Heavenly Scale Sacrifice

As the capital of the Dou Ling Empire, Lingdou City remained lively even at night. Though it was not a holiday, plenty of people still filled the streets, strolling or chatting. Many Soul Masters were also browsing the various shops, speaking loudly among themselves.

Wang Nan and Ma Xiaotao walked side by side down the road. Nearly half an hour had passed since they left the hotel. They had yet to find a place to eat, but they had run into several teammates first.

"Xiao Nan, Xiao Tao, you came too?" Gongyang Mo stood at the entrance of a shop and waved to them. Xixi and Ling Luochen stood beside him.

"What are you doing here?"

Wang Nan glanced inside and found nothing but small wooden carvings. It was a souvenir shop meant for ordinary people, with nothing related to Soul Masters or Soul Engineers.

"Oh, you just don't understand girls' thoughts." Gongyang Mo replied before looking at Ma Xiaotao and pointing at the shop beside him. "Want to take a look inside?"

Ma Xiaotao glanced at Wang Nan beside her.

Since they were already here, Wang Nan was somewhat curious about shops meant for ordinary people as well, so he nodded in agreement.

The group entered the shop, and the boss quickly came over to greet them.

The shop owner had no talent for cultivation and was merely an ordinary person. He could not tell that they were all Soul Masters and simply took them for a few young customers.

"Welcome! You must be here to pick out souvenirs, right? Then you've come to the right place. Every item in this little shop comes from the folk legends of our Dou Ling Empire. You could say they're the most meaningful souvenirs around."

"Did you make all of these yourself, boss?"

Wang Nan carefully examined the carvings before him. Even with his standards, he had to admire the boss's craftsmanship. Every piece was lifelike, and even the smallest details had been carefully polished.

"I'm not afraid of being laughed at by you guests. I awakened a martial soul too—an Engraving Knife. Unfortunately, I had no Innate Soul Power and couldn't cultivate. I can only carve wooden figures to support my family."

Wang Nan gave the boss a look upon hearing that. If he had been able to cultivate, he probably could have become an outstanding Soul Engineer.

Gongyang Mo and the girls were gathered around a plump wooden carving, discussing something, but Wang Nan's gaze was drawn to a crescent-shaped statue placed at the very top.

"Boss, you said every wooden carving here came from some legend, right? Could you tell me the story behind that statue?"

The boss followed Wang Nan's gaze, then smiled. "That's the Water God worshipped in my hometown."

"The Water God?" This was Wang Nan's first time hearing that this world worshipped other gods, especially one associated with water. On this continent, shouldn't the Sea God have had the most believers?

"Yes, the Water God." The boss brought over a ladder, carefully took down the Water God statue with both hands, and gently set it on the table before wiping away the dust gathered on it.

Only then did Wang Nan see that the "crescent" was covered in carved scales. It had a head and a tail, and looked like a carp.

"Seeing your Water God reminds me of a story. In the story I know, though, the 'Water God' had to eat a boy and a girl every year to ensure favorable weather for the region."

Wang Nan had only been bored and wanted to chat with the boss, but the moment he said that, he noticed something strange. Wang Nan was, after all, a Soul Master. Though it lasted only an instant, he caught the flicker of unease in the boss's eyes.

"Boss?"

"Haha... how could that be? The Water God is a god. How could there be a god like that? Haha." The boss laughed. "By the way, guest, you can take any of the other wooden carvings if you like them, but forget about this Water God. I still need its blessings to bring me prosperity."

"Then why not tell me the story of the Water God, boss? I've only just arrived in Lingdou City, and I've never heard of this Deity before." Wang Nan studied the boss's expression, then pointed at two other carvings and took out a Gold Soul Coin. "Also, I think these two are quite nice. Please wrap them up for me."

"Of course, of course. I'll wrap them right away." The boss's eyes widened at the sight of the Gold Soul Coin.

A single Gold Soul Coin was nothing to Wang Nan—one meal alone could cost more than ten—but in truth, an ordinary family of three would only spend four or five Gold Soul Coins in an entire year.

As the boss wrapped the wooden carvings, he slowly began to speak. "The legend of the Water God has been passed down for more than ten thousand years. No one can say for sure how it began. Some say it was a Soul Master whose martial soul was a carp, while others say it was a Soul Beast. In any case, it was not originally a Deity, but an elder of the Heavenly Scale Sect."

"The Heavenly Scale Sect?" Wang Nan frowned. He seemed to have no memory of such a sect, whether in his Past Life Memories or in the knowledge he had learned in this life.

"Yes. The Heavenly Scale Sect was a rather special sect. To be accepted as their disciples, one had to possess a Beast Martial Soul, and that martial soul also needed scales. Legend says that whether it was a fish or a snake, as long as it had scales, the Heavenly Scale Sect could use a secret technique to turn its martial soul into a true dragon."

Wang Nan listened intently. He had not expected this world to have the concept of transforming into a dragon as well.

"Then how did this Water God come to be?"

"Well, this Water God was one who failed in its attempt to transform into a dragon. It was rather lucky, though. After failing, it did not perish, but fell into a great river. Later, the Heavenly Scale Sect was destroyed, yet it survived in that river."

The boss's expression shifted repeatedly, and he let out a faint sigh. "From then on, both banks of that river enjoyed favorable weather and abundant harvests. The river never flooded again, and it gradually became the Water God."

Wang Nan did not press any further. He was not sure whether he had the ability to resolve the matter of this "Water God." Continuing to ask might even harm the boss. It would be better to explain the matter to the academy after returning and have them investigate it.

"Thank you, boss. Your wooden carvings are exquisite. If I get the chance, I'll come again."

"Thank you for your patronage, guest. You're welcome anytime."

After exchanging pleasantries with the boss, Wang Nan looked toward Gongyang Mo's group. "How's it going over there?"

At Wang Nan's words, Gongyang Mo and Ma Xiaotao finally lowered their voices.

"Almost done!"

With that, Ma Xiaotao brought over a chubby wooden carving. It looked like a chicken and was rather adorable.

"Do you think this looks like me or him?" Ma Xiaotao said, pointing at Gongyang Mo beside her.

"Like you, I guess. After all, this wooden carving doesn't look as colorful as he does."

Ma Xiaotao gave a soft snort, but in the end, she still bought it.