Jia Ma Empire.
During this time, the Alchemist Conference had been the biggest topic of conversation throughout the imperial capital. Many alchemists had come from all over to take part.
These days, Shen Shihuang had been wandering around the imperial capital. After all, since this was his first time transmigrating, it was only natural to take in the local customs and culture. Who knew? He might trigger another sign-in location.
Although he now had the strength of a Dou Zong expert, he had no foundation to speak of. Compared with the Dou Zong experts of various factions, he still fell short by quite a bit, especially when it came to Dou Techniques. He had also attended a few of the Mittel Family's auctions during that time.
Mm.
They had been quite exciting, but nothing there suited him.
"Heavenly Flames aren't something I need to worry about for now, and I don't need to fret over cultivation techniques. I only have one Dou Technique, but it's enough."
Shen Shihuang took stock of what he had.
Mm.
Just three things.
Not a single one to spare. Compared with other transmigrators, he really did have it rough.
"But..."
Shen Shihuang looked at the distant mountain: Misty Cloud Mountain.
"Yun Shan has already advanced to Dou Zong by now, and the Soul Hall Protector is probably inside the Misty Cloud Sect, too. Pity there's nothing on those Soul Hall Protectors that suits me. Otherwise, I might be able to scavenge a few things."
Shen Shihuang's long-term goal was to help the Taisui Flame grow. In the meantime, he would raise the rank of the Ten Thousand Year Technique. As for his spiritual body? He already had a plan.
That plan involved the people from Soul Hall.
Although he had no grievances with Soul Hall for now, he planned to use Xiao Yan to obtain the origins of other Heavenly Flames. Sooner or later, he would clash with Soul Hall. If he wanted to get along with Xiao Yan, then he would certainly have to make an enemy of Soul Hall.
"The Misty Cloud Sect is one opportunity."
"Once he's on his way, I'll strike again. That should just about do it."
"Then I'll wait another three years and strike once more."
Looking over his plan, Shen Shihuang praised it as flawless.
"For now, I'll call it the First Three-Year Plan."
"And over these three years, I should get the origin energy of two Heavenly Flames, or maybe even more."
A plan was a plan, but putting it into practice wouldn't be easy. There were people's hearts to contend with, after all.
"Getting stronger really has no shortcuts. It's just too hard." Shen Shihuang looked at his First Three-Year Plan and sighed.
Outside the imperial capital.
There was a fine peach grove where Shen Shihuang had spent most of his time lately, enjoying the scenery and occasionally reminiscing about his lost youth. Who would have thought that after transmigrating to this world, he'd wake up as a twenty-year-old young man?
Mm.
He didn't even know his exact age.
But everyone else treated him like a young man.
And he could reminisce about Queen Medusa's warm body, too...
"Hmm?"
Just as Shen Shihuang was enjoying a drink of the local wine, his eyelid twitched, and he looked in a certain direction.
"Who are those people?"
Beside Shen Shihuang.
A beautiful maid stood with him.
The Mittel Family had assigned her to him. A young man whose aura even made Hai Bodong feel a sense of dread? The Mittel Family knew how to handle things. First time here? No problem, we'll send you a guide.
"My lord."
"Judging by the clothes they're wearing, those people should be from the Cloud-Out Empire." The maid looked somewhat wary.
The Cloud-Out Empire?
Shen Shihuang had some recollection of it. "The one that likes playing with poison?"
The maid nodded.
"I knew you'd be here, my lord."
Just then.
Ya Fei came over with a maid, swaying her alluring figure.
"Miss Ya Fei." The maid immediately bowed respectfully when she saw Ya Fei.
Ya Fei walked over to Shen Shihuang, bringing a waft of fragrance with her.
Shen Shihuang's nose twitched slightly. "Shouldn't you be busy at the auction house right now? What brings you here?"
With a smile, Ya Fei topped up Shen Shihuang's cup, then lounged in the chair beside him. Her full, mountain-like curves drew the eye, and her slender waist was enough to set the imagination running.
Her red lips held endless allure as they parted slightly.
"With your standing, my lord, the Mittel Family naturally holds you in the highest regard."
"If there's anything you need, the Mittel Family will do its best to provide it."
Following Shen Shihuang's gaze.
Ya Fei saw the people from the Cloud-Out Empire. Her smile faded. "My lord, that man is Poison Rakshasa from the Cloud-Out Empire. They say he's already a Six-Star Dou Wang. I didn't expect him to be the one leading their group here this time."
"Six-Star Dou Wang?"
Shen Shihuang had no real idea how strong a Dou Wang was. After all, he had awakened at the Peak Dou Emperor level, and after spending a night in Queen Medusa's arms, he had smoothly advanced to One-Star Dou Zong. So he had no clear sense of a Dou Wang's power.
The only thing he knew was—
He could kill the man whenever he wanted.
"Haha!"
As Shen Shihuang looked away, the Dou Wang expert from the Cloud-Out Empire actually started walking toward them.
"Isn't this Miss Ya Fei of the Mittel Family?"
"I never thought I'd find Miss Ya Fei meeting her lover in private here! He looks a little weak—wonder if he can satisfy your needs?"
A foul odor wafted into Shen Shihuang's nose.
Shen Shihuang lifted his eyes and gave the man a casual glance.
"Whose dog got loose? It's barking up a storm here."
Poison Rakshasa's expression changed when he heard Shen Shihuang.
"Kid, do you know who you're talking to?"
Poison Rakshasa looked at Ya Fei. "Miss Ya Fei, looks like you picked a useless man!"
Ya Fei ignored him.
She turned to Shen Shihuang. "Why don't we head back first?"
"Leave?"
Poison Rakshasa stepped in front of Shen Shihuang. His greedy gaze swept shamelessly over Ya Fei's body, and he even licked his lips. Shen Shihuang could understand the reaction. If he hadn't already tasted Queen Medusa, even he might have struggled to control himself around a beauty like Ya Fei.
Ya Fei looked at Poison Rakshasa with disgust.
"Poison Rakshasa, you'd better watch your words. The Mittel Family isn't afraid of you," Ya Fei said. "This lord is an honored guest of the Mittel Family. Don't make our Grand Elder come and have a little talk with you."
Poison Rakshasa burst out laughing.
"Teng Shan?"
"Heh. Once the Alchemist Conference is over, it's anyone's guess whether your Jia Ma Empire will still have any face left. When that time comes, will Teng Shan dare do anything to me?" Poison Rakshasa licked his scarlet tongue over his lips as he looked at Ya Fei.
"But right now, I'd like to see for myself what Miss Ya Fei is..."
As he spoke, Poison Rakshasa reached out toward Ya Fei.
But—
Bang!!
Before Poison Rakshasa could get near Ya Fei, he was sent flying. He landed in the distance, sprawled out like a dead dog.
"You're making me uncomfortable."
Shen Shihuang slowly rose to his feet.
Seeing this.
Ya Fei grabbed Shen Shihuang's arm. "My lord, I've heard Poison Rakshasa has some ties to the Imperial Family of the Cloud-Out Empire."
Shen Shihuang gave her a faint smile.
He looked at Ya Fei. "Do you think I'd be afraid of the Cloud-Out Empire?"
Ya Fei finally understood.
The man before her was someone even Elder Hai regarded with the utmost caution—a powerful expert who had once made the Ice Emperor himself wary. That meant he was at least a Seven-Star Dou Huang, right?
Afraid of the Cloud-Out Empire?
No.
The Cloud-Out Empire should be afraid of him.
"That bastard is practically asking to die!" Ya Fei watched Poison Rakshasa coldly.