Douluo: The Martial Soul Asura Armor, a Good Spirit Turning Evil

The next morning, Duanmu Yan went to the dean's office to ask for leave.

"To Tianming City?" Yan Shaozhe leaned back in his chair, tapping his fingers on the table. "The Soul-Devouring Carving Knife?"

"Hmm." Duanmu Yan didn't explain further.

Yan Shaozhe looked at him for a few seconds, but didn't ask any further questions. He simply nodded and said, "Come back before next week. The training schedule has already been arranged, so don't delay it."

Qian Duoduo chimed in from the side, "You brat, be careful on the road. That knife is weird, don't get yourself killed."

"understood."

Ye Guyi was already waiting at the door, carrying a small bundle on her back, her golden hair tied into a neat ponytail.

"What are you doing here?" Duanmu Yan frowned.

"I'll stay with you," Ye Guyi said matter-of-factly. "What if something happens and a fight breaks out? Can you handle it alone?"

"...Whatever you want."

The two boarded a soul-guided flying vehicle and arrived at Tianming City in the evening.

This is a border city with a rugged architectural style, and you can see many merchants from the Sun Moon Empire on the streets.

The air was filled with the smells of dust and spices, and it was much noisier than Shrek City.

The Jubaoge branch is located in the city center. Its storefront is half the size of Shrek City's, but it is just as brightly lit.

The branch pavilion master was a middle-aged man in his forties surnamed Zhou. As soon as he heard that Duanmu Yan and Ye Guyi came from the main pavilion of Shrek Academy, he immediately came out to greet them personally.

"Elder Lin has already sent word that you two have come from afar, thank you for your hard work." Pavilion Master Zhou greeted them with a smile and invited them into the inner hall, where he served them tea.

Duanmu Yan had no intention of exchanging pleasantries and went straight to the point: "When will the Soul-Devouring Carving Blade arrive?"

Pavilion Master Zhou was slightly taken aback, then smiled and said, "Mr. Duanmu is well-informed. The items are still on their way and are expected to arrive tonight."

Duanmu Yan understood and got up to leave.

"Please wait a moment, gentlemen." Pavilion Master Zhou quickly stood up, his face beaming. "Since you've come all the way to Tianming City, I must show you some hospitality. There's a long-established restaurant in the east of the city, and the chef there has absolutely superb skills—"

"No need," Duanmu Yan refused decisively.

Pavilion Master Zhou wasn't annoyed. He rubbed his hands together and lowered his voice, "To be honest, the goods delivered tonight are more than just the Soul-Devouring Carving Knife."

"There are also some other things, all rare items that came from the Sun Moon Empire. If you two are interested, you can take a look beforehand, and feel free to take anything you like."

He paused, then added, "I will inform Elder Lin."

Duanmu Yan paused in his steps.

One yard owned by a yard.

If it's free, why not take it?

He glanced at Ye Guyi, who blinked and a slight smile appeared on her lips.

"Then I'll have to trouble Pavilion Master Zhou." Duanmu Yan sat down again.

Master Zhou was overjoyed and immediately ordered people to bring tea and refreshments, and also sent someone to confirm the handover time for tonight.

"The goods will arrive around 7 PM," he said. "They'll be checked in the warehouses outside the city first, then brought to the storehouse for inventory. If you two don't mind the lateness, you can sit in the storehouse for a while and take a look at the goods as soon as they arrive."

Duanmu Yan nodded: "Okay."

Knowing better than to say anything more, Master Zhou arranged a private room for the two of them to rest and then went off to attend to his own business.

The room wasn't large, but it was very clean. Ye Guyi put her bundle on the table, leaned back in her chair, and stretched.

"If it's free, why not take it?" She mimicked Duanmu Yan's tone, her eyes crinkling with laughter.

"Hmph~"

Duanmu Yan didn't reply, but picked up his teacup and took a sip.

Outside the window, the sky was gradually darkening.

Scattered lights illuminated the streets of Tianming City, and the shouts of vendors packing up their stalls could be heard in the distance.

The hour of Xu (7-9 PM).

Outside Tianming City.

The night was as dark as ink, and only one caravan of carriages moved slowly along the official road.

The carriage was adorned with the banner of Jubaoge, and four guards on horseback vigilantly scanned the darkness on both sides.

The middle-aged man at the head of the group yawned and rubbed his arms: "This awful weather, it's unbearably hot during the day and chilly at night."

"Alright, stop complaining," his companion whispered. "We'll be in town after this. We'll deliver the goods and get a good night's rest."

No sooner had he finished speaking than a gust of cold wind swept through the forest.

The horses neighed and raised their forelegs high.

"Who goes there—"

Before the middle-aged man could finish speaking, a dark shadow swooped down from the treetop. A flash of dark light, and his body froze on the spot before he fell silently to the ground.

More shadowy figures emerged from the darkness, silently, just like the night itself.

"Charge! Find the Soul-Devouring Carving Blade first!"

A hoarse voice came from the forest, and an old man in a dark red robe slowly walked out. His face was withered, his eyes were sunken, and dark purple mist was swirling around him.

His gaze fell on the tin box on the carriage, and a sinister smile curled at the corner of his mouth.

The guards had already reacted; their spirit rings lit up, and their swords were drawn.

But the number of evil spirit masters far exceeded theirs, and each of them was fearless and ruthless.

"The elders have ordered that the items be taken away, especially the knife, but as for the people, none should be left alive."

The old man waved his hand, and the shadowy figures rushed forward like a tide.

At the city gate, a guard stumbled through, covered in blood, his voice hoarse: "There are...there are evil spirit masters, they're robbing the goods...Quick!..."

Before he could finish speaking, he collapsed in a pool of blood.

The city lights were still on, and in the elegant room of Jubaoge, Duanmu Yan paused slightly in his teacup.

He sensed the aura of an evil spirit master!

Duanmu Yan put down his teacup.

Without hesitation, he flipped his wrist, and the Asura Summoner lit up.

Armor fragments flew out from all directions, the sound of metal scraping against metal was dense like rain, and dark red patterns spread across the purple armor.

The moment the mask closed, he had already smashed open the window of the elegant room.

"Wait here."

Before the words were even finished, the person had already disappeared into the night.

"Hey, wait a minute."

Ye Guyi didn't even have time to put down her tea before glaring at him, grabbing her bundle and chasing after him.

His golden hair fluttered in the night wind, and his soul power flowed into his legs, making him move like a swallow.

Hearing the commotion, Master Zhou pushed open the door and entered, only to find the elegant room empty and the windows open. He looked bewildered: "You two—"

"Master! Something's happened!" A shop assistant stumbled up, his face deathly pale. "The delivery team outside the city was raided by evil spirit masters; the guards suffered heavy casualties!"

Master Zhou's expression changed drastically, and the teacup in his hand crashed to the ground.

"Quick! Gather everyone!" He yanked off his outer robe and strode out, his steps almost a jog. "Outside the city! Hurry!"

Outside the city gate, the firelight had already begun.

Duanmu Yan landed on the official road, where he saw overturned carriages, scattered goods, and guards lying in pools of blood.

Dark purple mist filled the air as five or six black-robed evil spirit masters rummaged through a metal box.

He lifted his foot and crushed a broken piece of the knife on the ground.

The sound of metal shattering was particularly jarring in the night.

The people in black robes all looked up at the same time.

"A Shrek academy student?" The leader squinted, looking at the badge on Duanmu Yan's chest with disdain.

Immediately afterward, the spirit rings lit up—five rings, two yellow and three purple. "Kid, mind your own business—"

Duanmu Yan did not listen to him.

The fist had already struck his face.

The dark red aura, wrapped in the force of the punch, blasted the man's head into a cloud of blood mist.