The next day.
Lin Huai arrived at the Soul Tool Hall.
Spike sent Scott out to greet Lin Huai.
"Ancestor, what kind of Soul Tool do you need today?"
"Teacher Spike said you could tell me if you needed anything. I'd pass it along for you so you wouldn't waste your precious time."
Scott led Lin Huai to Pex's workshop.
"Holy Son, is there something you need?"
Lin Huai nodded and pointed to several low-grade Soul Tools.
"Bishop Pex, I need you to modify these Soul Tools for me."
"Make them look extremely ornate. Ideally, a Level 1 should look like a Level 3, and a Level 3 like a Level 6."
Pex looked confused.
"Holy Son, that would be rather showy but impractical. They might not even be able to perform as well as they're meant to."
Lin Huai's eyes lit up.
"That's perfect. Modify a few for now. I have a use for them."
"Oh, and add anti-tampering arrays."
Pex began working with a helpless look.
Scott had a feeling Lin Huai meant to sell them to another faction.
"Ancestor, are you planning to sell Soul Tools to another faction?"
"Exactly. I'll sell them some things we've phased out and recoup a little money."
Lin Huai thought of how the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect in the original story had bought several Hidden Weapons for ten thousand Gold Soul Coins—and had even bought five hundred sets at once.
If he sold them a complete set made up of Level 1 to Level 3 Soul Tools, charging a hundred thousand Gold Soul Coins wouldn't be unreasonable.
In Douluo II, Level 3 Soul Tools generally went for between one and three thousand Gold Soul Coins.
Compared to Tang San's few lumps of iron, Soul Tools were insanely good value.
"Big weapon, little might, carve some weeds where there's empty space;
Slap on some oil, draw a cross, sell to the Seven Treasure Sect with a grin."
Scott was so full of admiration that he was practically ready to drop to his knees and sing Lin Huai's praises.
"Ancestor, you're simply brilliant! With you on our side, you'll be a nightmare for every other faction!"
"But how much are you planning to sell them for, Ancestor?"
"A hundred thousand!"
Hearing Lin Huai, Pex nearly dropped the carving knife in his hand.
What a rip-off! All this stuff wouldn't fetch a thousand Gold Soul Coins in the Sun Moon Continent, and the Holy Son wanted to sell it for a hundred thousand!
No wonder he'd become the Holy Son.
After waiting a while, Pex handed Lin Huai five sets of ornate low-grade Soul Tools.
Lin Huai immediately called for Guang Ling, and the two of them headed to the hotel where the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect was staying.
Ning Fengzhi was fretting over Spirit Hall's strength.
With more than ten Titled Douluo, the Upper Three Sects combined couldn't win against them!
Ning Fengzhi scratched his head.
"Sect Master, the Holy Son of Spirit Hall is here to see you."
A trace of puzzlement crossed his mind. He'd never had any dealings with Spirit Hall's Holy Son.
"Quick, invite the Holy Son in!"
Lin Huai and Guang Ling entered the reception room together.
Bone Douluo's expression froze. He recognized Guang Ling as one of the six enshrined elders from that day.
Ning Fengzhi had noticed him too, of course.
"May I ask what brings you here, Holy Son Lin?"
Looking at Ning Fengzhi's broad smile, Lin Huai couldn't help but marvel. He really did fit the stereotype of a merchant.
"We recently found a batch of Soul Tools. After repairing them, only a few still worked."
"There aren't many, and we can't make any more, so we thought we'd sell them to you. The direct disciples of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect have no means of protecting themselves, after all."
"What do you think, Sect Master Ning?"
Ning Fengzhi considered it.
He assumed this was an olive branch from Spirit Hall and was about to turn it down.
Just then, Lin Huai took out an ornate set of Soul Tools.
He pointed first to a small pendant.
"Defensive Soul Tool. It can withstand a full-strength attack from a Soul Elder. Once its Soul Power runs out, it needs a day to recharge. After that, it can be used again."
The small pendant made Ning Fengzhi waver.
Whatever Spirit Hall's intentions, the direct disciples really did need a Soul Tool like this.
Ning Fengzhi kept his expression composed.
"How does Holy Son Lin wish to conduct this deal?"
Lin Huai smiled faintly. He'd taken the bait.
"No rush. Let me show you the other Soul Tools first."
He pointed to a bracelet.
"This is another Defensive Soul Tool. It works the same way, but it can withstand a full-strength attack from a Soul Ancestor!"
"These two are offensive Soul Tools. Once charged with Soul Power, the larger one can kill a Soul Ancestor. The smaller one can paralyze a Soul Elder for three seconds if it hits."
Lin Huai looked at Ning Fengzhi, who was gazing fervently at the four Soul Tools on the table.
"Fengzhi!"
Bone Douluo's voice rang in Ning Fengzhi's mind, and he quickly put on a calm expression.
Guang Ling watched Gu Rong with a teasing smile.
Gu Rong guiltily lowered his head.
"Name your price, Holy Son Lin. If it's reasonable, I'll buy them."
Lin Huai pretended to think, then slowly uttered a few words:
"Two hundred thousand for all four."
Ning Fengzhi was a little surprised. Was he being taken for a sucker?
"Holy Son, you must be joking. Two hundred thousand is far too expensive."
"Twenty thousand, and I'll take them all."
"If you have more, I can offer you a better price."
Lin Huai's smile faded, and he replied seriously:
"I do have four more sets. If you're genuinely interested, they're a hundred and fifty thousand per set!"
Ning Fengzhi hesitated, but these Soul Tools were like a beauty's jade hands, caressing his heart over and over.
"Are the other four sets the same?"
Lin Huai took out the remaining four sets of Soul Tools.
"Feel free to test them, Sect Master Ning. But don't have anyone with too high a level attack them. If they break, that's on you."
Ning Fengzhi summoned several Soul Elder and Soul Ancestor guards and had them test the Soul Tools one by one.
Once he'd confirmed they were sound, Ning Fengzhi waved his hand grandly.
"Then I'll take them all as a gesture of friendship."
"This card contains six hundred thousand Gold Soul Coins. Here's to a pleasant deal."
Taking Ning Fengzhi's gold card, Lin Huai smiled too.
"A pleasant deal!"
Thinking back to what Lin Huai had said earlier, Ning Fengzhi guessed that Spirit Hall must have more Soul Tools.
"If the Holy Son has more Soul Tools to sell, you can approach us first. The price might not be the same as today's."
"But I'll make sure you're satisfied."
Lin Huai and Ning Fengzhi shook hands.
"I'll keep that in mind. Sect Master Ning, remember to tell the Seven Treasure Shop in Spirit City."
"So, Holy Son, you got six hundred thousand Gold Soul Coins for a few low-grade Soul Tools?"
Lin Huai took out the gold card and gave it a little wave.
"Scarcity makes things valuable. Besides, I had Pex spruce them up."
Spike recalled that back in the Sun Moon Continent, even Level 6 and Level 7 Soul Tools only fetched this kind of price.
Only now did he truly understand what Lin Huai meant when he said innovation would bring progress.
When everything I've discarded is treated like a treasure by everyone else, money is nothing but a string of numbers.
"Remember to discuss it with the Pope later. The six hundred thousand is mine."
Lin Huai turned and left the Soul Tool Hall, casually tossing the gold card into his bracelet.
When he returned to the training grounds,
he saw Hu Liena and the others there too.
Yue Guan's peculiar voice rang out:
"Little Huaihuai, perfect timing. I'll leave Nana and the others to you."
"I've got lots of things to take care of. Once I'm done, I can go tend to my flowers."
Yue Guan vanished as soon as he finished speaking. Lin Huai hadn't even noticed where he'd been before.
Lin Huai noticed that the two groups were glaring at each other.
"In that case, you can fight first."
"Perfect, three on three."
Before you continue