"I'm just an ordinary restaurant owner."
Lin Feng calmly shook his head, his voice as still as a lake.
His breezy, unbothered manner made the corners of the three young people's mouths twitch.
A restaurant owner?
With strength like yours, people would believe you were a god!
You could raise our Soul Power with a casual point of your finger. How was that just an ordinary restaurant owner?
Did that mean the Title Douluo of Spirit Hall could only work as your security guards?
"This is the rule at my restaurant. Every meal comes with a lottery." Lin Feng's voice remained lazy.
"A lottery?" Xie Yue repeated, his eyes full of disbelief. "You mean that as long as we eat here, we can increase our Soul Power?"
"Not necessarily." Lin Feng reclined in his rocking chair again, his voice flat. "It depends on luck. Sometimes it's an increase in Soul Power, sometimes it's a different reward."
Yan scratched his head, his voice still trembling. "Then... if we order more expensive dishes, will the rewards be better?"
At the question, a knowing smile appeared at the corner of Lin Feng's mouth.
This little fireball might be impulsive, but he was quick on the uptake.
"Of course," he said leisurely. "The more you spend, the higher the prize pool level, and naturally the better the rewards you can draw."
"But with your current strength, you can only access the Level 3 Menu. Want to try something higher-tier? Get stronger first."
The three exchanged glances, each seeing the shock in the others' eyes.
If everything the young proprietor had said was true, then this restaurant was practically a sacred cultivation ground for Soul Masters!
An increase in Soul Power was something every Soul Master dreamed of.
Even the rare treasures of Spirit Hall might not produce such an immediate effect.
"Then... we'll take our leave for now." Hu Liena managed to compose herself and bowed slightly to Lin Feng. "Thank you, senior, for granting us these rewards."
"Take care." Lin Feng waved a hand and closed his eyes again.
Once they left the restaurant, the three exchanged glances, all sharing the same thought.
They had to report this to Spirit Hall's higher-ups immediately!
If the mysterious proprietor was telling the truth, and greater spending meant better rewards, then couldn't Spirit Hall's strength skyrocket in a short time?
At the thought, the three could no longer sit still.
"Come on! We need to get back to Pope Palace!" Hu Liena decided at once. "Something this important has to be reported to our teacher right away!"
Before leaving, the three turned back in unison to look at the quaint little shop.
The three characters "Maple Dye Pavilion" stood out beneath the setting sun, as if reminding them that none of what they had just experienced was a dream.
"Are we coming back tomorrow?" Yan asked in a low voice.
"Of course we are!" Hu Liena replied without hesitation. "For results like that, I'd sell everything I own just to eat here every day!"
Xie Yue nodded in deep agreement. "Exactly. You can't ask for an opportunity like this—it comes once in a blue moon."
As they spoke, the three hurried away, their figures soon disappearing at the end of the street.
Lin Feng had naturally heard their conversation. Once they were gone, he nearly laughed like a pig.
Perfect!
That was exactly right!
Hurry back to Spirit Hall and bring my cash cows... I mean, all the Title Douluo here!
Get them to spend their money at my place!
Then I'll earn a mountain of Gourmet Points. How far could I be from the peak of life after that?
Thinking about Bibi Dong, a big customer at the Pope level, and the Title Douluo elders, Lin Feng was grinning from ear to ear.
A Title Douluo ordering even a few dishes from the Level 9 Menu—how many Gourmet Points would that bring in?
But to maintain his air of a master, Lin Feng forced himself not to show his excitement. He remained sprawled in his rocking chair, putting on an unruffled air.
"System, how did I do today?" Although Lin Feng knew he'd only earned thirty points, he couldn't resist asking in his mind.
[Today's revenue: 300 Gold Soul Coins] [Gourmet Points earned: 30] [System evaluation: You made your first sale, but these points can't even buy a little trinket. Keep working at it, you fish of a shopkeeper!]
Lin Feng's mouth twitched.
That lousy system really knew how to rub salt in the wound.
No matter. When Bibi Dong and the others got here, he'd see about maxing out his points!
At the thought, Lin Feng's spirits lifted. Humming a little tune, he continued to lounge in his rocking chair, waiting for more "cash cows" to show up tomorrow.
Hu Liena and the others ran all the way, wishing they could sprout wings and fly straight back to Pope Palace.
"Quick, quick, quick! We can't let something this important wait!"
Yan was drenched in sweat, but thinking of how his Soul Power had changed, he was practically bursting with excitement.
The three dashed up to Pope Palace in a flurry. The guards at the entrance were startled by the sight of them.
"What's with those three? Were they being chased by Soul Beasts?"
"Go tell our teacher! We need to see His Holiness the Pope!" Hu Liena shouted to the guards, not caring about her manners.
The guard looked troubled. "Miss Hu Liena, His Holiness the Pope is in seclusion. No one is allowed to disturb—"
"What?!"
Their faces fell at once.
Why go into seclusion now? Why not sooner, or later? Why had it have to be at this very moment?
Yan paced anxiously. "We're done for! We can't report such a huge contribution right away. What if someone else gets there first..."
"Don't panic!" Xie Yue's eyes shifted. "Let's find Elder Ju!"
That was right. Chrysanthemum Douluo Yue Guan might not be the Pope, but as one of the Pope's Heng and Ha Generals, he held a pivotal position in Spirit Hall.
The three immediately changed course and headed straight for Yue Guan's residence.
They didn't bother with formalities and simply pushed their way inside.
"Elder Ju!"
As Hu Liena and the others rushed into the courtyard, they saw Chrysanthemum Douluo holding a small pair of golden scissors, trimming the flowers in a garden that filled nearly the entire yard.
His movements were graceful, his pinkie delicately raised, his pose so coquettish it was almost too much to bear.
"Oh my, what wind blew you three little ones here?"
Yue Guan didn't even look up. He continued to focus on trimming the flowers, his voice so delicate it raised goosebumps.
"Elder, we have something important to report!" Hu Liena skipped the usual courtesies and got straight to the point.
"Something important?" Yue Guan finally looked up, curiosity on his coquettish face. "Let's hear it. What could have you three in such a rush?"
Hu Liena took a deep breath and began recounting everything that had happened at Maple Dye Pavilion that day.
From the enticing aroma that had drawn them in, to their shock at the sky-high menu prices, to the young proprietor's terrifying strength, and finally the increase in their Soul Power after the meal.
She described it in painstaking detail, afraid she might leave out even the smallest thing.
At first, Yue Guan had listened with interest. But as she went on, his expression gradually turned strange.
When Hu Liena finished, Yue Guan burst out laughing.
"Pfft—hahaha!"
Chrysanthemum Douluo laughed so hard he swayed like a branch in the wind. Pointing at the three with his pinkie, he nearly laughed himself to tears.
"You three little ones. Were you tricked by someone's illusion?"
Yue Guan put away his scissors and walked over, ruffling Hu Liena's hair.
"A bowl of Clear Broth Noodles for 100 Gold Soul Coins? Just think of it as a lesson learned."
Seeing that Chrysanthemum Douluo didn't believe a word, Yan and Xie Yue swore on their lives that Hu Liena had told the truth.
That gave Chrysanthemum Douluo pause...
At last, he put away his laughter and said with a hint of seriousness, "Are you sure everything you said is true?"