Liu Qing: Let Me Give Elder Huo a Push
In his left hand, Liu Qing held the Third-Grade Spirit Artifact spear that he had cherished just hours before, while in his right hand he tightly gripped his newly acquired treasure—
A Fifth Grade spear, its entire body a dark gold, its tip gleaming with a sharp edge, exuding an aura of invincibility.
Feeling the greater power and nascent consciousness within the new gun, Liu Qing raised his head, his gaze fixed intently on Huo Yuhao. He offered no words of thanks, but instead solemnly declared, "Rest assured, Liu Qing will not fail in his duty to the Artifact Alliance!"
Huo Yuhao was slightly taken aback, somewhat puzzled. The Artifact Alliance was merely a student club, a place for everyone to exchange weapon-forging experiences. Was there some important task that needed to be "entrusted" to him?
As for giving away Spirit Artifact, he simply felt that it would be a waste to keep these weapons, which had given birth to weapon spirits, and use them as disposable throwing knives. It would be better to give them to his friends.
Huo Yuhao felt bad about only giving Liu Qing Lin Xiuya the others a third-grade experimental Spirit Artifact, so he also helped Liu Qing refine one.
Huo Yuhao glanced at the setting sun on the horizon, gathered up the scattered materials, and said to the four of them, "That's enough for today. I have other matters to attend to, so I'll take my leave first."
After saying that, his figure flickered and disappeared from the spot.
The remaining four, including Lin Xiuya, each held a Fifth Grade Spirit Artifact that shimmered with light and exuded spiritual energy.
They felt the power and will contained within it, as if they were in a dream.
Only after Huo Yuhao's presence had completely disappeared did Liu Qing withdraw his gaze, turn to the other three, and say in a steady and powerful voice, "Let's return to the Artifact Alliance's headquarters; there are some things to discuss."
Yan Hao was still immersed in the joy of obtaining the new Spirit Artifact, and asked in confusion, "What are you discussing? Old Huo has already left, are you going back to celebrate?"
Liu Qing's gaze swept over the Fifth Grade spear in his hand, then turned to the direction where Huo Yuhao had disappeared into the distance, his eyes flashing with unwavering determination. "Since Elder Huo is determined to spread the Dao of Spirit Artifact throughout the entire Battle Qi Continent! As the core of the Artifact Alliance, how can we stand idly by? We must do everything in our power to assist Elder Huo in accomplishing this great undertaking! I already have a preliminary plan—"
Headquarters of the Alchemist Guild, capital city of the Jia Ma Empire.
The air was filled with the strange aroma of various medicinal herbs and the chatter of young alchemists.
Xiao Yan changed into a brand-new alchemist's robe and was standing in line in a long, winding queue.
"Alchemist Guild Office—this name is just so incongruous!" Xiao Yan sighed, rubbing his forehead.
--
During the preparations for Yun Yun's wedding, many necessary arrangements were made with the help of Mittel Auction House.
In return, at Ying Ya Fei's request, Xiao Yan signed up for this year's Jia Ma Empire Alchemist Convention, thus helping the Mittel Auction House to suffer a crushing defeat.
"Aren't alchemists supposed to be rare and highly respected? Why are there so many people here?" Xiao Yi Xian asked, a hint of surprise on her usually aloof face as she stood in line behind Xiao Yan.
She also signed up for the competition. With the help of the Spirit Condensation Formula, her mental power was now sufficient to precisely control the flames, allowing her to refine pills independently without the aid of Huo Yuhao's Soul Tool cauldron.
Yao Chen's voice echoed in Xiao Yan and Xiao Yi Xian's minds, "Throughout the entire Jia Ma Empire, almost all alchemists under the age of thirty who are qualified and willing to participate have flocked to the capital. Add to that some who are just there to make up the numbers, and it naturally becomes a sea of people."
Xiao Yan asked in his heart, "Master, you participated in a similar competition back then, right? What was the process like?"
Yao Chen's answer was crisp and decisive, "I don't know."
Xiao Yan: "Huh?"
Finally, the long queue came to an end. Xiao Yan and Xiao Yi Xian followed the flow of people into the spacious office. As soon as they entered, they saw an unexpected figure.
The man, dressed in Sixth Grade alchemist's robe, possessed a refined and scholarly air; he was none other than Pill King Gu He!
"Senior Gu He," Xiao Yi Xian spoke first, nodding slightly in greeting.
Gu He looked up and nodded to Xiao Yi Xian in response.
Then, his sharp gaze fixed firmly on Xiao Yan.
This was the first time the two had officially met since the marriage proposal that shook the Misty Cloud Sect.
Xiao Yan's feelings instantly became incredibly complicated. He forced himself to step forward and asked, "Gu He —Big Brother! You—how did you get here?"
Gu He's expression was unusually calm, as if he were facing just an ordinary contestant. He spoke indifferently, his voice revealing neither joy nor anger. "I am also an elder of the Alchemist Guild, why can't I be here?" He pointed to the register on the table. "Name, Alchemist Rank, Recommending Unit."
"Haha! So that's how it is—" Xiao Yan laughed awkwardly and quickly went forward with Xiao Yi Xian to fill in the information.
Just as the two finished filling out the forms and were about to leave, Gu He's calm voice rang out again. "Supplementary notice: In addition to the original rewards, the champion of this year's Alchemist Tournament will also receive an extra opportunity to be personally instructed in alchemy by me once."
Xiao Yan abruptly stopped in his tracks!
He slowly turned around and looked at Gu He. Gu He was also looking at him, and in those deep eyes, there was no longer any resentment or anger, only a pure fighting spirit belonging to alchemists!
Xiao Yan understood that look. He took a deep breath, all the embarrassment and complexity on his face vanishing, replaced by a high-spirited fighting spirit and a confident smile, "Brother Gu He, then let's have a good match!"
Leaving the Alchemist Guild, the hustle and bustle was shut out behind him. Xiao Yan had just breathed a sigh of relief when Yao Chen's soul body suddenly floated out of the Bone Flame Ring.
But at this moment, Yao Chen's appearance had completely changed! He conjured up an extremely flamboyant theatrical actor's costume from nowhere, and his face was covered with two exaggerated patches of blush.
Suddenly, he spread his arms wide, facing the sky, and shouted in an extremely dramatic tone, "Ah~~! Love! You are a heart-piercing poison! You have driven brothers who were once like sworn brothers to the arena for a life-or-death duel! Heavens! Why is your heart as cold as iron!"
This sudden performance left Xiao Yan completely dumbfounded. "Strange old man! What's wrong with you?! What life-or-death duel?"
"We're just competing in alchemy!"
Yao Chen instantly dropped his theatrical tone, reverting to his normal demeanor, and chuckled, "Just kidding, Xiao Yan. But judging from your confident look, do you think the championship is a sure thing for you?"
Xiao Yan crossed his arms, looking completely matter-of-fact. "Those so-called seeded players, according to the intelligence, are at most third-grade alchemists. With my current strength, what is there to worry about?"
"Oh? Is that so?" Yao Chen's smile turned mischievous. "There are competitors—you do have some!"
Xiao Yan was skeptical. "Who? Could there be a contestant who can refine pills of grade four or higher?"
Xiao Yi Xian smiled slightly, "Me!"
Xiao Yan: "Huh?"
Yao Chen laughed heartily, "Since Xiao Yan is so confident, then I'll focus on taking Xiao Yi Xian to special training these next two days! Xiao Yan, you'd better prepare yourself well!"
Before she could finish speaking, the Bone Flame Ring flew out with a "whoosh" and landed in Xiao Yi Xian's hand.
"Huh? Wait! Master!!" Xiao Yan stretched out his hand, watching helplessly as Yao Chen's soul, accompanied by a sly smile from Xiao Yi Xian, disappeared into the street not far away, leaving him alone, bewildered in the wind.