"Brother Hao, where to next?" Tian Meng Ice Silkworm asked curiously as they left Star Dou Forest.
"Wherever there's lots of luck, obviously," Huo Yuhao replied matter-of-factly.
"Lots of luck? Human nations? Other soul beast forests?"
"Neither. Shrek City!" Huo Yuhao pointed at a map.
"Shrek City?!" Tian Meng exclaimed. "I heard from other ferocious beasts it's full of powerhouses!"
"Exactly. It's not just human nations or soul beast habitats that gather great luck. Any faction can amass some, but the bulk is concentrated in the continent's strongest powers."
"Strongest powers? Which ones?" Tian Meng asked, intrigued.
Having slept most of its life in the Far North, only to be captured by Star Dou's beasts after a brief roam, Tian Meng knew little about the continent's factions and was eager to learn.
Trapped for so long, it yearned for freedom and knowledge of the world.
Huo Yuhao smiled and began explaining.
"On today's Douluo Continent, places with massive luck are split into the Four Great Empires, Five Forbidden Zones, plus One City, One Cult, and Two Sects."
Tian Meng's interest peaked. "Brother Hao, spill the details!"
"The Four Great Empires are human hubs: Star Luo Empire, Heavenly Soul Empire, Dou Ling Empire, and Sun Moon Empire."
"The Five Forbidden Zones are soul beast domains: Star Dou Forest, Sunset Forest, Far North, Evil Demon Forest, and Jingyang Mountains."
"The One City, One Cult, Two Sects refer to the soul master sanctuary Shrek City, the evil soul master stronghold Holy Spirit Cult, the Body Soul master haven Body Sect, and the ancient Clear Sky Sect."
"Other sects, like the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect from the same era as Clear Sky, or the Heavenly Dragon Gate founded by Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect descendants, can't compare to these four."
"These four boast numerous powerhouses. Except for Body Sect, the other three have Level 99 Limit Douluos! Body Sect has a Level 98 Super Douluo, placing their status faintly above the empires."
"What? Limit Douluos!" Tian Meng was shocked, its first thought worry. "They won't see through us, right?"
"You think everyone can read luck?" Huo Yuhao rolled his eyes, then added seriously, "But it's possible, so we must act discreetly—shoot and scoot."
"Got it," Tian Meng nodded, then sighed. "Humans are so blessed. So many powerhouses in one era."
Soul beasts had ten ferocious beasts, but that was accumulated over hundreds of thousands of years.
Tian Meng's horizons widened, its curiosity sated, and it flattered Huo Yuhao. "No wonder you're Brother Hao—you even know which factions have what powerhouses!"
Huo Yuhao chuckled. "Can't help it. I've loved reading since I was a kid. Learned it all from books."
"Oh? What books?" Tian Meng grew more curious, not recalling such books in Pudu Cihang's memories.
Huo Yuhao transmitted a book's contents to Tian Meng in his mental sea.
"This one!"
Tian Meng peeked and saw the cover: *Douluo Continent II: Peerless Tang Sect*!
Tian Meng: "???"
"Take your time, Brother Tian Meng," Huo Yuhao said with a smirk.
Feel the shock of being a book character!
Huo Yuhao's memories had three parts: Xiao Huo's, Huo Yuhao's, and Pudu Cihang's.
Pudu Cihang's millennium-long memories were so overwhelming that Tian Meng had skimmed Huo Yuhao's and Xiao Huo's, missing the critical part.
Now, with this book in front of it, Tian Meng's mind buzzed.
Tian Meng: *Oh no, I'm a character in a story!*
Ignoring Tian Meng's shock as it read, Huo Yuhao traveled, keeping Mental Detection active.
He noticed something.
Huo Yuhao dove into roadside bushes, pulling two large centipedes from under deadwood.
Though not soul beasts, these centipedes were fierce, two fingers wide and half a meter long.
Yet, in Huo Yuhao's hands, they were docile as pets.
He tossed them into a grass cage at his waist.
Since leaving Star Dou Forest, he'd added this woven grass cage.
When opened, it emitted dense rustling, as if swarming with crawling bugs, chilling to hear.
Huo Yuhao frowned, casting a Buddhist light into the cage.
"Behave."
The noises stopped. Satisfied, he added the centipedes.
Yes, the cage held toxic bugs he'd caught—centipedes, scorpions, spiders, and more.
Not for raising gu, of course.
That wouldn't be so casual.
The reason for catching them…
Two days later.
Nighttime.
A barbecue stall appeared in Shrek City.
"Don't miss out! Xiao Huo's BBQ is hot! Men's fuel station, women's beauty salon!" Huo Yuhao shouted while grilling.
The grill was bought with the two silver soul coins from Beibei's fish purchase.
Heading north, Huo Yuhao needed travel funds.
Passersby, drawn by his calls, peered at the grill and were stunned.
"Bugs! Insects!" one man gaped, stepping back, clearly spooked. Pointing at Huo Yuhao, he yelled, "You're grilling toxic bugs! What's your game? Where's the guard?!"
Huo Yuhao's eyes lit up. He didn't fear scolding—just being ignored.
The man's outburst drew more attention.
Facing the accusation, Huo Yuhao scoffed. "What do you know? These are medicinal bug skewers! My bugs were raised on tonics!"
"They're still toxic bugs!" the man retorted, frowning.
Huo Yuhao, noting the man's gender, calmly said three words: "Boosts virility!"
The man's eyes widened. "!!!"
"Limited stock, first come, first served. One gold soul coin per skewer, no haggling!"
The pitch drew a crowd.
Men glanced over, women blushed, some eager to try.
The initial skeptic hesitated, then approached, whispering, "Kid, do these bug skewers really… you know?"
Men couldn't resist virility claims.
"What? Can't hear you!" Huo Yuhao bellowed.
The man glanced around nervously, seeing no one watching, and whispered again, "Kid, quieter! I just want to know…"
"What's that? Too noisy, speak up!" (Super loud)
"I, I…"
"Say it loud! You want this virility…" (Super loud)
"Stop! Don't say it—give me ten skewers!"
"Ten gold soul coins, thank you," Huo Yuhao said, packing ten centipede skewers, voice normal.
The man frowned. "Ten coins is steep. As your first customer, can you…"
Huo Yuhao feigned shock, yelling, "Ten's not enough?! Sir, are you that…"
"Shut up! Why so loud?!"
Wouldn't this tell the whole city he was "deficient"?!
No place to linger!
The man snatched the skewers, tossed ten coins, and fled, covering his face.
Huo Yuhao grinned, pocketing the coins.
"Brother Hao, you're so bad," Tian Meng laughed in his mental sea.
"I didn't force him—he chose to buy," Huo Yuhao said calmly.
"At this rate, you'll be rich soon!"
"Nah, I'm not setting up tomorrow."
"Why?"
"These 'medicinal' bugs are fake. Plus… I didn't remove the toxins."
"???"