A morning passed quickly, and it took Lin Xiao a while to recover from his earlier state after leaving the soul tool testing area.
He shook his head, sighing inwardly. No wonder Fan Yu in his memories valued spiritual attribute soul masters so highly—their adaptability to soul tools far surpassed that of ordinary soul masters.
Someone like Huo Yuhao, with his Spirit Detection soul skill, could achieve perfect accuracy with long-range soul tools right away. It was no surprise that even though Huo Yuhao's soul power didn't meet Shrek Academy's requirements, Fan Yu was willing to keep him in the soul engineering department.
Glancing at the time, it was noon, and other Sun Moon Imperial Academy students were gradually heading back to rest. After a moment's thought, Lin Xiao didn't linger and walked out of the academy.
As the capital of the Sun Moon Empire and the place on the Douluo Continent where soul tools were most prevalent, Mingdu's streets were naturally bustling at noon.
The roads were lined with crowds of people, and in some areas, he even saw vehicles powered by soul tool technology.
But such things weren't enough to make him stop. Scanning the signs along the street, he soon found his target. Outside a tall building, the words "Alto Chamber of Commerce" gleamed like gems.
"Welcome. Are you here for soul tools or materials?"
The attendant inside the Alto Chamber of Commerce, seeing Lin Xiao's uniform, greeted him enthusiastically.
Though Lin Xiao looked young, the uniform spoke volumes. Sun Moon Imperial Academy students were regular customers here, as the academy provided limited materials, and students often bought their own.
Though it was his first time here, Lin Xiao wasn't unfamiliar with the place. The Alto Chamber of Commerce hadn't been this large originally, but since Xu Jing ascended the throne, it had become Mingdu's biggest chamber in just half a month, even influencing several surrounding cities. Anyone with eyes could see who backed it.
Glancing around, the chamber was crowded with people, all appearing wealthy or noble, along with some students in uniforms like his. He didn't stand out in the crowd.
"I'm here to sell something," Lin Xiao said, turning to the attendant.
"Our appraiser is in the back," the attendant replied, smile unchanged, pointing the way.
Following the direction, Lin Xiao passed many small compartments, their doors glowing with soul tool light, clearly well-equipped.
Pushing open a door, he faced an elderly-looking appraiser.
"What would you like appraised?"
Lin Xiao didn't speak, just handed over a package. As it opened, the compartment grew warmer.
"This is…" The reddish-brown sheen illuminated the appraiser's face. He touched the smooth metal in the package, speaking uncertainly. "This is fire copper essence? This quality… this weight… did you feed an entire fire copper mine to a Gold-Devouring Beast?"
The Alto Chamber's appraiser had some skill.
This piece of fire copper essence was what Lin Xiao had taken from the Gold-Devouring Beast's stomach pouch earlier. It was the beast's undigested food, condensed into this essence.
After a moment's appraisal, the appraiser looked up. "Guest, this is indeed fire copper essence, and of excellent quality. If you're willing to sell, our Alto Chamber can offer a fair price."
Lin Xiao nodded. "Give me a price."
The appraiser thought for a moment, then extended four fingers. "Four thousand gold soul coins."
"Four thousand?" Lin Xiao shook his head. "I know the value of fire copper essence. If this is your offer, I'll go elsewhere."
The appraiser's expression shifted slightly. "Guest, you know our Alto Chamber is backed by the royal family. Selling here is safer than elsewhere."
Lin Xiao smiled faintly. "I know, but if the price isn't right, I'll sell it anyway."
Seeing Lin Xiao's somewhat "impatient" expression, the appraiser fell silent for a moment, finally spreading his entire palm.
"Deal."
A crowd suddenly surged at the Alto Chamber's entrance. Leading was a alluring figure, her chestnut hair piled high in a cloud bun, her red gown fluttering with each step.
A faint smile peeked through her veil, her slender waist swaying as if every movement was meticulously crafted, drawing the surrounding gazes inescapably.
Behind her followed ten young women, each a beauty in her own right, yet all distinct and charming. As they walked, passersby unconsciously followed.
Lin Xiao, having completed his transaction, had just reached the front hall when the red figure stepped through the door. For a moment, he was dazed.
His soul power surged, a faint, elegant fragrance wafting to his nose. Lin Xiao snapped back, looking again to see the woman subtly scanning the crowd.
"So it's Alliance Leader Shangguan. Forgive us for not welcoming you sooner. Please come upstairs to talk," a deep voice called from above, the speaker unseen, but it woke many in the front hall.
"Heh." The woman covered her mouth with a light laugh, her peach-blossom eyes sweeping the room before she slowly ascended the stairs.
Only when her figure vanished did the attendant beside Lin Xiao reluctantly come to, subconsciously wiping his mouth.
"Who is she?" Lin Xiao asked, glancing at the attendant.
"You're young, no wonder you don't know. That's Alliance Leader Shangguan of the Common Alliance," the attendant replied.
Common Alliance? Shangguan?
Lin Xiao looked upstairs, a memory suddenly surfacing.
Mingdu had three underground forces, one led by Shangguan Wei'er—the Common Alliance. They controlled the city's entertainment industries, with agents among the nobles, backed by the vast noble class.
And the surname Shangguan reminded Lin Xiao of a name. Perhaps the Common Alliance's reach extended into the Sun Moon Imperial Academy.
But what was she doing here?
"Guest, do you need anything else?"
Lin Xiao glanced around, seeing nothing he particularly wanted to buy.
After all, though he was a Sun Moon Imperial Academy student, he had only just learned to craft the most basic core arrays and didn't need the materials here yet. The academy's soul tools were sufficient for him.
"No need." With that, he stepped out.
"Take care, guest. Come again."
Pushing through the crowd, Lin Xiao glanced back. The Alto Chamber's entrance was still packed, as if waiting for another glimpse of Shangguan Wei'er.
In some ways, this Shangguan Wei'er was more terrifying than some in the Holy Spirit Church. She had been the Common Alliance's leader for decades, and people knew, yet they were drawn to her. Better not to linger.
Sighing inwardly, Lin Xiao hurried away without looking back.