The journey to Wutan City took five days. Normally, the trip from blue spirit Village or Qingshan Town would only take about three days by carriage, and Wei could have shortened it to less than two if he wished. Instead, he chose to wander through the forest along the way.
He spent his time gathering herbs, hunting magical beasts, and harvesting their cores. Every creature he encountered fell with a single slap or punch—even the strongest third-rank beast he met stood no chance. From this, Wei deduced that only a fourth-rank beast might be able to withstand his attack, and even then, he would dispatch it without much effort. To truly match him, a beast would need to be of the fifth rank—the equivalent of a Dou King. Even then, he felt confident he could edge out a victory by relying on his spiritual power, which suppressed Dou Qi, along with his superior techniques.
He also practiced several of the Earth-level skills his grandfather had devised during his research. Though not yet perfected, Wei was already capable of executing them effectively. These days were spent adapting to battle in this world and probing the limits of his strength, while also experimenting with the interaction between Spiritual Power and Dou Qi. His trials revealed it to be a violent clash. With equal amounts of energy, Spiritual Power shredded Dou Qi with ease. But if the Dou Qi was two or three times greater, the fight would drag on with no clear winner. If the disparity grew any larger, Dou Qi triumphed through sheer mass.
That was why, although he believed himself capable of defeating a Dou King, Wei admitted he would struggle against a Dou Emperor. Figures such as the Gama Empire's ancestor, Queen Medusa, or the current master of the Misty Cloud Sect would likely crush him.
Yet Wei felt no discouragement. For him, it was merely a matter of reaching the next stage. At the peak of the Initial Spirit Realm, he would dare to face them. At the Middle Phase, he would defeat them outright. At the Late Phase, he would crush them with one hand. Anything beyond that was still too distant to consider.
Finally, the city appeared on the horizon. Wei walked toward it, pulling his puppet from his ring and masking it with soul power, concealing both it and his own cultivation as Madam Yue had advised.
It wasn't long before he stood before Wutan City's gates. After paying the entrance fee, the guards waved him through without question. He assumed the faint aura he exuded contributed to their lack of curiosity.
As he wandered the bustling streets, Wei searched for someone who could provide him with answers. He soon found an old man slumped in a shadowed alley, likely asleep. Masking himself with soul power, Wei dragged the man deeper into the alley before he could react.
The man opened his mouth to curse, but immediately froze under the oppressive weight that fell upon him. His expression twisted into a flattering smile as he bowed low.
"Young Master, how can this worthless old fellow be of service?"
"Save the flattery," Wei said coolly. "I have a few questions. Answer well, and you'll be rewarded. Fail, and…" He let the threat hang in the air.
The old man bobbed his head frantically like a pecking chicken.
"Do you know the Xiao family? Where are they? There is supposed to be a genius named Xiao Yan. What do you know of him?"
The old man cursed inwardly—such questions could be asked in any tavern! But he dared not voice his irritation. Instead, he quickly spilled what he knew.
"As for the Xiao family genius, that title is long gone. Young Master Xiao Yan lost his ability to cultivate about two years ago. Though the Xiao family tried to conceal it, their annual test made it public. He had fallen to the third level of Dou Qi Disciple, much to the delight of the other two families, this year test that would happen in the next few days will only reinforce that."
Satisfied with the answer, Wei tossed him a gold coin. "This is your reward." He followed up with more questions—the city's strongest experts, the location of the auction house, and the quietest inn. The old man provided everything he knew.
Finding the man pleasingly cooperative, Wei took out a small pouch filled with a hundred coins. The sound of the clinking gold nearly blinded the old man with greed, but he hesitated, looking nervously at Wei.
"What is this, Young Master?"
"This," Wei said, tossing the bag into his arms, "is the carrot. You answered well, so this is an extra reward."
The man clutched the pouch like a newborn child, but after a moment of hesitation he asked cautiously, "And… the stick, Young Master?"
Wei's lips curved faintly. He condensed his soul power into an arrow and shot it at the man. The old fellow screamed like a slaughtered pig, bracing for agony—but none came. Confused, he stared at Wei.
"I left my power inside you," Wei explained calmly. "Should you reveal anything about our conversation or my existence, it will tear you apart. I recommend you take the money and move far away. Blue Spirit Village is safe enough."
The old man sagged with relief. He had no intention of disobeying, not with both his fortune and life intact. In fact, he resolved to leave as soon as tomorrow
Wei walked past him without another word and headed toward the inn the old man had recommended.
Once there, he paid for a week's stay, set up a soul seal to alert him if anyone approached his room, and entered the Alchemy World to meet his grandfather.
Seeing Wei arrive, his grandfather smiled warmly and gestured for him to sit.
"The carrot and stick you used were a bit excessive. Even if you wanted to ensure he left and wouldn't spread word of you, it was hasty."
Wei shrugged helplessly. "I needed information to plan my next step. It worked, but it left a risk. This was the safest way I could think of."
He then added with confidence, "Don't worry, Grandpa. While my words about him exploding were a bluff, I left my power on him. I'll know if he leaves the city—or if he heads toward any of the other powers. I've taken precautions."
His grandfather nodded, trusting his judgment. "Then do you have a clear plan for what comes next? According to your timeline, the true beginning is still a year away. I don't recommend waiting here that long."
A glint flashed in Wei's eyes. "I don't plan to. I'll wait only until after the yearly test. The very next day, I'll strike—taking advantage of that moment to deliver them a surprise."
His grandfather nodded in agreement.