Chapter 83.3: The Ranked Carving Knife
âA carving knife is a necessity for a soul engineer. Moreover, a good carving knife is the most important thing that a high-ranking soul engineer can have. Distinguished guests, the carving knife you see in front of you canât be described using the word âsimpleâ alone. Calling it an exceptional carving knife wouldnât be an exaggeration at all. Firstly, let me give a quick explanation. Thereâs a ranking for carving knives within the world of soul engineers, and the top-ranking ones are all in the hands of the best soul engineers in the world. Iâm sure that everyone here has heard of the term âranked carving knifeâ. Itâs a term used to describe carving knives that have reached the leaderboard.â
âOur Douluo Continentâs Carving Knife Leaderboard lists the top hundred carving knives in the world. Regretfully, over two-thirds of those knives belong to the Sun Moon Empire. This is one of the main reasons why there are so many, and so powerful, soul engineers in the Sun Moon Empire. And the item you see before you is one of the hundred carving knives on the Leaderboard. In other words, itâs one of the ranked carving knives that Iâve just spoken about.â
The crowd below the stage immediately flew into an uproar the moment Qing Ya uttered the words âranked carving knifeâ. The previous sighs of dissatisfaction immediately vanished, and He Caitou closed his eyes helplessly.
If Qing Ya hadnât explained everything, he had been planning to keep everything to himself. As one of Fan Yuâs disciples, he had noticed a few abnormalities regarding this carving knife after making a close observation. Moreover, as a soul engineer himself, his desire for a ranked carving knife would never be lacking. There were only two ranked carving knives within Shrek Academy, which respectively belonged to Dean Xian Linâer and Fan Yu.
Right now, a ranked carving knife had just appeared before them. This had an extremely important significance to them, and even Shrek Academy as a whole.
Although Wang Yan didnât know much about carving knives, he was instantly excited after hearing the words âranked carving knifeâ. He understood that this was something that he had to bring back to Shrek Academy no matter what. Even if it had a high price, the academy would still reward him for it. Out of the precious things that the academy was looking for, a ranked carving knife had been ranked among the top for a long time! This was especially true for the Soul Tool Department, for even Vice-Dean Qian Duoduo wasnât able to use a ranked carving knife.
The fervent atmosphere below the stage instantly caused a brilliant smile to appear on Qing Yaâs charming face. She wasnât impatient at allâafter waiting for a full five minutes, the participants of the auction gradually calmed down.
âAuctioness Qing Ya. Whatâre you still waiting for? Quickly start the bidding.â There were already a few people who couldnât hold in their excitement anymore.
Qing Ya smiled, âDistinguished guests, please do not be so impatient. Iâm sure that everyone here knows that our Starlight Auction has always been sincere and honest to all of our customers. We have always guaranteed the quality of all goods that are sold within our auctions, and we will never allow a faulty or problematic good to be given to our distinguished guests. Because of this, I would like everyone to allow me to finish speaking.â
Whilst speaking, Qing Ya looked regretfully at the ancient carving knife in front of her and sighed lightly. âIf this were an ordinary ranked carving knife, it would never have appeared here. Distinguished guests, Iâm sure that you are all aware of this. A ranked carving knife is one of the most valuable items within the world of soul engineers. Itâs even more valuable than certain precious materials. The reason why this ranked carving knife has appeared as the last item in todayâs Class 4 auction is because it has a particular problem.â
âItâs ranked 99th on the Carving Knife Leaderboard, but with its strength, it shouldnât be ranked that low. In fact, it should be within the top 30. However, the main reason why itâs ranked so low is because itâs a cursed carving knife.â
He Caitou suddenly cried out, âIs that the Ominous Soul-Devouring Knife that counter-devours its owners?â
Shrek Academy was seated in the first row of the auction, and his voice wasnât soft either. Qing Ya was naturally able to hear his words, and a trace of astonishment immediately appeared on her charming face whereupon she answered, âWe actually have a knowledgeable guest. Correct, this carving knife is the 99th ranked Soul-Devouring Carving Knife thatâs known as the Vicious Knife.â
âThis Ominous Soul-Devouring Knife has had over three thousand years of history. Three thousand years ago, it appeared in the Sun Moon Empire. Its creator was an absolutely exceptional soul engineer who supposedly became a Class 9 soul engineer. Furthermore, he wasnât just a soul engineer, but a soul master as well; a terrifying evil soul master. Three thousand years ago, he brought about a storm of carnage and terror to the continent.â
At that point, the participants in the auction quietened down. The expressions of many people turned grave as well.
âThe Ominous Soul-Devouring Knife was created by that evil soul master during his later years. According to the stories, he encountered a mortal enemy not long after creating this carving knife. He was a genius in his generation, but also a monster. He subsequently fell, but didnât carry the Ominous Soul-Devouring Knife by his side when he died. Following the passage of time, this vicious knife ended up in the mortal world.â
âWhen our Starlight Auction made an investigation into its past, we found that this vicious knife has had a total of thirty-seven owners. However, every single one of these thirty-seven people have died violently. Of which, nine of them became evil soul masters. According to the legends, this Ominous Soul-Devouring Knife contains a trace of that talented evil soul masterâs soul. Because of that, it steers its owners toward the path of evil. If you are not strong-willed, you will not be able to use it. Furthermore, it absolutely cannot be used frequently. Thus, it fell and fell in the rankings until it finally reached a spot where it couldnât fall any further. Due to its previous glory, it has never been stricken from the Carving Knife Leaderboard. People who like it have always been hoping that it can finally find a true master, but we hope that its owner possesses the attribute of Light. This way, itâll be very hard for him to be corrupted. Naturally, we donât have a complete understanding of this carving knife. Thus, we advise that our distinguished guests be cautious when purchasing this item. We can guarantee that as long as you donât pour soul power into it, you wonât be counter-devoured. Furthermore, with its status as a ranked carving knife, turning it into an heirloom is quite good.â
After listening to Qing Yaâs long explanation, everyone present finally understood why a ranked carving knife had appeared in a Class 4 auction. Many participants who were originally eager to buy it were now silent.
This Ominous Soul-Devouring Knife would absolutely not have an excessively low value due to its status as a ranked carving knife. However, no matter how good it was, it couldnât be compared to oneâs life! If a person bought such a precious item and didnât use it, wouldnât it be a waste? In the end, this was just a Class 4 auction, and many of the participants werenât very rich. Because of this, hesitation began to appear in their hearts.
He Caitou sighed and shook his head, âYou canât buy this vicious knife. Iâve heard my teacher talk about it before. The counter-devouring of this vicious knife isnât as simple as what that auctioneer said. You should be able to see this from what happened to the owners who didnât die. After all, itâs a ranked carving knife! If we buy it and bring it back, will we be able to resist not using it? If Iâm not mistaken, my teacher said that soul tools produced by this Ominous Soul-Devouring Knife will have two additional effects, making them terrifying existences. Itâs truly a pity.â
Nobody would take their own lives as a joke. When He Caitou finished speaking, Wang Yan revealed a disappointed look in his eyes. He was already prepared to give up on the Ominous Soul-Devouring Knife.
âThe starting price of the Ominous Soul-Devouring Knife is one hundred thousand gold soul coins, and each increase cannot be lower than five thousand gold soul coins. We can start the auction now.â Qing Ya spoke with a smile on her face. In reality, she wasnât excited at all. She was able to tell with her nearly ten years of experience as an auctioneer that the Ominous Soul-Devouring Knife would be left unsold yet again.
In reality, the Ominous Soul-Devouring Knife had appeared in one of the Starlight Auctionâs top-ranked auctions shortly after the organization had obtained it. Its starting price wasnât a hundred thousand, but three hundred thousand. It had been acquired by chance, and it was still a ranked carving knife no matter what was said!
However, who couldâve predicted that its infamy was so widespread? Even the high-ranking guests of the Starlight Auction werenât willing to possess it, even as an heirloom. Just who would dare to keep it with the dangers of an evil soul masterâs soul residing within it?
The Vicious Soul-Devouring Knife had a history that could only be described using the word âsavageâ. None of its previous owners, including its creators, had been able to live for more than ten years after coming into possession of it. Because of this, it had spent a large majority of its three thousand years of existence lying unused.
Helpless, the Starlight Auctionâs owner could only let it appear often within various auctions. Furthermore, he promised to give a commission of 1% to the auctioneer who was able to sell it off. However, things turned out contrary to the way he wished. The Ominous Soul-Devouring Knife had appeared in several tens of auctions, but nobody had been willing to buy it. Due to this, its price fell and fell yet again until it was near the price that the auction had purchased it for.
If itâs not going to sell, so be it. Qing Ya hadnât had too much hope in the first place.
A somewhat young voice suddenly rang out from the seating area at this moment, âOne hundred thousand gold soul coins.â
A sign containing the number 333 was suddenly raised.
Qing Ya was left dumbstruck. This was the first time that a person had bid on the Ominous Soul-Devouring Knife! She was completely overjoyed after a brief moment of astonishment. It had to be known that the 1% commision of its price of a hundred thousand gold soul coins was one thousand gold soul coins! Even if a person squandered his money, it would be enough for that person to survive for a few years. It was already quite good for Qing Ya to be able to obtain tens to hundreds of gold soul coins during each auction she hosted. After all, she was only a purple-ranked auctioneer. If she was able to sell the Ominous Soul-Devouring Knife, she could be promoted to a black, or even higher ranked auctioneer.
Qing Ya even forgot to speak for a brief moment due to the exuberance she felt.
âIâm bidding one hundred thousand gold soul coins.â That young voice rang out once again.
âAh! Okay, guest number 333 has bid one hundred thousand gold soul coins. Are there any more guests who wish to bid?â Qing Ya came to her senses and spoke hurriedly. Furthermore, the hope she felt spiked dramatically. If one person was willing to bid for it, why wouldnât there be a second? Even if the bid was increased by five thousand, she would take away fifty more gold soul coins.