Hidden in the shadows, protecting Meng Hongchen, the middle-aged female Soul Sage known as Number Three saw her young lady and Wang Chen sharing that sweet little moment.
She couldn't help but smile slightly.
Ah… youth… truly wonderful.
Watching Meng Hongchen run off, Number Three's figure flickered, and she silently followed along without a sound.
Wang Chen watched Meng Hongchen's back until it became just a tiny black dot, disappearing. Then he shifted his gaze toward the bustling center of Mingdu.
Once he became the Wang Family Patriarch and unlocked the Black Book's third function, this vast Sun and Moon Empire would finally have a place for him.
By then, the skies would be wide for him to soar, the seas vast for him to leap. He wouldn't have to fear that every stray cat or dog could threaten his safety, nor would he need to tread so cautiously as he did now.
Clenching his fist, his eyes firm, Wang Chen turned and walked back home.
He needed to finish sorting out some combat techniques and then ask Ye Guyi to help him purify the Soul-Devouring Carving Knife.
He had already invested quite some time with Ye Guyi. Now it was time for the final step.
Time flew, and the next day arrived.
Wang Chen brought his compiled close-combat techniques and visited Ye Guyi's residence once again.
When Ye Guyi saw Wang Chen arrive, she immediately greeted him happily and welcomed him into her home.
Wang Chen entered, sat down on the sofa in the main hall, while Ye Guyi enthusiastically served drinks and snacks.
Wang Chen quickly motioned for her not to trouble herself and smiled as he handed her the booklet he had prepared.
"Guiyi, I put this together last night. Take a look."
Ye Guyi accepted it, her delicate face revealing genuine delight.
She had assumed Wang Chen was just being polite, but to her surprise, he had truly given her combat techniques.
Such knowledge could be learned by anyone, even serving as a core foundation skill for mid-sized clans. For Wang Chen to gift it to her so easily made her feel as if she had been taken advantage of.
Her conscience pricked her. She had suffered no real loss, yet Wang Chen had given her something so valuable.
The little angel with a tender conscience, Ye Guyi, looked at him seriously and said,
"Wang Chen, from today, you are my good friend. If you ever encounter difficulties, you can always come to me."
Looking into her clear, innocent eyes, Wang Chen sighed inwardly:
I've seen so many who only care about taking advantage. A person who feels guilty when they benefit—such good people are rare. The little angel's sense of morality is high. Interacting with someone like her is the most reassuring thing.
Seeing Ye Guyi accept his gift, Wang Chen knew that today's plan to purify the Soul-Devouring Carving Knife was secure.
But he wasn't in a hurry. He intended to bring it up casually during their chat. He was certain the naïve little angel would take the bait.
"Guiyi, open it up and have a look. If anything confuses you, feel free to ask."
She nodded earnestly and began reading. Inside were detailed notes on combat techniques—methods for exerting force, channeling energy, evasive footwork, dispersing force, complete with simple diagrams and Wang Chen's annotations.
The deeper she read, the more fascinated she became.
"Wang Chen, these techniques are amazing."
Wang Chen replied,
"These skills only become effective if you practice them repeatedly in battle until they become instinct."
The two chatted back and forth happily.
Gradually, Wang Chen steered the conversation toward other topics: first food, which left Ye Guyi's mouth watering, then the latest gossip among Mingdu nobles, which astonished her with one revelation after another.
Finally, he casually mentioned an auction and sighed about having purchased a worthless item.
Seeing his sighing expression, Ye Guyi's curiosity was immediately piqued.
"Wang Chen, what did you buy that wasn't worth it?"
Wang Chen, pleased at her reaction but keeping a calm face, said,
"A carving knife—you've probably heard of it—the Soul-Devouring Carving Knife."
Her expression instantly changed. As a Soul Engineer, how could she not know of the Soul-Devouring Carving Knife? That cursed blade had claimed the lives of countless Soul Engineers.
"Wang Chen, why would you buy such a thing? It's dangerous!" she exclaimed.
Wang Chen spread his hands.
"When I bought it, I thought it was a gamble. If I could find a way to use it, it'd be a huge gain. If not, I'd keep it as a collector's item. Seems I lost the bet—it'll only gather dust on a shelf or be auctioned later."
He added casually,
"Want to see it? Just looking and touching won't trigger anything. As long as you don't activate it with soul power or spiritual power, it's safe."
He took out a box from his storage soul tool.
"The carving knife is inside."
Seeing he was fine, Ye Guyi wasn't afraid. She opened the box curiously, revealing a small, exquisite knife about half a foot long, finger-thick, narrowing to a sharp tip, with a half-inch-wide blade. Ancient, pitch-black, etched with mysterious patterns, it radiated a chilling aura.
Her eyes lit up instantly.
She had always wondered what made the Soul-Devouring Carving Knife so terrifying.
Now she saw—pure malice and curses condensed within.
It made her practically drool.
If she could purify this malice and curse, her cultivation would increase dramatically.
She swallowed hard, her angelic soul power stirring restlessly. Her eyes even turned faintly golden, as if eager to obliterate the evil energy immediately.
Seeing her obsession, Wang Chen smiled inwardly.
As expected, the malice of an Evil Soul Master is a tonic for someone with the Angel Martial Soul. She'll definitely want to purify it. Everything is going exactly as planned.
But outwardly, his face remained calm. The closer to success, the steadier he had to be. No premature celebration.
"Guiyi? Guiyi!!" Wang Chen coughed deliberately.
She snapped back to herself, blushing in embarrassment. Staring at someone else's possession like that—so shameful.
Ye Guyi wanted to borrow the knife, but asking outright for such a precious thing was too embarrassing for her proud, thin-skinned nature.
Wang Chen chuckled, "Guiyi, you… want it?"
She shook her head, then shyly nodded.
Feigning hesitation, Wang Chen frowned slightly.
She straightened up nervously.
Finally, Wang Chen sighed.
"Guiyi, this carving knife…"
Before he could finish, she blurted,
"I'm not asking you to give it to me! Just lend it to me for a few hours. I'll return it right away."
Inside, Wang Chen was overjoyed, but he kept a thoughtful expression. After a long pause, he finally nodded.
"Alright. For the sake of our friendship, I'll lend it to you."
Her face lit up.
"Thank you, Wang Chen. You really are a good person."
Wang Chen: [??] Did I just get hit with the legendary Good Guy Card?
Then, to his surprise, Ye Guyi pulled out a five-hundred gold soul coin card and handed it to him.
"I can't just borrow for free. Take it."
The poor little angel… being played by Wang Chen and still paying him for it.
He twitched his lips, then gently pushed the card back into her hand.
"We're friends. Helping each other is what friends do. One day, if I'm in trouble, just lend me a hand."
Looking at his flawless face, Ye Guyi's favorability toward him soared again.
He gave me combat techniques, lent me the carving knife, and, unlike those other men who covet my looks, his gaze is pure. Truly enviable, little sister Meng Hongchen…
Knife in hand, she hurried into her cultivation chamber, locked the door, and began purifying it—unwilling to expose her Angel Martial Soul before Wang Chen.
Inside the chamber, golden light radiated as her angelic wings unfolded. Her sacred aura clashed with the malice inside the knife.
The Soul-Devouring Carving Knife shuddered, shrieking, but under her divine power, the evil energy dissolved completely.
Its blade turned from black to crystal blue, gleaming like jade.
Meanwhile, a flood of divine energy poured into her body, strengthening her soul power.
Resisting the urge to immediately enter closed-door cultivation, Ye Guyi returned the purified knife to Wang Chen, then departed to retreat.
Wang Chen held the knife and smiled.