LGHTNOVELBOOK Chapter 137: [DD2]: 136
"Ah, so this is the infamous Soul-Devouring Knife."
Upon seeing the final auction item, Meng Hongchen exclaimed in surprise. This blade originated from the Sun Moon Empire, and Meng Hongchen had naturally heard of its dark legend. It was said to have been crafted by a ninth-tier soul engineer who was also an evil soul master. After the soul master's death, the Soul-Devouring Knife fell into the outside world. It had passed through the hands of 37 owners, all of whom, without exception, met tragic ends. This made the blade notorious, its fearsome reputation overshadowing its quality. Originally ranked among the top 30 engraving knives, its infamy had caused it to plummet to 99th place, ranking near the bottom of the list. Its terrifying reputation had made it a pariah.
At first, the blade appeared at top-tier auctions, but after multiple failed attempts to sell it, it gradually found its way to smaller auctions like this one. Even here, it had failed to sell on more than one occasion. After Qing Ya introduced the blade, the room fell into silence. No one dared risk their lives for such an item. As for those who might feel lucky? The fate of the previous 37 owners was a clear warning against wishful thinking.
Seeing the silent auction house, Qing Ya sighed quietly. It seemed the blade would fail to sell once again. Su Yu, hands crossed, was lost in thought as waves of emotion churned in his mind.
["My goodness, such terrifying evil energy! Boss, don't touch that thing; it's far too dangerous."]
The voice unmistakably belonged to Skydream Ice Silkworm, who cowered before the blade's malevolence.
["Is this... the Life Giold" ]
Electrolux's figure appeared, his voice trembling with excitement.
["Su Yu, you must acquire this blade. This knife, made of Life Gold, is extraordinary. It will greatly aid you—and me as well. With this blade, my divine sense will no longer face the risk of annihilation." ]
Electrolux was effusive in his praise for the Life Gold.
["I estimate that with this engraving knife, you'll transform, allowing you to practice my necromantic magic. I can then truly become your martial soul. Given your steady temperament, I trust you to use necromantic magic wisely."]
Su Yu's behavior along the way had earned Electrolux's approval. Su Yu might not be a saint, but he had principles. At the very least, he hadn't committed any heinous acts. Moreover, his mature and composed demeanor made him unlikely to act impulsively or take extreme paths. In Electrolux's eyes, Su Yu was an ideal successor.
"Thank you, Senior Yi," Su Yu said with a slight smile, feeling a bit pleased. It seemed Electrolux didn't subject him to the same tests he gave Huo Yuhao in the original story. But that was understandable; Huo Yuhao's flawed personality and tendency toward extremism made him easily influenced. Having experienced hatred himself, Electrolux understood its dangers, so his scrutiny of Huo Yuhao was reasonable. As for Su Yu, he wasn't a saint, but that hardly mattered to Electrolux. After all, was Electrolux himself a saint? His undead armies had swept through countless nations—what right did he have to judge? Given that Electrolux had accepted Huo Yuhao as a disciple, how could he possibly reject Su Yu? In every aspect, Su Yu surpassed Huo Yuhao. At least Su Yu admitted his flaws openly, without feigning sincerity or resorting to cheating in competitions.
With a slight movement of his mind, Su Yu raised his paddle just as Qing Ya was about to give up on the blade. "
100,000 gold soul coins!"
The starting bid for the Soul-Devouring Knife was 100,000 gold soul coins, and Su Yu offered it outright. Qing Ya's eyes lit up as she looked in Su Yu's direction.
"Ah, wonderful! VIP No. 123 has bid 100,000 gold soul coins. Do I hear a higher offer?"
Hope rekindled in Qing Ya's heart. After all, if one person bid, there might be a second. But reality proved otherwise.
Wang Yan initially considered bidding, but after Cai Tou explained the blade's dark history, he decided against it. He was using Shrek Academy's credit, and purchasing such an ominous item with academy funds would be difficult to justify. As the silence persisted, Qing Ya felt a twinge of disappointment. She reluctantly began the countdown.
"100,000 gold soul coins, going once. 100,000 gold soul coins, going twice. 100,000 gold soul coins, sold!"
With the final tap of the gavel, the Life Gold was his.
Su Yu's teammates from the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineer Academy's preparatory team were shocked that he had purchased the cursed blade. Meng Hongchen was particularly distressed, tears welling in her eyes. When Su Yu placed his bid, Meng Hongchen had been stunned and tried to stop him, but he ignored her. Now that the transaction was complete, she could no longer hold back.
"Yu, why did you buy this cursed blade? It's too dangerous—it will harm you."
"If you wanted a listed engraving knife, you could have told me. I'd have found a way to get one for you. Why risk your life for this?"
Meng Hongchen's beautiful eyes brimmed with tears, clearly worried for Su Yu. Her usually gentle and obedient demeanor gave way to firm resolve, demonstrating her deep care for him.
"Don't worry, Meng'er. I have my methods. I won't be affected by the blade's malevolence. I can neutralize its evil energy. Even if I can't, it poses no threat to me. Don't you trust me? I wouldn't take unnecessary risks."
Su Yu held Meng Hongchen gently, comforting her. His Supreme Divine Art was righteous and grand, a natural bane to evil. Its characteristics alone could neutralize the blade's malice. Additionally, with the Dragon God's power, Ultimate Ice, and his immense spiritual energy as protection, the Soul-Devouring Knife posed no threat to him. Even without Electrolux, Su Yu could slowly purge the blade's evil aura. And with Electrolux's support, it was laughable to think that the cursed blade could harm him.
"Really? Are you sure there's no danger?"
Meng Hongchen asked, still doubtful.
"Of course. I want to spend my life with you. Why would I take pointless risks?"
Su Yu replied gently. The words left Meng Hongchen feeling sweet and utterly captivated. Such a direct confession of affection was something this pure-hearted girl had no defense against. In no time, Su Yu had won her over completely.
On the other side, Wang Dong'er, who had initially been worried about Su Yu, now found himself overwhelmed by the lovey-dovey atmosphere.
Here I am worrying about you, and this is how you treat me?
Wang Dong'er felt utterly discontent. She snorted softly and turned her head away.
Hmph, Young Master Wang Dong doesn't care anymore!
"Let's go settle the bill and pick up the items," Su Yu said casually. This auction primarily focused on soul tools, so most members of the Sun and Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy's preparatory team hadn't made any purchases. They were there more for the experience. Only Su Yu and Wang Dong'er had participated in the bidding.
After settling the payment backstage, Su Yu and Wang Dong'er collected their items. The Soul-Devouring Knife now belonged to Su Yu. With his goal achieved, Su Yu and his companions retraced their steps back to their lodging. On their way, they crossed paths with the Shrek team. The two groups exchanged icy glares but refrained from any confrontation before going their separate ways.
...
Back at the hotel, Su Yu didn't rush to deal with the cursed blade. Since he already had it in hand, there was no urgency. Moreover, cleansing the blade of its malevolent energy might create a spectacle. He decided to handle it discreetly later. That night, he followed his usual routine of meditation and cultivation.
By midnight, he had broken through to Level 47 Soul Ancestor, further enhancing his strength.
...
After the conclusion of the first round of the round-robin tournament, the second round began without delay. Su Yu chose not to participate this time, giving the stage to others, particularly Yang Xu, Zhou Qin, Guan Bo, and Wang Dong'er. These four stepped up in nearly every match, with occasional support from Xiao Hongchen, Chen An, Lin Xi, and Chen Fei to secure their victories.
Despite the mixed lineup of official and preparatory members, the Sun and Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy team performed brilliantly, achieving near-perfect results. For Wang Dong'er and the others, it was an invaluable learning experience. Today's match featured the Sun and Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy team versus the Purple Cloud Advanced Soul Master Academy team from the Dou Ling Empire. The chosen format was a solo elimination battle.
First up was Wang Dong'er. Notably, Wang Dong'er had recently advanced to Level 35 Soul Elder, thanks in part to the support of her 50,000-year Golden Earth Dragon King Soul Bone. Her cultivation speed had been astonishing. At this rate, within a year, she could likely catch up to Dai Huabin, who currently stood out as a Level 38 Soul Master and the most outstanding of Shrek Academy's second-year students. However, Dai Huabin's glory seemed dim in comparison to Wang Dong'er's potential. Not only was Wang Dong'er's talent superior, but her arsenal also included the Clear Sky Hammer, his second martial soul.
In a one-on-one match, Dai Huabin would undoubtedly be outmatched. Wang Dong'er's performance was exceptional, taking down two Soul Ancestors from the opposing team. Her mastery of integrating soul tools with her martial soul allowed her to surprise her enemies and claim victory. In the viewing area, Wang Yan's brows furrowed deeply. He realized that Wang Dong'er's talent was even greater than he had anticipated. Wang Dong'er's strength could easily rival, if not surpass, the best of Shrek's current lineup, including Jiang Nannan and He Caitou.
But just as Wang Yan was digesting this revelation, something happened in the arena that shattered his worldview. In her third match, Wang Dong'er faced another Soul Ancestor However, due to her dwindling soul power, she was pushed into a desperate situation. With no opportunity to recharge using a soul tool, Wang Dong'er was forced to reveal her trump card: the Clear Sky Hammer. The moment the hammer appeared, the entire venue fell silent. Recognizing the legendary weapon, those with even a shred of knowledge about martial souls were astounded.
"Is that... the Clear Sky Hammer?"
Wang Yan's eyes widened in disbelief. Wang Dong'er was not only a twin martial soul master but also from the Clear Sky Clan? What was the Clear Sky Clan doing in the Sun and Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy? This couldn't be real. Wang Yan's mind raced, struggling to make sense of the situation. The Clear Sky Clan, known for their proud heritage, should have sent their disciples to Shrek Academy, not the Sun and Moon Empire. The implications of this were earth-shattering. Could it mean that the Clear Sky Clan was now supporting the Sun and Moon Empire? The more Wang Yan thought about it, the more his world seemed to crumble.
Meanwhile, others in the venue were similarly stunned. Even the Star Luo Emperor, present in the audience, was left utterly speechless. Was that the Clear Sky Hammer?