Initially Arrogant, Later Respectful

Ao Feng naturally knew exactly what kind of person his disciple was.

When he arrived at the scene and saw Jia Wen was there too, Ao Feng naturally assumed the two had quarreled over something just like before, and that Buluo must have suffered a loss at Jia Wen's hands.

Jia Wen was a little younger than Buluo, but his Alchemy Technique had improved quickly and soon caught up with Buluo. In the previous Alchemist Competition, he had won the championship, making Buluo jealous. Buluo had always felt Jia Wen relied on the Imperial Family's resources to build himself up, and would cause trouble for him whenever he had the chance. Because of that, the two had never gotten along.

It was not that Ao Feng had never tried to persuade Buluo, only that honest advice was unpleasant to the ear, and Buluo simply would not listen.

After all, this was his only disciple. His talent was not bad, and in the future he had some hope of striving for Sixth-Rank Alchemist. As long as he did not cause any major trouble, Ao Feng let him do as he pleased and no longer said much.

This time, however, Ao Feng had misjudged the situation. Before he could speak, he heard Buluo complaining to him, and what Buluo said afterward actually piqued his interest.

Ao Feng had studied Alchemy Technique for over fifty years. In truth, he had also discovered that although many low-tier pills had slightly different Pill Formulas, their effects were the same. Naturally, he had also suspected that Pill Formulas were not set in stone. It was just that among pills above the fourth rank, he had never found any case where the Medicinal Ingredients could be replaced.

Ao Feng felt he had an idea of the situation, so he took the opportunity to scold Buluo a little. However, he also knew it probably still would not have any effect.

"If you could put all these thoughts into properly studying alchemy, the championship in the last Alchemist Competition wouldn't have been taken by Jia Wen."

When Zhao Li saw Ao Feng appear and everyone in the hall salute him, he understood that this was someone in charge. However, seeing that Jia Wen had gained some insight, he decided to add more fuel to the fire and continued guiding him. This could also be considered Jia Wen's opportunity.

Zhao Li ignored Ao Feng and continued speaking on his own.

Seeing that Zhao Li was still speaking as if no one else were there, Ao Feng felt some anger at being ignored by a young man. He only felt this young man truly had no sense of etiquette.

Ao Feng was just about to open his mouth to reprimand him when Zhao Li's words entered his ears, making him stop. His brows furrowed, and he began to think. Before long, he gained some insight, and great shock rose in his heart. The way he looked at Zhao Li now carried a trace of reverence.

"This person definitely isn't a young man. I'm afraid he's an old senior with profound Cultivation Level and a Face-Preserving Technique."

Seeing that Zhao Li had no intention of speaking to him, Ao Feng did not dare disturb him. He stood at the side and listened carefully to what Zhao Li was saying as well. Unconsciously, he glanced at Jia Wen, feeling somewhat envious.

Buluo had originally thought that now his teacher had arrived, Zhao Li would no longer dare speak wildly and boast shamelessly.

Unexpectedly, he saw his teacher being ignored. Just as he was about to curse, Ao Feng, quick of eye and hand, stopped him.

Ao Feng's heart tightened. He only felt Buluo was indeed far too willful and reckless. He secretly made up his mind that he truly ought to properly educate his disciple. He only hoped it was not too late.

Half an hour passed in the blink of an eye. Jia Wen slowly woke, then bowed to Zhao Li. "Many thanks for your guidance, Senior. Please come to my Imperial Family as a guest. I will definitely receive you well."

Only afterward did he discover that the area around him was packed with people, and confusion rose in his heart.

Ao Feng felt somewhat anxious. He had merely listened from the side just now, yet he had also gained quite a few insights. If he could receive guidance from this senior, perhaps he could soon step into the sixth rank.

Seeing Jia Wen wake and immediately try to invite Zhao Li to the Imperial Family, he also grew a little anxious. Without waiting for Zhao Li to speak, he lowered his posture and spoke first.

"Senior, our reception was lacking. Please forgive us. I am Ao Feng, vice president of the Alchemist Guild. May I ask what business brings Senior to our Alchemist Guild? We will definitely handle it."

Zhao Li nodded to Jia Wen. This young man was not bad; his guidance had not been wasted.

He then explained his purpose to Ao Feng. He had come with business to begin with, and now that the person in charge was before him, the timing was perfect.

"I heard on the street just now that you were holding an Alchemist Competition. I was somewhat interested, so I came to ask about it."

When Ao Feng heard this, he felt ashamed and said somewhat embarrassedly, "Senior must be laughing at us. That is only a small competition meant to spur on the younger generation. If you are interested, why not serve as a judge?"

Zhao Li thought for a while. Originally, he had only wanted to come and raise his alchemist rank, then enter the competition, win the championship, and come into contact with people from the major powers. He had not expected this accident, but it was not bad either. It could achieve the same goal, so he immediately agreed.

Once the matter was settled, Ao Feng told Zhao Li all the details of the competition, then had someone prepare a separate courtyard for him.

Seeing that Zhao Li was preparing to leave, Buluo carefully apologized to Zhao Li, afraid that if Zhao Li became unhappy, he would be finished.

An existence even his teacher had to treat respectfully was someone he had absolutely no temper before.

Seeing this initially arrogant, later respectful manner, Zhao Li found it somewhat amusing. He shook his head and casually dismissed Buluo.

Walking out of the Alchemist Guild, he discovered that the street was packed with pedestrians, all of them looking toward the Alchemist Guild.

Zhao Li understood. What had happened just now had probably already spread. Perhaps it would not be long before he received invitations from the various major powers. This was the treatment of the strong.

His experiences over the past two years had made Zhao Li realize that his original ideas were ultimately unrealistic. In a cultivation world, classes existed from birth and could not be changed. However, if he could give the common people a chance to rise upward and change the general atmosphere a little, that would already be enough.

Fortunately, there was still time, so Zhao Li was not in a hurry. Zhao Li looked at the crowded street, then walked toward the courtyard prepared for him by the Alchemist Guild.

"Buluo, your willful temperament truly needs to be properly tempered. This time, you will first face the wall and reflect for three months."

Inside the vice president's private office in the Alchemist Guild, Ao Feng spoke earnestly to Buluo for a long time. Seeing that Buluo looked somewhat heavy-hearted, he did not soften and confined him for a period of time.

Buluo did not take it seriously in his heart. He only felt that his luck had been poor, but he could not possibly run into an untouchable existence like Zhao Li every time. Out loud, however, he agreed readily.

"As you command. This disciple knows his mistake. I will definitely correct it in the future."

Seeing this, Ao Feng felt helpless and could only leave it at that. He left on his own, preparing to visit Zhao Li in the hope of receiving guidance from the senior.

"Royal brother, we must seize this opportunity. Perhaps it can let us go a step further and truly become the ones in charge of the Jia Ma Empire."

Jia Wen hurried back to the Imperial Palace, reported the matter of Zhao Li clearly to Jia Wu, and explained his thoughts as well.

"Brother Wen, let's go speak with Father Emperor. It would be better to have him come forward."

After a brief moment of thought, Jia Wu felt it was still better to have their father come forward.

In order to focus on cultivation and break through to Dou Emperor, Father Emperor had passed down the throne early. However, Jia Wen had devoted himself wholeheartedly to studying Alchemy Technique and had little interest in the throne, so it had instead been passed to Jia Wu.

Although he had inherited the throne early, he was still ultimately a young man.

The two exchanged a glance, reached a tacit agreement, and left together.

Things like what had happened with the two Imperial Family members were playing out in the Misty Cloud Sect, the Xiao Family, the Mitel Family, the Nalan Family, and the Mu Family as well.

Zhao Li naturally knew nothing of these matters. Even if he had, he would not have cared. He was only taking a look, and in the end, he was going to leave.

The next morning, the sun climbed over the mountaintop, staining the horizon with a layer of red clouds.

At Zhao Li's current realm, even if he did not deliberately cultivate, his Cultivation Method circulated on its own, so his progress was not much slower. Yet the habit he had formed over decades, day after day, still made him cultivate daily.

When Zhao Li finished cultivating and stepped out of his room, a servant presented him with the Calling Cards received the previous night.

Zhao Li took them and looked them over. As expected, they were from the few factions in the Jia Ma Empire whose words carried some weight.

When he saw the Xiao Family's Calling Card, Zhao Li's heart stirred. If he took away the Tou She Ancient God Jade passed down through the Xiao Family early on, he wondered how things would develop later.

Suppressing the thought, Zhao Li chuckled. Having one piece of the Tou She Ancient God Jade was the same as having seven. If the Xiao Clan's jade was taken away, the Seven Ancient Clans probably would not remain peaceful, would they?