Hu Liena's plan

While everyone was discussing it, someone had already stepped forward to ask a question.

"Sorry to take up some of your valuable time, but I just wanted to ask: how many more jars did you three open? Did you get any more soul bones?"

At those words, the crowd immediately fell silent.

That person's question voiced what everyone was thinking.

Were the soul bones in the jars real, or were they just a gimmick?

The three exchanged glances before Hu Liena answered, "What you get from a jar is entirely random, and its value isn't fixed either. After the first jar, we opened another five, but didn't get a single soul bone..."

"Not a single one?"

"Five hundred thousand Gold Soul Coins down the drain?"

"I told you nobody would actually put soul bones in jars! Even charity doesn't go that far."

"That proves it was just a gimmick to draw people in!"

Her words sent an uproar through the crowd.

Just then, Hu Liena added, "Although we didn't get any soul bones... in a certain sense, we got something every bit as valuable as one."

Everyone froze at that, then looked puzzled. "What could be as valuable as a soul bone?"

"Don't tell me it was a soul ring?"

"This is getting more ridiculous by the moment. That's impossible! A jar isn't a soul beast. How could it produce a soul ring?"

Soon, everyone began offering guesses.

Their answers took every wild flight of fancy imaginable.

Hu Liena couldn't help pressing a hand to her forehead. "All right, stop guessing. It's a treasure called an Enhancer. It can strengthen soul rings without limit, increasing their age indefinitely."

Hu Liena gave a rough explanation of the Enhancer's effects.

As for the precautions Lin Xiao had mentioned, she skipped them.

Mainly, explaining that whole lengthy spiel would be too much trouble.

Besides, whether these people could even afford to open jars was another matter, and whether they would get an Enhancer was an even greater unknown. No matter how clearly she explained it, it would be wasted effort.

She only needed to tell everyone the most enticing part. That would count as bringing customers to the shop, too.

Sure enough.

Her words caused an extraordinary stir.

Hiss...

A chorus of sharp intakes of breath swept through the crowd.

A treasure that could strengthen soul rings without limit and increase their age. That ability was truly astounding.

Everyone present was a soul master, yet not one could recall any mention of strengthening soul rings in all the soul master knowledge they had learned.

Since ancient times, whatever age a soul ring had when a soul master absorbed it was the age it would remain. It was fixed from that moment on; there was no such thing as subsequent growth.

"Young lady, you haven't colluded with the shopkeeper to swindle us, have you?"

Someone voiced their doubts.

"Exactly! I don't think that's possible either!"

"If you're going to make things up, at least make them believable!"

"Ah, I'm getting old. My mind can't keep up anymore. I have to say, young people these days really dare to dream."

It wasn't that they didn't believe her. They didn't dare believe her.

If things truly were as these three said, then the history of soul masters on the Douluo Continent would have to be rewritten!

"Hmph. What a racket!"

Just then, a cold snort rang out, silencing all the clamoring voices.

The crowd instinctively parted.

An elderly man dressed in red walked into their midst. His face was imposing, and even without displaying any powerful aura, his mere presence made people afraid to look him in the eye.

Everyone's breathing quietly grew rapid.

They had never expected to encounter someone as important as a Red-Robed Cardinal today.

The old man in red passed through the crowd and stopped before Hu Liena and her companions. Then he surveyed everyone around them and said gravely, "Do you know whom you're questioning?"

"This young lady is the Pope's personal disciple!"

"Think about how exalted that makes her. Would she really help some little shop deceive you?"

At those words.

The crowd grew even quieter, and no one dared voice any more doubts.

The title "His Holiness the Pope" carried far too much weight.

In the hearts of most soul masters in Spirit City, the dignified, majestic Pope was like a deity, beyond all desecration.

Her disciple was naturally just as exalted, beyond question.

"I'm sorry! I meant no offense earlier!"

"Please forgive my thoughtless words..."

Those who had raised doubts earlier all spoke up to apologize.

They were sincerely begging for forgiveness.

"Forget it. Those who didn't know aren't to blame."

Hu Liena shook her head gently, then added, "Let's go. I need to head to the Papal Palace immediately to see my teacher and tell her what happened here. This little shop is far too important to Spirit Hall... no, to the entire soul master world!"

With that, Hu Liena led Xie Yue and Yan out through the crowd.

She was going to see the Pope and recount today's experiences.

No one could stop her.

"If you want to enter the shop and buy jars later, follow the rules of your own accord. No shouting!"

"Otherwise, you'll bear the consequences!"

After leaving them with those words, the old man in red also departed.

Once everyone watched them leave, the pressure abruptly eased, and the atmosphere grew heated again.

Someone wiped the sweat from his forehead and exclaimed, "Heavens, I can hardly believe it's real! Strengthening soul rings without limit-doesn't that mean a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring is practically within reach?"

"You're dreaming of a feast of crap! You really think the shopkeeper's running a charity? The Pope's disciple just said those jars cost a hundred thousand Gold Soul Coins each, and there's no telling what's inside. Anyone with rotten luck shouldn't open them!"

"Exactly. Anyone thinking of opening jars should give it some thought first. A hundred thousand Gold Soul Coins isn't a small sum. A low-level soul master might not save that much in several years. If your luck turns out bad, years of effort could go straight down the drain!"

Gradually, some people cooled down from their initial excitement.

But even more people made their way to the little shop.

They formed an orderly line.

They hadn't forgotten what the Red-Robed Cardinal had just said.

At the same time.

Some had also seen how the shopkeeper had thrown those soul masters out earlier.

They guessed that the shopkeeper himself must also be a powerful soul master.

Inside the shop.

Lin Xiao looked at the long line outside, and the corners of his mouth lifted into a faint smile.

At this rate, selling eighty to a hundred jars today wouldn't be difficult.

Thinking of the rewards he would receive, a thought surfaced in his mind: Today is another day full of hope.

Just then, the soul master at the front of the line came inside, his face brimming with excitement.

To Lin Xiao, this esteemed soul master looked less like someone coming to spend money and more like someone coming to pick it up off the ground.

Clunk.

Reaching the counter, the soul master tossed the sack he had been carrying onto it and said eagerly, "Quick, boss! Give me a jar to open."

P.S.

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