"Yulin, quickly inform the Masters. That old fogie finally manned up and sent someone."


    For a mere gate guard to be referring to the Cmity Dragon like so…


    "And you…"N?v(el)B\\jnn


    Before As could continue the thought, the woman turned her attention back to him.


    "It looks like you have no idea what that means, but that''s also just like that old pig to do."


    As she spoke, a new guard arrived nearby and took her ce. She motioned for As to follow her and walked in through the gates.


    "You said your name was As, didn''t you? Wee to Genvera. Enjoy it while you can, because when the Masters call for you, the challenge circuit will begin."


    "Challenge circuit?" As repeated.


    "That''s why you''re here."


    Once they were firmly inside the city walls, the woman turned around to face him.


    "I''ll introduce myself. I am Feng Ziran. I will be one of your opponents in the circuit that old pig forced you into. To exin it simply, there is a longstanding challenge between the Tatsuya n and our Feng n."


    She had sharp eyes that viewed him as an opponent even though she was speaking rtively amicably.


    "At any point, if someone with a challenge token appears, a circuit will be created. The challenger cannot leave until they eitherplete the circuit or lose. It was originally meant to be a way to establish a friendly rivalry between our two ns." Your next read is at empire


    The Feng n had sent challengers every ten years without fail since the tradition was established. At first, the Tatsuya n would send geniuses as well, but it had been over a hundred years since thest time.


    There were countless people in the Feng n who wanted Artemia Tatsuya to appear with a challenge token so they could see who was truly the best genius among them, but when the Tatsuya n''s token appeared once more, it was carried by an unknown man.


    "Many people will be unhappy with your presence. This will undoubtedly be a more difficult circuit than any other. At most, I can guarantee that the cultivation level of your opponents does not exceed your own."


    ''Their cultivation will not exceed mine, but I am arrogant if I think I can match them with only that much. She is saying it with her eyes so clearly that she doesn''t need to verbalize the words. Isn''t she underestimating me a little too much?''


    As shrugged it off, ming it on youth, and epted her words.


    ''The old bastard sent me for abat circuit without telling me anything. Just as she said, I expect nothing less from him.''


    In the first ce, he should''ve questioned it when he found himself trusting ric without a second thought. That man loved to y tricks on people and mess with them.


    ''Well, it isn''t entirely a bad thing.''


    Abat circuit would achieve the same purpose he originally came here for.


    ''If the envoyes before it ends, it will be troublesome, but otherwise…''


    He could learn from the Feng n geniuses, see what level their n was at, and more with just this.


    The challenge token made the entire n perceive him negatively, but at the same time, it allowed him to get past all of the security measures the n had.


    When she finished exining things to him, Feng Ziran led him to an amodation within the city, an inn like any other. After a short conversation with the innkeeper, she returned to him and said simply:


    "You''ll stay here for now. Once the circuit has been prepared, you will be invited to stay in the main pce until it is over."


    He nodded. She left without any goodbyes while he was given the key to his room.


    ''She knows a little too much for a gate guard. No, thinking about it now, the Feng n is too small to have True Phoenixes as gate guards.''


    It only took a few seconds for him to assume that the n''s geniuses took said roles to experience the world, interact with people, and earn some sort of incentive.


    ''All sects work the same, even if they are called Societies in the current day.''


    Genvera was a city created on the single point in Alfros where qi gathered with the most density and purity. As such, it was a perfect ce to practice things like alchemy.


    ''I still cannot make Heaven Grade Pills, but I do not know if it is because my qi is not strong enough or because I have more to learn.''


    He took out his cauldron and ced it on the floor.


    ''I wish I could easily erect a formation to iste myself, but…''


    Well, it was possible. He just needed to pay for it.


    ''The Tower Shop has mysterious devices that can deploy a single formation before they break. I don''t think anyone has ever bought one, considering the price…''


    But, alchemists were a desired breed. As didn''t want the scent of pills and pill-making to leak and draw others to him.


    Thebat circuit had already generated enough interest in his eyes.


    "Haa…"


    His money was wasting away.


    ''If I give some Earth Grade Pills to Scarlet Fox, I can make most of it back…''


    Trying to justify his stupid purchases, As raised his hand into the air and grabbed the item that appeared before him. It looked like a formation disk, but it was only the size of a palm. Once it was ced on the ground, it glowed with a subtle light and sunk into the floor.


    As could feel that he was now protected from prying eyes.


    ''Alright.''


    He raised the qi in his body to simte a wood-fire physique. He withdrew the ingredients he had prepared and calmed himself, ready to start production.


    The first batch of pills came out fine. As did the second. Ever since his first visit to Vanatos, he had been able to make Earth Grade Pills easily.


    There was no problem even today. His me control was the same as always, and with the wood element emanating from his body, it was like he could feel the spirituality of each individual ingredient.


    Everything was fine, so why did he feel so unaplished?


    ''I have made no progress.''


    Because he never "learned" anything about alchemy. He had the base techniques and the knowledge provided to him by the Formation Spark, but did he ever try to actually integrate that knowledge?


    He took what he needed and followed it exactly without extrapting the principles behind what he was doing, so in the end, even if he made perfect pills, any other alchemist who saw them would consider them a fake product.


    ''But where will I find the time to practice alchemy so sincerely?''


    This was the problem with taking too many paths. The day did not have enough hours to amodate them all.


    As had to pick and choose if he wanted to be perfect in any one thing. Just like everyone else, he had to know when to give up.


    ''But…''


    Alchemy was not something he could give up.


    The Formation Spark was not something he could give up.


    No matter how many years passed, he would never forget that this spark was a gift from his dear friend. In order to honor his memory, As couldn''t let it rot in his soul.


    It was as As pondered such dilemmas that he learned another new fact. The day really was one filled with learning.


    He opened his eyes, looking at the pills in front of him, when his gaze suddenly moved to the shadow hovering over him.


    Right, the Tower certainly offered one-time formations that could iste one from the outside world.


    But, those formations would also be useless if they were met with beings that far outssed them.


    And such a being had just arrived in this very room.