowed the Mysterious Water Pill in one gulp, and a familiar, gentle sensation instantly spread throughout his body. Rich fluctuations of Soul Power coursed through him, and his entire body felt as though it were immersed in an ocean of life, incomparably comfortable.
As time passed, this sensation grew stronger and stronger. Once he began meditating, the Soul Power within him circulated faster and faster, and even the blockages in his meridians seemed to have been cleared.
Only after an entire night had passed did Xu Zhengyang finish absorbing the Mysterious Water Pill. He felt as though he were in better condition than ever before. Not only did his Soul Power circulate a full twice as fast as before during meditation, but his Soul Power rank had also risen from twenty-six to twenty-seven.
At this moment, Xu Zhengyang could clearly feel that his cultivation aptitude had improved considerably. His Innate Soul Power had risen to at least rank three, to say nothing of how freely his meridians now flowed. Even the sections that had originally been blocked and narrow had widened considerably.
Overall, this cultivation speed was more than ten times what it had been when he first awakened his Martial Soul.
His low Innate Soul Power rank had always been a knot in Xu Zhengyang's heart. In theory, someone with only half a rank of Innate Soul Power would probably only reach Grand Soul Master, no matter how hard they cultivated.
But through years of desperately training his body and taking two Mysterious Water Pills, Xu Zhengyang had barely managed to reach the equivalent of rank-three Innate Soul Power.
Xu Zhengyang even felt that, through his rigorous physical training and his tempering of the Tiger-Head Zhan Gold Spear, his physical condition had long since far surpassed that of his peers and Soul Masters of the same rank. This gave him hope of breaking through to higher realms, and the bottlenecks obstructing him in the future would also weaken.
Even so, Xu Zhengyang currently had only rank-three or rank-four Innate Soul Power, still far below that of true geniuses. Especially in the later stages, this gap would become increasingly apparent.
It was not that Xu Zhengyang had never considered researching the Mysterious Water Pill to find a way to improve his body's Innate Soul Power. Unfortunately, the Mysterious Water Pill was ultimately refined from the blood essence of water-attribute Soul Beasts and the essence of water-attribute plants, which did not quite match his body's attributes. Moreover, he truly had no way of finding a Mysterious Water Turtle.
This time, Xu Zhengyang stayed in the hotel for three full days without going out once. He was completely immersed in the pleasure of meditation, even asking the staff to deliver his meals.
On the evening of the fourth day, Xu Zhengyang returned to the Starlight Auction House. After checking, he discovered that his account had actually gained a full hundred and twenty thousand gold soul coins.
It seemed the Starlight Auction House truly lived up to its reputation. A Head Soul Bone nearly a thousand years old had actually sold for such a high price, somewhat exceeding even Xu Zhengyang's expectations.
What Xu Zhengyang did not know was that when this Polar Ice Fox Head Soul Bone had entered the auction house a day earlier, it had sparked competitive bidding among various parties, driving the price so high.
An ordinary Soul Bone would indeed not have fetched such a high price, but this was a rarely seen ice-attribute Head Soul Bone. With the development of Soul Engineers across the continent, Head Soul Bones were not only exceedingly rare, but their value had even surpassed that of torso Soul Bones. To many Soul Engineers, a Head Soul Bone could greatly enhance their spiritual power and might even raise a Soul Engineer's rank.
The items at the VIP auction clearly commanded far higher prices than those at ordinary auctions. Even the average auction price was no lower than thirty thousand gold soul coins.
Xu Zhengyang was dazzled by the sight as well. Many of the items would have been highly effective for him.
After the auction had been underway for a full hour, the auction staff wheeled an item onto the stage. Xu Zhengyang stared fixedly at it, for he could distinctly sense a sharp presence emanating from it. Even his body felt a trace of strange discomfort.
Sure enough, when the auction staff lifted the purple cloth covering it, everyone present erupted into an uproar.
It was a carving knife, very small, only half a foot long and as thick as a finger. Its tip looked exceptionally sharp. The knife as a whole was ancient and dark, with faintly engraved, unfathomable patterns. It exuded an ancient air, yet also felt extraordinarily oppressive.
As everyone looked at the carving knife, their eyes filled with regret, though quite a few people also appeared deeply shocked.
Only then did the auction staff member speak. "The item appearing now is a carving knife. Although it looks ancient, its value far exceeds everyone's imagination. This is one of our Starry Sky Auction House's most mysterious treasures, a top-tier carving knife in the truest sense."
"As everyone knows, carving knives are essential tools for Soul Engineers. A good carving knife can make a high-ranking Soul Engineer, and the carving knife we are presenting this time can truly be called an unparalleled divine weapon. You should all know that carving knives are ranked in the world of Soul Engineers. Almost all the finest carving knives are in the hands of top-tier Soul Engineers. The carving knife we are presenting this time is renowned among all carving knives and can even be called one of the finest. It is a treasure on the Carving Knife Ranking."
Everyone present erupted into an uproar upon hearing this. Although they had attended many auctions, they had rarely seen treasures of this caliber. A truly top-tier Soul Engineer was a mighty figure who could turn the clouds with one hand and summon rain with the other, and their carving knives were of the utmost importance.
Carving knives on the Carving Knife Ranking, in particular, were divine tools that ordinary people could only encounter by chance, never obtain merely by seeking them.
In terms of the development of Soul Engineers, the Sun Moon Empire far surpassed the other countries of the Douluo Continent. Virtually all top-tier carving knives were in the Sun Moon Empire. Of the top hundred knives on the Carving Knife Ranking, the three great empires of the Douluo Continent probably possessed fewer than ten in total, showing just how rare they were.
Only when everyone's excitement had reached a fever pitch did the auctioneer speak. "Honored guests, you all know that the Starlight Auction House has always been renowned for cheating neither the young nor the old. We guarantee the quality of every item sold here, and any issues with an auction item must be explained in advance."
Everyone present fell silent upon hearing this, clearly puzzled by the auctioneer's words.
Only then did the auctioneer continue. "Honored guests, you should understand the true value of a carving knife on the Carving Knife Ranking. If this were an ordinary ranked carving knife, it could never have appeared at our auction house. Its value in the Soul Master world is strategic in nature. The reason this carving knife has appeared here now is that it has certain problems."
"It ranks ninety-ninth on the Carving Knife Ranking and is called the Soul Devouring Carving Knife. In terms of quality, it could even rank among the top thirty ranked carving knives. However, it is a cursed carving knife."
"The Soul Devouring Carving Knife has a history of over three thousand years. It first appeared in the Sun Moon Empire three thousand years ago. Its creator was a Soul Engineer of astonishing talent, and a rank-nine Soul Engineer at that. Unfortunately, he was also an Evil Soul Master who once brought winds of gore and rains of blood upon the continent."
"This Evil Soul Master created the Soul Devouring Carving Knife in his later years. After his death, the Soul Devouring Carving Knife gradually circulated through the Soul Master world. Our investigations have found that this carving knife had a total of thirty-seven owners. Unfortunately, all thirty-seven died horrible deaths without exception. It is said that the Soul Devouring Carving Knife contains a wisp of that Evil Soul Master's soul, which guides people toward evil. That is why it ranks near the very bottom of the Carving Knife Ranking."
"Given this carving knife's fearsome reputation, we hope our honored guests will consider carefully. Once the Soul Devouring Carving Knife is sold, this auction house cannot bear responsibility for any consequences. We therefore hope its owner can be a light-attribute Soul Engineer, who might have some hope of suppressing the Soul Devouring Carving Knife."
"The bidding now begins. The starting price is two hundred thousand gold soul coins, with each increment no lower than five thousand gold soul coins."
At this moment, the entire auction house fell into silence. Although many powerful Soul Masters were present, and everyone knew that this carving knife was certainly worth far more than two hundred thousand gold soul coins, its terrifying curse left countless people trembling with fear.
This was a truly vicious weapon capable of killing its master. Moreover, its creator had been an Evil Soul Master from the Sun Moon Empire. Throughout the Douluo World, everyone was exceptionally hostile toward Evil Soul Masters, yet also exceptionally afraid of their methods.
Furthermore, the Soul Devouring Carving Knife had already caused thirty-seven owners to die horrible deaths. Anyone capable of possessing this carving knife could not possibly have been ordinary. At the very least, they had been top-tier Soul Engineers, perhaps even Titled Douluo-level Soul Masters. None of them had escaped a miserable end. If they themselves came into contact with the Soul Devouring Carving Knife, would they die even more horribly?
Xu Zhengyang raised his bidding paddle without hesitation. "Two hundred thousand gold soul coins!"
The entire venue instantly erupted into an uproar. Even the auctioneer, who had looked somewhat dejected before, now had a trace of disbelief in his eyes. He had not expected anyone to actually dare bid on the Soul Devouring Carving Knife. Was this person not afraid of suffering its backlash?
The auctioneer swept his gaze across the auction house. Rather than offering any further introduction as he usually did with auction items, he seemed somewhat impatient.
"Two hundred thousand gold soul coins, going once! Two hundred thousand gold soul coins, going twice! Two hundred thousand gold soul coins, going three times! Sold!"