Star Luo City, Star Luo Empire. Qian Chen brought Qian Guyi to the most bustling place in Star Luo City, the Starlight Auction House.
"Uncle, what are we doing here?" Qian Guyi asked curiously.
"We're at the Starlight Auction House, so naturally, we're here to buy something," Qian Chen said with a smile, walking in first. Qian Guyi asked no more questions and hurried after him.
"Hello, sir. If you're here for the auction, please follow me." A pretty attendant greeted them warmly.
"I'm not here for the auction. I'm here to buy a specific item," Qian Chen said bluntly.
"Please follow me." Once Qian Chen explained his purpose, the attendant immediately led the two to a special office. Unexpectedly, a pretty young woman of sixteen or seventeen was inside, speaking to the manager who normally occupied it.
The instant the attendant pushed open the half-closed door, her face went white with fright. She had never expected this important personage to be in the manager's office.
The pretty young woman asked, "Who is it?"
The attendant could only brace herself and say, "I'm sorry, miss, manager. A customer came today who isn't attending the auction and only wants to purchase a specific item, so I brought him to the manager."
The pretty young woman nodded. "Yes, this happens often at our Starlight Auction House. Bring him in."
"Yes."
After Qian Chen entered the office and saw the two people inside, he addressed the pretty young woman. "This commoner pays his respects to Your Highness, Princess Jiujiu."
Hearing Qian Chen say this, Qian Guyi hurriedly followed suit. "This common girl pays her respects to Your Highness Jiujiu."
"You actually recognize me?" Xu Jiujiu asked curiously.
"Hehe, Your Highness possesses such graceful charm, and the auctions you host are always packed to the rafters. I live near Star Luo City, so naturally, I've attended auctions hosted by you," Qian Chen explained.
Hearing a handsome young man praise her like this made Xu Jiujiu quite happy. Still, the interests of the Star Luo Empire always came first in her heart. She asked, "Thank you for the compliment. What would you like to buy?"
"The Spirit-Devouring Carving Knife," Qian Chen stated his objective simply and directly.
"That's a ranked carving knife on the Carving Knife Ranking. It certainly won't come cheap," Xu Jiujiu said.
"Name your price, Princess," Qian Chen said directly, without wasting time.
"Hmm, one million Gold Soul Coins," Xu Jiujiu said with perfect assurance. At that price, the corner of Qian Chen's mouth twitched, and he mentally labeled Xu Jiujiu a "profiteer."
"Your Highness, do you know why I know this Spirit-Devouring Carving Knife is at the Starlight Auction House?" Qian Chen asked in return.
"W-why?"
"My dear princess, this Spirit-Devouring Carving Knife has failed to sell at the Starlight Auction House several times. No one wants to buy it. Besides, a powerful Evil Soul Master's vengeful spirit resides in it, and anyone who possesses it is bound to suffer its backlash. Over these past few hundred years, not a single person who obtained this knife has come to a good end. Am I right?"
Seeing her profiteering price exposed, Xu Jiujiu nevertheless maintained her composure, speaking without blushing or her heart skipping a beat. "Then how much are you offering?"
"Fifty thousand." Qian Chen named his price directly.
"You bastard! You're making a fool of me!" Xu Jiujiu said, somewhat angry.
"Hehe, Your Highness asked for the sky, so this commoner is merely bargaining from the ground," Qian Chen answered with a smile.
Then Qian Chen adopted a serious expression and said, "Your Highness, Princess Jiujiu, please name the price you're willing to sell it for."
"Two hundred thousand Gold Soul Coins. That's what our Starlight Auction House paid for it, but we haven't been able to sell it. That's our bottom line. We won't sell for even one Copper Soul Coin less," Xu Jiujiu said firmly.
"Deal."
The payment and goods soon changed hands. Seeing Qian Chen about to leave, Xu Jiujiu looked at his handsome face and sensed his strength, as unfathomable as an abyss, then suddenly asked, "What's your name?"
"My name is Qian Chen. Is something the matter, Princess?"
"Qian Chen, this Spirit-Devouring Carving Knife is extremely dangerous. I advise you not to force yourself to use it, lest you fall onto an evil path," Xu Jiujiu said worriedly.
"Thank you." With that, Qian Chen left the Starlight Auction House with Qian Guyi.
"Jiujiu, this Qian Chen is outstanding too. Unfortunately, it will be difficult to get him to serve the empire." Just then, an elderly woman's voice rang out.
Xu Jiujiu hurriedly asked, "Who is he?"
"Shrek Academy's anchor at the last Soul Master Tournament in Heavenly Soul Empire's Heavenly Dou City. He never made a move throughout the entire tournament. A student named Bing Ling did all the fighting and swept through the whole field."
"It was him!" Xu Jiujiu exclaimed. "Then, Granny Manyi, what level has Qian Chen's strength reached now?"
"He's very strong, at least at the Soul Douluo level. Alas, relations between the empire and Shrek Academy are growing more and more distant. It seems Shrek Academy will soon have another Titled Douluo this young. That really isn't good news for the empire!" Manyi said with a sigh.
After leaving the Starlight Auction House, Qian Chen and Qian Guyi wasted no time and soon returned to Angel Mountain Manor.
"Come to my room." Hearing Qian Chen tell her to go to his room, Qian Guyi's face, ears, and neck all turned red at once.
Is Uncle going to stop being my uncle? Does he want to be Guyi's husband? Qian Guyi's thoughts ran wildly through her head. Oh well, Uncle isn't that old either. If he insists on being Guyi's husband, Guyi can accept it.
Qian Chen looked back and saw Qian Guyi's bright red face. He gave her a light knock on the head and said, "What are you thinking? I'm your uncle. Come on, I'm taking you to claim an opportunity."
Hearing Qian Chen say this, Qian Guyi hurriedly said, "Oh," and followed him.
Once they reached the room, Qian Chen said to Qian Guyi, "Guyi, everything I told Princess Xu Jiujiu just now was true. A powerful Evil Soul Master's soul resides in this carving knife. This Evil Soul Master was at least a Titled Douluo-level expert, and the more people this Spirit-Devouring Carving Knife kills, the stronger the evil spirit becomes."
Qian Chen paused for breath before continuing, "Today, you'll join me in destroying this Titled Douluo-level evil spirit and the subordinates he transformed into evil spirits. Destroying them will greatly benefit Soul Masters like us who possess the Holy Angel Martial Soul. That's why I called it an opportunity."
"All right, Guyi will destroy these evil spirits that bring calamity together with Uncle today," Qian Guyi said firmly. At the thought of soon destroying a Titled Douluo-level Evil Soul Master, Qian Guyi felt both excited and a little worried.
Qian Chen naturally noticed Qian Guyi's concern and said, "Don't be afraid, Guyi. Even a living Titled Douluo Evil Soul Master would have their combat strength greatly reduced under the suppression of our holy light, let alone this fellow, who doesn't even have a body and is merely an evil spirit formed from a remnant soul."
Hearing Qian Chen's encouragement, Qian Guyi nodded. "Uncle, I'm not afraid."
"Good. As expected of a member of our Qian Family's Angel Clan," Qian Chen praised. Then he took the Spirit-Devouring Carving Knife out of his storage Soul Tool. The instant it appeared, the temperature throughout the room seemed to drop considerably.
Holding the Spirit-Devouring Carving Knife, Qian Chen gently injected a trace of Soul Power into it. The next moment, the evil spirit within the knife instantly awakened, and its cold, sinister presence grew even stronger.
At that moment, human faces seemingly formed from countless wisps of black mist appeared all over the Spirit-Devouring Carving Knife.
These black-mist faces began crawling up Qian Chen's hand and onto his body, as though they would devour him at once.
Standing nearby, Qian Guyi cried out in alarm, "Uncle!"