Arrival in Heaven Dou City

Ni Bin had received word long ago that his Young Master would arrive today. After arranging accommodations early, he waited for Lin Hao at the city gate.

He spotted the Heaven and Earth Commerce Association emblem on the carriage at a glance. After the others had inspected it, he stepped forward to welcome him.

"Welcome to Heaven Dou City, Young Master!"

"No need for formalities. You've worked hard during this time. Take us straight to the lodging; this isn't the place for pleasantries."

Lin Hao gestured for him to rise through the carriage window before speaking.

"Yes, Young Master. I reserved the finest inn in Heaven Dou City for you. As for the Small Courtyard you asked me to purchase, there was a problem. This subordinate failed to buy it. Please punish me!"

Ni Bin spoke as he walked alongside the carriage.

"Oh? What happened? Did someone blind enough to provoke the commerce association show up?"

Lin Hao was slightly taken aback. The courtyard he had asked Ni Bin to purchase was not some difficult place to obtain—it was near Blue Tyrant Academy!

This time, he intended to settle in Heaven Dou City for the time being, using the Heaven and Earth Commerce Association to amass wealth, summon more subordinates, and proceed step by step!

One reason he wanted to live near Blue Tyrant Academy was that he had reached the age to attend an advanced academy. The other was Liu Erlong!

"No one targeted us. There was only one courtyard near Blue Tyrant Academy that met your requirements.

But someone else happened to want it as well. This subordinate did not have enough funds and failed to purchase it!"

Ni Bin was somewhat helpless too. The task his Young Master had entrusted to him had failed simply because they lacked money!

"I see. Don't worry about it. If we couldn't buy it, then so be it. Did you encounter any trouble while preparing the Heaven and Earth Commerce Association?"

Lin Hao waved his hand, signaling Ni Bin not to dwell on it. He had not given Ni Bin much money to begin with.

The fact that Ni Bin had managed to prepare the Heaven and Earth Commerce Association with the others was already impressive enough!

"Everything has gone fairly smoothly. There haven't been any major problems. This subordinate resolved all the minor ones, and the place is currently being renovated!"

Ni Bin gave an introduction to the association's situation, then continued.

"We have also found quite a few of the various materials you requested for Azure Flame Crown, and we've signed contracts for them.

Once our funds arrive, they can deliver the goods immediately. Work can begin at any time!"

"Very good!"

As they chatted while traveling, the group arrived at the Seven Treasures Inn in Heaven Dou City.

After checking in, Ni Bin left, along with Xian Lin'er, one Soul Saint, two Soul Emperors, and three Soul Ancestors.

Only Long Xiaoyao, Tuoba Hongshan, a Soul Douluo, Zhu Yu'er, a Soul Saint, and Avika, a Soul Emperor, remained by Lin Hao's side!

He sent Tuoba Hongshan to investigate the Poison Douluo's whereabouts. They would need the Poison Douluo to enter Sunset Forest.

After all, the Poison Douluo had some attainments in formations. Lin Hao could force his way through, but he did not want the matter to become widely known.

Moreover, the Poison Douluo's poison was no joke. Below the rank of Titled Douluo, it could kill people in droves—a powerful weapon for group battles that had to be brought under control!

The rest stayed at the inn to rest, and the night passed quickly.

After breakfast, Lin Hao and the others summoned another two hundred ordinary subordinates to spread out and establish their operations before heading out.

Lin Hao planned to explore Heaven Dou City properly and see the capital of a nation in this other world!

It truly lived up to being the imperial capital of the Heaven Dou Empire. It was extraordinarily prosperous. If not for the lack of skyscrapers, he might have thought he had never transmigrated at all!

While Lin Hao was haggling with a street vendor, a commotion suddenly broke out ahead, followed by a burst of shouting!

"Hyah! Hyah! Move aside! All of you, move aside!"

A carriage and a squad of guards came charging down the road at high speed. Pedestrians screamed as they scrambled out of the way.

Those who failed to dodge in time were knocked straight to the ground, crying out in pain. And they were charging directly toward Lin Hao's group!

Seeing that her Young Master was in high spirits, Zhu Yu'er did not want these people to ruin his enjoyment.

She immediately leaped forward, landed some distance away, and struck out with her palm. She knocked down the surrounding guards and forced the carriage to halt!

The sudden incident nearly caused the carriage behind it to overturn. The person inside kicked open the carriage door and arrogantly shouted.

"Damn it! Who's courting death? How dare they block this prince's carriage? Seize them at once!"

The surrounding crowd began discussing the matter, and Lin Hao naturally noticed it as well.

He also knew who it was. Xue Beng—a prince who could only pretend to be a profligate in order to stay alive, and Tang San's loyal lapdog!

Yet Lin Hao paid him no mind and continued bargaining with the vendor, completely unaffected by the situation!

In his previous life, he had often visited markets. These small vendors were shrewd, and dealing with them was a way to hone himself!

"Courting death? I think you're the one courting death."

Zhu Yu'er directly released her martial soul. Seven soul rings appeared: yellow, yellow, purple, purple, black, black, black.

In this era, when Titled Douluos lived in seclusion and Soul Douluos dominated their own regions, a Soul Saint held no lowly status!

"A seven-ring Soul Saint! I wonder which great family this Young Master comes from, to actually have a Soul Saint accompanying him.

But even so, Xue Beng is a prince of the Heaven Dou Empire, and this is Heaven Dou City. To openly speak of killing a prince is far too arrogant!"

Although the onlookers were delighted to see someone making things difficult for Xue Beng, they did not think well of Lin Hao's side!

Soon, the Royal Guards who had fallen from their mounts surrounded and protected Xue Beng, respectfully saying.

"Your Highness, are you all right? The other side is too powerful. We should escort you away first."

"Useless trash! Notify the Imperial Guards! Arrest them! So what if she's a Soul Saint? This is my Heaven Dou Empire!"

Xue Beng's face darkened as he gave the order loudly.

"Heh. You're just a powerless profligate prince, yet you've got quite the nerve.

You talk about punishing a Soul Saint at every turn. What crime have we committed?"

After paying the vendor, Lin Hao spoke with a mocking look in his eyes.

"Who are you? Your subordinate dared to block my carriage and even threaten me. Why can't I arrest her?"

Though Xue Beng acted like a profligate, he was not truly stupid. He wanted to probe Lin Hao's identity so he could decide how to handle what came next!

In truth, if leaving in public did not conflict with his current persona, he would have fled already.

After all, even he, a prince, did not have a Soul Saint personally accompanying him. The other party's identity was obvious enough!

"I'm merely a Nameless Nobody, ordered to open a shop in Heaven Dou City—the Heaven and Earth Commerce Association!

The shop will officially open in one month. I hope Your Highness will honor us with your presence then!"

Lin Hao took the opportunity to advertise the Heaven and Earth Commerce Association. He had never intended to conceal his identity; after all, the highest path was to subdue others without fighting!

When Xue Beng heard the words "Heaven and Earth Commerce Association," he froze. He had never heard of it before and immediately said.

"You're just a petty merchant relying on a Soul Saint, yet you dare offend this prince? Who do you think you are?"

"If a Soul Saint isn't enough, then what if you add me?"

Tuoba Hongshan, who had just learned the Poison Douluo's whereabouts and come to report back, saw Xue Beng daring to speak to his Young Master this way and immediately let out an angry roar.

Without the slightest restraint, a Soul Douluo's aura pressed directly toward them, instantly turning Xue Beng pale as sweat poured from his forehead!