Bibi Dong's doubts

"Sorry, boss, I understand you mean well..."

"But I really have no money left..."

Inside the little shop, the Soul King whose soul power had just reached rank sixty alternated between looking pale and flushed, embarrassment written all over his face.

Money wasn't the problem.

The problem was having no money.

In truth, someone like him was what a normal Soul Master looked like.

Outside this city, a Soul King was indeed considered powerful and could earn a noble title in either of the two great empires, Heaven Dou or the Star Luo Empire.

But Spirit City was known as the sacred land of Soul Masters. Soul Kings were a dime a dozen here.

Most Soul Masters here devoted themselves single-mindedly to arduous cultivation, pursuing higher realms. Very few were actually wealthy.

Yet he couldn't quite resign himself to giving up, so he could only steel himself and ask, "Boss, could I get two jars on credit? I'll pay you back once I have the money..."

"This shop doesn't offer credit. Come back to open more when you have the money."

Lin Xiao's answer was firm.

"Sigh... sorry for bothering you."

"I was too greedy."

After hearing Lin Xiao's reply, the man sighed, shook his head, and turned to leave the shop.

"Look, the fellow who just went inside is coming out!"

"Hey, tell us what you got!"

"You look like you've lost your soul. Did you get swindled?"

"..."

He had barely stepped outside before a crowd surrounded him, peppering him with curious questions.

"Lost money?"

The Soul Master froze for a moment, then a little life returned to his eyes. He shook his head. "I didn't make a killing, but I definitely didn't lose out."

"Then why do you look so dejected?"

"I'm dejected because I'm too poor! If only I had more money to open more jars..."

"..."

After hearing this, everyone was filled with doubt and uncertainty.

Good grief, was it really that miraculous?

Had the shopkeeper brainwashed another one?

"Aren't you curious about what I got? Let me tell you..."

Just then, the man spoke again. "I opened two jars in total. The first contained a Fate Coin, whose exact value is hard to say. The second contained an Experience Capsule. After I took it, my soul power immediately rose a notch, breaking through from rank fifty-nine to rank sixty!"

In truth, it wasn't quite that miraculous. He had simply been close to a breakthrough already.

To be precise, his soul power had already reached over ninety percent of the way through rank fifty-nine. The ten-percent increase in soul power from the Experience Capsule had just been enough to push him through.

But the crowd didn't know that... they attributed it all to the wonders of the Experience Capsule.

Hiss...

As soon as he said that, gasps rang out all around.

What did a treasure capable of increasing soul power mean?

Everyone present was a Soul Master. Its importance went without saying.

Whether one wanted good Soul Rings or powerful Soul Bones, there was one indispensable foundation: soul power!

Without soul power to support them, everything else was empty talk.

"This is getting more and more outrageous. First someone got a Soul Bone, then someone got an Enhancer that increased a Soul Ring's age, and now there's an Experience Capsule that increases soul power! What's next? A treasure that brings about Martial Soul Evolution?"

"You're dreaming of pie falling from the sky. Over a decade of Soul Master education has taught us that no such treasure exists!"

"Haha, I'm starting to wonder whether I drank too much yesterday and still haven't sobered up. All of this must be a dream. Otherwise, how could there be so many things that don't even appear in myths?"

"..."

Everyone buzzed with discussion.

"You don't believe me?"

As he spoke, powerful soul power erupted from his body, making those around him involuntarily retreat several steps.

"Such terrifying soul power!"

"He really is a rank-sixty Soul King! Once he obtains a Soul Ring, he can become a Soul Emperor!"

There were plenty of powerful people in the crowd, and they identified his cultivation level in an instant.

But another question arose: who knew whether he had already been ready to break through, or whether it really was the result of taking that Experience Capsule?

"Hey, Old Zhang, it really is you! You... broke through?"

"That's not right. Normally, you should've needed another year or two!"

At that moment, several people recognized the Soul Master.

Shock covered their faces as they cried out from the crowd.

Seeing this, everyone's doubts vanished, and excitement surged through them.

"It's actually true!"

"No more hesitation. No matter what, I'm opening two jars!"

For a time, the air outside the little shop roared with voices.

Elsewhere.

The tightly shut doors of the Papal Palace opened.

A voice came from within:

"Nana, you may come in."

The voice was cool, with almost no discernible emotion.

Hu Liena and Xie Yue exchanged a glance before heading inside.

Yan glanced at them and, of course, chose to follow.

The great hall was decorated in magnificent splendor.

Yet even those sumptuous, extravagant decorations could not conceal its chill.

It was as cold and lonely as the heart of Her Holiness the Pope.

At that moment, only three people stood inside the great hall.

The figure standing high above the others inevitably drew the most attention.

She wore the Nine-Curved Purple Gold Crown and held a scepter roughly two meters long, standing before the throne that symbolized the papacy.

Her brilliant golden gown fitted her perfectly from head to toe, its dazzling fabric shimmering with a jeweled radiance. It added yet more luster to her already flawless beauty.

Noble, elegant, serene-every beautiful word seemed suited to this woman.

Two people stood below her.

One had skin as delicate as a baby's, and his bewitching features gave him a distinctive air. Were it not for his Adam's apple, no one would have believed he was a man.

He was none other than Chrysanthemum Douluo Yue Guan, one of Spirit Hall's elders.

The other wore black robes, his face pale and bloodless. An ineradicable chill lingered in his eyes.

Hu Liena recognized him as her teacher's other capable aide, Ghost Douluo Gui Mei.

As she approached, Hu Liena withdrew her gaze and bowed. "Greetings, Teacher."

"Greetings, Your Holiness."

Xie Yue and Yan bowed deeply with utmost reverence.

"No need for such ceremony."

Bibi Dong nodded lightly, then looked at Hu Liena. "While I was discussing matters with the two elders just now, I heard you say outside that you had something urgent to see me about. Tell me."

"Yes."

Hu Liena was already prepared. She turned to Xie Yue. "Brother, take out everything you obtained today."

She knew that today's events were too complicated. Without something tangible to show them, it would be difficult to make anyone believe her.

So she led with her strongest trump card.

"Mm."

Xie Yue nodded and took one box after another out of his Soul Guidance Space.

Everything he had obtained from the shop's jars was a treasure. Naturally, he had to keep them safe.

"What is this?"

Not only were Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo taken aback, but even a trace of doubt and bewilderment crossed the exquisite face of the noble, elegant Pope.

Could the important matter Nana mentioned be giving me some gifts?