The appearance of another Ranked Engraving Knife was significant, not just for them, but even for Shrek Academy.
Wang Yan, though unable to understand the knife, perked up instantly at the mention of Ranked Engraving Knife. He understood that this was something he absolutely had to bring back to Shrek Academy.
Even if it meant spending a high price, the academy would reward him. The Ranked Engraving Knife had long been on the list of rare items the academy sought! Especially for the Soul Guidance Department; even Vice-Dean Qian Duoduo didn't have one.
The sudden surge of enthusiasm from the audience brought a dazzling smile to Qingya's pretty face. She wasn't in a hurry at all, waiting a full five minutes before the bidders below gradually calmed down.
"Auctioneer Qingya, what are you waiting for? Start the bidding," someone couldn't help but urge.
Qingya smiled slightly and said, "Esteemed guests, please be patient. Everyone knows that our Starlight Auction House has always been known for fair dealing. Any item that leaves our auction house, we guarantee its quality, and we will never allow any defective or problematic items to be delivered to our guests without prior explanation. Therefore, please allow me to finish speaking."
With that, Qingya glanced at the ancient-looking knife with some regret, sighed softly, and said, "If this were a normal Ranked Engraving Knife, then, as you all should know, it would never appear here. The preciousness of the Ranked Engraving Knife is always at the forefront of the Soul Master world, even more valuable than some rare materials. The reason this Ranked Engraving Knife is here today, as the finale of the fourth-level auction, is because it has a certain problem."
"On the knife ranking, it's ranked ninety-ninth. Actually, with its abilities, it shouldn't be ranked so low. It should even be possible to enter the top thirty. The reason it's ranked so low is mainly because it's a cursed knife."
He Caitou suddenly exclaimed, "Could it be that ominous knife, the Soul Devourer, which backfires on its owner?"
The people from Shrek Academy were seated in the front row of the auction house. His voice wasn't quiet, so Qingya naturally heard him, and a look of surprise flashed across her pretty face. "Indeed, we have a discerning guest. That's right, this engraving knife is the Soul Devourer, ranked ninety-ninth among the Ranked Engraving Knives, and known as the ominous knife."
"The Soul Devourer has a history of over three thousand years. Three thousand years ago, it appeared in the Sun Moon Empire. Its creator was a peerlessly talented Soul Engineer. This Soul Engineer is said to have reached the ninth rank in cultivation. Moreover, he wasn't just a Soul Engineer; he was also a Soul Master, a terrifying Evil Soul Master. Back then, three thousand years ago, he brought a storm of bloodshed to the continent."
Hearing this, the bidders in the hall all fell silent, and many people's expressions became solemn.
"The Soul Devourer was made by that Evil Soul Master in his later years. It is said that shortly after making this engraving knife, he encountered his greatest enemy. This generation's genius, but also a generation's villain, subsequently perished. And at the time of his demise, he did not take the Soul Devourer with him. As time passed, this ominous knife fell into the hands of the people."
"In the history that our Starlight Auction House has traced, this ominous knife has had thirty-seven owners in total. But, without exception, all thirty-seven of them met a tragic end. Among them, nine became Evil Soul Masters. According to legend, the Soul Devourer contains a trace of the soul of that genius Evil Soul Master from back then, and it guides people towards evil. It cannot be used by those with a weak will, and it absolutely cannot be used frequently. Therefore, its ranking has dropped again and again, finally reaching the point where it could drop no further. It is only because of its history and its former glory that it has not been removed from the Ranked Engraving Knives. Those who like it have always hoped that it could find a true owner. What we hope is that its owner can be of the light attribute, making it difficult to be backfired. Of course, we don't fully understand this engraving knife either, so dear guests, please be cautious when purchasing. What we can guarantee is that as long as soul power is not injected into it, it will not backfire on its owner. Therefore, as a Ranked Engraving Knife, even as a collectible, it's quite good."
Listening to Qingya's long introduction, the crowd finally understood why a Ranked Engraving Knife would appear at a fourth-level auction. Many people who had been eager to bid fell silent.
As a Ranked Engraving Knife, the Soul Devourer's price would certainly not be low. And no matter how good a Ranked Engraving Knife is, it can't compare to one's life! Buying it back and not being able to use it, wouldn't that be a waste? After all, this was only a fourth-level auction, and those who came to participate weren't that wealthy, so many people were hesitant.
He Caitou sighed, shook his head, and said, "This ominous knife can't be had. I've heard my teacher tell the story. The backfire of this ominous knife is far more terrifying than the auctioneer said. You can see that from the fact that it has never had a surviving owner. It's a Ranked Engraving Knife! If you buy it, can you really resist not using it? If I remember correctly, my teacher said that the Soul Equipment produced by this Soul Devourer will have at least two extra effects, and they are both quite terrifying. What a pity."
No one jokes with their life. When He Caitou finished speaking, Wang Yan couldn't help but look disappointed. He was already prepared to give up on the Ranked Engraving Knife, the Soul Devourer.
"The Soul Devourer Engraving Knife, starting bid is 100,000 Gold Soul Coins, with a minimum increment of 5,000 Gold Soul Coins. Esteemed guests, you may begin bidding," Qingya said with a smile. In reality, she wasn't excited at all. With nearly ten years of experience as an auctioneer, she could tell from the reactions below that this Soul Devourer was probably going to fail to sell.
In fact, when the Soul Devourer Engraving Knife first arrived at the Starlight Auction House, it was originally intended for the most prestigious auction. The initial price wasn't 100,000, but rather a starting bid of 300,000 Gold Soul Coins. This engraving knife was acquired by the Starlight Auction House by chance. Regardless, it was a Ranked Engraving Knife!
But who knew that its fearsome reputation was so widespread that none of the high-level VIPs were willing to own it. Not even as a collector's item. Who would dare to collect something with the danger of having an Evil Soul Master's soul nearby?
The history of the Soul Devourer Engraving Knife could be described as brutal. Including its creator, no one had lived for more than ten years after obtaining it. Therefore, although it had a history of over three thousand years, it was sealed away most of the time.
The owner of Starlight Auction House had no choice but to put it up for auction frequently, promising the auctioneers that whoever could sell the Soul Devourer would receive one percent of the total amount as commission. But things didn't go as planned. After a dozen auctions, the final result was still unsatisfactory, which caused the starting price to drop again and again, almost approaching the original cost that the Starlight Auction House paid to acquire it.
It was fine if it failed to sell. Qingya hadn't placed much hope on this engraving knife to begin with.
Just then, a somewhat childish voice suddenly rang out from below the stage: "100,000 Gold Soul Coins."
Qingya was stunned. This was the first time anyone had bid on the Soul Devourer Engraving Knife since it appeared at the Starlight Auction House! After the initial shock, she was filled with joy. She knew that a one percent commission was 1,000 Gold Soul Coins! Even if she spent it lavishly, it would be enough for several years. Normally, she would only get dozens to a hundred Gold Soul Coins for hosting an auction. After all, she was only a Purple-level auctioneer. Selling the Soul Devourer Engraving Knife might even allow her to advance to Black-level and host higher-level auctions.
For a moment, Qingya was so overjoyed that she forgot to respond.