Arriving at the Imperial Capital, Qing Lin's Little Thoughts

Misty Cloud Sect.

With the Alchemist Competition about to begin, the Misty Cloud Sect had grown livelier as well.

Members of the Alchemist Guild and the Gama Royal Family had come to visit in person.

"President Fa Ma, Elder Jia, what brings you two here personally?"

Yun Yun hurried out to greet them, her face full of smiles.

It was rare for Fa Ma and Jia Xing Tian to visit the Misty Cloud Sect together.

"Sect Master Yun, seeing you these days is truly difficult," Jia Xing Tian said with a chuckle.

"Elder Jia, you jest. There was a small matter in the sect that I had to handle just now. My apologies."

Although Yun Yun was the Sect Master of the Misty Cloud Sect,

in terms of status and seniority, both Jia Xing Tian and Fa Ma were a generation above her.

"Hahaha, I was only joking. Let's get down to business," Jia Xing Tian said. He was not the petty sort and had merely teased her casually.

Fa Ma, standing beside him, said, "Sect Master Yun Yun, I have come this time to invite you to serve as a judge for this Alchemist Competition."

Hearing this, Yun Yun's brows lifted slightly in surprise.

"If I remember correctly, every previous Alchemist Competition was jointly organized by the Alchemist Guild and the Gama Royal Family. The Misty Cloud Sect has never been invited to serve as judges."

Yun Yun was not being sarcastic. She was simply stating the truth.

The Alchemist Competition was a grand event for alchemists, so naturally it was hosted by the Alchemist Guild.

And since this was the Alchemist Competition of the Jia Ma Empire, adding the Gama Royal Family was enough.

For forces like the Misty Cloud Sect, the Nalan Family, and the Mitel Family, at most they attended as guests. They had never been invited to serve as judges.

After all, the Alchemist Guild was itself an independent force.

Jia Xing Tian explained, "This year is rather special. Sect Master Yun knows about the situation with the Snake-People Race."

"I want to use this Alchemist Competition as an opportunity to coordinate with the major families and factions, so that we can more easily take action against the Snake-People Race afterward."

"At the same time, it is also to guard against the possibility that the Snake-People Race may seize the chance to make a move."

He did not try to hide it.

This Alchemist Competition happened to take place not long after Medusa's evolution.

The Jia Ma Empire was still on the highest level of alert.

But the date of the Alchemist Competition had already been set and could not be changed casually.

"The Snake-People Race? I understand. I agree to attend this Alchemist Competition as a judge."

Yun Yun agreed.

Mitel Auction House.

"Be careful, all of you! If you damage any of these medicinal ingredients, even all your wages combined won't be enough to compensate for them!"

Mittel Teng Shan personally supervised the transportation of the medicinal ingredients.

The Auction House staff were carrying out crate after crate of medicinal ingredients.

"Great Elder, why is the Alchemist Guild letting us provide medicinal ingredients this time?" Ya Fei asked, standing beside him in confusion.

The Alchemist Competition was a contest hosted by the Alchemist Guild.

Logically, they should have prepared everything themselves.

And it was impossible for the Alchemist Guild to lack medicinal ingredients.

Yet this time, they had agreed to let the Mitel Family provide part of the ingredients. This was unprecedented.

"Elder Jia coordinated it behind the scenes. He intends to draw the major families and factions closer together to deal with the Snake-People Race," Mittel Teng Shan revealed the truth in a single sentence.

"The Snake-People Race? I heard Queen Medusa successfully evolved some time ago. No wonder Elder Jia is so nervous."

The major forces of the Jia Ma Empire all resided in the Gama Holy Capital. Though they appeared harmonious on the surface, undercurrents surged beneath it, and everyone had their own calculations.

There was no absolute harmony among the various factions.

Only the Misty Cloud Sect and the Nalan Family had a relatively good relationship. The rest were merely ordinary.

But Queen Medusa's successful evolution had brought a new threat to the Jia Ma Empire.

The Gama Royal Family had no choice but to begin mobilizing the major factions and have them coordinate in advance.

Sometimes, Ya Fei truly admired Queen Medusa.

As a woman herself, Queen Medusa alone could stir the entire Jia Ma Empire into turmoil.

Ya Fei also hoped that one day, she could become a woman like that...

Night had just fallen.

The streets of the Gama Holy Capital were brightly lit.

With the Alchemist Competition approaching, many people arrived from all directions each day.

Many of them were visiting for the first time and wanted to take in the sights.

Even at night, the city remained as lively as ever.

At the entrance to the street,

a man and a woman entered the bustling, prosperous city.

"Is this the Gama Holy Capital?"

As she looked at the brightly lit streets before her, Qing Lin's eyes sparkled brightly.

She had imagined the Gama Holy Capital countless times.

Yet none of those imaginings could compare to the shock and emotion of seeing it with her own eyes at this moment.

Ning Su was much calmer.

Although it was also his first time in the Gama Holy Capital,

he had lived in the Snake-People Royal City, after all.

The Snake-People Royal City was no worse than the Gama Holy Capital.

"The Gama Royal Family, the Misty Cloud Sect, the Alchemist Guild, the Nalan Family..."

Ning Su quietly murmured each name.

Because from here on, he would inevitably have dealings with these forces.

"Qing Lin, let's find an inn first."

"Mhm."

The girl followed closely behind Ning Su.

Quite a few people around them turned their gazes toward her, and she instinctively shrank away a little.

Back in Stone Desert City, people had often looked at her like that.

But these gazes were different from those in Stone Desert City.

There was no oddness, no mockery, no disgust.

There was only amazement—amazement at the girl's beauty.

Qing Lin was no longer the maid dressed in coarse linen, doing dirty and exhausting work every day.

She was now a girl dressed in fine silk, with bright eyes and pearly teeth. Like a young lady newly emerged from her chambers, she deeply drew everyone's attention.

A warm hand took hold of her little hand.

"Qing Lin, no one here will look down on you, and no one will know your identity."

"So don't worry. You can hold your head high and take in the scenery around you to your heart's content."

Ning Su's gentle voice warmed Qing Lin's heart.

She slowly raised her head and looked around.

That's right!

At last, no one was looking at her with strange eyes.

She could hold her head high and look upon this dazzling, bustling city.

So she, too, was qualified to see such a beautiful world!

And all of this had been brought to her by the young man before her.

Qing Lin could not help secretly tightening her grip on Ning Su's hand, unwilling to let go...

"Boss, two rooms."

"My apologies, young master, but our rooms are currently being rationed. You two can only book one double room," the innkeeper said.

"Being rationed?"

Ning Su was somewhat dumbfounded.

Did all the inns in the Gama Holy Capital operate like this??

Was he really just a country bumpkin entering the city??

"Because the Alchemist Competition is about to begin, many people have come to the Gama Holy Capital recently. To ensure that visitors from elsewhere also have somewhere to stay, all inn rooms are being rationed," the innkeeper patiently explained.

They had made it sound rather convincing!

"Fine, one room it is."

Before long, the innkeeper completed the arrangements and had someone lead them upstairs.

Qing Lin trailed at the back, her heartbeat unable to stop accelerating.

Only one room... did that mean she would be sleeping with Ning Su tonight??