An Unexpected Delight

An Unexpected Delight

"You're called Xiao Hu?" Li Xuan asked the shop assistant with a smile.

"Yes, Young Master. Since you've asked, I'll definitely make sure you have a good time exploring Sala City!" Zhao Xiaohu grinned, respectfully bowed to Li Xuan, then smiled at him with simple honesty.

"Thank you, Uncle Zhao. Then I'll be relying on you, Brother Xiao Hu. Let's set off." Li Xuan nodded to Zhao Da'an, then left the building materials shop with Xiao Hu.

Zhao Xiaohu followed behind Li Xuan without any trace of contempt or impatience on his face.

Although Zhao Xiaohu was older than Li Xuan, he deeply respected Li Xuan's position as the Flower Sea supervisor, so he behaved with great humility.

"Young Master, where would you like to look around?" Zhao Xiaohu asked Li Xuan respectfully.

"Brother Xiao Hu, no need to be so formal. You can call me Xiao Xuan or Xuan Ge'er. What places in Sala City sell books?" Li Xuan asked with a smile.

"A bookstore? There's one on the next street over, but it doesn't have many books." Zhao Xiaohu pointed blankly toward a nearby street.

"That's fine. Let's go take a look." Li Xuan smiled indifferently, waved his hand, and headed toward the street Zhao Xiaohu had indicated.

On the Douluo Continent, becoming a Spirit Master was the only proper path. Spirit Masters held most of the authority in this world and enjoyed most of its benefits.

Yet there was an innate chasm between ordinary people and Spirit Masters. It was not merely a matter of whether one possessed a Martial Soul; Spirit Masters also controlled the path to becoming one, keeping knowledge sealed away from ordinary people.

Spirit Masters feared that ordinary people might gain power capable of rivaling theirs. That would shake the status of Spirit Masters, and they would never allow such a thing to happen.

For example, Spirit Masters themselves had destroyed the methods for making Soul Tools. After all, powerful Soul Tools could give ordinary people weapons comparable to those of Spirit Masters.

Thus, most books related to Spirit Masters were held in the hands of Spirit Master families, sects, empires, and Spirit Hall.

Most books that circulated publicly were merely travel journals and miscellaneous notes, offering virtually no help with cultivation.

Only idle people sold books, so running a bookstore generally did not earn much money.

Zhao Xiaohu smiled and shook his head before following Li Xuan toward the bookstore.

Before long, the two arrived at the bookstore entrance.

Zhao Xiaohu stepped ahead of Li Xuan, reached the bookstore door, and lightly knocked on it.

"Grandpa An, you have a customer! Young Master wants to buy some books!" Zhao Xiaohu called loudly inside after knocking.

Through the glass, Li Xuan saw that the bookstore was small and held few books. Only a skinny old man lay in a reclining chair with his eyes closed, resting.

Hearing the knock, the little old man finally climbed up from his chair.

"Hmm...? Was I dreaming? That boy Xiao Hu came to see me?" Old Man An groggily got up from the reclining chair and rubbed his eyes. Only then did he see Zhao Xiaohu and Li Xuan standing at the door. He hurried forward and opened it.

"Young Master, this is the bookstore owner, Grandpa An. Xuan Ge'er, if there are any books you want to read, just tell Grandpa An," Zhao Xiaohu said to Li Xuan with a smile.

"This junior, Li Xuan, greets Grandpa An." Li Xuan smiled and bowed to Old Man An.

After all, Old Man An had a head full of white hair and looked at least eighty or ninety years old. There was no loss in showing him respect.

"Young Master, you're too polite. Tell me whatever books you want, and I'll get them for you." Old Man An smiled at Li Xuan.

"Grandpa An, I'll browse around first and decide afterward." Li Xuan nodded, stepped into the bookstore, and began examining the books on the shelves.

Most of the books on the shelves were travel journals and miscellaneous writings. There were basically no books about cultivation.

After making a full round, Li Xuan frowned inwardly. The Spirit Master world's blockade on knowledge related to Spirit Master cultivation was truly severe.

Li Xuan had originally wanted to buy some books about Spirit Master cultivation so he could study on his own and become a true Spirit Master.

Although Li Xuan's Soul Power Level had reached level 16, he had figured it all out on his own. He had never received formal Spirit Master education and did not even know whether he was cultivating correctly.

In the end, Li Xuan could only sigh.

"Becoming a true Spirit Master is too difficult..." Li Xuan did not give up and continued searching the shelves.

"Young Master, there's no need to keep looking. I truly don't have any books related to Spirit Masters here." Hearing Li Xuan's words, Old Man An smiled, shook his head, and tried to persuade him.

Li Xuan stopped searching, gave Old Man An a serious look, and sighed as he prepared to leave the bookstore.

But at that moment, Li Xuan suddenly spotted a book on the shelf.

However, Li Xuan immediately withdrew his gaze.

Sala City Map

"Grandpa An... How about this? Pack up all the books on this shelf for me. Flower Sea gets boring. Since there are no cultivation books, I'll read some leisure books to pass the time." Li Xuan smiled at Old Man An.

Yet Old Man An and Zhao Xiaohu exchanged a glance, their eyes revealing something indescribable.

Seeing that something was off with their expressions, Li Xuan quickly turned back and looked at the other books on the shelf.

The Secret I Must Tell About the Empress

My Soul Saint Girlfriend

Oh! My Spirit Emperor Brother

Golden Soul Plum

...

They were all books that single men loved most.

Ordinary books did not sell particularly well in bookstores, so for a bookstore to remain in business, it needed to rely on selling books like these to maintain a normal livelihood.

Once Li Xuan clearly saw the titles, his face instantly turned bright red. His head buzzed, and his mind went blank.

"Well... I have a friend who likes this kind of book. I'm buying them for my friend!" Although Li Xuan was terribly embarrassed, he still stiffened his neck and forced himself to say it.

The Sala City Map should record the terrain around Sala City, making it extremely important to Li Xuan. No matter how explosively embarrassing it was, he could not give it up, so he could only say that.

"Oh~~~~~" Zhao Xiaohu and Old Man An drew out the same long, rising "oh" in unison.

The two seemed to have discovered something, their eyes filled with understanding.

"Pack them up already! I'm going outside first." Li Xuan said irritably before fleeing in panic and rushing out of the bookstore.

"Grandpa An, since Young Master likes them, please pack these books up. My father and I will come collect them tonight." Zhao Xiaohu looked at Li Xuan's reaction, smiled honestly, then turned to Old Man An.

"Well... all right." Old Man An shook his head helplessly.

"Grandpa An, how much do these books cost altogether?" Zhao Xiaohu asked again.

"These books aren't expensive. The whole shelf would only cost thirty Silver Soul Coins. For Xiao Hu's sake, twenty-five Silver Soul Coins will do." Old Man An thought for a moment before quoting him a price.

"No need, no need. Young Master has money. The original price is fine." Zhao Xiaohu smiled, waved his hand, then turned and left.

The moment Zhao Xiaohu walked out of the bookstore, he saw Li Xuan standing not far away, watching him with a calm expression.

Zhao Xiaohu secretly praised Li Xuan in his heart.

As expected of the Flower Sea supervisor. In terms of shamelessness alone, Zhao Xiaohu admitted he could not compare.

"Brother Xiao Hu, how much do those books cost?" Li Xuan asked Zhao Xiaohu.

"Thirty Silver Soul Coins." Zhao Xiaohu nodded and answered Li Xuan with a smile.

Li Xuan did not stand on ceremony. He directly took thirty Silver Soul Coins from his bag and handed them to Zhao Xiaohu.

"Thank you, Young Master." Zhao Xiaohu accepted the Silver Soul Coins with a smile.

"By the way, Young Master, what should we do next?" Zhao Xiaohu asked Li Xuan again.

"Hmm... Is there anywhere that makes jewelry?" Li Xuan asked Zhao Xiaohu.

Dear readers, there's plenty of time today, so there should be another update.

(End of Chapter)