Chapter 383: Preparations Before the Tournament! Fa Ma’s Night Meeting with Xiao Yan!
Chapter 383: Preparations Before the Tournament! Fa Ma’s Night Meeting with Xiao Yan!
Chapter 383: Preparations Before the Tournament! Fa Ma's Night Meeting with Xiao Yan!
Watching as Xiao Yi Xian gradually disappeared from sight, Jia Xingtian, Fa Ma, and Hai Bodong remained rooted in place, making no move to intercept her.
After a while, Jia Xingtian suddenly turned to Fa Ma and said, "Fa Ma, someone like her, likely an ancient monster, making it to the finals of the Alchemist Tournament—you must be worried. If she wins the championship, your Alchemist Association’s reputation in the Jia Ma Empire will be at stake..."
"Old Jia, from what I can see, you're not in a much better position than I am. That person’s strength rivals yours, and neither I nor Old Ice can take her on. That's also why you didn't make another move, right? If she causes a commotion in the imperial capital, it’s your royal family that will have a headache!" Fa Ma sighed deeply after hearing Jia Xingtian’s words.
Jia Xingtian’s face darkened as he said grimly, "Hmph, I’ll send someone to the Chu Yun Empire as soon as possible to investigate her identity. If she dares to stir up trouble in the capital during this time, even if I have to suffer a serious injury, I’ll make sure she stays here!"
"Agreed."
Hearing Jia Xingtian’s angry words, Fa Ma nodded slightly and said, "Old Jia, I didn’t hold back earlier on purpose. I was just worried that if this matter escalated, rumors would spread across the capital by tomorrow, saying the Jia Ma Alchemist Association harmed contestants to rig the championship. Once the tournament is over, our Alchemist Association will fully support you in dealing with this mysterious woman."
After Fa Ma finished speaking, Hai Bodong also chimed in, "If she truly threatens the Jia Ma Empire, I will take action with all my strength!"
"Alright, I’ll be counting on the two of you old fellows for help then!"
Jia Xingtian's expression finally eased after hearing the statements from Fa Ma and Hai Bodong.
"Old Jia, to ensure there are no slip-ups, I suggest you visit the Yun Lan Sect after the tournament tomorrow and meet Gu He." Hai Bodong hesitated for a moment before suddenly offering this suggestion.
"Gu He? Why bring him up now? Do you think he can be of any help in this matter?"
"Yes, Gu He might be a sixth-tier alchemist, but his cultivation is only that of a Dou King. What help could he possibly offer? However, I’ve heard from Nalan Jie that Yun Yun, the young sect master of the Yun Lan Sect, has made great strides in strength these past few years," Jia Xingtian and Fa Ma both responded dismissively to Hai Bodong’s suggestion.
"Believe it or not… Gu He’s true strength isn’t what it seems. And… it’s not just Liu Ling who possesses a heavenly flame. The one Gu He has might be far more powerful!" Hai Bodong revealed Gu He’s secret, hoping to convince them.
"What!"
"Both master and disciple possess heavenly flames?"
Jia Xingtian and Fa Ma had no reason to doubt Hai Bodong's words, and both were deeply shocked.
"I originally thought that Liu Ling had merely stumbled upon the Green Lotus Core Flame during his training. But now, it seems more likely that Gu He gifted this treasure to his beloved disciple!" Fa Ma speculated, recovering from his initial shock.
Meanwhile, Jia Xingtian was still mulling over Hai Bodong's words. After a while, he tentatively asked, "Old Ice, do you think Gu He's strength surpasses yours?"
Hai Bodong candidly replied, "His depth is unfathomable. I can’t determine his exact cultivation, but he’s likely on par with you, only a step away from reaching Dou Ancestor!"
"In that case, I should indeed find an opportunity to meet Gu He."
After chatting for a while, the three influential figures of the Jia Ma Empire dispersed into the darkness of the night.
After parting ways with Jia Xingtian and Hai Bodong, Fa Ma followed a lead from his subordinates, eventually finding Xiao Yan’s residence.
In Fa Ma’s mind, for tomorrow’s Alchemist Tournament, the only person capable of contending with that mysterious black-robed figure—besides Liu Ling, who had already left for the Yun Lan Sect—was Xiao Yan. Thus, he decided to visit Xiao Yan in advance to give him some instructions.
When Fa Ma had just arrived outside Xiao Yan's inn, Xiao Yan had already sensed his presence thanks to a hint from Yao Lao. However, Xiao Yan pretended as if he hadn't noticed anything.
Before long, an elderly cough echoed from outside Xiao Yan's room—it was Fa Ma.
"Cough, cough. My young friend Yan Xiao, this old man has come uninvited and would like to discuss something with you!"
Hearing Fa Ma's words, Xiao Yan showed a hint of puzzlement on his face. Given that Fa Ma seemed to have detected Yao Lao's presence during the day, Xiao Yan remained somewhat cautious. However, as the president of the Jia Ma Empire's Alchemist Association, Fa Ma had come personally, and Xiao Yan didn’t have a good reason to refuse.
Creak!
"President Fa Ma, your visit is an honor for Yan Xiao. Please, come in!"
After receiving Yao Lao’s approval, Xiao Yan gently pushed open the door and invited Fa Ma into his room.
Sitting beside the table, Xiao Yan quickly poured a cup of tea for Fa Ma.
Fa Ma, not minding the tea from this humble inn, took a sip. His eyes locked onto Xiao Yan, and he smiled, saying, "Young friend Yan Xiao, truly, heroes emerge from youth. For this year's Alchemist Tournament, you are likely one of the strongest contenders for the championship."
"Old Fa, you flatter me!"
Despite Fa Ma's praise, Xiao Yan remained modest, replying earnestly, "If there's anything I can help with, as long as it’s within my capabilities, Yan Xiao won't refuse."
"Hehe, I’m sure you’ve already guessed—my visit is mainly about tomorrow's finals," Fa Ma said with a smile.
"The finals?" Xiao Yan asked, surprised.
"Yes. The identity of that black-robed person from earlier today has been confirmed—she’s from the Chu Yun Empire," Fa Ma stated plainly.
"Someone from the Chu Yun Empire?"
"Old Fa, are you worried that the person from the Chu Yun Empire might take the championship of the Jia Ma Alchemist Tournament?"
Xiao Yan immediately understood Fa Ma's concerns.
"Exactly!"
Nodding, Fa Ma stroked his beard and said thoughtfully, "I came here tonight to make tomorrow’s competition a bit more secure. The next round’s test doesn’t have any hidden tricks; it will rely entirely on each contestant’s true skills and trump cards."
"In that round, you’ll have full freedom to demonstrate your abilities. Everything, including the materials, must be prepared by yourselves. That means the guild won’t be providing any formulas—whether or not you have the right recipe in your collection that matches your limits will depend on your own resources. And, even if you do have a recipe, you’ll also need to have the necessary materials to refine the pill!"
"If not... well, that would be just bad luck on your part!" Fa Ma spread his hands and chuckled mischievously.
(End of Chapter)
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