Salas's Recruitment

"Xiaoyu, there's an urgent call from the platform headquarters."

Assistant A-Xue hurried over with a tablet, her voice brimming with excitement:

"The platform wants to confirm an S-rank contract with Xiaoxiang Pavilion. The proposed revenue split is 70%, and Sister Zi is still negotiating! The advertisers are also considering raising their offers!"

A-Xue grew more excited by the second. "We're currently the only livestream room connected to another world!"

The future looked bright!

Lin Xiaoyu's fingertip traced Chu Men's face on the screen, her expression complicated. "A-Xue, do you think... we really are communicating with another world?"

"Maybe... I couldn't find this variety show online. But the platform believes it, the advertisers believe it, and so do the netizens!"

"Eight of the top ten trending topics are about this. Douluo is the hottest topic right now!" A-Xue handed her the tablet. "The other two are all about you, Lin Meimei~~"

Lin Xiaoyu shot A-Xue a glare, then continued, "So what kind of role is this guy playing? A transmigrator?"

"Judging by how he acts, that's definitely possible."

At that very moment, the transmigrator setting the whole internet ablaze was clutching a half-meter-long dragon bone and gnawing away with gusto.

The golden, crispy skin and rich, reddish-brown sauce looked so appetizing that it seemed you could smell the savory aroma right through the screen.

Chu Men ate with gusto. From the way he was going at it, you'd think he had a grudge against dragons.

[Holy crap, this streamer makes the food look so good! Braised dragon bone? Is that really dragon meat? The takeout I just ordered suddenly doesn't sound appealing!]

[The braised food shop downstairs has a line stretching across the road!]

[Sending a rocket! Please tell us what a Soul Beast tastes like after it's braised!]

After a food livestream that left everyone watching both envious and stuffed, the number of people online dropped by more than thirty percent.

For a while, braised food shops everywhere were flooded with customers like a pack of hungry wolves, leaving their owners overjoyed.

Before long, the number of viewers bounced back, then climbed twenty percent higher than before.

Burp~

Chu Men patted his round belly and watched his tip points surpass 300,000, his heart practically dancing with joy.

He found his old buddy A-Zheng in his contacts and placed an order.

A-Zheng had been a longtime fan even before Lin Xiaoyu joined the livestream the previous night. He was a simple, honest young man and had now become Chu Men's supplier of modern goods.

After receiving the message, A-Zheng set down the braised pig trotters he'd just bought next door and promptly opened the "Douluo App" Chu Men had sent him earlier, then collected the advance payment.

Following the list, he gathered some of the goods from his own shop.

The phone camera clicked, and the goods vanished on the spot, reappearing in Chu Men's system storage.

"What a marvelous app!"

Though it wasn't his first time sending something through, A-Zheng was still amazed.

Meanwhile, Chu Men returned to the Star Soul Tool Shop and took a comfortable nap.

By afternoon, he was on his way.

The Spirit Saint Hall in Heaven Dou City was one of only two Spirit Saint Halls on the continent. The other stood in the capital of the Star Luo Empire.

Chu Men made his way to the side gate as if he knew the place by heart. After the guards announced his arrival, he met the newly appointed Platinum Bishop, Salas, in the reception room.

"Mr. Chu truly is a young talent. In just a few days, your Soul Power has improved again!"

Salas set down his teacup, a kindly smile on his face, though a trace of scrutiny lurked in his eyes.

Chu Men gave a slight bow and replied politely, "You flatter me. I've finished repairing the batch of Soul Tools you entrusted to me last time. I've come to report back."

As he spoke, he placed a low-grade Storage Soul Tool about the size of a Rubik's Cube on the table.

Salas paid it no mind. His smile faded, and he solemnly took out a scroll and a token.

"This is a commendation from Spirit Hall, along with a special administrative token from the Heaven Dou Spirit Saint Hall."

Chu Men's eyes sharpened. Wearing a sunny smile, he accepted them and unfolded the scroll to take a closer look.

The commendation praised him for providing vital information about the wanted criminal Tang Hao. The Pope Hall had issued the commendation and awarded him a number of Gold Soul Coins, among other things.

The special administrative token would not only grant him all sorts of conveniences at businesses under Spirit Hall.

Even throughout the Heaven Dou Empire, the various Spirit Hall Branches under Salas's jurisdiction would look after him!

"I'm truly overwhelmed by this honor."

Chu Men put on a mercenary air, modest in his words but quick to pocket the rewards.

Salas seemed even more pleased. He picked up his tea and took a sip, his words carrying a hint of recruitment.

"Mr. Chu is a young hero. Even the elders of Spirit Hall have high praise for you. Your future is limitless!"

[Am I the only one who thinks old Salas is trying to recruit the streamer?]

[The streamer's so young and so capable. Spirit Hall definitely won't let him slip away!]

"Your Excellency is too kind. I'm only a craftsman, with just enough skill to make a living. I'm hardly anything special."

Chu Men rose and bowed again. "If Spirit Hall ever needs any Soul Tools, just come to me. I'll make sure you're satisfied!"

He turned to leave.

"Tang Hao escaped."

Salas's voice was perfectly calm, but to Chu Men, it landed like a clap of thunder.

Chu Men's fingers clenched involuntarily, but the smile stayed on his face.

Tang Hao was, after all, the Clear Sky Douluo and the original story's villainous big boss. It was no surprise he wouldn't be easy to deal with!

Chu Men had disguised himself when he kidnapped Xiao Wu that day, so Tang Hao didn't know who he was.

Whatever the case, Tang Hao was a massive potential threat. He'd better stay on guard!

"Thank you for the warning, Your Excellency!"

Salas watched Chu Men's disappearing back, a trace of regret flashing through his eyes.

"Such talent, what a pity his Martial Soul is a pen."

In the common understanding among Soul Masters, tool-type Martial Souls generally had little combat strength and were mostly suited to support work.

Their status was even lower than that of support-type Soul Masters, who could at least take part in battle.

But in relatively peaceful times, talented tool-type Soul Masters often enjoyed a more comfortable life.

"Your Excellency, this is the information you asked us to gather on Chu Men."

"Mm. Leave it here."

Star Soul Guidance Shop... Blue Tyrant Academy... Liu Erlong!

Salas closed the file, his eyes dark and unreadable.

Could Chu Men be connected to the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan?

If so, recruiting him could be quite useful!

Otherwise, although Salas admired Chu Men greatly, he wasn't so determined to recruit him at all costs.

After collecting his payment for repairing the Soul Tools and the Gold Soul Coin reward listed in the commendation, Chu Men left the Spirit Saint Hall in high spirits.

Gold had a certain magic to it, lifting the spirits. That was no exaggeration.

[The streamer's got guts. Did he just turn down Spirit Hall's recruitment?]

[Guts my ass. The streamer's clearly a pragmatist. He didn't give back the administrator's token, either!]

[Think Tang Hao's going to come after the streamer? Heh heh heh!]

[The streamer hid his identity, and Tang Hao's still being hunted by Spirit Hall. He should be safe for now.]

[These Gold Soul Coins are so finely made. Wonder if there's any merchandise? Someone from Yiwu, get to work!]

Chu Men glanced up at the somewhat scorching sun, instinctively looked around, then headed straight for the material shop and blacksmith's.

After thoroughly replenishing his stock, he had replaced all the materials he'd used up making the Fire Dragon Battle Armor!

He also gave the blacksmith some instructions and settled on the specifications and quantity for the bomb casings, then added a new batch of interference bombs to his schedule.

With a piece of finger-licking dragon tendon between his teeth, Chu Men trotted over to Blue Tyrant Academy.

He greeted the students he passed on the way, went straight to the administrative wing, and then rudely pushed open the dean's office door.

As if he owned the place!

But something crimson came flying straight at him: a dumbbell!