Teacher Wang brought all of them except Wang Dong to the auction. It turned to be successful as almost everyone had gotten themselves a suitable soul spirit weapon.
Yuhao: "Tonight, we got lots of nice things."
Caitou: "Yeah, we even manage to buy milk that supplements spirit power."
Teacher Wang Yan: "Looks like tonight's night auction is about to end. Up until now, there wasn't anything you could get, Shen Yin."
Bei Bei: "It couldn't be helped. Junior brother Yin has a tool spirit essence and is good at close combat and long range attacks. He's like the perfect all rounder. The tools here won't be that much help to him."
Shen Yin: "It's fine. As long as you all get what you need, our team is bound to get stronger."
Hostess: "Thank you for waiting everyone. Here is tonight's ain attraction. It is an extremely rare and unusual object but I believe everyone here understands its worth."
Bei Bei: "A red sheet covering it."
Yuhao: "Looks like it's an extremely valuable object."
Hostess: "It's not just a soul spirit weapon."
Knowing what's going to happen next, before Yuhao attempts to use his Spirit spy to take a peek, Shen Yin stops him.
Shen Yin: "Yuhao, best you don't try."
Yuhao: "Eh? How did you know I was going to use my eyes?"
Shen Yin: "It's obvious."
Yuhao: "O-oh...but why did you stop me?"
Shen Yin: "The object inside is not simple at all. I fear you may hurt yourself using Spirit spy on this particular item."
Yuhao: "Eh!? That dangerous! But if brother Yin says it, then it must be true. Did you use your divine eyes to evaluate it?"
Shen Yin: "All I can tell you is that it's an invaluable treasure that has it's worth covered and ruined by an ominous energy."
At the time, Yuhao couldn't understand what he was saying.
Hostess: "Based on what it is worth and rarity, it should not be sold in this level of an auction so we will close it if it's not sold. Please take a look everyone." She removes the sheet revealing the item inside. "It would be a shame if you miss this one in a lifetime opportunity. Because to obtain it is every soul spirit master's dream. It is one of the top 100 engraving knife in doululu, Lie Bang Engraving Knife."
A burst of dark energy came out from the knife in the transparent case. Only Shen Yin and Yuhao could see this frightening power and stare in wary and fear while the other exclaim in joy and excitement. Yuhao noticed Shen Yin's grim expression and realizes that he felt the same thing he did.
Yuhao: "Brother Yin...do you also see this?"
Shen Yin nods at the question in confirmation. Everyone else couldn't wait to bid on ths knife, not able to contain their desire to obtain it.
Hostess: "There's an important subject that we must disclose. If this was a normal Jie Bang Engraving Knife, it would not be sold in this level of auction. This is number 99 in the list. With its strength, it should not be in that position. Just that...this engraving knife has a curse."
Caitou was the first one among us to learn of the knife's true nature, "Is it...this is the devouring engraving knife?!"
Hostess: "Not bad, this engraving knife is the legendary- Devouring Engraving Knife!" She went on explaining the history and creator of the knife being a demonic spirit master and how the knife was passed down from one to another. All of the previous possessors of the knife died horribly. After the explanation, the people in the auction had a sudden change of heart and withhold their desire to bid. It was the obvious choice if they don't want to die.
Caitou: "Don't get this knife. I heard of it from Teacher Fuyu. This knife is too scary. Don't even touch it."
The hostess began the bid at 10,000 gold coins but no one raised their number due to their fear of the curse. She was about to give up when Yuhao raised his number and bid, "I bid 10,000 gold coins!" Naturally being the only one who wanted the knife, he won the item. Teacher Wang Yan, Bei bei and Caitou questioned his decision at once.
Yu hao tries to convince Teacher Wang yan to let him keep this knife. Shen Yin also lended a hand in his persuasion.
Yuhao: "Sorry, Teacher Wang Yan. I didn't discuss it with you earlier but I figure out a solution to the knife's problem. I have a way to overcome the knife's curse. It won't be a problem."
Teacher Wang Yan: "Really? Don't do anything rash. I don't want anything happening to you."
Shen Yin: "Teacher, if Yuhao says he has a solution, let's trust him. I don't think he is the type to act recklessly without reason. If it reassures you, I'll even keep an eye on the curse with my divine eyes."
Under both of our persuasion, Teacher Wang Yan gave in. After the Engraving knife, the auction came to an end. Everyone left and went back to their hotel rooms. I had taken a shower and changed into a set of sleeping clothes stored in my storage. I sat on the bed, his eyes suddenly glowed with a symbol in the middle as he felt a sudden surge of energy.
Shen Yin: "...this is...."
Lei: [Young master, it's a god class seal.]
Shen Yin: "Well, I guess Yuhao went into Wang Dong's mind space and caused the seal to trigger."
Feng: [What seal? What was that terrifying power?! Oi! Tell me!!]
Lei: [Young master is probably the only other individual that senses this energy due to your divine eye reacting to the seal. Once you grow stronger, it will not lose out to any other god essences. Remember your essences were given by god as well.]
Feng: [Of course with me on his side, how can he lose to those second-rate people...Don't ignore me!!!]
Shen Yin: "If you say so."
Feng: [You two!!!]
The next morning >>>>>
Instead of going to the stadium, I stayed at the hotel to continue healing our main combatants. Their complete recovery is the one of the key factors to our victory. I feel a bit regretful not being able to watch the matches because today's fights would reveal a large portion of their abilities.
Currently, I'm in Senior Luo Chen's room with my glaive in hand emitting a golden light. For each time I use the glaive, I feel more connected to it and the healing speed increases.
Shen Yin: "Do you feel any discomfort, Senior sister Ling?"
Luo Chen: "No. Is it just me or are my injuries healing faster and faster each time you use your ability?"
Shen Yin: "I think so too. It may be growing stronger and becoming more efficient." he sat there in deep thought.
Luo Chen: 'Feels so good to stare at his serious face in daze but how does he look smiling. I bet no girls can resist blushing. Now that think of it, I have never seen him make many expressions much less a smile. He's so mysterious in more ways than one.' She unconsciously reacher out her hand to touch his face until Shen Yin blinks and his eyes and hers met.
Both of them stared at each other in a daze for a moment until Luo Chen flushes a bit and avert her eyes first. 'What...what was I doing!!!'
Shen Yin: "Was there something on my face just now?"
Luo Chen: "Y-yes! There was but it's gone now."
A bit surprised to see this side of his senior sister. Even if he was fully aware of her true personality, he was still dumbfounded to witness it in person. The fact that Ling Luo Chen is a 'tsundere', someone who never admits to things and tend to act opposite to their initial personality. Finding it a bit funny, Shen Yin's lips lifts up ever so slightly, turning it into a gentle and warm smile.
Ling Luo Chen saw it and her eyes widens at the sight. She couldn't help but stare in a daze and her heartbeats quicken. Both of them stayed like that for a while yet again.
After Shen Yin leaves the room, Ling Luo Chen jumps onto the bed and rollis around to vent her heart out, blushing red.
Luo Chen: 'What...What was that!!!! So embarrassing!!! But....that smile.....is too unfair.....' she buries her face into the pillow.
On the other hand, Shen Yin stood in the hallway with a hand rested on his face in an attempt to hide his slightly red cheeks but left his red ears exposed. He couldn't stop reminding himself of the awkward actions he took. He didn't even understand why he did it.
After finishing his check up on the other seniors, he went back to his room to cultivate and recover his used up energy. He ,himself, understood that his current level of power is still too weak compared to the dangers he'll no doubt face in the future. He needed to become a lot stronger. He took out his tool spirit.
'For tool spirits, the connection between it and the user is the key to strength. The stronger the connection, the more powerful it will be. How do I connect with this glaive?'
[Young master, if you wish to become closer with your weapon, you should try syncing yourself with it using your spirit energy.]
{Just assimilate yourself with this glaive. It's not that hard. Pretend that the weapon is a part of your body and use it as so.}
Feng and Lei gave me advice and I did as they instructed. I released my spirit energy into the glaive. Some time later, there was a reaction. Even though it's an object, it's still an essence. There's bound to be some sort of conscious, just like back them when it wouldn't let me touch it. A very wild and lively spirit resides here. Mid-way while in progress, I was interrupted. The door to my room slammed open ad Teacher Wang Yan came bursting in. He grabbed me by the arm and dragged me to several rooms saying that it was an emergency.
'Eh? What is this...' with each room I entered, I saw the back-up team unconscious on their respective beds. Some of them has injuries to a certain dangerous extent and the others has pretty much emptied out their spirit energy. I took out my glaive and did what I could for them. I thought that their wounds would be lighter. This isn't like what happened in the story. No....in the first place, the book didn't specify how hurt they were or how much they will suffer so I...was naïve.
Following the Original plotline, Teacher Wang revealed our secret. How the main combatant suffered heavy injuries and weren't able to participate? How the back-up team were forced to compete? How some of them were only 12 years old? We no longer have anything to hide. I appreciated Teacher Wang for his consideration for us.
Once everything was done, I went to the little café in the hotel to buy myself a drink to unwind. I saw Senior sister Ling there looking into the glass by the counter. I approached her.
"Senior sister Ling, are you here to buy something?"
"....Yes." She looks away for a moment before turning back to me, "You and Yuhao are close, right?"
"Yuhao? Yes."
"Which one of these cakes do you think he'll like?"
"Cake? Oh, are you buying a get well present for him?"
She went quiet for some time before nodding. Her reaction seemed....cute to me.
"I believe Yuhao will appreciate whatever you get for him. There's no need to think so hard on it." Unconsciously I raised my hand and patted her head. Her face turned beet red. She smacked my hand away before turning around to purchase her chosen cake. I chuckled a bit before also ordering my drink alongside hers.
3rd Pov
"Are you two ordering together?" The staff asks.
"Yes, I'll be paying." Shen Yin says, earning himself a wide eye from Ling Luo Chen. Shen Yin could guess what she is thinking, "Take it as an apology for me laying hands on your head."
He was just about to leave with his drink when Ling Luo Chen grabbed the edge of his shirt. "Mind taking me to Yuhao's room..." She says in a soft voice. Shen Yin naturally couldn't refuse her request.
He accompanied her to Yuhao's room without complain. Once they were nearing the entrance of his room, they saw a certain scarlet haired fire devil coming out of it.
"Oh, Shen Yin and Luo Chen. Are you two here to see Yuhao?"
Before he could reply, Luo Chen panickily answered, "No...course not. Who cares about him! I;m juts passing by."
"Ok, then I'm heading back." Ma Xiao Tao left.
"Senior sister Ling, are you not gonna go in?" Shen Yin asks, staring at the gloomy girl beside him, who hid the wrapped up gift behind her. "If you're nervous, I can always deliver your gift to Yuhao in your stead." he offered.
"....no...it's fine..." She was going to head back to her room to eat the cake alone when Shen Yin stopped her.
"Sister Ling, since you are already here, it's a shame to let your carefully selected gift go to waste. Why not give it a try? I'll be right beside you."
The girl was touched by his consideration. She looked at the gift in her hands and back at him. If this were before the competition began, she would have agreed to his suggestion and went along. Back then, she was still contemplating between Shen Yin and Yuhao but now....
"Instead of doing that, can you come to my room and help me recover fully? I want to get ready for tomorrow's competition." she asks. Shen Yin was surprised about her request but didn't refuse. He allowed her to drag him to her room.