BTTH : Emperor Yang

Chapter 168: Chapter 168: Jia Xingtian

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**

After a few casual exchanges—

The group walked out of the hall, chatting and laughing, leaving the association and heading toward the central-southern part of the city.

Walking along the bustling street, even someone as gentle and reserved as Xian’er couldn’t help but purse her lips into a faint smile in response to the countless curious and reverent gazes directed their way.

This... this is what it means to be an alchemist.

It was the dream she had longed for since childhood.

Xiao Yan, too, appeared somewhat high-spirited at this moment, confidence swelling in his heart.

On either side of the wide street, graceful and elegant young girls laughed softly or teased one another as they cast shy and admiring glances toward the group.

To girls at such an age—blossoming with fantasies and emotions—alchemists, with their air of mystery and nobility, were more captivating than any prince from a fairytale.

In this world, alchemists could stir a young maiden’s heart far more easily than the so-called white knights of bedtime stories.

The entire city was brimming with excitement and energy, sweeping away the usual solemn and dignified atmosphere of the imperial capital.

...

”This year’s tournament will be held in the Royal Plaza,” Ao Tuo explained with a smile as they walked. ”The plaza is large enough to accommodate tens of thousands of participants—it’s more than sufficient for the scale required by this alchemy tournament.”

”According to preliminary statistics, there are over two thousand alchemists participating this time. That’s the highest number we’ve seen in recent years.”

”Over two thousand?!”

This figure left Xiao Yan, Xian’er, and Qing Lin all somewhat speechless.

After all, the path to becoming an alchemist was incredibly demanding. To say it required one in ten thousand—or even one in a hundred thousand or a million—was no exaggeration.

These two thousand participants were likely more than half of all the alchemists in the Jia Ma Empire.

”The tournament consists of several rounds of assessment. Each round will eliminate a number of participants,” Ao Tuo continued. ”As the rounds progress, the difficulty increases. Those who make it through to the end will compete for the championship.”

Everyone nodded slightly.

Just imagining the scene—over two thousand alchemists lighting up their cauldrons and refining pills in the same plaza—it was enough to make one’s heart race with excitement.

As they spoke, the Royal Plaza Ao Tuo had mentioned gradually came into view.

It was an enormous square, so vast that they could only see a portion of it at first glance.

Such scale likely allowed for an audience of hundreds of thousands.

At the plaza’s perimeter, fully armed soldiers stood guard, maintaining strict order.

Events like this drew powerful people from all corners of the empire. If chaos broke out, the imperial capital would suffer devastating losses. Thus, the imperial family of Jia Ma Empire took this extremely seriously and had arranged heavy security.

At the entrance to the plaza, appraisers from the Alchemist Association were stationed. Only association members and registered participants could enter through this passage. Spectators had a separate entrance elsewhere.

With Wei Yang—an Honorary Elder—leading the group, they naturally encountered no obstruction and were allowed inside the plaza smoothly.

After passing through a corridor and climbing a staircase—

A moment later, the colossal plaza came fully into view.

Standing atop a high platform, everyone looked out over the absurdly massive square, paved with blue stone, and couldn’t help but be awed.

The plaza was circular.

Surrounding it were countless seating sections.

Three sides were standard spectator seats. The remaining side was a luxuriously decorated and significantly more spacious VIP section, prepared specifically for high-ranking association members and leaders of major powers within the imperial capital.

Below was a vast, flat stone arena.

Thousands of square stone platforms were arranged neatly within—clearly prepared for the participating alchemists. The platforms were laid out like a massive chessboard, in perfectly straight lines and grids.

At a glance, it resembled a motionless army formation.

At that moment, many alchemists had already arrived and were seated quietly behind the stone platforms, waiting for the tournament to begin.

As time passed, more alchemists continued to arrive, searching for their assigned spots according to the number tokens they had received.

The spectator stands were already packed, though the audience refrained from shouting, instead waiting quietly or whispering among themselves.

...

Ao Tuo looked up at the sky and smiled. ”There’s still some time before the tournament begins. Why don’t we wait at the VIP section?”

”Let’s go,” Wei Yang said, taking the lead.

The others quickly followed behind.

When Wei Yang led them through the corridor to the VIP seats, they saw that some people were already seated in the front row.

Among them were familiar faces—

Such as Association President Fa Ma and Vice President Qie Mi Er.

Sensing the group’s gaze, the seemingly drowsy Fa Ma and the cheerful, chatting Vice President Qie Mi Er looked over—then smiled warmly.

Vice President Qie Mi Er even stood up and waved enthusiastically. ”Wei Yang! Over here!”

Ao Tuo, Fu Lan Ke, and the others quickly bowed in greeting.

Wei Yang chuckled softly, leading the group along the corridor toward the front row, stopping before President Fa Ma.

”No need for formalities. Everyone, just find a place and sit down,” said Vice President Qie Mi Er with a casual wave of his hand. He then warmly grabbed Wei Yang’s arm and ushered him into a vacant seat he had purposely saved beside him.

With a slight tone of mock complaint, he added, ”Wei Yang, you’ve been hiding in your courtyard these past few days with that ’Do Not Disturb’ sign hung out. This old man wanted to seek you out for a little exchange, but I didn’t dare show up uninvited.”

To that, Wei Yang simply laughed it off and dodged the issue.

Exchange? Please.

He barely had enough time to make babies with his wife—who had time to ”exchange” things with this old geezer?

Exchange what, exactly?

Soap-picking techniques?

Or maybe how to bloom three fingers wide?

...

Everyone else found their own seats as well.

Ao Tuo and Fu Lan Ke made sure to formally greet President Fa Ma.

Fa Ma, in turn, offered them a few encouraging words.

Hai Bodong even engaged in a bit of banter with Fa Ma...

After that brief interlude, everyone settled into casual conversation.

At that moment—

”Hehe, Master Wei arrived quite early, I see. Ever since you came to the capital, I haven’t had the chance to pay my respects in person. That’s my failing, truly.”

A hoarse yet spirited laugh echoed from the entrance of the corridor, filled with warmth.

Everyone turned their heads.

An elderly man with white hair, clad in a plain hemp robe, walked in with a beaming smile.

Trailing behind the old man were two stunning sisters—each breathtaking in their own way. They were none other than Princess Zi Yue and Princess Yao Ye.

A few people couldn’t hide their surprise.

What kind of wind blew through today, to even drag this old royal monster out in broad daylight?

This unassuming elder in a hemp robe—he was the Guardian of the Jia Ma Imperial family.

Don’t be fooled by his seemingly decrepit appearance. This man had single-handedly upheld the authority of the Jia Ma Imperial Family for years.

Jia Xingtian!

If not for his existence, holding up the imperial family like a pillar of heaven, the Jia Ma Empire might have long since been overthrown.

Still, when everyone saw how Jia Xingtian opened with a warm greeting directed at Wei Yang, they immediately understood. Knowing glances swept the crowd.

Who here wasn’t incredibly well-informed?

In their eyes, Wei Yang wasn’t some ”suspected” Tier 6 alchemist as the rumors suggested—he was almost certainly a true Tier 6 alchemist.

And for someone of that level, even Jia Xingtian—the imperial family’s Guardian—would have to humble himself, seek friendship, and maybe even curry favor.

That was completely normal.

After all, not far from the capital, a colossal force was constantly threatening the imperial family’s rule—

The Yun Lan Sect!

And because of the presence of Pill King Gu He, the Yun Lan Sect’s power and influence were at an all-time high. Their influence was massive.

This was extremely disadvantageous for the Jia Ma Imperial Family.

Previously, the entire Jia Ma Empire only had one Tier 6 alchemist—Pill King Gu He.

And he wasn’t just anyone—he was cultivated by the Yun Lan Sect itself. You couldn’t bribe him away or puff yourself up to compete with him.

To make matters worse, Gu He was utterly infatuated with Yun Yun, the sect master of the Yun Lan Sect. He had been shamelessly pursuing her for years like an obsessed puppy, never giving up. Everyone knew it.

Which meant that even if the imperial family wanted to poach him, they had no entry point.

This had long been a thorn in the side of the imperial family—something that made it hard to even sleep peacefully.

They were envious, bitter, and completely helpless.

Now, with the appearance of Wei Yang, it was like rain in a drought—a miracle.

The entire imperial family had been jolted awake, as if a starving lecher suddenly found a goddess barging into his home.

Of course they would try every possible method to win Wei Yang over.

At the very least, they needed to maintain friendly relations. That was now the imperial family’s bottom line.

Unfortunately, when they had previously sent the two princesses to test the waters, the man didn’t even bat an eye.

Otherwise, they’d probably be banging drums and setting off fireworks preparing a royal wedding by now.

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Support me at patreon for 60+ advanced Chapters :

/YaoIk