Douluo Dalu 2: Peerless Gu master

Indeed, the pleasures of the palate are one of life's ultimate pursuits.

Since arriving on the Douluo Continent, Huo Yuhao had spent most of his time on the road, subsisting on grilled fish and barbecue cooked by his own hands.

While Huo Yuhao's grilled fish was consistently delicious and had a certain charm, eating the same thing day in and day out grew tiresome.

Moreover, his appetite had grown significantly, and filling his stomach with just grilled fish was becoming a challenge. Thus, Huo Yuhao turned his attention to more elaborate dishes, particularly barbecue.

Unfortunately, barbecue isn't as simple as it seems. Even with the power of his Spirit Eyes, Huo Yuhao couldn't ignore the limitations of their circumstances. While it was enough to fill his stomach, it didn't quite satisfy his cravings.

Fortunately, Huo Yuhao had prepared for this. Using the flower buds he obtained from Tang Ya, he had stored various barbecue equipment and seasonings in the Gu's space.

This alleviated the awkward situation of being a skilled chef without the proper tools.

The second-tier flower bud, shaped like a flower stem and made of translucent crystal, provided a storage space of nearly thirty cubic meters.

Though not a soul tool, it was far more convenient than one. Thanks to it, Huo Yuhao's primitive lifestyle improved significantly.

The meal they enjoyed was nothing short of exquisite. As expected of a restaurant highly recommended by Miss Wang Dong, it was expensive but worth every penny.

Apart from the cost, it had no flaws. And now, with Wang Dong footing the bill, even that drawback was eliminated.

If one had to nitpick, the service might have been a bit lacking, but that was only because Wang Dong had firmly refused the hotel's offer of a companion service for the evening. So, Huo Yuhao couldn't really blame the staff.

All in all, he would rate the dinner a solid nine out of ten, deducting one point for the price.

If his favorability meter was any indication, his feelings for Wang Dong had already jumped from "acquaintance" to "friend." Such was the power of culinary diplomacy.

---

After leisurely finishing their meal, the two didn't head back immediately. Instead, they wandered among the vendors outside the North City Gate. Wang Dong, her face lit with excitement, said, "Since you're here, let me show you around the city. You'll gain a lot of experience."

"Alright," Huo Yuhao agreed with a nod. Balancing work and rest was important.

As the saying goes, "Read ten thousand books, travel ten thousand miles." Staying cooped up and training all the time wasn't the most efficient way to grow, even for a soul master.

As for the Treasure Pavilion, Huo Yuhao considered it briefly but ultimately decided against suggesting a visit. Without an invitation, they likely wouldn't even be allowed inside, which would only lead to unnecessary trouble.

A mere thousand-year whale glue wasn't worth the hassle. Besides, he didn't have enough gold soul coins on him to feel confident making a purchase. With less than 10,000 gold soul coins in his storage space, he felt uncomfortably unprepared.

Shrek City, one of the most prosperous cities on the Douluo Continent, was even livelier at night than during the day. The streets were packed with people, and the air was filled with the sounds of hawkers and chatter.

The city was ablaze with lights, and the bustling night market reminded Huo Yuhao of the crowded markets back on Blue Star.

"Let's go," Huo Yuhao said, naturally taking Wang Dong's hand. He smiled gently. "Don't get separated."

"Mm," Wang Dong replied, her ears turning slightly red. She nodded, telling herself it was just because the crowd was so large, and she didn't want to lose him in the throng.

After calming her emotions, Wang Dong led Huo Yuhao through the maze of stalls and shops, stopping occasionally to admire the dazzling array of goods and purchase items that caught her eye.

Though Huo Yuhao had memories of his past life, the customs and culture of this world never ceased to amaze him.

The experience was truly enriching—though it would have been better if there weren't so many people.

Eventually, they arrived at a large store. From a distance, the building stood four stories tall, over 20 meters high, and occupied a vast area. Its grand appearance resembled a cornucopia, brimming with treasures. This was the Treasure Pavilion, a place that dealt in all manner of items related to soul masters and soul engineers.

Wang Dong explained, "Today, I'll take you to a treasure appraisal event to broaden your horizons."

Huo Yuhao raised an eyebrow. "Treasure appraisal? I heard these events in Shrek City aren't open to just anyone."

Wang Dong nodded. "That's right. There are mainly three types of treasure appraisal events in Shrek City. The first is organized for the academy, where they purchase rare metals for soul tools, teaching materials for martial souls, precious ingredients, and so on."

"The other two are for students. One is for inner courtyard students, where high-quality items and even precious soul bones often appear. The other is for core disciples of the outer courtyard, featuring things like elixirs, medicinal herbs, and custom soul rings."

"But these events have nothing to do with us freshmen, right?" Huo Yuhao asked, curious about Wang Dong's plan.

"Are you underestimating my connections?" Wang Dong smirked. "I haven't been idle since I registered at Shrek. I haven't spent all my time cooped up in the dormitory training."

Huo Yuhao immediately understood. This was the butterfly effect of his late enrollment. "Don't act so proud of slacking off," he teased.

"It's not slacking off. It's about balancing work and rest," Wang Dong retorted. She continued, "By chance, while I was out relaxing, I met Tang Ya, the head of the Tang Sect. We hit it off immediately. You've heard of the Tang Sect, right? The former number one sect..."

Huo Yuhao's heart skipped a beat. "Did you join the Tang Sect?"

Wang Dong nodded. "My family has some ties to the Tang Sect. Seeing how it's declined, I couldn't just stand by. Plus, I'm very interested in their hidden weapons."

"Alright," Huo Yuhao said, a faint smile on his lips. "As long as you're happy." After all, with Wang Dong's true identity, joining the Tang Sect was like a crown prince traveling incognito. Even if she didn't reveal her background, it didn't matter.

"Today, there's a treasure appraisal event for the core disciples of the outer courtyard. Did you know that Bei Bei, one of the Twin Stars of the outer courtyard, is our senior brother in the Tang Sect? With his VIP status, he can easily bring us in."

Huo Yuhao thought to himself, 'Actually, I already knew that.'

Wang Dong added nonchalantly, "Besides, even if Senior Brother Bei Bei couldn't help, I have my own ways. Just relax..."

Huo Yuhao understood. This was the confidence of the young lady from the Haotian Sect. If anyone dared to look down on them, she could simply reveal her identity and turn the tables.

Just as Huo Yuhao was about to respond, a surprised voice called out, "Yuhao! What are you doing here?"

The person who approached was none other than Ma Xiaotao, who had left just a few hours earlier. The moment their eyes met, she rushed forward with an eager expression.

…

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