After her initial surprise, Yao Ye felt rather helpless. She turned to invite Uchiha Madara, only to discover that he had already vanished as well.
Still, she was not surprised. She knew Uchiha Madara's strength; the chances of someone that powerful deigning to accept an invitation were minuscule.
Even his appearance here, or his participation in this Alchemist Grand Meeting, might simply have been on a whim. She had merely wanted to try her luck.
After leaving the venue, Xiao Yan followed the streets back toward the inn where he was staying. The admiring looks and pointing fingers along the way gave him a headache, forcing him to quicken his pace. After turning through several streets, he finally darted into the inn and headed straight for his room.
Pushing open the door, Xiao Yan shut it behind him and leaned against it, finally letting out a long breath. Rubbing his forehead, he looked slightly weary. Though the two rounds of assessment had appeared simple, the hidden intricacies within them had taken a great deal out of him. His contest of speed with the gray-robed youth at the end had deepened his exhaustion even further. Controlling a Heavenly Flame was, to begin with, an extremely taxing and precise task.
Shaking his head, Xiao Yan walked into the room and splashed some cold water on his face, clearing his mind considerably. He then hurried into the inner room, sat cross-legged on the bed, and resisted the urge to simply collapse and sleep. With his eyes gently closed, his hands formed the cultivation seal. He took several deep breaths, striving to settle his breathing, before gradually entering a cultivation state.
His thoughts were far from calm. Apart from the Alchemist Grand Meeting, Uchiha Madara was also weighing on his mind.
First, why had