Chapter Seventy-One: The Alchemist Conference Begins

“Is there anything else?” Lin An asked in confusion.

“Xun’er… is missing!” Nalan Yanran said.

“Xiao Xun’er is missing? How could that be?” Lin An frowned slightly, his tone filled with puzzlement.

If Xiao Xun’er had left of her own will, Lin An would never believe it. After all, if she had wanted to leave, she would not have waited until now.

Given that, there was only one explanation… Xiao Xun’er had been taken away by the Gu Clan.

It made sense, really. The Gu Clan was one of the Eight Ancient Clans, after all. How could their little princess remain in a small place like the Cloudmist Sect, serving as a maid? If word got out, the Gu Clan would never allow it.

The fact that Xiao Xun’er had managed to hide from the Gu Clan for so long was, in Lin An’s view, already quite an achievement.

What’s more, Xiao Xun’er was now considered a member of the Hall of Yama. Even if she returned to the Gu Clan, Lin An would have no trouble seeing her if he wished.

“She only said she was going back, and not to Wutan City, but to her true family,” Nalan Yanran continued.

“Don’t worry, it’s all right. I know about Xiao Xun’er’s identity—her background is anything but ordinary, and as the little princess of that clan, at most she’ll face a minor punishment upon returning.” Lin An smiled as he spoke.

Nalan Yanran nodded at his words. As long as Xiao Xun’er was safe, that was enough.

“All right, just look at you—worrying yourself sick!” Lin An gently brushed Nalan Yanran’s forehead, smiling.

“It’s all your fault! You knew who Xiao Xun’er really was and didn’t tell me!” Nalan Yanran pouted, a hint of annoyance in her voice.

“All right, all right. From now on, whatever you want to know, I’ll tell you. I won’t let you worry anymore, all right?” Lin An promised.

“That’s better!” Nalan Yanran scolded him playfully. Then, catching him off guard, she planted a kiss on his cheek and, blushing furiously, darted out of the room.

Lin An touched the spot where she’d kissed him, smiling to himself. He hadn’t expected Nalan Yanran to be so forward.

Perhaps it was the recent string of events, making her feel anxious and uncertain, that prompted such an uncharacteristic display of affection.

“With only half a year left until the Alchemist Tournament, I’ve yet to attempt any third-grade or higher pills. For now, I should focus on raising my rank as an alchemist.”

“If Xiao Yan intends to participate in the tournament, he must have a goal in mind.”

“No matter what, I can’t let Xiao Yan win the championship in this tournament.”

With that thought, Lin An summoned Yao Chen and asked Yun Yun to help gather some fifth- and sixth-grade pills, along with the necessary refining materials.

As for his master-disciple relationship with Yun Yun, it was now essentially a formality. After all, he was, at least in name, the master of the Cloudmist Sect.

However, Lin An had no desire to become sect leader, so not long ago, he had decided to appoint Nalan Yanran as the next leader of the Cloudmist Sect.

For three whole months, Lin An sequestered himself in the pill room, refining medicines day and night. His alchemical skills improved rapidly; now, his success rate with sixth-grade pills was exceptionally high.

Even Yao Chen, who had seen countless storms in his life, had to admit his amazement at Lin An’s terrifying alchemist talent.

Not even the headquarters of the Alchemist Guild could produce a young alchemist as formidable as Lin An.

Moreover, during this period, Lin An’s cultivation advanced steadily; before the competition, he had even broken through to the eight-star Dou Spirit level.

…

During this time, the traffic in the imperial capital of the Jia Ma Empire swelled noticeably.

The upcoming Alchemist Tournament drew not only the young alchemists of the Jia Ma Empire but also those from the Alchemist Guild of the Chu Yun Empire and other nations.

On the bustling streets, the ironclad cavalry of Jia Ma Empire patrolled while young alchemists flocked to the capital from all directions.

Perhaps due to the overwhelming number of participants, the entry requirements for this year’s tournament were extremely strict: at minimum, one had to be a second-grade alchemist and capable of successfully refining a second-grade pill to qualify for the preliminaries.

Even so, before the official start of the tournament, nearly eight hundred second-grade alchemists had passed the test and earned a spot in the tournament.

The news, once released, caused an instant uproar.

Eight hundred second-grade alchemists? The number was staggering.

In previous tournaments, even a second-grade alchemist had a shot at the championship, but this time, being second-grade was only enough to qualify.

“If the Alchemist Guild hadn’t published these numbers, I wouldn’t believe it—so many second-grade alchemists under thirty?”

“Of course. This tournament is open not just to alchemists from the Jia Ma Empire, but also from the Chu Yun Empire and other nations as well.”

“That’s right, and the main reason is that the championship prize is simply too tempting—not only a seventh-grade pill, but also a seventh-grade pill recipe, not to mention other rewards.”

“With prizes like these, anyone would be envious. If I were an alchemist, I’d risk everything to compete!”

…

The prizes for this tournament had been announced half a year ago, and they were enough to attract countless young alchemists.

Even Lin An was startled when he heard the figure; he hadn’t expected there to be so many second-grade alchemists.

“If I’d known, I would have raised the bar even higher,” Lin An muttered.

“If you set the requirements any higher, the preliminaries could be the finals! Do you think everyone is as abnormal as you, able to refine third-grade or higher pills at this age?” Nalan Yanran rolled her eyes at Lin An, exasperated.

“You’re right. Given how long this tournament has been advertised, if hardly anyone qualified for the preliminaries, it would make the Jia Ma Empire a laughingstock.”

“The tournament is about to begin; it’s time to head to the capital,” said Nalan Yanran.

Lin An nodded. It was indeed time to set out.

“I wonder how far Xiao Yan has progressed in the past six months. Can he refine fifth-grade pills now?”

Lin An murmured to himself, eager for a direct alchemical contest with Xiao Yan at the tournament.

Once the Alchemist Tournament ended, the three-year promise would reach its deadline.

That matter, too, would soon be settled.