Bibi Dong's Decision

Was there really a way to increase soul power without putting in any effort?

It was astonishing.

After hearing Xie Yue's words, everyone fell into a stunned silence for several seconds.

Crunch.

The Experience Capsule crunched between his teeth like a bean.

To prove his words, Xie Yue popped the second Experience Capsule straight into his mouth.

The next moment, powerful fluctuations of soul power erupted from his body.

This was...

"He broke through!"

"He really broke through, and his aura is exceptionally condensed. There isn't the slightest sign of instability."

Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo couldn't help crying out in surprise.

How much time had passed? Xie Yue had skipped months of hard work in an instant.

"It certainly is... extraordinary."

Even Bibi Dong couldn't help marveling. "But I wonder whether these Experience Capsules have any restrictions?"

"The shopkeeper didn't mention any restrictions..."

"I feel fine after taking them, too. I haven't noticed any adverse effects."

Xie Yue thought hard for a moment, then shook his head.

That was right.

There truly weren't any restrictions.

"There really aren't any restrictions! Doesn't that mean even Titled Douluos can use them?"

At that, Ghost Douluo's voice trembled. "Then these Experience Capsules are truly priceless. For soul masters like us, whose soul power hasn't advanced in years, even decades, they're nothing short of a blessing!"

After so many years, he had finally glimpsed hope of a breakthrough.

"Exactly. They really are a blessing!"

Chrysanthemum Douluo nodded in wholehearted agreement, his expression full of longing. "I wouldn't need many. Five Experience Capsules at most, and I could break through to rank ninety-six...

"Rank ninety-six-that's the true dividing line! I thought I'd never reach it in this lifetime, but now I can see hope. As far as I'm concerned, breaking through to rank ninety-six is worth far more than a soul bone several thousand years old."

Now he believed it. Hu Liena and the others had been right.

Whether it was an Enhancer or an Experience Capsule, neither was any less valuable than a soul bone.

An unusual gleam shone in Bibi Dong's eyes as she sighed in wonder. "The appearance of this item will completely transform the Soul Master World as it stands, perhaps even directly change the fate of soul masters. The number of high-level soul masters will increase dramatically. Hmm... provided they have enough money and enough luck."

"This item can bring such sweeping changes to soul masters? I never imagined Your Holiness would think so highly of it!"

Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo froze.

"If anything, I'm understating it."

Bibi Dong offered no further explanation and instead turned her gaze toward Xie Yue. "Do you have anything else to show us?"

"There are two bottles of Magic Juice left..."

As Xie Yue spoke, he took out the final two items and explained, "Magic Juice could be considered the least valuable of all these items. Drinking it restores a large amount of soul power."

At his words,

everyone nodded.

Bibi Dong offered her assessment as well. "Indeed, compared with the previous items, Magic Juice isn't particularly impressive. Still, paying a hundred thousand gold coins for it wouldn't be a loss. It could work wonders when facing an evenly matched opponent."

"You're right, Your Holiness."

With that, Xie Yue put the Magic Juice away.

Looking at Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo, he saw that they still seemed hungry for more.

"I've lived for decades, but today truly opened my eyes. I never imagined anything so miraculous could happen on the Douluo Continent."

"But what makes me even more curious is where the owner of this Jar Shop came from, and why he's doing this."

Chrysanthemum Douluo voiced the questions in his heart.

They had troubled him from beginning to end.

Ghost Douluo shared Chrysanthemum Douluo's doubts.

Even Bibi Dong, who knew many secrets beyond the reach of ordinary people, couldn't arrive at a definite conclusion.

After a moment's thought, she asked, "Nana, what sort of person do you think this shopkeeper is?"

What sort of person was the shopkeeper?

Not only Hu Liena, but Xie Yue and Yan also fell into recollection and thought.

However,

before long, Hu Liena said, "I wouldn't say he's incredibly handsome, but his looks definitely grow on you... He's neither tall nor short. I think his height is just right. His shoulders are rather broad, though. They give you a sense of security..."

Everyone: "..."

Are you judging a beauty contest here?

Xie Yue was rather speechless. Women really do focus on different things. If they aren't looking at a man's face, they're looking at his figure.

But he hadn't considered that if the shopkeeper had been a beautiful woman, the outcome would surely have been reversed.

All those words, and not one of them got to the point... Bibi Dong shook her head slightly. "All right, that's enough. Xie Yue, you tell me."

"Yes."

Hu Liena fell silent.

Xie Yue said, "What left the deepest impression on me was the shopkeeper's strength. With just a single sentence, he suppressed Yan and me so completely that we couldn't breathe. With another sentence, he blasted everyone except Yan and me out of the shop."

Recalling what had happened inside the little shop, he spoke slowly.

"To possess such strength, he must at least be a Soul Douluo. How interesting..."

Ghost Douluo looked intrigued. "Tomorrow, I'll go open a couple of jars and investigate his background while I'm there."

"Don't do that."

Suddenly, a voice rejected Ghost Douluo's suggestion.

Everyone looked over and discovered that it was none other than Her Holiness the Pope.

With a grave expression, Bibi Dong said, "There's no issue with opening jars as a customer, but you must not attempt to probe him in any way. Otherwise, something even I cannot foresee may happen."

"This man warrants such regard from Your Holiness?"

Ghost Douluo was utterly shocked.

He couldn't even remember how many years it had been since he'd last seen such a solemn expression on her face.

Chrysanthemum Douluo also pricked up his ears and listened quietly.

The surprise in his heart was surely no less than Ghost Douluo's.

"He does."

Her Holiness the Pope's answer was simple.

Yet those two simple words proved how much weight that mysterious shopkeeper carried in her heart.

However,

Bibi Dong felt that this degree of caution was by no means excessive.

Because to her, Lin Xiao was far too mysterious.

The miraculous abilities displayed by both the Enhancers and the Experience Capsules had already exceeded her understanding.

If these miraculous occurrences were to make sense,

the explanation could only involve beings beyond the Douluo Continent-gods!

Only gods could display such miraculous means.

Of course, she knew that the Douluo Continent had its own rules. That mysterious shopkeeper couldn't be a god who had descended to the world.

But he could very well be a certain god's representative on the Douluo Continent.

Just like powerful beings such as Qian Daoliu and Bo Saixi.

Thus, until they understood his intentions, it would be best not to offend someone like him.

Hearing Bibi Dong's solemn instructions, Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo dared neither take them lightly nor object.

Both bowed and said in unison,

"Understood, Your Holiness."

"Mm."

Bibi Dong nodded lightly. "In that case, we'll leave matters as they are for now. Do not interfere with or obstruct the little shop's development in any way. Observe it for a while before deciding anything further."

Everyone nodded to show they understood.

"You may all leave. I'm tired."

Bibi Dong waved her hand as she spoke.

"We take our leave."

Seeing this, everyone could only withdraw.

Outside the hall.

Chrysanthemum Douluo suddenly caught hold of Ghost Douluo, who was hurrying away.

"Old Chrysanthemum, why are you holding me back?"

Ghost Douluo looked puzzled. "Do you want to come open jars with me?"