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**
On the Road.
Fa Ma laughed heartily. "Hahaha, Wei Yang, we've always kept your old courtyard just as it was when you left. We regularly send people to clean it, and even the furniture—it's still the same as what you used back then. We didn't move a single thing, just in case you came back and felt uncomfortable with any changes."
"And that herb garden too—I've been personally tending it. All those medicinal plants that Miss Xian'er planted back then, they're growing quite well now."
"Mhm, mhm." Wei Yang nodded repeatedly. "You're very thoughtful, Elder Fa."
"Bah, this old man was just bored and had nothing better to do. I only help Miss Xian'er with the garden from time to time," Fa Ma said with a smiling stroke of his beard. Still, inwardly, he felt quite pleased with himself.
"Elder Wei, I've saved up a ton of questions over the years, just waiting for you to come back so I can consult you!" chimed in Qie Mi Er, rubbing his hands eagerly. "Especially this past half year—I've been longing day and night for your return!"
"Yes, yes, Elder Wei! Me too. I've also got a whole pile of alchemy problems I've been stuck on."
"Me too, me too!"
"Same here!"
At the mention of this, the crowd of old men immediately began raising their hands one after another, scrambling to be first. A couple of them, their hair already thinning, had even whipped out notebooks with practiced ease. With trembling fingers, they licked their fingertips, flipped open the pages, and were already preparing to bombard him with questions.
Most of this group were either peak Tier 4 or Tier 5 alchemists. Their skills were fairly similar, and they often exchanged knowledge amongst themselves—everyone knew each other well.
Only President Fa Ma stood out slightly with his superior skill, already at the peak of Tier 5. In fact, he was very close to breaking through to Tier 6 and was currently in a stage where a breakthrough could happen at any moment.
Still, he was technically still within the Tier 5 alchemist.
Therefore, a true Tier 6 master like Wei Yang—someone who had already stepped firmly into that realm—was an invaluable treasure to them.
Now that they finally had the chance to see Wei Yang again, there was no way they were going to let the opportunity slip away. All of them were clearly impatient for the chance to get guidance and answers from him.
Perhaps it was the feeling of returning after being away for more than three years, but Wei Yang found that the distance between him and these people had subtly vanished, replaced by a faint sense of warmth and familiarity.
It was a feeling he had never experienced during his earlier years at the Alchemist Association.
It was like a migrant worker returning to his hometown after many years, and even those neighbors he used to barely speak to now felt unexpectedly dear upon seeing them at the village gate.
Naturally, the emotional distance closed quickly.
That comforting familiarity made Wei Yang feel unexpectedly relaxed and somewhat at ease.
He wasn't at all irritated by their excited barrage of questions.
"How about tomorrow? Come by my residence then. I'll spend some time answering your questions," Wei Yang said with a cheerful smile.
"Yes, yes! Wei Yang just got back, and you're already pestering him with all these questions? How rude!" Fa Ma waved them off sternly.
"Hehe, okay! Tomorrow then—see you tomorrow!" The crowd of old men grinned from ear to ear, satisfied now that Wei Yang had promised to meet them.
As the group continued walking, they soon arrived in front of a massive complex.
The Alchemist Association.
At the entrance stood numerous association members dressed in alchemist robes. They stood on tiptoe, craning their necks, their faces alight with excitement as they stared into the sky above.
When they finally caught sight of Wei Yang and the others appearing in the air, an explosive cheer erupted.
"Master Wei is back!"
Immediately afterward, they all bowed respectfully in unison and shouted, "Greetings, Master Wei!"
"No need to be so formal, everyone." Wei Yang smiled, hands clasped behind his back as he slowly descended from the air. He raised a hand in a casual gesture and said, "In a few days, when I have time, I'll perform a public pill refinement in the association hall. Everyone is welcome to come and observe."
Upon hearing this, the crowd of alchemists below erupted with expressions of wild joy and disbelief.
Master Wei was going to refine pills publicly? And everyone would be allowed to watch?
Heavens!
It felt like an enormous blessing had just come crashing down on their heads.
"Ahem! Why are you all just standing there? Hurry and thank Master Wei!" Vice President Qie Mi Er coughed lightly and reminded them.
Everyone quickly snapped out of their daze and bowed again, their faces brimming with excitement as they chorused, "Thank you, Master Wei~!"
Wei Yang gave a small, approving nod.
"Alright, that's enough. Everyone, disperse. Master Wei has traveled a long way to return. Don't disturb his rest," Fa Ma waved his hand and dismissed them.
"Yes, sir!" Although they all responded obediently, their eyes still burned with fervent admiration as they stared at Wei Yang, their feet dragging as if reluctant to leave.
Wei Yang, feeling a bit helpless under all those fiery gazes, could only bid farewell to Fa Ma and the others before soaring into the air. Instead of entering through the main gate, he flew straight into the residential area behind the association.
Imperial Capital – Mittel Estate
The battle had completely subsided. Cleanup of the battlefield was now underway.
Whooo—
Hovering above the estate, Xiao Yan slowly exhaled a long breath of turbid air from his chest. His gaze shifted, locking onto the northern end of the imperial capital.
Far off in the distant skies, a vague mountain outline could just barely be seen.
As Xiao Yan clenched his fists, a ferocious aura suddenly erupted from within him, sweeping across the heavens like a storm.
"Yun Lan Sect…" he murmured, his voice low and sharp. "I, Xiao Yan, have returned. This… is only the beginning. The blood debt of the Xiao Clan… I'll make you repay it a hundredfold—in blood!"
Down below, in the estate.
Seated in a wheelchair with a gentle smile on his face, Xiao Ding lifted his head to look up at Xiao Yan. A deep pride and joy slowly emerged in his expression.
"Xiao Yanzi, you've finally come back… Heh, good kid. You really didn't let us down." His voice was soft and filled with emotion. "You are the pride of the Xiao Clan… and of our father."
At that moment, as if sensing something, Xiao Yan slowly lowered his head, locking eyes with Xiao Ding.
The very next instant, his wings gave a powerful flap, and his body flickered before descending rapidly.
"Big Brother!"
Yun Lan Mountain
The instant Xiao Yan's overwhelming aura burst forth, far away atop one of Yun Lan Mountain's towering peaks, Yun Shan stood silently, gazing in the direction of the imperial capital.
His face immediately darkened.
There was no doubt—this was a bold and undisguised provocation aimed directly at him!
The hand hidden within his sleeve slowly clenched into a fist, emitting a sharp crack.
Yun Shan's expression was like stagnant water, and his chest twisted with frustration.
Today's losses… were far too great.
Even with his temperament and the Yun Lan Sect's strength, such a loss was nearly unbearable.
And when adding in the earlier death of Yun Fan at Zhen Gui Pass, in just a few short days, the Yun Lan Sect had lost two Dou Huang and eight Dou Wang!
That kind of damage had already cut straight to the bone.
After a long silence, Yun Shan gritted his teeth and growled through clenched jaws, "Wei Yang? Xiao Yan? Very good… very good!"
Everything had happened so suddenly that Yun Shan didn't even have time to react. Even if he'd wanted to rush to their aid, it was already far too late.
Besides, Yun Shan hadn't truly intended to head to the imperial capital in the first place.
If he went alone, he'd risk being ganged up on. He'd have to be an idiot to willingly walk into that trap.
As for Protector Wu—he just so happened to be out today and wasn't present.
Even if he had been, Yun Shan was fairly certain that Protector Wu would've refused to accompany him to such a high-profile battlefield. Yun Shan knew the man's nature too well.
"So, you want revenge, do you? Hmph! I'll be right here in Yun Lan Mountain waiting for you," Yun Shan spat through clenched teeth, flinging his sleeve angrily as he turned and stormed away.
In Yun Lan Mountain, on his own turf—Yun Shan feared nothing.
Forbidden Hall
The atmosphere here was dim and spacious, filled with shadows and silence.
At the center of the chamber, a white-robed woman sat cross-legged in meditation. Her eyes were tightly closed—until they suddenly snapped open.
A shockingly intense emotion surged in her gaze: disbelief, and… deep turmoil.
"This aura… how could it be… it's him. He's… he's back!"
She sat frozen for a long moment, lost in thought.
Eventually, her expression twisted in pain, and she slowly shut her eyes again.
So, the day… has finally come.
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