Arriving in Jia Ma

After more than an hour of flying, Xiao Ling and the others drew ever closer to their destination. According to the map, they would soon reach the border of the Jia Ma Empire...

Time passed amid the tedious flight. When they crossed another majestic mountain along the endless journey, the faint outline of a massive fortress suddenly appeared at the edge of their vision.

Built against the mountain, the fortress was like a fierce tiger guarding the main passage leading out of the empire. Anyone wishing to leave the empire had to pass through this enormous stronghold. Over the years, this heavily defended fortress had devoured countless souls from the battlefield, making many surrounding empires fear it as though it were a tiger.

Thus, this fortress bore a particularly ominous name.

Zhen Gui Pass!

Under Xiao Ling's gaze, the outline of a massive fortress came into view. Even from such a great distance, it radiated an air of Malevolent Qi. Clearly, many wars had taken place here, and no one knew how many people had lost their lives upon this ground.

As they gradually approached the massive fortress, the soldiers atop it noticed the Griffin.

Although they were at least several hundred meters above the ground, and the soldiers below could only see the silhouette of a flying beast rather than Xiao Ling and Zi Yan standing atop it, Xiao Ling's eyesight allowed him to clearly take in every movement on the ground.

The soldiers had already formed up in battle formation, seemingly ready to draw their bows and shoot the flying beast from the sky the moment it came closer.

Inside the commander's office of Zhen Gui Pass Fortress, a middle-aged man was handling some work. This man was Mu Tie, the commander of Zhen Gui Pass. He came from the Mu Family, one of the Jia Ma Empire's three great families, and his strength had reached the peak of the Dou Spirit realm.

Suddenly, an armored soldier entered. He first gave a military salute, then reported, "Commander, a Fourth Stage Flying Magical Beast has appeared in the sky. It looks like a Griffin from Jia Nan Academy Enrollment."

Hearing the soldier's report, Mu Tie frowned and asked in confusion, "Jia Nan Academy Enrollment is still more than half a year away. Why have they come now? Let's go out and take a look first." With that, he rose from his seat and headed outside.

By the time Mu Tie reached the fortress walls with the soldiers, the Griffin in the sky had already stopped and was hovering in midair.

Two figures stepped onto the Griffin's head. The one in front was a youth who appeared to be around fifteen or sixteen. His blue hair draped over his shoulders, and his handsome features, fair yet masculine complexion, and tall, straight figure gave him an approachable aura. Following behind him was a little girl who looked no more than eleven or twelve. She wore a white dress, and her silky purple hair was tied into twin ponytails, making her look exceptionally adorable.

Under the shocked gazes of Mu Tie and the soldiers, a pair of Dou Qi Wings unfurled behind both the youth and the little girl, and they slowly flew toward the fortress.

At the sight, the soldiers on the fortress walls all drew in sharp breaths and cried out in alarm.

"A Dou Wang expert!"

"Two Dou Wang experts have appeared at once. What exactly is going on?"

"That little girl is actually a Dou Wang expert too? How is that possible?"

Even Mu Tie, the strongest person here, was deeply shocked. He muttered to himself, "Such young Dou Wang experts... What faction could have raised such monstrous talents? And what are they doing in the Jia Ma Empire?"

After Xiao Ling and Zi Yan flew down from the Griffin, it flew back in the direction it had come from. Seeing this, Mu Tie confirmed that the two had indeed come to the Jia Ma Empire, though he had no idea whether it was a blessing or a disaster. He hurried forward and asked, "I am Mu Tie, chief commander of Zhen Gui Pass. What brings you two here? Are you visiting the Jia Ma Empire?"

Since the other party had introduced himself and asked about his purpose, Xiao Ling did not beat around the bush. He said, "I am Xiao Ling, an elder of Jia Nan Academy from the Black Corner Region, as well as a member of the Xiao Family from Wutan City in the Jia Ma Empire. The one behind me is my companion. Rest assured, I bear no ill will toward you or the Jia Ma Empire."

Upon hearing the name "Xiao Ling," Mu Tie thought for a moment. A name that had spread throughout the Imperial Capital several years ago surfaced in his mind: "Xiao Ling, the greatest genius the Jia Ma Empire had seen in a thousand years." According to information gathered by the major factions, he had begun cultivating Dou Qi at four and a half, broken through to Dou Zhe at eight, then gone to Jia Nan Academy for further study, with no news of him afterward. At the time, every major faction and family in the Jia Ma Empire had wanted to invite Xiao Ling to join them, yet they had been unable to find any trace of him. According to his family patriarch, even the Royal Family's guardian had wanted to betroth the Royal Family's Little Princess to him in order to draw him into the Royal Family. Once he grew up, they would no longer need to worry that, after the guardian passed away, no one would be able to suppress the steadily rising Misty Cloud Sect. Yet no one had expected that after merely seven short years, the little Dou Zhe of the past had become a Dou Wang expert. Such talent truly lived up to the title of "the greatest genius the Jia Ma Empire had seen in a thousand years."

Putting those thoughts aside, Mu Tie hurried forward and said with a smile, "Hahaha, so you are the famed genius Xiao Ling of the Jia Ma Empire. I have long admired your name. Now that I see you in person, you truly are an outstanding young talent. You have already become a Dou Wang expert at such a young age, far surpassing this old man, who has cultivated for most of his life."

The two had already landed atop the city wall. Xiao Ling waved his hand and said, "I will not waste time on pleasantries. I need to find someone first. Help me deliver a letter to the Xiao Family in Wutan City. Then have the Royal Family escort my family to the Imperial Capital and arrange a place there for the Xiao Family to live. Once this is done, if the Royal Family can gather the ingredients for three Sect Breaking Pills, I can help Jia Xingtian refine one Sect Breaking Pill. If you handle this matter well, I believe the Royal Family will credit you for this service." After speaking, Xiao Ling took an alchemist badge from his Storage Ring.

As a Sixth-grade Alchemist certified by Jia Nan Academy, Xiao Ling naturally had his own alchemist badge.

However, Xiao Ling usually did not flaunt himself before others. He was rather low-key and rarely wore it.

Due to the Alchemist Tower's immense influence, alchemist badges across the Dou Qi Continent differed somewhat in appearance, but the distinction lay mainly in their colors. In the Northwest Continent, they featured a medicine cauldron with silver ripples.

The number of silver ripples atop the medicine cauldron represented the alchemist's grade.

The alchemist badge Xiao Ling had just taken out of his Storage Ring bore six ripples on its cauldron, flowing like water and seeming quite spiritual.

Such alchemist badges were extremely difficult to forge, and anyone capable of forging one would not bother doing so.

Forging a badge was not only disgraceful, but once exposed, it could easily offend alchemists. On the Dou Qi Continent, alchemists were an exceptionally proud group.

After hearing Xiao Ling's words, Mu Tie turned his gaze toward the alchemist badge in Xiao Ling's hand and began counting the ripples on it.

"One, two, three, four, five, six... He really is a Sixth-grade Alchemist."

Mu Tie was thoroughly startled. It was one thing for Xiao Ling's cultivation talent to be monstrous, but his Alchemy was no less astounding. Over all these years, the Jia Ma Empire had only possessed one Sixth-grade Alchemist: Master Gu He, the Guest Elder of the Misty Cloud Sect. Yet from Xiao Ling's tone, he was a Sixth-grade Alchemist capable of refining Sect Breaking Pills. Master Gu He could not even refine Imperial Extreme Pills, while Xiao Ling could refine Sect Breaking Pills, which were even more difficult. Did that not mean Xiao Ling's Alchemy was unmatched in the Jia Ma Empire? He had spent only seven years surpassing Master Gu He's half-lifetime of effort. Tsk... this talent was truly terrifying.

Releasing a faint trace of the Golden Emperor Burning Heaven Flame's heat, Xiao Ling waved his hand and said, "I was merely fortunate enough to obtain a Heavenly Flame. That is why my Alchemy improved so quickly."

Xiao Ling had spread the news of his Heavenly Flame because he wanted the Nalan Family to come to him and ask him to remove Nalan Jie's Branding Poison, allowing him to obtain that Seven Illusory Azure Spirit Saliva. Xiao Ling had no intention of eagerly going to their doorstep to offer his help. Besides, no one in the Jia Ma Empire could snatch the Heavenly Flame from him. Even if that creepy fellow wanted to capture him, with Rayquaza's speed, leaving would still be effortless.

Feeling that heart-palpitating, terrifying temperature, Mu Tie was shocked once more. He was actually an alchemist who possessed a Heavenly Flame. Master Gu He had searched for most of his life without finding even a clue about Heavenly Flames, yet this man possessed one at such a young age. Such luck was truly impossible to envy.

Mu Tie immediately cupped his hands and said in a more respectful tone than before, "I was somewhat discourteous earlier. I never expected Master Xiao Ling to be a Sixth-grade Alchemist. Please accept my apologies."

Xiao Ling waved his hand, put away the alchemist badge in his Storage Ring, took out a letter, and handed it to Mu Tie. He added, "There is no need for this. If you handle this matter properly, then when you need a Dou Spirit Pill to break through to the Dou Wang realm in the future, so long as you prepare the medicinal ingredients, I can refine one for you when I have time."

Upon hearing this, Mu Tie was delighted. He was currently only one step away from becoming a Dou Wang expert, and he would certainly need a Dou Spirit Pill after his breakthrough. Perhaps he might even earn himself a place among the Jia Ma Empire's Ten Great Experts. He would have to begin gathering several sets of ingredients for Dou Spirit Pills.

Taking the letter, Mu Tie said solemnly, "Mu Tie will certainly not fail your trust. Master Xiao Ling, please go and find the person you seek without concern."

Xiao Ling nodded, then took Zi Yan's hand and began flying toward the Tagor Desert. Before long, they disappeared from Mu Tie's sight.

After the two had departed, Mu Tie immediately handed the letter to one of his personal guards and ordered him to deliver it to the Xiao Family in Wutan City. He himself hurried to report the matter to the Royal Family.

Flying through the sky, Xiao Ling could not help looking forward to meeting the Ice Emperor, Hai Bodong. Back when he had read novels in his previous life, Xiao Ling had quite liked Hai Bodong as a character. Now that he was about to meet the man himself, it truly was a strange feeling.