The Road Ahead Could No Longer Be Walked with You; You Could Only Walk It Alone (Seeking Collection and Recommendation)

Over the past two years, Soul Tools had often gone missing from Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy. The highest-grade item stolen had already been a Level 4 Fixed Soul Cannon Shell, yet they could never find the culprit. It was truly infuriating.

Fortunately, the thief had some principles. Every time, he left behind Gold Soul Coins slightly above the market price, along with special pills from the Three Kingdoms. So Jing Hongchen simply stopped bothering with it. He casually approved a note attributing the loss to experimental consumption, and that was that.

Unable to catch the person, Jing Hongchen was also utterly helpless. But this was not something he could announce publicly. Since that fellow was willing to pay, he could at least pretend not to notice. Even Lin Jiayi had grown used to running errands and completing the formalities.

There were many people in the Sun Moon Empire who smuggled Soul Tools below Level 5, and it was impossible to guard against all of them. As long as the thief did not cross the line of taking Soul Tools above Level 5, Jing Hongchen would not care too much. He simply treated it as buying pills for his grandson and granddaughter. The quality of the pills left behind by that thief was genuinely excellent. Even the finest pills he prepared for his grandson and granddaughter in the Sun Moon Empire fell somewhat short.

He had originally been a little worried that his grandson and granddaughter might suffer some minor drawbacks after cultivating to the Soul King realm, but that concern had now disappeared.

Thus, Jing Hongchen was looking forward to seeing what that eccentric expert from the Original Three Kingdoms had brought this time.

But in the next second, he was surprised to find Lin Jiayi's smile had stiffened. Lin Jiayi stammered, unable to speak, looking as though he wanted to say something but hesitated.

Jing Hongchen's brows furrowed, and he demanded, "Say whatever you have to say. Could it be that the thief has targeted Soul Tools above Level 5 this time?"

"Not at all."

With a strange expression, Lin Jiayi took out a sheet of rough paper and handed it to Jing Hongchen. "But this time, that person sent a list, saying that he wanted to purchase a batch of Level 5 and lower Soul Tools from us. The price was negotiable."

Jing Hongchen: "???"

No, sneaking away a few items was one thing, but this time he was going straight to wholesale?

This was the highest academy in the Sun Moon Empire, not a Black Market!

This Hall Master was the Mingde Hall Master, who dealt with countless affairs every day, not some middleman from the Black Market!

"This Hall Master would like to see just how big this fellow's appetite is, daring to place an order with our academy!"

Jing Hongchen snatched the list and examined it carefully. The corner of his eye soon began to twitch, and he immediately understood why Lin Jiayi had hesitated to speak.

"Forty Level 5 Fixed Soul Cannon Shells with properties such as Thunder, High Explosive, Shock Blast, and Ice; five Level 5 Fixed Soul Cannon Launch Mounts; one Level 5 Flying Soul Guided Device; three Level 5 Invincible Barriers... What are all these things? Is someone outfitting a Soul King?"

To Jing Hongchen, this was a substantial order, but not one he could not fulfill. Judging from the list, however, the buyer was probably some kind of enthusiast of Fixed Soul Cannon Shells.

How did the thief dare assume that This Hall Master would give them such good things? If word got out, even This Hall Master would have a little trouble.

When he reached the end, Jing Hongchen noticed a layer of faint, barely visible ink. His eyes flashed as he infused it with Soul Power, and two lines of small characters, permeated with a chill, appeared before him:

"This transaction will be our last within the next three years. If the Hall Master is unwilling, we can only contact your country's Black Market to purchase samples. We hope Hall Master Hongchen can take our feelings as fellow merchants into consideration. May our transactions proceed happily.

"Three years from now, our family's qilin child will enter your country to cultivate. We hope Hall Master Hongchen will look after him a little, for the sake of our two years of friendship as fellow merchants. We share a common enemy in the Three Douluo Kingdoms."

"How strange. This Soul Power aura is different from the one on the letter two years ago, but it must belong to a Titled Douluo. And he intends to send his qilin child to cultivate at Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy? What kind of strange developments are these..."

Jing Hongchen keenly sensed that the soul power on the envelope this time belonged to another Titled Douluo. His brows furrowed deeply as he racked his brains, trying to make sense of the situation, but to no avail.

"Forget it. If it is only these things, then it is not a major problem. Three years, huh? This Hall Master would like to see what medicine you are selling in your gourd."

In the end, Jing Hongchen made up his mind and turned to assign Lin Jiayi a task:

"Since the school year has just begun, issue our sixth-year students an examination assignment to manufacture this batch of Soul Tools. We will provide the rare metals. Once the transaction is completed, give them forty percent of the labor costs. Then go write me a form for experimental materials consumed. That will be all."

"Yes, Dean."

Vast Sea City was the only port city on the western coast of the Heaven Soul Empire. It was built along the sea and was grand in scale.

As early as ten thousand years ago, during the era of the Heaven Dou Empire, before the two great empires of Heaven Soul and Dou Ling had split apart, Vast Sea City had already been the greatest city in the western reaches of the Heaven Dou Empire. It was also the largest coastal and port city on the Original Douluo Continent.

After the Sun Moon Continent collided with the Douluo Continent, Vast Sea City naturally became a necessary stop along the maritime trade route between the Heaven Soul Empire and the Sun Moon Empire. Its convenient ocean resources and transportation conditions allowed it to grow increasingly prosperous. Across the entire continent, it was surpassed only by the four imperial capitals and Shrek City.

After roughly half a month of sailing, Yue Lao piloted the Soul Tool Boat to the waters outside Vast Sea City's harbor and stopped. He turned to look at Xu Tianxi and Xu Xiaoyun, who were still in a state of Deep Meditation.

"The Young Master and Xu Zu's conditions cannot be disturbed. It seems we still need to wait a while."

Yue Lao stopped the Soul Tool Boat, took out a Communication Soul Tool, and dialed a number:

"Hello? Is this the Black Tortoise Merchant Guild headquarters? I'm from the sect headquarters. We have already docked at Vast Sea City's harbor. Hurry and send someone to receive us..."

An excited voice quickly came from the other end of the Communication Soul Tool. "Please rest assured. The guild president and we have been waiting near the harbor for quite some time! I'll inform the guild president right away!"

With a "ding-ding," the Soul Tool call ended. Yue Lao then saw several powerful auras suddenly erupt outside the harbor, soaring into the sky like waves of heat, their Stream of Light dazzling.

"Mr. Yue Lao, have Teacher and my junior martial nephew entered Deep Meditation? That is wonderful news."

Light and shadows flashed. Several people arrived in an instant, and a clear, capable voice filled with laughter rang beside Yue Lao's ears.

Yue Lao knew who had come. He hurriedly rose and bowed to the person in front. "Greetings, Ice Phoenix Crown."

Xiao Changfeng, who had personally come to receive the boat, wore flowing robes with wide sleeves. He stepped forward and supported Yue Lao, a springlike smile hanging on his fair, jade-cold face.

"Mr. Yue Lao, you are too polite. We are all family. You must be tired after piloting the boat, Elder. Come rest properly with me first. I'll personally keep watch here afterward."

As he spoke, Xiao Changfeng gave a meaningful glance to the people behind him. They understood and stepped forward to tow the Soul Tool Boat to the side of the harbor.

Xiao Changfeng supported Yue Lao as he leaped through the air and landed on the harbor. His tone carried a trace of regret.

"I only brought in a batch of Soul Tools from the Sun Moon Empire a few days ago and thought I would give them to my junior martial nephew as a welcome gift. I did not expect him to be in Deep Meditation now. I do not know when he will wake."

Yue Lao laughed heartily. "It is no trouble, no trouble. Good food is worth waiting for. The Ice Phoenix Crown's thoughtfulness will certainly delight the Young Master."

"I hope so." Xiao Changfeng nodded, and many complicated emotions surfaced in his gaze as he looked toward Xu Tianxi.

The morning half a month later.

Xu Tianxi finished his meditation and rose. Facing the sunlight, he leaped out of the cabin door, a glint of interest lighting his eyes. "Have we arrived? Is this Vast Sea City?"

The city's architectural style was completely different from the ancient, imposing Xuanming Sect. Though it lacked the skyscrapers of his previous life, there were still many buildings more than five stories tall. The pedestrians' clothing was also diverse, and he even spotted some dark-skinned people.

It was already late morning. Ships came and went constantly in the harbor. Some groups of soul masters were setting out to sea, while soul-hunting groups returned from the ocean with full loads. In the bustling market, people were even openly hawking century-old soul beasts.

Perhaps because of the influence of maritime trade, some people in the market were even selling Soul Tools such as compasses and geomantic maps. In the Heaven Soul Empire, which was most opposed to Soul Tools, this was practically a miracle.

The sea breeze brushed gently across Xu Tianxi's face. A rich, salty stench rushed into his nose and mouth, making him somewhat uncomfortable. He could not help choking and fanning the air with his hand as he muttered, "I am still not used to the smell here."

At that moment, a hearty laugh sounded beside Xu Tianxi's ear. "This is Vast Sea City. The Smell of the Sea is naturally like this. My junior martial nephew will have to get used to it."

Xu Tianxi abruptly turned around. A Young man who appeared to be in his thirties entered his view. Not the slightest trace of Soul Power leaked from his body. He wore a smile, and from within to without, he radiated a brisk, capable bearing.

Yue Lao followed beside him and smiled at Xu Tianxi.

Knowing who he was, Xu Tianxi cupped his hands in greeting. "Greetings, Senior Martial Uncle."

Xiao Changfeng smiled and nodded, returning the greeting without the slightest hint of affectation. "I have met my junior martial nephew as well. It has been so long that I imagine you no longer recognize me."

"Let me introduce myself. I am Xiao Changfeng. You will be spending the next few years here with me."

"With you... Wait, where is Grand Martial Ancestor?" Xu Tianxi looked into the inner cabin but did not see Xu Xiaoyun.

"He left. He also asked me to tell you that he cannot accompany you on the road ahead for the time being. You can only walk it by yourself."

Xiao Changfeng answered Xu Tianxi in an even tone, his Eyes turning toward the distant sea horizon.