Jia Ma Sacred City's sky was azure blue, cloudless for thousands of miles. The sunlight was warm and gentle, while an occasional breeze swept through the streets, carrying away the city's clamor and leaving the air refreshing and clear.
From the moment dawn broke, figures dressed in alchemist robes began appearing throughout the streets. As time passed, alchemists rarely seen on ordinary days
emerged in numbers like a grand army, forming a magnificent and eye-catching sight.
The reason was simple.
The Jia Ma Empire's greatest grand occasion, the once-every-eight-years Alchemist Grand Meeting, lasting two full days would officially begin today!
On this special day, Xiao Yan had also risen early. Seated cross-legged upon his bed, he quietly adjusted his breathing for an hour. Only after restoring himself to peak condition did he slowly open his eyes, ready to face today's challenge.
At the thought of several thousand people igniting flames and refining pills together in the same plaza, even Xiao Yan could not help feeling a little excited.
"Teacher, the day has finally come."
Seeing this, Yao Lao recalled scenes from the years when he himself had participated in such gatherings. The corners of his mouth lifted slightly as he chuckled.
"Go, Xiao Yan. Go welcome your first true test in the art of alchemy."
"Yes, Teacher! This championship, I'm taking it!"
At the summit of Misty Cloud Sect's Cloud Peak, a mass of black fog drifted before Yun Shan, who had been meditating.
From within the fog came a cold and eerie laugh, like the cry of a night owl.
"Heh heh heh, Yun Shan, come with this Protector. Our destination is Wu Tan City."
"Yes, Protector Wu."
Yun Shan rose and cupped his hands respectfully.
Soon after, two blurred shadows shot out from the depths of Misty Cloud Sect like bolts tearing through space itself, racing toward Wu Tan City at astonishing speed.
At the same time, Yun Shan finally let go of some of the worry in his heart, replacing it with relief.
The plan succeeded. No one from Yun Lan Sect directly participated in this operation. Yun Ling, Yun Du, Yun Cha, your sacrifices were not in vain.
The deaths of those three had been part of the strategy he and Lin Yuan devised to create the illusion that Misty Cloud Sect had been targeted by a powerful and mysterious avenger.
Under urgent circumstances, to avoid complications regarding the Xiao Clan matter, Protector Wu would naturally refuse to let weaker members of Misty Cloud Sect take part. Otherwise, they would not only be useless, but might also attract unnecessary enemies and create trouble.
Thinking this, Yun Shan secretly released a hidden fluctuation carrying a message into the distance.
"Alchemist friend, it has begun."
Inside a quiet and secluded residence of the Mittel Family, Lin Yuan, who had been meditating in cultivation, slowly opened his eyes.
"So it has finally started?"
He immediately connected to Qing Lin's Heavenly Vault Network and issued his command.
"All divisions, enter Level One readiness. Qing'er, keep watch on Yun Shan's location."
"I understand, Young Master," Qing Lin replied through the communication link.
Lin Yuan then pondered inwardly.
Though it may seem like I'm scheming against empty air, just to be safe, I should still make a trip to the Alchemist Grand Meeting venue. Let Xiao Yan and Yao Lao serve as proof that I have absolutely nothing to do with the Xiao Clan matter.
And while I'm there, if that vice president of the Chu Yun Empire's Alchemist Association arrives as in the original timeline, I can ask him about Little Fairy Doctor and the Poison Sect.
Having made up his mind, he stopped cultivating, sensed his surroundings, and walked toward where Hai Bo Dong was staying.
Seeing Hai Bo Dong's noticeably strengthened aura, Lin Yuan smiled.
"Congratulations, Elder Hai. You've broken through to a six-star Dou Emperor."
"Heh heh, thanks to the Purple Spirit Recovery Pill and Earth-class cultivation method you gave me." Hai Bo Dong grinned confidently. "Before long, once I finish refining the Ice Marrow and Mighty Hung Pill, I'm fairly certain I can reach nine-star Dou Emperor."
"At that time, my strength will be enough to stand on equal footing with that old monster of the royal family and support the Mittel Family's large-scale expansion."
Lin Yuan nodded with satisfaction.
"Excellent. Once you reach the peak of Dou Emperor, I'll give you a Zong Breaking Pill and help you ascend another level."
"Is that true?" Hai Bo Dong asked in delight.
"Naturally." Lin Yuan smiled. "But we can discuss that later. For now, take me to watch the Alchemist Grand Meeting."
"You're interested in that event?" Hai Bo Dong asked in surprise. "With your alchemy standards, watching them refine pills should feel like watching children play house."
"I'm only there for the excitement. And to meet a friend. Come, Elder Hai."
"A friend? You mean that boy Xiao Yan?"
"Precisely."
When Lin Yuan and Hai Bo Dong stepped into the Royal Plaza, the bustling atmosphere of the grand meeting washed over them.
Mittel Teng Shan noticed them and immediately came forward.
Sensing many gazes turning their way, Lin Yuan transmitted his voice before Teng Shan could speak.
"Patriarch Teng Shan, no need for formalities. I'm only here to watch today. Do not attract unnecessary attention."
Teng Shan's eyes flickered in understanding.
He simply nodded, greeted the two briefly, and led them toward the VIP seating area.
No sooner had they arrived than an elderly laugh sounded from nearby.
"Heh heh, Hai old ghost, I didn't expect even you to come join the excitement."
An old man in purple alchemist robes stepped forward, it was Fa Ma, president of the Jia Ma Empire Alchemist Association.
"And judging by your aura, you've already broken through to six-star Dou Emperor?"
Another voice followed.
Jia Xing Tian, dressed in plain hemp robes, also approached. Behind him was the Little Princess Yao Yue, wearing a light green alchemist robe.
Hai Bo Dong gave a strange laugh.
"Heh heh, Jia old ghost, Fa old ghost, I just came to join the fun. But coming today was worth it, since I got to see you two old fellows."
"As for strength. this is merely the level I should've had all along."
"Indeed. Being able to gather together is already a wonderful thing," Fa Ma sighed. "Only with old ghosts like you still around do I not feel lonely. In the whole Jia Ma Empire, there are barely any from our generation left."
The other two also revealed traces of emotion.
After a moment, Fa Ma's gaze shifted to Lin Yuan.
"Hai old ghost, aren't you going to introduce this young friend to us?"
At the same time, suspicion arose in his heart. With soul strength nearing the Sixth-Grade, he still could not sense Lin Yuan's aura.
Could this young man be carrying some treasure that conceals aura?
Jia Xing Tian also looked over, equally surprised.
"And this young friend is...?"
Lin Yuan smiled faintly and replied casually:
"I am Tian Shu, merely a traveler who enjoys wandering the world. At present, I'm temporarily staying with Elder Hai."
Then he turned toward Hai Bo Dong and chuckled.
"You old friends may reminisce. I won't disturb you. I'll go catch up with my own friend instead."
With that, Lin Yuan ignored the thoughts and gazes around him and slowly walked toward one of the most eye-catching areas of the VIP section.
At that moment, a contest of beauty was unfolding there around Xiao Yan, drawing jealous stares from countless young men.
Surrounded by Ya Fei, Yao Ye, and Nalan Yanran, Xiao Yan rubbed his forehead while silently reciting Xun'er's name in his heart to steady his resolve.
Suddenly, he sensed a gaze heavy enough to feel tangible settle upon him.
He looked up, passed over Liu Ling's jealous glare, and saw Lin Yuan staring at him with an amused expression.
Tian Shu? He came? Is he here to compete or...
Seeing the rival he regarded as his future greatest opponent in alchemy walking toward him, Xiao Yan's eyes narrowed.
His figure shifted subtly, instantly slipping free from the encirclement of the three beauties.
Lin Yuan raised a brow.
"This movement technique is rather impressive. It has the agility of the wind attribute. Judging by its grade, it's at least High Black-Class."
It seems that after refining the Wind and Thunder Fury Flame, Xiao Yan gained considerable benefits. He can now manipulate and utilize wind-element energy to a certain extent.
And this movement technique, which perfectly complements Xiao Yan's current state, was most likely taught to him by Yao Lao.
Thinking of this, Lin Yuan could not help casting a somewhat pitying glance toward Nalan Yanran.
From the moment Xiao Yan became Yao Lao's disciple, the outcome of the Three-Year Agreement had already been decided.
With the terrifying foundation of someone like Yao Lao, there were simply far too many ways to help Xiao Yan surpass her within three years.
In terms of cultivation methods and Dou Techniques, Yao Lao's reserves were beyond anything the Misty Cloud Sect could compare to.
As for medicinal pills, with Yao Lao's attainments in alchemy, if he wished, he could directly create or deduce new pill formulas specifically to assist Xiao Yan.
After all, even for Lin Yuan, whose alchemy was still inferior to Yao Lao's, deducing some Grade Four or even Grade Five pills was not particularly difficult.
Even if Xiao Yan had never found a Heavenly Flame, Yao Lao could still have him switch to an Earth Class cultivation method, train body-refining Dou Techniques, or cultivate secret arts that temporarily boosted strength, more than enough to defeat Nalan Yanran.
As a former peak Eighth-Grade alchemist, Yao Lao certainly lacked none of these things.
While Lin Yuan was thinking, Xiao Yan had already arrived before him.
Lin Yuan withdrew his thoughts, looked at Xiao Yan, then glanced at Ya Fei, Nalan Yanran, and Yao Yue, who were all watching from nearby. A teasing smile appeared on his lips.
"Yan Xiao, your fortune with women is truly enviable. Not only is your movement technique excellent, but your peach blossom luck is flourishing as well."
Xiao Yan rubbed his nose and gave a helpless bitter smile.
"Brother Tian Shu, please stop teasing me. Why have you come here today?"
"How could I miss such a rare occasion as the Alchemist Grand Meeting?" Lin Yuan chuckled. "Even if I'm not participating, I naturally had to come watch the excitement and take a look at your alchemy standards while I'm at it."
Xiao Yan lowered his voice.
"Brother Tian Shu, you jest. About that matter…"
"Rest assured. Everything is proceeding smoothly." Lin Yuan nodded. "If nothing unexpected happens, on the day of the Three-Year Agreement, he should not appear at Misty Cloud Sect."
"Many thanks."
Xiao Yan cupped his hands gratefully.
"No need to thank me. This is merely our transaction. I only hope we can continue such pleasant cooperation in the future."
At that moment, a clear bell rang out above the plaza, and the noisy crowd instantly fell silent.
The moment for the Grand Meeting to begin had arrived.
President Fa Ma slowly stepped onto the VIP platform and solemnly announced:
"In the name of the Jia Ma Empire Alchemist Association President, I hereby declare the Seventh Alchemist Grand Meeting, begin!"
The instant those words fell, the venue erupted in cheers.
Soon after, Liu Xi and the Little Princess made their flashy entrance, drawing even louder applause from the crowd.
Lin Yuan looked toward Xiao Yan, a playful smile once more appearing on his lips.
"Yan Xiao, I have a special gift for you."
"What?"
"Haha a truly stunning entrance."
Before his words had fully fallen, Lin Yuan flicked his sleeve. An invisible force suddenly condensed, catching the completely unprepared Xiao Yan and hurling him high above the central stone platform before casting him downward.
"Damn it, that bastard!"
Feeling his body plummeting through the air, Xiao Yan had no time to curse Lin Yuan further. He hurriedly separated a strand of wind-element energy from the Heavenly Flame within his body and gathered it beneath his feet.
He stepped upon empty air, descending gracefully like a drifting feather, instantly triggering waves of astonished cries and thunderous applause.
Lin Yuan smiled and gave Xiao Yan an approving look when the latter glanced over. Yet his eyes narrowed slightly.
As expected, the second element within this dual-attribute Heavenly Flame is no ordinary one.
Just as the Sea Heart Flame contains incredibly pure water-element energy, the Wind and Thunder Fury Flame's wind-element energy is likewise extraordinary.
Elsewhere, unlike the crowd that was cheering Xiao Yan's elegant movement technique, Fa Ma and Jia Xing Tian were staring at Lin Yuan with solemn expressions.
They understood clearly that the seemingly simple move just now was not something an ordinary person could perform.
Jia Xing Tian asked Hai Bo Dong in a low voice:
"Hai old ghost, just who exactly is that man?"
Hai Bo Dong waved a hand casually.
"A traveler roaming the continent and also my benefactor. Relax. He bears no ill will toward the Jia Ma Empire. Otherwise, he would never have appeared so openly before all of you."
"Do not try to investigate him. Do not disturb him. Simply treat him as a passing expert. That is all I can advise."
Jia Xing Tian pondered for a moment.
"A powerhouse without hostile intent? I hope so."
Meanwhile, in a deep hidden valley far from Wu Tan City, five figures cloaked entirely in black mist had quietly gathered.
The auras of Dou King experts radiated from them, chilling to the bone.
They were Soul Hall Soul Envoys.
"Envoy Xu, what should we do next?" one of them asked in a low voice.
The envoy with the coldest aura sneered darkly.
"Heh heh heh wait quietly for Protector Wu's command. This mission must not fail!"
After the competition officially began, Lin Yuan also shifted his attention into the Heavenly Vault Network, receiving streams of intelligence.
"Her Majesty the Queen has reached the designated position."
"Yun Shan has already passed the seventh node."
Lin Yuan calculated inwardly.
"At this speed, he and Protector Wu should arrive at Wu Tan City in roughly four hours."
"Hm? Several Soul Envoys are gathering in Sector Seventeen. So these are the ones meant to cooperate with Protector Wu."
A detailed map instantly surfaced in Lin Yuan's mind, and a glint of understanding flashed through his eyes.
"This gathering point the approximate battle zone should be near Sector Seven."
After a brief calculation, he began issuing commands through the Heavenly Vault Network in orderly succession.
"Qing'er, help relay the messages. I will make the following deployments."
"First, have my Clone Number Two travel through the underground tunnel excavated by your earth-attribute subordinates and quietly proceed to the underground base beneath Wu Tan City. Prepare to execute the next stage of the plan."
"Second, have your subordinates closely cooperate with my clone to ensure real-time awareness of the positions of the Xiao Clan Head and the Xiao Clan First Elder."
"Third, send word to the Queen. Have her consume the Qi-Altering Pill and move to Sector Twenty-Three."
"Fourth, strengthen surveillance from Sector Seventeen to Wu Tan City. Also intensify monitoring of Sectors Six, Seven, and Eight."
"Fifth, notify Yun Shan to closely observe Protector Wu. If there are any unusual movements, report immediately."
"Repeat those orders back to me."
"Yes, Young Master!"
Qing Lin swiftly repeated every command word for word. After confirming there were no mistakes, she immediately transmitted the orders.
As Lin Yuan's commands spread, everyone linked through the Heavenly Vault Network began to move.
Lin Yuan's clone, the one with powerful soul fluctuations, sped through a spacious underground tunnel more than a hundred meters beneath the surface, heading toward Wu Tan City.
At the Wu Tan City Lord's Mansion and the Xiao Clan compound, several snake-shaped magical beasts emerged from underground. Their snake pupils now glowed with a trace of emerald light, and their gazes had become far more intelligent.
Meanwhile, in a certain mountain valley, Queen Medusa took a medicinal pill from her storage ring and swallowed it.
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