Lin Yan and the others traveled quickly, and Ironwood Manor was not particularly far from Flame City.
Thus, after Lin Yan's group set out, it took them only a few hours to successfully reach Flame City.
The group escorted their cargo toward the city. Those who had never been there before, like Lin Dong, couldn't help showing their curiosity.
Lin Xiao didn't want to place too many restrictions on Lin Dong and Lin Yan. After all, they were both young boys, and it was only natural for them to be curious about everything in such a bustling place. Besides, the main reason he had brought them along this time was to let them see more of the world.
Still, a few reminders were unavoidable.
So, just before Lin Yan and Lin Dong were about to get off the carriage, Lin Xiao stepped forward and said to them,
"Yan'er, Dong'er, when you're out in the city later, don't cause any trouble. Flame City is a mixed bag, and some people here are not to be trifled with."
Lin Dong smiled at that, then suddenly asked Lin Xiao, "Father, Flame City is so big. The competition must be fierce, right?"
Lin Xiao nodded to Lin Yan. "Naturally. Almost every day, some force in Flame City is wiped out while a new one rises. That kind of competition is beyond anything our little Green Sun Town could compare to."
"However, there are three forces in Flame City that stand as firm as a mountain and face no threat from the others."
Lin Dong immediately grew interested. "Oh? Which three?"
"The City Lord's Mansion, the Ten Thousand Gold Chamber of Commerce, and the Blood Wolf Gang." Lin Xiao patiently explained it to Lin Dong and Lin Yan. Since he had brought them along to broaden their horizons, they might as well learn about these things.
"Each of these three great forces has an Origin Pellet Realm expert in residence. There are countless forces outside Flame City, but most of them have to depend on these three to survive."
Lin Dong and Lin Yan silently committed the names to memory.
After that, Lin Xiao and the others went to sell the ironwood and Yang Yuan Stones, while Lin Yan and Lin Dong headed toward a crowded area on the other side.
With Lin Dong in tow, Lin Yan soon found their destination: the Curio Pavilion.
The Curio Pavilion had an unusual design and was easily the tallest building in the area. It was also grand and imposing, so Lin Yan and Lin Dong had spotted it from far away.
"The Curio Pavilion is pretty interesting."
"Brother Lin Yan, let's go inside and have a look."
Lin Dong was clearly interested as well.
So, after Lin Yan brought him to the Curio Pavilion's entrance, Lin Dong quickly greeted him and went straight inside.
"Still no reaction?"
"This system..."
"Did I come to the wrong check-in location?"
Lin Yan kept a close eye on the system within him.
After all, obtaining the system's check-in rewards was the most important thing to him this time.
But what troubled him now was that he had come to the Curio Pavilion, yet the system still hadn't stirred at all, leaving him at a loss.
Lin Yan continued wandering around the Curio Pavilion.
Inside the hall, all kinds of items were displayed before him in dazzling profusion.
Weapons, Demon Crystals, spirit herbs, pills, martial arts...
Lin Yan knew at a glance that these items were of no low grade. Meanwhile, Lin Dong had already been led by a shop assistant to pick out some little trinkets he liked.
Lin Yan kept browsing, waiting for the system to respond.
As he wandered, the system's voice finally rang in his mind!
[Congratulations, Host! You have successfully checked in at the Curio Pavilion!]
[Reward obtained: Basic Theory of Spirit Array Masters!]
[Reward obtained: First-Order Spirit Gathering Array Diagram!]
[Reward obtained: First-Order Flame Fire Array Diagram!]
Lin Yan had been keeping an eye on the system, so its sudden voice didn't startle him.
However, when he calmed himself and listened to the rewards the system announced, he froze.
"Spirit Array Master!"
"I can learn to become a Spirit Array Master!"
A delighted look appeared in Lin Yan's eyes.
He knew a fair bit about the Great Thousand World and understood that this was a highly respected profession.
In the Great Thousand World, many forces treated Spirit Array Masters as honored guests. Whether it was building defensive or offensive arrays, or Spirit Gathering Arrays that aided cultivation, only Spirit Array Masters could set them up.
Thus, in the Great Thousand World, a high-level Spirit Array Master could earn the favor of powerful forces wherever he went.
And now...
Lin Yan hadn't even gone to the Great Thousand World yet.
He hadn't expected to get an early introduction to such a powerful profession.
This was an enormously good thing for him.
"Looks like I'll have to make time to study hard once I get back."
"After all, Spirit Array arts, Alchemy, and Talisman arts..."
"They're all incredibly powerful professions."
"If I can master them, it'll greatly benefit my future development."
Lin Yan continued walking forward.
But before long, he noticed several people gathered around Lin Dong up ahead.
There was one woman and several men. After the woman said something to Lin Dong, he replied with a few words. The woman furrowed her brows, and the men began to look hostile. The air between them grew tense.
Lin Yan frowned at the sight. Though they weren't related by blood, Lin Dong was no different from his own younger brother now. Naturally, Lin Yan wasn't about to let someone pick a fight right in front of him.
"What happened?"
Lin Yan stepped forward and asked Lin Dong.
"Brother Lin Yan, you're here."
Lin Dong didn't hide anything from him. He told Lin Yan the whole story, from beginning to end.
Lin Yan's brows furrowed even more.
In short, the other party had taken a liking to Lin Dong's things.
But Lin Dong didn't want to sell them.
So they had resorted to forcing a sale.
Lin Yan glanced at the group, his voice turning cold.
"The Liu Clan of Flame City is that arrogant?"
The men's expressions grew even more hostile. "The Liu Clan—is that something you can talk about?"
Lin Yan said coolly, "You want the things?"
"If you do, come and take them. If you've got the ability, you can have them for free."
With that, Lin Yan headed straight for the Curio Pavilion's exit.
"If you've got the guts, come on."
"Don't start trouble in here and ruin the shopkeeper's business. If you break anything, you'll have to pay for it."
The men found themselves caught between a rock and a hard place. They exchanged glances, their expressions shifting, then followed him outside.
In a corner of the Curio Pavilion, Master Yan had been lying there asleep. Now, a smile appeared on his face.
He continued sensing everything with his spiritual force, then murmured to himself,
"This kid is rather interesting."
"Not only is his spiritual force talent high, but the way he handles things suits my tastes perfectly."
"Heh, interesting. Very interesting!"
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