Chapter 4: The Stall Is Open for You
"Huh!"
After Dugu Han finished writing the letter to Shrek Academy, he blew on the ink to dry it.
Coincidentally, Xue Lao had just finished packing his belongings at this moment.
The two immediately prepared to leave for the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect.
The Sunset Forest is right next to Heaven Dou City, and the same is true for the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect— the distance between the two isn't far.
It was almost noon when they set out.
Upon arriving at the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect, Dugu Han met Ning Zhiyuan, the current Sect Leader and his father's best friend.
Ning Zhiyuan was a refined man with an easy-going demeanor.
"Uncle Ning!"
Dugu Han explained his situation and needs briefly.
"So, you want me to use the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect to pressure the Xuanwu Sect?"
"Exactly. My innate soul power is only level one. Even if I take two Mystic Water Pills in the future, it will only raise me to level three. I need the Xuanwu Divine Pill to boost my soul power."
Ning Zhiyuan nodded. "I can help. Given the thousand-year friendship between the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect and your Dugu family and my relationship with your father, I should assist you. But..."
He shook his head gently, saying, "Xiao Han, don't hold too much hope. The Xuanwu Divine Pill is a treasure of the Xuanwu Sect. It's reserved for each successive Sect Master and isn't sold to outsiders."
He recalled hearing about it once from Dugu Han's father.
"The Xuanwu Divine Pill is an advanced version of the Mystic Water Pill!"
"It's specially prepared by the Xuanming Sect for the next Sect Master."
The production involved dozens of ten-thousand-year-old water-attributed soul beast essences, dozens of plant-type soul beast essences of similar age, and hundreds of other rare medicinal materials, taking decades to craft.
Only one pill is produced each time, and only the next Sect Master of the Xuanwu Sect is qualified to take it.
It's truly a fortune.
Given this, Ning Zhiyuan was not optimistic about Dugu Han's plan to buy the Xuanwu Divine Pill from the sect.
"Uncle Ning, I understand," Dugu Han replied. "But I still want to try."
His eyes were firm. He vividly remembered that after Xu Sanshi opened Jiang Nannan's backyard in the original story, he secretly took a Xuanwu Divine Pill for Jiang Nannan's mother to use.
In other words, Xu Sanshi didn't need to personally take the pill— the sect might have more than one.
No matter what, it proved he had a chance— even if it was tiny.
Seeing Dugu Han's determination, Ning Zhiyuan couldn't say more.
He only smiled and said, "In that case, I'll help you."
"Thank you, Uncle Ning!"
"You're welcome."
Ning Zhiyuan smiled. "Since you're here, stay with us at the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect for a while. It just so happens you and Xiaotian haven't seen each other in over a year."
"No, Uncle Ning. My innate soul power is low, and I should use all my available time for practice. I plan to go to the Extreme North this afternoon. The cold environment there is ideal for my training."
"Alright," Ning Zhiyuan replied. "Our sect has a caravan heading to Dragon City this afternoon. You and Elder Xue can go with it— it's safer, and you can look after each other."
Dugu Han didn't refuse this time. He also asked Ning Zhiyuan to help him purchase some rare food and medicinal materials, all recorded in his father's prescriptions, which could be made into medicinal foods and baths to aid his training.
At noon, they had lunch together. Dugu Han handed Ning Zhiyuan an envelope addressed to Shrek Academy and asked him to help mail it.
In the afternoon, he joined the caravan of the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect and set off for Dragon City, which was near the outer edge of the Extreme North.
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Dragon City is located northeast of the Heavenly Soul Empire, bordering the Dou Spirit Empire.
Because of the border, the population flow is dense, and it's the primary hub for soul masters entering the Extreme North to hunt soul rings.
Many soul hunters form teams here, hunting powerful soul beasts and selling their valuable parts in Dragon City.
The streets were lively— vendors shouted on both sides of the road:
"Don't miss it— a thousand-year-old ice dragon skin just hunted, quality guaranteed, affordable price!"
"A 1,300-year-old red flame tiger skin— perfect for making warm clothes, ideal for the cold conditions in Extreme North!"
"The shell of a three-thousand-year-old mysterious ice turtle— the best material for defensive soul guidance devices, cheap and reliable!"
"Warm Sun Pill— one pill can make a soul master fearless of the cold outside the Extreme North..."
The hustle and bustle filled the lively streets.
Dugu Han sat in the soul guidance carriage, watching the scene outside through the window.
Vendors shouted, bargaining and advertising their goods.
People haggled over animal skins, street snacks filled the air, and passersby argued over small things.
Curls of smoke rose from distant houses as the sun set, casting a warm glow over the city.
Though not as grand as Heaven Dou City, Dragon City had a lively, warm atmosphere— a true reflection of local life.
"Elder Xue, let's go down and take a walk," Dugu Han said, interested in the scene outside.
"Okay!"
Elder Xue and the caravan's manager agreed, and the convoy halted.
Dugu Han stepped down, feeling a cold wind bite his face.
This place was near the edge of Extreme North, so the weather was much colder than Heaven Dou City.
Vendors rushed to surround him, eager to sell their goods.
"Young master, take a look at my thousand-year-old ice dragon skin."
"Young master, need a guard for the Extreme North? I'm a 46th-level soul ancestor— affordable, trustworthy, and safe."
"Warm Sun Pill— young master, take a look at this pill..."
The vendors kept calling out, crowding around him.
Dugu Han felt a bit helpless, surrounded by the eager sellers.
Luckily, Elder Xue quickly released his martial soul, and eight soul rings of yellow, purple, black, and black appeared— a sign of his strength.
The vendors, seeing this, were immediately stunned.
"Young Master!"
Elder Xue retracted his martial soul and asked, "Are you okay?"
"Nothing," Dugu Han replied with a smile. "It's just that they're too eager— caught me off guard."
"They probably see that you're young, dressed luxuriously, and assume you're wealthy, so they're trying to sell their goods."
"They just think I'm easy to cheat!"
Dugu Han chuckled. "But I believe in the law of the jungle— if a vendor can cheat me, it means they're capable. And if I catch them, I'll make them pay."
He smiled confidently. "If you're strong enough, you can resist. If not, well... your stall might get overturned."
(End of this chapter)