With the Sign-in System's new location revealed, Shen Shihuang headed for the Alchemist Conference.
After Shen Shihuang left,
deep in Misty Cloud Mountain,
"Heh heh, who would've thought there'd be such a young Dou Zong expert in your Jia Ma Empire? What a surprise!"
Black mist swirled as a figure stepped out of it.
"A Dou Zong expert?"
Across from the black-robed man, a man in a white robe looked surprised. His snow-white hair fluttered in the wind, and the aura around him was unmistakably that of a Dou Zong.
"If I weren't worried about exposing myself, I'd really want his soul, heh heh."
The Dou Zong expert across from him smiled faintly. "Since Protector Wu wants him, just find an opportunity later."
Protector Wu listened to the man.
A strange smile crossed his face. "He's still a Dou Zong expert from your Jia Ma Empire. You're really willing to let me kill him?"
The man smiled. "Protector Wu said it yourself. He's an expert from the Jia Ma Empire, not a Dou Zong expert from my Misty Cloud Sect. And according to you, he's not one of those families' people, either."
"If you kill him, then so be it."
Protector Wu said, "Heh heh, Yun Shan, I really wasn't wrong about you."
"Don't worry. I'll definitely find a way to help your Misty Cloud Sect gain a few more experts."
The Alchemist Conference.
It didn't begin with refining pills.
There was another step beforehand.
Only alchemists who met the requirements could take part in the actual pill refining that followed. Those who failed to qualify would be eliminated.
By the time Shen Shihuang arrived at the square,
the alchemists taking part in the conference had only just gone inside.
Hai Bodong had been looking a little bored, but as soon as he saw Shen Shihuang, he immediately offered him his seat.
"Are you interested in this too, sir?"
Hai Bodong asked quietly from Shen Shihuang's side.
He'd learned of Shen Shihuang's strength from Ya Fei.
A Dou Zong expert!
"Elder Hai, you're too kind."
"I've got nothing else to do, so I came to take a look."
Shen Shihuang said with a smile.
"You don't have to call me 'sir,' Elder Hai. Just use my name." Everyone in the Mittel Family called him "sir," and Shen Shihuang found it rather uncomfortable.
Hai Bodong hurriedly shook his head. "Then I'll call you Young Master Shen."
A Dou Zong expert was far, far stronger than him.
Calling him by his name?
That wouldn't do. It wouldn't do at all.
Shen Shihuang nodded and said nothing more.
When the other experts present saw Hai Bodong's actions, some of them looked surprised.
"What's gotten into Hai Bodong? He's giving his seat to a young man?"
Fa Ma narrowed his eyes.
Then his eyes widened. As president of the Alchemist Guild, his soul strength naturally surpassed that of other Dou Huang experts. From Shen Shihuang, he sensed not only a powerful soul but also his strength.
"He's actually a Dou Zong expert?"
"When did Hai Bodong get to know a Dou Zong expert?"
Fa Ma knew all too well what it meant for a Dou Zong expert to appear in the Jia Ma Empire. Their various factions had been evenly matched, but now, with a Dou Zong expert entering the fray, the balance of power could be completely reshuffled.
Beside Shen Shihuang's ear,
the system's voice rang out.
"Arrived at sign-in location."
"Sign-in commencing."
"Ding!"
"Sign-in complete."
"Sign-in reward: Earth-Tier High-Level Dou Technique: Brahma Dragon-Subduing Seal."
Humm~~~~~~~~
As the system's voice sounded, all the information about the Dou Technique unfolded in Shen Shihuang's mind. It flowed through his body, bringing his mastery of the technique straight to its pinnacle.
Shen Shihuang sensed his new Dou Technique.
A smile appeared in his eyes. The advantage of the system was that whenever he signed in and received a Dou Technique, he mastered it completely, grasping its true meaning as easily as breathing.
"An Earth-Tier High-Level Dou Technique?"
"Brahma Dragon-Subduing Seal?"
Shen Shihuang let out a breath and cleared his lungs. At last, he finally had a trump card. Having only one Early Earth-Tier Dou Technique had left him feeling far too vulnerable. Now that he had an Earth-Tier High-Level Dou Technique, his strength was on another level.
"Brahma Dragon-Subduing Seal."
"Dou Qi transforms into a dragon, coiling into a Dragon Seal. It can suppress mountains and rivers and shake the heavens."
After reading the description of this Dou Technique,
Shen Shihuang knew it was yet another technique of overwhelming power: one Dou Technique for close combat, and another for striking from a distance.
"Now it's perfect."
Within the great realm of Dou Zong, Shen Shihuang felt that these two Dou Techniques were enough. Of course, if he could get a movement Dou Technique, or one related to fire, that would make things even more perfect.
After all,
he still had Heavenly Flames.
Clang~~~~~~
The first alchemist emerged, and after his refined product was inspected, the second and third soon came out one after another.
Watching the time,
Shen Shihuang looked toward the exit. "Tsk, is he going to be the last one out?"
Hai Bodong was also watching the exit. He had tremendous confidence in Xiao Yan, but Xiao Yan had said that his soul strength had been severely damaged. What if...
"Elder Hai, you seem worried?" Shen Shihuang asked.
Hai Bodong said, "Young Master Shen may not know, but I have a friend taking part this time."
Thanks to his powerful soul strength,
Shen Shihuang said, "If I'm not mistaken, you mean the one who possesses Heavenly Flames?"
Hai Bodong's body suddenly tensed.
Shen Shihuang smiled. "Elder Hai, don't worry. I know because my soul strength is exceptionally powerful. And your friend isn't the only one who possesses Heavenly Flames."
As the greatest angel investor, Hai Bodong had earned Shen Shihuang's admiration for his boldness.
As they spoke,
the sand in the hourglass ran out, and Xiao Yan emerged as well.
"Just in time."
Shen Shihuang smiled faintly and looked toward Xiao Yan.
Feeling his gaze, Xiao Yan shuddered and looked back at Shen Shihuang. "It's him?"
Shen Shihuang smiled and nodded to Xiao Yan.
Xiao Yan didn't know what Shen Shihuang meant, but he wasn't stupid. Hai Bodong was standing beside Shen Shihuang. Anyone who could have the former Ice Emperor at his side was no ordinary person.
After Xiao Yan qualified,
Shen Shihuang stood up.
"Elder Hai, you two carry on. I'll head back first."
Hai Bodong nodded.
"All right, Young Master Shen."
After Shen Shihuang left, Xiao Yan and Hai Bodong met up in a quiet spot.
"Elder Hai, who was that person earlier?" Xiao Yan asked curiously.
A grave look appeared in Hai Bodong's eyes. "I don't know who he is either, but he's a Dou Zong expert!"
Hearing this,
Xiao Yan's eyes widened in shock. "A Dou Zong expert?"
"He looked like he was only in his twenties, didn't he?"
Hai Bodong rolled his eyes at Xiao Yan.
"You'll probably be about as strong as him when you reach his age."
Xiao Yan: "...!"
"But..."
Hai Bodong changed course and said, "If he's willing, then when you go to the Misty Cloud Sect, you might have a powerful ally. A Dou Zong expert holding the fort—tsk, tsk."
Xiao Yan smiled helplessly.
"Elder Hai, don't joke around. He's a Dou Zong expert, while I'm just a little Dou Shi..."
Xiao Yan didn't believe that an unfamiliar Dou Zong expert would help him.