"Teacher, look."
Han Feng stopped keeping him in suspense and took out the map fragment of the Purifying Lotus Demon Flame.
Yao Chen looked carefully and exclaimed: "This, could this be the legendary Purifying Lotus Demon Flame!"
On the map fragment, a strange lotus flower bloomed quietly.
Although it looked plain at first glance, the higher the cultivator's cultivation, the more they could discover the profound artistic conception within.
Han Feng pieced together the two map fragments in his hand and placed them under the moonlight.
The lotus absorbed the moonlight, and the patterns on the map fragment lit up with a faint white light.
Unfortunately, these patterns were not complete, so they could not exert their original function.
Yao Chen stared at the map fragment for a long time, but ultimately couldn't see anything special, but he knew this thing was significant.
"Purifying Lotus Demon Flame, the third-ranked Heavenly Flame on the Heavenly Flame Ranking, is said to possess the power to purify everything in the world."
"If these map fragments are collected, maybe we can get clues about the Purifying Lotus Demon Flame."
Han Feng sighed.
"Yes, but unfortunately there are two more map fragments. Even if one is missing, it will be of no avail."
Han Feng knew that the whereabouts of one map fragment would appear at the spatial trade fair, but for the other one, if there was no special induction, searching aimlessly like this might not find it even in ten years.
"I will keep an eye on news in this regard."
Yao Chen said.
Since Han Feng had already collected two map fragments, it meant half success.
"Your 'Flame Mantra' cultivation technique has already broken through to the Heaven Rank. If you get the Purifying Lotus Demon Flame, maybe you can make the 'Flame Mantra' surpass the Heaven Rank."
"Not sure. After breaking through to the Heaven Rank, the evolution speed of the 'Flame Mantra' has become very slow."
The main reason is that Heavenly Flames are hard to find.
There are pitifully few ownerless Heavenly Flames in the world. Even if there are, they may not leak their aura.
Although the Purifying Lotus Demon Flame is powerful, it also depends on fate.
Han Feng's current goal is the Three Thousand Burning Flame, which is now located in the Pill Tower Star Realm.
The Three Thousand Burning Flame is known as the undying flame, ranked ninth on the Heavenly Flame Ranking, even more powerful than the Nine Dragon Lightning Flame of the Burning Flame Valley.
But even with such a powerful Heavenly Flame, Han Feng estimated that it would not be able to evolve the "Flame Mantra" to the Heaven Rank High Level.
Yao Chen patted Han Feng's shoulder.
"Take it slowly. We all see your progress."
"Is Little Junior Brother going to participate in the Alchemist Conference tomorrow?"
Han Feng asked.
"Mm, do you want to go and have a look together?"
"Me?"
Han Feng smiled.
Although he had left the Imperial Capital for many years, they shouldn't have forgotten him, right?
Don't know what kind of expressions Fa Ma and Jia Xingtian will show when they see him.
"Then let's go and have a look. Anyway, Little Junior Brother is participating anonymously this time, which won't affect his Three-Year Agreement."
If the relationship between Han Feng and Xiao Yan was exposed in advance, probably no one would dare to stand on the side of the Misty Cloud Sect at the Three-Year Agreement.
The two enjoyed the moon for a while longer, then returned to their respective rooms.
"Rest early."
Yao Chen said.
Han Feng closed the door and shook his head helplessly.
He is not a child anymore, and Teacher still tells him to sleep early like before.
Han Feng sat cross-legged on the cushion and began to practice the Soul Mantra technique.
Early the next morning.
Xiao Yan sat up from the bed full of energy and stretched comfortably.
"Teacher's medicine is really effective. I was so tired yesterday, and I recovered today."
After washing up, Xiao Yan put on the mask and walked out of the room.
"Phew, ready to start."
His, Xiao Yan's, journey in the Jia Ma Sacred City starts from this Alchemist Conference.
——————————
Royal Plaza.
At this time, a row of guards wearing golden armor and holding long spears pushed the gate open uniformly.
The heavy sound of the door opened the prelude to the Alchemist Conference.
Alchemists from all over the place walked into the square with their heads held high.
On the Dou Qi Continent, most places did not popularize the basic teaching of alchemy, so alchemy was a skill that only a very few people were qualified to master.
Being able to come to the Imperial Capital and stand on the stage of the Alchemist Conference was already proof of excellence.
Xiao Yan mixed in the crowd. If he hadn't worn a mask, his plain appearance might have made him indistinguishable from everyone else.
But now wearing a small mask, his temperament changed immediately, giving a feeling of standing out from the crowd.
People beside him looked at Xiao Yan intentionally or unintentionally.
"This person actually wears a mask, so pretentious."
"Exactly, what kind of occasion is the Alchemist Conference? He actually doesn't show his true face, too disrespectful."
Hearing these voices, Xiao Yan ignored them and strode forward.
Arriving at the assessment platform, everyone showed their registration forms in turn and accepted the bone age test.
In order to prevent contestants from cheating, the inspection stage was relatively strict.
From the beginning of admission until now, some people have been driven away by the royal guards because of fraud.
Time passed bit by bit.
When it was Xiao Yan's turn, the people behind focused their eyes on him.
This person wearing a mask looked like he was participating in disguise.
However...
"Pass."
The inspector looked at Xiao Yan, put down the instrument in his hand, and said loudly.
"Actually passed. Could it be that he is too ugly?"
Someone guessed.
Xiao Yan walked into the square. At this time, the stands were already full of people.
Some big shots also entered one after another.
The patriarchs of the Mu family and the Mittel family both came to attend. Only the old master of the Nalan family did not come this time, and Nalan Yanran's father attended on his behalf.
Then came the imperial guardian Jia Xingtian and the Alchemist Guild President Fa Ma. The two had a close relationship and walked up from the backstage together.
The imperial family and the Alchemist Guild were closely related. The imperial family also put a lot of effort into this conference.
After all, holding an Alchemist Conference in the Sacred City of the Jia Ma Empire was directly related to the face of the Jia Ma imperial family.
Showing the majesty and prosperity of a great country was the added value of this conference.
Jia Xingtian looked down at a group of little guys from above. The age of these alchemists was no more than thirty. In the eyes of this imperial guardian who was more than a hundred years old, they were indeed little guys.
"That guy Hai Bodong actually didn't come to watch the competition. What is he up to?"
Jia Xingtian thought to himself.
With the Ice Emperor's current strength, attending the Alchemist Conference would likely directly increase the influence of the Mittel family in the whole country.
Logically speaking, such a rare opportunity should not be missed.
Even if he didn't care himself, the patriarch of the Mittel family would invite him to attend.
After a while, not even a shadow of the Ice Emperor Hai Bodong was seen, but another famous Pill King appeared.
Gu He walked from the backstage to the spectator seats, immediately startling a crowd of spectators to stand up.
Representatives of the three major families all stood up.
"Pill King Gu He! Didn't expect him to come too!"
As the only sixth-grade alchemist in the Jia Ma Empire today, the weight of Gu He could be imagined.
"It's Pill King Gu He! actually saw his true face today!"
"Participating in this Alchemist Conference is really worth it!"
Everyone was excited.
Gu He smiled gently, nodded to everyone, and then took his seat.
Behind him followed two young people.
A handsome man holding a folding fan, and a beautiful girl with a graceful figure and refined temperament.
"It's Nalan Yanran!"
The teenagers in the Imperial Capital recognized their goddess one after another.
This eldest miss from the Nalan family is now the Young Sect Master of the Misty Cloud Sect, with a transcendent status, equivalent to the heir of the imperial family!
If one could marry such a capable woman with a background, it would really be a step to heaven.
"Teacher, I'm going down soon."
The handsome man said to Pill King Gu He.
"Mm, go ahead."
Gu He said to his disciple Liu Ling.
"Yanran, wait and see my performance."
Passing by the girl, Liu Ling said affectionately to her.
Nalan Yanran nodded with a normal expression.
"Don't embarrass the Misty Cloud Sect."
Inside the square, Xiao Yan, who followed the main force directly into the venue, looked up searching for the figures of his teacher, senior brother, and father on the stands.
"Too many people, they wouldn't be late, right?"
In order not to expose his identity, Xiao Yan did not follow the people of the Mittel family.
On the other side, after Han Feng gave the Dou Ancestor Break Pill to Hai Bodong, this old man lost interest even in watching the competition and devoted himself wholeheartedly to breaking through.
Now the attention of the entire Imperial Capital was focused on the Alchemist Conference, so Hai Bodong's breakthrough was ignored instead.
But this was just right. If it were normal times, his whereabouts would be tracked.
Especially in the Imperial Capital, unless staying inside the Mittel family, don't think about being free and happy.
"Teacher, let's go."
Han Feng, Yao Chen, Xiao Zhan, and others set off for the Royal Plaza.
Several people came to the entrance of the crowded square and stopped in silence.
"Too many people, will we be late?"
Xiao Zhan thought worriedly.
His son participated in such a grand competition for the first time, and he wanted to watch early.
"Not attending with the Mittel family, many things are not so convenient."
Han Feng strolled forward.
"Do you know me?"
He said to a royal guard.
"Who are you?"
The guard looked tense, stared at Han Feng again and again, and asked.
"Don't think about cutting in line, go to the back and queue honestly!"
Someone queuing shouted.
"Feng'er, forget it. You don't look very famous either."
Yao Chen teased with a smile.
Han Feng's expression remained unchanged, and he took out a token from his bosom.
"This is... the token of the Mittel family?"
"You are from the Mittel family!"
Seeing the token, the royal guard's attitude seemed even more unfriendly.
In recent years, the relationship between Mittel and the imperial family had been relatively tense, and these subordinates also felt it.
"Hahahaha!"
Yao Chen laughed even louder.
"Feng'er, let's go back, change a way!"
Han Feng glanced at the guard, took back the token, turned and left.
"Mainly because the status of the people I know is too high."
"The safety awareness of the royal guards is still very good."
Han Feng commented from another angle.
"Come on, let's go to a hidden place."
Yao Chen took a few people to the alley.
Xiao Zhan looked at the quiet and silent atmosphere around him, his heart pounding.
Could it be that move again!
Han Feng raised his finger and flicked lightly. Everyone disappeared from the spot instantly and moved to the stands.
Space blurred and moved at the moment they appeared.
Because the timing of appearance was just right, the people around didn't notice.
"Good place, nice view!"
Yao Chen looked down.
"Little Yan is there."
Hearing this, Xiao Zhan immediately looked in the direction Yao Chen pointed.
"Why is he the only one wearing a mask?"
A bit unique.
Xiao Zhan thought.
Xiao Yan sensed something and looked up at where Xiao Zhan was.
He raised his hand slightly and signaled.
Dong!
The melodious bell rang, and the conference entered the beginning stage.
Fa Ma stood up and read a very official opening speech.
"Young alchemists, on behalf of the Jia Ma Empire Alchemist Guild, I extend a warm welcome to you. Being able to pass the preliminaries and come to the stage of the Alchemist Conference has already demonstrated your excellence. However, in the following competition, you will compete with each other to determine the strongest of this Alchemist Conference..."
About a quarter of an hour later, the speech ended.
Everyone couldn't wait.
"Now I declare, the Alchemist Conference officially begins!"
"All contestants, please take your seats!"
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Several sounds of breaking through the air rang from the stands. Those contestants who entered with their elders jumped off the stands one after another, using their respective dashing and exquisite means to enter the square seats from mid-air.
This dashing way of appearance undoubtedly won the cheers of the audience.
"Yan'er is still too low-key."
Xiao Zhan said so.
If it weren't for covering up his identity, Xiao Yan should have been among the people who appeared dashingly.
"Low-key?"
Han Feng laughed: "Patriarch Xiao, watch carefully later. Maybe it will change your view greatly."
"Mr. Han, what do you mean by this?"
"Little Junior Brother is not someone willing to be mediocre. He is holding a breath in his heart."
Han Feng understood Xiao Yan.
Coming to the Imperial Capital this time was to let Xiao Yan vent that breath.
Everyone has things they are obsessed with. Some will make you grow continuously, and some will make you stand still.
Nalan Yanran's action back then was a fuse that ignited the anger in Xiao Yan's heart.
Enduring humiliation for three years, how could there be no resentment?
This anger pushed Xiao Yan through the first half of his childhood and kept him working hard until now.
Although with Xiao Yan's current strength, Nalan Yanran is no longer in the same class as him, the things that should be ended still need him to do it himself.
For the first assessment, the Alchemist Conference provided a pill formula for a second-grade pill. All contestants needed to refine the finished pill within a limited time according to the records of the pill formula.
The difficulty of the assessment was not low, not degrading the prestige of the Alchemist Conference.
Wanting to refine a strange pill in a very short time required a very strong alchemy foundation.
If one is only proficient in a certain kind of pill but unfamiliar with other types of pills, the probability of failure will definitely increase.
Xiao Yan didn't rush to start but browsed through the pill formula first.
"Bone Growing Pill, a healing pill?"
He glanced at the medicinal ingredients provided on the table and quickly selected several needed ones from them.
"Let's begin."