After absorbing the Gene-Primers, Feng Hao could clearly feel a change within himself, as if he had gained some kind of innate ability.
Although he could now perceive his own genetic data with his Divine Sense, he was still more accustomed to using the game-like attribute panel. After all, the panel was more convenient and intuitive.
Gene Level: 1
Qi Blood: 1325 (1025)
Vitality: 11 (10)
Magic Power: 10
Strength: 82 (75)
Hidden Strength: 52
Magic Damage: 7
Defense: 23 (12)
Gang Qi: 30
Speed: 120 (96)
Attack Speed: 106 (100)
Divine Sense: 12
Breath Concealment: 10
Divine Sense Strength: 2
Weak Point Enhancement: 2
The attribute panel was mostly the same as in the game *Mage*, but a few attributes now had bonuses in parentheses. These represented the body's inherent abilities, known as base stats.
Unlike other attributes, these attributes with base stats could be improved through various acquired methods.
He had heard that some powerful races were born with extremely high base stats, and some could even awaken special racial talents. This was a bitter pill to swallow for Feng Hao, who was just a man from Earth.
'What can I do? I'm just a weak outsider from Earth.'
'Staying in a hotel forever isn't a solution. It's time to leave.'
Leaving the hotel under the reluctant gaze of the beautiful receptionist, Feng Hao planned to use the Magic Crystals in his Spatial Ring to rent a shop. After all, his Ninth-Level Alchemy Techniques couldn't go to waste. This would be a way to both earn money and find a long-term place to stay.
'Besides, things like Magic Crystals will only become scarcer. Cultivation will definitely cost money in the future, so earning more is always the right move.'
After inquiring at a few shops available for rent, Feng Hao finally realized he was a pauper. He had thought the funds in his Spatial Ring were substantial, but compared to the rental prices for shops on Rongcheng's commercial street, it was a drop in the bucket.
With no other choice, Feng Hao could only search on streets in less desirable locations.
He eventually wandered onto a remote street where the foot traffic was noticeably lighter. To his surprise, a crowd had gathered in front of a shop up ahead, and more pedestrians were drifting in that direction.
'What's going on?'
Curious, Feng Hao couldn't resist joining the onlookers. He initially thought it was because the shop's business was booming, but that wasn't the case at all.
In front of the shop, a handsome young man stood with his fists clenched and his jaw tight, stubbornly glaring at the group before him. "Beixing Ran, is this how your Beixing Clan does things?"
"Miao Feng, I hope you understand your place and accept my terms," the sharp-featured young woman on the other side said, her eyes filled with arrogance.
"Hahaha..." Miao Feng laughed miserably. "The Beixing Clan truly lives up to its name as one of the four great clans. Coming to annul the engagement right after my father was buried... how tyrannical."
Beixing Ran's brow furrowed in resentment. "If it weren't for Master Miao back then, do you really think you'd be worthy of me?"
"Fine," Miao Feng said with a bitter smile, his eyes filled with humiliation. "Our engagement can be called off. But from this day forward, my Miao Medicine Tower will have nothing more to do with your Beixing Family."
"As if I care!" Beixing Ran sneered, tossing the torn engagement contract to the ground and leaving without a backward glance.
The crowd couldn't help but point and whisper. There was sympathy and indignation, but mostly, there was ridicule for Miao Feng.
Watching the familiar, melodramatic scene unfold, Feng Hao's eyes widened. 'I can't believe I've only been in this Otherworld for a few days and I've already run into the legendary annulled engagement trope. Thank God it didn't happen to me, or I would have cringed to death.'
"Ma'am, what's going on here?" Feng Hao asked a woman standing beside him, his curiosity piqued.
The woman's gossipy soul, which had been bottled up for a while, finally found an outlet. She began to recount the story with great animation. "You're not from around here, are you, young man?"
"That's right," Feng Hao nodded.
"Miao Feng's father, Master Miao, was the most skilled Alchemist in the nearby cities. A dozen or so years ago, an engagement was arranged with the Beixing Clan. Not long ago, Master Miao was attacked by a high-level magical beast while gathering herbs. He was severely injured and eventually died."
"With Master Miao gone, the Beixing Family was naturally unwilling to marry their precious daughter to a poor boy. And since Miss Beixing Ran is naturally arrogant, she came straight here to annul the engagement in a fit of pique," the woman said with a sigh.
Feng Hao nodded slightly, his expression growing stranger. 'Yep, this is definitely the legendary annulled engagement trope.'
Before long, the crowd gradually dispersed, leaving only Feng Hao still watching Miao Feng's every move. In truth, he had his eye on the shop called the Miao Medicine Tower.
Miao Feng's face was pale. He set the engagement contract on the ground ablaze, burning it to ashes, then turned and walked back into the Miao Medicine Tower with his head down.
Feng Hao followed him inside.
"What, you want to laugh at me some more?" Miao Feng turned back, his face dark, and spoke coldly.
"Brother Miao, you misunderstand. I'm here to do business with you," Feng Hao said with a light smile, walking forward.
"Business?" Miao Feng gave a bleak smile, his eyes sweeping over the empty counters. "The pills my father left behind were all plundered by those Beixing dogs. Do you think I have anything left to do business with?"
Feng Hao was slightly taken aback. 'The Beixing Clan is truly shameless. Burning their bridges is one thing, but damn, it's like they stripped the place bare, not even leaving a single nail behind.'
'As a proud Transmigrator, I have to help him out. After all, delivering a face-slap in an annulled engagement plot is the duty of every Transmigrator. Even if it has nothing to do with me, I have to help him hit back!'
"Do you want revenge? Do you want to make the Beixing Clan regret this?" Feng Hao asked in a low voice.
Miao Feng was stunned, his expression odd. "Are you kidding me?"
"I can make the Miao Medicine Tower brilliant again, even more brilliant than when your father was alive," Feng Hao said, getting straight to the point.
"You're an Alchemist?"
"That's right."
Miao Feng looked at him, his eyes full of suspicion. He frowned. "You don't look much older than me."
"It seems you won't believe me unless I show you a little something." Feng Hao shook his head helplessly. "You should still have some medicinal herbs here, right? Bring me some."
Miao Feng hesitated for a moment, then turned and retrieved a few rough-looking herbs from behind the counter. "These are the ingredients for a third-level Revival Pill. There's an Alchemy Furnace over there. I assume you know that without the skill of a Third-level Alchemist, it's difficult to keep a medicine shop afloat."
Feng Hao smiled playfully. He casually took the herbs in his hand, channeling the few points of Magic Power he had to create a decent visual effect. In his mind, he had already opened the alchemy panel. With his Ninth-Level Alchemy Techniques, refining a third-level pill like the Revival Pill would only take a few seconds.
And so, under Miao Feng's dumbfounded gaze, the handful of herbs in Feng Hao's hand transformed into three pills in the blink of an eye. Even more incredibly, all three of these Revival Pills were supreme-grade.
"This... How is this possible?" Miao Feng exclaimed, his eyes wide with shock.
"So, what do you think of my skills?" Feng Hao asked teasingly.
It took a long moment for Miao Feng to snap out of his stupor. Then, to Feng Hao's surprise, he fell to his knees before him. "Master, I beg you to take me as your disciple! I want to learn alchemy from you!"
Feng Hao didn't know whether to laugh or cry. In the end, he nodded in agreement. "Alright. From now on, you are my disciple."
"Master, please accept this disciple's bow!" Miao Feng kowtowed three times, his eyes filled with determination and resolve.
"My surname is Feng, and my given name is Hao. From now on, just call me Senior Brother in front of outsiders."
"Master, are you afraid that being too conspicuous will attract trouble?" Miao Feng asked, his brows furrowed in thought.
"Something like that," Feng Hao nodded.
"Rest assured, Master. This disciple knows what to do."
Feng Hao nodded in satisfaction and helped him up, saying somewhat awkwardly, "So... your master doesn't have a place to stay yet, you see..."
"It was my oversight, Master! Please wait a moment, I'll go prepare a room for you." Miao Feng nodded in realization and hurried upstairs.
At that moment, Feng Hao felt like he was in a dream. He had secured a shop without spending a single Magic Crystal and even picked up a disciple who was about his own age. The whole thing was so absurd he was left speechless.
...