Top of the Four Wastes of the Jia Ma Empire, Jia Xing Tian

The bone-white flames also carried a chilling quality. Combined with the technique of Using Fire as a Cauldron, Fama could almost be certain that the person who had absorbed Su Luo's Dou Qi for three years was the old gentleman who had once taught him.

Only someone of that strength could keep their soul from perishing after death and manifest it in the world.

"You said that old gentleman was being pursued. Do you know who was chasing him?" Fama asked urgently.

Su Luo shook his head. "I don't know. The old gentleman never said. He said I would only be able to come into contact with that level once I became a Sixth-grade or even Seventh-grade Alchemist."

"Sixth-grade to Seventh-grade... As expected of the disciple that old gentleman wished to take." Fama sighed, then looked at Su Luo again. This time, however, he no longer regarded him as a junior, but as someone on equal footing with himself.

"Leave your trip to Jia Nan Academy to me. A little later, I'll find someone to send you there."

"Then I must thank Master Fama." Su Luo cupped his hands toward Fama. Things had gone far more smoothly than he had initially imagined.

Su Luo's original plan had been to guide Fama toward the idea that he was connected to Medicine Elder. He would not say too much himself, leaving Fama enough room to fill in the blanks.

When Fama asked whether Medicine Elder had left him any Notes, Su Luo would hand Ye Fan's Notes over to him.

Born into one of the Five Great Families of Dan Tower, the things written in those Notes were far beyond what an ordinary Sixth-grade Alchemist could ever encounter. They should be enough to fool Fama.

When the time came, he could simply say they were an early work. Combined with the antique feel of the Notes, as well as the fact that Su Luo had no reason to lie from Fama's perspective, it would be highly likely for Fama to believe that he had once helped Medicine Elder.

Moreover, only by making Fama mistakenly believe that he had helped Medicine Elder—or, rather, had been reluctantly tricked by Medicine Elder—could this man, rated as one of the Four Wastes of the Jia Ma Empire, possibly help him in earnest.

After all, in the original story, Fama believed he owed Medicine Elder a great favor. Before Medicine Elder appeared, he had little interest in helping Xiao Yan. Yet once Medicine Elder showed himself, Fama agreed without a word to fight the Misty Cloud Sect alongside him.

Of course, Su Luo had considered the possibility that the Notes might be exposed. But the problem was that he had never explicitly said that the one absorbing his Dou Qi was Medicine Elder. He had not even said that those bone-white flames were Heavenly Flames.

Would it be strange for another high-level Seventh- or Eighth-grade Alchemist to use Using Fire as a Cauldron?

For Su Luo, the best possible outcome of this conversation with Fama was for Fama to mistakenly believe he had helped Medicine Elder, making Fama think of the favor he had once received.

The worse outcome was defining himself as a gifted alchemy prodigy who had caught the eye of a high-level Alchemist and received some guidance.

The former could make Fama want to repay a favor, while the latter could make Fama feel sympathy. Either was better than mere support for an ordinary alchemy genius, so Su Luo had already considered every possible answer to Fama's questions before coming here.

But it seemed he had overprepared. Before Su Luo could say much, Fama had already pieced together a rough picture in his mind and decided to support him.

Fama waved his hand. "No need to be so polite. If I'm not mistaken, that old gentleman who accidentally absorbed your Dou Qi may be my benefactor as well. I thought I would never have the chance to repay the favor I owed before in this life, but now..."

Fama smiled and shook his head. "Stay here for the time being. I'll inform the others. Whatever medicinal ingredients you need, someone will naturally deliver them. I'll go see several old friends and ask them to escort you to Jia Nan Academy."

"Thank you, Master Fama." Su Luo gave Fama a slight bow.

"No need for that. If you encounter that old gentleman again in the future, just pass on my regards for me."

As Fama spoke, he cast aside his usual lazy demeanor. After giving a few instructions to the vice president of the Alchemist Guild, he swiftly exited its gates.

After leaving the Alchemist Guild, Fama did not hesitate in the slightest. Ignoring the fact that this was the no-fly inner city of the Imperial Capital, a pair of wings instantly spread from his back. He released his Dou Emperor cultivation without restraint, then swiftly flew toward the Jia Ma Empire's imperial palace.

Within the Gamma Empire's imperial palace, an elderly man in hemp robes sat upright in the seat of honor, while the Gamma Empire's emperor before him looked like a child facing an adult.

"What is it, Old Fama? You came straight to the palace while releasing your Dou Emperor cultivation. That doesn't seem like your usual style."

Jia Xing Tian, guardian of the Gamma Empire's royal family and an emperor from the older generation, smiled as he instructed Princess Yao Ye to serve Fama tea.

If Yun Shan, Hai Bodong—who had not appeared for many years—or Yun Yun, the Misty Cloud Sect Leader who had only recently advanced to Dou Emperor, had come this time, Jia Xing Tian would not have been so relaxed. But the visitor was not one of those battle-hungry people like Yun Shan, Hai Bodong, or Yun Yun. It was Fama, who had always considered himself an Alchemist.

Although Fama was powerful, one of the few Dou Emperors in the Gamma Empire, and also held the position of president of the Alchemist Guild, his status within the Gamma Empire was immensely prestigious.

But Jia Xing Tian knew that Fama had almost no interest in anything besides alchemy. If he had wanted to threaten the throne, he would have done so long ago. There was no need to wait until the Gamma Empire produced Pill King Gu He, causing him to lose his title as the Gamma Empire's foremost Alchemist.

Furthermore, because Fama was an Alchemist, a large portion of his cultivation had been built up through pills. Though his Dou Emperor cultivation still made him very powerful, Jia Xing Tian was absolutely confident that he could defeat him.

Fama unapologetically accepted the tea Princess Yao Ye offered him and drained it in one gulp. To many of the royal family's higher-ups, a Dou Emperor of the Jia Ma Empire was also a senior, so there was nothing improper about this gesture.

"Old Jia, didn't you keep telling me to find an Alchemist with talent comparable to Gu He's?"

Jia Xing Tian's eyes lit up as he eagerly asked, "The Alchemist Guild has produced a genius comparable to Gu He? What is his background? How old is he?"

Yao Ye's delicate body trembled slightly, but she regained her composure in an instant. As a member of the royal family, marriage alliances were practically their destiny. If one wanted to attain a higher position within the royal family without possessing terrifying cultivation talent, then marriage alliances were unavoidable.

"Don't ask about his background or age. His talent far surpasses Gu He's. He is not someone who can be confined within the Gamma Empire."

Jia Xing Tian smiled. "Heh heh, Old Fama, who can say for sure about young people? Besides, it would be good to make contact and forge a friendly connection."

After Jia Xing Tian finished speaking, Fama's gaze made him feel somewhat uneasy. "Are you sure you want to forge this friendly connection?"