Chapter 36: Unexpected Joy

"Are you Xiao Hu?" Li Xuan laughed as he asked the shop assistant.

"Yes, young master, since you asked, I'll definitely make your tour of Salah City enjoyable!" Zhao Xiaohu grinned, bowed respectfully to Li Xuan, then looked at Li Xuan with a simple smile.

"Thanks, Uncle Zhao. From now on it's Brother Xiao Hu's turn; let's set off," Li Xuan nodded at Zhao Da'an and then led Xiao Hu out of the building materials store.

Zhao Xiaohu followed behind Li Xuan, his face showing no contempt or impatience.

Although Zhao Xiaohu was somewhat older than Li Xuan, he still deeply revered Li Xuan's position as Flower Sea supervisor, and thus behaved very humbly.

"Young master, where would you like to stroll?" Zhao Xiaohu said respectfully to Li Xuan.

"Brother Xiao Hu, no need to be so formal—call me Xiao Xuan, or Xuan Ge'er, either works. Where are the book‑selling places in Salah City?" Li Xuan smiled at Zhao Xiaohu and asked.

"Bookstores? They're just on the street next door, though the selection is a bit thin," Zhao Xiaohu said, pointing cluelessly at a nearby street.

"No problem, let's go take a look," Li Xuan laughed lightly, waved his hand, and headed toward the street Zhao Xiaohu had indicated.

On the Douluo Continent, becoming a Soul Master is the only righteous path; Soul Masters wield most of the authority in the world and enjoy the majority of its benefits.

Yet a natural chasm exists between ordinary people and Soul Masters—not only the presence of a martial soul, but also Soul Masters have locked the ladder of advancement, imposing a knowledge blockade on common folk.

Soul Masters also fear that ordinary people might acquire power comparable to theirs, which would threaten their status; such a phenomenon is not permitted.

For example, the method of making a Soul Guide Device is destroyed by the Soul Masters themselves, since a powerful Soul Guide Device could grant ordinary people weapons on par with those of Soul Masters.

Thus most books concerning Soul Masters are held by Soul Master Families, sects, the Empire, and the Spirit Hall.

The books that circulate are mostly notes and anecdotes, offering little real help for cultivation.

Only a handful of idle people sell books, so running a bookstore rarely yields much profit.

Zhao Xiaohu laughed and shook his head, then followed Li Xuan toward the bookstore.

Soon, the two arrived at the bookstore's entrance.

Zhao Xiaohu arrived a step ahead of Li Xuan, gently patting the bookstore's main door.

"Grandpa An, we have guests; the young master wants to buy some books," Zhao Xiaohu knocked on the door and called out loudly.

Li Xuan looked through the glass; the shop was small, its shelves sparse, and only a gaunt old man lay in a recliner, eyes closed, resting.

The little old man heard the knock and finally rose from his recliner.

"Hmm...? Dreaming? Little Xiao Hu came looking for me?" An Laotou mumbled, rubbing his eyes after climbing from the recliner, then saw Zhao Xiaohu and Li Xuan at the door, took a few quick steps forward, and opened the door.

"Young master, this is the bookstore's owner, Grandpa An; Xuan Ge'er, whatever books you wish to see, just tell Grandpa An," Zhao Xiaohu said with a smile to Li Xuan.

"Little Li Xuan has met Grandpa An," Li Xuan said with a smile, bowing to An Laotou.

After all, An Laotou's head was full of white hair; he looked at least eighty or ninety, so the bow was appropriate.

"Young master, you're courteous; tell me any book you want, and I'll fetch it," An Laotou said with a smile to Li Xuan.

"Grandpa An, I'll browse first, then decide," Li Xuan nodded, stepped into the store, and began scanning the shelves.

Most of the books on the shelves were travelogues and anecdotes, with virtually no cultivation material.

After a round of browsing, Li Xuan frowned inwardly; the Soul Master world's knowledge blockade on cultivation was indeed severe.

Originally, Li Xuan intended to buy some books on Soul Master cultivation, to self‑study and become a true Soul Master.

Although his soul power level has now reached 16, Li Xuan achieved that on his own; he never received formal Soul Master training and isn't sure his practice is correct.

In the end, Li Xuan could only sigh.

"Becoming a true Soul Master is too hard..." Li Xuan didn't give up, continuing to search the shelves.

"Young master, there's no need to look further; I truly have no books related to Soul Masters," An Laotou said after hearing Li Xuan, shaking his head with a smile and urging him.

Li Xuan halted his gaze, gave An Laotou a serious look, then sighed and prepared to leave, but at that moment he suddenly spotted a book on the shelf.

However, Li Xuan immediately averted his eyes.

Salah City Map

"Grandpa An... how about this: pack up all the books on this shelf for me. Flower Sea is boring; since there are no cultivation books, I'll just read some leisure books to pass the time," Li Xuan smiled and said to An Laotou.

Yet An Laotou and Zhao Xiaohu exchanged a glance, their eyes revealing something indescribable.

Li Xuan, noticing their odd looks, quickly turned back and glanced at the other books on the shelf.

The Secret I Must Tell the Empress

My Soul Saint Girlfriend

Oh! My Soul Emperor Brother

Golden Soul Plum

…

They're all books that single men love the most.

Ordinary books in the store usually sell poorly, so for the bookstore to stay afloat it needs to sell some of these kinds of books to maintain a decent livelihood.

When Li Xuan saw the titles, his face flushed instantly, his head buzzed, and his mind went blank.

"Um... I have a friend who likes these books; I'm buying them for my friend!" Li Xuan, though embarrassed, forced himself to say it.

Salah City Map should detail the terrain around Salah City, making it extremely important to Li Xuan; even if it's mortifying, he can't give up, so that's what he says.

"Ooooooo~" Zhao Xiaohu and An Laotou exclaimed in unison, the trailing tone rising! The two seemed to have discovered something, their eyes shining with understanding.

"Pack them quickly! I'm heading out first," Li Xuan said irritably, then bolted out of the bookstore.

"Grandpa An, since the young master likes them, please pack these books; tonight my father and I will come to collect them," Zhao Xiaohu, seeing Li Xuan's demeanor, gave a simple smile, then turned to An Laotou and said.

"Well... okay," An Laotou said helplessly, shaking his head.

"Grandpa An, how much do these books cost in total?" Zhao Xiaohu asked again.

"These books aren't pricey; the whole shelf would be thirty Silver Soul Coins, but for you, Xiao Hu, twenty‑five Silver Soul Coins will do," An Laotou thought and gave Zhao Xiaohu a quote.

"No need, no need; the young master has money, full price is fine," Zhao Xiaohu said with a wave, then turned and left.

Zhao Xiaohu had just stepped out of the bookstore when he saw Li Xuan standing a short distance away, his expression neutral, watching him.

Zhao Xiaohu silently praised Li Xuan in his heart.

No wonder he's the Flower Sea manager; in terms of nerve, Zhao Xiaohu feels inferior.

"Brother Xiao Hu, how much do those books cost?" Li Xuan asked Zhao Xiaohu.

"Thirty Silver Soul Coins," Zhao Xiaohu nodded and said to Li Xuan with a smile.

Li Xuan, unreserved, took out thirty Silver Soul Coins from his bag and handed them to Zhao Xiaohu.

"Thank you, young master," Zhao Xiaohu said with a smile as he took the Silver Soul Coins.

"By the way, young master, what should we do next?" Zhao Xiaohu asked Li Xuan again.

"Hmm… is there a place where we can craft jewelry?" Li Xuan asked Zhao Xiaohu.

Dear readers, gentlemen, we have ample time today, so we should be able to post another update.

(End of chapter)