Chapter 204: The Soul Hall's Price — Opportunity or Trap?
When Xiao Xiao regretted having spoken so decisively, Xiao Qiang paid him no mind. At this moment, Xiao Qiang was still explaining the details of souls and the Soul Hall to the people of the Sun Moon Empire.
"In summary, souls have several advantages over normal soul rings. First, souls can be absorbed over a longer period than soul rings, and absorbing soul rings above one's level will bring higher soul power and the possibility of beneficial mutations to the martial soul."
"Second, compared to normal soul rings, even the lowest-level hundred-year souls grant an additional ability to increase vision; thousand-year souls amplify soul guides and give them self-awareness; and ten-thousand-year souls are equivalent to having an additional summoning soul skill, allowing the summoning of ten-thousand-year soul beasts to fight alongside their masters."
"Third, there is a benefit of souls that has yet to be fully revealed. Since souls aggregate more energy from soul beasts, they can generate more than one soul ring. Tests show that hundred-year souls can produce two soul rings, thousand-year souls three, and ten-thousand-year souls four. Furthermore, if the fused soul is at the ten-thousand-year level, it can upgrade the martial soul's previously fused ten-year or hundred-year soul rings to the thousand-year level — at the cost of producing one less soul ring."
"As for hundred-thousand-year souls…" Xiao Qiang smiled mysteriously and said no more. Meanwhile, Du Weilun was sweating profusely. Considering the fighting power Xiao Qiang had already demonstrated, Du Weilun seriously suspected Xiao Qiang really possessed a hundred-thousand-year soul that granted him multiple hundred-thousand-year soul rings.
"The current situation of souls is as I described. Next is the soul pricing. After lengthy discussions among the high-ranking officials of the Soul Palace, we have decided to price ordinary hundred-year souls at one thousand gold soul coins."
"Since one thousand gold soul coins is unaffordable for most ordinary families, I have decided to issue soul-exclusive loans to all soul masters who have reached level ten. Even if the soul master has no money, as long as they are level ten, they can integrate this hundred-year soul immediately and train with peace of mind for five years. Repayment begins after five years and can be completed within three years. However, interest will double the total repayment to two thousand gold soul coins."
"If within those five years, you not only become a great soul master but also reach level 30 soul power, you can apply for an extension of your loan and simultaneously request a new loan to purchase a three-thousand-year soul. This soul costs fifty thousand gold soul coins, with a loan term of ten years. You don't need to repay within those ten years, but after, all loans must be paid off within five years, and the price doubles to one hundred thousand gold soul coins, while the previous two thousand gold soul coins loan doubles to four thousand."
"Of course, if within those ten years your soul power reaches level 50, both loans can be extended again. You can also purchase a soul older than twenty thousand years, priced at one million gold soul coins, with a twenty-five-year term. After twenty-five years, repayment can be made over ten years. All previous loans will again double, so the total repayment would be two million two hundred and eight thousand gold soul coins."
Du Weilun was stunned at Xiao Qiang's soul pricing, feeling a chill run down his spine.
Selling a hundred-year soul for one thousand gold soul coins was terrifyingly expensive—an amount ordinary families could never afford. This price alone blocked over 90% of families and was enough to buy two hundred-year soul rings.
But the problem was Xiao Qiang's loans. Loans without repayment pressure for five years. One thousand gold soul coins was fatal for a non-soul master family, but five years was enough for a soul master to reach level 20 — the first ring of a hundred years. Even for innate talents, five years sufficed to cultivate into a great soul master. Although the total repayment rises to two thousand gold soul coins, for a great soul master that is affordable. With monthly earnings in the dozens or hundreds of gold soul coins, paying off this debt in two to three years is achievable.
Most importantly, this was the Sun Moon Empire — a nation focused on training soul masters. Five years is enough to reach both great soul master status and level two soul mastery.
Level two soul masters can create level two soul guides. Although profits from level two soul guides are small, especially in the Sun Moon Empire, it's easy to earn ten or twenty gold soul coins from a single level two soul weapon. Production time is measured in hours; even making one per day, a level two soul master can repay two thousand gold soul coins in half a year.
As for the three-thousand-year souls costing fifty thousand gold soul coins after reaching level 30, the price is still high and prohibitive for level three soul masters. But having such a third soul ring enables the four-ring soul master level without major hindrance. With leapfrog absorption of soul rings, as long as the martial soul isn't too poor and the total soul ring age reaches optimal ratios, levels 40 to 50 are achievable.
One hundred thousand gold soul coins are fatal to a soul master, but to a level five soul master, it's manageable.
In the original Douluo Three Kingdoms, a level four milk bottle costs 20,000 gold soul coins. The Sun Moon Empire has fewer profits, but a level five soul guide can make 2,000 to 3,000 gold soul coins monthly. Although crafting level five soul fighting devices isn't easy, even if it takes several days, a level five soul guide can earn over 10,000 gold soul coins a month, enabling them to repay 100,000 gold soul coins in just one year.
Regarding the ten-thousand-year soul spirit — the fifth ring of twenty thousand years — the Soul Emperor is a level above Soul Saint, and the Soul Saint level is only a matter of time. Higher realms require powerful martial souls; the outcome is uncertain, but with the fifth soul ring integrated, leapfrog absorption of soul rings for a Soul Saint is inevitable.
In the Sun Moon Empire, a Soul Saint is a level seven soul guide. Two million gold soul coins sound enormous, but at the Star Luo Empire's Starlight Auction House, a level seven milk bottle goes for six million gold soul coins.
Level seven milk bottles aren't usually made by level seven soul guides, but even an ordinary level seven soul guide can earn a couple million gold soul coins.
Moreover, if you reach Soul Venerable within five years, you can extend your loan and delay repayment. If you reach Soul King within ten years, you can continue borrowing. The extension period stretches to twenty-five years, allowing Heavy Soul Kings to reach Soul Saint status.
With these policies, what Xiao Qiang has established is not a Soul Hall — it is clearly an Evil Martial Soul Hall!
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Pump up the power stone