Trading a Spirit Bone for a Dou Technique

Lu Chuan planted his spear hard against the ground, his tone flat.

"Lu Chuan."

"Oh? I'm Crown Prince Xue Qinghe. May I ask why you came into conflict with the empire?"

Lu Chuan lifted his chin toward Xue Beng, who was cowering off to one side.

Xue Qinghe followed his gaze. The moment he saw that worthless younger brother of his, his expression turned cold. "Xue Beng, come here!"

Xue Beng trembled all over as he shuffled up to Xue Qinghe.

Smack! Xue Qinghe backhanded him across the face. The cheek that was already swollen puffed up even more.

Yet Xue Beng did not dare make a sound. He could only keep his head down and make himself small.

Right now, Xue Qinghe wanted to kill him.

His usual arrogance was bad enough, but now he had provoked a genius like this.

Xue Qinghe had watched from the shadows for quite some time. He had seen Lu Chuan strike again and again, using one unique Self-Created Soul Skill after another without repeating a single move.

More astonishing still, every one of those skills had unleashed power no weaker than an all-out blow from an assault-type Soul Master pouring in all his Soul Power.

Xue Qinghe desperately wanted to bring such a once-in-a-millennium talent into his fold.

If that useless Xue Beng made Lu Chuan despise him and turn against him for good, the loss would be impossible to measure.

Lu Chuan raised an eyebrow, ready to land a big one on Xue Beng.

"Say, Your Highness, your little brother's been playing the fool all this time. Looks like he doesn't want to serve the empire."

Xue Beng was so frightened that a few drops of urine escaped him. His eyes filled with panic and despair.

Is there something else I don't know about?

Xue Qinghe narrowed his eyes and gave Xue Beng's shoulder a heavy pat.

"Fourth Brother, why can't you behave? Serving the empire is our duty as princes. How could you shirk it just because you'd rather have fun?"

Xue Beng shook with every pat. His voice came out thick with tears.

"B-big Brother... I really don't have the ability! I can live off the family and do nothing, but serving the empire is beyond me!"

"It's all right. I'll teach you properly. Guards! The Fourth Prince's arrogance nearly cost the empire a genius. Take him back and confine him to reflect on his actions!"

"Yes, Your Highness!"

All strength seemed to drain from Xue Beng. He slumped to the ground and let several guards haul him toward the palace.

He knew he was finished... Perhaps he would be poisoned without a trace, just like his second brother.

Or perhaps he would accidentally fall into the water and drown, like his third brother...

Xue Qinghe turned to Lu Chuan with a gentle smile.

"Would you do me the honor of visiting my residence? I'd also like to apologize on behalf of my disappointing fourth brother."

"Oh, sure."

Lu Chuan had no reason to refuse. The whole point of making a scene had been to get close to Qian Renxue.

"Hahaha! This way, then."

Xue Qinghe was in an excellent mood. Lu Chuan's willingness to visit his residence meant he had made a decent impression. He raised a hand in invitation.

Heaven Dou Palace, Crown Prince's Residence.

Xue Qinghe and Lu Chuan sat across from each other.

Xue Qinghe expertly brewed a pot of premium tea and personally poured Lu Chuan a cup.

"Please, try it."

Lu Chuan tipped the tea into his mouth and smacked his lips twice.

"Doesn't taste good. Too bitter."

"Ah, hahaha. You certainly speak your mind, Brother Lu Chuan."

Rather than taking offense, Xue Qinghe grew even more interested in him.

Frank and forthright was good. People like that were the easiest to handle.

"I watched you cut through the Imperial Guard, Brother Lu Chuan. You may well be the finest of your generation. I'm impressed!"

Lu Chuan waved a hand dismissively.

"Don't say that. I'm a modest man. I'm the best even if you include people older than me."

Xue Qinghe's mouth twitched.

How shameless can he be? I paid him one compliment, and he not only accepted it, he doubled down.

Xue Qinghe cleared his throat and asked curiously, "Ahem. Brother Lu Chuan, may I ask which family you come from?"

Lu Chuan answered calmly, "Me? I'm just a merchant who calls wherever he goes home."

"A merchant?" Xue Qinghe froze, surprise clear in his voice.

"That's right. You saw me beating them up, didn't you? I didn't use a single Spirit Skill."

Xue Qinghe nodded slowly. Then a thought struck him, and delight flashed in his eyes.

"Could it be that you sell Self-Created Soul Skills like the ones you just used?"

Lu Chuan smiled without answering and pulled out a booklet containing a Dou Technique.

The cover read Stone Shattering Fist.

With a light flick of his fingers, he spread more than a dozen different Dou Technique booklets before him like a fan. Their titles came into view one after another.

Xue Qinghe's gaze sharpened. He stared at the array of manuals, unconsciously quieting his breathing. The desire in his eyes was impossible to hide.

"How many Gold Coins would it cost to buy these Self-Created Soul Skills?"

Lu Chuan shook his head and returned all the Dou Techniques to his System Space.

"I don't take Gold Coins. I only accept treasures of equal value, such as Spirit Bones."

"Spirit Bones? Brother Lu Chuan, even the Self-Created Soul Skills you demonstrated aren't worth a Spirit Bone apiece."

Xue Qinghe frowned. Those skills were powerful, but a Spirit Bone was far rarer.

"No, no. I divide these Self-Created Soul Skills into four ranks: Heaven, Earth, Profound, and Yellow, in descending order of power. What I showed you was only Yellow Rank.

"I have higher ranks too, of course, but your imperial family can't afford them."

Xue Qinghe tapped the table, his mind racing.

He must have a great many Self-Created Soul Skills if he can divide them into four ranks. And if even the lowest, Yellow Rank, is this powerful, how strong must Heaven Rank be?

"Brother Lu Chuan, I must admit I'm interested. As you know, our Swan Martial Soul has little attack power. A deadly Self-Created Soul Skill would be extremely valuable to us.

"But a Self-Created Soul Skill is still worth far less than a Ten Thousand Year Soul Bone."

He paused, then went on.

"How about I trade you a Spirit Bone around a thousand years old?"

Lu Chuan rubbed his chin and thought for a moment.

Yellow Rank Dou Techniques could help someone fight above their level, true, but only at lower levels of cultivation.

At higher levels, the age of one's Spirit Rings would still decide the outcome.

A thousand-year Spirit Bone seemed about right. Its boost might be a little small, but he could certainly turn a profit selling it in Battle Through the Heavens.

"Deal! A low-grade Yellow Rank technique costs a Spirit Bone at least two thousand years old, a mid-grade one at least four thousand, and a high-grade one at least six thousand. Add ten thousand Gold Coins on top of that!"

Xue Qinghe laughed heartily and agreed without hesitation. "Hahaha! Deal!"

He immediately took a right arm bone around three thousand years old from his Storage Soul Tool, then set ten thousand Gold Coins on the table.

"Hold on. Sign the contract first."

Lu Chuan raised a hand and summoned a contract.

Xue Qinghe was baffled. He could not see why they needed the extra step.

Still, he had plenty of patience for someone so remarkable. He reached out and pressed his hand to the contract.

Only then did Lu Chuan smile and put the Spirit Bone and Gold Soul Coins into his System Space. He laid a stack of Yellow Level Dou Techniques on the table.

"Pick one."

Xue Qinghe's eyes widened. He stared at Lu Chuan in disbelief.

"One? Aren't you giving me all of them?"

Lu Chuan rolled his eyes.

"Dream on. One thousand-year Spirit Bone gets you one technique!"