"Knock, knock, knock—"
A knock sounded at the door.
Tang Lan glanced at Xiao Wu, confirming she was alright.
With a flash, he went to the door and opened it to find Tang San.
Before Tang San could speak, Tang Lan stepped out of the room and closed the door.
"Xiao Wu is breaking through, keep your voice down."
Tang San heard this and lowered his voice.
"Brother, can I borrow 257 Gold Soul Coins?"
Huh? "Didn't you go to Spirit Hall to collect money? Why are you borrowing money, and with exact change?" Tang Lan asked curiously.
Tang San's expression darkened at the mention of this.
"I had my eye on a piece of ore, but the shop owner kept raising the price, from 100 Gold Soul Coins to 500 Gold Soul Coins."
"I paid 200 Gold Soul Coins first, and I have to pay the rest tomorrow to take the ore."
Tang Lan blinked.
Oh no! He had forgotten about the Banjing Ore, this "small opportunity"? After all, he had lived there for twelve solid years, so some small details weren't that clear.
"My Gold Soul Coins are with Xiao Wu," Tang Lan stalled. "You should go back to sleep. Once she's done breaking through tonight, I'll send them to you tomorrow."
"Okay, Brother." Tang San didn't suspect anything. "I'll head back then."
Tang San entered the adjacent Rose Room No. 2.
Tang Lan returned to his room and looked at Xiao Wu.
The condensation of a life-bound Soul Ring was a relatively long process, and she likely wouldn't wake up tonight.
He spread out his Blue Silver Domain, causing the entire room to be filled with Blue Silver Grass.
As long as there was any disturbance, they would inform him through the Blue Silver Grass throughout the city.
'Time to fleece Tang San!'
Then, he opened the window.
Using the "disguise" of the Blue Silver Domain, Tang Lan concealed his form optically.
He activated his Soul Bone Skill to fly, exiting the Rose Hotel.
Flander's rare treasures shop was notoriously unscrupulous in Suo Tuo City.
They were masters at ripping off customers.
Tang Lan easily found its location.
He used the Blue Silver Domain to disguise himself as someone else and went directly to the shop.
"Customers, please hurry up. This shop closes in half an hour," Flander said casually.
He showed no of the pleasant demeanor usually associated with business.
It made sense, though.
A dignified level 78 Assault-type Battle Soul Saint had to open a shop and sell goods obtained from young adventurers just to keep the academy running.
It would be strange if he had a good attitude.
Tang Lan casually glanced around.
He approached Flander and picked up the piece of Banjing Ore on the table.
Once this thing was cracked open, it revealed Dragon Whisker Needles, the eighth-ranked inner sect hidden weapon of the Tang Sect.
When shot into the human body, they would automatically curl up, twisting muscles into a knot.
They were incredibly vicious.
Tang Lan, being such a kind person, couldn't let them see the light of day.
"This stone looks good, how much is it?" Tang Lan got straight to the point.
"A customer has already reserved this one," Flander replied without looking up. "So, the price needs to be higher, 1000 Gold Soul Coins."
Well now!
As expected of you, Flander. You have a little bit of conscience, but not much.
Tang Lan touched the Blue King, and 1000 Gold Soul Coins fell onto the table, forming a small mountain.
—The gold bricks the Blue King had given him back then were too plentiful.
He reached out to take the Banjing Ore. "Swish—"
The Banjing Ore vanished, reappearing in Flander's hand as he examined it with interest.
"Is this thing some kind of treasure?"
"Why are two people in a row today willing to raise the price to buy it?"
It looked like they were going to set a price.
Tang Lan wasn't annoyed.
He put away the Gold Soul Coins on the table and turned to leave.
This surprised Flander, who was about to raise the price again.
Just leaving like that?
Did he think I'd try to keep him here to haggle the price down? Hmph!
I've seen through your strategy! Flander watched Tang Lan walk out of the shop and turn, disappearing into the crowd.
Three minutes, five minutes, half an hour… It was already his closing time, and Tang Lan hadn't returned.
Flander was dumbfounded!
He really left? Unwilling to give up, he waited another half an hour, certain Tang Lan wasn't coming back.
Flander regretted it inwardly! 1000 Gold Soul Coins, just like that, gone?
"No rush, maybe he'll come back tomorrow."
Ads by Pubfuture Flander placed the Banjing Ore on the table.
He closed the shop and went into the back room to rest.
The room was quiet.
It wasn't until late into the night.
Flander poked his head out again, suspiciously looking around.
"Was my premonition wrong?"
He scratched his head; he really did leave this time.
Another half an hour passed.
Tang Lan appeared on the roof beam and reached out towards the Banjing Ore.
A golden dragon coiled around the Banjing Ore and flew into his hand.
Dragon Capturing Hand! Tang Lan didn't take it for free; he scattered 250 Gold Soul Coins.
He then vanished again, opened the window, and flew away.
A few seconds later, "CRASH—"
The door was blasted open, and Flander rushed in, enraged.
Seeing the Banjing Ore was gone, his soul power erupted on the spot!
"Little thief! How dare you!"
"Don't let me catch you!"
He immediately activated his Four-Eyed Cat Owl Martial Soul, fused with it, and flew into the sky.
His sharp eyes scanned everywhere, determined to catch that little thief!
However. He found nothing.
He could only let out an impotent roar! Rose Hotel, Room Rose No. 1.
Tang Lan climbed back in through the window and deactivated his Blue Silver Domain.
He felt a smug satisfaction.
Flander's love for money had its reasons, which he could understand.
But price gouging? Then, he was sorry.
This young master could only resort to taking it by force.
This was called—abandoning one's moral bottom line and enjoying a wicked life.
[Host intercepted Banjing Ore, seizing a small portion of Tang San's luck!]
[Reward: "Mastery of Short-Barreled Weapons – Pistols"!]
Vast amounts of blueprints, data, bullet and gunpowder formulas, and more flooded into his mind.
This covered revolvers, semi-automatic pistols, and fully automatic pistols.
Tang Lan smiled.
This little thing, it arrived at just the right time! Machine-based hidden weapons? Those things took time and effort to craft, requiring extremely skilled artisans.
The ammunition was also very expensive.
Unlike pistols.
They were sturdy and durable, with considerable power.
As for the power…
For soul masters below level 40, without soul power protection, a close-range shot would pierce two holes with one bullet.
Using a soul skill would be a different matter.
But short-barreled weapons, meaning handguns, are fundamentally basic firearms.
Advancements include shotguns, submachine guns, rifles, and even sniper rifles! Even without future rewards, Tang Lan could design similar firearms based on modern concepts.
Even tanks, mortars, rockets, and so on.
—Warfare still depends on modern thermal weapons.
诸葛神弩 (Zhuge Divine Crossbow)?
Not worth mentioning.
Hmm. Wait a moment!
It's not necessarily that he has to research them himself, is it? If Tang San could become his "researcher," his cultivation would naturally be delayed.
Killing two birds with one stone!
Swish—
Xiao Wu instantly appeared before Tang Lan, her smiling eyes like crescent moons.
"Brother, what's making you so happy?"
"I have a new inspiration, I'll try it out later," Tang Lan said with a smile. "Your third soul skill, is it related to speed?"
"Brother, you're so smart!" Xiao Wu giggled. "Third Soul Skill: Teleportation!"
Yellow, yellow, and purple soul rings appeared beneath Xiao Wu's feet. Her third purple thousand-year soul ring lit up, causing her to disappear.
She reappeared above Tang Lan, straddling his neck.
Her smooth, long legs rubbed against his neck.
Making his heart race.
How could Tang Lan be polite?
With Xiao Wu in his arms, he directly fell onto the large bed.
"Ah! Brother!"
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