Douluo: I Can Choose My Own Soul Skills

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The moment Ye Lan announced he would treat everyone, cheers erupted throughout Dorm Seven. None of the others had expected Ye Lan—clearly a working student—to be someone who wasn't short on money.

After sharing a friendly meal with the Dorm Seven boys, Ye Lan walked alone to a quiet grove behind Nuoding Academy. There, he began seriously thinking about how to make money.

At present, on the Douluo Continent, the effect of whale glue on improving a soul master's absorption limit hadn't yet been discovered. Still, whale glue was far from affordable—an ordinary hundred-year-old piece cost dozens of gold soul coins, while a thousand-year-old one easily exceeded a hundred. As for ten-thousand-year-old whale glue, it was extremely rare, coveted, and monopolized by the most powerful nobles of the Heaven Dou Empire as an elite aphrodisiac.

Whale glue was known for improving physical constitution, but what Ye Lan valued most was its ability to boost cultivation speed. Though the increase was modest, for someone like Ye Lan—whose innate soul power was only at level 3—it was a substantial help.

Despite receiving a monthly allowance of one gold soul coin from Su Yuntao, it was still nowhere near enough to afford whale glue.

If he wanted to earn money, the most straightforward path would be to participate in soul battles. However, Ye Lan didn't yet have the strength or qualifications.

Not long after, he thought back to a beloved snack from his past life—candied fruit skewers. Their sweet and tangy taste was incredibly appetizing. The Douluo Continent had no such treat, which meant he would have a monopoly.

That uniqueness meant he could assign high value to something that was otherwise ordinary in his past life. Ye Lan decided to introduce soul masters of the Douluo Continent to this delicacy, planning from the start to position it as a premium item.

Firstly, commoners simply didn't have the money. Only noble or soul master families could afford luxury snacks. Secondly, if he sold them for just ten copper soul coins each, he'd never be able to save enough to purchase even a single piece of whale glue.

Having devised a plan, Ye Lan no longer worried about coin. He returned to his dorm and resumed his daily meditation.

A few days later came Ye Lan's first Sunday rest day. While the others went into town for leisure, Ye Lan instead visited the nearby commercial market.

There, he sampled a few kinds of local fruit—brightly colored and sweet-tart in flavor. Though he hadn't eaten them in his past life, Ye Lan quickly realized they were even better suited for candied skewers than hawthorn.

After haggling a bit, Ye Lan bought a few varieties of fruit that would work well for his recipe. He also purchased sugar, honey, and essential tools like earthen pots.

Arms full of ingredients and utensils, Ye Lan made his way to a remote area near the back gate of the academy.

He gathered dry wood and stacked it into a campfire formation. Using a flint lighter he had bought, he lit the fire. After adjusting it to the right intensity, he placed the earthen pot on top.

Then he poured in the white sugar, honey, and spring water in a 1:1:1 ratio.

Soon, the mixture turned a warm tea color.

Ye Lan pushed most of the firewood aside, leaving just enough flame to keep the syrup from solidifying. He dipped skewered red, yellow, and blue fruits into the syrup, coating them evenly. A glossy amber sugar shell formed instantly, making the fruit look crystal-clear and gem-like.

Once coated, he quickly dunked the skewers into a container filled with ice-cold mountain spring water.

Before long, the syrup in the pot was used up, and several beautifully finished candied skewers floated in the water.

Ye Lan picked out a red fruit skewer and admired its translucent sugar shell. The sight alone was satisfying. He took a bite—crisp, tart, and sweet. As his teeth sank through the hardened shell, the juicy fruit burst with flavor—absolutely delicious.

Compared to the hawthorn-based skewers of his past life, this version had no seeds, making it easier to eat.

The crunchy sugar and juicy fruit were an incredible combination. Ye Lan quickly finished the entire skewer.

Satisfied and full, he felt at ease—he finally had a clear source of income! If something like this could excite the palate of someone from the culinary boom of his past life, then the people of this food-scarce Douluo Continent would surely be blown away.

Ye Lan carefully packed the hundred finished candied fruit skewers into ten elegant gift boxes he had bought beforehand.

As the saying goes, clothes make the man, and appearance makes the food. No matter how delicious something is, if it doesn't look good, it won't fetch a high price.

After tidying everything up, Ye Lan changed into a brocade outfit and jade-patterned shoes he had bought from a clothing store. The white base was accented with blue and gold patterns—intricate, yet not overly elaborate.

Looking at his reflection in the water, Ye Lan sized himself up. What a handsome young man. With dark blue hair, sword-like eyebrows, and starry eyes, his not-yet-fully matured features carried a touch of youthful charm. His skin was fair with a healthy glow—he truly looked like a refined young court attendant.

Satisfied with his appearance, Ye Lan turned away and carried the ten boxes of candied skewers back to the dormitory.

He stored nine of them neatly in his locker, then took one box with him to the academy's dining hall on the second floor.

It wasn't mealtime yet, so only the kitchen staff on the second floor were busy preparing ingredients. From his previous inquiries, Ye Lan knew that the second floor's cafeteria was managed by the same sixty-year-old elder who had helped with student registration—Director Su.

Holding the gift box of candied skewers, Ye Lan approached Director Su. When the elder saw him, he didn't immediately recognize the young man before him. It wasn't until he noticed Ye Lan's dark blue hair that realization dawned. With a hint of surprise, he asked, "Ye Lan? What brings you here?"

"Director Su, please try this," Ye Lan said, offering the box of skewers.

Director Su accepted the gift, curiously picking up one of the candied fruit sticks. He examined the unfamiliar treat, hesitated for a moment, then took a bite.

With a crisp crack, the fruit burst between his teeth, releasing a rush of sweet and sour juice. Just as the sourness threatened to overwhelm, the sweetness of the sugar coating balanced it perfectly. Director Su was momentarily lost in the complex flavors dancing across his palate. Without even thinking, he devoured the rest of the skewer bite by bite.

Only after finishing did Director Su snap out of his trance. Excitedly, he turned to Ye Lan and asked, "What is this? How did you make it?"

Ye Lan, calm and composed, spoke solemnly about the skewers' origin: "This is called candied fruit skewers. My ancestors once served as royal chefs in the Star Luo Empire. This recipe has been passed down in my family and is considered a closely guarded secret."

He shamelessly invoked the Star Luo royal family to add value to his product. After all, it wasn't as if Director Su could verify the story with the imperial family.

"As expected! Only nobles could enjoy something this exquisite. And what does young friend Ye Lan plan to do with this box of gourmet treats?" Director Su asked, now calling him "young friend" in a clear attempt to draw closer.

Ye Lan, hearing the shift in tone, didn't bother with small talk. He got straight to the point: "Director Su, I've relied on Grandmaster Su Yuntao's help for too long. But I don't want to depend on him forever. I'd like to support myself through selling these candied fruit skewers."

(End of Chapter)