Chapter 194 Return to Gama
The holy city of Gama.
As the heart of the Gama Empire, there is a huge flow of people here every day.
However, as the eight-yearly Alchemist Conference approaches, the city's vitality and enthusiasm have reached an unprecedented climax.
People from all over, whether they are young alchemists with dreams or visitors who come here to see the city, have gathered here, giving this ancient city new vitality.
On the streets, vendors set up all kinds of stalls, selling everything from precious medicinal herbs to exquisite alchemy tools, from exotic clothing to local snacks. The variety of goods is dazzling and overwhelming.
People walked among the stalls, selecting the products they liked, and the sounds of bargaining rose and fell, creating a bustling atmosphere of the market.
In the central square of the city, the huge alchemy furnace is ready. The fire has not yet been lit, but many citizens and tourists who come to watch have gathered around.
They were either discussing the upcoming alchemy conference in groups of three or five, or strolling around the square, enjoying the atmosphere of this rare event.
As the opening day of the conference approaches, the excitement in the holy city of Jama is increasing.
Whether in the bustling market or in the quiet alleys, people are talking about the upcoming event and looking forward to the wonderful performances of those talented alchemists.
The whole city, like a firework about to bloom, is filled with infinite anticipation and excitement.
……
On the bustling streets of the holy city of Jama, a group of four people were particularly eye-catching.
They were Xiao Ling who had returned from Canaan College, and his companions Xiao Yixian, Qing Lin and Zi Yan.
With the rapid flight of the Rayquaza, it took them less than three days to return from Canaan Academy to the Gama Empire.
This speed made Xiao Ling sigh that having a flying mount really brought great convenience to the journey.
Xiao Ling was wearing a simple robe, but it could not conceal his extraordinary temperament. His blue-gold eyes were calm, but revealed a hint of composure and confidence.
Walking on the streets of the holy city of Gama, his steps were steady and his long hair was gently blown by the wind, giving people an unfathomable feeling.
The little medical fairy beside him was wearing an elegant purple dress, pure and elegant, like a fairy who was not of this world.
Her skin is as white as cream, her features are as picturesque as paintings, and every smile is like a blooming spring flower, which makes people intoxicated.
The long silver-white hair falls softly on the shoulders, fluttering gently in the wind, exuding a faint fragrance that makes people want to get closer.
Qinglin was dressed in green, with a slender figure and eyes sparkling with agility and wit, like an elf in the forest.
She walked with light movements, and every turn revealed her agility and grace.
Her braids were tied with an emerald green ribbon, which matched her clothes and made her look lively, making people curious about her.
Zi Yan wore a pink dress with white shorts. Her purple hair and eyes of the same color exuded a unique charm, giving people a mysterious yet playful feeling.
There is a subtle arrogance hidden in her temperament, but this arrogance blends perfectly with her innocent character, making her particularly eye-catching in the crowd.
The four of them walked side by side, weaving through the bustling crowd. Their appearance undoubtedly added a touch of color to this lively market.
After all, the temperament and demeanor of these four people are obviously not comparable to those of ordinary alchemists or tourists.
The surrounding vendors and passers-by cast curious and envious glances at them from time to time, but the four seemed to have long been accustomed to this kind of attention and continued to appreciate everything around them.
Xiao Ling skillfully used the illusion of dream and spirit to make his face blurred in the crowd, as if shrouded by a veil.
As for Xiao Yixiang, Qinglin and Ziyan, they were not well-known in the Jia Ma Empire. Except for a few people from some high-level forces within the empire, ordinary passers-by naturally could not recognize them.
Therefore, the few of them avoided some unnecessary attention and disturbance.
At this time, Zi Yan turned to Xiao Ling, with curiosity in her eyes, and asked: "Xiao Ling, will you participate in this Alchemist Conference?"
Before Xiao Ling could speak, Little Medical Fairy took the lead and complained with a hint of helplessness, "Xiao Ling is now a seventh-grade alchemist. Looking at the entire Jia Ma Empire, there is only one guest elder of Yun Lan Sect, Gu He, who has reached the sixth grade, and there are no more than ten fifth-grade alchemists. If Xiao Ling goes to participate in the Alchemist Conference, it would be obvious that he is bullying others."
"Isn't Xiao Ling already an honorary elder of the Alchemist Guild? It would be a good idea for him to be a judge."
After hearing this, Zi Yan scratched her head a little embarrassedly. There was a hint of embarrassment in her smile as she explained, "Hey, I'm just curious. After all, the Alchemist Conference is a rare experience for everyone."
Xiao Ling smiled softly, his voice carrying a hint of reminiscence and confidence: "Haha, when the last Alchemist Conference was held, I was just a student at Canaan College. But at that time, I was already able to refine fourth-grade elixirs. If I really participated, I might really win the championship."
He touched his chin and continued, "However, Elder Huo told me before that Xiao Yan had returned to the Xiao family not long ago. He should be here to participate in this Alchemist Conference. This conference is undoubtedly a great opportunity for him to showcase his talents."
Xiao Yan, mentioned by Xiao Ling, is indeed a familiar name to the girls.
Ever since Xiao Yan joined the inner courtyard of Canaan Academy with his outstanding talent and strength, he has become the focus of everyone's attention.
Not only is he Xiao Ling's cousin, but he is also Elder Huo's favorite student. Such a dual identity naturally brings him a lot of attention in Canaan College.
However, Xiao Yan's reputation spread quickly, not only because of his identity, but also because of his outstanding performance in the inner courtyard selection competition.
In the outer courtyard's inner courtyard selection competition, Xiao Yan won the first place with his outstanding performance. This achievement not only made him famous, but also won him the support of many students.
His performance was exactly the same as Xiao Ling's when he entered the inner courtyard. He also relied on his strength to snatch the old student's fire energy. This action caused quite a stir in the inner courtyard.
Xiao Ling set a precedent by snatching the fire energy from senior students in the fire energy hunting competition. Although this behavior was bold, it also inspired the fighting spirit of the new students. Many new students who thought they were extraordinary followed suit and tried to establish their own reputation in the inner courtyard. However, most of them failed and were severely beaten by the senior students.
Different from the situation where Xiao Ling single-handedly killed all the old students, Xiao Yan adopted a more united strategy.
He united a group of like-minded freshmen to fight against the old students and finally succeeded in snatching the fire energy. This feat not only won him widespread support from the freshmen, but also made his reputation in the inner courtyard rise sharply.
After gaining the support of the freshmen, Xiao Yan even founded a force called "Panmen".
This force quickly developed in the inner courtyard and became a force that could not be underestimated.
With his outstanding leadership ability and strong personal strength, and the good relations he maintained with the "Supreme Freedom Sect", Xiao Yan made the "Pan Sect" flourish in the inner courtyard and now has a firm foothold in the inner courtyard.
Little Medical Fairy nodded slightly, and said with a hint of reminiscence: "In fact, Xiao Yan had come to find Xiao Ling before. But at that time, Xiao Ling had already retreated, so he couldn't be contacted at all."
Qing Lin nodded in agreement and added, "I remember that when he came to visit me once, Master asked me to give him a manuscript of a sixth-grade alchemist. I flipped through it casually and found that the manuscript was the alchemy experience recorded by Medicine King Han Feng."
Suddenly, a slightly old voice sounded softly in the ears of several people. Although Yao Chen did not show up, his voice was clearly heard by everyone, "I think that kid has a great talent in alchemy, and he is diligent and hardworking, so I gave him an opportunity. As for whether he can seize this opportunity, it depends on his luck."
Xiao Ling smiled and said, "I believe Xiao Yan can absorb the essence from that manuscript. His talent and unremitting efforts will definitely make him go further on the road of alchemy. In my opinion, he has the potential to become an eighth-grade alchemist."
As they were chatting, they unknowingly arrived at the door of the Alchemist Guild.
This majestic building, with its unique style and magnificent momentum, has become an unignorable landmark in the holy city of Jama.
The guild's gate is tall and carved from thick mahogany. The lintel is inlaid with a silver medicine cauldron pattern representing the identity of an alchemist, which sparkles brightly in the sun.
Most of the people walking around were alchemists. They were either trading rare herbs in the market or exchanging their experiences in alchemy with other alchemists. Everyone's face unconsciously revealed their deep love and unremitting pursuit of the art of alchemy.
The air is filled with the aroma of various medicinal herbs, mixed with the unique smoke produced when refining medicine, creating a relaxed and lively atmosphere.
Zi Yan looked around at the lively scene and looked at Xiao Ling with a hint of doubt. Curiosity flashed in her eyes and she asked, "Xiao Ling, shouldn't we go back to the Xiao family first? Why did we come to the Alchemist Guild first?"
Xiao Ling's smile was mysterious, and his eyes flashed with a light that was difficult to detect. He replied softly, "During this visit to the Alchemist Guild, we may encounter an unexpected opportunity."
As soon as he finished speaking, Xiao Ling waved his hand lightly, removing the cover of the phantom dream and revealing his true face.
He took the lead and walked forward slowly, stepping into the gate of the Alchemist Guild. Xiao Yixian and several others followed closely behind him.
Soon after, the group arrived at the towering gate of the Alchemist Guild, where several guards were standing to maintain order and peace at the entrance of the guild.
The leading guard captain originally just casually glanced at Xiao Ling's chest and did not find that he was wearing any alchemist-level badge.
His brows were slightly furrowed, and he was prepared to deal with the visitor in front of him with a formal politeness as usual.
However, when his gaze inadvertently moved up and touched Xiao Ling's face, his heart suddenly surged and an unbelievable emotion surged in his heart.
He rubbed his eyes subconsciously and stared again to confirm that what he saw was not an illusion.
As the gatekeeper of the Alchemist Guild, he naturally knew the appearance of some important figures. Xiao Ling's appearance was naturally recognized at a glance.
"Master Xiao Ling, your arrival really brings honor to our Alchemist Guild!" The captain of the guard's voice was filled with a hint of excitement and respect that was difficult to conceal, and his attitude instantly became extremely solemn.
When the other guards around and the alchemists entering and leaving the guild heard the guard captain's address, they all looked at him with surprise and curiosity.
They whispered to each other, full of admiration for the "First Alchemist of the Jia Ma Empire" who suddenly appeared in front of the guild.
"Isn't this Master Xiao Ling from the Xiao family? Why is he here? Hasn't Master Xiao Ling been studying at Canaan College?" A young alchemist whispered to his companion, with admiration in his eyes.
"Could it be that Master Xiao Ling returned to the Jia Ma Empire specifically for the Alchemist Conference?" Another alchemist guessed, his tone full of anticipation.
"Master Xiao Ling is not only highly skilled in alchemy, but also a humble person. He is truly a role model for us alchemists." An elderly alchemist said with emotion.
Xiao Ling seemed to be accustomed to the whispers and admiring glances around him. His calm demeanor revealed a kind of detached demeanor.
He just nodded slightly and nodded to the guard.
Afterwards, Xiao Ling led Xiao Yixian, Qing Lin and Zi Yan and walked steadily into the guild.
The moment Xiao Ling stepped into the Alchemist Guild, the captain of the guard immediately realized the importance of this event. He quickly turned around and whispered quickly instructions to a young guard standing nearby.
"Hurry up and inform the president that Master Xiao Ling has come to visit our Alchemist Guild." There was a hint of urgency in the captain's voice. He knew that Xiao Ling's return during this period was undoubtedly a big deal for the guild and it had to be reported immediately.
When the young guard heard the order, he immediately nodded, turned around and ran deep into the guild, apparently to carry out the captain's order and report this important news to the president.
As Xiao Ling appeared at the entrance of the Alchemist Guild, the news of Xiao Ling's return to the Gama Empire spread silently through the streets and alleys of the Holy City like an undercurrent through word of mouth among the people around him.
At the same time, various forces in the Holy City of Gama also received the news at the first time.
Upon learning that Xiao Ling had returned to the Jia Ma Empire, various forces wanted to visit him, hoping to establish a good relationship with Xiao Ling, the "first alchemist of the Jia Ma Empire."
However, Xiao Ling was completely unaware of all this, or even if he knew, he would not care too much.
(End of this chapter)