The first stop for Xiao Xue's outdoor training was Gama Emperor City.
The first thing she had to do, naturally, was to obtain the status of an Alchemist.
With the status of an Alchemist, she could enjoy convenience in most places on this continent.
As for why she went to the capital, it was naturally because she wanted to take this opportunity to contact the Jiama Royal Family in advance.
After all, if she wanted the Xiao Family to have more room for development, staying cooped up in Utan City was definitely not an option.
The strongest person currently in the Xiao Family was only a Great Dou Master, which meant they lacked the capital to develop in a large city.
To make the Xiao Family rise quickly, it was necessary to borrow strength from the outside.
The Jia Ma Empire only had two transcendent powers: one was the Jiama Royal Family, and the other was the Cloud Mist Sect.
Behind the Cloud Mist Sect lay the existence of the Hall of Souls, which meant it would inevitably become hostile to the Xiao Family in the future.
Although she didn't know if Yun Shan had already made contact with the Hall of Souls, Xiao Xue wouldn't take that risk.
Relatively speaking, the Jiama Royal Family was slightly more reliable.
Furthermore, Xiao Xue was very optimistic about whether the Jiama Royal Family would choose to cooperate with or "invest" in the Xiao Family.
Decades ago, the Cloud Mist Sect made a correct investment and gained a Sixth-Rank Alchemist, Gu He; since then, the Jiama Royal Family could only back down before the Cloud Mist Sect.
Currently, the Jiama Royal Family faced the internal threat of the Cloud Mist Sect, the Peak Dou Huang Medusa of the Snake-People Clan, and the external enemy of the Izumo Empire.
The Jiama Royal Family had a Peak Dou Huang, Jia Xingtian, but he had wasted many years and still failed to achieve a Breakthrough to Dou Zong, and none of his descendants were capable fighters.
In short, the current situation was one of internal and external troubles, which was very unfavorable for the Jiama Royal Family.
Therefore, the Jiama Royal Family needed a Genius with a clean background to help them through this difficult period.
Thus, Xiao Xue was confident in reaching a cooperation with the Jiama Royal Family.
This was a win-win situation.
———
Gama Emperor City.
The prosperous capital was enclosed within thick city walls.
These walls displayed the Jia Ma Empire's robust national strength while also conveying a message to the outside world:
The Jia Ma Empire has no Dou Zun.
Because powers with a Dou Zun use Spatial Barriers for defense instead of building city walls.
After all, city walls can be punched through by some Sea God next door, but Spatial Barriers cannot.
That being said, as the capital of the Jia Ma Empire, it was quite prosperous.
The capital covered a large area with intricate roads; those unfamiliar with it could easily get lost.
Xiao Xue, who had a poor sense of direction, actually... got lost in the capital of the Jia Ma Empire.
Xiao Xue helplessly touched her forehead. "A miscalculation. I should have found a guide at the Mittel Auction House..."
Given the talent Xiao Xue had shown, the Mittel Auction House would surely have been very happy to let her owe them a favor.
It was useless to say this now. Xiao Xue shook her head, bypassed the long queue, and walked straight toward the soldiers guarding the gate.
"Little brother, how do I get to the Alchemist Guild?"
The soldier observed Xiao Xue and found that although she was young, her clothes cost at least several thousand gold coins, the bracelet on her hand was no ordinary item, and there seemed to be a medicinal fragrance on her body.
Thus, he quickly put on a friendly face and replied respectfully, "This... Young Miss, please wait a moment. For Alchemists, we have specialized service personnel here."
Xiao Xue nodded, calmly looking at the long queue nearby.
Before long, a female guide with a curvaceous figure walked toward Xiao Xue. "This Young Miss, please follow me."
They walked in silence. Following the attendant, Xiao Xue arrived in front of a tall building several minutes later.
Xiao Xue looked up. This building was at least thirty meters high, and its area was immeasurable.
Occupying such a large area in the prime real estate of the capital showed the importance of this building to the city.
—Headquarters of the Jia Ma Empire Alchemist Guild.
"Young Miss, this is the Alchemist Guild. Do you still need me to accompany you?" the attendant stopped and asked politely, turning to look at Xiao Xue.
"No need, thank you," Xiao Xue took out an ointment and handed it to the attendant. "Take this as a gift."
"This ointment can slightly strengthen a person's Physique, improve skin texture, slow down skin aging, and make the skin fairer and more tender."
Hearing words like "improve skin texture," "slow down aging," and "fairer skin," the attendant's eyes lit up like incandescent lamps.
If she knew this was just something Xiao Xue had refined casually and didn't even have a grade, who knows what she would think.
Just like Nuwa creating humans, what Xiao Xue gave the attendant was merely a "speck of mud," while what she left for her Family's internal use was the meticulously refined high-quality product.
Even Xiao Xue didn't know that the second-grade skincare ointment she had meticulously refined using her Water Attribute Qi, after being handed over to the Family,
Aside from the portions distributed, the rest meant for sale were all secretly bought at high prices by a certain Young Miss.
After all, given the uniqueness of Xiao Xue's Qi, refining a second-grade pill was time-consuming and laborious, so she naturally didn't leave much stock for the Family.
Therefore, the dozens of skincare ointments used for auction were all bought up by Xiao Xun Er, who was dressed in white robes.
In any world, the pursuit of beauty by women is eternal, not to mention that Water Attribute Qi naturally has the effect of beautifying and nourishing the skin.
Even the ointment Xiao Xue casually gave the attendant was more than a level better than the beauty medicines on the market.
The attendant excitedly thanked Xiao Xue, while passersby cast curious glances.
There was no helping it; Xiao Xue's appearance was far too outstanding, and her generosity was so lavish that it was hard not to attract attention.
Amidst the curious or scrutinizing gazes of the people in the Alchemist Guild, Xiao Xue received a warm welcome.
Xiao Xue didn't hesitate, taking out another second-grade pill and saying, "I want to take the Alchemist examination."
Everyone was shocked. Xiao Xue looked to be fifteen at most, yet she was going to take the Alchemist examination directly.
However, seeing her lavish spending and attitude of not taking Medicinal Pills seriously, no one spoke out to question or mock her.
"Milady, to take the Alchemist examination, you must first register." Another female attendant squeezed through the crowd and spoke to Xiao Xue.
"Mhm." Xiao Xue nodded and followed this attendant to a place that looked like a front desk.
"Name?"
"Xiao Xue."
"Age?"
"Fourteen."
The attendant's pen paused, and she looked up at Xiao Xue in shock. "...How much?"
Xiao Xue thought about it and felt it wasn't quite right. "Fourteen and a half."
*Hiss~* *Hiss~*
A sound of collective gasping filled the room, followed by a flurry of discussion.
Had they not already formed an impression of Xiao Xue as a "lavish Alchemist master," they probably wouldn't have been able to restrain themselves from all sorts of mockery and sarcasm.
The attendant swallowed hard and continued with a trembling voice, "Your... your master?"
Xiao Xue gave the explanation she had prepared long ago. "Sorry, no comment."
"I am only a Named Disciple of my teacher. Before I achieve a certain level of success, my teacher does not allow me to use his name."
"This..."
The attendant was at a loss. A Genius who could take the Alchemist examination at fourteen was not even recognized as a Disciple, but only a Named Disciple?
This kind of thing was beyond her imagination.
"Little girl, are you truly here for the Alchemist examination?"
An old voice came, and then an old man wearing a purple robe walked up to Xiao Xue.
"President!" The attendant bowed respectfully to the old man and then retreated silently to the side.
"Little girl, your Qi isn't of the Fire and Wood Attributes, is it?" Fa Ma stared at Xiao Xue with a scrutinizing gaze.
Hearing this, Xiao Xue raised an eyebrow. "Oh? And so what?"
Fa Ma frowned. "Are you sure you can pass the Alchemist examination?"
The attendant's strength was low and couldn't see Xiao Xue's power, but Fa Ma had already stepped into the Dou Wang rank.
Moreover, he himself was a Fifth-Grade Alchemist, with Soul Power at the top level of the entire Jia Ma Empire.
In Fa Ma's view, Xiao Xue's Soul Power was very strong, not even weaker than an ordinary Third-Grade Alchemist, but her Qi attribute was not suitable.
Therefore, when Xiao Xue proposed to take the Alchemist examination, Fa Ma naturally had doubts.
To Fa Ma's doubt, Xiao Xue smiled slightly. "Not much confidence, only 98%."
Fa Ma:...