Arena rewards

"You're the one!"

With that, Jiang Yu reached out and tapped confirm.

The next moment, his consciousness withdrew from the Star River Illusion, and the Game Pod's hatch opened.

After stepping out, he let out a long, stale breath, feeling the brand-new power within him.

Then, with a thought.

A dazzling phantom of a massive platinum dragon rose behind him. The Radiant Sacred Dragon's scales shimmered with flowing light, and its holy draconic might spread outward, inspiring awe.

Feeling the tremendous power his martial soul brought him, Jiang Yu's eyes brimmed with irrepressible excitement. But he quickly forced it down and walked over to the Prize Machine.

He remembered the owner saying that what someone drew depended entirely on their luck.

Then didn't the fact that he had crossed the vast sea, escaped all manner of pursuers with his life, and reached this continent already prove that he possessed heaven-defying luck?

At that thought, Jiang Yu hesitated no longer and fed all nine hundred Gold Soul Coins into the Prize Machine's coin slot.

Soon, his name appeared at the top of the screen, along with ten draws.

He decisively pressed the button, and the frame that had been fixed on a blank icon began moving at high speed.

The ten draws concluded in succession, with the item icons enlarging and settling in the center of the screen one after another.

First draw: Intermediate Soul Power Recovery Potion! (Blue quality)

Second draw: Intermediate Stamina Recovery Potion! (Blue quality)

Third draw: Intermediate Wound-Healing Recovery Potion! (Blue quality)

Ninth draw: Soul Power Breakthrough Ticket! (Blue quality)

Tenth draw: Radiant Life Ancient Tree! (Purple quality)

The cold electronic announcement ended.

Jiang Yu brought the items to the counter and asked:

"Boss, what do these two things do?"

Lin Yue looked up and explained as usual:

"The Soul Power Limit Breakthrough Ticket lets you obtain another martial soul after using it. The Radiant Life Ancient Tree is a top-tier demigod martial soul. Once you absorb it, the specific abilities associated with this martial soul will appear in your mind."

After listening, Jiang Yu carefully counted things up inwardly.

There was the Fire Bow Martial Soul he had possessed since his awakening, followed by the Light Sacred Dragon he had obtained after entering the Game Pod.

Then there was the Soul Power Breakthrough Ticket he had obtained through the prize draw, as well as the demigod martial soul, the Radiant Life Ancient Tree.

That meant he now possessed a full four martial souls!

Such heaven-defying foundations would have sent any prodigy into unrestrained ecstasy.

Yet amid Jiang Yu's joy, a barely perceptible trace of loneliness hidden in his eyes happened to be caught by the keenly observant Lin Yue.

"As I said before, I'm quite happy to offer help to my customers. If there's anything else troubling you, why not tell me about it?"

Jiang Yu froze. Looking at Lin Yue's sincere smile, he hadn't expected his concealed feelings to be seen through at a glance.

"Haha, nothing gets past your eyes, Boss."

Then he sighed softly and said:

"Actually, I was just feeling some regret."

"As the saying goes, a gentleman can wait ten years for revenge. But who wouldn't want to settle their grudges right here and now?"

"Although I now have a god-level martial soul and might become a Titled Douluo in the future, that's ultimately something for later. Who knows how many years it'll take, never mind adding high-age Soul Rings to my second martial soul."

Lin Yue nodded slightly, understanding.

The conventional cultivation method for those with twin martial souls was to cultivate their first martial soul to level 90 first, raising their upper limit, before attaching top-tier ten-thousand-year and hundred-thousand-year Soul Rings to their second martial soul.

As for a situation like his.

The Prize Machine's highest reward, the Divine Ring found only among gold-quality items, could make up for his current regret perfectly.

It would allow him to immediately possess the absolute strength needed for revenge within a short time. Even taking control of his family and dominating a region would be no difficult matter.

But the problem was that, to date, no one in the shop had ever drawn a gold item...

After a moment's thought, Lin Yue made his decision and secretly instructed the system to double the overall prize odds.

Having done all that, he looked up at Jiang Yu.

"Why don't you give the Prize Machine another try? Maybe your next draw will give you something that can solve your current troubles."

At those words, Jiang Yu fell into thought.

His previous draws had cost nine hundred Gold Soul Coins, leaving him with four hundred and eighty-five.

Ever since arriving on this continent, he had drifted through his days in a daze. In truth, though, earning Gold Soul Coins was no difficult matter for a Soul Master.

After briefly weighing it up, he nodded and said, "All right," then returned to the Prize Machine, took out four hundred Gold Soul Coins, fed them in, and pressed the button.

The next moment.

Golden light blazed, brilliant and dazzling.

A cold electronic announcement rang throughout the shop: Congratulations, customer! You have obtained one Divine Soul! (Gold quality)

Although Jiang Yu didn't know what a Divine Ring was, anyone could tell under these circumstances that it was absolutely a supreme treasure.

At the same time, Zhu Zhuqing, Yue Guan, and Gui Mei all turned to look with shock written across their faces upon hearing the electronic announcement.

And so, under everyone's gazes, Jiang Yu picked up that mass of platinum light and hurried to the counter.

"Boss, what kind of treasure is this Divine Ring, exactly?"

At that moment, stormy waves were surging through Lin Yue's heart as well.

He had only just been privately wondering whether he had adjusted the odds a little too high, and in the blink of an eye, the other man had pulled off a miracle with a single draw...

The thought of lowering the odds again had barely surfaced before Jiang Yu had already reached the counter and asked his question.

Seeing this, Lin Yue coughed twice to conceal his surprise and spoke with feigned composure:

"Soul Masters have Soul Rings. A god's Soul Ring is naturally a Divine Ring."

At those words, Jiang Yu froze completely in place.

But a few seconds later, overwhelming ecstasy instantly swept away all his reason.

"A Divine Ring?!"

"Then doesn't that mean... I can become a god?!"

The youth threw his head back and laughed, his voice trembling with excitement as he grew almost hysterical.

Watching his crazed behavior, Zhu Zhuqing, Yue Guan, Gui Mei, and Lin Yue couldn't help exchanging looks, all feeling somewhat speechless.

"Um... calm down first."

Unable to help interrupting, Lin Yue continued:

"This Divine Ring only gives you divine power and lets you call upon god-level energy. Your Soul Master level remains at its original stage."

At those words, Jiang Yu's laughter stopped abruptly, and he turned to look at Lin Yue.

"In other words, you haven't become a god. You've simply gained permission to use a portion of god-level power ahead of time."

After hearing that, the corner of Jiang Yu's mouth twitched involuntarily. Recalling his loss of composure just now, his cheeks instantly flushed bright red.

But then he likewise coughed twice to hide his embarrassment, quickly composed himself, and spoke in a low voice.

"I see. Being able to use divine power ahead of time... that's already enough."

As he had said, with this god-level power that transcended the mortal realm, he had no need to spend more than half his life painstakingly cultivating to become a Titled Douluo.

The family conflicts and oppression that had once left him unable to breathe were now beneath mention. He finally had the confidence to settle the grudges accumulated over the years once and for all.

Afterward, he asked Lin Yue how to use the Divine Ring and attached it to his second martial soul, the Light Sacred Dragon Martial Soul.

He rose and cupped his fist in thanks:

"Thank you for today, Boss. Now that I have divine power, it's time I went back and properly settled those old scores."

With that, he turned to leave.

"Wait."

Lin Yue's voice came from behind him.

"Where are you going? Can you find your way home?"

Jiang Yu stopped in his tracks, abruptly coming to his senses.

He had only arrived on the Douluo Continent by accident after losing his bearings at sea and then encountering a storm.

Watching his expression gradually dim, Lin Yue smiled and shook his head.

"All right, just work as a temporary employee in my shop for the next few days. Once you've familiarized yourself with using divine power, I'll have Zhu Zhuqing take you back."

Hearing that, Jiang Yu looked toward the girl he had seen sitting cross-legged in the corner cultivating when he entered. Presumably, she was the person the owner meant.

Yet upon careful probing, despite his cultivation already approaching the level-thirty Soul Elder stage, he couldn't discern even her approximate Soul Power Level, which surprised him somewhat.

So he took out a small Soul Tool he carried with him. By injecting soul power into it, he could detect the levels of Soul Masters roughly ten levels above himself.

But after injecting his soul power and aiming it at the girl, he still couldn't detect her Soul Power Level.

In other words, the girl's Soul Power Level had long since surpassed forty, reaching at least forty-five or higher. She might even be nearing the threshold of breaking through to a level-fifty Soul King!

Although Jiang Yu had already noticed one fact since arriving on the Douluo Continent-that Soul Masters from the Sun Moon Empire were clearly weaker in individual combat strength than native Douluo Soul Masters of the same rank.

But a girl who looked no more than fifteen or sixteen possessing cultivation approaching Soul King at her age...

It truly shocked him, and he couldn't help drawing in a sharp breath.

Only after quite some time did Jiang Yu barely suppress the waves in his heart and collect himself. He nodded slightly to Lin Yue and said gratefully:

"Then... sorry for the trouble, Boss."

Time passed, and dusk arrived in the blink of an eye.

Zhu Zhuqing slowly opened her eyes, stood, and walked to the middle of the shop. With a beckoning motion, her Anywhere Door martial soul, covered in strange runes, appeared beside her.

Immediately afterward, ripples spread through the spatial vortex inside the door, and figures emerged from it one after another.

Seeing this, Jiang Yu was undoubtedly shocked once again.

Afterward, as customers ordered meals one after another, quite a few bowls, utensils, and miscellaneous items were left on the tables after they finished eating.

Before Lin Yue could give any instructions, Jiang Yu had already stepped forward of his own accord to clear the tables, his movements deft and brisk.

Everyone in the shop immediately noticed this unfamiliar young face and cast curious looks his way.

"He looks quite unfamiliar. Is this a new employee you've hired, Boss Lin?"

Hearing their discussion, he gave a gentle smile and took the initiative to greet them and introduce himself:

"Hello, everyone. My name is Jiang Yu. Starting today, I'll be helping with odd jobs in the shop for a while. I hope you'll all bear with me."

Seeing this, everyone in the shop sized up the humble, polite Jiang Yu, and the older generation couldn't help nodding slightly in approval.

"Quick with his hands and good at reading the room. A clever young fellow."

"Neither arrogant nor impatient, neither timid nor servile before his elders, and humble and courteous. He's better than many sect disciples-a talent worth shaping."

Those few brief appraisals counted as acceptance of the new temporary employee.

Just then, a system notification suddenly sounded beside the Prize Machine.

A young Soul Master stood before it, staring wide-eyed at the icon slowly enlarging on the screen. Its purple-quality glow was particularly striking.

"Purple... purple?! I actually drew a purple-quality item!"

He nearly jumped with excitement, his mouth running nonstop.

"Before, even ten draws might not get you a single blue-quality item. What incredible luck have I stumbled into today!"

His shouts drew the people around him over. Quite a few stepped forward to try their luck too, and likewise cried out in surprise.

Blue- and purple-quality items appeared one after another, a far cry better than usual.

For a time, discussion filled the shop, and someone joked with a smile, "Looks like today's a lucky day."

Just as everyone drawing prizes thought their luck was bursting through the roof today and brimmed with delight.

Off to the side, Ning Fengzhi, Qian Daoliu, and the others all shifted their gazes toward Lin Yue behind the counter in unison.

With their experience, they naturally saw something amiss. One or two lucky people could be called coincidence, but with it happening one after another like this, the odds were simply far too outrageous.

In the end, they exchanged glances and, as though they hadn't noticed anything, none of them spoke up to expose it.

As for Lin Yue, of course he noticed their gazes.

But he feigned complete ignorance, paying no attention whatsoever to their looks. He didn't even lift an eyelid, with absolutely no intention of engaging with anyone.

Afterward, everything continued as usual.

Until the early hours.

Lin Yue suddenly spoke slowly to everyone present.

"It has now been ten full days since the Arena opened. From now on, each ten-day period will form one cycle, and whoever ranks first on the Arena leaderboard may choose any one item in the shop as their first-place reward."

As his words fell, the entire little shop erupted.

"First place can actually choose any item as a reward?!"

"Then who's first right now?"

Everyone grew restless, speaking up and pressing eagerly for an answer.

Lin Yue lowered his hand to signal for quiet and immediately answered.

"The person ranked first in this cycle of the Arena is Feng Xiaotian."

Hearing that, Feng Xiaotian paused, clearly not having expected this result either.

The next moment, every gaze in the room converged on him.

"It's actually Feng Xiaotian! As expected of Godwind Academy's top genius!"

"First place! That's incredible!"

"Congratulations!"

Praise and envious exclamations rang out one after another as everyone crowded around Feng Xiaotian and ushered him toward the counter.

"Tell me, what item would you like as your reward?"

Under everyone's attention, his expression was both awkward and excited.

For a moment, his mind went blank. He stammered for ages, unable to decide what to choose.

Behind him, Godwind Academy's dean stamped his feet anxiously, then raised a hand and smacked the back of his head.

"You silly boy! If you can't think of what you want, just ask for the most valuable thing!"

Feng Xiaotian clutched his head and sucked in a sharp breath from the pain, but the dean's smack had also poured enlightenment straight into his head.

Without the slightest hesitation, Feng Xiaotian shouted with utter conviction:

"Boss Lin, I want a Divine Ring!"

As those words fell, the entire place instantly went silent.

Everyone held their breath, their nerves taut, gazing anxiously at Lin Yue, their hearts full of tension and anticipation.

Divine Rings were so rare that no one knew whether he would grant this request.

Under everyone's deathly silent gaze, Lin Yue nodded and said, "All right."

Immediately afterward, he raised his left hand. A Divine Ring radiating dazzling platinum light emerged from his palm, then flew straight to Feng Xiaotian.

[Thank you to reader Tako for the 9 recommendation votes and reader Qingmingy for the 4 recommendation votes. Thank you for your support.]