"The Jia Ma Empire needs me."
———
Half an hour later, after deciding who would wash... no, after finalizing the cooperation with the Alchemist Guild and the Jiama Royal Family, Xiao Xue smiled as she saw Fa Ma out.
As for "water-method alchemy," Xiao Xue explained it was an exclusive Secret Technique her Master had spent years perfecting, and it would not be passed on.
Besides—"Without sufficient innate water-control talent, no ordinary person can learn it."
Having received her explanation, Fa Ma left satisfied.
"Take care, President."
Once Fa Ma was gone, Xiao Xue flopped onto her mattress and began planning her next move.
She believed that before long Fa Ma and the Jiama Royal Family would give their answer; after that, there would be no need for her to stay in Gama Emperor City.
Her next destination was clear—Qingshan Town.
She intended to go there and look for Xiao Yi Xian.
After all, once she reached level 20, another exclusive System function would unlock.
—The Master-Disciple function.
This so-called "Master and Disciple" setup was simply the old teaching the new, a common arrangement everywhere.
On the Fighting Qi Continent, only after becoming a Dou Practitioner did one truly step through the gate of Cultivate.
The System required that for a Master-Disciple bond to form, their levels had to differ by at least one major Realm.
Thus, although the "Master-Disciple function" was unlocked, Xiao Xue could only use it after breaking through to Dou Master.
Once her own level passed 20 and she advanced to Dou Master, she would officially gain the ability to "accept Disciples."
Whenever a Named Disciple under her increased in level, the Master would receive a set amount of experience as a reward.
The reward equaled fifty percent of the experience the Disciple needed to level up.
For example, if a Disciple needed 1,000 exp to rise from level 10 to 11, upon leveling the Master would gain 500 exp.
That ratio sounded generous, but in practice the Master was usually more than a full Realm above the Disciple and consumed far more experience daily.
Moreover, for others, breaking through was never as easy as it was for Xiao Xue; even raising a single star was an uphill battle.
Hence, the seemingly exaggerated ratio was actually reasonable.
Worth noting: Xiao Xue could accept unlimited Disciples, yet only the first three "Named Disciples" would yield experience rewards.
Therefore, she had to choose those three carefully.
Much as she wanted her Cheap older brother as a Disciple, Xiao Yan—the story's "male lead"—was not a valid System choice.
Likewise, Xun'er, the "female lead," was also excluded as a potential Disciple.
So for now she had settled on two candidates:
Two supporting females: Xiao Yi Xian and Qing Lin.
Being able to form a Master-Disciple bond with these original side characters let Xiao Xue breathe a sigh of relief.
If even supporting females were disqualified, she would have to recruit nameless background characters.
And those extras, currently more than a full Realm beneath her, would likely amount to nothing before the finale.
Taking them as "disciples" would be pointless.
But accepting Xiao Yi Xian and Qing Lin was a different story.
Xiao Yi Xian's Calamity Poison Body growth was no joke; even Xiao Yan, who cheated outrageously at the start, couldn't keep up with her pace.
One could only say the Calamity Poison Body traded control for terrifying growth.
Qing Lin needed no elaboration either; her Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils were the bane of virtually all serpentine Demonic Beasts, letting her forcibly bind them and take control.
Most outrageous of all, those pupils could store beasts—or people—within the space they created, absorbing their power to feed back to her!
With minimal guidance, these two girls could reach Dou Zun; if she put in a bit of effort, cultivating them to Dou Saint wasn't impossible.
Only geniuses of that caliber deserved to be Disciples of Xiao Xue.
After all, with the System she was Heaven's chosen; following her meant following the Heavenly Dao.
In this regard, a certain Xue had always been confident.
"Once the capital's business is settled, I'll head to Qingshan Town, then make a trip to Stone Desert City."
As for the third slot, she would leave it open for now; if no suitable talent appeared, Xiao Xue would rather leave it empty.
Several days later, the Alchemist Guild sent an envoy to invite her, and knowing it was Fa Ma and Jia Xingtian's intention, she did not refuse.
Following a steward-like Elder through the Alchemist Guild and down several corridors, she finally stopped outside a spacious room.
The old man murmured, "This is the president's study; he should still be inside. My lady, please enter on your own."
Xiao Xue nodded, tapped lightly on the door, and only pushed it open after Fa Ma's voice sounded from within.
Inside the study, besides Fa Ma, there was also a white-haired old man dressed in a simple hemp robe.
This old man was the guardian of the Jiama Royal Family—Jia Xingtian.
'Guildmaster,' Xiao Xue greeted Fa Ma with a cupped-hand salute, then turned to Jia Xingtian, 'Junior Xiao Xue pays respects to Old Jia.'
Hearing this, Jia Xingtian smiled faintly; his gaze swept unobtrusively over Xiao Xue, and his astonishment grew.
To remain so composed while facing a Dou King and a Fifth-Grade Alchemist—
Whatever else might be said, this Heart-Nature alone placed Xiao Xue far above most of her peers.
When Fa Ma told him that a fourteen-year-old Second-Grade Alchemist had appeared in Gama Emperor City—one with an Grade 8 Alchemist for a teacher—his first reaction had been disbelief.
After all, an Grade 8 Alchemist was someone whose network of contacts surpassed even an ordinary Dou Venerate.
And in the Jia Ma Empire there was no Dou Venerate; perhaps not even a Dou Ancestor—who knew whether Yun Shan was even alive.
Would a reclusive Grade 8 Alchemist really come to their tiny Jia Ma Empire and take a small-Family child as a Named Disciple?
Yet, knowing Fa Ma as he did, he was certain the man would never joke about such a thing.
'Could what that old fellow Fa Ma says actually be true?' he murmured inwardly, then could not help asking, 'Little friend Xiao Xue, may I ask your esteemed Master's name?'
'I'm sorry, Old Jia,' Xiao Xue answered apologetically, 'my Master said his name is not to be revealed.'
'No matter; many hermits have peculiar temperaments.'
'I've met a few reclusive powerhouses myself—I know how aloof they can be.'
Jia Xingtian shook his head with a smile, though some doubt lingered.
'You two Seniors summoned me—might there be something you need?' Xiao Xue seated herself and asked with a smile.
'Indeed there is,' Fa Ma replied, sliding a storage ring and a token across the table to her.
Xiao Xue blinked. 'What are these…'
'The storage ring holds medicinal herbs; the token is the insignia of an Honorary Elder of the Alchemist Guild.'
'With this token you may obtain assistance at any branch throughout the Jia Ma Empire.'
Fa Ma smiled. 'I know you dislike being tied down; as long as you carry it, you need obey no one's orders, not even mine.'
Accepting the token, Xiao Xue raised an eyebrow in surprise—Fa Ma was clearly sparing no expense to recruit her.
'Guildmaster, you are too kind.' When benefits were offered on a silver platter, Xiao Xue never hesitated to accept.
'So, what do you plan to do next?' Fa Ma asked with a smile.
'I intend to cross the Magical Beast Mountain Range alone, then take a look around the Tagor Desert.'
She spoke casually, as if merely deciding what to eat for lunch.
Fa Ma's smile vanished; even Jia Xingtian could not stay silent. 'Little girl, reaching Dou Master before fifteen—your Cultivation talent is extraordinary.'
'But confidence is one thing, arrogance another. Do you know how dangerous the Magical Beast Mountain Range and the Tagor Desert are?'
'If I'm not mistaken, you're only a One-Star Dou Master, correct?'
Xiao Xue gave a slight smile. 'Oh, is that so?'
Knowing Jia Xingtian still doubted her 'background,' she did not mind giving him a small demonstration.
Within her Sea of Consciousness she opened the System panel and quietly selected [Upgrade].
The moment the words left her lips Jia Xingtian, about to speak, froze.
Because Xiao Xue's aura changed the instant she finished her sentence!
At the same instant Fa Ma jerked his head toward the quietly seated girl.
'Dou Master… two-star!' he exclaimed.
Xiao Xue let out a soft laugh. 'Hmph.'
Then she silently selected [Upgrade] again.
Her aura shifted once more!
'three-star Dou Master!'
Jia Xingtian and Fa Ma were utterly stunned.
Xiao Xue had concealed her Rank—she had definitely concealed it!
This girl, not yet fifteen, had hidden her cultivation from a Dou King and a Fifth-Grade Alchemist!
With every casual sentence her aura rose a star, and no matter how they extended their Divine Sense they could not pierce her disguise or determine her true Realm!
Jia Xingtian and Fa Ma exchanged a glance, shock mirrored in each other's eyes.
They… could not see through her!
Was this a method left by her Master?
Such strength was simply… terrifying beyond words!