Not long after, Lin Li found a convoy nearby preparing to head to Heaven Dou City.
It appeared to be a small merchant caravan of seven people.
They were searching for suitable mercenaries on the outskirts of the Star Dou Great Forest, hoping to hire protection for their journey to Heaven Dou City.
This was quite normal; after all, one never knew which mountain might harbor bandits or outlaws specifically looking to rob passing merchant convoys.
“Boss, are you hiring?”
Lin Li walked forward and asked the leader, the Big Beard boss.
“We are, but we just can’t find anyone.
As soon as they hear we’ll be trading in cities along the way, they won’t come.”
Big Beard looked somewhat at a loss.
He had stockpiled too many goods this time and was forced to sell some off in the cities they passed through so that he could restock again in Heaven Dou City and sell them on the way back.
“Boss, what do you think of me?”
Big Beard looked Lin Li up and down, then waved his hand earnestly.
“What’s a kid like you doing causing trouble?
Go on, beat it!”
Lin Li naturally couldn’t summon his Martial Soul; his Soul Rings would be far too conspicuous in public like this.
Looking around, Lin Li found a stone and asked Big Beard, “Boss, do you like apples?”
“They’re alright, why?”
Big Beard looked at Lin Li, not quite understanding but feeling impressed.
Then he saw Lin Li grab the stone, and with the fingers of his other hand, he began to carve directly into it!
Using nothing but his fingers and without even a Martial Soul possession, he carved the stone into a smooth, round apple with extreme precision!
Lin Li even kept the stem on top of the apple for aesthetic purposes.
“Look, can I be hired?”
“…Yes, yes, definitely!
You certainly can, gre— young man!”
Big Beard snapped out of it and immediately put on a flattering smile.
Big Beard had rarely seen anyone who could achieve such a feat without even using a Martial Soul.
With such meticulous control over power, this person’s strength had to be at least that of a Soul Sect!
“I have four brothers here with established ties.
I originally wanted to find two mercenaries, but seeing as you’re a dragon among men, young man, you’re worth two on your own!”
Big Beard pulled Lin Li by the hand and spoke as they walked toward his convoy.
“Our plan is to arrive in Heaven Dou City in two months.
We’ll pass through Xinlan City and Blazing Fire City, and finally buy some gems in Seven Treasure City next to Heaven Dou City.
I’ll calculate your commission for the trip as five hundred gold coins.
What do you think?”
“That works.”
Lin Li was heading that way anyway, so earning some money wasn’t a bad idea.
Next, Big Beard introduced Lin Li to his business partners, two men about his age.
Besides Lin Li, the guards consisted of four people who looked to be in their thirties—two men and two women.
“Alright friends, for those glittering gold coins, let’s set off!”
Big Beard heroically took out some wine to share with everyone, and after finishing it, he whipped the horses to begin the journey.
Lin Li sat on the wooden boards at the back of the convoy, leaning against several bags of potatoes, his gaze lingering on the tavern.
He couldn’t see it clearly as the distance grew further and further.
…
Time flew by, and when he snapped back to his senses, a month and a half had already passed.
Along the way, Lin Li experienced a completely different life in this strange World that was a unique blend of East and West, characteristic of the Douluo Continent.
He saw how commoners traded, observed forest scenery that was entirely different from a Soul Beast forest, and even fought a band of bandits who wanted to rob them.
Even though they were ordinary people without a single Soul Ring, this bandit group of a dozen or so people actually managed not to run away, insisting on stealing something.
Lin Li still remembered those bandits who, even in death, clutched a bag of potatoes tightly.
In this place, it turned out the target of a robbery wasn’t money, but food?
Lin Li had thought bandits were just a group of people seeking ill-gotten gains because they were unwilling to work, but after experiencing it, he realized his thoughts were somewhat naive.
They drew their blades against Lin Li, so Lin Li naturally struck back and killed them.
But strangely enough, the impact of killing was far less than the impact of his preconceived notions being shattered.
The blood was hot yet cold.
Lin Li only remembered that after cleaning the bits of flesh off himself, he placed a gold coin among the pile of bodies, though he didn’t know why.
“Young man, we’ve reached Blazing Fire City!”
Big Beard always had a cheerful look.
Perhaps as long as he was making money or on the way to making money, his mood would always be wonderful.
After paying the entry fee, Big Beard rented a cheap inn and a nearby temporary shop.
Lin Li was unwilling to squeeze into a small room with the rest of them.
He also wasn’t sure how those two female mercenaries could stand it.
Logically speaking, the money they earned wasn’t a small amount.
“Well then, young man, we’ll be selling goods for five days.
How about we meet at the south gate of Blazing Fire City at noon five days from now?”
“Fine.”
Lin Li waved his hand and began searching for the inn where he would stay.
Blazing Fire City was named after the transcendent Blazing Academy located within it.
The temperature in this city seemed to be higher as well.
It was said to be because there was a fire element ore vein beneath the city, but there were also rumors that it was because of a volcano not far to the west of the city.
Lin Li found an inn that looked clean, requested the best room for one gold coin a day, and checked in.
“Knock, knock, knock!”
After receiving Lin Li’s permission, the waiter pushed open the door and entered.
“Thank you.”
Out of politeness, Lin Li still thanked him for the free tea.
“The distinguished guest is too kind!”
The waiter was somewhat terrified.
His already bowed back bent even further as he backed out and gently closed the wooden door.
Lin Li walked to the window and could see a red and white building on a small hill in the very center of Blazing Fire City.
That must be Blazing Academy.
Although he had no intention of joining the academy for now, Lin Li still set out, intending to see what the admission requirements for such a high-level academy were and to find some entertainment.
If he didn’t find something fun to do, Lin Li felt his heart wouldn’t be able to take it.
Walking all the way to the outskirts of Blazing Academy, Lin Li discovered that there was actually a long street at the foot of the hill.
He even saw students wearing Blazing Academy uniforms hanging out in groups of twos and threes.
Strolling along, Lin Li also learned from the mouths of passersby that Blazing Fire City’s triennial Fire Dancing Day would arrive tomorrow.
Lin Li bought a stick of tanghulu and handed it to a passerby’s daughter, asking curiously:
“What is Fire Dancing Day?”
The passerby teased his daughter and said in a cheerful tone, “Rumor has it that a Fire God appeared here a long, long time ago.
The volcano and ore vein here were both left behind by him.”
“To commemorate the Fire God and to obtain his protection, we hold a Fire Dancing Day every three years.
Blazing Academy will open its gates, and the Dean, who is of the Soul Douluo realm, will lead a bonfire party.
One hundred of the most beautiful and talented fire-attribute girls will dance to pray for the Fire God’s blessing for everyone!”
“I see.”
Lin Li nodded.
He finally understood why he saw so many Blazing Academy students out playing; it turned out a festival was coming up.
“Eeya!”
The passerby’s daughter grabbed the tanghulu and reached out her other hand to grab Lin Li’s face.
The fleshy sensation wasn’t uncomfortable; instead, it felt warm.
“I’m so sorry!”
The passerby quickly pulled back his daughter’s hand, explaining, “She’s asking if you’re going.
It’s probably because you gave her something delicious to eat…
what a little glutton.”
“I probably will.
I have nothing else to do anyway.”
Lin Li nodded, indicating he would check out the festival.
“In my hometown, there’s a saying:’Since I’m already here.'”
Since he had transmigrated, it would be far too boring if he didn’t experience the local customs and culture of this different World.