Skinwalker Belle – Chapter 384 – Holy Water is Free, the Bottle Costs Money

The werewolf’s legs gave way, and with a “thud,” he knelt by the pool, hot tears streaming from his one cloudy eye.

His hands trembling, he cupped another handful of pool water, his movements as if he were holding the most precious treasure in the entire world.

“A miracle… this is truly a miracle!”

He spun around abruptly and began kowtowing frantically again and again before the massive, featureless goddess statue.

“Thank you, Goddess! Thank you for your boundless grace and kindness!”

With the werewolf serving as a living advertisement, the out-of-town merchants and refugees who had been hesitating on the sidelines went completely wild in an instant!

“Move aside! Let me have a drink!”

“I’ll pay three Crystals! Who’ll sell me a bottle!”

“Stop shoving! I’m an old man! Don’t you know to respect your elders?!”

The entire central plaza erupted into chaos.

As more and more people drank the “Energy Potion,” countless invisible Faith Threads rose from every direction, like a hundred rivers flowing into the sea, surging in a mighty torrent toward the top floor of the City Lord’s mansion.

…

City Lord’s mansion, luxury suite on the top floor.

“Burp—”

Lin Fan let out an utterly undignified belch, sprawled limply across the sofa with her limbs splayed out, her eyes vacant and glazed over like someone who had been thoroughly drained.

On the tea table before her, seven or eight large empty water jugs lay scattered every which way.

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“My Lord, the crowd in the plaza has grown even larger—especially those from the outer city. They’re extremely agitated.” Su Yue pushed open the door, carrying two thermos flasks freshly filled with purified water. Her expression was a mix of excitement and concern. “Our stock is depleting faster than expected. At this rate, we won’t last until evening.”

Lin Fan rolled her eyes weakly.

“You really aren’t afraid of working me to death, are you?”

Su Yue started in alarm and quickly set down the flasks. “Su Yue wouldn’t dare! It’s just… the people outside are too enthusiastic. Just now, the leader of an out-of-town merchant caravan broke through a bottleneck at the third level on the spot after drinking it. He’s still kneeling in the plaza right now, swearing to spend his entire fortune to build a pure gold temple in your honor.”

Lin Fan sighed.

She had brought this upon herself.

She had only done it to save trouble back then.

Who could have imagined the effect would be so overwhelming, the scene so explosive?

“Where’s Xiaoxiao?” Lin Fan asked.

“Xiaoxiao is drawing you a bath in the bathroom,” Su Yue replied respectfully. “She said this way, the Energy Potion produced will be greater in quantity.”

Lin Fan nodded and struggled to haul herself off the sofa.

“Alright then, give me a hand.”

These days, even being a goddess wasn’t easy.

Inside the bathroom, steam swirled in the air.

“Su Yue.” Lin Fan rested her head comfortably against the edge of the bathtub, enjoying Su Xiaoxiao’s perfectly measured massage as she spoke in a lazy drawl.

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“Yes?”

“Go post an announcement.” Lin Fan closed her eyes, her voice tinged with weariness. “Say that the Goddess has perceived the devotion of her believers and has decided to increase her blessings. However, to prevent mortals from being unable to withstand the excess nourishment and exploding to death, from this day forward, each person may receive one jug per day.”

“And as for those out-of-town merchant caravans—we can’t be too stingy with them either.”

A sly curve tugged at the corner of Lin Fan’s lips.

“Tell them the Energy Potion is free, but the container used to hold it must be our Azurewood City’s exclusive specially crafted ‘Blessing Bottle,’ stamped with the Goddess’s mark, capable of sealing in the Spirit Energy so it doesn’t leak. As for the bottle itself… it’s not expensive—just one second-grade Crystal.”

Su Yue was stunned for a moment, then drew in a sharp breath.

Brilliant!

Absolutely brilliant!

The Energy Potion was free—but the bottle cost money!

This both limited the possibility of unlimited refills, easing Her Excellency’s… production pressure, while also earning a good reputation and raking in a hefty profit! Second-grade Crystals were practically pocket change to those merchant caravans that could cross the wilderness!

“Your Excellency is wise!” This time Su Yue’s admiration was genuine, her respect utterly sincere. “I’ll see to it right away!”

Watching Su Yue’s excited retreating figure, Lin Fan let out a long breath and shifted into a more comfortable position in the bathtub.

“Xiaoxiao, pour me another glass of water. Iced.”

“Right away, Sister.”

Lin Fan gazed up at the ceiling, feeling his physical constitution and Mental Strength slowly rising, along with that wondrous connection established with the tens of thousands of living beings throughout the city.

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Tiring as it was, this Power of Faith…

Damn, it was sweet!

At this very moment, unlike the unity and fervor of Azurewood City—

Inside the Dragon Emperor Hall, the air was so oppressive it was hard to breathe.

Long Zhan carried Long Xuan’s body in his arms, step by step up the white jade stairs.

Long Ye followed behind, clutching his right shoulder.

The wound was still bleeding, dripping onto the white jade steps in a shocking trail.

Along the way, the patrolling imperial guards who witnessed this scene all knelt on the ground, not daring to make a sound.

The First and Second Elders had retreated in defeat; the Third and Fifth Elders had fallen in battle.

Once this news spread, the entire Pureblood Dragon Clan would be thrown into chaos.

Long Zhan paid no heed to the imperial guards. He walked straight toward Long Xuan’s private chambers.

He pushed open the heavy doors.

The room remained exactly as it had been when Long Xuan left it.

Her favorite jewelry still sat on the vanity.

Long Zhan walked to the center of the room. With a wave of his hand, a massive block of Ten-Thousand-Year Profound Ice appeared on the floor.

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The center of the ice had been hollowed out to form a coffin.

Long Zhan carefully placed Long Xuan inside.

He smoothed her hair. He straightened the wrinkles in her clothes.

He sealed the ice coffin shut.

Cold mist rose, shrouding Long Xuan’s face within.

“First Elder.” Long Ye stood at the doorway, not daring to enter.

Long Zhan turned and looked at him.

“Come see the Dragon Emperor,” Long Zhan said.

The two left the chambers and walked toward the central structure of the Dragon Emperor Hall.

The great hall was immensely tall, lined with dozens of massive pillars carved with coiling dragons.

The Dragon Emperor sat upon the throne at the highest point.

He wore a black robe, and a pair of dark-golden Dragon horns grew from his head.

He did not look at the two men below. He was gazing at a scale in his hand.

The Dragon Emperor spoke, his voice echoing through the hall.

“Third and Fifth are dead?”