Watching the expressions on Xu Zihuang and the others' faces, the fat shopkeeper began to feel uneasy. But in the face of profit, taking some risks was bearable.
"An engraving knife is essential for every soul engineer. A good knife is crucial for achieving the heights of a high-level soul engineer. Young Master must have heard of the term 'Ranked Engraving Knife,' right? It refers to those that can make it onto the engraving knife ranking list."
"On the Douluo Continent's engraving knife ranking, only the top one hundred are recorded. The knife on this tray is one of those, a Ranked Engraving Knife. I acquired it by chance not long ago. I had planned to send it to the Moon Pivot Auction House later, but I didn't expect you, Young Master, to take interest in it."
"If you truly want it, just give me two hundred thousand gold soul coins. Consider it the price of friendship."
Meng Lang and the others behind Xu Zihuang exchanged glances and all turned sharp eyes toward the knife in the tray.
If it really was a Ranked Engraving Knife, then two hundred thousand gold soul coins was absolutely cheap—pitifully cheap, even.
"Two hundred thousand gold soul coins?" Xu Zihuang's lips curved in a faintly mocking smile. But his next words made the fat shopkeeper's heart skip a beat.
"Ranked Engraving Knife, number ninety-nine: the Soul-Devouring Engraving Knife. Three thousand years ago, it appeared in the Sun Moon Empire. Its creator was an astonishingly talented soul engineer, who later became a rank-nine soul engineer. But this rank-nine soul engineer was also a soul master—an evil soul master, and a terrifying one at that. Three thousand years ago, he brought a reign of blood to the continent."
At this, the gazes of Meng Lang and the others instantly turned ice cold.
Such a heart deserved death.
Xu Zihuang's smile did not fade as his eyes shifted to the Soul-Devouring Engraving Knife in the tray. He continued:
"That knife was crafted by that evil soul master in his later years. Not long after making it, he encountered his lifelong nemesis. That generation's genius—yet scourge—perished. At his death, he did not keep the knife by his side. Over time, it fell into the hands of common folk. Every one of its later owners, as far as I know, died miserably, none meeting a good end."
"Am I wrong?"
When Xu Zihuang was a child, he had read illustrations and records of the Ranked Engraving Knives, and had even personally handled several of them. The dark violet dragon-patterned engraving knife he had used earlier was one such example: the Purple-Patterned Sovereign Dragon, ranked third among Ranked Engraving Knives. It was passed down in the Sun Moon royal family, usable only by those with the Purple Sovereign Extinguishing Heavenly Dragon martial soul. Wang Xiao had deliberately taken it with him while fleeing Xu Tiannan and his son, and had recently entrusted it to Xu Zihuang.
Cold sweat poured down the fat shopkeeper's forehead; he dared not meet Xu Zihuang's gaze. At that moment, sudden applause broke out behind Xu Zihuang.
"As expected, a hero arises young. This young brother is not old, but his knowledge is impressive."
A blond youth in luxurious white-gold robes walked over, clapping warmly. The golden star patterns on his chest gleamed under the glass lamps overhead.
"I am Xigu, an executive of the Starlight Auction House of the Star Luo Empire. We arrived at Moon Pivot Island on the same merchant ship. Does young brother recall me?"
Xu Zihuang inclined his head slightly but didn't play along, replying calmly, "Does Executive Xi have advice for me?"
"Advice? Hardly." Xigu narrowed his eyes slightly, surprise flickering in their depths. But he also had strong interest in the Soul-Devouring Knife, and naturally could not give up so easily.
"Since young brother knows this knife's origin, you surely won't be duped into paying that price. In that case…" He turned confidently to the fat shopkeeper. "One hundred thousand gold soul coins. I'll take it. How about it?"
Before the shopkeeper could respond, Xu Zihuang cut him off bluntly.
"Sorry, but I actually like being the fool here."
"Young brother, could you give my Starlight Auction House some face?" Xigu's expression shifted as he glanced at the formidable Meng Lang and the others behind Xu Zihuang, forcibly suppressing his displeasure.
But Xu Zihuang only withdrew his gaze and directly stored the Soul-Devouring Engraving Knife into the storage ring on his left index finger.
"Why should I give face to a Star Luo Empire auction house, here on our Sun Moon Empire's land?"
Never mind that he already had little fondness for the Star Luo Empire. Just knowing the value of this knife was reason enough.
After all, it was forged entirely of Gold of Life.
"You—!"
Xigu struggled to contain himself. He opened his mouth but finally said nothing, suppressing his anger as he flicked his sleeve and left.
He could clearly sense that among Xu Zihuang's guards, at least four had soul power equal to his own. To act rashly would only bring loss. And for Xu Zihuang to command such powerful protectors, his status was evident.
In short, he had backed down. After all, this was not the Star Luo Empire. No matter how great the Starlight Auction House's backing, they could not extend their reach into the Sun Moon Empire's Yuenan Archipelago.
"Young Master…" The fat shopkeeper looked at Xu Zihuang pitifully, cursing himself inwardly for being blinded by greed.
Without even glancing at him, Xu Zihuang's storage ring flashed, and a white jade token shaped like a crescent moon appeared in his hand.
"Go to the City Lord's Mansion later to collect your money."
With that, Xu Zihuang left the shop with his group, leaving the fat shopkeeper with a bitter face.
Collect money? Collect his ass!
The City Lord of Moon Pivot City governed the entire island, and his reputation for fairness was well known. But the shopkeeper had clearly tried to swindle Xu Zihuang earlier. Now, not even with ten times his courage would he dare go demand payment at the City Lord's Mansion.
With that City Lord's Token in Xu Zihuang's hand, his connection to the city lord was obvious.
Meanwhile, Xu Zihuang continued toward the city center. Even with his composure, he felt stirred inside. He hadn't expected to find here in Moon Pivot City the very Soul-Devouring Knife that in the original story had appeared in the Starlight Auction House of the Star Luo Empire.
The evil soul master's soul and curse within the knife would have no effect on him. His second martial soul, the Purple Sovereign Thunder Prison Dragon, with its Ultimate Lightning and Destruction attributes, innately restrained such things.
With this piece of Gold of Life, perhaps he could begin attempting the second awakening of his Body Martial Soul.
Although the Body Sect claimed to hold secret methods for second awakenings, he knew well the true key: repeatedly facing the brink of life and death, forcing out one's full potential.
"Young Master, should I go kill that fat man and Xigu?" The short-haired youth with green hair who had followed silently behind suddenly spoke.
Xu Zihuang glanced sideways at him and admonished earnestly:
"Qingmu, don't be too hot-blooded. You carry too much killing intent—you must change that."
At these words, everyone's expressions turned odd. Especially Meng Lang, who couldn't help but complain inwardly—
For those words to come from their Young Master… wasn't that a little inappropriate?