The morning passed quickly. By the time Lin Xiao left the Soul Tool testing grounds, his mind was still echoing with the hum of spirit power and metal.
Shaking his head, he couldn't help but sigh inwardly. No wonder Fan Yu valued spiritual-type soul masters so much. Their adaptability to soul tools was far beyond what ordinary spirit masters could achieve.
Someone like Huo Yuhao—with a spiritual detection ability—could easily achieve perfect accuracy the moment he touched a ranged soul tool. It was no wonder that despite Huo Yuhao's spirit power not meeting Shrek Academy's admission standards, Fan Yu had insisted on keeping him in the Soul Engineering Department.
Checking the time, Lin Xiao realized it was already noon. Around him, students of the Sun and Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy were dispersing to rest. After a brief moment of thought, he decided to head off campus.
Radiant City, capital of the Sun and Moon Empire, was the most technologically advanced place on the Douluo Continent. At midday, its streets teemed with noise and energy.
Crowds bustled along the broad avenues. Some vehicles glided past—machines powered by soul tool technology.
But Lin Xiao wasn't here to sightsee. His eyes scanned the shop signs until he found what he was looking for: a tall building gleaming with gemstone light. Across its front hung four ornate characters—"Ao'du Chamber of Commerce."
"Welcome, honored guest. Are you looking for soul tools or materials today?"
A cheerful attendant approached at once, noting Lin Xiao's academy uniform.
Though young, anyone wearing that uniform warranted respect. The students of the Royal Academy were frequent patrons here; after all, the academy's internal supply of crafting materials was limited, and many students purchased extras for personal research.
Lin Xiao was here for the first time, but the place was far from unfamiliar. The Ao'du Chamber of Commerce had not always been so grand. Yet ever since Xu Jing had ascended the throne, it had rapidly expanded, becoming Radiant City's largest trade organization within half a month—its influence now stretching to neighboring cities. Anyone with a discerning eye could guess whose power stood behind it.
The hall was packed with nobles and merchants in fine attire, as well as a few students like him. Lin Xiao blended easily into the crowd.
"I'm here to sell something," he said at last.
"Of course. Our appraisers are in the back." The attendant's smile never faltered as he gestured politely.
Following the indicated corridor, Lin Xiao passed several private rooms, each glowing faintly with the energy of soul arrays—soundproofing and security measures.
He stepped into one and found an elderly man seated within, white-haired but sharp-eyed.
"What would you like appraised, young man?"
Without a word, Lin Xiao placed a bundle on the table. The moment it was opened, the room grew noticeably warmer.
"This is…" The old man's expression shifted. The reddish-gold sheen reflected in his eyes as he ran a hand over the smooth, heavy surface. "Fiery Copper Essence? And this purity—this volume—did you feed an entire copper mine to a Gold-Devouring Beast?"
Lin Xiao's lips curved slightly. The appraiser had a keen eye indeed.
This was the very lump of Fiery Copper Essence he had extracted from the beast's stomach. The mountain it had hollowed out had once been a copper mine, and the indigestible ore had condensed within its body over thousands of years, refined by the beast's inner heat into a natural treasure.
Ten thousand years of tempering had given it a quality far beyond anything forged by human hands.
But Lin Xiao had no use for materials of the fire attribute; he had kept only the beast's pelt for himself.
"Name your price."
The old man hesitated, fingers brushing across the metal again and again before slowly raising two fingers.
Lin Xiao chuckled. "Don't take me for a fool. I know what Fiery Copper Essence is worth. I'm not here to haggle—just give me a fair number."
The appraiser studied him in silence, then finally spread his entire palm.
"Deal."
Just as the transaction concluded, commotion stirred at the entrance of the chamber of commerce.
A woman entered—her presence immediately commanding the room. Her long chestnut hair was swept into an elegant high bun, a crimson dress trailing gracefully with each step. The sheer fabric around her waist fluttered like mist, carrying a faint fragrance that seemed to tangle in the air.
Every movement—every sway of her slender form—was calculated perfection. Conversations faltered. Eyes followed her unconsciously, captivated.
Behind her came ten women, each a beauty in her own right—different styles, different charms. Their synchronized steps drew stares from nobles and commoners alike.
Lin Xiao had just stepped back into the main hall when he saw her enter. For an instant, he froze.
A subtle fragrance brushed past his nose. His spirit power stirred instinctively, breaking the momentary daze. When he refocused, the woman was already glancing casually around the hall, a faint, knowing smile at her lips.
"Ah, Alliance Master Shangguan—it's an honor! Please, upstairs," came a booming voice from above. The speaker was unseen, but the weight in his tone made several guests snap out of their trance.
The woman covered her mouth and laughed softly, her peach-blossom eyes shimmering as she swept her gaze over the crowd, then ascended the stairs with unhurried grace.
Only after her silhouette disappeared did the attendant beside Lin Xiao exhale dreamily, wiping his mouth as though waking from a dream.
"Who was that?" Lin Xiao asked evenly.
"You're young—no wonder you don't know," the man replied with reverence. "That was Alliance Master Shangguan of the Common Alliance."
The Common Alliance? Shangguan?
Lin Xiao's eyes narrowed as he looked toward the upper floor, fragments of memory rising unbidden.
Radiant City had three major underground forces, and one of them was precisely the Common Alliance, led by Shangguan Wei'er. They controlled the entire entertainment and pleasure industry of the capital, with agents woven into the nobility itself. Their power was vast—and dangerous.
And that surname… Shangguan.
He immediately recalled another name—Shangguan Qing. Could it be that the alliance's influence had already infiltrated the Royal Academy?
But why was the alliance master here?
"Sir, do you need anything else today?" the attendant's polite voice interrupted his thoughts.
Lin Xiao shook his head. "No, that'll be all."
"Thank you for visiting. Please come again."
As he stepped outside, he glanced back once. The entrance of the Ao'du Chamber of Commerce was still crowded with onlookers, eager for another glimpse of Shangguan Wei'er.
In truth, she was even more dangerous than many within the Holy Spirit Church. She had been the alliance's leader for decades, and everyone knew it—yet they still couldn't help but be drawn to her.
Better not to linger.
With that thought, Lin Xiao turned and disappeared into the bustling streets of Radiant City.
(End of Chapter)