The next day, the sky was clear blue, with no clouds in sight. The sunlight was warm but not scorching, and occasional gentle breezes swept through, carrying away the city's bustling noise and leaving a refreshing sense of clarity. Today marks a grand occasion for the Gamma Empire—the annual Grand Pharmacist Assembly, held every eight years—officially commencing! As the first rays of sunlight broke free from the earth and illuminated this historic city, figures in long pharmacist robes began to appear in quiet streets, gathering in small groups. These esteemed professions are often hard to see in everyday life, due to their strength and unparalleled significance. Thus, herbalists hold a sense of mystery and reverence in the minds of ordinary people. Today, however, these high-ranking herbalists are emerging in a steady stream—like ants emerging from their burrows—from various inns and lodgings across the capital city. Though their routes differ, all converge upon the ancient, timeless Herbalists' Guild standing proudly within the city. Every shop in the city of Camar has opened earlier than usual today. Countless people have risen from their warm beds, standing at the doorways, gazing at the bustling groups of herbalists hurrying along the streets, their eyes filled with fervor and awe. The药师 gathering over these few days will be the most vibrant and bustling period of the year in Gamma Sacred City... Rarely seen药师, today appear in overwhelming numbers, forming entire legions—such a magnificent scene is only witnessed every eight years during the Grand药师 Assembly. On this special day, Xiao Yan also rose early, sitting quietly on his bed, practicing breath control for about an hour until he reached his peak state, then slowly opening his eyes. Stretching lazily, he listened to the crisp crackling sounds within his body and smiled gently. After getting off the bed, he stepped out of the inner hall and immediately spotted Hai Bo Dong standing by the window. "Good morning," he said. "I believe the number of药师 appearing in Gamma Sacred City today will be truly astonishing. Indeed, it's only such a grand event that could summon all these药师 from across the Empire." "Haibo Dong gazed at the healers passing by on the street, marveling silently. "Healers are also people—they naturally crave vanity and recognition… and this Healer's Assembly is the perfect stage," said Xiao Yan, pouring himself a cup of hot tea and taking a gentle sip, smiling lightly. Shaking his head in resignation, Hai Bo Dong remarked, "With your strength, competing in this grand assembly is like a Duke-level warrior entering a field of battles where only common fighters are present." "You're overestimating me, aren't you?" said Xiao Yan, shaking his head slightly. "Back when I was still wielding the Flame Lotus of Buddha's Wrath, securing the championship was a breeze. But now—my spiritual power has been severely damaged, and my strength has significantly diminished. And the very essence of crafting pills lies in one's spiritual power. Therefore, now, I simply don't feel confident about winning this assembly." "Hmm... I don't think it's that bad, do you? A master of pill-making capable of crafting sixth-rank pills losing to such young competitors—well, that would be...?" Hai Bo Dong stared at Xiao Yan with a puzzled expression. "That would indeed be embarrassing," Xiao Yan replied, standing up and smiling. "If one doesn't possess even this level of composure, how could they hope to pursue the even more distant path of becoming a true alchemist?" "Alright, it's about time—we should go," said Xiao Yan, setting down his teacup. He smiled and turned toward the door, walking out. Behind him, Hai Bo Dong sighed in resignation and followed. In this age, even pharmacists—more so than the princes from fairy tales—can stir the hearts of young women, which clearly demonstrates the esteemed status pharmacists hold on this continent, where qi mastery reigns supreme. Amidst the bustling energy and vibrant spirit of the city, the rigid and solemn atmosphere of the capital is entirely washed away. As the city's vibrant pulse reaches him, the previously calm rhythm of Xiao Yan's heart subtly quickens. No matter how strong his composure, he remains a young man—by nature, young people carry a touch of youthful boldness and defiance. What is most admired about youth is precisely their spirited pursuit of success, their unwavering perseverance. Walking slowly toward the Pharmacy Guild, Xiao Yan occasionally glanced at the pharmacists passing by, murmuring to himself with quiet astonishment, "It seems the appeal of this grand gathering is truly strong—not only are our own pharmacists flooding in, but many from other nations have also come. I wonder if, during the event, a surprise star from another country might emerge. That would certainly be exciting." Though he thought this to himself with a sly smile, his face remained composed. He continued his steady pace, passing several streets, then looked up at the ancient, imposing guild standing at the horizon, exhaled softly, turned to glance at Hai Bo Dong, who was gently swaying behind him, and then stepped forward, heading toward the guild. After training under the Elder Medic on his evasive skills at the WoW Mountains, it was now in this situation that Xiao Yan found himself saving considerable effort. Sidestepping past those ahead, Xiao Yan stepped forward and finally entered the guild hall, exhaling deeply in relief. Turning to look back, he noticed Hai Bo Dong slightly narrowed his eyes, drifting along like he were in a daze, closely following him. "Indeed a true Battle皇-level strength—so close yet I didn't even notice a single thing," Xiao Yan silently admired. As he walked through the hall and made his way toward the eastern wing, he was just about to ascend the stairs when he encountered Otto and his companions descending. They all paused, momentarily startled, then broke into a light chuckle. "Come with me, young one—the venue for the grand event isn't actually at the Medic Guild," Otto said, patting Xiao Yan's shoulder with a smile. Nodding with a smile, Xiao Yan greeted Frank and the two women, Xue Mei beside him. "Young lad, this time the Black Rock Guild counts on you—please don't let yourselves fall behind to Liu Ling and the others," Frank said warmly, his confidence in Xiao Yan firmly rooted after the previous internal trials. "Heh, I'll do my best." Xiao Yan smiled slightly, and suddenly noticed Otto's surprised gaze fixed on Hai Bode behind him. He introduced, "Master Otto, this is my friend, Hai Bode..." "Oh...呵呵, hello, Black Rock City Otto, Frank..." With a warm nod, since Hai Bode had retired for over thirty years, Otto and Frank were not particularly familiar with the name Hai Bode—only vaguely recognizing it as somewhat familiar. Though they didn't know much about him personally, Otto and Frank were both strong cultivators at the Du Ling level, and as healers, their spiritual strength surpassed that of peers at the same level. Thus, through their refined spiritual perception, they could subtly sense the depth and refinement in the elder's presence. As a result, they didn't dare to be overly casual. "Hmm." "Regarding the two's polite courtesies, Hai Bo Dong merely gave a faint nod, his composed demeanor leaving them momentarily stunned. Lin Fei, who always had a sharp eye and could not tolerate any imperfections, narrowed her eyes, ready to reprimand them—only to have Otto swiftly catch her by the arm. "I'm sorry, both of you, Master Hai is simply like this—he has no intention of being particular toward either of you," Xiao Yan sighed, shaking his head slightly and smiling to ease the situation. Fortunately, Otto and the other didn't seem particularly bothered, merely offering a casual smile and steering the conversation in a new direction. The group continued chatting and eventually stepped out of the hall, following Otto through the back entrance of the guild, heading steadily toward the southern central part of the city. "This year's grand assembly will be held at the Royal Plaza—the venue is spacious enough to accommodate over ten thousand people, fully capable of meeting the scale required for this event." "Walking along the streets, Otto smiled and explained, 'Based on the initial count, there should be over two thousand alchemists attending this grand assembly—this is the largest gathering we've seen in several sessions.' 'Two thousand plus...' The figure made Xiao Yan momentarily astounded. After all, the conditions for becoming an alchemist are exceptionally rigorous—describing them as selecting one in a thousand, or even one in ten thousand, might not be an exaggeration. With over two thousand alchemists gathered now, it seems they've brought together more than half of the alchemists from the Gamma Empire. 'The assembly will be divided into several rounds of evaluations. Each round will eliminate a significant number of participants, and the difficulty will increase progressively. Ultimately, only the very finest will remain—the final champions.' 'Ah, yes.' Nodding slightly, Xiao Yan found himself stirred by the thought of over two thousand alchemists simultaneously gathering on a single plaza to ignite and refine their alchemical concoctions. The scene must have been truly awe-inspiring." As Otto spoke, the Royal Plaza gradually came into view. Xiao Yan gazed out, and what he could see was merely a massive ice-capped corner of the plaza. Outside the plaza, fully equipped troops were stationed to maintain order. With so many powerful figures from all over gathering for this event, any disturbance could severely impact the Imperial Capital—thus, the Garde Royal had taken extraordinary care. At the plaza's entrance, inspectors from the Alchemist's Guild were stationed, allowing only Guild members and contestants to enter through that gate; spectators had a separate entrance. Guided by Otto, Xiao Yan and his companions encountered no obstacles as they entered the plaza. After ascending a short elevated ramp, the vast, colossal plaza finally fully unfolded before Xiao Yan's eyes. Standing at the summit of the slope, Xiao Yan couldn't help but shake his head in admiration at the vast, almost unimaginably large, jade stone plaza. The plaza was circular, with numerous seating areas flanking both sides—clearly the spectator seats—while across from them, more luxurious and ornate贵宾chairs were reserved specifically for the high-ranking officials of the guilds and the leading figures of the Imperial Capital's major power houses. As he scanned the expansive plaza, Xiao Yan noticed that thousands of neatly arranged jade stone platforms were evenly distributed throughout the space. These platforms were arranged with precise order and symmetry, creating the impression of an immovable army of jade stone. At this moment, several competitors already sat quietly on stone benches behind the platforms, waiting for the start of the competition. As time passed, more and more炼药师flowed out through the entrance corridors, gradually finding their designated spots according to the examination badges they had received. Otto looked up at the sky and smiled, "Let's head to the贵宾 area first. There's still some time until the大会 begins. There, you'll be able to meet some prominent figures—perhaps someone who can be of use to you." "Hmm." Last night, even the royal guardian, the enigmatic Jia Lao, Xiao Yan, had already been seen, so he wasn't entirely sure about the 'top-tier' figures Otto mentioned. Still, the timing was indeed early, so he simply nodded in agreement. Seeing no objections, Otto and Frank took the lead, guiding the group toward the贵宾 area. As they approached the entrance to the贵宾 zone, Otto suddenly pointed toward the front row, where a group of people had already taken seats. Among them sat Chemil, the vice president of the Alchemist's Guild, and beside him was an elderly man dressed in a purple alchemist's robe. "That's Master Fama, the head of the Gamma Empire's Pharmacists' Guild. He's rarely seen at the guild these days, but it's said he's on the verge of reaching the sixth rank of pharmacist. In the realm of pharmacy within the Gamma Empire, Master Fama's reputation stands equal—even surpasses—that of the renowned Dan King, Guo He. Indeed, even when Guo He encounters Master Fama, he treats him with due respect. Back when Guo He was still rising in his career, Master Fama showed him great kindness, and it's truly a matter of profound recognition and appreciation." Otto spoke softly. "Hmm. I didn't expect this old man to still be alive! These elders—each one more extraordinary than the last..." Sea Po Dong, his eyes slightly narrowed, listened intently as Otto described the situation. He then suddenly lifted his gaze, glanced at the elder, and murmured quietly. "Oh?" Slightly lifting his brow, Xiao Yan gazed at the elderly man whose face was as dry and wrinkled as ancient tree bark, resembling someone on the verge of passing away, his eyes filled with astonishment. It seemed that, in this light, this elder should actually be the leading figure in the pharmaceutical field of the Gamma Empire. Noticing the gaze, the drowsy elder suddenly turned his head, fixing his somewhat bewildered eyes on Xiao Yan, a warm, friendly smile spreading across his weathered face. Upon seeing the elder turn to look at him, Otto and Frank promptly bowed deeply and then carefully advanced along the corridor, respectfully addressing the elder: "Master Fama, it's been several years since we last saw you—your health and vitality remain as splendid as ever." "Ah, yes, Otto and Frank from Black Rock, aren't you? You've both done well—quite impressive, actually. You've both advanced to the rank of Fourth-Class Alchemist in just these years. Remarkable progress!" With a slightly blurred gaze, the elder named Fama chuckled lightly. "It's all thanks to Master Fama's lecture last time," Otto replied with a respectful smile. "I can only share a few personal experiences—what's most important, though, really depends on you all..." Shaking his head with a smile, Fama suddenly turned his gaze toward Xiao Yan, standing behind Otto, and said warmly, "This young fellow—wouldn't it be the one who achieved the highest score in the internal guild assessment? His name... is it Rock-Jiao, isn't it?" "Mr. Fama, my name is Rock-Jiao," said Xiao Yan, respectfully, not daring to show any slightness toward the elder whose reputation in the pharmaceutical field of Jiaema Empire even surpassed that of Guo He. He bowed slightly and smiled in return. "Heh, truly, heroes often emerge from the younger generation—such a young age, and yet he's managed to refine the Iron-wood Spirit Leaf eight times. I remember, back then, Guo He didn't have such capabilities, did he?" Fama's voice was calm and unhurried, slightly hoarse, yet carried a quiet authority that made it hard for anyone to interrupt. Xiao Yan smiled calmly, but said nothing in response to that topic. Fahm smiled gently at Xiao Yan, his gaze lingering with subtle intent on the ordinary face before him. As Xiao Yan noticed this gaze, a sudden shock surged through him—he had to wonder if Fahm had seen through his facade. While Xiao Yan was still pondering this, Fahm seemed to sense his unease and light-heartedly remarked, "Young fellow, as long as you're not coming specifically to the guild, I won't bother you with any unnecessary matters." Though Fahm's laughter left the surrounding guild elders somewhat puzzled, Xiao Yan quietly exhaled in relief and offered a grateful glance to Fahm. "Hmph, old coot! You're only getting more talkative with every passing year," the sudden scoff caused a wave of surprise among the guests at the guest table. Sitting atop Fahm, Chemitir's face darkened immediately, and he barked, "Who is it?" At the very moment the cold laugh rang out, Xiao Yan sighed in resignation inside. Aside from the one behind him, Hai Bo Dong, who else would be so blunt? The cold laugh also made Fang Ma slightly taken aback, but soon he turned his gaze to Xiao Yan's back, murmuring, "This aura... it's so cool, like frozen ice. Could it be... the Ice Elder?" By the end of his words, a clear sense of astonishment had settled upon his face. "Thank goodness I made it through that…" Hai Bodeo rubbed his lips, his eyes still filled with lingering awe, murmuring, "That woman... truly terrifying." "Indeed a resilient one. But as long as she's alive, I won't feel so utterly alone anymore. At least, I won't be quite so lonely, ha ha..." Fama's face, usually as dry as a withered tree trunk, now trembled with warmth as he laughed heartily. Hearing their conversation, the elder council members who had initially bristled at Hai Bodeo's sharp remarks now quietly retreated, realizing that this seemingly ordinary old man was, in fact, no ordinary figure at all. Standing behind Otto, Linfe and Xue Mei stared in open amazement at Hai Bodeo, casually chatting and exchanging banter with Fama. By now, they too had come to understand—this man, who appeared so unremarkable, was actually a hidden powerhouse. "How strange—how does this man manage to associate with people of such extraordinary caliber?" The two exchanged glances, both casting that peculiar gaze toward Xiao Yan, who was shaking his head in growing frustration. The familiarity between Hai Bo Dong and Fama was clearly also surprising to Otto and Frank, who both paused momentarily. After a brief moment, Otto regained his composure and his expression suddenly grew serious, murmuring softly, "Hai Bo Dong? Hai Bo Dong? Wasn't that the name of the Ice Emperor among the Ten Great Powers back then?" As he thought this, Otto turned to Frank and met his eyes—both of them saw a look of astonishment. They had never expected someone of such vintage to still be alive, and even more surprising, the nature of his relationship with Xiao Yan seemed quite extraordinary. "This young man has truly hidden his talents well," Otto and Frank thought in unison, both fixing their gaze on Xiao Yan with a sense of wonder. How could a relatively young man, only just beginning his journey in the field of alchemy, have established such strong ties with someone of such stature? Xiao Yan stood in place, patiently enduring the series of unusual glances. After a while, he suddenly noticed that Fang Ma, who had just been conversing with Haibo Dong, once again turned his attention to him. Now, Fang Ma was slightly frowning, his eyes scanning back and forth over Xiao Yan as if searching for something. "What's wrong?" Haibo Dong asked, surprised. He had only mentioned that Xiao Yan possessed exceptional talent, yet Fang Ma's reaction was far beyond what he expected. "Hmm, I don't know why, but I sense a faint sense of familiarity—something I've seen before—within Rock Xiao's presence," Fang Ma coughed, speaking with some bewilderment. "Familiarity?" Xiao Yan blinked, his expression subtly shifting as he murmured, "Could it be that he has sensed the presence of Queen Medusa?" "Heh, perhaps I'm just imagining things—people grow older and their illusions multiply..." After feeling again, the sensation wasn't as strong as before. Fumai shook his head with a touch of disappointment, leaning back against the chair, his mind slightly scattered, his memories hazy. When he was younger, he had journeyed across the continent and once encountered an elderly master whose capabilities were truly incalculable. By chance, the two had spent three days together. Though the master's teachings were often spontaneous, they proved deeply beneficial to Fumai. It was precisely through these teachings that, after returning to the Gamma Empire, the once-unknown Fumai gradually rose to his current stature. As he reached this point, Fumai began to truly appreciate the extraordinary nature of that enigmatic elder. The faint aura he had sensed on Xiao Yan bore a strong resemblance to the one he had experienced on that elder's body—hence, Fumai suddenly felt himself somewhat overwhelmed. Since he felt uneasy, Xiao Yan wasn't bold enough to dwell on this topic for long. However, just as he was about to shift the conversation, a deep, resonant laugh echoed from the passage in the middle of the seating area: "Hehe, Hai Old Man, young Yan Xiao—y'all came quite early!" Upon hearing the laughter, everyone turned to look. When they saw the simple, plain robe worn by the white-haired elder, they were all somewhat surprised, even stunned, wondering what wind had blown today that could make such an old sage appear so unexpectedly during the day. His gaze swept over the young princess, and only then did Xiao Yan notice that beside her stood a woman dressed in luxurious silk robes, tall and graceful. This woman bore a resemblance to the princess in her facial features, yet carried a cold, elegant aura akin to that of the Snow Sprite—underneath this coolness, there was a sense of regal dignity cultivated by her royal upbringing. Compared to the petite, endearing princess, this woman exuded a mature, refined grace, her eyes captivating and naturally alluring. After glancing at both women and finally returning to Jia, Xiao Yan bowed slightly and smiled, "Jia, you're not late at all." Approaching with a smile, Jia looked at Hai Bo Dong and Fama, and laughed heartily, "I never thought we'd have the chance to gather together again—what a wonderful coincidence!" "Indeed, quite a coincidence..." Fang Ma smiled lightly. "Old fellow, I didn't expect you to come and watch the grand tournament today. I always thought you weren't particularly fond of such events." "Having shrunk for several decades, occasionally stepping out to see things is a pleasant change..." Jia, the elder, smiled, turned to Xiao Yan, and then pointed to the mature, elegant woman behind him, chuckling, "Young one, I'm sure you've already met Yue. This is Yue's sister, Yao Ye. All the security arrangements for this tournament—five thousand troops inside and out—are entirely under her command." Upon hearing this, Xiao Yan was taken aback. He never imagined that such a composed woman could possess such capabilities. With five thousand troops, he himself would likely have managed to make a complete mess. Yet, observing the neat and orderly formations of the soldiers at the main gate, it was clear that this woman commanded them with ease and precision. "Yao Ye, this is the young friend we've spoken of—the one with truly outstanding prowess. I believe he is the strongest contender for the championship this time around." The elder, pointing at Xiao Yan, smiled warmly at the elegant woman behind him. Upon hearing the elder's praise, the princess beside him pouted slightly, murmuring quietly to herself—clearly not convinced by the elder's assessment. "I hope Mr. Yan Xiao achieves satisfactory results. I'll personally host a banquet to celebrate his success—just as long as he doesn't decline." Tian Ye smiled and withdrew her hand. "This woman... her methods for winning over people are truly sharp. I suspect she'll become quite significant in the future." With a composed nod, Xiao Yan felt a subtle sense of surprise. Even with his strong composure, he had found himself gradually easing his reservations within just the brief period of initial interaction with Tian Ye. Seeing Xiao Yan nod in agreement, Tian Ye finally stepped back and stood behind Jia La, her usual reserved demeanor giving way only because of her grandfather's exceptionally high praise for this young man. "Yet if he truly possesses the potential as his grandfather described, then I am not at all regretting my willingness to cultivate such a close relationship with him..." With her gaze sweeping over Xiao Yan's consistently calm and composed face—never showing much sign of agitation—Tian Ye was quite satisfied with his steadiness. To remain so composed in the presence of so many top-tier imperial figures and peak-level warriors was indeed rare. At least, unlike the noble youths who, due to her status, hesitated and stepped back in fear. After a few conversations with Xiao Yan, Tian Ye bowed gracefully to Fang Ma and Hai Bo Dong, demonstrating a flawless set of courtesies that left little room for criticism, even softening the usually reserved Hai Bo Dong's cold demeanor. Once everyone had exchanged greetings, they settled into seats at the front of the guest section. Unconsciously or by design, Tian Ye, the Princess, ended up sitting right beside Xiao Yan. A subtle, gentle fragrance of womanly grace drifted softly from her side, making those present feel rather distracted and stirred. Sitting upright, Xiao Yan fixed his gaze steadily upon the vast, somewhat imposing plaza below. As time passed, an increasing number of alchemists began to enter the venue, and the audience section across from him grew dense, with heads forming a continuous expanse. Countless lively young women there emitted阵阵 laughter-inducing, enthusiastic cheers of admiration. Inspired by this atmosphere, Xiao Yan felt a growing warmth within him, recalling the spectacular scene of a thousand flames rising simultaneously, and growing increasingly eager to see it unfold. As the sun moved across the sky, the number of guests on the VIP section steadily grew—mostly influential figures or their families from the Imperial Capital—while the audience section across the way had already become a sea of people, their shouts forming a powerful surge that rose straight into the heavens. Sitting quietly at his seat, Xiao Yan gently closed his eyes. After a while, he suddenly felt a stir among the seats around him and furrowed his brows, turning his head to gaze at the source of the commotion. The delegation entering the VIP section was notably impressive—representing all three of the empire's leading families. Such a presence made it unlikely that any other power in the empire could be easily overlooked. The real reason for the excitement, however, lay in the two women walking in the middle: Nalan Yanran and Ya Fei. Though their styles of grace differed, both were equally stunning in appearance. Together, they naturally drew considerable attention, which explained why the noble youths behind were so animated. The group proceeded down the corridor, eventually reaching the front row, where they greeted their acquaintances with warm smiles. As he exchanged greetings with Lan Jie and Mitel Tengshan, Xiao Yan's eyes swept over an unfamiliar elder walking alongside them.紧 behind this elder was Mu Zhan, listening intently to their conversations. With this, Xiao Yan identified the elder as Mu Chen of the Mu family—a powerful Du Wang. Yan Ye, seated beside Xiao Yan, observed that two beauties—Yafei and Nalan Yanran—whose grace and beauty were no less than her own—had both gathered around Xiao Yan. She was well aware of the two women's status, and a flicker of surprise passed through her eyes. In her mind, she murmured, "Xiao Yan's appearance is rather ordinary, yet he seems to have such a strong appeal to young women. It seems my grandfather was right—the young man is truly a promising prospect. Otherwise, with Yafei's sharp intelligence and Nalan Yanran's refined elegance, they would never have engaged in such casual, relaxed conversation with him." With all three beauties now gathered around Xiao Yan, the attention on the guest platform grew noticeably warmer. Several younger guests, who had harbored hopes for one or more of the three, stared at Xiao Yan with growing resentment, as if he were their sworn enemy. Sighing, he rubbed his forehead. The lingering fragrance drifting past his nose made him want to chuckle, while the intense, warm glares from behind pressed upon him like needles—so much so that he couldn't quite understand why these three women had gathered around him. Was it yet another instance of that dull woman's competitive nature? Smiling gently, Xiao Yan slightly moved his lips, then turned his head with a smile. Staring coldly at Xiao Yan's back, Liu Ling slowly inhaled, clearly hearing the lip movements earlier. "I'm waiting..." ... As time passed, the moment of the grand assembly finally arrived under the watchful eyes of all present. When a clear chime rang out across the square, the bustling noise that had filled the air gradually fell silent. Hearing the lingering chime echoing around him, Fang Ma rose trembling, then slowly walked to the front of the guest section. As his gaze swept over the more than a thousand alchemists seated behind the green stone platform, a crowd of over two thousand alchemists also lifted their heads, gazing with reverence toward the esteemed elder, renowned throughout the Gamma Empire's alchemical world. "On behalf of the Gamma Empire's Alchemical Guild President, I declare: the Seventh Alchemical Assembly begins!" "Roar!" The arena roared with enthusiastic cheers, waves of applause surging skyward!