Chapter 90: Recommendation Letter

Moreover, my Soul Power Level is about to break through Forty Level, requiring a fourth Soul Ring; with the faculty of the Tian Dou Royal Academy, this problem will become easy.

"To reach the border as quickly as possible, I crossed the Soul Beast Mountains, and didn't expect to meet you here."

"I am cultivating here."

"So miserable? Everyone ran here to cultivate?" Zhang Yang said deliberately.

At the same time, he handed a recommendation letter to Tie Li.

"It's of no use to me; if you want to go, take the recommendation letter to Tiandou City; if you don't want to go, just throw it away."

Tie Li took a deep breath and received the recommendation letter that Zhang Yang handed over.

"Thank you."

"Given our relationship, saying so much would be too formal," Zhang Yang laughed heartily.

The two hadn't chatted long before Zhang Yang was ready to set off again.

After saying goodbye to Zhang Yang, Tie Li glanced at the gold‑patterned recommendation letter, where Zhang Yang's name was signed.

Tiandou City!

A different sparkle flashed in his eyes; whether the Tian Dou Royal Academy or the FiveElementsAcademy, there is no shortage of genius Soul Masters.

Tie Li's first thought was how great the gap between himself now and those geniuses was.

But before Tie Li lay two choices: first cultivate his Soul Power Level to Forty Level in Baidi before heading to Tiandou City, or go to Tiandou City directly.

As his Soul Power Level rises, the speed of meditation cultivation in Baidi begins to slow; moving from Thirty Nine Level to Forty Level may take more than half a year.

Compared with normal meditation cultivation, this is already considered fast.

Tie Li had a new consideration: if he reaches Forty Level before joining the Tian Dou Royal Academy, his purpose would be too obvious.

In the process of helping him obtain a fourth Soul Ring, they might not go all out to assist him.

Moreover, the fourth Soul Ring he needs must have at least a seven‑thousand‑year age.

High‑age Soul Rings grant stronger attributes and more powerful soul skills.

His martial soul has undergone one evolution, from a Forging Hammer to a Purple Thunder Hammer, but it has not reached the top‑tier martial soul ranks.

Compared with top martial souls such as the Blue Electric Tyrannosaurus and Ice Phoenix, there is a clear gap.

Even the slightly weaker martial souls like Fire Tyrannosaur and Thunder Spider may not surpass them.

If the martial soul quality differs, then balance it with Soul Ring quality.

A fourth Soul Ring aged seven thousand years can narrow the distance with them.

He lacks Tang San's foundation, unable to forge a fourth Soul Ring of ten‑thousand‑year grade, but possessing a Soul Ring age surpassing most Soul Masters is enough to give him a lead.

After some deliberation, Tie Li decided to take the recommendation letter and head to Tiandou City first.

From Bai Ni Mountain all the way to Tiandou City, the journey is far, and Tie Li doesn't want to cross such a long distance on foot.

First returning to Fikesi City, he spent half a month at a blacksmith shop re‑forging metal inner armor and other gear; besides adding High-Level Metal with Thunder Attribute, he also used the Purple Thunder Hammer for a forging, infusing his soul power during the process.

This increased the compatibility between the armor and his own familiarity.

His forging skill did not improve, so the armor he forged would become increasingly less helpful in battle.

If he could master the Hundred‑Forging technique and combine High-Level Metal, the armor forged would be effective even in Soul King‑level battles.

At this time, blacksmiths' status was too low, causing forging techniques to be stuck at a physical level.

If, twenty thousand years later on Dou Luo Da Lu, the Hundred‑Forging skill is only entry‑level, blacksmiths' status will be even more worlds apart from now.

"Better go to the Black Market to buy a Horn‑Scale Horse."

Tie Li wandered the market for a while and found that Horn‑Scale Horses from legitimate channels were too expensive, exceeding his budget.

Most Horn‑Scale Horses in the Black Market are sold there by thieves, but Tie Li wasn't worried about being discovered by the horse's owner.

He would be away from Fikesi City for a long time, not even knowing when he would return.

But he would definitely return again.

His martial soul had received help from a Plant Soul Beast in Baidi's outer circle, completing an evolution.

This gave Tie Li a different perspective on the inner circle's Thousand‑Year Plant Soul Beast and the mysterious Soul Beast deep within.

Especially the mysterious Soul Beast deep within.

The underground Black Market entrance in Fikesi City is hidden in the slums, making it hard for ordinary people to find.

If it weren't for Tie Li's experience, one might truly think Fikesi City has no Black Market.

Wearing a black robe and mask to conceal himself, almost everyone in the Black Market does the same; buyers and sellers alike do not wish to reveal their true identities there.

"Horn‑Scale Horse, any?"

Tie Li approached a vendor's stall and asked in a hoarse voice.

"To the left, the third shop; they deal with this."

"Alright."

Tie Li tossed a Silver Soul Coin; it's the asking‑fee, a rule of the Black Market.

Following his directions, Tie Li arrived at the third stall on the left.

"Horn‑Scale Horse?"

"We have them, how many do you want?"

"One, for my own use."

"Alright, I'll have someone escort you, sixty Gold Soul Coins."

A grimy‑faced child ran out from under the vendor's black robe; he was responsible for taking Tie Li to fetch the Horn‑Scale Horse.

Leaving the Gold Soul Coins, Tie Li followed the dirty child; such children are usually from the slums, earning coins in the Black Market.

Following the child out of the Black Market entrance to an abandoned stable in the slums, a chaotic mix of foul odors filled the air, so disgusting that even Tie Li couldn't help but cover his nose with his black robe.

"It's right here."

There were six horn-scaled horses in total; Tie Li selected the strongest one.

Each horn-scaled horse made restless noises; obviously the environment here made them very uncomfortable.

After mounting the chosen horn-scaled horse, Tie Li hadn't even spurred it before it eagerly left the slums.

Seeing Tie Li leave, the boy ran back to the Black Market excitedly, and with another five Copper Soul Coins added to his account, he was very happy.

Leaving Fikesi City, Tie Li confirmed the direction to Tiandou City and then set off at full speed.

If he encountered a town along the way, he would definitely stop to rest and reorient himself to avoid going the wrong way.

At the speed of the horn-scaled horse, reaching Tiandou City might take about a month.

After ten-odd days of travel, Tie Li came from Fasnuo Province to Beidi Province; after a few more days' journey, he could reach the Tiandou Plains.

After crossing the Tiandou Plains and entering Di'ao Province, Tiandou City was not far away.

However, while passing through the Soul Beast Forest in Beidi Province, Tie Li sensed fluctuations from a Soul Master battle ahead.

Just as Tie Li was about to detour and set off from the other side, a youth about fourteen or fifteen years old caught his eye.

Even though they hadn't seen each other for many years, from his expression and appearance, Tie Li could unmistakably recognize him.

"Tie Wu, Xiong Fu, we'll split up and flee; whoever manages to escape should go back and inform the teacher."

(End of chapter)