"I never imagined the Jia Ma Empire would have grown to this scale..."
Xiao Fan stood beneath the clouds, gazing at the sprawling cities in the distance. A long-forgotten daze flickered through his eyes.
When he had left the Jia Ma Empire, this place had still been just a corner of the Northwest Continent. Though the Imperial Capital had been prosperous, it still carried the cramped air of a small border nation. Yet now, new cities stretched beyond the old walls, and beyond those lay medicinal fields, post roads, and merchant guild towers. In the distance, the Alchemist Guild's great tower pierced the clouds, flame patterns slowly revolving at its peak like a lamp that would never go out.
Time had not waited for him.
It had pushed many people far ahead.
"Master, you're back!"
A clear voice rang out behind him.
Xiao Fan turned around.
Her light-colored hair was tied up with two purple ribbons, which swayed gently with the girl's brisk steps. She ran quickly, only to force herself to stop three paces from Xiao Fan, as though she had suddenly remembered that she was no longer the little princess who could hug a Medicine Cauldron and hide behind him.
She wore the robes of the Alchemist Guild, silver Jia Ma Royal Family patterns embroidered along the hem. Eight diamond-shaped insignias glittered on her chest beneath the sunlight.
An eighth-tier high-grade alchemist.
In the Northwest Continent, those five words alone were enough to make countless factions bow and welcome her.
Yet as she stood before Xiao Fan, the light in her eyes was no different from years ago.
Passionate.
Bright.
There was a trace of unconcealed pride, along with the careful wariness of someone afraid her master might look down on her.
Xiao Fan raised his brow slightly,