Inside a quiet assessment room at the Alchemist Guild,
Fa Ma watched Lin Feng's fluid movements, stroking his beard and sighing inwardly, "Such skillful movements... perhaps he'll soon be a fourth-grade alchemist."
Looking at Lin Feng's youthful profile, Fa Ma couldn't help but lament, "Gu He was already a prodigy back then, but I wonder if this even more skilled Lin Feng can go further and reach the legendary seventh-grade realm?"
As for an eighth-grade alchemist grandmaster, Fa Ma didn't even dare to dream of it. After all, in this barren Northwest Continent, even seventh-grade alchemists were rare.
In fact, the vast Jia Ma Empire only had one sixth-grade low-level alchemist. And not even from the Alchemist Guild! Thinking of this, Fa Ma's face flushed red.
The most powerful alchemist in a nation didn't even come from the Alchemist Guild—this could be considered his dereliction of duty.
However, looking at Lin Feng in the arena, Fa Ma had an idea pop into his head, and the more he thought about it, the better it seemed.
"Sizzle."
Flames burned continuously within the cauldron. Even without considering his own powerful Dou Qi at the Dou Ling realm, Lin Feng, possessing the Five Elements, could calmly refine the medicine.
Under Lin Feng's powerful soul force control, the flames continuously scorched the third-tier magic core. After an unknown amount of time, it finally transformed into a ball of colorful liquid shimmering with energy fluctuations.
"It's time," Lin Feng suddenly changed his hand seals, drawing in the medicinal liquid refined from the Qingxin Clover, Buddha Heart Fruit, and Spirit Absorbing Tree that were suspended within the cauldron.
After reaching a certain balance within the cauldron, powerful soul force burst forth, entering through the cauldron's opening and pressing down hard on the medicinal ball.
"Thump thump thump!"
A powerful energy wave emanated, slamming against the four walls of the cauldron, producing a series of sounds. Fortunately, Lin Feng's cauldron was of decent quality; otherwise, there would have been a real risk of it exploding. Pills contain immense energy, and if they were to explode accidentally, the alchemist could be seriously injured.
"It's done!"
With a wave of his hand, a pure white pill appeared in Lin Feng's palm. As he expected, it was another top-grade pill with pill patterns.
"President Fa Ma, please look. This is the third-grade pill, the Awakening Pill." Lin Feng handed the pill to Fa Ma, who had approached.
"Its color is pure white, and its aroma has a clearing effect on the mind. This is definitely the Awakening Pill." Fa Ma carefully examined the pill in his palm. "Moreover, it's an Awakening Pill with pill patterns. It seems your experience in refining third-grade pills is already extremely refined; you'll soon be promoted to a fourth-grade alchemist."
Awakening Pill: Ranked third grade, its effect is to make the cultivator more sensitive to energy, increasing the efficiency of energy absorption. The refining materials are Clear Heart Clover, Buddha Heart Fruit, Spirit Absorbing Tree, and one Tier 3 Magic Core. (Thanks to Kongcheng Xian Hongchen for providing the information, haha, another filler chapter.)
Looking at Lin Feng's youthful face, the aged Fa Ma couldn't help but sigh again, "Truly a young man of great talent."
Seeing Fa Ma's sigh, Lin Feng's lips curled into a smirk as he interrupted, "Guild Master Fa Ma, I wonder if I may continue with the assessment for a Rank 4 Alchemist?"
"Hmm, yes," Fa Ma examined the pill in his palm, pondering how to get this prodigy, whose talent surpassed even Gu He's, to join the Alchemist Guild. Therefore, upon hearing Lin Feng's voice, he instinctively agreed.
"What, an assessment for a Rank 4 Alchemist?" Fa Ma snapped back to reality, his eyes filled with disbelief.
"Lin Feng, young man, do you still remember the rule I told you? If you fail the assessment in one year, you can only take it again the following year. Even if you are a genius, you still have to abide by it." Fa Ma paused after speaking, then continued, "As long as you listen to my advice, I will personally guide you and will definitely help you achieve the fourth rank within six months."
"I thank you for your guidance, guild leader. However, I am still somewhat confident in my ability to refine fourth-rank pills."
"Very well, I'll believe you for now!" Looking at the spirited Lin Feng, Fa Ma couldn't help but be slightly moved.
After the staff prepared the pills for the assessment, Fa Ma turned to Lin Feng again and said, "Lin Feng, boy, give up now, study with me for half a year, and you'll definitely advance to the fourth rank!"
Seeing Fa Ma's serious expression, Lin Feng clasped his hands in a respectful bow, his expression solemn, "I thank you for your concern, Elder Fa, but I still want to give it a try."
"Very well," seeing Lin Feng's persistence, Fa Ma stopped trying to dissuade him and instead encouraged him, "Lin Feng, boy, if you succeed in the assessment, you will be the youngest fourth-rank alchemist in the Jia Ma Empire in hundreds of years. At that time, I will personally give you a fifth-rank pill formula." Lin Feng
was stunned for a moment, his opinion of the old man who had been testing him changed slightly, and then he walked towards the assessment platform.
Looking at the two medicinal herbs and the scroll also laid out on the platform, Lin Feng this time directly picked up the scroll.
Qi Gathering Powder: Ranked fourth grade, its effect is to allow those with perfected Dou Qi to condense a 100% Dou Qi vortex. The main ingredients for its refinement are Ink Leaf Lotus, Snake Saliva Fruit, Spirit Gathering Grass, and a second-tier water-attribute magic core.
"The easiest fourth-grade pill to refine?" Lin Feng thought to himself, looking at the scroll in his palm. "Looks like I still need to thank the Pharaoh properly."
He memorized the formula, closed his eyes, and repeatedly reviewed it three times to confirm its accuracy. Then, Lin Feng suddenly opened his eyes, reached into his storage ring, and five medicine cauldrons reappeared in the room.
"Boom!"
Beast fire rose from his palm, and Lin Feng waved his hand, sending it into the cauldrons to begin the process of nurturing them.
After the cauldrons reached a suitable temperature, Lin Feng did not send all the ingredients into the cauldrons at once this time. After all, this was his first time refining a fourth-grade pill. Therefore, any caution was necessary.
First, the relatively easy-to-refine Black Leaf Lotus was placed into the medicine cauldron. With a "bang," the flames gradually increased in temperature, carefully roasting it according to the instructions in the pill formula.
After the outer lotus leaves were reduced to ash, a small ball of medicinal liquid was finally extracted and controlled to suspend within the cauldron.
"Phew!" The first success boosted Lin Feng's confidence, but he dared not be careless, letting out a light breath.
Next, the Snake Saliva Fruit was placed into his storage ring, and after successfully refining it, the Spirit Gathering Grass was refined. As expected, it was successfully refined as well. Lin Feng exhaled again, his gaze fixed on the final second-tier water-attribute magic core.
Although water and fire sometimes complement each other, they are mostly mutually destructive. Therefore, even though Lin Feng had refined water-attribute magic cores many times, he dared not be careless.
After placing the magic core into the medicine cauldron, Lin Feng suddenly increased his soul power, carefully observing the magic core's condition, preparing to deal with any possible situations.
Just as Lin Feng increased his soul power, Fa Ma, who was supervising the assessment ten meters away, suddenly widened his eyes. "This, this soul power, how is this possible!?"