Chapter 81: Xun Er: Have the gap between him and me become this large?

Jia Ma Imperial Capital.

These past few days, the Jia Ma Imperial Capital has been exceptionally lively; the Alchemist Grand Meeting, held only once every few years, has attracted countless spectators.

This clash between alchemists has truly captured everyone's attention.

However, the final result of the Alchemist Grand Meeting left many people in the Jia Ma Empire dissatisfied, and even feeling quite furious.

Because the winner of the grand meeting was actually an alchemist from the Chuyun Empire.

This result made the people of the Jia Ma Empire's Alchemist Guild feel they had lost all face, and the morale within the empire was also greatly dampened.

Because the Jia Ma Empire and the Chuyun Empire have always been hostile nations; wars between the two countries are constant, and friction occurs frequently.

Right now, the first place of the Alchemist Grand Meeting held in the Jia Ma Imperial Capital was actually taken away by someone from an enemy country—how ridiculous.

On the night after the grand meeting ended, lights were lit in a room at an inn in the Imperial Capital, yet for a long while, no sound came from within.

At this moment, Xiao Yan was alone in the room, his brows tightly furrowed and his expression somewhat dejected.

"There really is always someone better, and a heaven beyond heaven... A girl even younger than me actually possesses such alchemy talent..."

Xiao Yan sighed in his heart; he had also participated in this grand meeting, but he only achieved third place, while second place went to Princess Yao Yue.

Xiao Yan did not have much of a reaction to losing to that alchemist from the Chuyun Empire, as that fellow's true age was already quite advanced.

However, the strength of Princess Yao Yue caused Xiao Yan to harbor some doubts about the alchemy talent he had always been proud of.

"Knock, knock!"

Suddenly, the room door was knocked upon. Xiao Yan cleared his throat, the dejected expression on his face was wiped away, and he said, "Please come in."

A delicate, jade-like hand slowly pushed open the door, and a familiar figure walked in.

Seeing that familiar, pretty face, Xiao Yan felt a sense of relief in his heart, and a smile appeared on his face.

It turned out the person who arrived was Xun Er.

"Brother Xiao Yan, how were the results today?"

Xun Er walked over, sat down beside Xiao Yan, and asked with a smiling gaze.

"Third!"

"That alchemist from the Chuyun Empire who hid their identity is indeed formidable, but I didn't expect that little girl groomed by the Jia Ma Imperial Family would also have such powerful alchemy strength. Could it be that the casual pointers from that Gu Fei are really that effective?"

Xiao Yan rubbed his nose and said with a hint of gloom.

He had come to the Imperial Capital and heard that Princess Yao Yue had once received guidance from an alchemist named Gu Fei, but he had not taken it seriously at the time.

After all, he had only heard the name Gu Fei recently; he was not a senior with a widespread reputation.

But today, Princess Yao Yue's alchemy strength far exceeded his expectations.

If only that alchemist from the Chuyun Empire had beaten him, it would be understandable, but he had been cultivating with Yao Lao for so long—how could he be inferior to Princess Yao Yue, or rather, to the Gu Fei behind Princess Yao Yue?

At this moment, Xiao Yan still did not know Gu Fei's specific identity.

He had only heard that Gu Fei was a youth with immense talent who had appeared in the Imperial Capital a few months ago and had a Sixth Rank flying Magical Beast as a mount, which had caused quite a stir.

He was not aware that Gu Fei's alchemy strength had also reached such a level.

"Gu Fei?"

Hearing Xiao Yan's words, Xun Er's eyes flickered, and her breathing hitched.

She was stunned for a moment, then nodded and said softly, "If it was Gu Fei who provided the guidance personally, then that is not surprising!"

Xun Er knew of Gu Fei's alchemy strength; back in the Ancient Realm, he was already a Seventh-Grade Alchemist. In terms of attainments and talent in alchemy alone, Gu Fei could rank among the best in the entire Ancient Realm.

Let alone in a mere Jia Ma Empire?

"You know him?"

Hearing the tone in Xun Er's words, Xiao Yan could not help but ask in confusion.

"I know him... but we are not very close!"

Hearing Xiao Yan's question, Xun Er's figure stiffened, and she immediately chose to gloss over it calmly.

Subconsciously, she did not want Xiao Yan to know that she had already been married once.

But seeing that the confusion in Xiao Yan's eyes had not faded, Xun Er was not panicked; instead, she thought of a way to change the subject.

She took something out from her Storage Ring and spread her palm open in front of Xiao Yan.

A spiritual herb with a faint aura fluctuation was quietly blooming with deep blue flowers, the petals shimmering with a faint luster.

This was another spiritual herb she had found that could restore soul power, ever since she learned that day that the Seven-Colored Green Spirit Saliva had already been taken by Gu Fei.

Xiao Yan finally had his attention diverted, his gaze landing on this spiritual herb.

Xun Er gave a sweet smile and said, "Brother Xiao Yan, this is a spiritual herb that can restore soul power."

Xiao Yan's gaze jolted.

Xun Er placed it directly into his hand. His eyes flickered, and he felt very grateful: "Xun Er, thank you!"

"Brother Xiao Yan, as long as Xun Er can help you, that is enough!"

Xiao Yan put away the spiritual herb, and the two looked at each other and smiled, their emotions flowing quietly between their gazes.

Suddenly, a fluctuation occurred in the space within the room.

Xun Er's eyes narrowed.

"Elder Nanhai!"

She turned her head to look quickly, and what came into view was a rather familiar, aged face.

Xun Er stood up nervously, trying to block Xiao Yan behind her without drawing attention.

She knew that most Gu Clan Elders did not like Xiao Yan; could it be that they had come suddenly this time because they wanted to...

"..."

At this moment, Xiao Yan, who was behind Xun Er, was completely bewildered.

Because the pressure exerted by the suddenly appearing old man was too great; it felt as if it would be as simple for the other party to kill him as it would be to crush an ant.

"Xun Er, come back with me!"

This Gu Clan Elder who had arrived cast a glance at Xiao Yan with aged eyes, then let them fall upon Xun Er, speaking with profound meaning.

"I am not going back!"

Hearing words urging her to return yet again, Xun Er knitted her brows and refused without the slightest hesitation.

She had only just reunited with Xiao Yan, so naturally, she was unwilling to part so soon.

Hearing this, the Gu Clan Elder frowned and took a look at Xiao Yan behind her.

"Xun Er, since leaving the Ancient Clan, your cultivation has made no progress at all. Do you know that Gu Fei has already broken through to the Dou Zun realm less than a year after leaving the Ancient Clan! Your performance has truly disappointed the Clan Leader and the Elders of the clan. If it weren't for your cultivation failing to improve, we would not have resorted to such drastic measures to bring you back!"

The Elder sighed in a tone of disappointment.

"Gu Fei has broken through to Dou Zun?"

Hearing the Elder's words, Xun Er was stunned; it took her a long while to react, and her face was filled with astonishment.

Clearly, the speed of Gu Fei's cultivation progress had greatly exceeded her expectations.

"Has the gap between him and me already grown this large without me realizing it?"

Xun Er lowered her eyelids, her mind involuntarily recalling certain events that had occurred in the Ancient Realm. A hint of bitterness appeared on her face inadvertently, her pearly teeth lightly biting her rosy lower lip, and her fingertips unconsciously digging into her palms.

However, she quickly recovered, her gaze returning to calmness. Thinking of Brother Xiao Yan behind her, she wanted to plead for him.

"Elder Nanhai, it is not that Xun Er is not striving for progress... I will definitely work hard at my cultivation afterward. Can you give me some more time?"

Her eyes carried a trace of entreaty, and her brows were tightly furrowed.

"That Gu Fei is a Dou Zun expert? A Dou Zun expert even more formidable than a Dou Zong expert?"

To the side, Xiao Yan was also shocked as he listened to the conversation between Xun Er and Gu Nanhai.

In the Jia Ma Empire, even Dou Huangs, or perhaps even Dou Wangs, were rarely seen.

The Dou Zun realm, to him at this moment, was as unreachable as a legend.

(End of this chapter)