Chapter 158: A Familiar Alchemy Method (I)

Xiao Yan looked at the somewhat embarrassed Nalan Yanran with an odd expression and said, "Is this your version of a last-gasp attempt?"

Nalan Yanran glared at Xiao Yan with irritation. Did you really have to phrase it like that?

"Yes! I truly can't defeat you right now." Nalan Yanran was quite straightforward, directly admitting her current inability to beat him.

Ever since that battle with Mo Cheng, she knew her chances of defeating him were very slim. Even though her cultivation level was not low now, having reached 3-Star Dou Grandmaster, the gap between her and Xiao Yan in terms of trump cards and combat strength was too vast.

Xiao Yan now possessed a Di Class Qi Method. Ever since the Flame Mantra had evolved to the Di Class, his cultivation speed had increased significantly. Now, Xiao Yan was a 4-star Dou Grandmaster, and in another month or two, he could reach the 5-star, having long surpassed Nalan Yanran.

The evolving Flame Mantra was just like that—it held you back early on but propelled you forward later.

Not to mention, Xiao Yan also possessed a Heavenly Flame as well as that formidable Spiritual Strength. Nalan Yanran knew her odds of winning were minuscule.

And that's not even counting Xiao Yan's medicinal pills. As an alchemist, if Xiao Yan were to use pills he personally refined during their duel, it wouldn't be against the rules.

Even if he didn't use any pills, she still felt her chances of victory were slim to none.

The reality was indeed so. Her odds of winning were even lower than she herself estimated.

Xiao Yan shrugged and said, "I don't really mind, but no matter what, your loss is inevitable."

Nalan Yanran glared at him, her eyes flashing with an unyielding light as she said. "Just you wait until I come out of the Gate of Life and Death. You will definitely lose then!"

"The Gate of Life and Death? Is that a secret realm of your Misty Cloud Sect?" Xiao Yan asked curiously.

"That place is where our Misty Cloud Sect's past Sect Leaders are laid to rest. It's also the tomb of our sect's founder, Yun Po Tian. Inside are the trials left behind by the first Sect Leader. Anyone who can pass those trials will receive special rewards." Nalan Yanran didn't try to hide this from Xiao Yan. She felt that since she was entering the Gate of Life and Death to train specifically to defeat the man before her, there was no need to be stingy with such information.

Xiao Yan frowned. The tombs of past Sect Leaders?!

'Could it be that the soul bodies of the Misty Cloud Sect's past Sect Leaders are located there? Perhaps that's where the Hall of Souls is hidden...' Xiao Yan suddenly thought of this possibility!

Although the Misty Cloud Sect was said to be close to Jia Ma Sacred City, in reality, there was still quite a considerable distance between them.

Moreover, Xiao Yan had heard that the area surrounding Misty Cloud Mountain, where the sect was located, was essentially equivalent to a city. Misty Cloud City at the foot of the mountain, much like Jia Nan Academy's Jia Nan City, provided the Misty Cloud Sect's disciples with their daily necessities.

Originally, he wouldn't have been able to enter the Misty Cloud Sect; after all, it was only open to sect disciples. But as it happened, he had that duel agreement with Nalan Yanran.

"Let's set our duel at the Misty Cloud Sect," Xiao Yan suddenly said.

Nalan Yanran was stunned for a moment before she asked doubtfully, "Set it at the Misty Cloud Sect? The sect is located above the clouds, where wind attribute energy is abundant and fire attribute energy is scarce. Are you sure you want to have our duel there?"

Xiao Yan nodded seriously and said, "I want to see for myself what the number one sect in the Jia Ma Empire is like."

Nalan Yanran did not refuse when she saw him so resolute and agreed to his proposal. How could she have imagined the little scheme brewing in his mind, actually targeting the Misty Cloud Sect itself?

…

Late at night, when all was quiet, Xiao Yan was in his room cultivating the Flame Mantra when he suddenly opened his eyes and said, "Old Hai, it's so late. Is something the matter?"

Hai Bodong pushed open the door with a smile and said, "You little brat should be thanking me this time."

"Thank you? For what?" Xiao Yan asked.

"You know that the few of us went to tail that black-robed man tonight, right? Do you know what we discovered?" Hai Bodong deliberately kept him in suspense.

Xiao Yan poured Hai Bodong a glass of water and sat down in a chair, knowing he was in for a long story.

"Please, Old Hai, I'm listening."

Hai Bodong said, "That black-robed fellow turned out to be Yan Li, the Deputy Chairman of the Chu Yun Empire's Alchemist Association, a peak 4th-tier alchemist. He took a pill called the Appearance Recovery Pill, which restored his appearance to his younger days."

"Peak tier 4?!" Xiao Yan's heart trembled. No wonder that guy was so formidable. He himself had barely edged him out using a wisp of the Nihility Devouring Flame.

So the other party was also a peak 4th-tier alchemist!

"Mm, originally we wanted to kill him directly and be done with it. But that fellow had a contingency plan. If he were to die during the Alchemist Grand Meeting, news of the Jia Ma Empire's Alchemist Association wantonly killing participants to manipulate the competition would quickly spread to the neighboring empires. The Alchemist Associations of several other empires would then have an excuse to join forces to suppress us. Therefore, we cannot take any action against him," Hai Bodong said with some indignation after taking a sip of water.

The overall strength of the Jia Ma Empire was relatively weak, and several neighboring empires had long wanted to annex it.

After some thought, Xiao Yan said, "So that's it. No wonder that fellow was willing to risk death and have the Chu Yun Empire expend considerable manpower and resources to refine the Appearance Recovery Pill just to come here and cause trouble."

"Perhaps the other empires have long wanted to make a move against the Jia Ma Empire but couldn't find a justification. Now they plan to start with the Jia Ma Empire's Alchemist Association. If they can get the Pill Tower to sever its ties with the Jia Ma Empire's Alchemist Association, then the other empires can act without scruples."

Xiao Yan tapped his fingers on the table, quickly sorting out the entire sequence of events, even understanding the intentions of the major empires.

Hai Bodong listened with a series of startled expressions, as he hadn't even considered these speculations!

"Uh, that might be it."

"So, why should I thank you, Old Hai?" Xiao Yan smiled faintly. None of this seemed to be a reason for him to thank Hai Bodong.

Reminded by Xiao Yan, Hai Bodong suddenly remembered and quickly said, "Oh, right! Almost forgot. So we have to wait until the Alchemist Grand Meeting is over, and we can't let him become the champion. Only then can we find an opportunity to kill him. Otherwise, if that Yan Li fellow wins the championship, it'll be very troublesome for us to deal with him."

"That old fox Fa Ma knows your alchemy skills are formidable and believes only you can contend with him for the championship. So I told him that if the Chu Yun Empire's Alchemist Association tried to bribe you, it would be problematic."

Hai Bodong raised his eyebrows at Xiao Yan, who narrowed his eyes and immediately understood.

Exaggerate the threat, then leverage it to get benefits!

"Heh heh, that old fellow Fa Ma wants you to go to the Alchemist Association now. He said he'll give you some help to make it easier for you to deal with that guy."

Xiao Yan didn't put on airs either. He cupped his fists and said, "Thanks, Old Hai. I believe I'll be able to refine the Spiritual Recovery Purple Pill before long."

"Good that you haven't forgotten. Go on, go on. Get as much as you can. No need to stand on ceremony with that old fellow Fa Ma. He's loaded," Hai Bodong said with a grin.

…

Although it was already late at night, the Alchemist Association was still brightly lit. When the guards saw Xiao Yan approaching, they immediately straightened and said, "Mr. Xiao Yan, the Chairman has been waiting for you."

"Mm."

Xiao Yan followed the guard all the way to the top floor of the Alchemist Association and lightly knocked on the door.

"Chairman, Junior Xiao Yan apologizes for disturbing you so late at night," he said politely.

"Come in," Fa Ma's voice sounded.

Xiao Yan pushed open the door and entered. Sweeping his gaze, he was slightly surprised. The room was extremely spacious but appeared somewhat antiquated. Several rows of bookshelves leaned against the walls, and an ancient-looking desk stood solitary in the center of the room.

Xiao Yan gently closed the door. Fa Ma gestured and said, "Sit wherever you like. I assume Hai Bodong has already briefed you on the situation?"