Douluo: Infinite Lottery System

"Oh, why won't you listen to my advice?" Dai Mubai stepped forward, addressing Oscar with a firm tone. "Xiao Ao, just make a new sausage already!"

Oscar hesitated, glancing around nervously. "Boss Dai, isn't this a bit inappropriate? There are juniors and schoolgirls here."

"Cut the nonsense and hurry up!" Dai Mubai shot him a glare. "They're all going to be academy students soon anyway. Can you keep it a secret at that time? Or do you want me to force you?"

With a helpless sigh, Oscar gave in. He shook his head wryly, muttering with a hint of embarrassment, "I have a big sausage…" His spirit ring lit up as he activated his ability. In an instant, a sausage materialized in his palm.

Tang San's expression darkened, while Xiao Wu and Ning Rongrong visibly recoiled in disgust. "Gross!"

Oscar could only sigh again, resigned. "Oh, come on."

At that moment, Xiao Tianyang, who stood at the food stall, seemed completely unaffected. He casually continued eating the sausage he already had. "How long do these sausages last?" he asked, as though oblivious to the awkwardness in the air.

Oscar stared at him in surprise. "You don't mind?"

"What's there to mind?" Xiao Tianyang responded nonchalantly, taking out another sausage from his collection. "I made this myself. Want to try?"

Oscar blinked, stunned by Xiao Tianyang's earnest demeanor. Hesitantly, he accepted the gray sausage, taking a cautious bite.

"Hmm…" Oscar's eyes widened in astonishment. "This is… delicious!" The realization hit him like a bolt of lightning—his sausages paled in comparison.

"Hmph, of course!" Xiao Wu chimed in smugly, appearing at Xiao Tianyang's side. She clung to his arm, shaking it playfully. "Brother Tianyang's food is always incredible. I want some too!"

Xiao Tianyang gave her an exasperated look. "If you weren't a girl, I'd kick you out right now." Despite his words, he eventually relented, pulling out a handful of freshly made sausages and handing them out.

When Ning Rongrong approached, however, he hesitated. "Do you want one?"

Ning Rongrong hesitated too, struggling internally. Finally, with gritted teeth, she accepted the sausage and took a decisive bite.

Xiao Tianyang winced. "Was it necessary to be that dramatic?"

But the response was unanimous. Everyone praised the flavor, especially Ning Rongrong, whose beautiful eyes sparkled as she smiled in satisfaction.

This wasn't to say Oscar's sausages weren't good—they were functional, after all. But the way they were made was… unsettling. Xiao Tianyang, on the other hand, approached food with passion. To him, taste, aroma, and presentation were equally important. The sausages he presented were his masterpiece, refined over months of experimentation.

Unbothered by the praise, Xiao Tianyang quickly set up a small station at the stall. Pulling out dozens of seasonings, he began experimenting with new dipping sauces. While the others savored their food, he focused on perfecting his work. Soon, the sausages emerged with a vibrant new coating, their enticing aroma filling the air.

Dai Mubai's eyes glazed over as he inhaled deeply. "This smells… divine."

Xiao Wu, unable to resist, leaned closer to the stall, her nose twitching. "Forget everything I said before—this is amazing!"

Xiao Tianyang chuckled softly. "Go on, try it again."

This time, even Xiao Wu—who had earlier found the sausages repulsive—picked one up and took a bite without hesitation. Her eyes widened as the intense numbing spice hit her tongue. "Ah! It's so spicy!" she cried, fanning her mouth desperately while inhaling sharply.

Tang San hurried forward, concerned. But despite the heat, Xiao Wu ignored him and continued eating with gusto.

"Tang San, you should try one too," Xiao Tianyang suggested.

Tang San hesitated but ultimately took a bite. While he didn't react as dramatically as Xiao Wu, the numbing, spicy flavor still took him by surprise. It was addictive.

One by one, the others followed suit—Dai Mubai, Oscar, and even Ning Rongrong, who had resisted at first, succumbed to the temptation.

In the end, Xiao Tianyang was proven right. Everyone forgot their earlier reservations. Oscar's sausages might have been useful, but Xiao Tianyang's creation was an experience, one that left an unforgettable impression on all who tasted it.

Of course, the dazzling appearance of the sausages didn't draw much attention at first. But when the truth about their origin was revealed, it was indeed hard for most people to stomach. 

Yet, unknowingly, the number of sausages on the stall steadily decreased until they were completely gone.

"It's all gone…" Xiao Wu sighed with a tinge of regret.

Xiao Tianyang rolled his eyes at her. "You're the one who ate the most, and you still have the nerve to complain?"

Oscar walked over a grateful smile on his face, and clasped Xiao Tianyang's hand. "New classmate, thank you so much!"

"It's nothing, just a small trick." Xiao Tianyang waved it off casually and placed three gold soul coins on the now-empty stall. "This meal is on me today."

Oscar scratched his head, looking a bit embarrassed. "That's… a bit too generous."

"Then why are you still holding on to the coins?" Dai Mubai teased, his expression exasperated.

"Ahem!" Oscar coughed awkwardly. "Well, it's the thought that counts, right? At least let me accept it as a gesture of goodwill!"

Dai Mubai shook his head helplessly. "Fine. You can handle the rest of the journey from here. I've got something I need to check on back at the academy."

"What's wrong? Did you lose something?" Oscar asked curiously.

Dai Mubai's brows furrowed slightly. "Not quite… but something feels strange. When we were lining up earlier, there was someone whose aura felt remarkably similar to mine. There's a certain… harmony to it."

Oscar's eyes widened in surprise. "Are you talking about martial soul compatibility? That's the foundation for the Martial Soul Fusion Technique!"

"I'm not sure," Dai Mubai admitted. "But if there's even the slightest chance, I can't afford to ignore it. I have to find out." With that, he waved them off and strode back toward the academy without further explanation.

With the sausages sold out and nothing left to do, Oscar took charge, turning to the group. "Boss Dai already explained your situation to me. Let's head straight to the final test."

"Is that allowed?" Tang San asked, glancing at the few people still waiting in line.

"Don't worry about it. Leave it to me." Oscar patted his chest confidently, then approached the teacher supervising the second test and spoke with him briefly.

Moments later, the teacher called out, "In that case, you may take them directly to the fourth test."

The remaining examinees muttered in protest—this was cutting in line. But when they heard that Tang San and his companions were all above level 25, they quickly abandoned any objections.

As they walked toward the next testing area, Oscar took the opportunity to explain. "The fourth test focuses primarily on actual combat ability. A Soul Master's battles are unpredictable. How you use your martial soul, the sequence of activating soul rings, and when to deploy soul skills—these are the key factors that determine victory or defeat. This test evaluates all of that."

"Even auxiliary-type Soul Masters have to take this test?" Ning Rongrong asked from the side, her tone skeptical.

Oscar nodded firmly. "Of course. The enemy won't go easy on you just because you're an auxiliary-type Soul Master. You need to learn how to defend yourself and support your team effectively."

"No wonder the academy only has a handful of students," Xiao Wu muttered, kicking a loose stone along the path. She pouted and added, "Like Brother Tianyang said, it's really because of poverty."

Oscar nearly tripped over his own feet, barely managing to steady himself.

...

If you'd like to support me and gain access to extra chapters, you can follow the link:

patreon.com/DarkLord621