Shameless Merchant! (Thanks to reader 2023...6914 for the 2 monthly passes~)

According to Tang San's description, this inconspicuous crystal concealed the Dragon Beard Needle, a hidden weapon ranked eighth in the Hidden Weapons Compendium!

Although no one had ever understood how such a mere hidden weapon could injure the powerful Soul Masters of Douluo Continent,

the fact that it had made level 76 Zhao Wuji suffer was enough to prove how extraordinary it was!

Perhaps because this material originated from Douluo Continent, the Dragon Beard Needles extracted from it were even stronger than those from Tang San's previous life, that suspected martial arts world...

Zhuge Ming concealed the gleam in his eyes and deliberately said to Taishi Ci beside him,

"I think there's a treasure hidden inside this crystal. What do you think?"

Taishi Ci cooperated perfectly, revealing a helpless expression.

"My young master, you've been gambling on stones all day, yet you haven't gotten anything worthwhile.

"What good could come from the shoddy goods in a shop like this?"

"You don't understand~ The older the shop, the more likely it is to have treasures!"

Zhuge Ming deliberately put on the air of a spoiled, carefree rich kid in front of Flender.

He hoped Flender would fail to notice this crystal's true value.

He picked up the head-sized crystal and casually asked,

"Boss, how much is this?"

Flender looked at the boy, who seemed to be under ten years old, and the corner of his mouth curled up.

"This crystal is an old item. If you want it, customer, two hundred Gold Soul Coins will do."

"How much?!"

Zhuge Ming abruptly glared at him.

"When I gamble on stones elsewhere, it's only a few Gold Soul Coins per piece. But here, you're asking for two hundred straight away? Aren't you ashamed to charge such a high price?"

Flender maintained his punchable smile.

"If you think it's too expensive, customer, you don't have to buy it. I won't force you."

Seeing Flender's expression, that of a shameless merchant trying to take advantage of him, Zhuge Ming could afford it, but there was no way he would let the man have his way.

In the original story, Flender had given it to Tang San for free, saying that the crystal was worthless.

Yet when it came to him, he wanted two hundred Gold Soul Coins. Zhuge Ming was not about to be taken for a fool.

It would have been one thing if Taishi Ci could not beat him.

But since he could, there was naturally no way Zhuge Ming would let Flender have his way.

He said calmly,

"Ten Gold Soul Coins. If that works, I'll take it with me. If not... I'll still take it, and I won't give you even a single Copper Soul Coin!"

"Oh?"

The smile on Flender's face immediately vanished, and his gaze turned sharp as an owl's in the night!

"This is the first time anyone has dared to threaten me in my own shop...

"Don't tell me you really think that just because you used some sneaky tricks to defeat a Soul Ancestor, you can run wild in my shop?"

Only then did Zhuge Ming realize that Flender had actually been present during the battle between Taishi Ci and Ye Rui?

No wonder the man had been so friendly toward them earlier... He had recognized them.

At that moment, Flender suddenly said,

"How about this? Let's make a deal. You can trade that Soul Tool you won for my crystal. What do you say?

"After all, you didn't spend a single Copper Soul Coin to obtain that Soul Tool.

"A trade of goods for goods. You won't be losing out, will you?"

Hearing this, Zhuge Ming could not help but laugh. Right in front of Flender, he placed the crystal into the Storage Crown.

Then he gave Flender a provocative smile.

"The Soul Tool and the crystal are both here. If you've got the ability, come and take them.

"As long as you can take them, both items are yours!"

Seeing the boy directly put his belongings into his own Soul Tool, Flender's eyelids twitched!

An inexplicable rage instantly surged up in his chest!

His figure flashed, and he appeared directly before Zhuge Ming. His large hand shot straight toward the Soul Tool on the boy's wrist.

"Didn't your parents teach you not to take other people's things?!"

However, before his hand could touch the boy, another thick, powerful arm abruptly knocked Flender's hand aside.

The instant their arms collided, Flender's expression changed!

With the physical strength of a level 78 Martial Soul Possession, he had actually felt pain?

It seemed his guess had been correct. This man named Taishi Ci had definitely hidden his true strength!

Flender stepped back two paces, his eyes fixed warily on Taishi Ci.

"You really aren't a Soul Elder!"

Taishi Ci sneered.

"What does it matter whether I'm a Soul Elder or not? It's enough that I'm stronger than you!"

"Stronger than me?"

Flender snorted coldly.

"That remains to be seen!"

As he spoke, seven soul rings—yellow, yellow, purple, purple, black, black, black—appeared beneath Flender's feet!

At the same time, a pair of enormous feathered wings unfurled behind him!

With his Martial Soul Possession activated, fine downy feathers covered Flender's entire body, while his face transformed into an owl-like head resembling that of a horned owl!

A seven-ringed Soul Sage!

This was the strongest native of the continent Zhuge Ming had encountered so far, apart from Tang Hao!

The powerful aura radiating from Flender truly was not something a Soul King like Owens could compare to.

Unfortunately, before Taishi Ci, he was still not worth mentioning!

After releasing his Martial Soul, Flender had been closely watching the changes in the boy's and Taishi Ci's expressions.

To his surprise, this seven-ringed Soul Sage had only made the boy startled for an instant?

He had not even caused the slightest change in Taishi Ci's expression!

Flender's heart immediately sank.

Had he misjudged this man's true strength?!

Even the strength of a Soul Sage had failed to shock him... Could this man be an eight-ringed Soul Douluo?!

He could not possibly be a Titled Douluo, could he?!

Flender had at least heard of nearly every Titled Douluo on the continent with any reputation.

But he had never heard of one who used twin halberds...

So the man was most likely still a Soul Douluo!

Although a Soul Douluo was much stronger than him, he was already level 78. If they truly fought to the death, he could definitely tear a few chunks of flesh off the other man!

However, he could only abandon his plan to seize the Soul Tool.

As for that crystal, it was not especially valuable, but having it snatched away like this was undoubtedly a slap to his face.

He could only take a step back and say,

"I won't trade for your Soul Tool anymore, but you must return my crystal.

"Otherwise, even if he is a Soul Douluo, I absolutely will not let you leave here unscathed!"

Faced with Flender's threat, Zhuge Ming could not help but sneer.

"You're trying to negotiate with me? Either come take it yourself, or I'll take it with me!

"Didn't your parents teach you not to be a shameless merchant?

"You were the one who tried to rip me off first. That's why I took your things. You have no one to blame but yourself!"

Seeing the boy twist logic so brazenly, Flender's face darkened sharply!

He stopped trying to persuade him and pointed directly at Taishi Ci.

"Then let me show you the might of my Four-Eyed Cat Eagle!

"The shop is too small. Come outside and fight me!"

With that, Flender intended to lead them out of his shop.

After all, the shop was filled with treasures he had collected over many years. If they were damaged, that would be a true blood loss.

However, at that very moment, Taishi Ci appeared before him like a ghost, moving even faster than Flender, a agility-type Soul Sage!

Before he could react, the other man had already reached out and pressed a hand onto his shoulder!

No matter how Flender struggled, he could not break free from that large hand!

Just as he was about to unleash a soul skill and fight for his life, dazzling soul rings began to emerge one after another beneath Taishi Ci's feet!