Chapter 1119 Draining Soul Weapon
There were many people in this big hall, numbering to the thousands, but their attention was all focused on the front, so no one had noticed Xia Fei’s entrance.
Xia Fei was on the third floor, and through the metal railings, he could clearly see that there was a hastily set-up altar below, almost as if they were having a meeting.
Undercurrents amid the silence, these warriors seemed to be highly vigilant toward one another. Evidently, these people were not together, so what were they all doing, gathered together like this? Xia Fei was curious, so he hid in a shadowy corner and silently waited.
All of a sudden, Xia Fei spotted a very familiar pair of eyes in the crowd. Though this person’s head and face were covered by a gray cloak, Xia Fei could tell who she was: Zesyr Night.
Strange. What would the Venus of Eternal Night’s esteemed young lady be doing alone in this remote star region? How was there not a single bodyguard beside her?
Xia Fei was observing Zesyr, but she was staring at someone else. He followed her gaze and realized that she was staring at a young man bedecked in finery, with two well-built bodyguards standing next to him. This person was none other than Xiaoxiao, Xiao Clan’s seventh young master.
Xia Fei did not recognize Seventh Master Xiao, as the two had not met even once when they were both aboard The Mammoth. On the contrary, it was Zesyr Night whom they had met by accident, and it was just unfortunate that she had mistaken the one-armed Xiao Xing model’s operator for Seventh Master Xiao. All in all, it was a very messy journey fraught with misunderstandings.
Xia Fei frowned, finding the matter at hand a little p.r.i.c.kly. It was untrue to claim that he had no relations with Zesyr or her clan. After all, he had treated Night Cloud’s illness, who had subsequently helped him deal with Aquamarine, but to say that they had a good relations.h.i.+p would be inaccurate as well. At best, they were acquaintances who would greet each other when they met.
With how strange the current atmosphere was here, it seemed like a serious conflict could break out at any moment. Meanwhile, it was unclear as to the reason Zesyr had snuck out here. In the event that an accident occurred, should Xia Fei move to save her or should he just let her die?
Just as he was contemplating this, he heard someone in the crowd begin to make noise.
“Cai Kangnian, come out!”
“Didn’t you say that you’ve got a grade 7 dark soul weapon?! Are you auctioning it off or not? It’s already time, and this one wants to see the goods!
“There are people from both the underworld and the righteous here. You can’t afford to waste everyone’s time! Come out and begin things already! Let’s see just what this grade 7 soul weapon looks like!”
Xia Fei was stunned. A grade 7 soul weapon! To think that there would be an auction of a grade 7 dark soul weapon today! No wonder there were so many people gathered in Cai Kangnian’s repair dock. This was the reason why!
Xia Fei had once asked Fuchen about the issue of dark soul weapons. Such things were never traded out in the open, and there were even fewer people who would brazenly do what Cai Kangnian did. Clearly, it was against the rules for him to announce it like so.
For Cai Kangnian to have put a grade 7 dark soul weapon out for auction so publicly, no matter the outcome, he was bound to be on the cusp of a storm. After all, this was something that could never see the light of day, and from today onward, both sides would keep a close eye on him. Doing it this way did not seem to be a prudent move for him.
After all, Spiritualists were far and few between these days. A high-grade soul weapon would be even more sought-after by all the major forces. Everyone desired to get their hands on a high-grade soul weapon to strengthen their force. Many long-famous soul pract.i.tioners, who had yet to get their hands on even a single soul weapon, had already gone green with envy!
Amid the clamoring of the crowd, Cai Kangnian finally appeared. He took several steps up the stage, demonstrating quite the prestige of a Great Soul Eater, though his eyes looked completely uneasy.
“Silence!” Cai Kangnian yelled. The crowd instantly went quiet, as everyone waited with bated breath.
Sweeping his gaze around, Cai Kangnian slowly drawled, “This time, I’ve been entrusted by a friend to transfer the owners.h.i.+p of a soul weapon. Everyone present ought to know this already, and as for the method of transfer, it’s a little special. I’m just a middleman, someone paid to do this on that person’s behalf.”
Xia Fei noticed that when Cai Kangnian mentioned how he was just in charge of taking the money and acting on behalf of the seller, the old man’s eyebrows subconsciously twitched a little. His voice was also somewhat suppressed, almost as if this was not his idea but that he had been forced by someone else, instead, completely not having a choice in the matter.
Because dark soul weapons were too lethal, they had been tabooed and banned from being forged or used. There was no way Great Soul Eater Cai Kangnian had the power to defy a grandmaster who could forge a grade 7 dark soul weapon. If someone like that coerced Cai Kangnian, he would have no way of resisting at all.
With this thought in mind, Xia Fei slightly understood what was going on here. The soul weapon was like a hot potato, and no matter who ended up owning it, they would never be safe with it. Of course, Cai Kangnian knew the subtlety involved, which was why he had already prepared himself a path of retreat. The moment something became off, he would take off at once. Even this repair dock he had been operating for so many years was an acceptable sacrifice if needed.
After a short pause, Cai Kangnian said with wrinkled eyebrows, “Right now, I’ll be taking out this grade 7 soul weapon. Everyone, please take a look.”
The crowd went silent, as countless pairs of eyes widened. The only sound that could be heard was people’s breathing as their heartbeats quickened.
*Thud*
The item seemed to be very heavy. Cai Kangnian placed it on the stage and let out a very shocking sound. Many people who had been watching his every move got quite the shock upon hearing him.
“This is the dark soul weapon.” Cai Kangnian pointed with one hand.
A lot of dissatisfied jeering came from below the stage.
“Boss Cai, the item is inside a box. You have to take it out so that everyone can get a closer look, right?”
“That’s right. Are we supposed to take your word for it that what’s inside is really a grade 7 dark soul weapon? I’ve lived a very long life, yet I’ve never seen a high-grade dark soul weapon. How am I supposed to believe you without seeing it with my two eyes?”
“That’s right! Show it to us!”
Cai Kangnian ignored the demands of these people. All he did was give the case a light knock with one arm, sending a burst of Soul Power into the case containing the weapon.
*Boom*
The sound was like a thunderclap, and black light shot out like arrows!
As if someone had suddenly turned off all the lights, the entire hall instantly turned pitch-black. An eerily cold aura then pervaded the air, making them feel like they had fallen into an ice cave.
“Now, does anyone else have any other questions?” Cai Kangnian shouted out frostily.
“A dark soul weapon! That’s definitely a high-grade soul weapon! Such a gloomy aura, only a dark soul weapon can have it!”
“Indeed, I felt it as well! That was so scary as if a wild beast has just used its sharp claws to tear at my back.”
Xia Fei found it very strange. Just what was a dark soul weapon? What he felt was clearly different from the usual soul weapons. Even the powerful White Dragon’s Screech he owned could not compare to that sinister aura, which was more similar to the fiendish blade, Nirvana.
“Could that item be a draining weapon as well?” Xia Fei’s interest had been instantly piqued as he thought of that.
The fiendish blade, Nirvana, naturally needed no introduction. It could absorb the enemy’s energy, replenis.h.i.+ng itself and Xia Fei with that. It was practically a heaven-defying divine weapon!
Xia Fei had only managed to forge it with plenty of good luck and the Law of Primal Chaos’s subversive power. If Xia Fei tried it again, he was not at all confident that he could successfully forge a second draining weapon. After all, luck played a large part in
it.
If there was an ability or a technique that could successfully forge draining weapons, then it would definitely be a nightmarish scene. Nirvana had no grade and could not even qualify as a true soul weapon, but it was absolutely powerful. Who knew just how shocking this so-called grade 7 dark soul weapon could be?
Cai Kangnian had shown the ability of the soul weapon, so no one questioned its authenticity any longer. Instead, they had broken into hushed conversations.
“Boss Cai, we all believe that it’s truly a high-grade dark soul weapon. Now, tell us: Is this a barter or is this a live auction?”
Everyone’s eyes were all lit with frenzy. The warriors present could already feel their blood boiling. Even if Cai Kangnian told them that he wanted the lives of their kin as payment, some would not hesitate to provide him with that.
“I already told you; someone entrusted me with this soul weapon, so everything will be decided by the esteemed Spiritualist himself. I, the lowly Cai Kangnian, am just a middleman in this deal.” Cai Kangnian once more placed emphasis on his role in this.
“All of you, listen up!” With his face turned solemn, he declared loudly, “This esteemed Spiritualist told me very clearly that this soul weapon isn’t for sale!”
“Not for sale! If it’s not for sale, why have you called us over?”
“Cai Kangnian, you’re not trying to make a fool out of us, are you?!”
This had caused the entire hall to erupt. Thousands of people had traveled from distant star regions just for this grade 7 soul weapon, so none of them felt happy in the least when they heard from Cai Kangnian that it was not for sale.
“This soul weapon will be given to whoever manages to pull it out of this case!” Cai Kangnian yelled. “Whoa!”
This time, Cai Kangnian’s words really sent shockwaves throughout the crowd. Everyone present felt like they were riding on a rollercoaster, their emotions having been taken for a ride full of twists and turns.
There was no sound. The unhappiness everyone had been feeling was replaced by glee. No one could believe that the condition for laying claim on this weapon would be the successful pulling of it from the case.
“Let me tell you all the ugly truth first: The esteemed Spiritualist already said that not everyone will have the strength to pull it out. This time, it’s not you who are picking the soul weapon but the soul weapon taking its pick from among you! If the weapon chooses you as its master, then the matter is settled, but if you fail, you’ll be paying with your very life!”
“Gambling with our lives?!” It was unknown who the big-mouthed person was that had exclaimed loudly.
Cai Kangnian shouted in an emotionless yet firm voice, “That’s right! You’ll be gambling with your life! ‘Either you walk away with this grade 7 dark soul weapon or you leave your life right here’ are the words spoken by that esteemed Spiritualist!”
*Buzz*
Many felt their heads in turmoil. Obtaining a high-grade soul weapon was obviously a good thing, but gambling with their lives for it was too high a stake. Many instantly backed out after hearing the shocking words Cai Kangnian had announced.
Of course, there were still those who showed a willingness to throw away their lives.
After several seconds of silence, two barrel-chested men leaped onto the stage. Both men shared quite similar features, with large, round heads and upturned noses. They looked like biological brothers.
“Big brother, let me go! I refuse to believe that there’s such wicked creation!”
“No, it’s better if I go! Wait at the side, and when I obtain the soul weapon, we can go get a round of drinks to celebrate!” This elder brother shoved his younger brother to the side without further discussion and stuck his hand into the case!
*Pa*
The moment his hand touched that weapon inside the case, a powerful suction force proceeded to act on him!
“Ahhhh!”
That we’ll built man could only let out a mournful wail as his entire person aged rapidly the next second. His face filled with wrinkles, his eyes grew turbid. It was as if the soul weapon had just sapped him of his life and vigor!
“Big brother!”
The younger brother standing at the side was stunned. He reached out and grabbed his brother in an attempt to pull him away from the case, but a tragic sight promptly followed. The moment these two brothers touched, they never parted again!
In the blink of an eye, the younger brother aged as well, and then both men turned into dust!
‘So those so-called dark soul weapons are actually draining soul weapons?!’ Xia Fei thought, startled.