Chapter Sixty-One: The Soul-Devouring Engraving Knife

Muyang sent the remaining members of Yunluo Academy's team off the stage with his cannon-like soul skill, leaving a deep impression on everyone. Was this soul skill truly without weakness?

In truth, Muyang’s second soul skill, Insensibility, could be broken, though the methods were exceedingly difficult. First, one could move faster than Muyang’s dynamic vision. Second, if Muyang ran out of soul power, he naturally couldn’t mark anyone. Third, using a clone or avatar to confuse Muyang and hide the real body. Fourth, removing the mark through special means. Fifth, possessing strength beyond the upper limit of Muyang’s marking ability.

These were the only ways Muyang could think of to counter his own soul skill. Of course, these were just his own deductions; perhaps others had guessed at some of these as well, but there weren’t too many ways.

…

A day had passed since the end of the first round of competition. Tomorrow would bring the start of the second round of the round robin matches. Yet after dinner, Wang Yan led the seven members of the reserve team out of the Star Sovereign Grand Hotel.

Wang Yan smiled slightly and said, “I’m taking you somewhere. Just follow me. Lately, we’ve been under constant tension, switching between surveillance duties and matches. That’s not sustainable. I’m taking you out to relax a bit; it’ll be good for your upcoming matches.”

…

Wang Yan brought them to the Xingluo Auction House. After donning their masks, Muyang and the others took their seats in the auction hall.

At this moment, the auctioneer in the purple dress was already standing behind the podium, her gentle voice echoing softly in Hall Twelve, thanks to the amplifier soul device.

“Good evening, honored guests. I am Qingya, a Purple-level auctioneer from Starlight Auction House. I will be your host for tonight’s auction.”

Smiling, Qingya continued, “Tonight’s auction is dedicated to soul devices. All the lots are soul devices of grade six or lower, suitable for Soul Kings and those below, both soul masters and soul engineers. And to ensure that none of our esteemed guests leave disappointed, we have a mysterious grand finale. Please don’t miss it! Let’s begin—staff, please bring out the first item for tonight.”

Huo Yuhao, not only a soul engineer but also gifted with extraordinary Spirit Eyes, observed the patterns on stage and murmured quietly, “That’s likely an attack-type soul device for the arm, around grade three. Wang Dong could have used it.”

However, after Qingya’s introduction, the value of this grade three soul device seemed to rise. Wang Yan bought it for 2,500 gold soul coins.

The second item was a milk bottle, purchased by Wang Yan for 25,000 gold soul coins.

The third lot was covered with a red cloth, but Muyang felt a strong attraction from it to his own martial soul.

On stage, Qingya began her introduction. “I’m sure everyone is curious about our mysterious grand prize. It’s getting late, so I won’t keep you in suspense. For soul engineers, this item is the most ordinary yet utterly indispensable companion—one that every soul engineer must have. Yet, tonight’s final item is wholly different. It is not a soul device, which is why it ordinarily wouldn’t appear here, but its connection to soul engineers is intimate. Before I unveil it, let me add: its value and rarity are such that it could grace the top auction of Starlight Auction House. Please, take a look.”

The moment the cloth was lifted, all eyes were drawn to the stage. There was no dazzling radiance or breathtaking splendor, only an object so commonplace that every soul engineer would recognize and require it.

A carving knife. Yes, a soul engineer’s carving knife, used for etching core arrays. Each end served a different purpose for various arrays. No soul engineer could do without such a knife; it was essential for crafting soul devices.

Indeed, this was the Soul-Eater Carving Knife. After Qingya’s introduction, many attendees hesitated.

“The Soul-Eater Carving Knife, starting bid: 100,000 gold soul coins, with minimum increments of 5,000,” Qingya announced with a smile. Yet inwardly, she wasn’t excited at all. With nearly a decade of experience as an auctioneer, she could tell from the lack of reaction below that this fearsome knife was likely to go unsold.

Muyang immediately turned to Wang Yan. “Teacher, please bid for that item on my behalf. It’s very important to me.”

Huo Yuhao also spoke up. “Teacher, this carving knife would be invaluable to me as well.”

Wang Yan was taken aback, glancing from Muyang to Huo Yuhao in confusion, but he still placed a bid.

“One hundred thousand gold soul coins!”

Qingya froze for a moment—this was the first bid on the Soul-Eater Carving Knife at Starlight Auction House. Surprise quickly gave way to delight; a one percent commission meant a thousand gold soul coins for her, enough to last years in extravagance. Normally, earning a few dozen to a hundred per auction was a good outcome for a purple-level auctioneer. If this knife sold, she might even be promoted to Black-level and host higher-class auctions in the future.

“Ah! Very well, guest number three hundred forty-three bids one hundred thousand gold soul coins. Any further offers?” Qingya recovered and called out, her hopes rising—where there was one bid, perhaps there would be more, and each increment would add fifty gold soul coins to her own commission.

Despite her repeated inquiries, the hall remained silent. No one wanted to bid on this cursed knife, knowing that placing a bid meant they would likely have to take it.

“One hundred thousand, going once,” Qingya began the final calls.

“One hundred thousand, going twice.”

“One hundred thousand, going three times. Sold!”

Bang—the gavel fell, and the legendary cursed knife was declared sold to Wang Yan.

Afterwards, Wang Yan asked Huo Yuhao and Muyang, “What use is this carving knife to you both? There’s only one; you can’t both use it.”

Huo Yuhao leaned over and whispered, “Teacher Wang, with my spiritual power, I sensed the problem with this Soul-Eater Carving Knife. I have a way to neutralize its drawbacks. Please buy it. If I’m not mistaken, it’s forged from the extraordinarily rare Mysterious Living Gold. With my spiritual power and Ultimate Ice attribute, I can cleanse its lingering curse. There will be no problem.”

“Teacher Wang, my martial soul desires this carving knife. If I can absorb it, my martial soul should undergo a significant enhancement—perhaps even an evolution. That’s why I need it,” Muyang explained.

Hearing that Muyang’s martial soul wanted the Soul-Eater Carving Knife, Wang Yan looked at Huo Yuhao with some difficulty, but in the end handed the knife to Muyang. After all, the martial soul was more important than mere use, and Muyang’s martial soul could greatly aid Shrek in the round robin…

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