Jia Ma Empire.
The Imperial Palace.
Jia Xingtian's expression was rather grim. "When did a Dou Zong powerhouse arrive in the imperial capital?"
"This time, I'm afraid we're in trouble."
For the Imperial Family, an unexpected Dou Zong powerhouse was completely beyond their control. Even when the Ice Emperor had returned, Jia Xingtian had been confident he could keep him in check. But now...
Jia Xingtian no longer felt that he could control the situation.
"A Dou Zong powerhouse!"
Jia Xingtian sighed. As a Peak Nine-Star Dou Emperor, he naturally knew just how terrifying a Dou Zong powerhouse could be. For all these years, he had been unable to take that final step. Recalling Shen Shihuang's face, a small suspicion crossed his mind.
"He shouldn't be from the Jia Ma Empire, should he?"
Jia Xingtian still had some "confidence" in the Jia Ma Empire's "feng shui." A Dou Zong powerhouse so young couldn't possibly be from the Jia Ma Empire.
"I hope he's just passing through. Otherwise, the Jia Ma Empire is really going to suffer."
Faced with absolute strength, even Jia Xingtian, a Peak Nine-Star Dou Emperor of the Imperial Family, could only feel utterly helpless.
"Still, I didn't expect the Mittel Family to get there first." After weighing things over, Jia Xingtian couldn't help feeling envious that the Mittel Family had grown so close to Shen Shihuang.
After all...
That was a Dou Zong powerhouse!
The realm he had pursued all his life.
"I heard Hai Bodong has returned. I just don't know if he was the one who brought him here." A thoughtful look appeared in Jia Xingtian's eyes. "I'll find a chance to test him."
The Mittel Family.
The rear courtyard.
Lush greenery, a small bridge over flowing water—a scene of wealth and comfort.
Ever since Shen Shihuang had appeared at the Mittel Family, they had gone out of their way to look after him, even giving him the best courtyard in the entire family.
The goodwill of a Dou Zong powerhouse was worth this sort of treatment from the Mittel Family, especially since he was a Dou Zong powerhouse with no faction behind him.
How could they turn down a powerful figure who had practically landed on their doorstep?
Five days passed.
Ya Fei knocked on Shen Shihuang's door again.
"Shihuang."
After spending so much time together, Shen Shihuang and Ya Fei had become friends.
Shen Shihuang opened the door and, as usual, sat beside the pond. Willow branches hung quietly overhead as Ya Fei poured him a glass of the Mittel Family's special wine. "Shihuang, we still haven't heard anything about the Low Earth Tier Dou Technique you wanted. Techniques like that are very hard to come by."
Ya Fei explained.
Shen Shihuang had been prepared for this result. He might have found a Low Earth Tier Dou Technique at an auction house in the Black-Corner Region, but in the Jia Ma Empire, it was practically impossible.
He had only asked on the off chance they might find one.
"It's fine."
Shen Shihuang took a sip, then asked, "Is the Alchemist Conference about to begin?"
Ya Fei smiled softly.
"It's already started. Do you want to go watch?"
Shen Shihuang shook his head. He wasn't very interested in the Alchemist Conference. He had transmigrated into this world and still wasn't an alchemist. What a pity.
"Now that the Alchemist Conference has started, aren't you busy?" Shen Shihuang asked, puzzled.
Ya Fei smiled softly, her charm outshining the beauty of the pond.
"The Alchemist Conference is important, but not as important as you."
The Alchemist Conference might help the Mittel Family befriend a few good alchemists. That would only be icing on the cake for the family, but a Dou Zong powerhouse could protect them.
"I understand."
Shen Shihuang stood and gazed at the towering mountain range in the distance.
"I'm going out for a stroll."
"I won't keep you from your work."
With that, Shen Shihuang stepped into the air and vanished, leaving Ya Fei to tidy up by herself.
"The Sign-in System still hasn't refreshed the location. Is it because I've been sitting around in one place?"
Shen Shihuang still hadn't figured out how the system refreshed its sign-in locations, so he planned to take a turn around Misty Cloud Mountain. Maybe that would trigger it.
Not far from Misty Cloud Mountain.
As soon as Shen Shihuang appeared, he saw a mass of black mist roiling before him, sweeping toward Misty Cloud Sect.
"What's that?"
Although Shen Shihuang had never seen anyone from the Soul Hall, this sort of situation seemed to point to the Soul Hall Protector hiding within Misty Cloud Sect.
"Ke ke!!"
Just as Shen Shihuang was about to follow, a piercing, sinister voice rang out.
"I never expected a little place like the Jia Ma Empire to have a Dou Zong powerhouse!"
A cloud of black mist surged toward Shen Shihuang, and a figure slowly appeared not far in front of him.
"Your soul is strong, and you're so young, too. Kid, you're not from the Jia Ma Empire, are you?"
Chains clinked against each other now and then. One look at the fellow before him was enough.
Shen Shihuang could guess who he was.
More importantly, the other man was far stronger than him.
"Who are you?" Shen Shihuang's soul really was strong. Though he had never specifically cultivated a soul technique, he could still sense its strength. His soul was several levels stronger than Queen Medusa's.
Perhaps this was his second cheat.
Too bad he wasn't an alchemist.
"Who this Protector is doesn't matter. What matters is that your soul is much stronger than that of an ordinary Dou Zong powerhouse. Kid, would you be interested in joining us?"
Shen Shihuang: "...!"
Damn!
Did Soul Hall Protectors recruit people, too?
"Not interested!"
Shen Shihuang replied coolly and turned to leave.
"Hmph!"
"Kid, now that you've run into this Protector, do you think you can just turn around and leave?"
Clatter, clatter—
The black-robed man sent two black chains whipping toward Shen Shihuang. They tore through the air beside his ears, their tremendous force drawing a sidelong glance from him.
An Eight-Star Dou Zong.
So powerful?
"Tyrant's Fury!"
Dou Qi gathered around Shen Shihuang's right fist, blazing like flames. He turned and threw a punch.
Bang!!
Shen Shihuang knocked both chains flying. His figure shifted, and he appeared before the black-robed man, sending a merciless punch his way.
Low Earth Tier Dou Technique.
Tyrant's Fury.
It was all about breaking a thousand techniques with sheer force.
"Ke ke."
The black-robed man let out a piercing laugh, then turned into a cloud of black mist and swept into the distance.
"Kid, this Protector has his eye on you. This isn't the place to fight. Don't let me run into you somewhere else. When that happens, I hope your soul can give this Protector a pleasant surprise."
Looking at Misty Cloud Mountain not far away, Shen Shihuang gave a disdainful smile. "Protector Wu?"
"Too bad."
"You're bound to be disappointed."
A black flame silently appeared in Shen Shihuang's left hand. He wanted his soul?
An Eight-Star Dou Zong...
That wasn't nearly enough!
"I didn't expect that guy to set his sights on me. Doesn't he usually target soul bodies?"
Shen Shihuang had just turned around when the Sign-in System's voice rang out in his mind.
Refreshing sign-in location. New sign-in location refreshed. Please sign in at the Alchemist Conference venue. The sign-in location will refresh again only after this sign-in is complete.
A smile appeared on Shen Shihuang's face when he heard this.
"It's finally here."
"Looks like I can't just sit around and wait for things to happen."
"Getting out and about more does have its benefits."
Shen Shihuang stepped into the air and vanished...