"We're no longer involved. Where I go and who I'm with are none of your business."
Dugu Yan's voice was cool as she looked away from Yu Tianheng, as though discussing something that had nothing whatsoever to do with her.
With that, she turned, walked over to a Game Pod, and lay down inside.
Yu Tianheng stood rooted to the spot. His lips moved, but not a single word came out.
Dejection, bewilderment, and incomprehension surged into his heart all at once, like a basin of cold water poured over his head.
Nearby, Yu Feng walked over and patted his shoulder, offering comfort:
"Captain, don't be upset."
Beyond that, neither he nor the other teammates dared say anything, although they had all heard bits and pieces from the other people in the shop and knew why Dugu Yan had broken up with their captain.
They could only look helpless, and the atmosphere grew particularly heavy.
At those words, however, Yu Tianheng took a deep breath, forcibly suppressed the ache in his heart, and wiped every trace of dejection from his face.
Then he forced a smile and looked up at Yu Feng, Osler, Shi Mo, Shi Mo, and the others present.
"It's fine. Let's leave that aside for now. You still haven't told me what this place actually is. Why have you all gathered here?"
Once he finished, Osler stepped forward of his own accord and patiently explained the Mysterious Shop to Yu Tianheng: how the Game Pods let people obtain twin martial souls and experience another world, as well as the various heaven-defying opportunities available through the Arena and the Prize Machine!
After hearing the explanation, Yu Tianheng was still immersed in shock when another teammate, Shi Mo, suddenly gave a quiet exclamation of surprise.
"The Clear Sky Sect?"
The Heaven Dou Team members turned their heads, all looking over together. A group was approaching from outside the shop, led by a tall, powerfully built man with a deep, steady presence and an air of authority even without anger.
Osler lowered his voice.
"Even the secluded Clear Sky Sect has discovered the opportunities here?"
Yu Feng narrowed his eyes, studying them for a moment before asking in surprise:
"Look at the man leading them. Doesn't he look like Tang Xiao, the Clear Sky Sect's sect master?"
"It really is him!"
As they discussed it, the other people in the shop also noticed the Clear Sky Sect's arrival.
Outside the shop, Tang Xiao led three elders and several core disciples to a stop a dozen or so paces from the entrance. Turning to Tang Hao behind him, he promised:
"Don't worry, Brother Hao. I'll make sure he lifts the restriction on you!"
With that, he said no more, turned, and strode straight into the shop.
Upon entering, Tang Xiao swept his gaze from side to side, examining this seemingly ordinary little shop that had drawn the continent's major powers into a rush to visit.
Just then, Zhu Zhuqing approached from the side and bowed slightly. "Welcome."
Tang Xiao withdrew his gaze and stood with his hands behind his back, getting straight to the point:
"I've heard you have something here that lets people obtain twin martial souls, as well as ways to increase soul power. Is that true?"
Zhu Zhuqing nodded and pointed to the neatly arranged Game Pods beside them.
"These are called Game Pods. Once you lie inside, you can choose a second martial soul and experience another world as well."
Then she pointed to the Prize Machine a short distance away.
"As for things that increase soul power, you'll need to use the shop's Prize Machine. As long as you're lucky enough, it offers all kinds of supreme treasures and opportunities."
After hearing her explanation, a sharp gleam flickered in Tang Xiao's eyes. His gaze swept between the Game Pods and the Prize Machine. After a moment's consideration, he asked instead:
"Where is your boss?"
"Please follow me."
Zhu Zhuqing turned and led Tang Xiao's group to the counter, then spoke softly to Lin Yue, who was looking down at something:
"Boss, someone is here to see you."
At her words, Lin Yue looked away from the system screen and slowly raised his head, his gaze settling on Tang Xiao and the elders behind him.
The system instantly displayed their character information, clearly identifying the visitors as Tang Xiao, sect master of the Clear Sky Sect, and several of its core elders.
Understanding dawned on him. He guessed they had most likely come about the restriction on Tang Hao, but he did not point it out, simply asking in an even tone:
"What is it?"
Tang Xiao fixed his gaze on Lin Yue, carefully examining him from head to toe.
The young man before him was very young, with a languid manner and an ordinary bearing. He showed none of a powerful expert's presence and looked just like an ordinary mortal.
Yet when Tang Xiao recalled how Tang Hao, a rank ninety-five Titled Douluo, had been suppressed with a single word and fallen in rank, he dared not underestimate him in the slightest, even though he had not witnessed it himself and was full of doubts.
Tang Xiao gathered his thoughts, took a lustrous herb glowing with a faint golden sheen from his Storage Soul Tool, and placed it on the counter.
"This treasure is called Golden Body Grass. It is an exceedingly rare immortal herb. After consuming it, one gains a physique like copper ramparts and iron walls, impervious to ordinary blades and spears."
He paused, his tone growing more solemn.
"Would this suffice as an apology for Brother Hao's offense against you, Senior?"
Lin Yue glanced at the Golden Body Grass, somewhat surprised. But instead of reaching for it, he merely shook his head.
"There's no need. Your immortal herb is of no use to me."
"Besides, there's no grudge between Tang Hao and me."
Hearing this, Tang Xiao's brows relaxed, and he hurried to seize the opening:
"In that case, could you lift the restriction?"
Lin Yue shook his head lightly, his voice calm but brooking no argument. "That was his punishment for causing trouble and attempting to seize an opportunity by force. Naturally, it cannot be lifted at will."
At these words, Tang Xiao's expression darkened slightly, and his tone grew more urgent:
"Then what exactly would it take for you to let Brother Hao off and lift the restriction, Senior?"
Looking at the anxious Tang Xiao, Lin Yue raised a hand and pointed toward the Prize Machine in the shop.
"As I said, it's a punishment."
"You can try your luck at that Prize Machine. If you're lucky enough to draw three Soul Power Breakthrough Tickets, he can return to rank ninety-five."
Following his finger toward the Prize Machine, Tang Xiao fell silent for a moment before uttering a single word: "All right."
Then he turned and strode toward the Prize Machine, with the three elders and several core disciples following close behind.
A young man stood beside the Prize Machine, seemingly having just finished a round of draws. Seeing people approach, he stepped aside.
Tang Xiao asked him a few questions and learned that a single draw cost one hundred Gold Soul Coins, that ten consecutive draws for nine hundred Gold Soul Coins were a better deal, and roughly how the item qualities worked.
After learning the rules, he took Gold Soul Coins from his Storage Soul Tool and deposited them in the Prize Machine's coin slot, intending to try ten consecutive draws first and see how things went.
Soon, his name appeared at the top of the screen, along with ten available draws.
He decisively pressed the button, and the frame that had remained fixed on the blank icon began moving at high speed.
The ten draws resolved one after another, with each item icon enlarging and settling in the center of the screen.
First draw: blank.
Second draw: Low-Tier Soul Power Recovery Potion! (Green quality)
Third draw: blank.
Fourth draw: blank.
Tenth draw: Soul Power Breakthrough Ticket! (Blue quality)
The results of the ten draws appeared on the screen one by one, and a cold electronic announcement rang out:
"Congratulations, customer! You have obtained one Soul Power Breakthrough Ticket! (Blue quality)"
In the past, this would certainly have drawn envious looks from everyone present.
But ever since Lin Yue had increased the draw rates, these regular customers had long since defined a ten-pull with only one blue item, everything else blank apart from one or two green or white items, as the standard package for someone cursed with rotten luck. No one even gave it a second glance.
Only the Clear Sky Sect's group looked delighted.
Looking at the Soul Power Breakthrough Ticket on the screen, Tang Xiao's lips curved upward as he silently marveled that whatever he wanted truly came to him.
Drawing the very item he needed right at the start-his luck really was exceptional.
The elders and core disciples beside him all looked excited and voiced their flattery.
"A Soul Power Breakthrough Ticket on the very first ten-pull! Sect Master, fortune truly shines upon you!"
"Only two more to go! With your luck, Sect Master, you'll surely gather them all soon!"
For a time, everyone beamed with joy, and spirits ran particularly high.
Tang Xiao felt somewhat reassured. He reached into the Prize Machine's collection slot, took out the blue Soul Power Breakthrough Ticket, and carefully put it away.
Immediately, he took out more Gold Soul Coins and deposited them into the slot. Once the available draws on the screen jumped from "0" to "20," he decisively pressed the draw button.
First draw: common hundred-year soul beast teeth! (White quality)
Second draw: blank.
Third draw: blank.
Fourth draw: Low-Tier Soul Power Recovery Potion! (Green quality)
Tenth draw: High-Tier Soul Power Recovery Potion! (Purple quality)
A crisp electronic announcement immediately rang out:
"Congratulations, customer! You have obtained a High-Tier Soul Power Recovery Potion! (Purple quality)"
At the dazzling purple light blooming on the screen, everyone from the Clear Sky Sect brightened, their faces filled with astonishment.
According to what the young man had said earlier, items of this quality were already rare. They had never expected one to appear in just twenty draws!
The customers who had been idling around the shop now turned to look, their gazes all settling on the purple potion in Tang Xiao's hand.
Feeling everyone's attention on them, the Clear Sky Sect's elders and core disciples could not help feeling rather pleased with themselves. Believing everyone envied the rare purple-quality opportunity they had drawn, they took on a somewhat haughty air.
Tang Xiao, however, had no time to concern himself with that, because of the item's name and its quality, which was higher than the Soul Power Breakthrough Ticket from before.
Could it restore the soul power Brother Hao had lost and thus return him to rank ninety-five?
At that thought, he immediately turned toward the young man beside him, who had explained the rules earlier, and asked:
"Young friend, may I ask what exactly this High-Tier Soul Power Recovery Potion does?"
The young man scratched his head at the question and answered honestly.
"I'm not too sure about the specifics, but I do know what the Medium-Tier Soul Power Recovery Potion does. It instantly replenishes the soul power you expend when using soul skills. The higher the grade, the more it should restore."
He paused and glanced at the glass bottle in Tang Xiao's hand, his tone taking on a subtle note.
"To be honest, this is our first time seeing anyone draw a High-Tier Soul Power Recovery Potion. Calling you unlucky wouldn't be quite right, since it really is a purple item, but calling you lucky... well, it turned out to be just a soul power recovery potion..."
With that, the young man waved and left. Tang Xiao's hopes fell through, and his disappointment was written all over his face.
Beside him, the smug expressions on the Clear Sky Sect elders' and core disciples' faces instantly froze, leaving them deeply embarrassed.
But soon, Tang Xiao sighed, a trace of resolve flashed in his eyes, and he pressed the draw button hard.
The icons on the screen instantly began scrolling at high speed.
First draw: blank.
Second draw: blank.
Third draw: Millennium Soul Beast Soul Ring! (Green quality)
Fourth draw: Intermediate Stamina Recovery Potion! (Blue quality)
Tenth draw: Luo Sanpao! (Purple quality)
A crisp electronic announcement immediately rang out:
"Congratulations, customer! You have obtained the Luo Sanpao martial soul! (Purple quality)"
Hearing the announced reward, the elders' faces all darkened. One even blurted out, unable to contain his astonishment and disdain.
"Isn't... isn't that fellow Yu Xiaogang's trash martial soul, Luo Sanpao?!"
Tang Xiao's expression darkened slightly. He lowered his head and took the solidified mass of purple light from the collection slot. It felt warm in his hand, yet no matter how he looked at it, it seemed to burn his fingers.
Just as everyone was privately lamenting their bad luck, a gentle female voice suddenly sounded.
Everyone looked toward the voice and saw Ye Lingling slowly step out from the Heaven Dou Team, walk straight up to Tang Xiao, and bow.
"Senior Tang. I would like the Luo Sanpao martial soul in your hand. Would that be possible?"
Tang Xiao froze, almost thinking he had misheard.
Stunned by her words, Tang Xiao looked into the girl's clear, earnest eyes, then glanced at the equally puzzled expressions around him. For a moment, he thought he had misheard.
He looked at the purple mass of light in his hand, then back at Ye Lingling, and asked for confirmation:
"Are you certain you really want this... Luo Sanpao martial soul?"
"I'm certain."
Ye Lingling nodded lightly, her attitude utterly firm.
After a moment's hesitation, Tang Xiao quickly weighed things up. Exchanging it for something valuable would not be bad.
So he took the opening and said:
"Yes, but do you have a Soul Power Breakthrough Ticket?"
Ye Lingling shook her head slightly. "I don't have a breakthrough ticket, but I do have a Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Beast Soul Ring Ticket. Would you be willing to trade, Senior?"
Ye Lingling shook her head and took a paper ticket with the same faint golden sheen from her Soul Tool.
"I don't have a breakthrough ticket, but I do have a Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Beast Soul Ring Ticket. Would you be willing to trade, Senior?"
"A ten-thousand-year soul ring ticket?"
Surprise flickered in Tang Xiao's eyes, and he hurriedly asked, "What does it do?"
Ye Lingling patiently explained:
"As long as a soul master has reached rank forty in soul power, tearing this ticket will grant them a Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring that is highly compatible with them, without any risk of mental shock."
After hearing this, a sharp gleam flashed in Tang Xiao's eyes.
Even if he had no use for it himself, the sect's core disciples and younger generation accompanying him would absolutely need it. Its value far exceeded the trash martial soul Luo Sanpao.
This trade was guaranteed profit with no risk of loss!
"All right. Deal."
Tang Xiao nodded without hesitation, handed over Luo Sanpao, and completed the exchange.
Everyone present watched in utter confusion, completely unable to understand why Ye Lingling, a top-tier support with Nine Heart Begonia, would trade a ten-thousand-year soul ring ticket for a trash martial soul.
The next moment, under everyone's puzzled gazes.
Ye Lingling slowly walked up to the counter, looked at Lin Yue sitting languidly there, and spoke softly.
"Boss Lin, aside from the Luo Sanpao cultivation plan you mentioned yesterday, are there any other methods?"
[Thank you to reader Tako for the gift of nine recommendation votes. Thank you for your support as always!]
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