Fa Ma casually smiled at the guards by the entrance, then turned to give Xiao Yan and Uchiha Madara a brief introduction before stepping into the guild.
Xiao Yan nodded and followed close behind under the astonished gazes of the guards at the entrance. Since they had begun guarding this place, they had never seen Fa Ma treat guests this way—especially guests who looked so young.
Once inside the guild, they followed Fa Ma as he swiftly passed through several vast areas. Along the way, quite a few alchemists who saw Fa Ma respectfully bowed and moved aside. Following at Fa Ma's side, Xiao Yan shamelessly enjoyed this treatment by riding on his coattails.
As for Uchiha Madara, he remained utterly indifferent. As one of the Three Gods, he had stood at the pinnacle of a world as early as the Hokage Warring States Period. He had long grown accustomed to such trivial scenes.
This reaction made Fa Ma, who had been observing him in secret, nod slightly. It confirmed his guess: this Uchiha Madara was indeed used to being respected by others.
He was likely an important figure from some faction, though Fa Ma did not know why he had come to the Jia Ma Empire.
As the three went upstairs, the alchemists in the hall immediately began whispering among themselves.
"Isn't that young man Rock Owl from today's competition?"
"It seems the president thinks very highly of him."
"Of course. He's one of the few people capable of competing with that gray-robed youth from the Izumo Empire. How could the president not value him?"
"If he wins this time, he'll probably become the youngest elder in our Jia Ma Empire Alchemist Guild, right?"
"Ah, heroes have always emerged from the young. I've muddled along in the guild my