Inside the assessment room, feeling the powerful soul force emanating from Lin Feng, Fa Ma was dumbfounded, even unconsciously plucking out a tuft of his beard, muttering to himself.
"Impossible, absolutely impossible!" Fa Ma felt incredulous, "The strength of this soul force is actually much stronger than that of Gu He, a sixth-grade alchemist. Perhaps, even a seventh-grade alchemist wouldn't be this strong."
(ps: A little cheat code: rereading the previous chapters reveals that Lin Feng possesses a high-level Yellow-rank Soul-Severing Technique. Combined with his transmigration and rebirth, his Dou Ling cultivation, and the traces of spiritual energy absorbed during his Five Elements Technique cultivation, this soul strength is barely acceptable, hahaha. I won't suppress my level; a true genius not only needs to be stronger than others at the same level, but also needs to advance at a speed beyond ordinary people's imagination.)
Immediately, that fleeting thought resurfaced in Fa Ma's mind. "Lin Feng must be kept in the Alchemist Guild, no matter the cost."
Lin Feng, engrossed in alchemy, ignored the neurotic Fa Ma beside him and continued methodically refining the magic core.
The flames continuously scorched the magic core, emitting a hissing sound, until finally, at a certain moment, the magic core began to condense into droplets of energy.
"It's time," Lin Feng thought to himself, his hand seals shifting as his soul power controlled the several droplets within the cauldron to gradually merge. This time, Lin Feng wasn't as casual as before, after all, it was a once-a-year assessment opportunity.
If it weren't for the impending action of the Soul Emperor, Lin Feng would have liked to wait until he reached the Nine-Star Dou Sheng realm and the Emperor realm before emerging from seclusion, like those other reclusive saints.
Unfortunately, time waits for no one. Although, if everything hadn't changed, the anti-inflammatory medicine would have brought peace to the continent, who, reborn, would be content with mediocrity, and who wouldn't want to experience the pinnacle of power?
Therefore, upon arriving in the capital of Jia Ma, Lin Feng's first stop was the Alchemist Guild. This was the best opportunity to open doors and offered considerable freedom.
Many thoughts flashed through his mind, yet his hands moved without pause. With each change of hand seals, he reached the final step: fusion of the pill.
"Thump, thump, thump,"
accompanied by a series of energy fluctuations, a series of sounds rang out. Immediately afterward, a unique fragrance, unlike anything Lin Feng had ever experienced while refining pills, emanated from the cauldron. Sensing this, Lin Feng smiled slightly.
"The fragrance has appeared, and it's already a fourth-grade pill!"
The Pharaoh, even more excited than Lin Feng, couldn't help but exclaim, stroking his beard with awe.
With a wave of his hand, a ball of light covered in pill patterns slowly emerged from the cauldron. By the time it reached Lin Feng's hand, it had become an ordinary-looking pill.
After a brief examination, looking at the pill patterns on the Qi Gathering Powder, Lin Feng nodded in satisfaction, inwardly marveling.
"As expected, although he has never refined a fourth-grade pill before, he can still refine pill patterns with his foundation. It's just that he lacks the pill formula and medicinal materials."
"Pharaoh, please see, I have succeeded." Lin Feng handed the pill to Fa Ma, whose expression had recovered, and smiled faintly.
"Hahaha, the moment the fragrance of the pill is released, it becomes a fourth-grade pill. This is an ironclad rule derived by alchemists since ancient times. The pill is definitely correct." Even so, Fa Ma still took the pill from Lin Feng's hand and examined it carefully.
"However, I find it strange that the pill used to advance Dou Qi to Dou Zhe is actually ranked fourth." Lin Feng looked at Fa Ma examining the pill and raised a small question.
"Hahaha, you have stumped this old man. This is a question I have also had." Hearing Lin Feng's question, Fa Ma raised his head and explained, "But considering that this is the rating across the entire Dou Qi Continent, perhaps only the legendary Pill Tower has the ability to change this grade!"
After a pause, Fa Ma continued, "However, there's no need to change that, after all, its refining difficulty is no less than that of a typical fourth-grade alchemist."
"Oh? The Pill Tower?" Hearing the term "Pill Tower," Lin Feng appropriately showed a hint of doubt.
"Hahaha, I forgot to tell you that. I thought your teacher would tell you." Fa Ma patted his head and continued, "It's the legendary holy land of alchemists, filled with alchemists of all grades, various secret techniques, and prescriptions. Legend has it that there are even ninth-grade alchemy grandmasters." "
Even someone with Gu He's talent is commonplace in the Pill Tower. Otherwise, do you really think he would stay for a woman? As an alchemist myself, I know Gu He all too well." Then, Fa Ma looked at Lin Feng, his eyes filled with longing, "However, if it were you, you would also have a place in the Pill Tower, right?"
Lin Feng didn't know how to answer, so he could only feign a longing expression as well.
Seeing Lin Feng's reaction, Fa Ma snapped out of his reverie. "I've been long-winded. With your talent, you'll reach that stage one day."
"However, now it's time to fulfill my promise," Fa Ma suddenly said with a flourish, "Which fifth-grade pill formula do you want? As long as it's in the Alchemist Guild, I can get it for you."
"Oh, a fifth-grade pill formula is good, but what I want now is the formula for the peak fourth-grade pill, the Three-Pattern Azure Spirit Pill. I wonder if Elder Fa can give me that formula?" Lin Feng stated his thoughts directly.
"Of course, but Lin Feng, are you sure you don't want the fifth-grade formula? This is your only chance, so think it over carefully." Fa Ma confirmed with Lin Feng again, his tone sincere. "
Buzz." Lin Feng didn't reply, but quickly released a wisp of his aura, then immediately withdrew it, vanishing in a flash. If Fa Ma hadn't possessed such powerful soul force, he would have thought it was his imagination.
Lin Feng's pupils contracted slightly, then he burst into laughter. "I'm now certain you'll shine in the Pill Tower."
Lin Feng smiled slightly, his confidence undisguised.
Suddenly, Fa Ma's laughter paused, his eyes fixed on Lin Feng. "Lin Feng, young man, would you be willing to become an elder of the Alchemist Guild?" He paused, then unleashed his trump card, "If you agree, all the guild's resources will be open to you. Pill formulas, medicinal herbs—I will personally teach you. What do you say?"
Looking at the old man offering such an astonishing price, Lin Feng fell silent, deep in thought.
Finally, Lin Feng raised his head, a hint of apology in his expression, and
was about to speak when Fa Ma waved his hand, interrupting him. "Lin Feng, what are you thinking? Stop being so fussy. You're just a guest elder; you don't need to do any official duties. All you need to do is return after your studies and ensure the guild remembers you, bringing you more advanced alchemy techniques."
Seeing Lin Feng's surprised expression, Fa Ma smiled, a hint of childlike exuberance in his eyes. "I know you youngsters all want to explore," he paused, "Besides, even if you wanted to stay in the guild, I wouldn't want you."
Looking at Fa Ma like this, Lin Feng's expression shifted, a smile playing on his lips, and he slowly uttered a single word,
"Good."