Once they were inside the private room, Xu Jiujiu could not contain her curiosity and asked:
"I heard you have an Azure Soul Ring. Could you show it to me?"
Chu Qing released his Soul Rings. Two purple, two black, and one red ring radiated a powerful pressure.
Xu Jiujiu was startled by the sight and exclaimed in admiration:
"So the rumors were true. You really are the Sky Titan, born from a thousand years of the Dou Ling Empire's fortune, with monstrous talent."
"Sky Titan?"
Chu Qing withdrew his Soul Rings, puzzled.
"How come I didn't know I had a title like that?"
"It's not important. Sky Titan, Son of Dou Ling, the person most likely to become a god in the past ten thousand years..." Xu Jiujiu said. "Anyway, there are plenty of titles going around."
"Your Soul Ring Configuration is astonishing, but the colors are all normal. Where did your Azure Soul Ring go?"
She was deeply puzzled.
"According to the information we received, that Azure Soul Ring of yours doesn't seem to be a rumor."
Chu Qing raised his hand, and spider silk formed at his fingertips. He smiled and said:
"It's just an Azure Soul Ring. Easy. Tell me what color you want to see, and I'll make it for you."
The spider silk intertwined to form the Man Faced Demon Spider Emperor, which then disguised itself as Xu Jiujiu. Nine Soul Rings slowly rose beneath its feet, their colors constantly changing.
Xu Jiujiu had seen plenty of Soul Bones, but she could not help praising this one:
"Spiritual-type Soul Bones are rare. I didn't expect you to have one."
Even so, there was still a thoughtful look in her eyes as she gazed at Chu Qing.
"I might as well lay my cards on the table."
Chu Qing smiled, and his figure vanished from sight.
Realization dawned on Xu Jiujiu. She smiled and said:
"You trust me that much?"
Chu Qing withdrew the Man Faced Demon Puppet and reappeared, sitting in his chair. He said:
"Of course."
"We're partners now."
"I came here on my own behalf, and you, Xu Jiujiu, are the only one I came looking for."
"I believe you won't disappoint me."
Xu Jiujiu had no doubt about that. After all, a connection like Chu Qing, with his immense potential, would be a tremendous help even to her.
But she still had one question.
"Today should be the first time we've met, right?"
Chu Qing grinned mischievously.
"I've seen a portrait of you. Guess when?"
Xu Jiujiu found that a little strange. She thought it over, looking at Chu Qing and feeling sure he was up to no good.
"Hmph, I don't want to know."
"Let's get back to business."
"I've heard that things seem to be going pretty well over in Dou Ling."
"But I'll need to go back with you and have a look for a while before deciding on the details."
"You're welcome to."
After eating, the two strolled around together for a while to help their digestion.
When it was time to part, Chu Qing escorted her back to the academy gates. Xu Jiujiu said:
"I'm holding an auction the day after tomorrow. If you're interested, you can come and show your support."
"I'll go if you give me a discount."
Chu Qing made himself quite at home.
Xu Jiujiu waved a hand grandly and said:
"Come, and I'll give you fifty percent off."
"It would be even better if I could buy on credit," Chu Qing said, asking for a yard after being given an inch.
"Goodbye!"
She turned and walked away without a moment's hesitation.
"Don't bother coming. I'm afraid I'll end up having to pay your fare too."
"Goodbye."
Chu Qing then left.
As Xu Jiujiu went back to prepare for the auction, she had still been wondering what sort of gift she should prepare for Chu Qing to mark their meeting.
After learning that Chu Qing had come to look at the Spirit-Devouring Carving Knife, she found him the next day and placed a box emitting black vapor on the table.
"What's this?"
Chu Qing was somewhat puzzled.
Xu Jiujiu said:
"The Spirit-Devouring Carving Knife."
Chu Qing was shocked, and not only because of what was in the box.
"How did you..."
Xu Jiujiu explained:
"Don't worry, I didn't have you investigated."
"Our auction house simply keeps an eye on potential buyers for every lot, so I found out."
As she spoke, she grew curious.
"You know this is a fierce blade, don't you?"
"Since you still came from thousands of miles away, I can hardly help suspecting you can deal with the curse on the carving knife."
"You really are as clever as ice and snow!" Chu Qing exclaimed helplessly.
"Of course."
A trace of delight flashed in Xu Jiujiu's eyes as she said:
"I'll give it to you as a gift, but I want to see it with my own eyes. People at our auction house have looked at this thing countless times. How did we get it so wrong?"
Chu Qing shut the doors and windows and said:
"All right, I'll show you. But don't go back on your word!"
Seeing how serious he looked, Xu Jiujiu grew curious.
"Could this fierce blade really be a treasure?"
Chu Qing activated his external finger bone and said:
"I read a secret account of the Spirit-Devouring Carving Knife in a fragment of an ancient text. I'll see if it works."
The Man Faced Demon Spider Emperor appeared, and its first Azure Soul Ring lit up.
True Form of the Azure Dragon.
The Man Faced Demon Puppet transformed into the Azure Divine Dragon, and all its Soul Rings turned azure.
Xu Jiujiu marveled inwardly. The quality of his Soul Bone was far higher than she had thought.
The fourth Soul Ring flickered with azure light.
Sky Azure Annihilation Divine Thunder.
Under Chu Qing's control, the Azure Divine Dragon spewed a bolt of Sky Azure Annihilation Divine Thunder as thick as an arm at the Spirit-Devouring Carving Knife.
Xu Jiujiu could not help speaking up:
"That's practically a Second Martial Soul. To think there's a Soul Bone like this-the world really does work wonders."
"And are you sure striking it like that won't damage the carving knife?"
"It may be a fierce blade, but it's still a ranked carving knife!"
Chu Qing was not sure either. He said:
"I don't know."
"Let's try it and see. Nobody can use it anyway."
Xu Jiujiu felt that Chu Qing was a little unreliable.
"I shouldn't have trusted you so much."
Chu Qing did not know necromancy, so he could only try using brute force to destroy these Evil Soul Masters' curse.
"Step back. Let me try putting more power into it."
When the terrifying thunder erupted, a scream rang out from inside the Spirit-Devouring Carving Knife.
"It seems to be working!"
Xu Jiujiu watched in amazement.
Before long, a terrifying ghostly figure rose from the Spirit-Devouring Carving Knife like black smoke and dissipated amid screams.
Within the Sky Azure Annihilation Thunder, the Spirit Devouring Fierce Blade gradually began to radiate a green light brimming with the breath of life.
It worked!
Chu Qing kept striking it for a little longer, only stopping when the entire carving knife had turned a vivid green.
Xu Jiujiu stepped forward and looked at the carving knife, speaking in disbelief:
"So it was my own knowledge that was lacking."
Chu Qing was also very pleased as he looked at the carving knife.
The carving knife's core material was Gold of Life, which could heal wounds, strengthen the Sea of Consciousness, and absorb the primordial power of heaven and earth.
It was unquestionably a treasure. Whether for strengthening his spiritual power or for healing, it was something he needed.
"Now this Spirit-Devouring Carving Knife should be called the Blade of Life's Watch."
Feeling the rich breath of life it gave off, Xu Jiujiu could not help saying:
"I admit I regret giving it to you."
"Do you know what it does?"
Chu Qing said:
"What I read was only a fragment. It should have something to do with life force, but I'll have to study it slowly to find out the details."
Xu Jiujiu sighed.
"Alas!"
"Put it away quickly, or I'll want to snatch it back."
Chu Qing put it in the Spirit Rhinoceros Ring for the time being.
Only after Xu Jiujiu had left did he take it out and resume studying it.
"How do I get it into my Sea of Spirit?"
He activated his external finger bone, and spider silk formed at his fingertips from a mixture of Soul Power and spiritual power, wrapping around the Blade of Life's Watch.
The moment they made contact, his hand trembled involuntarily.
"Whoa! You're pretty crafty!"
"You actually came and took the Gold of Life this quickly."
The Will of the Plane wrote using his hand.