--- Chapter 22 ---
Northern Sea City.
A beautiful coastal city on the edge of the Star Luo Empire with a somewhat peaceful environment throughout the years, It was a great place to trade but has had some problems with the sea recently.
"We have arrived in the city." A carriage stopped inside the Northern Sea City.
Huo Yuhao's head slowly poked out of the carriage's cover, and a refreshing yet salty air instantly invaded his nose. A beautiful blue sea entered his vision, making him stunned for a moment. It was one of the most beautiful sceneries he had ever witnessed in his entire life.
"How beautiful." He commented to himself. A long sandy beach and even sea rocks enhanced this scenery more.
"It is." Huo Yun'er nodded in agreement. She never went out of her free will, and to see such beautiful scenery now made her eyes shine in amazement. She honestly missed out on many things in her life.
Qianye Ying'er tilted her head in confusion because Huo Yuhao and Huo Yun'er were unaware of the outside world. They are strong, especially Huo Yuhao. Yet, their knowledge of a simple thing like Northern Sea City and common sense is almost zero.
'It's weird, they are somewhat sheltered, but I've never heard about Huo Clan. Are they part of those secret clans?' She thought while staring at the mother and son duo.
Huo Yuhao picked up a pouch of gold coins from his inventory and threw it at the nearest servant. "Buy as many daily life necessities as you can with this money. I'll explore this city in the meantime." He said while pulling Huo Yun'er with him.
"And let's meet again at noon."
"What about me?" Qianye Ying'er asked naturally.
"You can follow us." He smiled at her. "Cover your face because we can't let anyone know our identity. Ah, this applies to all of us."
Huo Yuhao pointed at the servants and added, "You guys too."
They nodded and spread across the Northern Sea City, doing different things. Huo Yuhao and Huo Yun'er marveled at the city atmosphere, enjoying the walk around the plaza. This place isn't that big compared to Star Luo Imperial City, but even the big city in his previous life looks like a joke.
"No pollution, great." Huo Yuhao commented with a smile under his hood.
Qianye Ying'er nervously looked around and questioned, "Um, are you not worried my father was chasing us?"
Huo Yuhao shrugged and answered, "We are over a thousand kilometers away from the Star Luo Imperial City, leaving no traces of the Abandoned Mines. They shouldn't be able to locate us for a few days."
"I know a Title Douluo could fly, but your father is likely trying to search you all over that destroyed mine first. He wouldn't move far for a while.
"I see..." Qianye Ying'er fell into deep thought.
Huo Yuhao grabbed Qianye Ying'er by her hand and pulled her into a street food block. They bought so many things on the way and ended up on the corner of the city with several boxes of seafood.
"That was fun." The formerly young lady said with a smile.
"Hao'er, open your mouth. This roasted octopus looks delicious, doesn't it." Huo Yun'er fed her beloved son, to which he responded by opening his mouth.
Huo Yuhao chewed on the roasted octopus and frowned inside because it lacked seasonings. Still, good enough to be sold as street food. "Mhm, not bad." He asked for more.
Huo Yun'er fed him a few more kinds of seafood, and all of them lacked something. Huo Yuhao couldn't help but notice this city doesn't have docks for ships to sail. It's a waste because the sea was great for trading and moving goods.
"The Oceanic Spirit Beast shouldn't attack the sailors without a cause, right?" Huo Yuhao frowned at the blue sea because as the Sea God ascended to the Divine Realm, he should have added that rule among his sea followers.
"This place was famous years ago as a tourism destination within the Star Luo Empire. Yet, so many whirlpools suddenly appeared within the coastline, making it impossible to reach beside the land route." Qianye Ying'er stated calmly.
"You know a lot about these things, Ying'er." Huo Yuhao teased her a little.
The young lady reddened and responded, "W-Well, this is just afternoon gossip among the noble kid circle. I also learned geography with my aunt."
"Then, do you know something about the whirlpools?" Huo Yun'er placed a fish cake into her mouth. "You said years ago, right? Those nobles should know something."
"That's the mystery. No one could guess the source of these whirlpools' sudden appearance, even the locals. They just appeared." Qianye Ying'er shook her head.
"Though, some people said it was Oceanic Spirit Beast's anger toward the fisherman."
"Anger, huh?" He chewed on the spicy grilled squid with an intrigued expression.
Huo Yuhao utilized Kenbunshoku Haki and Eyes of the Lord, observing the Northern Sea City's coastline with extreme detail. Everything within a 1-kilometer radius entered his vision, even below the water.
At the bottom of the sea, Huo Yuhao could see little fishes and oceanic spirit beasts moving naturally. They were swimming left and right until an enormous shadow brushed them off.
[Name: Saltwater Golden Crocodile]
[Age: 15.000 years old]
[Description: Saltwater Golden Crocodile is an oceanic spirit beast that consumed Heaven and Earth's treasure, growing into a new spirit beast with a thin ancient bloodline]
"Huh??"
...
...
They returned to the carriage at noon and met with the servant, but Huo Yuhao still couldn't shake the fact there was a treasure island near this city. Heaven and Earth's treasure could only grow within the right environment.
An example of that was Sunset Forest, where so many reres herbs grew into 100.000 years old Spirit Beasts and gained human-like intelligence. And Huo Yuhao cannot miss this chance.
'S Rank Luck is putting a big favor on my side.' He thought while telling everyone his plan. They would stay in the Northern Sea City for a day or two, uncovering the treasure land near this place.
"Err, are you joking?" Qianye Ying'er was speechless.
Huo Yuhao proudly puffed his chest and replied, "I'm not. And We have enough time to organize our plan before your father arrives here."
"Hao'er wouldn't lie about such a thing. Unless you want to go on your own, that's it." Huo Yun'er indifferently chuckled at them, making the servant shiver.
Qianye Ying'er nodded and stated, "Very well, we'll rent the nearest inn in the city. Also, Please don't tease us like that, ma'am. We don't have any choices besides following your orders."
Huo Yun'er slowly glanced at the servant and smiled playfully at them, "I want to make things straight within our group. So remember that you pledged your absolute loyalty to Hao'er."
"Yes." Qianye Ying'er responded helplessly. They are indeed the ones who were indebted to Huo Yuhao, which means refuting his order means their abandonment. He could toss them at any moment.
"Okay, don't make the atmosphere uncomfortable." Huo Yuhao sighed while looking at them. "We are here to find a safe place, not to fight each other."
"Hehe~!" Huo Yun'er hugged him tightly. "My Hao'er is such a good leader."
As Huo Yuhao planned, they rented some rooms at the nearest inn and organized themselves for every scenario. He gave them a breather tonight because they had been traveling for a long distance today.
"Evo, sort all my rewards from the chain quests." Huo Yuhao said while resting on the bed.
[Sorting...]
[You have obtained 9 Bronze, 2 Silver, and 1 Gold Upgrading Tickets]
[As for the other rewards from the chain quests, 1x Random Spirit Ring(Purple) and 1x Random Spirit Ring(Black)]
Huo Yuhao pondered for a moment and asked, "These spirit rings, will they have the piece of consciousness left?"
[No. The Spirit Ring only has the pure essence, making it easier for you to absorb]
"I see... Then, I want to convert my upgrading tickets to a higher grade." He said while staring at the ceiling. "I want to use Gold Upgrading Tickets on my new Spirit Rings."
[Converting...]
[...]
[Upgrading Tickets: Silver(3), Gold(2)]
"Upgrade."
[Using 2 Gold Upgrading Tickets on 2x Random Spirit Ring(Purple&Black)]
[Upgrading...]
[...]
[You have acquired 2x Random Spirit Rings(Red)]
[Do you want to check them out?]
Huo Yuhao grinned and replied, "Hehe, let me see the upgraded reward."
[Opening the Random Spirit Rings...]
[...]
[Name: Space Worm]
[Type: Spirit Ring/Spirit Beast]
[Age: 200.000 Years Old]
[Description: A worm lived in the depth of void, having an ethereal body that could absorb spatial elements within the atmosphere and create a wormhole to teleport]
[Spirit Skills: Spatial Manipulation, Wormhole, Sub-Space]
[Name: Monster-Sealing Sakura Tree]
[Type: Spirit Ring/Spirit Beast]
[Age: 210.000 Years Old]
[Description: A mystical cherry blossom tree used to seal demons over a hundred thousand years. It has an inborn suppression against monster-like creatures and the ability to reproduce itself]
[Spirit Skills: Bane of Monster, Self-Clones, Sakura Sealing Arrays]
"Oh, wow... That was unexpected." Huo Yuhao scanned the system panel with a surprised look. "And Chains of Heavens is the only martial soul compatible with these spirit rings."
[Do you want to absorb Space Worm and Monster-Sealing Sakura Tree Spirit Rings?] Evo created a new panel.
[Yes/No]
Huo Yuhao breathed in to compose himself and said, "Yes."