Chapter Forty-Five: The Soul-Devouring Sword

"Soul-Devouring Sword!" In Da Meng's violet eyes, a violent burst of purple light flashed. All four of his brothers rose with him in unison. At that moment, Auctioneer Lan Mei removed the light array covering the ancient sword, and instantly, an awe-inspiring aura spread outward, gripping every heart. The broken sword emitted a black, watery sword light, swirling rapidly around its blade and forming a sinister black vortex in an instant.

Without hesitation, Chen Feng and the five ape brothers leapt through the window. But even faster were the people in the opposite VIP box, who landed atop the auction stage first, seizing the broken sword in their grasp.

Tall and slender, clad in a black robe, his features possessed a strangely beautiful, almost demonic allure. A vicious smile curled on his lips. As soon as the sword was in his hand, he activated its power, unleashing a chilling energy. The rotating black vortex on the blade suddenly expanded, transforming into a black hurricane that swept across the room.

"Leave the sword behind!"

"You dare cause trouble in my auction house? Courting death!"

Two furious shouts rang out. Within moments, more than ten figures broke through the black sword wind and charged onto the stage. Lan Mei, the auctioneer, stood calmly behind the black-robed man, clearly his accomplice.

Wherever the black hurricane passed, tables, chairs, and weaker individuals were shattered and vanished within the storm. On the stage, the combined attacks of the crowd surged toward the black-robed man who had summoned the hurricane.

Facing the onslaught, the black-robed man remained unmoved. He wielded the broken sword in a simple yet explosive style, unleashing an even more overwhelming aura. A wilder black sword vortex appeared. "Die, all of you! Soul-Devourer, my old friend, unleash the devouring black vortex!" His voice was not loud, but it carried clearly throughout the auction hall, striking fear into the hearts of the less powerful.

Ning Guodong dared not leave his son and daughter-in-law, watching anxiously as Chen Feng and the others rushed toward the stage.

Yu Youwei, startled by the chaos before her, whispered, "Father, I'll take Mofei and leave first."

"You can't get out. Once the auction starts, the arena is sealed by an array—no messages can be sent, not even through communication talismans. Clearly, insiders have colluded with outsiders today; even the emergency passageways must be under control. This VIP room is protected by an array. It's safer for you to stay here." Despite his anxiety, Ning Guodong explained calmly.

Seeing the sudden turn of events, Ning Mofei, like a frightened little beast, pressed close to Yu Youwei, silent.

"Sir, VIP Room Three hosts the Ning family," Lan Mei announced, her eyes fixed with hatred on Ning Guodong's box. Her voice was low, but Yu Youwei and Ning Guodong, both focused on the stage, missed nothing she said nor the deep hatred in her eyes.

She had joined forces with the sinister black-robed man to seize the sword—seeking vengeance for her sister Yuer, whose wrongful death was tied to the Ning family! Yu Youwei's heart trembled. If she herself were not also caught in this calamity, she might have admired the girl's resolve.

Ning Guodong gave a cold "Hmm," and replied icily, "So they're targeting the Ning family?"

"Obviously." Yu Youwei pursed her lips, omitting Lan Mei's motive of sisterly revenge. She studied the black-robed man on stage without a hint of fear and asked, "Father, can you discern where the black-robed man comes from?"

"The sword is called Soul-Devourer, and the black-robed man calls it his old friend. He must be Night Nine Nether, master of the Nine Nether Peak, who was driven from the Central Continent a thousand years ago and fled to the East Sea." Ning Guodong's voice was calm, but the panic in his eyes betrayed his turmoil within.

Survival was difficult, and with his weak son beside him, and their adversaries targeting the Ning family, father and son might not escape this disaster! After some thought, he said resolutely, "Youwei, soon I won't be able to protect you. Slip into the main hall if you can, and seize any chance to escape. No matter what happens to Mofei or me, just save yourself."

If Ning Guodong hadn't said this, Yu Youwei might have truly planned to flee alone in desperate times. Instead, she replied calmly, "I will take care of Mofei. You do what you must." The black-robed man's power was formidable, but she, known as Madam Poison, was not without her own means. She believed that her sword, Green Frost, was no less than Soul-Devourer in rank. She had no intention of killing, but together with Ning Guodong, protecting Ning Mofei for a while should not be too difficult. And if they could hold out, reinforcements might arrive.

Ning Guodong was deeply moved but said no more. With another guardian for his son, his burden was eased.

The black-robed man on stage remained unmoving despite the attacks of numerous cultivators. Upon hearing Lan Mei's words, he casually sent a ferocious black sword vortex toward the Ning family's box.

Inside the VIP room, everyone could distinctly sense the icy, sinister murderous intent locked onto them by the sword vortex. Yu Youwei's skin prickled with goosebumps. At that moment, Ning Guodong let out a furious roar, his aura rising to its peak. Crimson streams of energy whirled madly around him, growing larger and erupting into waves of fire that spread outward, dispersing the cold, sinister killing intent within moments.

Feeling the immense power within those waves of fire, Yu Youwei realized her father-in-law was a deeply concealed master. Yet, intuition told her that even at full strength, he might not match the Nine Nether Peak Lord.

"Soul-Devourer—at the very least, it must be a spiritual weapon," Yu Youwei mused, eyeing the broken sword. Even if she couldn't use it herself, it would make a fine gift. Night Five's birthday was approaching, and as his god-aunt, she should prepare something worthy. The thought of his awkward expression when calling her 'aunt' made her smile unconsciously.

"Dark Devouring of Heaven and Earth!"

Unaware that his Soul-Devourer sword was being coveted, the black-robed man laughed aloud, his sword style shifting. The broken blade emitted an ear-splitting screech, unsettling all who heard it, and its sword light spread, plunging the arena into a sense of doom.

Countless flashes of blade and sword vanished within the sword's black radiance, and the cultivators attacking the black-robed man found themselves suddenly covered in countless wounds. Cries of agony rose, and many began to retreat.

The black-robed man laughed wildly, sweeping his sword to send a vast wave of black sword light crashing forth. The sword light exploded with lightning-fast speed; within seconds, everyone within ten meters was ravaged, bodies flying and crashing to the ground. Only about ten remained able to fight—among them, Chen Feng and the five violet-eyed ape men.

"It's over—devouring black hole."

His laughter ceased abruptly. A chilling, murderous light flashed in his eyes, and the sword's icy radiance was razor-sharp. A vortex, gleaming with dark brilliance, appeared above his head.

A cold, sinister aura filled the air. The temperature in the box plummeted. Ning Mofei shivered and pressed himself against his wife. Yu Youwei naturally moved him behind her. "It's all right, Mofei. Don't be afraid." It seemed protecting him was now instinct.

[Author's Note]: Please add to your collection.