Chaos Heaven-Dominating Technique

"Okay! But..." Joy blossomed on Xiaorui’s face when she heard Shen Haoran speak, but it quickly faded into a look of distress. She glanced at him, her expression troubled.

Shen Haoran noticed her gaze drifting to her grandfather and understood. Xiaorui had been by his side her whole life; asking her to leave him so suddenly was impossible.

"Sir," Shen Haoran began, turning to Xiaorui’s grandfather, "Xiaorui doesn’t actually have a strange illness. It’s an issue with her constitution. To resolve it, she’ll need to follow me and begin her Cultivation. What do you think?"

"Cultivation?" The old man was stunned for a moment before nodding. "Yes, that would be for the best. This world belongs to the strong. I don’t have the ability to help Xiaorui become a Martial Artist, so I can’t protect her. Since you are willing, young man, I will have to trouble you!"

"Xiaorui, your grandfather agreed. What about you?" Shen Haoran asked her again.

"Okay! I want to practice Cultivation with you! I want to become a powerful Martial Artist, just like you!" Seeing her grandfather’s approval, Xiaorui nodded emphatically.

Shen Haoran breathed a long sigh of relief now that Xiaorui had agreed. He couldn’t have forced her if she had said no, which would have meant the Heaven-Reaching Saint Eye was lost to him. ’Guess I’m not such a bad person after all.’

"Let’s go. We’ll head into the city," Shen Haoran said, getting to his feet. He took Xiaorui’s hand, and the group headed toward Burning Flame City.

The moment they entered Burning Flame City, the scorching heat from outside vanished. The entire city seemed to be protected by some kind of Array, which shielded it from the volatile elements within the Fire Attribute Spiritual Power. Sensing how much more docile the surrounding Fire Attribute Spiritual Power had become, Shen Haoran couldn’t help but admire the city’s architects. ’To not only build a city atop molten lava but also filter out the volcano’s violent energy... what incredible craftsmanship!’

Beside him, Xiaorui was like a kid in a candy store. Her bright, curious eyes darted everywhere, her face alight with excitement. She and her grandfather had lived in the remote mountains their whole lives; she had never seen such a bustling city. She suddenly pulled her hand free from Shen Haoran’s and started weaving through the crowded street.

Shen Haoran shook his head helplessly at the sight of Xiaorui running wild like a horse that had broken free of its reins. He didn’t try to restrain her, simply keeping his eyes on her and letting her explore all the new sights and sounds.

After a full day of wandering, even the inexhaustible Xiaorui was worn out. She ended up so tired that she fell asleep right on Shen Haoran’s back. Gazing at the sleeping girl, Shen Haoran sighed softly and led her grandfather toward the city’s Medicine Hall.

When they arrived at the address for the Burning Flame City Medicine Hall, Shen Haoran looked at the building before him. It was more than twice the size of the one in White Fox City. "As expected of a major city," he remarked. "This is far more impressive than the one in White Fox City!"

"The... the Medicine Hall?" Xiaorui’s grandfather stammered, staring at the massive sign in surprise. "Young man, what are we doing here?" For the Demon Race, the Medicine Hall wasn’t a place just anyone could enter. ’Why did Shen Haoran bring us here?’

"I have some business," Shen Haoran said with a light chuckle. "Come on, let’s go inside." He then strode toward the main hall.

As they stepped into the Medicine Hall, they were hit by a wave of noise far louder than the streets outside. The main hall was packed with Martial Artists, their shouts and haggling echoing off the walls in a deafening roar. The clamor was so loud it even woke Xiaorui from her sleep on Shen Haoran’s back.

The Medicine Hall’s main lobby served as a small marketplace where Martial Artists could sell Elixirs or trade for Spirit Medicines. Shen Haoran gave the hall a cursory glance before confidently making his way to the front desk. He handed the receptionist the recommendation letter from Hall Master Hong and said, "I was sent by the Hall Master of the White Fox City Medicine Hall. I’m here to see your Hall Master on an important matter."

The receptionist took the letter from Shen Haoran and glanced at it dismissively. When she read that the letter introduced him as a Sixth Grade Alchemist capable of refining a Spirit Emperor Pill, she couldn’t help but burst out laughing. Then she tossed the letter back at him.

"Listen, kid, if you want to see our Hall Master, just say so. Did you really need to make up such a ridiculous lie? A Sixth Grade Alchemist who can refine the Spirit Emperor Pill? What a joke. Do you even know what a Spirit Emperor Pill is? Not even our Hall Master can refine one, let alone a little brat like you! That’s the funniest thing I’ve heard all year!" the receptionist sneered, shooting him a contemptuous look.

The receptionist’s mocking voice was loud enough for the surrounding Martial Artists to hear clearly over the din of the hall. The moment they heard "Sixth Grade Alchemist" and "Spirit Emperor Pill," the crowd went quiet, and all eyes turned to Shen Haoran. The hall fell silent for a heartbeat before erupting into roaring laughter.

"Hahaha! Did I hear that right? Someone wants to see Hall Master Feng and is claiming to be a Sixth Grade Alchemist?"

"Hey, kid! Do you have any idea what being a Sixth Grade Alchemist even means? And you have the nerve to impersonate one here, in the Medicine Hall of all places! You’ve got some serious guts!"

"It took Hall Master Feng decades of immersion in Alchemy to just recently become a Sixth Grade Alchemist. How dare a wet-behind-the-ears brat like you claim to be one? Are you trying to spit in the faces of all us Alchemists?"

Voices filled with mockery echoed through the hall as the surrounding Martial Artists stared at Shen Haoran, their eyes glinting with amusement.

Shen Haoran’s brow furrowed as he looked at the crowd of Martial Artists that had suddenly turned on him. ’I just wanted to see Hall Master Feng,’ he thought. ’How did I become their target?’

"Kid, you’d better get out of here before you really piss everyone off. Otherwise, you won’t even know what hit you!" Seeing Shen Haoran’s furrowed brow, the receptionist assumed he had been exposed and spoke with a cold sneer.

Listening to the cold taunts from all around, Shen Haoran’s expression turned icy. His gaze swept across the hall, and a frigid voice emerged from his lips. "I had thought the people of the Demon Race Medicine Hall were humble and courteous. But now, it seems you’re nothing but a bunch of arrogant snobs who judge a book by its cover."