In Douluo Continent, what is a martial soul? It's like Luckin Coffee.

Chapter 91: Buckingham Coffee?
Bai Ran: "I don't understand... (I forgot the middle part) That vibrant and thriving scene seems to be right before my eyes."

"Manager, is your coffee not good?"

Since there were no customers at all, Hyotei was already sitting in a corner eating ice cream.

In Hyotei's opinion, even the sweetest Luckin Coffee coconut latte still has a bitter taste, and it doesn't feel as good as Mixue Ice Cream's fresh ice cream which costs 2 copper coins.

As an employee of Mixue Ice Cream, isn't it reasonable to support Snow King?

"impossible!"

It definitely has nothing to do with the price. Before the holiday, a cup of Luckin Coffee sold out at 9.9 gold coins. There's no reason why a cup of Luckin Coffee wouldn't sell after the holiday.

Which part of the process went wrong?
Unable to figure it out, Bai Ran left the coffee shop with Xiao Bing and went out to find out the reason.

……

"Huh? Why are there so many people at the convenience store?"

Seeing the queue stretching almost to the convenience store at the college gate, Bai Ran couldn't help but rub his eyes.

If Bai Ran remembered correctly, the convenience store's business was usually pretty good, but it never reached this exaggerated level.

Could it be that the convenience store has unsold stock from the entire semester that's about to expire, so they're having a big sale?
Driven by a mix of following the trend and curiosity, Bai Ran and Xiao Bing joined the last group in line.

"Junior, you're so young to be buying coffee? Staying up late at such a young age isn't a good habit."

Upon seeing the two little kids behind them, the senior student in front of Bai Ran and her companion kindly reminded them.

"coffee?"

Faced with the reminder from her senior, Bai Ran had a big question mark pop into her little mind.

When did convenience stores start selling coffee?

Could it be that another Soul Master has awakened the Coffee Martial Soul?
"Senior, when did the convenience store start selling coffee? I don't remember them having this before."

Bai Ran couldn't help but ask the senior student in front of her.

Perhaps because the queue was still quite long, and because she had nothing else to do, the senior student patiently answered all of Bai Ran's questions.

Senior student: "Didn't the small shop on the east side of the college close down last semester? I think it turned into a coffee shop called Luckin Coffee."

I heard that the coffee sold at that coffee shop has a refreshing effect, and many soul masters who stay up all night doing research rely on a cup of coffee to keep them going.

Unfortunately, the coffee at that shop was a bit pricey, so I never went there.

Bai Ran: "So the convenience store sells coffee now?"

Senior student: "Yes, the junior didn't stay in the college during the holidays, so he probably doesn't know yet. Since the holidays started, that Luckin Coffee shop has been closed, and many senior students who rely on coffee for their research have been going to the convenience store to ask if they sell coffee."

At first, the shop owners didn't know what coffee was, but a few days later, they somehow acquired a coffee called Buckingham.

"Bucks!"

Bai Ran: No, bro, is this right?
"This Buckingham coffee only costs 10 copper soul coins, which is 1 silver soul coin, yet it can still refresh and invigorate you. More importantly, almost everyone can buy Buckingham coffee."

Well, here I am, your senior, to join in the fun.

The senior student didn't buy coffee to stay up all night doing research; she simply wanted to try what coffee tasted like.

The coffee must have a very unique flavor to be so popular with so many Soul Masters.

After hearing her senior's description, Bai Ran became even more curious about the so-called Buckingham coffee.

Finally, after waiting in line for a full half hour, it was Bai Ran's turn.

After paying two Silver Soul Coins, Bai Ran took two bottles of Starbucks coffee. "Not iced?"

The packaging was the cheapest plastic cup, and it didn't even come with a straw.

But thinking about it, it makes sense; ice is very expensive.

Although the Sun Moon Empire also has soul tools similar to freezers, the production cost of soul tools containing elemental attributes is high, and generally only noble families can afford to use them.

However, it was clearly not available in a small shop.

Even if they did, with winter break just over and temperatures still low, they probably wouldn't want to use it.

"Room-temperature coffee, what's the difference between that and horse urine?"

Coffee can be heated or chilled, but it should not be drunk at room temperature.

However, now is the time to sample our competitors' products, so it doesn't matter whether they're at room temperature or chilled.

It must have something special to be so popular.

After giving Xiao Bing a bottle, Bai Ran opened the remaining bottle and took a big gulp.

"puff!"

The so-called Starbucks coffee was spat out by Bai Ran before it even entered his throat.

Bai Ran had tried Starbucks Americano before, so he was certain that this was definitely not Starbucks coffee; it was just a coincidence that the name was the same.

Also, what's with this incredibly strong mint flavor that hits you right away?

Because ice is too expensive, mint has to be used as a substitute, resulting in a special mint-flavored coffee.
Speaking of the taste of "coffee", it is bitter, and besides bitterness, it also has a strong Chinese medicine flavor.

The last time I had this stuff, I remember it was some kind of creative Chinese herbal coffee, 35 yuan a cup, which was even more outrageous than Starbucks coffee.

No, upon closer inspection, this thing isn't coffee at all, or rather, it's not made from coffee beans. It has absolutely no coffee aroma; all it has is a bitter taste.

If you smell it carefully, there seems to be a strange odor.

"Manager, what is this rubbish? It tastes even worse than silkworm excrement!"

Xiao Bing almost exploded after drinking Starbucks coffee.

The last time I ate something this awful was when I ate a thousand-year-old ice silkworm, and I forgot to remove its intestines beforehand.

When they ate it, the filling burst out, causing Hyotei to lose his appetite for several months afterward.

Hyotei: I got to eat poop in one bite! (Old Eight silently gave a thumbs up)

"Let's go, Xiao Bing, let's go back to the shop first."

Since this coffee wasn't exactly regular coffee, Bai Ran felt there was no need to waste any more time investigating.

How could something that costs 1 Gintama coin possibly be able to really refresh and invigorate you?

At most, the added mint juice provides a short-term stimulating effect.

It might have some effect once or twice, but after drinking it several times, the body will adapt to the stimulation, and the refreshing effect will be greatly reduced.

What is the most important thing?
This Starbucks coffee is made with ingredients.

But my Luckin Coffee is made with soul power. This is my inherent ability as a food-type soul master. What do you have to compare with me?

……

(End of this chapter)