A Bowl of Clear Noodle Soup for One Hundred Gold Soul Coins?

On the busiest commercial street in Spirit City, the setting sun cast a golden glow over the bluestone pavement.

"I'm starving to death; let's hurry up and find somewhere to eat."

Yan clutched his hollow stomach. Having just finished a day of high-intensity training, he was currently walking down the street with Hu Liena and Xie Yue.

As the Golden Generation of Spirit Hall, the three of them endured grueling training regimens daily, consuming far more physical strength and spirit power than the average person.

"All you ever think about is food," Xie Yue said, rolling his eyes at him, though his own stomach was indeed growling—a sound he had heard even during their training earlier.

Hu Liena chuckled. "You two are two of a kind; your stomachs were both roaring louder than the other just now."

As they spoke, an unprecedented fragrance drifted toward them.

It wasn't the scent of ordinary food, but a magical aroma that seemed to stimulate the very depths of the soul, making one unable to resist searching for its source.

The three of them stopped in their tracks almost simultaneously, their nostrils flaring as they greedily inhaled the scent in the air.

"What is that smell? It's so fragrant!" Hu Liena's eyes lit up.

Yan swallowed hard. "I've never smelled anything this good before. This is far more fragrant than the dishes at the top restaurants in Spirit City!"

"I agree," Xie Yue concurred.

The three exchanged glances, seeing the same longing in each other's eyes. Subconsciously, they followed the scent to the end of the street, where they discovered a small shop with a rustic design.

The storefront was small, with a wooden sign hanging above the door bearing the characters "Maple Dye Pavilion."

The calligraphy was vigorous and powerful, carrying an indescribable charm.

"How have I never seen this shop before?" Xie Yue asked, puzzled. "We walk this street all the time; we shouldn't have missed it."

Hu Liena felt it was strange, too. "Indeed, I know this street like the back of my hand. When did a shop like this pop up?"

"Who cares? Let's go in and see." Yan was already drooling from the aroma; he had no interest in pondering such questions.

They pushed the door open and stepped inside. The interior was decorated in a simple, elegant style, with a few solid wood tables and chairs neatly arranged and several landscape paintings hanging on the walls, giving the place a leisurely and peaceful atmosphere.

A faint scent of sandalwood permeated the air, blending with the alluring aroma of food to create a marvelous ambiance.

The most eye-catching feature was the young man behind the counter.

He was dressed in clean, simple casual clothes, napping on a rattan rocking chair. His black hair fell loosely over his forehead, and his features were delicate and refined.

Sunlight streamed through the window, bathing him in warmth and making him look lazy yet charming.

When Hu Liena caught a clear look at his face, her eyes brightened.

This person was quite to her taste! (As everyone knew, Hu Liena was a sucker for a pretty face.)

However, when she carefully sensed him and found not a shred of spirit power fluctuation, she couldn't help but feel a bit disappointed.

Without spirit power, he wasn't a spirit master; they were destined to be from different worlds.

What a pity, to be so handsome yet just an ordinary person.

"Customers?"

Lin Feng seemed to have only just noticed someone entering the shop. He half-opened one eye, his tone impossibly lazy.

"The menu is on the table. Just order whatever you want."

With that, he closed his eyes again to continue his nap, showing none of the enthusiasm typical of a shopkeeper greeting guests.

"This boss is way too laid-back..." Yan's mouth twitched. "Can you really be this calm while running a business?"

Xie Yue also found it interesting. "First time I've seen such a unique shopkeeper, but this fragrance is truly tempting."

The three sat down at the table. Hu Liena picked up the menu and opened it, only to find it completely blank.

"Huh? Why is there nothing here?" She flipped through a few pages in confusion, but they were all empty.

Just as she was wondering, text suddenly appeared on the menu, as if an invisible hand were writing upon it.

The large characters "Level 3 Menu" were the first to catch their eyes, written in a free and easy style, followed by the dishes and their prices.

"Clear Broth Noodles... 100 gold spirit coins!?"

Hu Liena's voice rose an octave, and she nearly threw the menu away.

"Cucumber Salad 150 gold spirit coins!? Are you kidding me!"

One had to know that 100 gold spirit coins was an astronomical figure in the eyes of an ordinary person.

A single gold spirit coin was enough to cover a family of three's expenses for three months, yet a bowl of noodles here cost that much?

"Let me see." Xie Yue took the menu, his eyes nearly popping out of his head. "Scallion Tofu 200 gold spirit coins, Fried Peanuts 300 gold spirit coins... This is highway robbery!"

Upon hearing the prices, Yan's face turned livid. He had been so hungry he could feel his stomach touching his spine, but now he was full from sheer rage at these outrageous prices.

"Damn it, we've walked into a scam!"

He stood up abruptly, his spirit power surging, and a fierce flame aura instantly flooded the entire shop.

"Spirit Avatar!"

With his Flame Lord spirit released, flames roared to life on Yan's skin. He grew tall and imposing, his presence becoming violently aggressive.

"You brat, are you trying to swindle me? A bowl of noodles for 100 gold spirit coins? I'm going to smash this scam of a shop!"

As he spoke, Yan started toward Lin Feng, ready to teach this ignorant shopkeeper a lesson. In Spirit City, no one had ever dared to swindle people so blatantly!

Hu Liena and Xie Yue were both startled by Yan's sudden outburst and hurriedly tried to stop him.

"Yan, calm down!"

"Don't be impulsive, this is his shop after all!"

However, what happened the next second left the three of them completely stunned.

"If you aren't eating, get out."

Lin Feng didn't even open his eyes; he just clicked his tongue impatiently. His voice remained languid, as if Yan's threat were nothing more than a gentle breeze brushing past him.

But the moment his words fell, an irresistible, terrifying pressure descended in an instant!

This pressure was absurdly strong—it wasn't the kind of pressure an ordinary soul master could release, but a more fundamental suppression, as if it came from the depths of the soul.

Yan didn't even last a second; his martial soul was forcibly suppressed back into his body. He collapsed to his knees instantly, spitting out a mouthful of blood.

"This... how is this possible!"

Hu Liena and Xie Yue turned pale. Both of them were trembling under this pressure, and barely managing to stay standing was already their limit.

One had to realize that Yan's strength was currently at the thirty-ninth level of a Battle Soul Grandmaster. To be suppressed to the point of vomiting blood by the opponent's aura while in his martial soul avatar state—what level of powerhouse was this harmless-looking shopkeeper?

A Soul Douluo? Or perhaps... a Titled Douluo?

But he was far too young! He looked to be only in his early twenties; how could he possibly possess such strength?

"I... I am sorry, Senior! We have offended you!"

Hu Liena hurriedly apologized to Lin Feng, the shock in her heart beyond measure.

Even her voice was trembling; she no longer possessed her usual composure.

A young man who looked to be in his early twenties actually possessed such terrifying strength! This completely subverted her understanding of soul master cultivation.

Hearing this, Lin Feng finally opened his eyes. His deep, black pupils revealed an indifference that made Hu Liena shudder instinctively.

"Are you eating or not?" His tone remained lazy, but the threat contained within it was impossible to ignore.

Xie Yue snapped back to reality and hurriedly spoke up, "Forgive us, Senior, we will order right away!"

His voice carried obvious tension and fear; the skepticism from moments ago was entirely gone.

Only then did Lin Feng withdraw his pressure and close his eyes again, as if nothing had happened at all...