Chapter 52
Empress!
The questioner could only be "Novice Alchemist."
He and Brother Yang—"Alchemy Is Life"—had been thrilled upon learning Alchemy Empress had arrived. They and the Empress's fans had gathered in the wide courtyard, waiting for their Empress to appear so they could confront "Grandmaster Bai Fanxian" together for impersonating her.
Then came news of Grandmaster Bai's test at noon, so they changed plans and decided to observe here instead.
Empress fans were scattered in small groups throughout the hall.
Bai Fanxian's display of power and sublime bearing made many reconsider their plan. If she truly became Tier 4, they could have serious problems.
But no one expected the opening question would be this!
Elder Fang frowned, about to speak, but Bai Fanxian cut in first.
"...I know her."
Though she didn't shout, her words carried clearly amid the chaos!
The hall erupted again.
"She knows Empress?"
"Obviously. Empress is famous. Even Grandmasters know her."
"But knowing her, she still copies Empress's methods?"
"Yeah. Totally unacceptable."
Elder Fang Niang saw the situation growing chaotic and continued the test before it got worse.
"Next question, please."
The selection was random again. This time the chosen person was in a corner far from the first.
"Uh... what does Grandmaster Bai think about Alchemy Empress?"
They still couldn't escape this topic!
The scattered distribution of Empress fans throughout the hall became an unexpected coincidence. They got randomly selected twice in a row. And since someone opened this topic, they didn't hesitate to push it.
Bai Fanxian raised an eyebrow. Wasn't this basically asking "How do you feel about yourself?"
How should she answer?
"She's not that impressive yet... lots she still needs to learn."
Bai Fanxian chose a somewhat humble answer. She'd only known this era a short time. Many things she still needed to gradually learn—whether history, culture, or technologies she wasn't yet proficient in.
Though the question seemed odd, didn't it?
...Nothing to do with alchemy at all.
But her answer shocked the hall again, especially Empress fans who frowned in displeasure.
What did that mean? That Alchemy Empress couldn't match her?
Before they could explode in anger, the microphone was randomly sent again to a young woman.
Elder Chen, sipping tea beside the stage, felt relieved seeing her. She was one of his most studious students, devoted to learning until even he admired her. And she was female—definitely not an Empress fan.
"Do you mean you're superior to Alchemy Empress?"
WHOOSH!
This question again!
Even a girl like this was an Empress fan!
Bai Fanxian thought carefully. Since both were her anyway, how should she answer?
"No... our abilities are roughly equal."
Since Alchemy Empress was her and she was Alchemy Empress, this seemed most accurate.
Many felt displeased with her answer. Alchemy Empress was a being they worshipped and respected. The knowledge and ability she displayed made them prostrate themselves as loyal fans.
But neutral people not following the situation closely thought it looked suspicious.
Alchemy Empress who never revealed herself, and Bai Fanxian who just appeared—both proficient in high-level alchemy, both with strangely similar habits.
Weren't these two the same person!?
But Empress fans dismissed such thoughts without care, eyes firm and confident.
"No way Grandmaster Bai is Empress. No way!"
"Yeah! No way at all."
They insisted with strange expressions, making outsiders not understand what was happening.
Chaos was forming. Empress fans gradually gathered at one point to discuss what to do.
"Should we wait for Alchemy Empress to arrive first?"
"Yeah, probably best."
"She said she already arrived."
While they huddled, through another unexpected coincidence, the microphone went to one of them.
"Grandmaster Bai, could you wait for one person to arrive?" The recipient was "Alchemy Is Life." Brother Yang, a core leader of the fan group.
"Uh... the event must continue. I'm afraid—" Before Elder Fang finished, Bai Fanxian interrupted.
"Alright..."
Bai Fanxian nodded. A chair floated onto stage behind her perfectly. She leaned back with bearing that looked sublime, like sitting on a throne.
Some audience members were captivated, unable to look away. Director Wang ordered all cameras to capture this moment.
Since she unexpectedly accepted, the fan group leaders quickly checked the forum and typed urgent messages begging their Empress to appear as fast as possible.
Huang Zihuan standing beside the stage heard notification sounds bursting from Grandmaster Bai's laptop. He could only shake his head at the growing misunderstanding.
Hopefully everything would end today!
And he figured Grandmaster Bai didn't intend to hide anything! She was just being normal and probably didn't even realize this misunderstanding occurred!
Waiting took over five minutes. Before Elder Fang Niang could speak, Bai Fanxian frowned slightly and asked first.
"...Do I need to wait much longer?"
Her question startled the Empress fans. They glanced at the thread hoping for a reply.
"Uh... could you wait a bit more?" Brother Yang tried negotiating. He worried why their Empress was so late.
"...Fine." Bai Fanxian sighed wearily. She hadn't expected this public test to be this boring. But since both Fang Niang and Chen Deming didn't object, this must be correct procedure, right?
Little did anyone know that because both alchemy elders feared and respected Grandmaster-level beings, they'd allowed the situation to reach this point!
While waiting, the audience saw the elderly butler jump onto stage with the laptop. In seconds he'd set up a tea table center stage and served quality tea to his lady, who'd already opened a website to pass time.
Entering the cultivators' community, Bai Fanxian noticed massive notifications still increasing. She clicked in to find urgent messages telling her to come to the hall—hundreds of messages.
She was surprised. Her hands moved quickly across the keyboard.
Comment 2130 (Alchemy Empress)
I arrived ages ago
Alchemy Empress's answer nearly exploded the thread. They cheered joyfully, asking where she was, some begging her to show herself.
Comment 2138 (Alchemy Empress)
You still don't see me?
Bai Fanxian frowned in confusion. She sat center stage, raised and prominent. Who in this hall could possibly be blind enough to miss her?
But unexpectedly, not one saw her. Some asked her to photograph her current location.
"Huang Zihuan, to take a photo, I do it like this?" Bai Fanxian turned to the elderly butler questioningly. She'd studied these things from books and the internet but never actually tried.
Huang Zihuan didn't disappoint. He opened the laptop's camera—this model had both front and back cameras in a small, convenient package.
The audience didn't know what Bai Fanxian was doing as she suddenly lifted the laptop and aimed it their way.
"Like this?"
Bai Fanxian awkwardly pressed the photo button. Moments later she had a picture of the large crowd. She quickly posted it in the comments.
Comment 2252 (Alchemy Empress)
Does this work?
Her comment appeared with an attached photo. Empress fans rushed to check it, ready to help find which corner of the hall she was in.
Seeing the full image, they frowned. The angle was straight on, photographing the audience thoroughly.
No way someone standing in the crowd could photograph like this.
It should be from a higher angle?
They tried tracing the view while comparing things in the room. Brother Yang did the same, turning around trying to find the matching angle.
His gaze snagged on center stage.
That angle, that position—only someone on stage could photograph like that...?
His thoughts raced. The possibility they'd dismissed came flooding back with sweat pouring down.
His hand holding the microphone trembled slightly. Even his voice shook when he spoke.
"Gr-Grandmaster Bai, do you know the cultivators' community?"
Bai Fanxian looked up from the laptop and nodded lightly.
"I know... I go there often to pass time." She answered honestly.
"Th-then what's your account name?"
Brother Yang felt this question took all his year's courage. His eyes shook as he forced himself to speak.
Bai Fanxian herself didn't think much about hiding it. Initially, Huang Zihuan only worried there'd be chaos if she revealed her identity on the forum. But having reached this point, they could only let it go.
"...Alchemy Empress."
Those words seemed to echo in everyone's heads. Though they didn't know much behind-the-scenes detail, anyone still in this industry had heard that currently famous name!
Alchemy Empress!
The mysterious being who demolished forum threads effortlessly, filled with ferocity and arrogance no one could oppose.
And Bai Fanxian!
The new Grandmaster who just appeared while creating shocking events constantly. Even the Red Widow Queen was defeated and followed meekly behind her like a tame kitten!
The conclusion—these two were the same person!
Seeing the hall fall silent, Bai Fanxian frowned with slight annoyance.
"...Has anyone seen those idiots looking for me in the thread? I'm sitting center stage this obviously—are they all blind?"
This sentence was like lightning striking the Empress fans! They felt like their bodies were being electrocuted. Even that studious girl weakly collapsed into a chair, both hands covering her flushed face!
"Empress!!"