Has the Storyline Shifted?!

Before long!

Gourmet Street, Scripture Depository.

Bang, bang—

"Boss, I'm back!"

This time, there was noticeably more ease and familiarity in Dugu Yan's voice.

Li Jingzhe was still sitting cross-legged, repeatedly consolidating his insights from practicing the Three-in-One Technique. If he wanted to climb high, he needed a solid foundation. Just then, Dugu Yan knocked and entered.

"Looks like our Miss Dugu isn't very punctual!"

Li Jingzhe didn't move a muscle, or even lift an eyelid.

Dugu Yan choked on her words... Couldn't he just speak nicely for once?

But then she thought it over. Never mind, never mind. She was here to keep their relationship on good terms. No getting angry, no getting angry!

She quickly stepped forward and set the Snow Silkworm and Red Ginseng she had prepared in front of Li Jingzhe. "I was worried you'd get tired of waiting. Here, I, Dugu Yan, keep my word. I've brought you the goods—twelve of each... The extra ones are an apology for offending you before."

"Oh, that's a pretty paltry apology."

"You... I shouldn't have bothered with you at all!"

Dugu Yan got up and wandered between the bookshelves on her own. "Seven Injuries Fist... Blazing Blade... Leopard Tail Kick... Triple Cloud Step..."

As she passed each bookshelf, she couldn't help reading the titles aloud and flipping through the books. Just as she'd thought, every shelf was packed with Self-Created Soul Skills.

She had already seen the wonders of the Thousand Spider Poison Hand, and that had made her curious whether the other Self-Created Soul Skills here were just as remarkable.

Maybe she'd even find another one that suited her?

Unfortunately, after looking around, she found that while they were all remarkable, not a single one suited her. Their styles didn't fit, or their attributes were incompatible... The Triple Cloud Step, though, would suit Lingling quite well. Lingling's mobility was far too poor, and this would make up for it.

Still, when it comes to Soul Skills, what matters is whether they suit you.

With that thought, she immediately abandoned the idea of buying it and giving it to Ye Lingling, then turned to Li Jingzhe.

"Boss, do you have any other Self-Created Soul Skills? Preferably one like the Thousand Spider Poison Hand, something that suits me."

"Sure!"

There really was one?

Dugu Yan's eyes lit up. She rushed over to Li Jingzhe, only to hear him say, "You'll have to wait for me to make one up for you."

Tch—

Dugu Yan rolled her eyes. "As if I'd believe that. You're going to make one up? If you don't want to tell me where these things come from, just say so. Why make up a story?"

"I bet you're just a shop assistant. The real boss behind the scenes hasn't told you when the next shipment is coming, has he?"

The Scripture Depository had nine floors. A place this huge shouldn't have only a few Self-Created Soul Skills. And how could a Soul Scholar have so many Self-Created Soul Skills?

The only explanation was that this guy was just an employee, too. He didn't know when the next shipment would arrive!

Maybe the place belonged to some hidden, fallen family or sect?

"He's ignoring me again... I'm leaving!"

Seeing that Li Jingzhe had no intention of engaging with her, Dugu Yan couldn't be bothered to waste time. She still had to hurry to Heaven Dou Royal Academy and discuss the preliminaries with Tian Heng!

At the doorway, she flicked her wrist—

Dugu Yan tossed a token toward Li Jingzhe. A Jade Phosphorus Serpent was carved on the front, and the characters Dugu on the back. Li Jingzhe reached out with two fingers and caught it effortlessly between them.

"Not bad reflexes... Take this. If anyone gives you trouble, show it to them. Seeing this token is like seeing Poison Douluo himself. Anyone will have to give you some respect."

Whether Li Jingzhe heard her or not, she arrived in style and left in style.

She left the Scripture Depository and climbed into the carriage.

"Let's go, Uncle Fu. To Heaven Dou Royal Academy!"

"Yes!"

Li Jingzhe examined the Snow Silkworm and Red Ginseng Dugu Yan had brought. Not bad—they were both top-grade, hundred-year-old herbs.

I've got the ingredients, but it's not time yet...

"I need to get my body into a depleted state first. That way, it'll absorb the medicinal power better!"

It was the same principle as going hungry for a long time and then feasting: your body absorbed nutrients more easily.

Right, I still need to buy the other supplementary herbs at daybreak... I need Whale Rubber, too!

It was currently the Douluo I era. The true value of Whale Rubber—improving physical fitness and increasing the age limit for absorbing Soul Rings—had yet to be discovered, so it was relatively cheap. Commoners couldn't afford it, while nobles ate it for fun.

No wonder the people here only knew that it worked without understanding why. They were using something this good for that sort of thing...

For now, using Whale Rubber to aid his practice of the Dragon-Elephant Prajna Technique would be far more worthwhile than buying a Python Snake Gallbladder from the System Mall.

Having made up his mind, Li Jingzhe got to his feet and began circulating the Three-in-One Technique. His steps traced the sixty-four hexagrams of the I Ching, ethereal and nimble, while also incorporating the Dragon-Elephant Prajna Technique's broad, forceful movements. As for the Muscle and Tendon Classic, his main cultivation technique, it had already begun circulating quietly.

Again and again. Before he knew it, daylight had broken!

"Boss, do you have any Self-Created Soul Skills that can be mastered quickly?"

Bang—

The Scripture Depository's front door was shoved open. Before its owner even appeared, a hurried voice rang out.

Li Jingzhe had just finished his stance practice and wrapped up his workout. He hadn't even had time to check his Soul Power growth when Dugu Yan barged in. "Why is it you again?"

"I thought you'd finally learned how to knock. One trip out, and you've gone right back to your old ways?"

"Come on, I don't have time to bicker with you... Do you have one or not?!"

There was still a hint of anger on Dugu Yan's pretty face. Her eyes were a little red, and tear stains marked her cheeks.

That's strange. She's already mastered the Thousand Spider Poison Hand... Judging by the look of her, did she just have a big cry?

"I know you're in a hurry, but don't rush."

Li Jingzhe sat down in a chair and teased her. "You look like you're in a bad mood. What, did a man dump you?"

"You're the one who got dumped!"

Dugu Yan snorted. "The men chasing me could line up all the way from here to the Star Dou Great Forest!"

She'd figured it out: when dealing with this jerk, she couldn't let herself get worked up. The more worked up she got, the more he treated it like entertainment!

She immediately changed the subject. "Speaking of which, we're practically... friends now, right? I still don't know what to call you."

"Li Jingzhe!"

Li Jingzhe chuckled. "You can call me Pavilion Master, too!"

"Yeah, right. Pavilion Master..."

Dugu Yan pursed her lips, then seemed to think of something. "Oh, right. Are you coming to watch the Soul Master Tournament this afternoon? I'll give you two tickets."

"No!"

Li Jingzhe curled his lip. "A bunch of rookies fighting each other... What's there to watch?"

"Hey, what do you mean, a bunch of rookies fighting each other?"

Dugu Yan had to run the phrase through her mind three times before she caught its meaning. Then she objected, "This is a grand event every young Soul Master is desperate to compete in! How can you make it sound so worthless?"

"Heh... Only the finals are remotely interesting. The earlier knockout rounds are no better than kids squabbling."

Li Jingzhe looked utterly dismissive.

"Hey, that's going too far! If the knockout rounds are kids squabbling, what does that make me?" Dugu Yan said crossly.

"What do you have to do with the knockout rounds?"

Li Jingzhe looked surprised. "If I remember right, you're on the Heaven Dou Royal Academy First Team. Doesn't that mean you're already guaranteed a place in the finals?"

"Hmph—"

Dugu Yan gave a soft snort. "What's the point of getting a free pass to the finals? I'm going to fight my way into them fair and square!"

Huh?

Li Jingzhe was astonished... Dugu Yan wanted to compete in the knockout rounds? How was that different from what he remembered?