On the Road, You Make Your Own Identity

Escorting Su Luo through the Black Corner Region was not one hundred percent safe even for a Dou Wang. To hire a Dou Wang expert as an escort, the payment would likely need to be a pill on the level of a Dou Ling Pill.

But Ye Fan had left behind only one Dou Ling Pill, and Su Muyue had already taken it. As for the other pills he had left behind, first, they were nowhere near as valuable as a Dou Ling Pill; second, compared to the precious Dou Ling Pill and the Seventh-grade Pill brought from the Ye Family, they had not been stored properly because they were not considered valuable. After who knew how long, barely any medicinal efficacy remained.

Using those pills to hire a Dou Wang was not merely a question of whether that Dou Wang would be tempted. More importantly, their state of preservation would make it obvious to anyone who gave it some thought that Su Luo had found them in some ruin.

A common man was innocent, but possessing a treasure made him guilty. A Third-grade Alchemist could inspire wariness, but those at the Dou Wang level had limited regard for a Third-grade Alchemist. Even if Su Luo's potential was clearly terrifying, they would be passing through the chaotic Black Corner Region. Who could say whether the Dou Wang escorting Su Luo might develop other ideas along the way?

"Do you really have to leave for Jia Nan Academy ahead of schedule during this period?" Master Otto asked, noticing the conflict on Su Luo's face.

Su Luo nodded. "I have to go during this period. If I wait another two years before going to Jia Nan Academy, it will no longer mean much to me."

Otto and Frank exchanged a glance. After thinking for a moment, Frank spoke.

"The Black Corner Region requires an expert at the Dou Wang level as an escort to ensure a certain degree of safety. Though the two of us are Fourth-grade Alchemists, hiring a Dou Wang expert would be far too difficult, so we truly cannot help with that. However, we do know someone who might be able to assist you."

Su Luo's eyes lit up. "Masters, may I ask who this person is? If you could introduce me, I would be deeply grateful."

Otto smiled, a trace of pride appearing on his face. "Hehe, that person is none other than the president of the Alchemist Guild in our Gamma Empire. President Fama has always enjoyed helping talented Alchemists. Even Gu He, the current foremost Alchemist of the Gamma Empire, received his guidance and much assistance from Master Fama in his youth."

Su Luo nodded. The original story had indeed mentioned that Gu He had received Fama's instruction when he was young.

However, considering Fama's level as a Fifth-grade Alchemist, the things Fama had taught Gu He were most likely what he himself had learned from Medicine Elder. Fama's talent was limited, so the same knowledge could only raise him to the level of a Fifth-grade Alchemist. Gu He, however, possessed greater talent and had been force-fed to the Sixth-grade level by that same knowledge.

This also explained why the peak of ordinary Alchemists in the Jia Ma Empire and even several neighboring empires was only Fifth-grade, while Gu He, this anomaly, had reached the Sixth-grade level without instruction from a Sixth-grade Alchemist.

"Master Fama loves helping young, talented Alchemists, especially gifted Alchemists registered with the Alchemist Guild. If the two of us recommend you, then when the time comes, you can demonstrate your talent in alchemy before Master Fama. Perhaps Master Fama will step forward and hire a Dou Wang expert to escort you to Jia Nan Academy," Frank said with a smile.

Su Luo's eyes brightened. He cupped his hands toward them. "Then I must thank you both, Masters."

Otto smiled. "There is no need for that. We are recommending you so that the Alchemist Guild of Black Rock City will carry more weight in the eyes of the headquarters."

Su Luo shook his head. "No matter what, what you are doing will indeed help me. Judge deeds, not intentions. I cannot ignore your assistance simply because you have other motives. After all, I will truly benefit from your help. I may not be a good person, but I cannot accept benefits brought by others and then disregard their help merely because they had other intentions. I cannot do something like that."

After Su Luo finished speaking, the smiles on their faces grew wider. No one could refuse the chance to befriend a genius Alchemist, even if they themselves were Alchemists.

"Good, good, good. Then tell me what you need right now. I'll have someone fetch it for you. Later, you can take my personal Flying Magical Beast straight to the Imperial Capital to meet President Fama."

"Wait a moment, Frank. What do you mean, you'll send someone to fetch it? Who are you looking down on? Could my collection possibly be smaller than yours, you old fellow? Boy Su Luo, don't listen to him. Whatever you need, get it from me, Otto. When it comes to collections, I lose to no one in Black Rock City. And later, take my personal Flying Magical Beast. You have no idea how much I spent decorating the house on its back."

Hearing Otto's confident words, Frank gave a disdainful snort without sparing him any face. "Tch. What, you think only your Flying Magical Beast costs a lot? Let me tell you, in terms of luxury and flight speed, my Flying Magical Beast is far better than yours."

"Bullshit! Could you possibly have spent more on your Flying Magical Beast than I did? My Flying Magical Beast has eaten two Purple Heart Barrier-Breaking Pills alone." Otto patted his chest confidently.

"Two Purple Heart Barrier-Breaking Pills? Wait, since when could you refine Purple Heart Barrier-Breaking Pills?" Frank's expression changed upon hearing Otto mention them. He still could not refine such pills. Based on what he knew of Otto, their Alchemy Skills had always been nearly equal. Yet Otto had suddenly produced two Purple Heart Barrier-Breaking Pills. How was Frank supposed to accept that?

Otto grinned smugly, thoroughly enjoying Frank's disgruntled expression. "Hmph. So what if I can't refine them? Can't I buy them? That's why I said your Flying Magical Beast is inferior to mine."

"Otto, have you completely thrown away your dignity just to beat me?"

"Hmph. Just tell me whether I won or not."

In the end, with Frank admitting defeat, Otto, Frank, and Su Luo boarded Otto's Flying Magical Beast.

On the Flying Magical Beast, Otto looked smug, Su Luo remained expressionless, and Frank cursed under his breath, saying that this time, when he went to the Imperial Capital, he would buy two Purple Heart Barrier-Breaking Pills in advance as well.

As Otto and Frank bickered from time to time aboard the Flying Magical Beast, Su Luo began considering how to maximize the benefits of seeking out Fama.

A Low-Rank Dou Wang and a High-Rank Dou Wang would provide entirely different levels of security during Su Luo's journey through the Black Corner Region.

After thinking for a long time, Su Luo recalled a saying he had heard in his previous life—when you were away from home, you made your own identity.

The corners of Su Luo's lips rose slightly. He then took out a Bone Washing Flower, Purple Leaf Orchid Grass, and a first-tier Wood Attribute Monster Core. This time, however, he did not take out a medicine cauldron. Instead, he condensed flames directly in his palm and began attempting that special method of alchemy.