Is That Venerable Yao You Speak Of?

Tang Zhen treated us alchemists with considerable courtesy. For instance, the three people behind me, Zi Yan included, were not stopped outside the hall but allowed to enter with me.

However, the three of them had no seats and could only stand behind me. This immediately drew Qiu Yin's criticism. "Such a tiny Burning Flame Valley actually dares make Her Highness stand? They truly know no better. Once we return to Dragon Island, I'll report this to the elders and dispatch troops—"

"Shut up!"

Zi Yan and I barked at the same time.

Qiu Yin froze. He looked at me, then at Zi Yan, shrank his neck, and did not dare say another word. Qiu Si covered her face, utterly helpless toward this brother of hers.

"Nalan Ye?"

Among the nearly twenty alchemists in the hall, some knew one another. After whispering among themselves, they all turned their gazes toward me, their expressions filled with puzzlement.

Burning Flame Valley controlled a vast territory. Most of these alchemists made their living within its sphere of influence and were quite familiar with the alchemists in this region.

Even farther out, they had heard of many renowned alchemists from the Central State Central Region. Yet the name "Nalan Ye" was equally unfamiliar to all of them.

An elderly man seated nearby turned his head toward me, his gaze carrying a trace of condescension. "Young man, where are you from? Who did you study under? Perhaps this old man even knows your teacher."

An old guy throwing his seniority around!

I curled my lip. "I'm afraid saying it would scare you."

"Heh, brat, aren't you afraid of biting your tongue from boasting so much?!"

The old man had exceptionally thin lips, and his words were anything but polite. His tone was openly mocking, all