First Impressions of Heaven Dou City

To Zhang Bufan, the incident on the official road was nothing more than swatting a buzzing fly during his journey. It did not even stir the slightest ripple in his mood. He continued leisurely toward Heaven Dou City, still savoring the collapsed expression of that Soul Emperor bandit leader.

"Tsk, such poor mental fortitude. He couldn't even take that little blow, yet he dared to come out and play tough?" Zhang Bufan grumbled inwardly out of habit as he walked. "Still, public security on the Douluo Continent really needs improvement. You can run into idiots like that on an official road in broad daylight. Don't they have some 'relevant authorities' to deal with them?"

He could not help recalling the righteous-looking old ladies from his past life, red armbands on their sleeves. If they were brought here, could they nag those bandits into shutting themselves away?

With those random thoughts in mind, several days later, the outline of a majestic city finally appeared at the end of the horizon.

As he drew closer, the city's full appearance gradually came into view. The hundred-meter-high walls were built from the hardest granite, their surfaces inscribed with simple Soul Guide Patterns that faintly emitted energy fluctuations. They were clearly part of some large-scale defensive formation. Soldiers patrolled atop the walls in gleaming armor, banners fluttering in the wind, lending the place an imposing, tightly disciplined air.

The enormous city gates stood wide open, broad enough for ten carriages to pass side by side. Above them were three grand gilded characters, written with the forceful sweep of a dragon and phoenix—Heaven Dou City. The strokes were vigorous and powerful, carrying a faint imperial majesty.

The city gates bustled with traffic and a ceaseless stream of people. There were convoys from lavishly dressed Soul Master families, merchants hauling goods, and travel-worn commoners. Shouts, hawkers' cries, and the clatter of carts and horses blended into the lively din unique to a great city.

"Whoa, so this is the Heaven Dou Imperial City? It's certainly impressive enough." Zhang Bufan mingled with the crowd entering the city, looking around with great interest. He did not gape and shout like some country bumpkin entering the city for the first time. After all, he had seen skyscrapers and multi-level transportation systems in his past life. Still, the distinctive charm of this other world felt quite novel to him.

After paying a negligible entry tax, Zhang Bufan officially stepped onto Heaven Dou City's main avenue.

The broad flagstone street could accommodate more than a dozen carriages traveling abreast. Shops lined both sides, banners waving everywhere. Vendors selling Soul Beast materials, workshops customizing Soul Tools, stalls offering every kind of snack and pastry—even strange little shops with signs reading "Martial Soul Theory Discussion"—everything could be found here.

The air was filled with a complicated mix of scents—the fragrance of freshly baked bread, the charred aroma of some Soul Beast meat dripping grease onto hot coals, the cheap perfume on women, and... a faint, barely perceptible odor from the inadequate drainage systems in certain corners of the city.

Zhang Bufan instinctively wrinkled his nose, and his inner monologue sprang to life again. The architecture is a blend of Eastern and Western styles. Interesting. It has retained plenty of classical charm while incorporating elements of Soul Tool Technology. But these sanitation conditions... Looks like public hygiene is a problem in cities no matter the world. They've developed Soul Power as clean energy, yet they can't invent a Soul Power-driven garbage disposal system or an air-purifying formation?

His attention was soon drawn to several unusual sights on the street.

Some luxurious carriages were not pulled by horses, but by low-level, docile Soul Beasts, which ran both swiftly and steadily. The lanterns hanging outside certain shops did not contain burning candles, but glowing crystals—clearly Soul Guiding Lamps. He even saw a fruit vendor gently wave a palm-sized metal plate engraved with simple patterns over a mountain of apples. A thin layer of frost immediately covered the fruit, preserving its freshness.

"A small Soul Power-driven refrigeration Soul Tool? Interesting." Zhang Bufan rubbed his chin. "This world's Soul Tool Technology tree seems a little lopsided. Most of it is concentrated on combat, lighting, storage, and these little everyday conveniences. It doesn't seem to have gone very far into deeper energy applications, information transmission, or transportation reform. Hmm... maybe someday I could... Forget it. I don't have the time for that right now."

Like a modern tourist who had wandered into a fantasy world, he observed every facet of this unfamiliar civilization with detached curiosity.

"Boss, give me one of those." Zhang Bufan stopped in front of a stall selling Roasted Soul Beast Skewers and pointed at the sizzling, fragrant meat. It was the hind leg of a low-level Flame Rabbit, marinated in special spices and roasted to a golden hue.

"You got it! Here you are, sir. Five Copper Soul Coins!" The stall owner was a smiling middle-aged man.

Zhang Bufan took the skewer and bit into it. The meat was tender and juicy, carrying the Flame Rabbit's distinct trace of Fire Attribute energy. It might offer a negligible nourishing effect to ordinary Soul Masters, but for him, it was purely to satisfy his appetite.

"The flavor is decent, but the spice ratio is a little off, and it's slightly overcooked. The edges are a bit tough." As he chewed, he delivered his professional—or so he believed—assessment inwardly. Compared to the dragon meat I grilled at my peak, this is more than a hundred streets behind.

He sampled several more Heaven Dou City specialties—Crystal Cake, Hundred Flower Brew, Crispy Fried Golden Cicada, and more—eating and commenting as he walked.

"This is too sweet. It burns the throat."

"This alcohol content is way too low. It's practically fruit juice."

"This fried bug... Hmm, it is rather crispy, but mentally, I'm having trouble accepting it."

His behavior drew quite a few curious glances from passersby. His clothes were ordinary—his casual clothes from before his transmigration looked plain in this world—but his bearing was inexplicably calm and composed. Especially those eyes of his: whenever he looked at something, there was always a trace of scrutiny and... pity? As if he were judging everything from on high. That contradictory combination made people unable to resist taking another look.

Zhang Bufan did not care in the slightest. At a miscellaneous goods stall, he even spotted a crude miniature cauldron carved from some sort of blue crystal. It bore the faintest resemblance to the Nine Cauldrons Martial Soul within him.

"Boss, how much is this?" He picked up the miniature cauldron and turned it over in his hand.

"You have a good eye, sir! This is a protective charm modeled after the ancient divine artifact, the Nine Cauldrons. Wear it, and it will ward off misfortune and bring good luck. Only one Gold Soul Coin!" the vendor enthusiastically pitched.

The corner of Zhang Bufan's mouth twitched. Modeled after the Nine Cauldrons? With this workmanship? The material is garbage, its Soul Power conductivity is zero, and those Patterns were carved completely at random. It doesn't have even one-billionth of the Nine Cauldrons' divine essence! Ward off misfortune and bring good luck? Who are you trying to fool? One Gold Soul Coin? Why don't you just rob people?

He set down the model and walked away expressionlessly, leaving the vendor standing there in embarrassment.

After wandering around for half a day, Zhang Bufan summed up his first impression of Heaven Dou City: grand, prosperous, and full of otherworldly charm, yet its backwardness showed in the details, especially in civilian life and basic technology. Soul Masters stood above all others, commoners lived difficult lives, and the social hierarchy was sharply defined.

"Looks like no matter where you are, the gap in strength is the most direct measure dividing social classes." He shook his head and stopped dwelling on it. The priority now was finding somewhere to settle down, then asking for the location of Heaven Dou Royal Academy.

He casually stopped a Soul Master who looked like a local and asked politely, "Brother, could you tell me how to get to Heaven Dou Royal Academy?"

The Soul Master looked Zhang Bufan over. Seeing that he was young and plainly dressed but carried himself with uncommon poise, he did not slight him. He pointed in a direction. "Follow this main street east all the way to the end. When you see a forest-covered mountain range shrouded in a Soul Power barrier, that's it. But, little brother, the Royal Academy has a very high threshold. Not just anyone can get in."

"Thank you." Zhang Bufan nodded, already making his plans.

A high threshold? He loved kicking down thresholds.