Chapter 87 Acquiring the Soul-Devouring Carving Knife.
"The Soul-Devouring Carving Knife, starting bid 100,000 gold soul coins, minimum increment 5,000 gold soul coins. Distinguished guests, you may begin bidding." Qingya said with a smile. In reality, she wasn't excited at all. Based on her nearly ten years of experience as an auctioneer, she could tell from the reactions below that this Soul-Devouring Carving Knife was likely to fail to sell.
So be it. Qingya hadn't placed much hope on this carving knife anyway.
Huo Yuhao was about to raise his paddle to bid when Wu Xuan raised his paddle first and shouted, "100,000 gold soul coins!"
Qingya was stunned. This was the first time anyone had bid on the Soul-Devouring Carving Knife since it appeared at the Starlight Auction House! After a brief moment of surprise, she was filled with joy.
One percent commission was a thousand gold soul coins! Even if she spent it lavishly, it would last for several years. She was usually lucky to earn a few dozen to a hundred gold soul coins per auction. After all, she was only a Purple-level auctioneer. "Being able to bid on the Soul-Devouring Blade might just get me promoted to Black Rank and allow me to preside over a higher-level auction."
For a moment, Qingya was so overjoyed that she forgot to respond.
Huo Yuhao, standing beside her, looked at Wu Xuan in shock, wondering why he had suddenly made a bid.
"Ah! Okay, VIP number 329 bids 100,000 gold soul coins. Is there any other VIP who will bid?" Qingya finally snapped out of her daze and quickly responded.
Hearing Wu Xuan's bid, Wang Yan and the others also looked at him in surprise.
"Wu Xuan! You're not a Soul Master, why are you buying a carving knife! Especially since this carving knife is so sinister," Xiao Xiao asked with some concern.
"Don't ask, your brother Xuan has his own plans!" Wu Xuan rubbed Xiao Xiao's head, then looked at Wang Yan and said, "Teacher Wang, buying this carving knife is my personal decision, I won't use the school's public funds. Besides, I'm confident I can resolve the issues with the carving knife."
Wang Yan pondered for a moment, then finally nodded. He understood Wu Xuan's personality; if he said it was no problem, he must be confident.
Huo Yuhao, standing to the side, looked conflicted. His newly apprenticed teacher in his spiritual sea had already revealed the true nature of the Soul-Devouring Carving Knife. At that moment, Huo Yuhao's eyes were incredibly determined; he couldn't let go of such a treasure, even if it was Wu Xuan. As long as it was paid through the public funds, he still had a chance.
But upon hearing that Wu Xuan wouldn't use the public funds, Huo Yuhao's face immediately turned ashen. He simply didn't have the money to compete with Wu Xuan.
In the end, no one bid, and Wu Xuan bought the Soul-Devouring Carving Knife for 100,000 gold soul coins.
The auction ended. The Shrek Academy students had reaped considerable rewards from tonight's auction, but they had also spent a lot of money. Wu Xuan followed Wang Yan to handle the payment and item collection. The others went back first.
After this transaction, their levels at the Starlight Auction House rose directly from the initial white level to the purple level, but it was completely useless to Wu Xuan.
"Sir, this way please."
In the auction house's corridor, a waiter led Wu Xuan and Wang Yan towards the reception room.
The Starlight Auction House did a very good job in protecting customer privacy.
"Sir, this is the Soul-Devouring Carving Knife you won. Please inspect it."
"Hmm."
Wu Xuan responded softly and walked forward.
On a specially made table, a carving knife with ancient patterns and exuding a sinister aura lay quietly.
"Hmm! The carving knife is fine." Wu Xuan nodded lightly, then handed ten gold cards to the waiter.
A standard gold card usually contains 10,000 gold soul coins.
"Thank you, sir." The waiter took the gold cards, thanked him, and left the reception room.
Wu Xuan nodded, then stored the Soul-Devouring Carving Knife into his soul tool. In an instant, his expression changed. It seemed this level-three storage soul tool wouldn't last long; he'd have to deal with it as soon as possible after the match tomorrow.
"..."
Star Luo Square.
Early in the morning, everyone from Shrek Academy was already up. Today would be their second match in the round-robin stage of the All-Continent Advanced Soul Master Academy Tournament.
Dai Yueheng, Ma Xiaotao, Chen Zifeng, and Ling Luochen were still healing. It would take at least two more days for Chen Zifeng and Ling Luochen to fully recover, so today's match would be played by the reserve team.
Their opponents had already been determined, but the match format would be drawn on-site.
Star Luo Square was as lively as ever, especially when the Shrek Academy team appeared in the player passage guarded by soldiers; the entire arena erupted in cheers.
Shrek Academy's two previous matches had left a deep impression on the audience. Everyone wanted to see what surprises Shrek Academy would bring them today.
Wang Yan had already introduced their opponents for the day at breakfast. This time, they would be facing a team from the Douling Empire called Qianling Advanced Soul Master Academy. Ranked among the top three in the Douling Empire, this team's strength was undeniable.
"Wu Xuan! That Soul-Devouring Carving Knife you bought last night is really dangerous. The evil spirit hidden inside is not something an ordinary person can handle," Huo Yuhao in the rest area earnestly belittled the Soul-Devouring Carving Knife Wu Xuan had bought the night before.
"I don't know how dangerous it is, but I want to try and deal with that evil spirit myself. If I really can't, then we'll see," Wu Xuan shook his head.
"If you can't handle it, you can sell it to me! I'm confident I can lift the curse," Huo Yuhao quickly agreed when Wu Xuan relented.
"Do you have money? I bought it for 100,000 gold soul coins!" Wu Xuan glanced at Huo Yuhao, who was asking for the carving knife.
"Uh, I helped you deal with the evil spirit you couldn't handle, and you still want money from me?" Huo Yuhao stared blankly at the composed Wu Xuan.
"Otherwise what? Give it to you for free? And where do you get the confidence that I can't deal with the evil spirit on that carving knife?" Wu Xuan scoffed and retorted.
Huo Yuhao's face darkened upon hearing this, and he didn't reply. Wu Xuan was too lazy to guess what the other was thinking.
They were both from the White Tiger Duke's Mansion. Damn White Tiger Duke, why was I born into such a family? With my status, even if I had great talent, how could I be taken seriously by people like Wu Xuan? "Little guy, you're getting stubborn again." In Huo Yuhao's spiritual sea, Ilex sighed and once again intervened to resolve his extreme emotions.
If it weren't for the immortal-grade herb this little guy obtained, how could his fragmented soul have awakened so quickly? Although he had no intention of doing so, he had ultimately received this favor and should guide his growth.
But this little guy's personality was too prone to extremes. A few words from someone his age could make him lose control of his temper. Was this kind of personality suitable for inheriting his necromancy?
The sun was high in the sky, and the competition time had arrived. His Majesty the Emperor of the Star Luo Empire had once again arrived at the city walls to watch the battle. Undoubtedly, his primary focus was on Shrek Academy's performance.
On the arena, the referee walked to the center and announced loudly through a megaphone, "Both sides enter the waiting area. The captains of both sides will draw lots."
Wang Yan nodded to Wu Xuan, who, understanding, strode onto the arena.
From the Thousand Spirits Academy side, a male student, appearing to be around twenty years old, tall and slender with a cold, hard expression, came up. He looked like a javelin.
The draw began!
Everyone was watching the outcome of the draw. Regardless of the format, a match involving Shrek Academy would undoubtedly be incredibly exciting.
"Shrek Academy vs. Thousand Spirits Academy, team battle," the referee announced loudly.
Upon hearing the result, Wang Yan breathed a sigh of relief.
Team battles are undoubtedly the most intense and comprehensive competition, testing the overall strength of both sides. Both captains expressed no objection to the team battle.
The referee announced in a deep voice, "Both teams, step onto the field."
In the waiting area, Wu Xuan, Bei Bei, Xu Sanshi, Jiang Nannan, Xiao Xiao, Huo Yuhao, and Wang Dong almost simultaneously rose and headed towards the arena.
This morning, Wang Yan had focused primarily on team battles. The tactical arrangements were complete.
On Shrek Academy's side, Wu Xuan, Bei Bei, and Xu Sanshi stood prominently at the front. Behind them were Jiang Nannan and Xiao Xiao. At the very back were Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong.
On Qianling Academy's side, the front wasn't their captain, but four people. Four people! All four were tall male students, standing there like a wall.
Behind them was their captain. Behind the captain were two girls.
These two girls were easily identifiable, one with red hair and the other with blue hair, quite striking.
Recalling the special formation of Qianling Advanced Soul Master Academy that Wang Yan had mentioned to them that morning, which he summarized in one sentence: "Four shields combined to form an impregnable fortress, ice and fire dual control of a thousand-strike spear."
The four tall members at the front are named Yang Ming, Song Hu, Bai Chen, and Ye Mao. According to Wang Yan's deduction, these four members are from the same sect, as their martial souls are identical: the defensive Spirit Shield, a mid-to-high-grade defensive martial soul.
The captain of the Thousand Spirits Academy, as cold and hard as a javelin, is named Shen Ce. He is the true core and main attacker of their team, wielding the Thousand Strike Spear martial soul, proficient in both close and long-range attacks.
The last two girls are An Lengye, with blue hair and the Frost Bear martial soul, and Fei Yuyan, with the Blazing Tiger martial soul. Both follow a control-oriented path, making them a dual-control team of ice and fire.
This is the strongest lineup that Thousand Spirits Academy can field.
Read 50+ Advanced Chapters At Pat Reon
[email protected]/FicToric
(End of Chapter)