Chapter 22: All Is a Ruse

"Service level?"

Lei En was a bit confused; doesn't the Soul Transformation ceremony just require injecting the potion? What other differences are there?

Viola remained silent, and Ta Lini beside her answered for her: "Mr. Lei En, ordinary Soul Transformation ceremonies are very simple; they're just an injection of the potion. Our Violet House is different—considering the client's safety and improving the ceremony's success rate, we can offer you various service packages."

Lei En was somewhat interested; he had never heard of any of this before.

Ta Lini explained: "First, the effect of the Soul‑devouring potion. Although the main ingredient is always Soul‑devouring herb, our Violet House has a unique formula; the refined potion works better than ordinary ones, lessening pain slightly and allowing the client to endure longer."

"Of course, our potion is certainly more expensive than the ordinary kind."

"How much more?" Lei En asked.

"One dose costs thirty Gold Shields," Ta Lini replied.

Lei En gave a slight nod, but inwardly he was unconvinced.

Normally a dose of the Soul‑devouring potion sells for about five Gold Shields, so this price is a bit exaggerated.

No matter how the formula is refined, the potion's effect is the same: it makes a human's soul, under intense painful stimulation, gain the ability to fuse with other souls.

What Ta Lini claimed—that it lets a person endure longer—holds little meaning.

Because each person's physical condition and Willpower differ, the same potion yields different results on different people. Even the same individual, undergoing the Soul Transformation ceremony at different times with the same potion, will see varying outcomes.

Without quantitative standards, one cannot prove which potion is superior.

The Violet House's potion may indeed lessen pain, but it could merely be a psychological comfort—unverifiable either way.

Nevertheless, many would likely pay the thirty Gold Shields for the effects claimed by the Violet House.

After all, the Soul Transformation ceremony is too important!

If the ceremony fails, it costs ten years of lifespan and leaves the soul weakened for three to five years.

Humans, due to the Blood Soul Curse, find it hard to reach seventy even without disease; once the soul recovers, risking another Soul Transformation ceremony, another failure leaves only a few years left to live.

Thus, each person has only one or two chances in a lifetime to become an extraordinary being; as long as they have money, even a slight boost in success odds justifies spending a fortune gladly.

Even those with outstanding talent are willing to spend money on better potions if it lets them endure longer in the ceremony, making the Soul Transformation more thorough.

Lei En considered his odds relatively high; with music greatly easing the pain, he felt the Soul Transformation was a near‑sure thing, so of course he wouldn't waste money on this.

But he didn't refuse outright.

Ta Lini continued: "Besides better potions, we also offer a bottle of vitality potion, a mind‑protection scroll crafted by a 'Spiritualist', and a rune platform specifically for the Soul Transformation ceremony."

"Drink the vitality potion before the ceremony starts; you know the Soul Transformation can last nearly an hour, draining stamina in the pain, and the potion keeps you full of energy until the end."

"The mind‑protection is a Three‑ring Spell; it shields you from some of the Lord of Darkness's ramblings and prevents the Blood Soul Curse from striking while the soul is weak."

Lei En felt a chill in his heart upon hearing this.

During the Soul Transformation, the extreme pain torments the soul and spikes emotions, providing the Blood Soul Curse its prime opportunity to strike.

Nowadays, those who die during the Soul Transformation usually perish from the curse's onset rather than soul torment, becoming the Fallen.

This is the most dangerous factor in the ceremony.

Lei En had experienced a Blood Soul Curse outbreak at the start of his transmigration, but he wasn't sure whether his phone could still protect him during the ceremony.

If the mind‑protection scroll truly works, it's indeed worth buying one.

"How much does this mind‑protection scroll cost?" Lei En suddenly asked.

"Fifty Gold Shields," Ta Lini said. "Because it's a Three‑ring Spell, half the cost is just the scroll's material, and only a Spiritualist can craft it, so it's pricier."

Lei En nodded; the price seemed fair enough.

Spiritualists are a wizard's professional branch, one of the four specializations of the Law Seal school, and are extremely rare.

All of Longshande might have only a handful of such spiritual wizards, and since the mind‑protection is a Three‑ring Spell, crafting it into a scroll is difficult; the Violet House's higher price is understandable.

Ta Lini then introduced a rune platform used for Soul Transformation.

According to her, the platform was arranged by a Rune Master, equipped with a syringe; performing the ceremony on it is safe and reliable, it can accelerate the Soul Transformation process, improve fusion results, and even has a tiny chance of boosting certain elemental affinities.

Lei En wasn't entirely convinced.

After humans are cursed by the Lord of Darkness, their bodies regress, racial talents vanish, and elemental affinity becomes like that of an insulator; even if it improves a bit, it's of little use.

Nevertheless, the Soul Transformation rune platform is still needed; it's a basic item, cheap anyway—just a few Gold Shields.

In addition, Ta Lini presented several other services.

For example, a Calm‑Spirit Technique scroll; after the Soul Transformation ends, whether successful or not, using it soothes the soul and prevents painful after‑effects.

Or invite an experienced Mid‑stage Wizard to preside over the ceremony and operate the rune platform; also better vitality potions, mind‑protection scrolls of three‑ring level or higher, and so on.

The Violet House doesn't force a full‑package sale; instead, it thoughtfully offers various combined ceremonies so customers can choose.

Ta Lini produced a framed price list of the combos for Lei En to review.

Lei En stared at the price list in his hand, hearing Ta Lini's familiar terms—combo packages, discounts, offers, services, member prices—and felt a certain illusion.

"Isn't this just a sales pitch!"

"Why does it feel like I walked into a massage parlor, and this in my hand is the Great Sword Package price list?"

Lei En's thoughts drifted, and his gaze at Ta Lini turned odd, as if the lady before him were no longer an extraordinary being but a top‑ranked technician.

As for Viola, the bubbling‑beautiful Half‑elf sitting opposite, she is the establishment's owner and star performer…

"Mr. Lei En?"

Ta Lini, halfway through speaking, suddenly noticed the handsome young man seemed distracted, his gaze at her oddly strange, which made her skin crawl.

"Mr. Lei En, have you decided?" she asked again.

"Oh, sorry! All these options are too good, making it hard to choose," Lei En snapped back, covering his lapse with praise and quickly discarding the chaotic thoughts in his mind.

Ta Lini laughed, "If Mr. Lei En thinks everything is fine and can't decide, just pick the top‑tier combo ceremony, which includes all items and services, apply for a card to become a Violet House member, and enjoy a ten‑percent discount on your first Soul Transformation."

"A membership card…"

Lei En felt a headache coming on; he hadn't expected that after transmigrating to another world, he still couldn't escape these schemes.

He had just heard Ta Lini explain that the Violet House has several membership tiers, the most basic ordinary member paying ten Gold Shields per year.

And the top‑tier VIP membership costs three hundred Gold Shields per year!

It's downright a money‑grab.

In fact, this isn't a business model unique to Violet House; many guild shops use similar methods, but Violet House has popularized it, making it hardly different from merchants on Diqiu.

Needless to say, this was certainly thought up by Half‑elf Viola.

Lei En turned his head to glance at Viola; she said nothing during Ta Li Ni's business presentation, her delicate face constantly smiling, watching him the whole time, which added considerable pressure.

If it were someone else, unfamiliar with this sales model and stared at by a stunning beauty, they'd probably be dazzled, impulsively sign up for membership, and then half‑asleep purchase the most expensive combination ritual.

"It's all a gimmick, every part is a gimmick!"

Lei En felt both amused and exasperated, but pretended to be in a dilemma, saying, "I don't have much money; I can get a membership card, but I can only choose the Four‑number Combination Ritual, there should be a member discount, right?"

The Four‑number Soul Transformation Combination is one of the cheapest options, including an ordinary Soul‑Eating Potion, a three‑ring Spiritual Protection Scroll, and the most basic Soul Transformation Rune Platform, and nothing else.

This combination ritual costs only sixty Gold Shields, of which the Spiritual Protection Scroll alone is fifty Gold Shields; with the membership fee the total is seventy Gold Shields, and a discount would make it very economical.

Of course, if Lei En were ruthless, he could just buy a single ordinary Soul‑Eating Potion for only five Gold Shields.

But doing that would offend some people.

Ta Li Ni, after all, is a transcendent and a healer‑type pastoralist; if Lei En had no money he certainly wouldn't pretend to be wealthy, but since he does have money, he should give her a bit of face.

Moreover, he does need the Spiritual Protection Scroll just in case, and may later buy more at Violet House, so a regular membership would be useful.

Ta Li Ni heard Lei En's choice and was somewhat disappointed, but did not press further.

"As long as you have a membership card there's a discount, but it only applies to the first service. Mr Lei En, when do you plan to perform the ritual?"

Lei En did not hesitate, "The sooner the better."

"We need to prepare a bit; the earliest is tomorrow. Does tomorrow noon work for you?" Ta Li Ni asked after a moment's thought.

"That works."

"Alright," Ta Li Ni reminded, "Please bring the money, Mr Lei En, before tomorrow's ritual."

Lei En nodded in understanding.

At that moment, the long‑silent Viola spoke, "Mr Lei En, with your talent the Soul Transformation ritual will be no problem. Have you ever considered which transcendent profession to choose? Violet House can offer you consultation services."

She paused, then laughed softly, "Of course, it's free."