Xiao Cha nodded and left the Alchemist Association. Watching his retreating figure, Frank and Otto were both filled with emotion.
"Truly impressive, at his age..."
"More than that, I'm worried about the Alchemist Tournament. He's already a peak fourth-tier Alchemist. Who knows how far he'll grow in another year or so? When the time comes, if we rely on Xiao Yan alone, we probably won't stand a chance."
"What can we do about it? The Imperial Family's little princess, the Pill King's personal disciple, that boy Xiao Yan, and now Xiao Cha as well. It looks like... this tournament will be an age of geniuses springing up everywhere."
After leaving the Alchemist Association, Xiao Cha headed straight to the city's Flying Post Station. The Thick-Winged Birds here could fly directly to every city in the empire, making them far more convenient than traveling on his own.
After displaying his Alchemist Badge, Xiao Cha easily skipped the queue and boarded a Thick-Winged Bird. Thanks to the special privileges granted to Alchemists, he even had a private compartment all to himself.
Finding a comfortable spot to lie down, Xiao Cha began studying the pill formula in his hands. With the Little Green Bottle, medicinal ingredients were no problem at all. Once he memorized the formula, he would have plenty of opportunities for trial and error.
The Foundation Establishment Pill has been doing less and less for me lately. In theory, a pill like this should still be useful all the way up to Da Dou Shi. Have I developed a resistance to it?
With that thought, Xiao Cha took out another Foundation Establishment Pill, put it in his mouth, and began refining it. He was no longer like he had been in the beginning, when he had to exercise extreme caution just to refine a single pill. Now he ate them like candy.
Half a day later, Xiao Cha stopped circulating his energy, a glimmer of understanding flashing through his eyes.
The effects wore off even sooner this time, and it provided much less Dou Qi, too. It looks like the Foundation Establishment Pill will become completely useless once I reach Six-Star Dou Shi, at the latest.
Ugh, I never thought I'd one day have the same troubles as Han Li. The Three-Pattern Green Spirit Pill and Purple Heart Barrier-Breaking Pill work well, but there's a limit to how many I can take. Any more than that will be useless.
Looks like I need to find a way to break through to Dou Emperor as soon as possible. Only then can I enter the Void Sky Hall and get the pill formulas inside.
The Thick-Winged Bird flew swiftly, and Xiao Cha arrived in Stone Desert City within a few days. Unlike the empire's interior, yellow sand filled the skies here, and every building was made of stone bricks and rammed earth.
Everyone on the streets, young or old, male or female, dressed in extremely revealing clothes. Most of the men wore only shorts, their bronze skin gleaming in the sunlight. Most of the women wore light, scant clothing as well, baring their forearms and thighs, their entire bodies radiating a wild beauty.
He had his reasons for not heading straight to Desert City. Xiao Yan was currently busy in Black Rock City and would not be able to come over anytime soon.
There was no need to rush. If he remembered correctly, Queen Medusa had not acquired the Heavenly Flames all that early in the original story. Perhaps he could uncover something ahead of time.
After admiring the scenery, Xiao Cha decided to wander around.
Although I've sped up the original plot considerably, Hai Bodong has been in Desert City for a long time. There shouldn't be any unexpected changes there.
As he thought, Xiao Cha approached a stall and tossed over a gold coin.
"Boss, wrap up two steamed buns for me."
Seeing that Xiao Cha was an unfamiliar face, the stall owner asked no questions. He merely smiled, wrapped up two steamed buns, and handed them over.
"Here you are, sir. My steamed buns are one of Stone Desert City's finest specialties. Come back if you like them."
Xiao Cha accepted the buns, feeling a little amused. How many people in a place like Stone Desert City would eat steamed buns at midday? In weather this hot, were they trying to turn into spirits?
Only someone from the empire's interior, like him, would occasionally buy them. Xiao Cha suspected the owner had been standing here for half the day, and these buns were leftovers from the morning.
He had barely taken two steps with the buns when, out of the corner of his eye, Xiao Cha spotted a filthy little girl at the mouth of an alley, staring at him with shining eyes.
The little girl was thin and frail, her face covered in dust and sand. Her dirty, tangled hair clung together and hung down at her sides. Mud covered her delicate face, leaving only a pair of emerald-green eyes visible, timid and full of fear.
When she saw Xiao Cha look over, the little girl startled, hurriedly lowered her head, and shrank farther into the alley.
The sight of her reminded Xiao Cha of his former self. If Nalan Yanran had not spotted him back then, he might have starved to death in that little grove long ago.
When he had first transmigrated, he had not had a scrap of clothing on him. Never mind finding food-he had barely survived that first night. If Nalan Yanran had not spotted him while out on an excursion and taken him home out of pity, the Han Chen of today might never have existed.
At that thought, Xiao Cha was overcome with emotion. Seven or eight years had passed in the blink of an eye. He put away the buns and walked toward the little girl.
When the little girl saw Xiao Cha approaching, her eyes filled with terror. She kept backing away in fear, then fell to the ground in her panic and clutched her head tightly with both hands.
Her clear voice was filled with misery and pleading, punctuated by faint sobs.
"S-sorry, I... I didn't mean to look at you. Please, please don't hit me."
The little girl huddled with her hands over her head and cried for a while. When the blows and pain she had imagined never came, she slowly lowered her hands, revealing a pair of large emerald-green eyes. Tears still clung to their corners as she looked timidly at Xiao Cha.
Xiao Cha stood before her, looking at her pitiful little figure. He sighed inwardly and held out the buns in his hand.
"Here."
"Don't!"
Seeing Xiao Cha extend his hand again, the little girl thought he was about to hit her. She hurriedly cried out and covered her head once more.
But after registering his words, she lowered her hands in confusion. Her eyes widened abruptly at the sight of the buns before her, still giving off faint wisps of steam. Filled with disbelief, she looked at Xiao Cha's outstretched hand and asked quietly.
"Why... why aren't you hitting me?"
Xiao Cha frowned slightly at her question.
"Why would I hit you?"
"Then... why are you giving me food?"
"Do you want it or not? Why so many questions?"
Her endless questions left Xiao Cha rather puzzled. When she had been staring at the buns in his hands earlier, she had looked ready to fly over and swallow them whole. Now that he had brought them right to her mouth, why was she no longer excited?
"Yes! Thank you, big... brother. Can I call you that?"
Hearing the impatience in Xiao Cha's voice, the little girl looked at the buns before her and immediately raised her voice a little. She took the buns from his hands, then looked up at him and asked softly.
"Call me whatever you like. Go on, eat."
After handing over the buns, Xiao Cha prepared to leave. He had no intention of giving the little girl money. He had long understood that possessing a precious jade could itself become a crime. Giving money to a lonely, helpless girl like her would only harm her.
"Big brother, you still haven't told me why you're giving me food."
Watching Xiao Cha turn to leave, the little girl wanted to follow him and ask, but she was afraid he would dislike her. She looked at her filthy hands and finally remained where she was, calling out her question.
At her words, Xiao Cha stopped and raised an eyebrow. He turned to glance at the little girl, who had gotten to her feet, and said casually.
"You don't need a reason to help someone. If you really want an answer... just think of it as me picking up the tab for my past self."
"But everyone hates me. They say I'm a jinx..."
Hearing Xiao Cha's words, the little girl's tears began falling uncontrollably. So there were still people in this world who didn't hate her? So even a stranger's kindness could feel this warm?
Before you continue