Chapter 132: The Helpless Yao Ye
When Xiao Yuan and his group arrived at the royal square where the Alchemist Assembly was being held, he was momentarily stunned by the sheer vastness of the venue.
This royal square truly lived up to the word "royal"—compared to it, Wu Tan City's central plaza was like a child's playpen.
Sweeping his gaze across the massive area, Xiao Yuan noticed that there were over a thousand neatly arranged stone platforms. They were laid out in an orderly, staggered formation, resembling an army of silent stone soldiers standing tall.
By now, many participating alchemists had already arrived, seated calmly on the platforms, awaiting the start of the competition.
As honored guests, Xiao Yuan and his companions had their own designated seating. Accompanying Hai Bodong and Mittel Tengshan, Xiao Yuan and Ya Fei made their way to the front row of the VIP area, which was already occupied by several individuals. But what caught Xiao Yuan's attention most was an elder wearing a purple alchemist's robe.
Judging by the five-striped pill cauldron insignia on his chest, he was a fifth-tier alchemist.
This man must be Fa Ma, president of the Jia Ma Empire's Alchemist Guild.
Though not a sixth-tier alchemist, Fa Ma's reputation in the empire rivaled even that of Pill King Gu He. After all, with his many years of experience, his accumulated knowledge and authority weren't something a younger talent could surpass easily.
"Heh, that old guy's still alive? These geezers are all monsters," Hai Bodong muttered with narrowed eyes.
Mittel Tengshan didn't respond, choosing silence instead.
"Better alive than dead, right?" Xiao Yuan said with a grin.
"Ice-head, you're not dead either, are you?"
As if hearing them, Fa Ma's voice rang out suddenly.
This caused many around them to turn and stare, clearly intrigued by Hai Bodong's identity.
"Heh, if you're still alive, how could I die first?"
Hai Bodong chuckled, flashed forward, and took a seat beside Fa Ma.
"I thought Queen Medusa finished you off. But your fight last night with Jia Xingtian really surprised me. I can't believe you survived an encounter with her."
Fa Ma shook his head with a sigh.
"Tch, I barely made it out alive. That woman is terrifying."
Hai Bodong shuddered at the memory.
"You're really hard to kill… But it's good you're still around. Us old folks won't feel so lonely then, haha..."
Fa Ma's laughter rang out from his wrinkled face.
"By the way, I heard you took in a disciple? That must be this young man. His soul force is quite extraordinary—stronger than most third-tier alchemists."
Fa Ma turned to Xiao Yuan with a gentle smile.
"Tch, you alchemists really do have sharp senses," Hai Bodong muttered, though pride flickered in his eyes.
He was clearly very satisfied with Xiao Yuan.
"Pleased to meet you, President Fa Ma."
Xiao Yuan greeted him with composure and a polite smile.
Fa Ma nodded, then scrutinized Xiao Yuan again. His eyes narrowed slightly as his soul perception swept over him.
He sensed a familiar aura in Xiao Yuan's soul—vague, hard to place—but it reminded him of a senior alchemist he once encountered, a master whose guidance had significantly shaped his own path.
Still, the sensation was too faint to confirm.
More oddly, he sensed a terrifyingly vast power hidden within Xiao Yuan. If unleashed, it might even be too much for him to handle.
What a mysterious young man!
As Fa Ma was about to speak again, his brows lifted suddenly and he turned toward a side corridor.
"Heh, Ice-head, you and your disciple sure came early today."
An aged, playful voice sounded. Xiao Yuan didn't need to turn to recognize Jia Xingtian, but out of courtesy, he glanced back anyway.
Dressed in plain hemp robes, the white-haired elder strolled over with a smile. His beard looked noticeably shorter than it had the night before.
Seeing Jia Xingtian appear caused another stir. Though this was a national event, he was still a royal guardian—his public appearances were rare. What wind had blown this old monster into the open today?
Xiao Yuan, however, wasn't focused on Jia Xingtian. His gaze shifted to the little princess, who stood beside him.
Today she wore a pale green alchemist robe, its wide sleeves embroidered with golden lotus patterns, giving her a scholarly elegance. But having gotten a sense of her personality last night, Xiao Yuan knew she was anything but gentle.
Next to her was another woman—tall, regal, and dressed in ornate brocade. She looked somewhat like the princess, but with a colder, more commanding aura shaped by royal upbringing.
Compared to the younger and more playful princess, this woman clearly exuded a mature and seductive charm.
Still, Xiao Yuan turned back to Jia Xingtian with a smile.
"Elder Jia, you're not late either."
"Heh."
Jia Xingtian chuckled and approached Hai Bodong and Fa Ma. "Never thought we three would gather again. Must be fate."
"Indeed," Fa Ma chuckled. "Didn't expect you to attend, old monster. I thought you hated these kinds of events."
"After decades cooped up, it's good to step out once in a while."
Jia Xingtian then looked to Xiao Yuan and pointed to the elegant woman beside him.
"You've met Yue'er already. This is her sister, Yao Ye. She's in charge of security today—commanding fifty thousand troops. All at her disposal."
Xiao Yuan offered Yao Ye a polite smile.
A truly dangerous person wouldn't fear five thousand or even fifty thousand troops. But being able to organize and control such a force so efficiently was proof of Yao Ye's talent.
Still, gripping Ya Fei's hand, Xiao Yuan felt a sense of pride.
Compared to Ya Fei, Yao Ye still came up short.
"This is Xiao Yuan, the one I told you about. Hai Bodong's disciple. Very impressive. He even made me suffer a bit last night."
Jia Xingtian laughed.
The little princess silently stuck out her tongue. She'd been shocked by Xiao Yuan's overwhelming strength yesterday.
"Greetings, Mister Xiao Yuan."
Yao Ye extended her jade-like hand gracefully with a soft smile. Her expression stunned many young noblemen nearby—when did the always-aloof princess ever smile at anyone?
"Hello, Princess Yao Ye."
Xiao Yuan returned the gesture, lightly grasping her hand before letting go.
"Even Grandfather was impressed by your talent. I admire strong individuals like you. Would you be willing to spar sometime?"
Yao Ye smiled after pulling her hand back.
"Heh, you flatter me, Princess. With Elder Jia present, how could I claim to be a strong one?"
Xiao Yuan replied calmly.
Jia Xingtian laughed. "Your disciple talks just like you used to, Ice-head."
"Hmph. Jealous, aren't you?" Hai Bodong played dumb, feigning pride.
Jia Xingtian shook his head with a helpless smile, unwilling to argue.
Yao Ye, meanwhile, grew more intrigued by Xiao Yuan. Most either feared or flattered her. But this man, even in front of her powerful grandfather, dared to brush her off.
And she could tell—he had no ill feelings toward the royal family. He just didn't want anything to do with her.
Because of Ya Fei?
Glancing at Xiao Yuan and Ya Fei's interlocked fingers, Yao Ye couldn't help but feel slightly exasperated.
So he was keeping his distance to avoid suspicion? Did she really seem that scheming?
Still, her grandfather wouldn't lie, and Yue'er had said as much yesterday—Xiao Yuan's talent was worth befriending. As for using her charm...
With Xiao Yuan's looks, who could dare call themselves the more attractive one?
A rare sense of defeat crept into Yao Ye's heart.
Being thwarted at the start for such a reason felt truly unjust.
And now, as Xiao Yuan turned away and ignored her, for the first time, she found herself at a loss for words.
As time passed, more and more alchemists poured in from the corridors, each finding their assigned spots.
The other two major families also arrived, stirring even more discussion. As nobles of the capital, they naturally drew attention.
The Mu Clan was no surprise. The Nalan Clan brought Nalan Jie, now fully healed, and Nalan Yanran—heir to the Misty Cloud Sect—whose beauty captivated many.
As expected, this led to plenty of socializing. Xiao Yuan simply rested his head on Ya Fei's shoulder and pretended to sleep.
Ya Fei, experienced in handling such occasions, wasn't bothered—but seeing Xiao Yuan so at ease, she playfully followed his lead, leaning her head on his and pretending to nap.
Hai Bodong and Mittel Tengshan could only shake their heads. Young people!
Still, the two elders shielded them like pros. While Tengshan was diplomatic, Hai Bodong's status as a Dou Huang meant neither Mu Chen nor Nalan Jie dared press the matter.
Nalan Yanran, meanwhile, felt a strange tightness in her chest as she watched Xiao Yuan and Ya Fei so intimately close. Yet, she couldn't help but keep looking their way.
Xiao Yan, having arrived with two master alchemists from Black Rock City, noticed his brother and Ya Fei "asleep" and didn't disturb them. After a few pleasantries, he sat down—and heard Xiao Yuan's voice in his ear: "Good luck."
Time passed, and the murmurs in the square gradually faded.
A crisp chime rang out across the plaza.
Fa Ma slowly rose and stepped forward. Looking down at the thousand-plus alchemists seated on stone platforms, he saw over two thousand heads turn his way, all filled with respect.
"As president of the Alchemist Guild of the Jia Ma Empire, I declare: the Seventh Alchemist Assembly—officially begins!"
Boom!
The crowd erupted with cheers that shook the skies.
Fa Ma stood atop the VIP platform, smiling faintly as the noise surged around him.
"Now, all participants, take your places!"
Even though the plaza was loud enough to drown out the bells, Fa Ma's calm voice still echoed in every ear—proof of his incredible power.
At his command, many alchemists stood. Most were backed by powerful factions, and their levels tended to be higher than freelance alchemists.
The stage sat dozens of meters above the main square. Young contestants, many of them only Dou Zhe or Dou Shi, wouldn't dare leap down. So, staircases flanking the VIP area allowed them to descend one by one under the crowd's watchful gaze.
"Hehe, Liu Ling, Little Yue'er, Xiao Yan—you three head to your spots. You performed exceptionally in the internal trials, so your platforms are front and center. You'll be the focus of today's spotlight."
Fa Ma pointed to the plaza's center, where over a dozen large stone platforms stood—larger and higher than the rest, ensuring their occupants would stand out.
Xiao Yuan and Ya Fei opened their eyes in unison, just in time to see Xiao Yan and the others gracefully leaping off the high stage.
(END CHAPTER)
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