The Transmigrator Who Changed Doupo

Seeing Xiao Xuanyuan's calm and composed demeanor, seemingly unaffected, a hint of surprise flashed in Zhang Cangwu's eyes. He then gradually increased his oppressive aura, from one-tenth to five-tenths, and then to six-tenths. Sweat began to bead on Xiao Xuanyuan's forehead, and the Burning Technique within his body circulated at its maximum speed, surging like a raging river. The bluestone floor beneath his feet was shattered under his weight, and his feet gradually sank into the ground. The pressure of a Dou Zong expert was terrifying to this extent!

Zhang Cangwu felt he was losing face and, determined to prove himself, increased the pressure. Seeing that even half his power couldn't subdue the young man, he felt ashamed and increased the intensity—seven-tenths, eight-tenths… until he was completely under pressure. Xiao Xuanyuan's eyes were bloodshot, his bones creaked, and beads of sweat, large as buckets, streamed down his face and onto the ground. His feet were firmly planted on the ground, and although his body was slightly bent, he didn't kneel. Facing the full pressure of a Dou Zong expert, he remained incredibly resilient, refusing to yield.

Zhang Cangwu had only intended to dampen the young man's arrogance and let him know his own strength, but to his surprise, the young man was completely unaffected and managed to withstand the full pressure from a Dou Zong expert all by himself. It seemed this young man was indeed extraordinary. Seeing this, he realized his plan was pointless and withdrew his pressure, nodding at Xiao Xuanyuan with considerable appreciation.

"No private duels are allowed during the Alchemy Valley competition. Violators will be punished! Come find me after the competition to receive your punishment!" Zhang Cangwu announced sternly.

"Yes!" Knowing he had nothing to say, Xiao Xuanyuan nodded.

"Everyone, prepare for half an hour. The alchemy competition will begin in half an hour!" After announcing the final order, Valley Master Zhang Cangwu stepped back from the stage, leaving the four elders of Huo Rong to preside over the competition.

The triennial alchemy competition, known as the "Minor Alchemy Competition," is held by the Alchemy Valley to assess the abilities of its students. Compared to the annual "Grand Competition," it's considered a smaller test. The competition consists of three rounds. In the first round, students refine high-grade second-rank pills, eliminating those with relatively weaker alchemy skills. In the second round, students directly refine mid-to-high-grade third-rank pills, further selecting the promising alchemists.

The final round is the real showdown! It's a competition to determine the final rankings. Usually, after the second round, there aren't enough people to make it into the top ten. Therefore, the top ten are selected from those alchemy students who produced higher-quality alchemy products in the second round. As usual, the top three spots went to the Flower Fairy, and the Valley's two prodigies, Zhang Baishan and Wang Bo'ao. However, both of them were badly defeated by Xiao Xuanyuan this time; it's uncertain whether they can participate in this smaller competition.

The Transmigrator Who Changed Doupo

Chapter 45 First Round of Grade Two Beauty Elixir

Half an hour passed quickly, the host announced the rules, and the competition officially began! Stepping onto the stage, Xiao Xuanyuan noticed that the female host was quite beautiful, with a pretty face and above-average appearance. Glancing at her, he frowned, but unexpectedly, Wang Bo'ao and Zhang Baishan also stepped forward at that moment.

Both men were currently wrapped in bandages, their steps slightly unsteady, and they were helped up by two waiters. Seeing Xiao Xuanyuan looking at them with a half-smile, their eyes flashed with venomous resentment. If looks could kill, Xiao Xuanyuan would probably have been killed ten thousand times over by now. To have them humiliated and lose face in front of so many people was worse than death!

"You two just lost to me, and you'll suffer the same fate in alchemy!" Xiao Xuanyuan said with a contemptuous expression, his words meant to provoke the other party.

"Arrogant! You think you can do whatever you want just because you're an ancient dragon? Even if you're strong, alchemy isn't the same as strength... Hiss..." Zhang Baishan said with a bruised and swollen face. Perhaps he had touched a sore spot, because he groaned again with a grimace.

"Hmph, dare you make a bet?" Wang Bo stepped forward arrogantly, his eyes flashing with ferocity as he glared fiercely at Xiao Xuanyuan. Since becoming an alchemist, he had never suffered such a humiliation. This time, seeing Xiao Xuanyuan, he had not only been beaten bloodied and bruised, but had also lost all face. Now, he wished he could tear the other man apart alive. Seeing Xiao Xuanyuan's arrogant boasting, he was furious. Since he couldn't beat him in strength, he would crush and humiliate him in alchemy, letting him know how high the sky was and how thick the earth was!

With this in mind, Wang Bo was certain that Xiao Xuanyuan would not dare to accept, and if he did, it would suit his purposes perfectly.

"Is that so?" Xiao Xuanyuan said with a sarcastic tone, pretending to be deep in thought. "Perhaps my alchemy skills are a bit lacking, but I can still beat you two scumbags. Why don't we stop competing, lest you lose so badly you vomit blood!" It has to be said that Xiao Xuanyuan was telling the truth. With his alchemy skills, let alone third-grade pills, even high-grade fourth-grade pills were a piece of cake for him. He was quite confident, so why would he be afraid of these two guys in front of him?

But Wang Bo'ao and Zhang Baishan didn't think so. When they heard this, they were convinced that Xiao Xuanyuan's alchemy skills were not good enough, and that this was a sign of backing down. They insisted on competing with Xiao Xuanyuan and even used reverse psychology to say that he was cowardly, incompetent, and loved to brag!

Having said all that, what else could Xiao Xuanyuan say? He readily agreed, "However, I have one condition, and you must agree to it!" Xiao Xuanyuan's eyes swept over the two of them as if they were idiots. Could this be the legendary simpleton?

"We'll agree to whatever the conditions!" Fearing that Xiao Xuanyuan might change his mind, Wang Bo'ao and Zhang Baishan quickly agreed.

“Since it’s a competition, there must be a winner and a loser, right?” Seeing the two nod, Xiao Xuanyuan continued, “If you two lose, I don’t want anything. I just want you to call me ‘Dad’ from now on, and you must do whatever I ask of you. Is that acceptable?”

"Then what conditions do you have in exchange?" Zhang Baishan frowned. Unlike Wang Bo'ao, he was not impulsive and was more composed in his words and actions. This matter did not seem so simple.

"If I lose... I'll let you do whatever you want with me!" Xiao Xuanyuan's somewhat solemn gaze swept over the two of them, and then landed on Huo Rong.

"Are you sure you want to do this?" Huo Rong looked at Xiao Xuanyuan hesitantly, his eyes full of doubt. He naturally paid close attention to Xiao Xuanyuan; he was someone he had specifically brought in. If anything happened to him, he would be implicated. Moreover, he had extremely high hopes for Xiao Xuanyuan, so how could he bear to let anything happen to him? Of course, he needed to nurture him properly, but right now…

"Do as we please! Haha... This is a good deal, a good deal! If Elder Huo agrees, then we'll fight to the bitter end!" Wang Bo'ao remained extremely arrogant. Being defeated in strength didn't mean he was inferior in alchemy. In the Alchemy Valley, he and Zhang Baishan were considered the two prodigies. Apart from the Flower Fairy, which student dared to provoke them? There had been challenges before, and the results were obvious—they not only lost completely but also enhanced their reputations! The two prodigies never cared about such things!

"Brother Zhang, what are you still considering? Do you think we, the two prodigies, would lose to this newcomer?" They had already investigated Xiao Xuanyuan and his companions' identities; they were newcomers who had only recently entered the Alchemy Valley. Even if their alchemy skills were superb, how superb could they be? The inner courtyard's alchemy department was no mere figurehead! If they couldn't win in terms of strength, they could only try to regain face through their alchemy skills!

"Then you shall sign the betting agreement as proof!" Seeing Xiao Xuanyuan nod vigorously, Huo Rong sighed softly and instructed someone to bring paper and pen. He then drafted an agreement, clearly written in black and white. If one party loses, they shall completely obey the other party's arrangements. The betting period is one year, and they shall be at the other party's disposal.

Taking the beast hair brush from Huo Rong, Xiao Xuanyuan examined it and nodded slightly. This was a special beast hair brush, made from the fur of a high-level magical beast, containing an extremely pure spiritual energy. In matters such as signing contracts, if a portion of the fighting spirit of both parties was drawn to write their names, the contract was considered complete! If one party reneges, this remaining agreement can be used to retaliate against the other party, achieving a notarized effect!

Xiao Xuanyuan took a light breath, and a wisp of red fire fighting energy flowed into the brush. The beast hair brush emitted a bright red light. With one stroke, the brush flew and sang, and a striking three-character name seemed to be engraved on it, with flowing light and lifelike appearance!

"I'm done! It's your turn!" Xiao Xuanyuan glanced at the two and gestured for them to come forward. Wang Bo'ao and Zhang Baishan exchanged a look and then stepped forward one after another to sign their names! Zhang Baishan hesitated for a moment, but finally gritted his teeth and signed.

"The betting agreement is in effect, the alchemy competition begins!" After storing the betting agreement in his storage ring, Huo Rong gave the order, and the alchemy competition commenced. The first round involved refining a top-grade second-rank pill, the "Beauty Pill"!

The Beauty Elixir, a highly difficult-to-refine pill among second-grade elixirs, is considered a high-level pill. It possesses nourishing and beautifying effects, generally making the user appear about two years younger. If the quality is exceptional, it can make them appear four to five years younger! While it shares similarities with the rumored seventh-grade "Youth-Preserving Pill," its effects are significantly less potent. It is said that the seventh-grade "Youth-Preserving Pill" can maintain youthful appearance for a hundred years!

After reviewing the pill formula, Xiao Xuanyuan did not hesitate to take out a small white cauldron from his storage ring, and then summoned the Six Paths Reincarnation Flame to refine the medicinal materials placed on the table, extracting their essence!

The Alchemy Valley is a gathering place for genius alchemists from Canaan Academy. Even for the small competition held every three months, they will not be stingy with the cost of medicinal materials. However, the academy values ​​the superb alchemy skills and will not give more medicinal materials. Each person only has one set of "Beauty Pill" ingredients. If you fail to refine it in the middle, it can only prove that your alchemy skills are very bad and you will be eliminated!

The Transmigrator Who Changed Doupo

Chapter Forty-Six: The Influence of the Strange Flame

As soon as the Six Paths Reincarnation Flame was unleashed, the temperature in the entire plaza instantly soared, and the terrifying intensity immediately drew everyone's attention to Xiao Xuanyuan.

The Alchemy Department can function as a semi-independent, supremely powerful entity within Canaan Academy, thanks to its alchemists. With them, Canaan Academy can be self-sufficient, providing elixirs for all its students' cultivation. And how could alchemist students not recognize Strange Flames? They probably have a deeper understanding and passion for Strange Flames than anyone else, knowing them by heart.

His eyes swept over the envious and jealous gazes cast upon him, and a slight smile appeared on Xiao Xuanyuan's lips. This was indeed a rare flame, and one ranked in the twenties at that. Even so, it wasn't something any alchemist could easily obtain; the chance was one in a million, even rarer than winning the lottery. There were only twenty-three such flames in the world, making them extremely rare, let alone the effort of refining and integrating them into an alchemist's body.

Therefore, after Xiao Xuanyuan unleashed the strange fire within his body, the entire plaza, including the elders like Huo Rong, whose eyes had previously been cloudy, instantly shone with a piercing light. Even though they had been somewhat skeptical when Elder Huo Rong mentioned that he had brought in a student with a strange fire, seeing it in person now greatly excited them. An alchemist with a strange fire was truly a precious talent of the Alchemy Valley, and the focus of everyone's attention!

With such an alchemist around, the Alchemy Valley will become increasingly important and its status even more prominent within Canaan Academy.

"Old man Huo, you have a good eye! How did you manage to recruit him into our Alchemy Department?" asked one of the older men, who was rather plump and had a baby-faced appearance. This old man was named Guan Da, one of the four elders of the Alchemy Department.

“Such an outstanding talent might be the closed-door disciple of some reclusive old monster, and his purpose in coming to Canaan Academy might also be to undergo trials…” A relatively thin old man next to him showed a look of doubt in his eyes.

"I also agree with the Third Elder. To possess such talent and fuse with a different kind of fire, it would be impossible without the guidance of a powerful figure!" The speaker was the Second Elder, Tianqi, and the Third Elder he referred to was named Zhang Guolao. Below the Valley Master Zhang Cangwu were the Four Elders of the Medicine Refining Valley, with Huo Rong being the leader among them.

"Do you think I don't know? Sigh, I tried to make him my disciple, but the kid was unmoved. I couldn't force him, lest I anger the powerful figure behind this little guy, so I had to give up." Huo Rong sighed, quite helplessly. The other three also sighed.

The process of refining the beauty-enhancing pill is extremely complex, with each step interconnected. Even the slightest oversight could lead to complete failure and the loss of all previous efforts. The Medicine Valley only prepares enough medicinal materials for one serving per person, with no surplus.

Xiao Xuanyuan was naturally confident in this matter. He was extremely meticulous in every step of the alchemy process, striving to avoid any mistakes. With his superb soul perception and perfect control, half an hour later, all the medicinal materials were refined into the essence of the medicine.

Another half hour passed, and as the last essence of the Evergreen Grass was incorporated into the pill, Xiao Xuanyuan continuously cast spells. With a shout of "Seal," the lid of the pill furnace exploded with a loud bang. Xiao Xuanyuan then took out a jade bottle and collected the three blue-green pills that had flown out of the furnace into it.

"Look, he finished the alchemy furnace in just one hour. This... this is too amazing..." The crowd in the square who were watching Xiao Xuanyuan's movements were all dumbfounded. In fact, even though not everyone participated in the monthly alchemy competition, although some people could not participate due to cultivation alchemy tasks, almost everyone participated, because in this Alchemy Valley, all students are alchemists.

Now that Xiao Xuanyuan has unleashed the Six Paths Reincarnation Flame, he has become the focus of the entire arena. Many of the students participating in the competition are paying attention to him. Several of them even ruined their medicinal herbs while trying to watch him, and left dejectedly after the female host announced their elimination, going to watch the show from the outside.

Many of the other trainees realized what was happening and didn't dare to be distracted, focusing all their energy on the alchemy furnace in their hands. Looking at the people around him, Xiao Xuanyuan smiled slightly and went to the side to watch.

An hour later, the Flower Fairy became the second student to successfully refine the Beauty Elixir, producing three pills, identical to Xiao Xuanyuan's, with the same bluish-green color, a high-grade second-rank elixir. Half an hour later, Zhang Baishan and Wang Bo'ao also succeeded, producing around three high-quality pills as well.

Following Flower Fairy and Zhang Baishan, the remaining alchemists gradually completed their refining, most producing two or three pills, and the quality was generally quite good, with the worst being mid-grade second-rank. After four hours, the first round of the competition ended, and all the students who hadn't finished refining their pills or whose attempts had failed were eliminated.

After a one-hour break, Gu Fang tallied the data. A total of 321 people participated, with over 110 eliminated, leaving only 210+ to advance to the second round. All the pills refined by the participants were handed over to Gu Fang of the Alchemy Valley for distribution and processing.

The reason why the Alchemy Valley has become a superior existence is because it can continuously provide Canaan Academy with pills. With the supply of these pills, students from other departments can continuously improve their strength, and the overall strength of Canaan Academy will continue to grow stronger. This is one of the reasons why Canaan Academy has been able to endure and stand strong in the Dou Qi Continent for so long!

After Xiao Xuanyuan unleashed the Six Paths Reincarnation Flame, the surrounding students' gazes towards him changed. The previous skepticism turned into envy and jealousy. They envied his possession of a strange flame, which proved he was highly sought after in the Alchemy Valley. The valley would undoubtedly nurture him, and as long as he didn't perish prematurely, he was destined to become a legendary alchemy master! As for Zhang Baishan and Wang Bo'ao, their faces were a mixture of pale and flushed red, filled with deep regret. If they had another chance, they would want to slap themselves a few times to wake themselves up and face reality!

Seeing the two's ever-changing expressions, Xiao Xuanyuan walked to their side, patted them on the shoulder, and said, "There are always people more capable than you, and there's always something beyond your understanding. You're just frogs in a well; you don't even know how big the Dou Qi Continent is." After saying this, Xiao Xuanyuan returned to Lu Mu and the others to rest, waiting for the next round of the competition to begin. Upon seeing Xiao Xuanyuan return, Lu Mu and Zhao Zhilan came to his side, their eyes shining with a special gleam.

The Transmigrator Who Changed Doupo

Chapter Forty-Seven: The Mysterious Possessor of Different Flames

Facing the group, Xiao Xuanyuan nodded, exchanged pleasantries with them, and then sat down to meditate and cultivate. He naturally wouldn't underestimate Zhang Baishan and Wang Bo'ao; although he had many trump cards and methods, who could say what tricks they might use?

Those who made it through the first round of the competition also went to find places to replenish their depleted fighting spirit.

Moving to the side, Zhao Zhilan quietly sat down, joining the others in guarding the area. A strange glint flashed in her beautiful eyes as she looked at Xiao Xuanyuan, then disappeared into the distance. These past few days, Xiao Xuanyuan had taken great care of her; he had answered almost all her questions about alchemy. In that sense, he was practically her mentor. As for Xiao Xuanyuan's subtle, ambiguous advances, she understood them perfectly well, and she didn't find them repulsive at all. On the contrary, she felt it was natural and even enjoyed being close to him.

This feeling was subtle and indescribable, yet it existed silently, making Zhao Zhilan feel particularly lonely when she was alone at home. A figure kept appearing in her mind, gradually becoming clearer from a blur...

In truth, Xiao Xuanyuan's battle qi wasn't greatly depleted. With his formidable strength and physique, a short rest and a few cycles of meditation were enough to restore him to his peak. Recently, he had been researching alchemy, and he was now a fourth-grade alchemist. Although his success rate in refining pills wasn't 100%, it was at least 70-80%. For someone his age, only fourteen or fifteen, to have achieved this was truly astonishing! If word got out, it would likely shake the entire alchemy world of the Gama Empire. If he were to display his talent in this area at Canaan Academy, it would probably attract attention, and the benefits and resources he could obtain would be unimaginable.

An hour passed quickly, and Xiao Xuanyuan got up and headed towards the alchemy area in the square. As he passed a young man, his powerful soul perception detected a slight fluctuation in the other man.

She had delicate features, a small and upturned nose, and clear, bright eyes. Her brows held a subtle, alluring charm, and her red lips and white teeth gave her a graceful, feminine beauty. However, dressed in a blue men's robe with her black hair tied up high, she possessed a dashing, masculine air.

When Xiao Xuanyuan encountered this young man just now, he keenly sensed the abundant soul energy within him. The Alchemy Valley was almost entirely populated by alchemists, which was understandable, as their soul energy was generally quite abundant compared to ordinary cultivators. However, this young man was different from other alchemists. If the soul energy of ordinary alchemists was like the flame of a lit candle, then this young man was like a light bulb, extremely bright! Even the Flower Fairy paled in comparison!

Sensing that Hei Sha had awakened from her slumber, Xiao Xuanyuan's heart stirred, and he asked, "Xiao Sha, can you sense the strange fire on this person in front of you?"

The black veil, its veins flowing, reached Xiao Xuanyuan's pupils. Gazing at the retreating figure, black flames raged across her lower body. She released her energy, reaching out towards the woman, chanting a few incantations, before yanking her hand back sharply. At that moment, a burst of intense heat erupted from the young man's body, then he vanished without a trace, turning sharply to face Xiao Xuanyuan with piercing, suspicious eyes.

Black Veil replied, "Brother Xuanyuan, I sensed an extremely strong primordial energy. He should possess a different kind of fire!"

"Just as I thought!" Xiao Xuanyuan nodded, then feigned ignorance and asked the young man with a smile, "Hello, friend. My name is Xiao Xuanyuan. May I ask your name?"

This young man, whom Xiao Xuanyuan had noticed earlier, was the fourth alchemist to refine the Beauty Elixir, following the three Flower Fairies. His eyes darted to the young man's chest—two shooting stars—a second-grade alchemist! Seemingly another hidden master!

"My name is Chen Gao." The young man looked Xiao Xuanyuan up and down with suspicion. Seeing Xiao Xuanyuan's extraordinary demeanor and dignified appearance, he nodded secretly and said, "You should be a member of the Taixu Ancient Dragon Clan, right? I didn't expect you to possess a strange fire. If I'm not mistaken, it should be the Six Paths Reincarnation Flame, ranked twenty-first!"

“Exactly! If I’m not mistaken, you should also have a different kind of fire! And your soul energy is very strong, so you’ll probably be able to enter the top three in the finals this time!” Xiao Xuanyuan squinted at the other party.

A dangerous glint flashed in Chen Gao's eyes, but he quickly regained his composure and said, "You must have sensed it wrong. I am merely an ordinary second-grade alchemist. How could I possess any strange fire?" With that, he prepared to leave.

Xiao Xuanyuan observed all of this, including the subtle changes in the other party's expression. It seemed his suspicions were correct; the other party was concealing their strength. Such a deep-seated reluctance to reveal their power suggested something was amiss. Possessing a strange fire but not displaying it—they must have some purpose in coming to Canaan Academy…

Xiao Xuanyuan pondered the other person's changes in his mind, but said aloud, "Different flames can sense each other. Your soul energy can't hide a different flame, just like you can't hide fire with paper. I live in number 1099. Come over sometime, and we can discuss alchemy together!" Every student needs to register their information and get a number at the Alchemy Valley's office after finding or establishing their own residence! This number 1099 is Xiao Xuanyuan's residence number!

Seeing that the other party didn't turn around, Xiao Xuanyuan felt he had made a fool of himself and ignored them, returning to his alchemy station. The second round of the competition was to refine a third-grade healing medicine: the Azure Green Pill! This Azure Green Pill was a relatively common third-grade healing medicine, with quite good healing effects for both minor and severe injuries. It could be used both externally and internally! It was truly an essential medicine for fighting, robbery, and hunting in the wild. Every student from Canaan Academy carried a few pills with them on every trip, just in case.

Looking at the dense array of medicinal herbs and the complex and mysterious refining steps, some second-grade alchemists wore bitter expressions. They knew their own capabilities; they were lucky to barely pass the first round of refining the Beauty Elixir. Some had only managed to refine one Beauty Elixir, and even that was of inferior quality—that was already quite good. Asking these mediocre second-grade alchemists to refine a third-grade pill, even a very ordinary Azure Elixir, would be a guaranteed disaster. Don't believe in miracles; their alchemy skills varied greatly.

However, the Alchemy Valley isn't short of these medicinal herbs. If they're ruined during the refining process, they can simply be considered practice material for everyone. The alchemy profession is entirely based on burning money. If it were supplied to some small families, the herbs needed for just a few refining sessions could probably drain the entire family's assets. That's why the alchemy profession is so precious, and alchemists are generally sought after and worshipped by many families!

Xiao Xuanyuan did not make a move immediately. Instead, he looked up at the young man not far away, who was the alchemist named Chen Gao from before. This guy was not far from him, only two or three positions away.

He calmly prepared for the alchemy process. As if sensing something, he turned to look at Xiao Xuanyuan. Their eyes met briefly in mid-air, and Xiao Xuanyuan sensed a hint of provocation.

Thinking this, black flames shot from his eyes, piercing straight at the youth. As if by reflex, a yellow light flashed from the youth's eyes, and a dark yellow flame materialized. Xiao Xuanyuan's lips curled into a smile: "Indeed, it's a strange fire..."

The Transmigrator Who Changed Doupo

Chapter Forty-Eight: Perilous Elixir

When the other person's eyes flashed with a dark yellow, blazing light, Xiao Xuanyuan was already certain that he was an alchemist who possessed a strange fire, and a rather unassuming fellow at that.

Having ascertained the other party's true strength, Xiao Xuanyuan stopped staring at him and withdrew his gaze, pretending not to notice as he organized his medicinal herbs, preparing to start refining pills. It seemed he had an opportunity to investigate this student's background; possessing a strange fire meant his origins were certainly not simple.

After revealing his strange fire, Chen Gao felt a sense of foreboding. He knew he had been exposed, and that others might have noticed him as well. But at this point, he had no choice but to grit his teeth and continue refining pills.

Several elders, including Huo Rong, in the center of the stage looked on with surprise and suspicion, staring in the direction where Chen Gao and Xiao Xuanyuan were, especially where Chen Gao was.

"This student also possesses a different kind of fire. Investigate his background!" Huo Rong's eyes narrowed, flashing with a bright light. "This year's alchemy competition actually hides such a promising talent; it truly is a place where hidden talents abound!"

A moment later, the attendant returned to report and handed over a jade slip. Huo Rong took the jade slip and examined it with his soul perception. After a moment, he frowned slightly, and the other three also looked puzzled. Huo Rong handed the jade slip to them.

After examining the situation, the three exchanged bewildered glances, their faces filled with suspicion. At this moment, the Fourth Elder, Guan Da, said, "To possess a strange fire yet come from only a small family—their identity and origins must be very suspicious. This matter must be thoroughly investigated!"