A Meeting in the Shop

Landing before the entrance, Dugu Bo surveyed the storefront before him and could not help frowning.

Had the Dragon Duke and Snake Granny and his granddaughter not confirmed it twice, he would never have believed that a place like this could conceal the secret of twin martial souls.

"Grandpa, this is the place."

Dugu Yan spoke softly, curiosity and nervousness mingling in her eyes.

Dugu Bo nodded, raised his hand, and pushed the door open.

"Welcome."

A cool, pleasant female voice reached their ears.

Dugu Yan looked toward that cool voice and saw a young woman approaching from beside the counter.

Dugu Bo's gaze, however, passed over Zhu Zhuqing and landed on a familiar figure in the open kitchen behind her.

That person happened to look up as well, revealing refined, feminine features as their eyes met.

"Old Poison!"

"Chrysanthemum Guan!"

The two spoke almost simultaneously, both sounding somewhat surprised.

Yue Guan held a kitchen knife, a plain apron tied around his front. His cuffs were slightly rolled up, and a little flour still clung to his fingers.

The sight truly stunned Dugu Bo for a moment. Then the corners of his mouth lifted, and he teased:

"Chrysanthemum Guan, looking at you, don't tell me you're working here as someone's cook?"

In the past, Yue Guan would certainly have fired back at that, spending ages cutting him down with remarks like, "An old poison with green skin all over has the nerve to talk about others," or, "An old monster whose poisonous fumes stink to high heaven."

This time, however, Yue Guan merely glanced down at his attire, actually gave a faint chuckle, and admitted frankly:

"That's right. I am indeed working as someone's cook now."

His tone was calm, without the slightest attempt to conceal it, let alone any embarrassment or anger.

Dugu Bo froze.

That did not sound like something the other man would say. The Chrysanthemum Guan he knew cared about saving face above all else and would insist on scoring a few verbal victories even when at a disadvantage.

They had known each other for decades. When had they ever met without crossing verbal swords, matching barb for barb, and tearing each other to shreds?

Suppressing his astonishment, Dugu Bo could not help surveying the little shop anew.

For a distinguished rank-ninety-five Titled Douluo to set aside his pride and willingly work here, the opportunities within this little shop were probably even more staggering than he had previously imagined!

Meanwhile, watching Dugu Bo sink into silent thought, his expression shifting repeatedly, Yue Guan gave a gentle smile and interrupted.

"Enough, Old Poison. All your guessing is useless. The opportunity is right in front of you now. Experience it for yourself, and you'll naturally understand its mysteries."

At that, Dugu Bo came back to his senses and glanced at him. After a brief moment of consideration, he finally nodded.

"Very well. I'll do as you say and experience it first."

Seeing this, Zhu Zhuqing prepared to step forward and give the two newcomers the customary introduction to the shop's rules and how to use the Game Pods.

But she had only taken one step when Yue Guan quietly stopped her.

Puzzled, Zhu Zhuqing raised her eyes toward Yue Guan, incomprehension in her gaze.

Yue Guan tipped his chin toward the entrance.

Following his gaze, Zhu Zhuqing saw that the Dragon Duke and Snake Granny were already approaching Dugu Bo.

"Don't worry, little Zhu Zhuqing. Leave the task of introducing the shop to Old Poison to them."

Yue Guan's tone was casual.

Zhu Zhuqing paused for a moment. Looking at the Dragon Duke and Snake Granny's practiced familiarity, then at Yue Guan's expression telling her to take a rest, she nodded with only a partial understanding and replied, "All right."

With that, she withdrew to a corner and quietly sat cross-legged to cultivate.

Meanwhile, Dragon Duke Meng Shu and Snake Granny Chao Tianxiang had already reached Dugu Bo, warm smiles on their faces.

"Your Excellency Poison Douluo, I trust you've been well since we last met."

Dugu Bo inclined his head slightly, his gratitude plain on his face, and said:

"My thanks to you both for before. Had you not told me a little about this that day, I might still have had no chance to learn of such an unparalleled opportunity."

Hearing this, Dragon Duke Meng Shu waved it off, his expression serene and untroubled, though inwardly he was blooming with delight.

I only laid the snare a few days ago. To think he would come so quickly. Heaven truly is helping me.

At this thought, he spoke without betraying anything:

"There's no need for that, Your Excellency Poison Douluo. It was merely casual conversation that day, meant to satisfy my own curiosity. Ultimately, finding this place was down to your own fate and good fortune."

Dugu Bo shook his head gently, his expression earnest.

"Perhaps it was only an unintentional gesture on your part, but to me, it was a tremendous kindness. I, Dugu Bo, will remember this favor."

At this, Meng Shu and Chao Tianxiang exchanged a glance and declined no further. Instead, they smoothly steered the conversation toward the opportunities within the little shop, beginning to explain the mysteries of the Game Pods and twin martial souls to Dugu Bo and the openly curious Dugu Yan beside him.

And when some rumors concerning Dugu Yuan were also recounted in full,

Dugu Yan, who had been standing obediently beside her grandfather all along, already had shining eyes from listening. When she was told that this person was very likely their ancestor, her heart jolted all the more!

Dugu Bo, by contrast, could not help forming a thought as he listened to their account.

Since Heavenly Evolution City in that world was founded by our ancestor's counterpart, could it contain some method or item that could remedy the flaws in our martial souls?

With that thought, once Meng Shu finished speaking, he did not directly voice his deepest hope. Instead, he assumed the air of someone eager to evolve his martial soul and grow stronger, asking:

"Do you two know whether Heavenly Evolution City in that world has any methods that can bring about martial soul evolution?"

The Dragon Duke and Snake Granny considered briefly, assuming only that Dugu Bo had heard of his ancestor's deeds and surmised that he had completed martial soul evolution. Thus, after a little thought, they said:

"We have heard something about that. That ancestor of yours, Dugu Yuan, seems to have ultimately evolved his martial soul into an azure firmament abyss dragon."

"But as for more detailed soul ring combinations and evolution methods, they might be recorded within Heavenly Evolution Tower."

Dugu Bo's spirits lifted, and he turned to glance at his granddaughter beside him.

Obtaining that inheritance might not be easy, but at least we've found a direction now. As long as this path exists, Yanyan won't have to remain troubled by the flaws in her martial soul in the future.

To him, that alone had already made this trip worthwhile!

As he was reflecting on this, just then,

Chao Tianxiang suddenly changed the subject and turned toward Meng Shu beside her.

"Old man, haven't you forgotten the Prize Machine Boss Lin placed over there?"

"Ah! How did I forget about that!"

Meng Shu slapped his forehead and exclaimed.

Chao Tianxiang shook her head with a smile, then turned to Dugu Bo. "Your Excellency Dugu, please follow me."

Under Chao Tianxiang's guidance, the four walked together to the Prize Machine. She pointed at the machine before them and slowly explained.

"This is the Prize Machine. The third soul ring our granddaughter Meng Yiran needed back then was drawn right here."

"According to Boss Lin, if your luck is good enough, you might obtain something that can evolve a martial soul right away."

Hearing this, Dugu Bo's emotions surged within his chest. His gaze settled on the Prize Machine, and an excitement he had not felt in a long time welled up in his heart. He asked in a low voice:

"How does one operate this lottery?"