"I'll go first! I'll go first!"
Ghost Douluo rushed to the counter in a single stride, looking so impatient you'd think the reward might fly away if he waited another second.
Chrysanthemum Douluo watched from behind, his lips pursed in disdain as he muttered to himself, Look at you, acting so shameless. You're even more impatient than I am.
But he didn't dare say anything aloud. He could only watch eagerly, wondering what reward his own salad might draw.
Ghost Douluo rubbed his hands excitedly, his usually cold eyes now shining like lightbulbs.
He hurriedly pulled a delicate gold card from his Storage Soul Tool and placed it respectfully on the counter.
"Senior! Please accept this!"
Lin Feng had been lazily preparing to take the gold card when the system's sharp-tongued voice suddenly rang in his mind.
[ Ding! Detected abnormal payment method from a leek! ]
[ This system reminds its useless host that this kind of check-like currency is not accepted here. ]
[ This system only accepts physical currency and actual treasures. It does not accept worthless checks or gold cards! ]
[ All similar items will be refused! ]
Lin Feng's eye twitched. He nearly choked at the system's sudden new rule.
This lousy system always found a way to throw a wrench in the works at the worst possible moment!
Still, on the surface, Lin Feng had to maintain his inscrutable persona.
He slowly raised his eyelids, glanced at the gold card on the table, then casually pushed it back.
"I don't accept this kind of thing."
Ghost Douluo froze, utterly dumbfounded.
"Huh? Senior, what do you mean?"
Lin Feng leaned back in his rocking chair. His voice remained languid, yet carried an unquestionable authority.
"I only accept actual Gold Soul Coins or treasures of equivalent value."
He paused, then added coolly, "I don't want check-like things."
Ghost Douluo was completely baffled.
What kind of rule was that? He'd been around the continent for years and had never encountered a merchant who refused gold cards.
Gold cards were a much more convenient and secure way to pay than cash!
"Ahem." Behind him, Chrysanthemum Douluo cleared his throat and leisurely took out his precious little notebook. He flipped to a fresh page and solemnly wrote down the details.
"Senior only accepts cash or treasures of equivalent value. Gold card payments are not accepted."
At that, Ghost Douluo shot his old partner a speechless glare, wishing he could snatch the notebook away and burn it.
But since Senior had his rules, they would simply follow them.
Ghost Douluo quickly took out thirty thousand Gold Soul Coins, a whole large bag of them!
Seeing this, Lin Feng finally waved his hand and accepted the Gold Soul Coins, then began Ghost Douluo's draw.
"Begin the draw."
[Spending: 30,000 Gold Soul Coins.]
The system's female voice rang in Lin Feng's mind, tinged with satisfaction.
[System evaluation: Not bad, not bad. This leek knows how to behave! This system is very satisfied!]
[Random reward: Eighty-thousand-year Soul Bone—Hell Ghost Shadow Left Arm Bone.]
[Host reward: 3,000 Gourmet Points.]
"Your reward is..."
Lin Feng deliberately drew out his words, whetting everyone's appetite.
Ghost Douluo's heart was in his throat. He nervously swallowed.
"An eighty-thousand-year Soul Bone."
The instant he finished speaking, the entire restaurant fell so silent you could hear a pin drop.
Eighty-thousand-year? Soul Bone?
Those words exploded in everyone's mind like a thunderclap.
Hu Liena and the other two stood rooted to the spot, their mouths open wide enough to fit an egg.
Chrysanthemum Douluo even shuddered, nearly dropping the notebook in his hand.
Before anyone could recover from their shock, Lin Feng gave a light wave of his right hand.
Hum!
A dense mass of black light appeared out of thin air, hovering above the counter.
Within the black light, the shadow of a strangely shaped, jet-black arm bone flickered in and out.
It radiated a terrifying presence that made one's heart tremble. Mysterious demonic runes covered its surface, and a chill instantly swept through the entire restaurant!
"This... this is..."
Ghost Douluo's voice trembled as he stared fixedly at the left arm bone, his eyes filled with fervent obsession.
As a Titled Douluo, he could clearly sense the terrifying energy contained within the Soul Bone! It was undoubtedly a priceless treasure formed after an eighty-thousand-year Soul Beast died!
"The Hell Ghost Shadow Left Arm Bone," Lin Feng introduced coolly. "It can greatly increase your speed and explosive power."
Gulp.
Ghost Douluo swallowed with difficulty and reached out, trembling as he tried to touch the Soul Bone.
His Martial Soul was already known for its uncanny nature and speed. This Soul Bone was practically made for him!
"Senior... is this... really for me?" Ghost Douluo's voice was thick with emotion. He was so excited he was about to cry.
Lin Feng nodded and casually pushed the Soul Bone toward him.
The Soul Bone, radiating a terrifying presence, floated lightly in front of Ghost Douluo.
As if it were the most precious treasure in the world, Ghost Douluo carefully cradled the Soul Bone in both hands.
"Thank you, Senior! I'll serve you faithfully from now on!"
Unable to control his emotions any longer, Ghost Douluo's legs gave way. He dropped to his knees with a thud and kowtowed repeatedly to Lin Feng.
A Titled Douluo's dignity, an elder's pride—at that moment, he cast it all to the winds.
Meanwhile, Chrysanthemum Douluo had turned to stone.
He watched his old partner, the man he'd worked alongside for decades and whose strength had always been evenly matched with his own.
Now he was kneeling on the ground, cradling a Soul Bone that could drive the entire continent mad as if it were the greatest treasure in the world.
Chrysanthemum Douluo's heart was bleeding.
What was that saying?
You feared your brother living a hard life, but you also feared him cruising around in a fancy car.
Chrysanthemum Douluo's feelings at that moment were the ultimate, souped-up version of that.
Was he happy for Ghost Douluo?
Perhaps a tiny bit. A bit smaller than a fingernail.
But what did he feel more?
Jealousy! Regret! A gnawing misery that made him want to drop dead on the spot!
Why?
Why wasn't it me?!
Yesterday, I was clearly here first!
That Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum, more precious than a Soul Bone, that Immortal Herb that could help me break through to level ninety-six and even set my sights on level ninety-seven.
All because I'd acted like an idiot! Because I'd done something stupid!
I'd personally pushed away a heaven-sent opportunity!
And today, I had to watch my old friend take an eighty-thousand-year Soul Bone right in front of me!
The contrast, the pain...
Chrysanthemum Douluo felt as if an invisible hand had clamped around his heart, squeezing so hard he could barely breathe.
Even worse, Ghost Douluo brought the Soul Bone right up to him and kept showing it off!
"Yue Guan! Look! It's a Soul Bone! An eighty-thousand-year Soul Bone!"
Ghost Douluo's voice rang out, sincere and booming, his whole body trembling with excitement.
"If it weren't for you, I, Gui Mei, would never have gotten the chance to obtain a treasure like this!"
"From today on, you're my own brother! If anyone dares lay a finger on you, I, Gui Mei, will be the first to fight them to the death!"
That embrace and those words were like a knife to Chrysanthemum Douluo's heart.
"Heh... heh heh..."
"Old Ghost... you... you're too kind..."
"We're partners, after all... It's only right... only right..."