Shrek City! (Please Vote)

The next day.

Inside the main hall of the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect, Xiao Kuangdao and Ning Guanqing sat in chairs, chatting.

There were four people in total. The other two were Qiankun Douluo Zhang Shengtian and Moonlight Douluo Yue Ming.

Ning Guanqing said, "Uncle Xiao, we'll have to trouble you with this deployment to Shrek City. Shrek Academy also hopes to cooperate with us on measures against Evil Soul Masters."

Xiao Kuangdao nodded. "I understand. I'll send back the details when the time comes."

"Alright, it's getting late. We'll see you off." Ning Guanqing rose to his feet.

"There's no need." Xiao Kuangdao waved his hand. "You all handle your own affairs. I'll leave by myself."

With that, Xiao Kuangdao departed.

"That guy, he's still the same." Yue Ming shook her head helplessly.

Zhang Shengtian chuckled. "We've known each other for over a hundred years. It's not like this is the first time you've learned what he's like."

Ning Guanqing smiled at the side without saying anything, quietly listening to his elders.

Inside the inner city gates.

An exceedingly luxurious carriage was already parked there in silence. Inside, Qin Ze looked out through the window at everything beyond it.

Nine Treasures City was already bustling early in the morning. After all, the morning was the key to the day.

After absorbing Purple Qi as usual that morning, Qin Ze had been summoned here by Xiao Kuangdao to wait, while Xiao Kuangdao himself had gone off to discuss some matters.

"Sorry to keep you waiting." Suddenly, a voice reached Qin Ze's ears.

He turned around and saw that Xiao Kuangdao had arrived at some unknown point.

"Are you finished talking, Teacher?" Qin Ze shifted aside to make room.

Xiao Kuangdao nodded. "There wasn't much to discuss, just some trivial matters. Alright, it's time for us to set off."

"Elder Xiao, are we leaving now?" the coachman asked.

"Mm!"

Soon, the carriage began to move. The carriage Xiao Kuangdao rode in was naturally among the finest on the continent, without even the slightest jolt. It contained Soul Tools designed specifically to absorb shocks.

Passing through the crowd, the carriage gradually left Nine Treasures City and headed down the official road toward Shrek City.

Nine Treasures City was quite far from Shrek City. If this had been seven thousand years ago, it might have been better. Back then, Shrek Academy had still been located in Heaven Dou City, very close to Nine Treasures City. Now, however, it had moved to a place near the Star Dou Great Forest, at the intersection of the three former nations of the Douluo Continent. Its location was exceptionally prominent.

"You can meditate along the way. Don't keep yourself so tense." Xiao Kuangdao looked at Qin Ze, who was watching the scenery outside. He had witnessed Qin Ze's hard work over the past year.

Turning back, Qin Ze smiled. "As you say."

"When the time comes, I'll have matters to discuss with Shrek Academy. I can take you along to have a look around." Xiao Kuangdao took a teapot from his Soul Tool and poured himself a cup.

"Visit Shrek Academy..." Qin Ze gazed into the distance. Suddenly remembering something, he turned and asked, "By the way, Teacher... have you heard of Immortal Herbs?"

Xiao Kuangdao's hand paused around the teacup. He looked at Qin Ze with mild surprise. "You know about Immortal Herbs too, kid? Looks like you've been reading quite a few books lately."

After taking a sip of tea, Xiao Kuangdao slowly said, "Of course I've heard of Immortal Herbs, though I've never seen one myself. However, Ning Rongrong's ancestor obtained one back then, called Aromatic Silk Beauty. It was precisely because of that Immortal Herb that her Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda evolved into the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda. To this day, Aromatic Silk Beauty has practically become the most coveted treasure among the sect's direct-line disciples. Yet we have never found a second one. Otherwise, we would obtain it even at an astronomical price."

"It's that important?" Qin Ze raised a brow.

Xiao Kuangdao nodded solemnly. "Of course. Take the Sect Master, for example. His Martial Soul is currently the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda. Due to its limitations, he has remained stuck at rank seventy-nine for many years. Without that restriction, he might have reached Titled Douluo long ago. What a pity."

Hearing this, Qin Ze lowered his gaze to the carriage floor and murmured inwardly, It seems that searching for Immortal Herbs in Sunset Forest must be put on the agenda as well.

Qin Ze planned to bring Xiao Kuangdao along when the time came. If he relied solely on himself, who knew how many more years it would take?

One month later.

On the official road, dense streams of carriage convoys passed back and forth. The farther ahead they went, the greater the flow of people became.

Voices rose and fell one after another, making the place extraordinarily lively. These convoys and pedestrians were all heading toward the same destination.

Shrek City!

"We're finally here! I haven't come in years. It really makes me nostalgic." Xiao Kuangdao smiled.

Qin Ze leaned against the carriage window and looked into the distance. Less than a kilometer away, a colossal city, like a giant beast crouching upon the earth, gradually came into view.

Shrek City!

This city, with a permanent population exceeding two million, was one of the continent's foremost cities.

Shrek City connected to the continent in all four directions, and its transportation routes extended everywhere. Not only was it home to Shrek Academy, it was also the most important commercial city at the intersection of the Three Great Empires that had once belonged to the Douluo Continent. Due to Shrek Academy's presence, Shrek City had excellent public order. Trade here was not only fair but also reassuring. Thus, when merchants from the Three Great Empires conducted cross-border trade, most chose to do so in Shrek City.

"It really is prosperous." Qin Ze shook his head. Over this period, he had seen a vast number of merchant caravans from the Three Great Empires coming here to conduct business.

The closer they drew to Shrek City, the more people they saw.

By the time the carriage reached the city gates and waited to pay the entrance fee, Qin Ze had seen at least several thousand people.

After waiting in line for a while and paying the required entrance fee, the carriage finally entered the enormous city.

After passing through the city walls, a vast expanse of low and towering buildings came into view. Noisy conversations rose and fell, crowds moved densely through the streets, and snack stalls gave off tantalizing aromas that lured passing travelers.

The clean, tidy streets were wide enough for six or seven carriages to travel side by side. Flowerbeds beside the roads were planted with all kinds of flowering vegetation, while fountains sprayed crystalline streams of water upward.

Xiao Kuangdao said to Qin Ze, "The Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect's main businesses in Shrek City are the auction house and hotels. We'll head to the auction house first."

"Alright." Qin Ze stared unblinkingly at the majestic, beautiful city.

Seeing this, Xiao Kuangdao smiled helplessly. He said nothing and simply let Qin Ze take it all in.

After receiving his instructions, the coachman drove the carriage directly toward the Nine Treasures Auction House.

The Nine Treasures Auction House was located in the southern district of Shrek City, an enormous complex of buildings. It was also the largest auction house in Shrek City.

Thanks to Dream Deer man for the one hundred Qidian coins.