Nalan Yanran Arrives

"Fine. But movement-type Self-Created Soul Skills cost a little more. Take your pick. Once you're done, I'll have Zhu Qing copy them for you."

Lu Chuan waved a hand, and over a hundred Dou Technique manuals appeared in neat stacks on the floor.

"That many?!"

Xue Qinghe stared at the piles of Self-Created Soul Skills and cried out in surprise.

He had no objection to movement-type Self-Created Soul Skills costing more.

After all, Spirit Bones had their own hierarchy.

External Soul Bone > Torso Bone > Skull Bone > Right Arm Bone > Left Arm Bone > Left Leg Bone > Right Leg Bone.

Lu Chuan set the brushes, ink, paper, and inkstone he had bought yesterday on the table and instructed him:

"The tall stack on the left is low Yellow Rank, the middle stack is intermediate, and the short stack on the far right is high rank.

"You can read the names and descriptions, but not the contents. Otherwise, I'll blacklist you!"

Xue Qinghe's face darkened. Did Lu Chuan think he was that shameless? He really didn't trust him!

Suppressing his irritation, he searched through the high Yellow Rank Dou Technique manuals for moves that suited him.

After a while, though, he sensed a gaze fixed firmly on him.

Xue Qinghe looked up and met Lu Chuan's unblinking stare.

His mouth twitched.

"Brother Lu Chuan, stop staring at me like that. I won't peek..."

Lu Chuan shook his head without looking away.

"You keep looking. I'll keep watching."

"..."

His fists clenched.

Xue Qinghe struggled to control his temper and resumed searching.

In the end, he chose four Dou Techniques.

Movement: "Gale Step"

Attack: "Fierce Charge Fist" and "Mountain-Splitting Palm"

Defense: "Iron Mountain Shoulder"

Lu Chuan took the four manuals and handed them to Zhu Zhuqing along with the "Flame Scripture," then returned the rest to the System Space.

"Zhu Qing, copy these."

Zhu Zhuqing nodded lightly, spread out the manuals containing the Dou Techniques and Cultivation Method, and began writing.

Her handwriting was neat and elegant, every stroke crisp and sure.

Meanwhile, Lu Chuan drew Xue Qinghe aside to chat and listened to gossip about the Heaven Dou Empire.

As it turned out, even a proud, aloof woman like Qian Renxue couldn't escape the deep-rooted urge to gossip.

Once she started, she hardly stopped talking.

An hour later, Zhu Zhuqing set down her brush.

Only after the ink had dried completely did she arrange all the pages in order.

Lu Chuan put away the five originals, then drew up another contract for Xue Qinghe to sign.

Ding! Congratulations, host. You have completed client Qian Renxue's commission.

Received 54,000-Year Left Arm Bone: permanently increases left-arm strength by 60%.

Feeling power surge through his left hand, Lu Chuan sighed inwardly.

Now my left fist really hits hard, and my right fist... hits hard too.

I can't imagine how strong I'll get if these bonuses keep stacking.

Could I punch a god of Douluo Continent to death?

He collected himself, looked at Xue Qinghe, who was reading a Dou Technique, and said slowly:

"If I'm not mistaken, you're planning to try teaching these Dou Techniques and Cultivation Methods to your subordinates when you get back, aren't you?"

Xue Qinghe looked up with an open expression and waved a hand with a smile. "How could I? I'm not the sort of person who breaks an agreement."

Lu Chuan smiled faintly.

"No need to deny it. Try it here. I don't mind. You can see for yourself how binding the contract is."

"In that case, I'd like to see it for myself."

With his intentions laid bare, Xue Qinghe stopped trying to hide them.

He summoned a subordinate, handed him a stack of pages containing a Dou Technique, and ordered:

"Read this carefully and try cultivating the Spirit Skill written here."

"Yes!"

The subordinate held the pages and studied them closely.

Then something strange happened. He could read every individual character perfectly well.

But whenever he tried to connect them and follow the Soul Power routes to understand the cultivation method, his mind went blank.

Whatever he had just memorized vanished in an instant, as though an invisible force had erased the memory.

After several futile attempts, his face turned pale, and he bowed hurriedly.

"Your Highness, something's wrong... I recognize every word, but I can't remember how to cultivate it!"

Frowning, Xue Qinghe tried several more groups of people. The result was the same every time.

Explaining it aloud, copying it onto other materials, even having someone guide them through the cultivation—

None of it worked, as though the heavens themselves were against them.

No one but Xue Qinghe, who had signed the contract, could comprehend or activate the Spirit Skills.

The ease vanished from Xue Qinghe's face, replaced by a grave expression.

No ordinary means could impose such an uncanny restriction.

Just as he had suspected, this was the power of a god!

He applauded softly, admiration on his face.

"Brother Lu Chuan, you truly are remarkable. I'm impressed."

"Given up?"

"Yes. I don't have much choice, do I?"

Xue Qinghe sounded resigned.

Lu Chuan chuckled and tossed a cherry into his mouth.

Zhu Zhuqing sat quietly beside him, focused on grasping how "Gale Step" worked.

Xue Qinghe shook his head, set aside any further schemes, and sat down to cultivate the "Flame Scripture" he had just acquired.

But the moment he opened the book and saw the main text, his brow furrowed.

He asked in confusion:

"Brother Lu Chuan, what are these meridians and acupoints? Why have we never heard of them?"

Lu Chuan slapped his forehead. He had almost forgotten about that.

People in the Douluo World only knew how to absorb Soul Power and cultivate it.

They knew Soul Power traveled through pathways in the body, which they called Soul Power channels, but they had no concept of meridians or acupoints.

Looks like I'll have to make a diagram of the body's meridians and acupoints next time. Charging a modest ten thousand Gold Coins for it wouldn't be too much, would it?

Once someone buys a Cultivation Method, they'll have to buy the matching meridian chart.

Otherwise, that expensive Cultivation Method and those Combat Skills will be useless to them. Heh heh heh~

With that thought, Lu Chuan raised one finger.

"Ten thousand Gold Coins, and I'll explain the human body's meridians and acupoints."

Xue Qinghe's face stiffened. Inwardly, he cursed Lu Chuan for being greedy and crafty, always angling for another profit. But there was nothing he could do. Lu Chuan held all the cards.

He couldn't let a Ten Thousand Year Soul Bone go to waste, could he?

It wasn't that he couldn't afford it. He just hated letting this profiteer fleece him again.

Once the ten thousand Gold Coins were paid, Lu Chuan took out a sheet of paper and began drawing a meridian chart on the spot.

Half an hour later.

Xue Qinghe stormed out of the Guest Room with the meridian chart, Dou Techniques, and Cultivation Method.

He was afraid that if he stayed any longer, he really would lose his temper and attack.

Lu Chuan paid him no mind and continued studying Dou Techniques with Zhu Zhuqing.

Meanwhile, in the Battle Through the Heavens World.

Inside the Xiao Family's main hall.

Xiao Yan rushed in.

"Father, you were looking for me?"

His gaze swept quickly around the hall and immediately landed on a young woman seated among the guests.

She was strikingly beautiful and had an exceptional air about her. What baffled Xiao Yan, though, was the look she gave him. There was not a trace of goodwill in it, only undisguised disdain and contempt.

Xiao Yan was perplexed. He had never met this woman. They were complete strangers. Why would she look at him that way?

Beside her sat an elder in the white robes of the Misty Cloud Sect, composed and imposing.

Behind the elder stood a fierce-looking man. His eyes were wide, and he glared at Xiao Yan with hostility he made no effort to hide.

Xiao Yan's heart sank. This visit from the Misty Cloud Sect probably meant trouble.

Seated at the head of the hall, Xiao Zhan saw Xiao Yan and Nalan Yanran exchange glances. Taking it for flirtation, he burst out laughing.

"Hahaha! Yan'er, come sit over here. Let me introduce you. This is your fiancée—Nalan Yanran."