Chapter 74: Journey to the Imperial Capital
Seeing Xiao Tian, Little Doctor Immortal hurriedly hid the poison she was holding. She knew that people in this world detested poison masters.
Suddenly remembering something, she quickly looked up at Xiao Tian and asked anxiously, "Xiao Tian, when did you come in?"
"Just when you fainted," Xiao Tian replied.
Hearing this, Little Doctor Immortal's face changed. "You... you didn't touch me, did you?"
"Do you think I'm the kind of person who would take advantage of someone?" Xiao Tian spread his hands.
"No, that's not what I meant... I mean, you didn't come into contact with my body, right?" Little Doctor Immortal stammered.
"No," Xiao Tian shook his head. "Actually, I already know you have the Calamity Poison Body."
Xiao Tian's words hit her like a bolt of lightning, making Little Doctor Immortal's face change dramatically. She tensed up, and then a bitter smile appeared on her face. "No wonder you didn't touch me. You're afraid of me."
"Silly, I never minded that," Xiao Tian stepped forward, wiping away her tears and pulling her into his arms, holding her tightly. He gently patted her back and said softly, "Little Doctor Immortal, no matter what happens to you, I will always be by your side."
Little Doctor Immortal's body trembled slightly. She looked up at Xiao Tian and asked, "Why are you so good to me?"
Xiao Tian replied seriously, "Because I like you. From the moment I saw you, I liked you."
"You... like me?" Upon hearing this, Little Doctor Immortal's heart began to race. In this warm, comforting embrace, she felt it wouldn't be bad to accept him. But then she remembered her condition. She pushed Xiao Tian away and said calmly, "Xiao Tian, we're not suitable for each other."
Xiao Tian held her again and said slowly, "Little Doctor Immortal, I know you're worried about the Calamity Poison Body. My master is an eighth-grade peak alchemist, and our sect is a major power in Central Plains. I believe there is a way to solve this problem there."
He remembered that there was a Poison Sage's relic in Central Plains, which contained the method to control the Calamity Poison Body.
"Can it really be solved?" Little Doctor Immortal asked, almost not daring to believe it.
Xiao Tian nodded. "I believe it can."
After comforting her, they stayed in the small valley for a few more days before heading straight to the Jia Ma Empire's capital. Xiao Tian planned to visit the Alchemist Association there and trade for the recipe of the Soul Fusion Pill from Fa Ma.
...
On a wide street, Xiao Tian and Little Doctor Immortal walked hand in hand. Soon, they arrived at a grand building shrouded in a light mist of medicinal fragrance. The tall gate bore the five ancient characters of the Alchemist Association, glowing faintly silver, commanding respect from passersby.
"Wow! So many alchemists!" Little Doctor Immortal exclaimed at the sight of numerous hurried alchemists.
"These are just first- and second-grade alchemists. Even the president of the Alchemist Association is only a fifth-grade alchemist. Nothing impressive," Xiao Tian said casually.
Little Doctor Immortal didn't think he was being arrogant, knowing that Xiao Tian's master was an eighth-grade peak alchemist.
"Stop right there!" The guard at the gate halted them, seeing they wore no alchemist robes. "Sorry, only alchemists can enter."
"Look at this," Xiao Tian said, summoning the Green Lotus Core Flame.
"Boom!" The eerie green flame appeared, radiating intense heat and attracting much attention.
"Real fire?" The guard approached respectfully. "Please come in, sir."
Clearly, he mistook Xiao Tian for a fourth-grade alchemist. Xiao Tian put away the flame and asked, "How can I meet President Fa Ma?"
The guard shook his head. "Sir, I don't know how to meet the president."
"I see," Xiao Tian said, a bit disappointed. "Looks like I'll have to use another method."
He spread his soul power, letting it sweep through the Alchemist Association while transmitting a message, "President Fa Ma, please come out to meet me!"
"What powerful soul force!"
"Who is this daring to cause trouble at the Alchemist Association?"
Instantly, several figures emerged from the building. Xiao Tian looked up to see an old man in a purple alchemist robe floating in the air.
Upon the old man's appearance, everyone respectfully greeted, "Greetings, President Fa Ma."
The old man nodded slightly and said to Xiao Tian, "Young friend, please come in."
"Whoosh!" Xiao Tian lifted Little Doctor Immortal, and they both flew into the Alchemist Association on their Dou Qi wings.
"Two young Dou Wangs?" The crowd gasped in surprise, assuming anyone with Dou Qi wings was a Dou Wang.
Xiao Tian and Little Doctor Immortal followed Fa Ma to the top floor of the Alchemist Association building. Inside the room, Fa Ma said, "Have a seat."
He glanced at the wings on Little Doctor Immortal's back and asked, "That young lady is using a flying Dou Technique, isn't she?"
"Indeed," Xiao Tian nodded.
"Even a lost flying Dou Technique... It seems your background is not simple," Fa Ma mused. "What brings you to see me?"
"I heard you have the recipe for the sixth-grade Soul Fusion Pill. I'm willing to trade a fragment of a soul cultivation method for it," Xiao Tian said.
"What? A soul cultivation method?" Fa Ma exclaimed. "You have a soul cultivation method?"
He had only heard of such things and never seen one. He thought it was just a legend, but now, hearing it truly existed, he was astonished. As an alchemist, Fa Ma knew the value of a soul cultivation method. The strength of soul power directly determined the grade of pills an alchemist could refine. Stronger soul power meant higher-grade pills.
However, improving soul power was extremely difficult, which was why Fa Ma had been stuck at the fifth grade for so many years.
(End of Chapter)