Imperial Capital

The prosperous Imperial Capital was enclosed within massive city walls.

These walls displayed the Jia Ma Empire's national strength while conveying another message: the Jia Ma Empire had no Dou Zun.

Because any faction with a Dou Zun would use a Space Barrier rather than build city walls.

That said, Xiao Yan still looked around like a country bumpkin—he had spent his entire life focused on cultivation and had never even visited the Marketplace run by his own family.

"Poor planning. I should have found a guide at the Mite'er Family." Xiao Yan shook his head, bypassed the long queue, and headed straight for the soldiers guarding the gate.

"How do I get to the Alchemist Guild?"

The soldier sized Xiao Yan up. Though he was young, his clothes were worth at least several thousand Gold Coins, he wore a Storage Ring, and there seemed to be a faint Medicinal Fragrance about him. The soldier immediately put on a pleasant expression. "This... young master, please wait a moment. We have dedicated attendants for Alchemists."

So buying these clothes wasn't a waste... Xiao Yan nodded and calmly watched the long line beside him, thoroughly enjoying the feeling of being above everyone else.

Before long, a female guide with a curvaceous figure approached Xiao Yan. Presumably, female Alchemists would likewise be accompanied by muscular male guides.

This female guide clearly wanted something to happen with Xiao Yan, but after he ignored her three times, she stopped making a fool of herself and quietly acted as his guide.

"Young master, this is the Alchemist Guild. Do you still need me to accompany you?"

"No."

Amid gazes of curiosity and scrutiny, Xiao Yan pretended to be generous and tossed a Second Grade Pill to the guide.

Then, under the gazes of people thinking, "What an idiot with too much money," Xiao Yan received an enthusiastic welcome.

Xiao Yan did not hesitate. He took another Second Grade Pill from his Storage Ring and said, "I want to take the Alchemist examination."

Everyone was startled. Xiao Yan looked no older than fifteen, yet he intended to take the Alchemist examination directly.

However, Xiao Yan was lavish with his spending and acted as though Pills meant nothing to him, so no one voiced any doubts or mockery.

"My lord, you must register before taking the Alchemist examination." A female attendant struggled through the crowd and spoke to Xiao Yan.

"Mm." Xiao Yan nodded and followed her to what looked like a reception desk.

"Name?"

"Xiao Yan."

"Age?"

"Fourteen."

The attendant's pen halted. She immediately looked up at Xiao Yan in shock, and the room filled with sharp gasps before a wave of murmuring broke out.

If they had not already regarded Xiao Yan as a lavish Alchemist, they likely would have been unable to restrain themselves from hurling all sorts of mockery and ridicule at him.

The attendant swallowed with difficulty and continued in a trembling voice, "Who is your master?"

Xiao Yan frowned. After considering it for a moment, he fabricated an answer. "I am merely my teacher's registered disciple. Until I achieve a certain level of accomplishment, my teacher does not permit me to reveal his name."

"This..." The attendant was at a loss. A genius capable of taking the Alchemist examination at fourteen was not even acknowledged as a true disciple, only a registered one?

Such a matter had already surpassed the limits of her imagination.

"Then register him as the Mysterious Alchemist!"

An aged voice rang out, followed by an old man in purple robe walking up to Xiao Yan.

"Guild Master!" The attendant respectfully retreated to one side and did not speak again.

"Are you confident you can pass the Alchemist examination?" Guild Master Fa Ma stared at Xiao Yan with a scrutinizing gaze.

Fa Ma had his doubts as well, but from what he sensed, the Soul Power of the youth before him was remarkably strong.

Xiao Yan thought for a moment and decided to be modest. "Not very confident. About ninety-eight percent."

"..." ⊙_⊙

"..." ⊙ω⊙

Fa Ma repeatedly opened his mouth, stopped himself, then tried again. In the end, he said, "I will personally oversee your examination!"

"Oh."

"...Follow me."

Ninety-eight percent had naturally been an understatement. Xiao Yan took the First Grade Alchemist examination alongside a woman with blue flames. They were given the same Pill Recipe, but Xiao Yan was nearly twice as fast as the woman, who had Beast Flame aiding her, and he even refined Pill Patterns.

The woman looked thoroughly unconvinced, but Xiao Yan could not be bothered with her and continued on to apply for the Second Grade Alchemist examination.

When Xiao Yan emerged from the examination room wearing a Black Robe with a Second Grade Alchemist badge sewn onto his chest, he immediately saw the woman waiting stubbornly outside.

After thinking for a moment, Xiao Yan finally recalled that she seemed to be from the Jia Ma Imperial Family. Those blue flames were the Beast Flame of the Jia Ma Empire's Sixth Grade Magical Beast, so he decided to build a good relationship with her. "Do you want to take me as your master? I can accept you as a registered disciple."

Xiao Yan had no idea what had provoked the woman, but Fa Ma reacted first. "She already has a teacher. He is the Vice Guild Master of our Jia Ma Empire Alchemist Guild, so it would not be convenient for her to take you as her master."

At the same time, Fa Ma gave Princess Yao Yue a look, signaling her not to speak.

"Ah, what a pity." Xiao Yan shrugged and, under Fa Ma's arrangements, moved into a luxurious courtyard.

Meanwhile, within the Alchemist Guild, once people saw that Xiao Yan had not only passed the First Grade Alchemist examination but also advanced straight to Second Grade, countless spies rushed back to their respective factions to deliver this terrifying news.

"I recall that the young girl of The Nalan Family seems to have a marriage contract with a young master from the Xiao Family."

Fa Ma sat less than a meter away from Xiao Yan, deeply interested in this genius.

He could now confirm that Xiao Yan's claim of having a ninety-eight percent chance of passing the First Grade Alchemist examination had indeed been modest.

"That was me, but the marriage contract was dissolved with my consent—I don't think much of her. In the future, I will be going to Central Continent to find my teacher."

"Would it be convenient for you to reveal what level of achievement your teacher requires?" Having confirmed Xiao Yan's identity, Fa Ma continued questioning him.

"My teacher said that once I become a Seventh Grade Alchemist, I can go to Central Continent to find him. By then, my age will determine how much importance he places on me—if I am young enough, my teacher might even be willing to arrange a match for me with a heavenly beauty from a family backed by a Dou Zun." Xiao Yan continued spinning his lies.

"A young Seventh Grade Alchemist may not be unable to become Eighth Grade in the future. A Dou Zun would indeed choose to draw such a person in." Fa Ma looked calm on the surface, but inwardly he cursed, Damn it, I'm only Fifth Grade even now. I've worked for most of my life and am still trying to break through to Sixth Grade. Is it really appropriate for you to tell me this?

"What do you think of the Jia Ma Empire?" Fa Ma decided to change the subject.

"The Jia Ma Empire needs me." Xiao Yan smiled faintly. After all that rambling, it was finally time for the main course.

"Oh?" Fa Ma raised his brows slightly, somewhat surprised by that answer.