Chapter 69 Soul Guidance Auction Soul Devouring Carving KnifeOn the auction stage, the beautiful auctioneer named Qing Ya smiled sweetly, her voice, amplified by a special spirit tool, clearly reverberating throughout the entire auction hall. "Welcome, esteemed guests, to the Starlight Auction House. I am today's auctioneer, Qing Ya. Our auction will begin shortly, please take your seats."Her melodious voice seemed to carry a magical quality; the previously somewhat noisy auction hall quickly quieted down, and everyone's gaze focused on the brightly lit display stand.The auction officially began.Auctioneer Qing Ya smiled and said, "Please look, everyone. Our first item today is a Rank 3 offensive spirit tool. Although it's just a relatively common spirit tool ray, I'm sure you can guess that if it were just an ordinary spirit tool, it wouldn't appear at our auction. This is actually a special work from a Rank 6 Soul Engineer. The Grandmaster who made it used an extremely unique method, simplifying the complex, and added a special effect to the internal core formation, making this spirit tool ray capable of paralysis. Therefore, its true name should be the spirit tool Paralysis Ray. Anyone hit by it will be paralyzed if their spirit power is below that of a Spirit King. The degree of effect and duration of paralysis are both related to the Spirit Master's own cultivation."Listening to this introduction, it was indeed a good spirit tool, but Dai Youheng didn't need it. His current attack power far surpassed this spirit tool Paralysis Ray.Ling Ya, however, bid for and acquired this item.Before coming, Dai Youheng had given Ling Ya a large sum of money because there were some things Dai Youheng didn't intend to buy himself, but rather wanted to acquire through Ling Ya's bid and then have him transfer them. Besides that, if there were any less expensive items Ling Ya needed, he could buy them himself.This Rank 3 spirit tool was clearly one such item, costing only a few thousand gold coins. Youheng still had three million, so it was negligible.Youheng also knew Ling Ya's intention in buying this item.A Rank 3 spirit tool itself wasn't much to him, but the core formation within it had been re-engraved by a Rank 6 Soul Engineer, giving it some reference value.The second auction item was a charging spirit tool, called a 'milk bottle,' which could quickly replenish a Spirit Master's spirit power. A Rank 1 milk bottle could replenish a Spirit Master's spirit power; by analogy, a Rank 2 corresponded to a Spirit Grandmaster, and a Rank 3 corresponded to a Spirit Elder.Currently, the highest-grade milk bottle that had appeared in Star Luo was a Rank 7 spirit tool, which had sold for a high price of seven million at the Starlight Auction House.This time, it was a Rank 4, purchased by Zhou Yi for twenty-five thousand gold coins.Soon, the third round of auction items was carefully presented by the etiquette lady. When the red cloth covering it was lifted, Dai Youheng's gaze instantly fixated; that was his target.It was an ancient-looking engraving knife, about half a foot long, entirely a dull cyan color, with subtle patterns faintly spread across it. The blade didn't appear particularly sharp; instead, it had a deep, restrained feel.It was not a spirit tool, but since it appeared in this spirit tool-specific auction, its purpose was self-evident: this was the most important tool for a Soul Engineer when making spirit tools—an engraving knife!Auctioneer Qing Ya smiled and introduced, "Esteemed guests, this engraving knife before you is no ordinary item. On the Soul Engineer world's recognized 'Ranked Engraving Knife' list, it ranks ninety-ninth!"A slight commotion immediately rippled through the audience.A Ranked Engraving Knife—that was a treasure all Soul Engineers dreamed of! Only the top one hundred engraving knives on the entire continent could make the list, and over two-thirds of them were in the Sun Moon Empire!Qing Ya's tone shifted, taking on a hint of mystery and caution. "But please don't get excited yet. The inherent quality of this knife would actually be enough to place it among the top thirty. The reason it ranks ninety-ninth is primarily because... this is a cursed engraving knife, known as the 'Ominous Blade,' and its name is Spirit Devourer!""The spirit devourer engraving knife first appeared three thousand years ago. Its creator was an astonishingly talented Ninth-Rank Soul Engineer from the Sun Moon Empire, and also an extremely terrifying Evil Soul Master who had caused countless bloody storms three thousand years ago."Upon hearing the words "Evil Soul Master," many people in the audience grew solemn, the fervor in their eyes quickly fading.Qing Ya continued, her voice heavy with a hint of gravity. "According to historical records found by our Starlight Auction House, thirty-seven Spirit Masters have owned this ominous blade. And these thirty-seven people, without exception, all met tragic deaths! Nine of them, influenced by it, eventually fell and became Evil Soul Masters!""Legend has it that this engraving knife contains a trace of the evil creator's undying resentment and will, which subtly influences the holder's mind, leading them to evil. Therefore, the only thing we can guarantee is that as long as spirit power is not injected into it, it will not actively backlash. We suggest that if there are collectors who enjoy collecting engraving knives, using it as a historical and legendary collectible is an excellent choice. The spirit devourer engraving knife, starting bid, one hundred thousand gold coins!"After this introduction, almost everyone in the audience who had harbored some thoughts gave up. A Ranked Engraving Knife was good, but one needed to be alive to use it! Spend a fortune to buy a collectible that couldn't be used and might bring disaster?Unless one had too much money to spend or was a truly insane collector, who would be such a fool?Seeing the cold atmosphere, and with the item seemingly about to go unsold, a low, calm voice suddenly echoed from the back of the hall. "One hundred thousand gold coins."The bidder was Ling Ya. Dai Youheng had already instructed him that other items could be decided based on circumstances, but this spirit devourer engraving knife had to be acquired at all costs!At the same time, in the Shrek Academy's private box, within Huo Yuhao's body, the remnant soul of the mysterious gray light orb, Electrolux, urged excitedly, "Yuhao, you must acquire that engraving knife! It will be of immense benefit to this old man's recovery of soul power and to your opening of a second spiritual sea. You must get it, no matter what!"Huo Yuhao was startled. Something that could make Elder Yi so agitated was certainly no ordinary item. He immediately looked at his companions, quickly borrowed some money in a low voice, just enough to make a bid, and hastily raised his paddle, shouting, "One hundred and eleven thousand gold coins!"No sooner had he spoken than the same low voice from before, with almost no pause, rang out again, its tone completely unruffled. "Two hundred thousand gold coins."An immediate increase of ninety thousand! Huo Yuhao's face instantly turned somewhat grim. What was wrong with this person? Was an ominous, cursed blade really so crucial to him? Could it be that besides Elder Yi, someone else knew the true hidden value of this engraving knife?"Yuhao, forget it," Zhou Yi whispered beside him, trying to dissuade him. "A Ranked Engraving Knife that can't be used—this price already far exceeds its value. Our funds are limited; it would be better to save them for more practical spirit tools."
