Hidden in the shadows, the middle-aged female Soul Sage known as Number Three, responsible for protecting Meng Hongchen, couldn't help but smile faintly when she saw her young lady and Wang Chen sharing such a sweet moment.
Youth… really is a wonderful thing.
Watching Meng Hongchen's figure run off into the distance, Number Three's body flickered and disappeared silently, following behind.
Wang Chen watched as Meng Hongchen's silhouette became a tiny black dot and vanished from sight. Then, turning his gaze toward the bustling center of Mingdu, he thought:
Once he became the patriarch of the Wang family and unlocked the third function of the Black Book, this vast Sun Moon Empire would surely have a place for him.
By then, he would be free to soar like a bird in the sky, to swim like a fish in the sea—no longer needing to worry about any random cats or dogs threatening his safety, nor living as cautiously as he did now.
Clenching his fist, Wang Chen's eyes grew firm with determination before he turned and walked back toward his home.
He needed to organize his various combat techniques as soon as possible and then have Ye Guyi help him purify the Soul-Devouring Engraving Knife.
He had already spent quite some time working on Ye Guyi. Now, it was finally time to bring everything to its conclusion.
Time passed quickly, and the next day arrived.
Wang Chen came once more to Ye Guyi's home, bringing with him the set of close-combat techniques he had organized.
When Ye Guyi saw him, her eyes immediately brightened with delight as she happily welcomed him inside.
Wang Chen entered the house and sat on the sofa in the main hall, while Ye Guyi enthusiastically brought him drinks and snacks.
Wang Chen quickly gestured for her not to trouble herself, then smiled and handed her the neatly compiled manual of combat techniques.
"Guyi, this is what I organized last night. Take a look."
Ye Guyi accepted the small booklet, surprise lighting up her delicate, beautiful face.
She had thought Wang Chen was just being polite when he said he'd give her his techniques—she hadn't expected that he'd actually do it.
These kinds of combat techniques could be learned by anyone. They could even serve as the foundational martial training for small and mid-level clans. Wang Chen gifting her something so valuable so easily made her feel like she was taking advantage of him.
Feeling uneasy about accepting something so precious, the kind-hearted little angel Ye Guyi said seriously,
"Wang Chen, from now on, you're my good friend. If you ever run into trouble, you can always come to me."
Looking into Ye Guyi's pure, sincere eyes, Wang Chen sighed inwardly,
After seeing so many people who love taking advantage of others, it's rare to meet someone who actually feels guilty for doing so. This little angel's moral standards are really high. Dealing with good people really is so much easier.
Seeing that Ye Guyi had accepted his gift, Wang Chen knew that purifying the Soul-Devouring Engraving Knife today was as good as settled.
However, he didn't rush. He planned to casually bring up the subject of the dagger later in their conversation—he was confident that the innocent little angel would take the bait on her own.
"Guyi," he said, "go ahead and open it. If there's anything you don't understand, you can ask me."
Ye Guyi nodded repeatedly and flipped through the booklet. Inside, every technique was recorded in detail—how to better exert force, gather power efficiently, evade attacks, and redirect strength, all accompanied by simple diagrams and Wang Chen's handwritten notes.
The more she read, the more fascinated she became. "Wang Chen, these combat techniques are incredible."
Wang Chen smiled. "These techniques only show their true value once they've been practiced and internalized in real combat—when they become instinct."
And so, the two chatted back and forth enthusiastically.
Before long, Wang Chen smoothly shifted the topic elsewhere—first to food, making the little angel's mouth water, and then to the latest gossip in Mingdu's noble circles, which left her wide-eyed with amazement.
Finally, as if offhandedly, Wang Chen mentioned an auction and sighed. "I bought something at a loss."
Seeing Wang Chen sigh like that, Ye Guyi's curiosity was instantly piqued.
"Wang Chen, what did you buy that turned out to be a loss?"
Seeing that the little angel had taken the bait, Wang Chen was inwardly delighted but kept a calm expression.
"I bought an engraving knife—you've probably heard of it. The Soul-Devouring Engraving Knife."
Ye Guyi's expression immediately changed. As a Soul Engineer, of course she had heard of it. That cursed blade had claimed the lives of many Soul Engineers—it was infamous as an ominous, deadly tool.
Concerned, she said, "Wang Chen, why would you buy something like that? The Soul-Devouring Engraving Knife is extremely dangerous."
Wang Chen shrugged. "When I bought it, it was more of a gamble. If I could find a way to safely use it, I'd make a fortune. If not, I could just keep it as a collector's item.
Looks like I lost the gamble—it's useless now. Maybe I'll auction it off one day when I'm short on money."
Then he added casually, "Do you want to see it? It's safe to look or touch it with your hands—just don't channel soul power or spiritual power into it, or it'll backfire."
After saying this, Wang Chen retrieved a box from his storage soul tool.
"The dagger's inside."
Since Wang Chen, the owner, seemed fine, Ye Guyi wasn't afraid.
Curiously, she opened the box—and saw an exquisitely crafted, petite engraving knife.
The knife was about half a foot long, no thicker than a finger. Its blade tapered from wide to narrow, the tip gleaming razor-sharp. The lower edge was about half an inch wide, the whole surface dark and ancient, faintly etched with strange markings that exuded a chilling, sinister aura.
As soon as she saw it, Ye Guyi's eyes lit up.
She had always wondered what terrifying, mysterious energy the Soul-Devouring Engraving Knife contained—she hadn't expected it to be pure malevolent energy and curses.
That pure evil energy made her mouth practically water.
If she could purify the evil and curses within this knife, her cultivation would surely increase greatly.
Swallowing hard, Ye Guyi—bold and confident in her holy powers—picked up the dagger and examined it closely.
The moment she came into contact with it, she could feel the sinister aura even more clearly. The holy power within her body stirred restlessly, and her eyes began to shimmer faintly gold, as if eager to purge the darkness completely.
As Ye Guyi was lost in her fascination, Wang Chen, watching her expression, couldn't help but smile faintly.
It was exactly as he had guessed—the evil energy within the Soul-Devouring Engraving Knife was like a great tonic to someone with the Angel Spirit.
Right now, the little angel definitely wanted to purify the knife herself—which made everything that much easier.
He was just one step away from his goal; all he had to do was give her a little push.
Still, Wang Chen kept a calm face, careful not to show any excitement. The closer he got to success, the steadier he needed to be. Celebrating too early was never wise—until the goal was achieved, he couldn't afford the slightest carelessness.
Watching Ye Guyi gaze intently at the dagger, her eyes practically glowing, he couldn't help but feel amused.
The little angel might have a well-developed figure, but she was still such an innocent girl—completely transparent in her desires.
Wang Chen cleared his throat. "Guyi? Guyi!"
Startled from her thoughts, Ye Guyi blushed in embarrassment. After all, staring so obsessively at someone else's belonging was rather rude.
She looked down at the dagger, wondering how she could ask Wang Chen to lend it to her for a while—she didn't dare outright request it, as it was too valuable.
Just as she hesitated, Wang Chen asked with a teasing smile, "Guyi, do you want it?"
Caught off guard, Ye Guyi quickly shook her head—then hesitantly nodded.
Wang Chen put on a thoughtful expression and said nothing. The atmosphere grew slightly tense.
Ye Guyi straightened her back, looking nervous.
After a pause, Wang Chen met her eyes and said with a hint of difficulty, "Guyi, this Soul-Devouring Engraving Knife…"
Ye Guyi quickly interrupted, "Wang Chen, I'm not asking you to give it to me! Just lend it to me for a few hours—I'll return it right after I'm done."
Seeing her so eager, Wang Chen's heart was already rejoicing, though he kept a serious expression.
After pretending to think for a while, he slowly nodded. "All right. Since we're friends, I'll lend it to you for a few hours."
Ye Guyi's face lit up. "Thank you, Wang Chen, you're such a good person."
Wang Chen: [ ? ] Did I just get the legendary 'good person' card?
Then Ye Guyi took out a white card worth five hundred gold soul coins from her storage tool and handed it to him.
"I can't just borrow it for free—here, five hundred gold soul coins. Please take it."
Poor little angel Ye Guyi—being played so deftly by Wang Chen, and still paying for it on top.
Wang Chen looked at the card and twitched his lips. As the Wang family's young master, he hardly lacked money.
He gently pushed the card back into her hand and smiled.
"We're friends. Helping each other is only natural. If I ever need help in the future, you can return the favor then."
Looking at his perfect face, Ye Guyi's fondness for Wang Chen instantly deepened.
She thought, Wang Chen gave me his combat techniques, lent me such a valuable dagger, yet he's completely different from those men who lust after me when they give gifts. His eyes are pure—without the slightest trace of desire. I really envy little sister Meng Hongchen.
After borrowing the dagger, Ye Guyi went straight into her cultivation chamber, locked the door, and began purifying the Soul-Devouring Engraving Knife.
Wang Chen waited outside—clearly, Ye Guyi didn't want to expose her Angel Spirit in front of him.
Inside the chamber, Ye Guyi circulated her soul power. Her Martial Spirit possessed her body, and golden light radiated from her figure, illuminating the entire room. At the same time, two white wings spread behind her.
With her spirit possession complete, a sacred aura filled her delicate face.
She placed the dagger on the floor, and her three soul rings lit up in succession.
A pillar of radiant, holy energy shone down upon the Soul-Devouring Engraving Knife.
Although the knife contained the curse and evil spirit of a Titled Douluo-level evil soul master, that had been three thousand years ago.
After centuries of erosion, its power had greatly diminished—otherwise, it wouldn't need external soul power to trigger its backlash.
Under the cleansing of holy energy, the dagger began to tremble violently.
Faint, agonized wails echoed through the chamber.
Ye Guyi's sacred expression turned cold.
"Wretched evil soul master—you've harmed countless lives. Today, I, Ye Guyi, will erase you completely!"
She poured more soul power into her attack. A golden miniature sun formed in her palm and smashed down onto the dagger.
This time, the dagger shuddered violently. A surge of cyan light burst out, forming a hideous face in the air that screamed madly and lunged at her.
But under the holy radiance, it dissolved rapidly like mud sinking into the sea—vanishing within moments.
With the disappearance of the evil thoughts and curses, the dagger returned to its original form.
Its formerly dark blade had turned a brilliant cyan, gleaming like crystal. If not for the same ancient engravings remaining unchanged, one might have thought it was a completely different weapon.
At that moment, Ye Guyi had no time to admire it. As the evil energy vanished, vast waves of holy power filled her meridians.
She knew that once she absorbed all this divine energy, her cultivation would surely rise by a considerable margin.
Suppressing her urge to go into closed-door cultivation immediately, Ye Guyi took the purified dagger, exited the chamber, and returned it to Wang Chen.
Then, the two parted ways—Ye Guyi going into seclusion, and Wang Chen heading home with the purified Soul-Devouring Engraving Knife.
The Gold of Life—finally, it's in my hands!