Time flowed quietly by like water slipping through one's fingers.
As the date of the Alchemist Grand Meeting drew closer, large numbers of alchemists arrived from every corner of the Jia Ma Empire and even from neighboring empires.
In only a few short days, more than a thousand alchemists had already registered to participate in this year's competition.
During this period, every shop in Jia Ma Sacred City opened earlier than usual, and the residents of the imperial capital rose early as well.
Along the broad streets, countless young men and women in the bloom of youth dressed themselves splendidly, showing off their charm to the fullest. Many of them secretly hoped for a chance encounter with the mysterious and noble alchemists spoken of in rumors.
The entire city was overflowing with excitement and energy, washing away the solemn and disciplined atmosphere that had once defined the imperial capital.
At noon, two figures walked arm in arm along a bustling street. They were naturally Lin Yuan and Qing Lin.
A week had already passed since the Mittel Family pledged allegiance. Under Lin Yuan's orders and support, the family was now making preparations for a massive expansion.
Meanwhile, Lin Yuan and Qing Lin had already completed all preparations for the operation to seize the Xiao Family's Ancient Jade.
Considering that the Jia Ma Empire's Alchemist Grand Meeting was a rare and lively occasion, Lin Yuan decided to bring the recently hard-working Qing Lin out for some leisure.
At that moment, Qing Lin, dressed in a light green skirt, gently held Lin Yuan's arm. A faint smile rested on her face as she strolled down the busy street. In her right hand was a candied hawthorn skewer, its bright red fruit gleaming softly under the sunlight.
She bit into one piece, and the sweet flavor melted across her tongue and deep into her heart. The sugary delight caused her eyes to narrow in contentment.
A moment later, Qing Lin's eyes shifted toward Lin Yuan. As if thinking of something, her pretty face reddened slightly. She raised the skewer to his lips, her gaze filled with anticipation.
"Young Master, here. It's really delicious. You should have one too."
Lin Yuan smiled faintly. With a deft movement, he plucked one hawthorn from the skewer and placed it in his mouth.
"Well, Young Master? Is it good?"
After he swallowed, Qing Lin asked brightly, her eyes full of expectation.
"Mmm." Lin Yuan twirled the skewer in his hand, thought for a moment, then chuckled softly. "Very good. The flavor does have its merits. If Qing'er likes it, I can improve it when we return and make an even tastier version for you."
Hearing this, Qing Lin beamed radiantly. She tightened her hold on his arm, drawing even closer. Sunlight fell across the two of them, and their shadows overlapped upon the stone-paved road.
"There's no need to trouble yourself, Young Master. This is already perfect."
Her gentle voice drifted into Lin Yuan's ears.
"Alright then."
The two continued walking side by side.
Yet strangely enough, despite their striking appearance and elegant bearing, the handsome pair attracted no attention whatsoever in the crowded and lively street.
Anyone walking ahead of them unconsciously stepped aside as they approached.
If a high-level alchemist with powerful Spiritual Strength had been present, they might have noticed the faint layer of soul force surrounding the pair, carrying a strange pressure.
Watching the pedestrians instinctively make way several meters ahead, Lin Yuan mused inwardly.
This little soul technique, 'Idle People Disperse,' was something I accidentally developed during research. It's useless in battle, but in daily life it's surprisingly practical.
"Hm?"
Suddenly, Lin Yuan paused slightly, as if sensing something. His gaze turned toward the northwest.
"What is it, Young Master?" Qing Lin asked curiously.
The corners of Lin Yuan's lips lifted into an amused smile.
"Qing'er, do you remember the three-year agreement I told you about?"
"Yes." Qing Lin nodded. "The matter between Xiao Yan of the Xiao Family and Nalan Yanran of the Misty Cloud Sect."
"We've been strolling for quite a while already. Come, your Young Master will take you to watch a good show."
With that, he pulled Qing Lin along toward the northwest.
In the northwestern district of Jia Ma Sacred City, Xiao Yan was on his way to the Alchemist Association.
Feeling the vibrant atmosphere of the city, even Xiao Yan's calm heart began beating slightly faster. Looking at the numerous figures dressed in alchemist robes around him, he could not help but click his tongue in amazement.
Back in Wu Tan City, even Liu Xi, a mere Garde One Alchemist had been able to swagger arrogantly.
Yet today, in Jia Ma Sacred City, alchemists—normally rare and lofty figures had gathered here by the thousands.
"Tsk tsk, so many alchemists have come. As expected of the Jia Ma imperial capital. As expected of the once-every-eight-years Alchemist Grand Meeting."
"Heh, this is nothing."
Yao Lao's voice sounded in Xiao Yan's heart as he laughed.
"Though alchemist talent is one in ten thousand, the Dou Qi Continent is vast and densely populated. Naturally, the accumulated number of alchemists is not small. What the continent lacks are high-tier alchemists."
"When you go to Central Plains in the future to the Dan Region, to Sacred Pill City, to the Pill Gathering then you will know what a true alchemist festival looks like."
"That grand event gathers tens of thousands of alchemists of Garde Six and above."
"Hiss—"
Xiao Yan sucked in a cold breath.
The Jia Ma Empire possessed only one Sixth-Grade Alchemist, yet the Pill Gathering could gather tens of thousands of such people?
"The Pill Gathering tens of thousands of high-level alchemists. Teacher, you won first place in such a competition?"
Xiao Yan muttered softly, a brilliant light flashing in his eyes.
"One day I'll go there too."
"Since you cultivate the Flame Mantra, of course you must."
"Hm?" Xiao Yan asked in confusion. "Teacher, what does the Pill Gathering have to do with the Flame Mantra?"
Yao Lao pondered for a moment, then said seriously:
"I originally intended to tell you later. But since you made an agreement with Tian Shu regarding the Pill Gathering, I may as well tell you in advance."
"The Dan Region or rather, the Pill Tower possesses a Heavenly Flame."
"And it is an ownerless Heavenly Flame that has never been refined."
"What?!"
Xiao Yan's expression changed, but he quickly remembered he was standing in the middle of a street and forcibly calmed himself.
Once his face returned to normal, he urgently asked in his heart:
"Teacher, can you explain further?"
He wanted to grow stronger desperately.
And for him, progress could not be separated from Heavenly Flames.
Yao Lao chuckled teasingly.
"I'll tell you everything in the future. For now, you need only know this: if you perform well in the Pill Gathering or even win it, your teacher may have a way to help you attempt to refine the ninth-ranked Heavenly Flame... the Three Thousand Burning Flame."
At those words, fiery excitement flashed in Xiao Yan's eyes.
A top-ten Heavenly Flame?
What temptation could be greater than that?
"Teacher, is this true?"
"Of course it is. That is also why I had you participate in the Alchemist Grand Meeting to gain experience. This is preparation for your future participation in the Pill Gathering and for subduing that Heavenly Flame."
"For someone cultivating the Flame Mantra, the Pill Gathering is even more important than it is for others."
Xiao Yan nodded, just about to speak again when Yao Lao's suddenly serious voice rang out in his heart.
"Xiao Yan, steady your mind. Whatever happens next, do not reveal anything strange."
"Tsk, that brat planning to watch the fun, is he? Hm? And the aura beside him is..."
Before Xiao Yan could understand, a noble young woman dressed in a moon-white gown entered his sight not far away.
She walked forward gracefully, her exquisite and alluring figure accentuated beneath the pale robes.
Beside her was a young man in alchemist robes, a three-pattern medicinal cauldron badge pinned to his chest, speaking enthusiastically to her.
She responded calmly, smiling faintly with an aloof nobility that seemed beyond reach.
The two were surrounded by many richly dressed young men and women, countless burning yet reverent gazes moving across them.
The moment Xiao Yan saw her face, he froze as though struck by lightning.
His body stiffened violently.
His eyes locked onto the moon-robed woman, and his expression instantly shifted from smiling to dark and grim.
"Nalan Yanran!!!"
Although Nalan Yanran's appearance had changed quite a bit over the past three years, Xiao Yan recognized her the moment he saw her.
The mark she had left in his heart was incredibly deep, almost comparable to Xun'er's. Of course, the feelings attached to those two names were completely different.
Nalan Yanran had branded herself into his memory by trampling on his dignity. But regardless, she had made him remember her thoroughly.
Watching the smiling Nalan Yanran surrounded by admirers, an uncontrollable surge of anger suddenly rose within Xiao Yan.
These past three years, as the Young Sect Mistress of the Misty Cloud Sect, she must have lived comfortably and gloriously.
Meanwhile, he had endured endless suffering and tempering, crawling back from the edge of death countless times, all for the sake of defeating her.
At that thought, Xiao Yan's fists clenched tightly inside his sleeves. His nails dug into his palms, sending waves of sharp pain through them.
In an instant, a fierce aura began to surge violently from within him.
"Xiao Yan! Don't forget Tian Shu's warning."
A sharp shout rang out in Xiao Yan's heart, jolting him awake immediately.
He slowly closed his eyes and drew in a deep breath, murmuring inwardly, "I never expected I'd lose control like this."
"Indeed, I didn't expect it either. But it's no great matter," Yao Lao's soothing laughter sounded in his mind.
Xiao Yan took several more deep breaths and finally steadied himself completely.
He looked at Nalan Yanran indifferently. Unable to sense her exact aura, he asked inwardly, "Teacher, can you tell her current strength?"
"Four-Star Dou Grandmaster. And she likely broke through only recently."
Although Nalan Yanran wore an item that concealed her aura, such concealment was meaningless before Yao Lao, whose Spiritual Strength had already recovered to the Dou Ancestor level.
"She's already reached Four-Star Dou Grandmaster?" Xiao Yan pondered for a moment, a trace of seriousness appearing in his eyes. "Looks like she didn't waste these three years either. Good. That way, defeating her will be more meaningful. Battle isn't decided by cultivation rank alone."
"Heh heh, you say that, but you're still a little uneasy inside, aren't you? After all, though your progress has been fast, you only recently broke through to Dou Grandmaster yourself," Yao Lao said teasingly.
"Teacher, must you always expose me like this?" Xiao Yan replied helplessly.
"Little Yan Zi, it's not like you have no chance. If you can refine what I taught you, you still have hope of catching up to her. Whether you can match Nalan Yanran in cultivation now depends on yourself."
"The peak Fourth-Grade pill, the Qing Yuan Spirit Forging Pill?" Xiao Yan opened his eyes, determination blazing within them. "I will succeed."
He once more looked at Nalan Yanran coldly.
At the same time, Nalan Yanran seemed to sense something. Her gaze also turned toward him.
For a moment, the two of them fell into silence.
The people beside Nalan Yanran noticed the strange atmosphere and also looked over.
"Big Brother Yan Xiao?" one young man exclaimed in surprise.
The moment the name "Yan Xiao" was spoken, everyone was startled.
This name had become one of the hottest topics in Jia Ma Sacred City recently. Especially after he had beaten Mu Zhan badly for Ya Fei a week ago, his fame in upper-class circles had become nearly universal.
"Yan Xiao? The Yan Xiao famous throughout the Imperial Capital?" Nalan Yanran recovered herself, blinking her long lashes with interest. Her eyes rested on Xiao Yan as she began walking toward him.
For some reason, the somewhat cold young man before her gave her a strange sense of familiarity.
Driven by curiosity, Nalan Yanran took the initiative to approach Xiao Yan.
Meanwhile, Xiao Yan stood rooted in place, waiting for her to come to him.
His pride would never allow him to show weakness or retreat before this woman.
Not far away, atop a nearby pavilion, Lin Yuan and Qing Lin stood side by side against an ornate railing, their gazes fixed on Xiao Yan and Nalan Yanran below.
Qing Lin looked at the two of them, curiosity sparkling in her eyes. Tugging on Lin Yuan's arm, she asked excitedly:
"Young Master, Young Master, do you think they'll actually start fighting right there in the street?"
After hearing Lin Yuan recount their history, Qing Lin was now practically an expert on the matter herself.
Seeing this scene, she found it especially amusing and eagerly anticipated what would happen next.
Lin Yuan patted the back of her head and chuckled.
"Probably not. But their interaction might be quite entertaining."
Just then, an aged voice suddenly sounded beside their ears.
"You brat really do have a wicked sense of humor. Don't tell me that Nalan Yanran's group was deliberately lured here by you?"
As the voice fell, Yao Lao's illusory figure slowly condensed beside Lin Yuan. He glanced at Lin Yuan, then swept his gaze over Qing Lin.
"Senior, surely you jest," Lin Yuan said with a smile. "While I am somewhat curious about Xiao Brother's reaction upon meeting Nalan Yanran, I'm not interested enough to go that far. Besides, if Xiao Yan were truly exposed, it would not benefit our agreement either."
"I hope so." Yao Lao gave Lin Yuan a deep look before turning toward Qing Lin.
"And this young lady is?"
A trace of gravity and contemplation flashed in his eyes.
Though the girl's aura was extremely well hidden, and an energy membrane mixed with Tian Shu's Spiritual Strength concealed her presence, that fleeting aura of a Dou King had not escaped Yao Lao's notice.
This girl, who looked several years younger than both Tian Shu and Xiao Yan, was actually a Dou King powerhouse.
"She is Xing Mou," Lin Yuan said, revealing Qing Lin's alias. "As for anything more, that is a trade secret. You can tell I have placed concealment measures on her. Anyone using enough power to break through my energy membrane and investigate her would be sensed by me immediately."
"I hope we can respect each other's secrets. Please refrain from probing further, just as I will not attempt to pry into the secrets between you and Xiao Brother."
Hearing those frank words, Yao Lao looked at him strangely.
"Understood. We'll do as you say. In all my years, I've met countless people, yet your way of conducting yourself is still quite unusual. But I do not dislike it."
Lin Yuan cupped his hands.
"Many thanks for the praise, Senior."
Then he looked down at Xiao Yan and Nalan Yanran below and smiled.
"Senior, don't you plan to go support Xiao Brother?"
"No need." Yao Lao replied confidently. "My disciple can handle such a trivial matter himself. I came to see you because I wish to make a trade."
"Oh? What trade?"
"I can exchange some pill formulas for medicinal ingredients in your possession," Yao Lao said slowly. "As a high-tier alchemist, you should have a considerable stockpile of herbs."
"Agreed. That is indeed a deal worth discussing." Lin Yuan nodded slightly. "In fact, I believe we could establish a long-term trading relationship."
Yao Lao thought for a moment, recalling the difficult years he had endured without ingredients, unable to work despite his skill.
Finally, he nodded.
"Your suggestion is acceptable. We can discuss it in detail later."
After that, the three of them turned their attention to Xiao Yan and Nalan Yanran below, who were just about to meet.
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