Nalan mentioned that Xiao Yan was very interested, or rather, he was extremely fascinated by the prospect of incorporating Gu He into the Flame Alliance. Thus, on the following morning, he had Nalan lead the way, bringing Hai Bo Dong along, and headed directly to where Gu He resided. After the Cloud Rearing Sect disbanded, Gu He naturally left it but did not depart from the Jia Ma Empire. Instead, he chose to live in reclusion in a secluded mountain range not far from the former sect, and this was exactly the destination of Xiao Yan and his companions. The place where Gu He resided in seclusion was not too far from the imperial capital. With their speed, Xiao Yan and his party arrived within about half an hour. Under Nalan’s guidance, they easily found the thatched huts hidden in the forest. Here, Xiao Yan also met a familiar face from the past, Liu Ling, who had won the championship at the Imperial Alchemist Conference against him back then. Upon seeing the sudden arrival of these people, Liu Ling was clearly taken aback. When his gaze turned to Xiao Yan’s face, he said in surprise, “Xiao Yan? What are you doing here?”
Liu Ling held a complex feeling towards Xiao Yan. Back then, the two were quite close, but now, he was merely a fourth-grade alchemist striving for fifth-grade status, while the former had already attained the strength to rival his own teacher, Gu He. This gap naturally filled him with a sense of dejection.
“Ha ha, Brother Liu, please inform Master Gu He that Xiao Yan requests an audience!” Xiao Yan smiled at Liu Ling and spoke politely. Hearing such polite words from Xiao Yan, Liu Ling hesitated for a moment but did not refuse, nodding slightly and turning to the thatched huts. He was well aware of Xiao Yan’s current status in the Jia Ma Empire and knew that he was no longer the youth with little background from before.
As Liu Ling entered the thatched huts, Xiao Yan and his companions’ gazes swept around, and they nodded silently. Gu He had truly chosen a good spot. It was isolated and rarely visited, making it a suitable place for seclusion.
While the group was examining the surroundings, the door of the thatched huts slowly opened, and a figure walked out leisurely, casting a neutral glance at Xiao Yan and his companions. “You actually managed to find this place. It seems that the Flame Alliance’s influence has indeed spread throughout the Jia Ma Empire. But, I wonder if you’re here to cause trouble or for some other reason?”
The person who appeared was none other than the long-missing King of Pills, Gu He. As Liu Ling stood up and bowed, his gaze swept over Xiao Yan and his companions, seeming somewhat perplexed by their purpose.
“You, still as annoying as ever.” Hearing this, Nalan shook his head with a smile. “It was definitely you, old man, who brought them here.”
Gu He glanced at Nalan and then fixed his gaze on Xiao Yan, saying calmly, “Flame Alliance Leader, speak your mind. I still have a medicinal field to tend today. If there’s nothing important, I won’t keep you long.”
“Eldest Nalan mentioned that Master Gu He is not a narrow-minded person. So, I’ll be straightforward. We came primarily to invite you to join the Pill Hall of the Flame Alliance,” Xiao Yan smiled and got straight to the point without beating around the bush.
He knew that for someone like Gu He, being indirect and vague would only make him impatient.
“Join the Flame Alliance?” Gu He’s face immediately showed a strange expression, then he waved lazily, “Forget it, I quite like this life. I’m not going to join any big power and get tangled up in their noisy affairs. It’s just bothersome.”
“Hey, you… didn’t you want to enter the Pill Tower to cultivate? The potential of the Pill Hall is much greater than the Alchemist Association. If you join, it won’t be hard to achieve that wish,” Nalan said helplessly.
“Old man, don’t use that to tempt me. You really think I can’t find another way into the Pill Tower? If I leave the Jia Ma Empire, do you think there aren’t other powerful alchemist organizations that would recruit me with my alchemy skills?”
“Heh, that’s true…” Nalan was at a loss for words and looked awkwardly at Xiao Yan. He knew that with Gu He’s alchemy skills, even on the Dou Qi Continent, he would easily find recruitment opportunities. After all, a sixth-grade alchemist was not something common.
Seeing that the so-called temptation didn’t attract Gu He, Xiao Yan felt a bit speechless. This old man was indeed unreliable…
“Master Gu He, if that’s the case and you’re not interested in other alchemist organizations outside the empire, why not consider the Flame Alliance? Is it because of the gap between us?”
Looking at Xiao Yan, Gu He said evenly, “Do you really want me to join the Flame Alliance?”
“With Master Gu He’s alchemy skills, I don’t think any power would let you go easily,” Xiao Yan said with a smile.
“I could go with you, but you have to meet one condition,” Gu He said, looking at Xiao Yan for a moment, eyes narrowing.
“What condition?” Xiao Yan raised an eyebrow, asking cautiously instead of immediately agreeing.
“Have a contest with me in alchemy! If you win, I will join the Flame Alliance. How about it?” Gu He looked at Xiao Yan, his eyes burning with enthusiasm. He had always been bothered by losing to Xiao Yan in the past, and now, he wanted to challenge him again in the one area he was best at.
Hearing Gu He’s words, everyone except Xiao Yan visibly changed their expressions. Gu He’s alchemy skills were renowned throughout the Jia Ma Empire, and even Nalan did not have much confidence in competing with him.
“Old man, how about a different condition? With your standing, challenging Xiao Yan in alchemy is a bit of a bullying, isn’t it?” Nalan frowned.
Ignoring Nalan, Gu He stared at Xiao Yan, grinning, “Bullying? Since I lost to him last time, I’ve never seen him as a junior. Old guy, don’t tell me you dare to treat him as one? In my opinion, his alchemy skills might not be worse than yours.”
Hearing this, Nalan rolled his eyes. He had seen Xiao Yan refine pills many times recently and knew full well the level of his alchemy skills. At the very least, Xiao Yan’s alchemy wasn’t inferior to his.
“Xiao Yan, how about it? If you win the contest, I’ll join the Flame Alliance. If you lose, then don’t bother me anymore,” Gu He said, looking at Xiao Yan calmly.
Under the watchful eyes, Xiao Yan thought for a moment, then smiled and nodded, “Since Master Gu He has this idea, I’ll oblige. Just hope that after we determine the winner, there won’t be any more excuses.”
“Just as expected of the Flame Alliance Leader. It’s been years since any alchemist in the Jia Ma Empire dared to say such things to me,” Gu He smiled, not angry but amused, and gestured, “Come inside, then. Eldest Nalan, you wait outside. Liu Ling, take care of them.”
After that, he led the way back to the huts, with Xiao Yan quickly following. Watching the two enter the hut and close the door, Nalan and Hai Bo Dong could only shake their heads helplessly. The latter sat on a stone mill, muttering, “Old man, who do you think has a better chance of winning?”
Shaking his head, Nalan said with a bitter smile, “How can I say? Gu He is called the King of Pills for a reason, and Xiao Yan is clearly not a simple character. From what I’ve seen, he might be at the level of a sixth-grade alchemist. So… the outcome is hard to predict.”
Pouring tea carefully, Liu Ling’s teapot trembled, spilling water onto the stone mill. He turned, staring at the closed door in shock. He couldn’t believe that in just a few years, the young alchemist had reached the same level as his teacher…
The so-called alchemy contest lasted for two days. No one knew what intense competition Xiao Yan and Gu He went through during those days, but the constant aroma of pills emanating from the huts suggested it was not an easy contest.
Finally, at sunset on the second day, the hut door slowly opened, and two somewhat disheveled figures emerged. Seeing them, Nalan and the others rushed over, eagerly asking, “Who won?”
Neither Xiao Yan nor Gu He revealed the result, but the next day, Gu He, accompanied by Liu Ling, left the secluded location and headed to the imperial capital. When Gu He announced his joining the Flame Alliance, Nalan and Hai Bo Dong felt a mix of awe and disbelief as they looked at the smiling, black-robed youth. The contest must have been a tough one, indeed.
With Gu He’s addition, the Pill Hall’s strength significantly increased. Following Gu He’s example, many free alchemists in the empire began to join the Pill Hall, rapidly expanding its size.
About a month after Gu He joined, Xiao Yan, with nothing to do, received a messenger bird from the Out-Cloud Empire. Unfurling the message scroll, his expression suddenly changed.
“The Soul Temple’s people are here. Come quickly!”
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