Unable to learn what he had experienced from the system, Xiao Se began to examine his body.
He was startled to find that "Kotoamatsukami" seemed to have already been used.
He then carefully checked the system's inventory of magical herbs. Most of them were still there, but five key ones were missing: the King of Immortal Herbs- Yearning Hearbroken Red, Infernal Delicate Apricot, Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass, Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum, and Full Moon Wearing Autumn Dew.
Besides those, three Qi-gathering pills and a few advanced techniques he had found during his time in the Beast Mountain Range were also gone.
"Sigh, I must have created an incredibly powerful female genius soul master in the Douluo Continent," he thought to himself with a wry smile. He then slowly closed his eyes and entered a light sleep.
A few hours later, after he had grown accustomed to his vastly increased soul power, the flying beast finally arrived at the imperial capital—Sacred City Jia Ma.
"Xiao Se, are you sure you don't want to stay with us at the inn arranged by the Alchemist Guild Headquarters?" Au Tuo asked, his gaze complicated as he looked at Xiao Se after disembarking the busy flying transport.
"Yeah, Xiao Se, that place will be filled with alchemists from all over the Jia Ma Empire. Sharing knowledge with them would definitely help you avoid many pitfalls in your alchemy journey," Fu Lan Ke chimed in, his expression equally complex.
In just seven days, both men felt that Xiao Se had become even more unfathomable.
"Thank you both for the offer, but I have friends at the Miteer Auction House headquarters. They will arrange a place for me. As for signing me up for the Alchemist Tournament, I'll leave that to you," Xiao Se said with a smile, politely declining.
"No problem, leave it to us. By the way, Xiao Se, what name are you planning to use for the tournament?" Au Tuo patted his plump chest confidently, then asked.
"Hmm," Xiao Se hesitated for a moment before sheepishly replying, "Just call me Xiao Huohuo." He had already used this alias in front of Yun Yun. If he changed names now, she might get suspicious after seeing his Heavenly Flame. After all, he could disguise his body, appearance, and cultivation, but not the flame.
"Xiao Huohuo," Au Tuo muttered, nodding in understanding. "Got it. See you in three days at the Alchemist Guild. There will be a preliminary match to test the recommended participants, but I imagine it'll be a breeze for you."
Xiao Se smiled silently, nodded slightly to Au Tuo and Fu Lan Ke, then turned and headed toward the Miteer Auction House. Before their last parting, Yafei had given him a map of the Sacred City, which clearly marked everything except military secrets. So, he wasn't worried about getting lost.
"Xiao Se, be sure to visit us when you have time!" Lin Fei called out, waving her hand lightly.
Xiao Se didn't turn back but raised his hand in response as he walked through the bustling streets. Gazing at the magnificent imperial capital, he couldn't help but admire its grandeur. In both his previous life and this one, it was the most impressive city he had ever seen.
"A mere backwater kingdom in the Dou Qi Continent can have such an imposing capital. I can't even imagine what Zhongzhou must look like," Xiao Se muttered in awe.
Without lingering in the capital's splendor, he quickened his pace. His top priority now was to settle down and refine the immortal herbs that could stabilize his foundation and replenish his vitality.
He had been consuming a lot of pills over the past two years, leaving a powerful medicinal force in his body. If he could fully absorb it now, his strength would reach new heights.
After walking to the heart of the Sacred City, Xiao Se stopped in front of a massive building marked with a distinctive emblem.
"So, this is the Miteer Auction House headquarters. It's certainly nothing like Wutan City," Xiao Se murmured in amazement as he gazed at the colossal structure that swallowed wave after wave of people like a vortex.
He shook his head in wonder and stepped through the auction house's main entrance under the watchful eyes of the heavily armed guards standing nearby.
Along the way, a few pickpockets tried to steal from Xiao Se's spatial ring, but he easily struck them with a soul attack. Now that his soul power had officially reached the rank of a fifth-tier alchemist, dealing with a few low-level fighters was child's play.
Upon entering the auction house, the noisy clamour outside immediately disappeared. A hall resembling a crystal palace appeared before him.
The hall was filled with crystal display cases, and people streamed around them constantly. Inside the cases were all kinds of rare treasures. As Xiao Se strolled through the hall, he felt like he was walking through a gold shop from a TV drama in his previous life. If someone crashed a big truck through here, it would be like a heist scene from "Impossible Escape: Douluo Edition."
As his curious gaze roamed the hall, a sudden commotion caught his attention in one corner. A beautiful woman with a curvaceous figure had just emerged from an exclusive area reserved for high-ranking officials of the Miteer Auction House.
The woman was dressed in a bright red brocade robe that covered her body completely. Despite her conservative attire, her enticing curves were impossible to hide. Her legs, encased in black stockings beneath the robe, added an air of endless allure.
Sometimes, mystery is more seductive than what is seen.
"It's her," Xiao Se thought, a trace of surprise flickering in his eyes before he smiled faintly. Because of him, Yafei had met Hai Bodong earlier than expected. Thanks to her impressive business skills, she had quickly gained Hai Bodong's favor and returned to the capital several years ahead of schedule.
Surrounded by people, Yafei gracefully stepped into the hall, a seductive smile on her beautiful face. Her voluptuous figure was as tempting as a ripe peach, causing every man in the room to want a bite. Every move she made captured the hearts of the male onlookers.
After skillfully deflecting several attempts at conversation, Yafei walked away from the crowd. Her alluring autumn eyes casually swept across the hall. Every guest who met her gaze gulped and looked at her with burning desire, though they dared not act due to her status.
Just as Yafei was about to turn her gaze away, her eyes suddenly froze, and her steps came to a halt. Her eyes locked on a young man standing outside the crowd, smiling faintly at her. A glimmer of surprise and joy flashed in her beautiful eyes.
"It's been a while," Xiao Se said, a gentle smile on his face.
"Yes, it has," Yafei replied, her elegant steps moving toward the handsome young man, drawing jealous stares from all around.
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