10 "A Deadly Encounter in the Dark Shop"

A purple soul ring appeared next to Ye Xuan, enveloping his body with a sacred aura.

Wave after wave of potent soul power continued to surge through Ye Xuan's body. He felt his physical strength steadily increasing, and it occurred to him that he might be capable of extraordinary feats.

The sensation of power coursing through him was intoxicating, and he longed to remain immersed in this feeling permanently.

Ye Xuan spent a thousand trade points to acquire a divine soul ring. When he put on the ring, he obtained a purple soul ring and his first soul skill, "Clouds and Rain."

After some time, the intensity of that feeling gradually subsided, and he accessed his attribute interface. He found the following:

'Dark Shop Owner: Ye Xuan'

'Martial Spirit: True Dragon'

'Soul Power Level: 11'

'Soul Ring: Purple'

'Soul Skill: Clouds and Rain'

'Trade Points: 150'

Ye Xuan thought that his first soul skill was somewhat unexpected. Originally, he only wanted to acquire an exceptionally powerful soul skill, but he ended up with one that seemed less impressive.

In simple terms, this soul skill generated clouds and precipitation by accumulating water vapor in the air. Factors such as the amount of rain, the timing of the rain, the area of effect, and the soul power level restricted its use.

Ye Xuan went to the backyard and immediately activated the "Clouds and Rain" soul skill. A gentle breeze blew, and a dark cloud began forming in the sky, followed by a light drizzle.

The rain soon fell to the ground and disappeared without a trace, but Ye Xuan noticed that his soul power was rapidly decreasing and, within a few seconds, he couldn't sustain the skill any longer.

Breathing heavily, Ye Xuan gazed at the bright sun in the sky and took some time to recover.

It seems like my first soul skill has just been depleted.

Pursing his lips, he thought, at least I now possess a soul skill.

Just as he returned to the small shop, another customer walked in.

"Hello, sir, would you like a treasure chest with anything you desire inside?" Ye Xuan asked with a smile.

Although the man was dressed plainly, his face had a cold expression, giving the impression of someone with ill intentions.

Of course, this didn't concern Ye Xuan; his main concern was whether the deal could be finalized.

"Are you the owner here? Are you the only one in this shop?" the man inquired coldly.

Ye Xuan nodded, smirked, and replied, "Actually, I'm the only one working here. I wonder what kind of treasure chest you're looking for. Perhaps a red treasure chest? It costs only 10 million soul gold coins, which isn't much, considering what it offers."

The man nodded and approached Ye Xuan.

Only a table separated them, so they were very close.

"Then, bring me a red treasure chest," the man said.

Ye Xuan nodded, turned around, and went to retrieve the red treasure chest.

At that moment, the man suddenly took action.

The sword in his hand flashed directly towards Ye Xuan's neck.

He drew the sword and sheathed it in an instant.

A bright red line appeared on Ye Xuan's neck, and Ye Xuan's hand stopped just before touching the red treasure chest.

The assassin grinned arrogantly. As long as he acted, there was no one who could escape his deadly skill.

"Don't meddle in others' affairs next time. The prince's plans are not a place for you to stick your nose, you fool who seeks death," the assassin declared.

After the assassin finished speaking, he turned and left.

However, before leaving the dark shop, Ye Xuan's voice reached him from behind.

"Sir, the red treasure chest has been taken. Whether you want it or not, you must pay for it," Ye Xuan said.

The assassin froze, his face reflecting disbelief. Slowly, he turned around and saw Ye Xuan looking at him with a smile on his face, as if nothing had happened. There was a red treasure chest on the table in front of Ye Xuan.

"Sir, my establishment is different from others. If you want it, you must buy it. Of course, you don't need to acquire the treasure chest, but you still have to pay in soul gold coins. If you attempt to evade payment, you will be severely punished," Ye Xuan said with a smile.

Having said that, Ye Xuan approached the assassin.

The assassin's eyes remained fixed on Ye Xuan's neck, trying to verify if there was any wound on his neck.

He quickly became disappointed. Ye Xuan's neck was as smooth as a mirror, without any injuries. What had happened moments ago felt like a dream.

"Are you a human or a ghost?" the assassin murmured with a trembling voice.

Impatiently, Ye Xuan reached out and said, "Why do you say so many nonsense? Get the money. If I don't receive the money, I will be forced to take action."

"I'll go to my house and get the money, alright?" the assassin replied.

He had come here with the intention to kill, not to buy anything. Naturally, he didn't have a hundred thousand soul gold coins with him.

But the merchant in front of him was truly unusual. Although it seemed like he had been killed, this person was inexplicably unharmed. He had never experienced a situation like this and had no previous experience to rely on. His instincts told him he should return and report this as soon as possible.

"No money? That's not a problem. You just have to surrender your life," Ye Xuan said with a smile.

As soon as Ye Xuan finished speaking, the assassin's expression changed dramatically. His body swayed, and he headed towards the door.

But the moment his feet left the ground, a mysterious force completely paralyzed him. He couldn't move at all.

Ye Xuan observed the assassin carefully, as if he was inspecting merchandise, and made disapproving sounds with his mouth.

"My dark shop is not an ordinary place. Those who dare to cause trouble here haven't been born yet. You can go in peace. Others will take care of your wife and children," Ye Xuan remarked.

The assassin looked at Ye Xuan with terror in his eyes. He wanted to plead for mercy, but he couldn't even articulate a word. His eyes reflected desperate supplication.

Regrettably, his plea was in vain and didn't elicit the slightest hint of compassion from Ye Xuan.

Suddenly, a blaze erupted from the assassin's body, and before his own terrified eyes, his body was engulfed in flames.

In a matter of seconds, he looked like a man on fire.

The strange part was that there was no smoke, no heat, just flames burning continuously.

Soon, the assassin disappeared completely, leaving only a trail of ashes falling from the air.

After cleaning the floor, Ye Xuan returned the red treasure chest to its original position.

Then, as if nothing had happened, he sat on his stool and waited for the next customer.

A store like Ye Xuan's was meant to serve only a limited number of people, which also meant it would be empty most of the time.

Just as Ye Xuan was about to doze off while sitting on his stool, another customer walked in.