Death... and me

As Rean talked some more with Havek and Qia, he also spoke with Roan through the Soul Connection.

'I just finished here. How about you?'

Roan nodded as he replied.

'The Alchemist Exam finished a few days before yours.'

Roan's prize ceremony wasn't much different from Rean's. He got 450 Rank Four Spirit Stones since he was in 2nd place. He also received the same unlimited access to the alchemist repository, including taking them with Jade Slips out. Of course, discounts on materials for pills were included as well.

After that, Roan was called over by Werxa, who confirmed his participation in the competition that would happen seven years later between all empires and other powers. 

'I see. Have you seen Huan since then?'

'No. Werxa said that he was going to try, but it wasn't guaranteed. Well, chances are that I will be refused since Huan doesn't have a reason to spend time on some new alchemist at the Earth Level.'

Rean agreed with Roan on that point. He also can't use Qia for that since he would be refused even faster. Huan had been neutral so far, so any private conversation with anyone from the Imperial Family was out of the question.

'By the way, this is what I got on my side.'

Rean then explained to Roan about Qia and Havek. With their help, especially Havek, there would be a good chance of making more Destiny Points faster.

'As long as you're sure you can trust them, I don't mind.'

Rean nodded.

'You don't need to worry about that. Oh, right! Have you gone to buy that skill you wanted before? Dark World, wasn't it?'

'No. I didn't know if Werxa would call me or not, so I made sure to be present in the Sect's residence since then. However, there's no progress. Of course, I can go there once you come back. If Werxa appears, I can teleport straight back if necessary.'

Rean didn't mind since he had a lot to think about after what he had learned during this competition. He had to put all his thoughts in order, so he wouldn't be going out to start with. 

Somewhere else in the City's Core Region, a man drank tea while looking at his garden. He looked like a scholar, with clear robes and a few documents in his hand. Just like that, time passed in the garden without anyone bothering him.

Suddenly, a cold breeze passed by him, which made the man sigh.

"You disappear for years every time. When you finally come back, you enter other people's houses as if it was nothing. You know, making sure no one notices that you're using a clone is kinda hard."

The man smiled as he sat on another chair before taking a cup of tea for himself.

"It's fine. With everything you know about me, I doubt anyone would notice it anyway. And even if they do, so what? It's not like they could go out and accuse me in the open, right?"

If Rean and Roan were here, they would be shocked. The ones talking were none other than Old Worm and Huan Qelol. Not only that, but the two seemed to know each other for a long time already.

"By the way, should I call you Fauk? Or maybe Hagen? Orvil might work as well. You have too many identities that it's getting more and more confusing."

Old Worm shook his head.

"It's not like you don't know me."

Huan sighed in response.

"Fine... Did the prophecy at least turn out to be true? Before your grandfather passed away, he used all his cultivation to look for a way out for Sasamil. Still, I find it hard to believe in things like that. "

Old Worm pondered for a bit before saying.

"Hum... I might have really found the right one. At first, I found it hard to believe grandfather's words. After all, what would one of them do in a place like that? Nonetheless, it was not like I had much of a choice. I was really shocked when I found out that someone had really come in the end."

Huan was taken aback by those words. 

"What?! Are you sure?"

Old Worm nodded.

"You know very well that none of them can hide from me as long as we're not too far away from each other."

Huan calmed down as he nodded.

"So, are you going to make your move already?"

Old Worm shook his head.

"No. It's too early. Let them struggle for a few more years. Besides, I found two fascinating kids. I never thought our empire could give birth to something like them."

All of a sudden, a man appeared in the garden. However, neither Huan nor Old Worm seemed to care about it.

"What is it?"

The man was Huan's butler, who had been working with him for hundreds of years, Wuxin Fonlas. He had Huan's complete trust, so Old Worm knew him too.

"It's the Guild Leader again. He asked if you could see that youngster he was interested in."

Huan narrowed his eyes and was just about to refuse. However, Old Worm gave an order in his place.

"Tell him that Huan will see that alchemist tomorrow."

Wuxin was taken aback as he looked at Huan. Well, Huan was also surprised by that.

"What do you mean?"

Old Worm faintly smiled as he replied.

"I told you I found two interesting fellas, didn't I? Take this chance to get a good look at them. You will probably hear a lot more about them from now on."

Huan narrowed his eyes before nodding.

"Very well. Let's see just what is so good about them. Perhaps, you might take the two under your wings."

Old Worm shook his head, though.

"Things are not that simple when it comes to those two."

Huan's curiosity increased after hearing that. It was rare to hear Old Worm saying such things about anyone.

"Wuxin, make sure no one knows about this meeting. We already have enough problems within the Imperial Family. Also, make sure that the two of them come."

Wuxin quickly nodded as he turned around to prepare everything.

Later that day, Roan was invited to the Alchemist Guild, where Werxa looked at him with surprise.

"I don't know where you got this luck, but Huan accepted to see you. However, he asked for absolute secrecy."

Roan quickly nodded. It was already good enough that he even got this meeting.

"Also... for some reason, he wants you to bring your brother as well."