"What?"
Ya Fei asked curiously.
Chen Mo smiled faintly, rubbed her head affectionately, and then changed the topic,
"Other than the war ending, any other notable news?"
Seeing that he was obviously hiding something from her, Ya Fei pouted in displeasure.
"Nalan Clan's old patriarch, Nalan Jie, suffered a full outbreak of his internal poison after hearing about the empire's defeat and land concession. The Nalan Clan is desperately searching for an alchemist."
She then explained to Chen Mo just how terrifying the poison was.
This so-called Branded Poison originated from a Tier 5 Magical Beast, the Iron-Branded Venom Python. Its venom was infamous across the continent—records mentioned it even killing Tier 6 Magical Beasts across realms despite the level gap.
Had the species not been nearly extinct, many powerful cultivators on the continent would likely tremble at the mere mention of this poison.
"I've heard of it before... If I recall correctly, that poison can only be expelled with the help of Heavenly Flames," Chen Mo muttered, stroking his chin as he recalled how this was handled in the original story.
Ya Fei nodded.
"Even Pill King Gu He couldn't cleanse it. As its name implies, the poison brands itself deep into one's bones and even marrow. No pill can purge it."
"The only method is to control a flame and guide it into the patient's body to force the branded poison out with extreme heat. But the most important prerequisite is that the flame must be a Heavenly Flame."
"Then what's the point of the Nalan Clan running around looking for alchemists? There aren't many alchemists with Heavenly Flames." Chen Mo frowned. After all, he didn't remember every detail from the original novel.
"Precisely because alchemists with Heavenly Flames are so rare, they're still hoping that someone might have some other way. Each alchemist has their own unique skills and tricks."
Ya Fei shrugged.
"It's basically a desperate attempt to find a miracle."
Suddenly, her eyes narrowed.
"You're not thinking of going, are you?"
Chen Mo had already told her some of his secrets—Ya Fei knew he possessed a Heavenly Flame and had personally slain Jia Xingtian.
"The Nalan Clan can't afford me," Chen Mo said with a faint smile.
Ya Fei rolled her eyes at him.
"Since the news broke about Old Master Nalan being in critical condition, Yun Yun rushed back with Nalan Yanran from Cloud Mist Sect."
"Yun Yun's here too?"
Ya Fei nodded.
"My dear," Chen Mo grinned, "don't you have a good relationship with Nalan Yanran? For your sake, I'll help them out—even if they can't afford me."
Ya Fei frowned and immediately said,
"But once you use your Heavenly Flame, won't your identity be exposed?"
"I never said I only have one Heavenly Flame."
As Chen Mo spoke, he rubbed his thumb and forefinger together. A thread of black-blue flame gently rose and danced in the air.
"Hsss…"
Ya Fei inhaled slightly, the hot air almost scalding her lungs. Shock slowly spread across her face.
The temperature of this flame was even higher than the Green Lotus Core Flame he had used earlier for alchemy.
"But… aren't Heavenly Flames mutually repellent? A person can usually only refine one, and even that is extremely difficult!" she exclaimed in disbelief.
"For ordinary people, sure. If they're lucky, they can refine one Heavenly Flame."
Chen Mo pulled Ya Fei into his arms so their bodies pressed perfectly together. With a smug tone, he said,
"But who am I? My darling, you can't judge your emperor with a mere mortal's logic."
"You're so annoying!"
Feeling the heat rising in his body, Ya Fei quickly pushed him away and scolded playfully,
"It's broad daylight. Don't start messing around."
Chen Mo gave her a quick peck on the lips and joked,
"My love, I wouldn't mind dying in your arms."
Ya Fei smacked him.
"Then I'd probably die before you do."
Chen Mo: "…"
Ya Fei giggled.
"Well, thank you, Your Majesty, for helping me gain a favor from the Nalan Clan."
"You're welcome. Just be obedient tonight and play along with something new."
"Get lost!"
"Heh heh…"
Afterward, Chen Mo gave the newly refined pills to the Little Lion King, then took Ya Fei's recommendation letter, put on a third-tier alchemist's robe, and headed for the Nalan Clan. He had been wondering how to approach Yun Yun, and now the opportunity had come knocking.
After crossing a few long streets, Chen Mo arrived at the Nalan Clan estate.
Though it wasn't as massive as the Mittel Clan's compound, the Nalan residence was still quite grand and imposing, with an aura of solemn nobility.
As he approached the gate, he saw a sizable crowd gathered outside—all dressed in alchemist robes. The shining silver thread embroidery of a pill cauldron on their chests proudly displayed their rank and status.
Alchemists were esteemed no matter where they went, and even the Nalan Clan dared not show the slightest disrespect. At the gate, several servants were respectfully explaining things to the waiting alchemists. Only after confirming their abilities were they allowed to enter.
Chen Mo walked forward confidently. On the bustling street, the passersby all cast admiring and reverent glances toward him.
He pushed through the crowd and stepped directly to the front, approaching an old man who looked like the estate's steward.
Some of the people he pushed past seemed annoyed, but when they noticed the three-striped silver insignia on his chest indicating a Tier 3 Alchemist, they immediately swallowed their complaints.
"Such a young Tier 3 Alchemist…" someone muttered under their breath.
The steward quickly stepped forward. When his eyes landed on the silver stripes on Chen Mo's chest, a flash of awe appeared in his gaze. Unlike most Tier 3 Alchemists in their fifties or sixties, Chen Mo was incredibly young.
That youth alone made the steward take him more seriously than the others. With a respectful tone, he said:
"Master Alchemist, I'm the steward of the Nalan Clan. I assume you're here to try treating the old master?"
"I am." Chen Mo nodded and took out Ya Fei's recommendation letter from his storage ring, handing it over.
The steward blinked in surprise, but upon seeing the name of the recommender, his expression shifted dramatically.
"Y-You're Master Chen Mo?!"
"What?! That's Chen Mo?!"
As soon as the words left the steward's mouth, the surrounding alchemists swarmed forward, eagerly greeting and flattering Chen Mo.
Chen Mo was slightly stunned.
"You… know me?"
"Surely you jest, Master Chen Mo! Your name is already well-known across the Imperial Capital! Everyone's heard of you, though few have seen your face."
After all, just the day after Chen Mo descended upon the capital riding a Purple Crystal Winged Lion King, word spread like wildfire. It was said the mysterious man on the beast was none other than the prodigy who had caused a stir weeks prior: the nineteen-year-old Tier 3 Alchemist, Chen Mo.
The steward merely smiled and offered no further explanation. Instead, he said,
"Please come in, Master Chen Mo. We truly hope you can heal the old master."
Chen Mo couldn't help but chuckle at a phrase that crossed his mind:
"Though I walk outside the Jianghu, the Jianghu still speaks of me."
****
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