Unlocking the System Shop

The next morning.

Yu Xiaogang set out for the Soul Hunting Forest with Tang San and Gu Han.

Along the way, Grandmaster carefully explained the different kinds of Soul Beasts and the ideal choices for Tang San's First Soul Ring.

He recommended a snake- or vine-type Soul Beast, one skilled at binding and possessing tremendous resilience.

Tang San listened intently. Gu Han seemed to be listening too, but his eyes kept drifting to Tang San's belt.

Noticing Gu Han's gaze, Tang San spoke with a hint of pride:

"This is a storage-type Soul Tool called Twenty-Four Moonlit Bridges. My teacher gave it to me."

They soon entered the Soul Hunting Forest.

A faint smell of blood lingered in the air. Every now and then, they could hear the low growls of wild beasts.

Yu Xiaogang summoned his Martial Soul, Luo Sanpao, to scout ahead, warily watching their surroundings.

Gu Han silently circulated his Soul Power. The phantom of the Karma Scissors flickered in and out of sight in his palm.

His Soul Skill, Karma Sight, quietly activated as he observed the threads of causality wrapped around Tang San, each one representing an "opportunity."

One of those threads pointed faintly in a certain direction through the forest, carrying a trace of cold, sinister energy.

Looks like that's the place. This first Soul Skill is what'll send Tang San's Blue Silver Grass further and further off course later on, Gu Han thought to himself.

Sure enough, it wasn't long before Luo Sanpao suddenly cried out a warning.

The bushes ahead rustled.

Suddenly, a giant snake nearly four meters long burst out. Its entire body was dark green, with faint black patterns along its sides. Its pair of yellow-brown eyes fixed on Gu Han and the others, as if it had already marked them as prey.

"It's a Mandala Snake! Its venom is potent, and it moves swiftly. It's perfect for your First Soul Ring!"

Grandmaster was both surprised and delighted. He immediately ordered Luo Sanpao to attack. "Thunderous Fart, Earth-Shattering Luo Sanpao!"

But the Mandala Snake was incredibly fast. It nimbly dodged Luo Sanpao's foul-smelling attack and lunged at Tang San, who was closest to it.

"Little San, watch out!" Yu Xiaogang cried.

Tang San reacted swiftly. He used Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track to narrowly evade the fangs, while his Sleeve Arrow was already loaded.

The Mandala Snake watched its prey escape and froze for a few seconds. Then it quickly changed targets, spotting Gu Han not far away.

It bared its fangs and spat venom toward Gu Han.

At this critical moment, a flash of light appeared in Gu Han's eyes. He quickly dodged, then steadied himself in the distance and locked onto a thread of causality connecting Tang San to "successfully obtaining the Mandala Snake's Soul Ring." The thread was rapidly growing more solid.

The invisible scissors snipped lightly at the thread!

Snip!

The thread of causality shuddered violently. It did not break completely, but it dimmed considerably.

At the same time, the Mandala Snake's swift lunge somehow stiffened and faltered for a split second.

It was as if something had interfered with it. The venom it had aimed at Gu Han consequently veered off course,

skimming right past Tang San's shoulder. The fabric there was instantly corroded, but no poison entered his body.

Tang San broke out in a cold sweat, but seized the fleeting opportunity.

A flash of light shone in his eyes as he activated Purple Demon Eye and spotted the Mandala Snake's opening. He immediately used Mysterious Jade Hand. His hands turned white as jade as he shot them out and seized the Mandala Snake's vulnerable spot with pinpoint accuracy.

Even with all his trump cards laid bare, Tang San's current physique was not enough to fully contend with the Mandala Snake.

The Mandala Snake whipped its tail wildly. Tang San grunted, but clamped down hard with Mysterious Jade Hand.

Suddenly, the Mandala Snake thrashed in its death throes. Its head twisted at an awkward angle, and its fangs tore through the skin of Tang San's arm, injecting a trace of venom.

"This is bad!" Seeing this, Grandmaster hurried forward to help.

But the Mandala Snake's last-ditch counterattack was ferocious. Venom sprayed everywhere, and Grandmaster accidentally inhaled some of the poisonous mist. His face turned green, and he staggered before collapsing unconscious.

Seeing this, a fierce glint flashed in Tang San's eyes. He stopped holding back, summoned the Clear Sky Hammer with his left hand, and swung it at the Mandala Snake.

The Mandala Snake crumpled completely beneath the blow. A yellow Soul Ring slowly condensed above its corpse, though it was noticeably dim.

[ Ding! Successfully interfered with the key plot point "Tang San obtains the Mandala Snake's Soul Ring," removing the poison from the Soul Ring's qualities. Reward: 100 Magic Modification Points! ]

[ Current Magic Modification Points: 250. Requirement to unlock the System Shop met! The System Shop is now open! ]

"It's finally unlocked. Let's see what it sells." Gu Han was thrilled. For the moment, he didn't even pay attention to Tang San absorbing the Soul Ring.

He immediately turned his thoughts inward. A virtual interface appeared in his mind.

System Shop:

Supreme (Magic Modification Point requirements are astronomical, beyond reach):

[Godhood Weaving Authority] (100,000,000 Magic Modification Points): Freely define and create entirely new godhoods.

[World Rule Correction Paper] (50,000,000 Magic Modification Points): Make small-scale modifications to the underlying rules of the Douluo World.

[Boundary-Severing Sword Spirit Martial Soul] (30,000,000 Magic Modification Points): A Martial Soul containing the power to sever time.

"These all cost way too many Magic Modification Points. I'd better not even think about them for now. Let's see what I can afford."

With a thought, Gu Han scrolled to the very bottom of the System Shop.

[Breath Concealment Technique] (200 Magic Modification Points): Perfectly conceals your presence and Soul Power fluctuations. Anyone below the rank of Titled Douluo will find it difficult to see through.

[Basic Space Ring (1 cubic meter)] (200 Magic Modification Points): Contains one cubic meter of storage space.

"Breath Concealment Technique will help me hide myself better. It'll also keep those people from easily noticing my plans in the future, especially when I'm dealing with Titled Douluo."

"The Space Ring would be incredibly convenient, and I could store all sorts of things in it. But I don't have any use for it right now."

After a moment's thought, Gu Han made his choice. "Exchange for Breath Concealment Technique."

[ Ding! Exchange successful. 200 Magic Modification Points consumed! Remaining Magic Modification Points: 50 ]

A rush of information flooded his mind, and Gu Han instantly mastered the Breath Concealment Technique.

Outside, Tang San had already sat down cross-legged and begun absorbing the Mandala Snake's Soul Ring.

Because of Gu Han's interference, the poison contained in the Soul Ring had been greatly reduced—it could even be said to be nonexistent. Even so, the absorption process was still unpleasant.

Before long, Tang San successfully absorbed the Soul Ring, and a bright yellow ring appeared around him.

He opened his eyes and felt out his newly acquired Soul Skill. "I'll call it Bind."

He looked toward Grandmaster, who lay unconscious nearby, his eyes full of worry.

But when his gaze swept over Gu Han, standing not far away, his heart suddenly sank.

He saw it. He definitely saw me use the Clear Sky Hammer. Tang San's eyes turned cold in an instant. No one else can know that I have a second Martial Soul.

Though they came from the same village, the two had no real relationship. In Tang San's mind, anyone who posed a threat to his safety had to be eliminated.

Gu Han naturally sensed Tang San's cold gaze, but he didn't care.

Just then, a clear voice, tinged with anxiety, called out from beyond the trees:

"Gu Han, are you guys in there?"

Xiao Wu came running over, panting, her pretty face full of worry.

In the end, she hadn't been able to stop worrying about Gu Han, so she had secretly followed them.

When he saw Xiao Wu appear, surprise flickered in Tang San's eyes. "Why does she feel so familiar?"