Xuanfeng City

After seeing Huo Yuhao approach, the two stopped talking.

Huo Yuhao did not beat around the bush and said directly to Xiao Dingyuan:

"President Xiao, we've arrived at Xuanfeng City. It's time for me to leave as well."

Xiao Dingyuan paused before saying, "I understand. Sir Danzo, do you really not intend to join us for a celebratory meal?"

Huo Yuhao waved his hand, unconcerned. "No. I appreciate your kindness, President Xiao, but I still have some personal matters to attend to, so I won't stay long."

Seeing Huo Yuhao's firm attitude, he did not try to persuade him further. After adjusting his glasses, he took a large bag of money from his Storage Soul Tool and said with a smile:

"Sir, there are a thousand Gold Soul Coins here, as payment for this escort."

Huo Yuhao did not immediately accept the Gold Soul Coins. One should not accept rewards without merit; after all, the agreed price had only been fifty Gold Soul Coins. This was far beyond the expected payment.

"President Xiao, this is far more than the agreed compensation."

Xiao Dingyuan replied, "You helped Xiao Xiao so much along the way, and when the Evil Soul Masters attacked, you contributed enormously. If you refuse to accept it, I'll be the one worrying instead."

"If not for your timely warning, whether any of us would have survived would have been uncertain."

"Compared to our lives and possessions, this money already makes me seem stingy."

After a moment of silence, Huo Yuhao accepted the bag of money. Its heavy weight spoke to its value.

Huo Yuhao said, "Then, may we meet again if fate allows."

Placing the money in the pack on his back, Huo Yuhao turned and headed toward Xuanfeng City's main thoroughfare.

He planned to find somewhere to settle down, then see whether he could open a temporary Medical Hall to practice the Reversal Technique.

More importantly, he needed to gather information on pills like the Mysterious Water Pill. After all, his main purpose in coming to the Heaven Dou Empire was to find a way to improve his disordered meridians and Innate Soul Power problem.

Just as he had taken a few steps, a clear female voice called out from behind him.

"Wait, Uncle Danzo."

Huo Yuhao stopped and looked back. Xiao Xiao had somehow caught up to him.

She stood gracefully some distance away, her hands folded lightly before her stomach, her slender fingers twisting anxiously together like butterfly wings.

After a moment, her exquisite green-agate eyes looked at Huo Yuhao earnestly as she said, word by word:

"Uncle Danzo, the next time we meet, I will definitely become strong, and then raise my sword against those even stronger!"

Seeing how serious she was, Huo Yuhao's lips curled upward involuntarily, and a trace of gratification appeared in his eyes.

"Mm. I believe in you."

Huo Yuhao turned away again and slowly walked toward the main road, leaving behind only the lingering echo of his words beneath the blazing sun, like a breeze lifting the girl's hair.

Xiao Xiao nodded heavily at Huo Yuhao's retreating back, her eyes burning with an unprecedented determination, like a sword being tempered.

After leaving the merchant guild, Huo Yuhao first wandered around Xuanfeng City. Having spent so long in the wilderness, he dearly missed this lively atmosphere of bustling crowds.

A casual glance along the streets made it obvious that Xuanfeng City was a true major city.

Although it certainly could not compare to great cities like Shrek City or Star Luo City, it was undoubtedly among the most prosperous cities in the Heaven Dou Empire.

Every few steps Huo Yuhao took, he could see richly dressed nobles followed by groups of servants, pointing at shops all around them.

Stores stood shoulder to shoulder, growing wildly like a forest. Signs of every color stretched their arms toward the sky, squeezing the sunlight into mottled patches of light and shadow.

Soul Tools could be seen in use in many places, and some streets had even been fitted with Soul Tool streetlamps.

Huo Yuhao only needed to walk down a single street for his Spiritual Power to sense quite a few individuals nearby who possessed Soul Power.

Most were extremely weak, with only a few levels of Soul Power, but several had Soul Power Levels that Huo Yuhao could not gauge. They were probably quite high-level.

After discovering this, Huo Yuhao no longer dared extend his senses too far. If he angered some powerful expert, he would end up in another meaningless battle.

What surprised Huo Yuhao most, however, was that nearly every storefront in Xuanfeng City bore carvings of turtle-like creatures.

There were no strict requirements as to the specific species. There were tortoises and sea turtles; as long as it was a turtle, it would do.

As the setting sun left its final streak of afterglow on the horizon, Huo Yuhao unknowingly arrived at a large square in the center of Xuanfeng City.

After asking around, he learned that this was where six-year-old children underwent Martial Soul awakenings.

Every year, Soul Masters would come here to stand guard and perform Martial Soul awakenings for the public. The price was three Gold Soul Coins; pay the money, and your Martial Soul could be awakened.

As for which faction the Soul Masters stationed here belonged to, Huo Yuhao had initially been somewhat puzzled. But after seeing the statue at the center of the square, he understood.

The statue depicted a majestic giant turtle. Its shell was fierce and menacing, its head dragon-like yet not quite a dragon's, and a massive snake coiled around its shell, tongue flicking as its eyes gleamed viciously.

"Xuan Ming Sect."

The words slowly surfaced in Huo Yuhao's mind.

He did not linger there for long. While there was still some light in the sky, he intended to quickly find a place to stay.

With a thousand Gold Soul Coins on him, he did not need to worry about money for the time being. In fact, so long as one had nothing to do with Soul Masters, a single Gold Soul Coin was enough for an ordinary person to live on for months.

But once one became involved with Soul Masters, even several million Gold Soul Coins were like a stream unable to stir a single wave in the ocean.

All these signs made Huo Yuhao feel that society in this world was deeply fractured, with far too great a divide between classes.

Especially since this world's extraordinary powers were tied to bloodlines, leaving commoners with almost no chance to rise.

Lost in thought, Huo Yuhao entered an alley and changed the appearance of the Faceless Mask inside it.

Shimura Danzo's mission was over. It was time for a new identity.

Soon, a handsome young man emerged from the dark alley. He had tousled black hair and looked seventy percent similar to Huo Yuhao overall.

After confirming that the transformation was correct, Huo Yuhao headed to a nearby inn.

This inn was not cheap. An ordinary room cost five Silver Soul Coins per night, far beyond what ordinary people could afford.

Fortunately, the environment here was quiet, and it was close to the Core Zone of Xuanfeng City. Any news could reach this place at the first opportunity.

This amount of money meant nothing to Huo Yuhao now, and he readily paid for half a month's lodging.

Under the guidance of the young woman at the front desk, he quickly found his room. As he was about to close the door, she asked, "Guest, would you like daily breakfast service?"

Huo Yuhao waved to indicate that he did not need it, then shut the door and hung the pack on his back from the wall opposite the bed.

After checking the room and confirming that it was safe, he sat on the bed and entered meditation.