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Chapter 15: A Young Phoenix's Cry Outshines the Old
"I've never formally studied medicine," Huo Yuhao replied, shaking his head lightly. "But I used to buy these herbs quite often, so over time, I just memorized their properties."
The middle-aged physician raised an eyebrow. Buy them often? He couldn't help but mutter inwardly, If an ordinary person kept taking tonics like these, their brain would've turned to mush by now.
Still, he didn't call the boy out. Instead, he merely shook his head at Huo Yuhao's next question.
"The medical hall protects the privacy of all patients," the man said in a neutral tone. "I'm afraid I can't answer your question. Come with me—I'll prepare your medicine."
In truth, he was still reeling. For such a young child to be so well-versed in the use of medicinal herbs—it made him question his own life's worth of study. Then again, thinking about that other boy he had seen earlier, he couldn't help but smile bitterly.
It's not that I'm incompetent, he thought, it's just that some children are simply… monsters.
So this is what they mean by "The cry of a young phoenix outshines that of the old."
Since he had earned quite a bit from selling grilled fish earlier—and didn't want to make repeated trips—Huo Yuhao bought a large batch of herbs all at once.
By the time he finished paying, he had filled dozens of paper packets and spent not only the five gold soul coins he had earned that day but also an extra two from his savings.
To him, though, the expense was entirely worth it. With these medicines, his mother Huo Yun'er's hidden injuries would soon be treated, and his own physical foundation would continue to strengthen.
At this age, laying a solid groundwork was far more important than saving coin. Huo Yuhao naturally wasn't going to cut corners here.
As they walked out of the medical hall, he noticed Tang Ya watching him with a strange expression.
"What's wrong?" he asked curiously.
Tang Ya pursed her lips, hesitated for a long moment, then sighed softly. "It's nothing… I was just wondering—are you really only six years old?"
Huo Yuhao chuckled, pretending to look innocent. "Why? Don't I look like it? Should I be holding a lollipop and have a couple of snot bubbles under my nose to prove it?"
He brushed the question aside with a playful grin. "Anyway, Sister Xiao Ya, since we've bought the herbs, it's time for you to show me where I can find those rare metals you mentioned."
Tang Ya rolled her eyes dramatically. "You know, the more you call me 'Sister Xiao Ya,' the more it feels like you're taking advantage of me…"
Even as she grumbled, her pace didn't slow in the slightest.
Growing up in Heaven Dou City, Tang Ya was intimately familiar with every street and alley. She led Huo Yuhao through a few turns, and soon, they stopped in front of a small shop that sold rare ores and metals.
"This is the place."
The storefront wasn't large, and the selection inside seemed limited. But with his Spirit Eyes, Huo Yuhao could clearly see the labels and price tags even from outside—and just as Tang Ya had said, the prices were outrageous.
In the Heaven Dou city, rare metals were typically controlled by the imperial family. The truly valuable ones could only be purchased by major sects or academies with special authorization.
The metals displayed here weren't particularly rare, but even these were likely smuggled out by officials at great risk. After being marked up through countless hands, the final retail prices had tripled—or more.
Still, Huo Yuhao had little choice. These were the only materials he could currently access. And even with inflated costs, once forged into soul tools, the profit margins would still be considerable.
Other Soul Engineers might have to worry about failure wasting precious materials, but that wasn't a problem for him. The only thing limiting Huo Yuhao at the moment was his soul power.
It had been only a month since he awakened his martial spirit, and his soul power hadn't improved much. No matter how great his technical skill was, without sufficient power, there was a limit to what he could create.
With enough soul power as a foundation, cross-tier crafting would become far easier.
Still, thanks to the Sin of Arrogance—the power he had inherited from his past life—he could temporarily boost his strength.
Although this enhancement only elevated him to the level of a first-ring Spirit Master, his mastery of soul tool engineering from his previous life meant that it was more than enough to forge any Rank 3 Soul Tool. Of course, the strain it placed on him was immense.
From a purely economic standpoint, making a Rank 3 soul tool wasn't necessarily worth the energy. The time and resources could just as easily produce several Rank 2 tools, which sold for nearly the same profit. The latter was far more cost-effective.
Through earlier experimentation, Huo Yuhao had also come to better understand the Sin of Arrogance's side effects.
Its power was explosive—but after use, it left him weakened for a time.
Back in the Duke's Mansion, when he had used it for the first time, the period of weakness had lasted about three days.
Though that seemed long, he suspected it was due to his current low cultivation and poor physique. As his body grew stronger, the duration of the aftereffects would shorten, and the ability's amplification would become even greater.
Tang Ya, meanwhile, had also noticed the price tags. Her expression soured instantly. Though she knew this place dealt in rare ores, she had never looked too closely before.
After a long moment of internal debate, she turned toward Huo Yuhao.
"Why don't we try another shop? Maybe we'll find something cheaper elsewhere."
Huo Yuhao shook his head with a faint smile. "We're already here. Let's at least go in and take a look."
Without waiting for her reply, he stepped through the door. Tang Ya sighed softly, then followed him inside.
"Welcome. What can I help you two with today?"
A young shop attendant greeted them warmly. Though the two children clearly weren't wealthy clients, she maintained her professionalism. After all, one never knew—perhaps this boy and girl would become powerful Soul Masters in the future.
"We'll just have a look around first," Huo Yuhao said politely, nodding.
He then took Tang Ya by the hand and began browsing the store.
"Iron Essence—five silver coins per pound."
"Refined Gold—two hundred gold soul coins per pound."
"Titanium Gold—six hundred gold soul coins per pound."
Tang Ya silently repeated each price in her head and couldn't help sucking in a sharp breath.
Only common materials like Iron Essence, widely used to make basic soul tools, were relatively affordable. Everything else was priced sky-high. And considering the density of those rare metals, a pound of them might not even be the size of her thumb.
"Yuhao."
Hearing her soft whisper, Huo Yuhao turned his head. Tang Ya had come close, lowering her voice even further.
"These metals are too expensive. If you're truly set on buying rare ones, I might be able to help you find another source. My sect has… connections. It should be cheaper than this."
After all, the Tang Sect had once specialized in making hidden weapons. They still had small reserves of rare metals stored away.
She planned to ask her parents once she returned home—if possible, they could sell some to Huo Yuhao at a discounted price.
She'd eaten his grilled fish, laughed with him, and shared a joyful day. In her heart, she had already come to see this little boy as a friend—and she couldn't stand to see him get ripped off.
Huo Yuhao instantly understood her intention. A small smile tugged at his lips, and he nodded.
"Alright. Then from now on, Sister Xiaoya, all your grilled fish are on the house."
"Really? You said it! Then I'm coming every day—I'll eat two every time!"
Huo Yuhao blinked. "Only two?"
She grinned. "You still need to make a living, don't you? If I eat you into poverty, then who'll feed me later?"
Tang Ya tilted her head mischievously. "Besides… if I eat too much, I'll get fat."
Huo Yuhao chuckled. "Then next time, I'll treat you to something else."
(End of Chapter)