"Brother Yang, what should we do?"
An ordinary-looking teenage boy in white robes frowned. He was observing Bai Fanxian from a distance with worried feelings.
This person had the username "Novice Alchemist" on the cultivators' community forum and was among the first people Bai Fanxian replied to in a thread.
After being taught by Alchemy Empress and testing the methods she explained until it became clear before his own eyes that she was completely correct, he immediately became one of the core leaders of Empress's fan group.
Brother Yang he was talking with was one hot-blooded young man. His username was "Alchemy Is Life." He was also a core leader of the fan group. Though they'd never met before, because of their shared love of alchemy and admiration as Alchemy Empress fans, they quickly became close.
"This Grandmaster Bai seems to have high knowledge of alchemy science as well..." Brother Yang murmured softly. Though he was currently standing with just two junior brothers, in the Empress fan thread, people were already mobilizing as well.
Rumors that a Grandmaster was using their worshipped Alchemy Empress's reputation slowly spread secretly among fans. Some grew heated on her behalf, but others chose to watch the situation quietly.
"This Grandmaster Bai just appeared. There's high possibility she might want to increase her own fame."
Brother Yang spoke while staring at Bai Fanxian entering another booth.
"But I feel like she's similar to Empress too."
Novice Alchemist spoke without thinking. That made Brother Yang turn to glare at him.
"There's no way she's our Empress! I can't sense any ferocity or savagery from her at all!"
Brother Yang finished speaking and opened his phone, scrolling to various Alchemy Empress messages he'd saved as images on his device.
"Look! Empress's sharp tongue and fierceness comes through the text this much. There's no way that Grandmaster Bai could be her!"
Novice Alchemist read those messages and his face reddened. His blood felt strangely pumping when imagining those messages scolding him.
"I really want to be called an 'idiot' by Empress in real life once..." Novice Alchemist spoke dreamily.
"Ah... that dream is why we're here today, isn't it?" Brother Yang spoke. Then both young men turned to look at each other deeply...
.
.
.
On Bai Fanxian's side, as she walked out from however many booths with Xie Suyao following not far behind, she found people in robes with a strange golden cauldron emblem symbol on their chests waiting ahead.
"You're Grandmaster Bai? Welcome to the Alchemists' Association." The speaker was a small middle-aged woman. Her face was filled with gentleness like a kind mother.
Her true age was quite advanced, but good self-care and cultivation power let her maintain youth longer than normal.
Though not to the extent of Bai Fanxian and Xie Suyao—those two shouldn't be compared with anyone to begin with.
"...You are?"
Bai Fanxian nodded. At the same time, she asked back with interest, because the woman before her was full of the aura of alchemy. Only those who dealt with it daily for a long time would have such a distinctive scent.
Since waking in this era, this woman had the strongest such aura she'd encountered—even greater than Tang Clan head Tang Tianjie.
"My name is Fang Niang. I'm an elder and vice president of this Alchemists' Association." The middle-aged woman—or "Elder Fang"—was the same person who met with Master Sun before and was suspected of being Alchemy Empress.
Upon hearing rumors about Bai Fanxian, she quickly came out to receive her personally. Not to mention the unconfirmed status as a Tier 4 alchemist—just her Grandmaster status was enough that an elder-level being had to come out personally.
Moreover, this year more than one Grandmaster was visiting the seminar.
"Grandmaster Xie, welcome." Elder Fang turned to smile at the young woman hiding behind Bai Fanxian acting as guard against people approaching.
"Yes..."
Xie Suyao just nodded and responded with one word. With others, she became the unapproachable being known as the Red Widow Queen.
"Do you two have any business with the Alchemists' Association?" Elder Fang asked with interest. Normally, Grandmaster-level beings rarely visited the Alchemists' Association personally. Aside from Grandmaster Lu Qing who was association president, the number of Grandmasters who'd set foot here was extremely few.
"I merely came to broaden my horizons..."
After Bai Fanxian finished speaking, she remembered her other purpose.
"Besides that, can I go read your association's books?"
"Read books?... If they're ordinary books, there's no problem." Elder Fang nodded with surprise. She didn't think a being of this level would come for such a small matter.
"But there's a slight problem..." The middle-aged woman frowned with concern.
"It's because it's seminar season, so the library area is also being used for the event. If it's urgent, shall I have people prepare the books you need and bring them?"
Bai Fanxian pondered. Actually, she wasn't urgent about anything. Moreover, she didn't have any specific books in mind.
"It's fine... I'll go browse myself later."
"Understood."
Elder Fang nodded with relief. After handling the first issue, she got to her original purpose for coming immediately.
"Pardon me, Grandmaster Bai... are you a Tier 4 alchemist?"
This question Fang Niang asked with extreme concern. She also observed Bai Fanxian's surprised expression, because this was what the Alchemists' Association most wanted to know.
If remembered correctly, currently only "Grandmaster Lu Qing" was a Tier 4 alchemist.
That was because no Grandmaster-level being was interested in alchemy science, and no Tier 3 alchemist could advance to Grandmaster level!
This made certain knowledge and research unable to progress. If Bai Fanxian truly had the ability to be a Tier 4 alchemist, she would become the being the association wanted most!
Bai Fanxian was surprised by this sudden question. But seeing eyes full of expectation, she chose to answer honestly.
"No... I'm not a Tier 4 alchemist."
Bai Fanxian shook her head. Her answer immediately disappointed Elder Fang. She filled with dejection like a just-inflated balloon. That meant she herself was probably at most a Tier 3 alchemist.
But she was lightly nudged by the assistant behind her.
"Elder, even if she's not a Tier 4 alchemist... she's still a Grandmaster."
The assistant's words made Fang Niang's eyes light up. That's right! What prevented Tier 3 alchemists from advancing to Tier 4 was insufficient cultivation level. But the young woman before her was already Grandmaster level. Perhaps her wanting to read books at the association was because she wanted knowledge to develop toward Tier 4!
"Grandmaster Bai! If it's not too much trouble, would you have time to be the association's guest today?"
Elder Fang asked with excited eyes, looking at Bai Fanxian with pleading manner.
Bai Fanxian turned to look at Xie Suyao. Naturally, for her, everything was up to Elder Sister. Wherever Elder Sister wanted to go, she was ready to follow.
As for Huang Zihan, he followed them from a distance without disturbing and was ready to follow as well. But she didn't see the two little ones and one old person around here at all.
Her Heaven Sense exploded out around her before she sensed all three familiar people not far away. Tang Tianjie was buying big ice cream cones for the children, one each, while holding both little ones' hands and laughing happily.
Just leave them like that.
Bai Fanxian shook her head. She turned to nod at Elder Fang and followed her, with Xie Suyao and Huang Zihan walking not far behind.
They took less than five minutes to enter the building successfully. Partly because they had Fang Niang, the vice president, leading the way, so people all made way nicely. But they couldn't help wondering who made the vice president come receive them personally?
The other part was because of periodic pressure from the young woman in red clothing. If they accidentally stared at them too long, they'd feel a strange coldness that made their hair stand on end.
Elder Fang brought Bai Fanxian to a luxurious-looking reception room. This room was prepared for honorable guests, fully equipped with many amenities.
The middle-aged woman turned to bow to both Grandmasters.
"Grandmaster Bai, Grandmaster Xie, please wait here a moment. I'll quickly contact the association elders as soon as possible." Fang Niang spoke, while two of her people rushed in to prepare snacks and drinks, but Uncle Huang raised his hand to stop them first.
"Let me handle these matters." The elderly butler bowed politely. He walked into the room with a large bag and began preparing everything immediately.
Fang Niang hurried out. Bai Fanxian sat down on the comfortable sofa and sipped fine tea that Huang Zihan served, with Xie Suyao looking around with slight interest.
"Grandmaster Bai, shall I help you pass the time?" Huang Zihan walked over beside her. In his hands was the white laptop Bai Fanxian used daily.
The young woman accepted without refusing. Recently when she had free time, she often went to read something or check threads on the cultivators' community website.
But just as she entered the forum, notification sounds rang out continuously until Bai Fanxian was surprised. This type of notification only occurred when people tagged her name in threads.
She opened to check, finding more than four-fifths of those notifications came from the thread "Empress Fans Gathering Place."
Comment 1256 (Alchemy Empress)
I'm going
Comment 1256-58 (Alchemy From Furnace)
Someone's impersonating Empress. This is unacceptable!
Comment 1256-90 (Wandering Pill)
Right, when will Empress come?
Comment 1256-95 (Fan of Alchemy Empress)
Empress, please appear!
Comment 1256-123 (One Hot One Cold)
Come out and kick that impostor's butt!
Bai Fanxian raised an eyebrow in surprise. Her slender fingers typed into the keyboard lightly.
Comment 1890 (Alchemy Empress)
I've arrived. What happened?
Once the fans noticed their idol came to reply, they went crazy with excitement. Many people rushed to reply to her comment quickly, but one comment was pushed up.
Comment 1256-31 (Alchemy Is Life)
Empress, while you weren't here yet, someone imitated your methods and signature to increase their own fame. We can't accept this. Our brothers are gathering at the association's side courtyard to demand that person apologize. Even if that person is a great being, if they're here, they won't dare do anything too outrageous. If you've arrived, could you please appear to encourage us?
Bai Fanxian read that message with a weary face. She was too lazy to go outside again after entering this reception room.
Comment 1895 (Alchemy Empress)
Are you all idiots?
Not knowing what happened, the comment she typed to refuse received massive likes in just a few seconds. Many people even replied with the same message in a long line.
"Thank you!"
Similar words appeared replying to her comment. Bai Fanxian made an indescribable face as the number of replies kept increasing more and more!
...Were these people still sane?