Chapter 236 Seventh-Grade Pills, All-Encompassing! The
usually tranquil Soul Sea was now unusually turbulent, with towering waves crashing against it. Yuan Kui, suppressed there, stared in horror at Lin Feng not far away.
More precisely, at the divine needle suspended before him, formed from Lin Feng's soul power!
Though invisible, for Yuan Kui, whose talent excelled in the soul, it was as conspicuous as the sun suddenly appearing in the night.
"He's successfully cultivated the secret technique of the Great Sage Guiyuan!"
Looking at the colorless divine needle, Yuan Kui felt a sharp pain in his soul.
"Hoo,"
Lin Feng exhaled softly, ignoring Yuan Kui's horror, his expression revealing undisguised joy.
"After countless corrections, I've finally achieved initial success in cultivating it, entering the realm of the Great Sage Guiyuan's secret technique!"
Looking at the soul needle suspended before him, feeling its powerful cutting force, and knowing it was formed from soul power, possessing a natural concealment...
"Even a Dou Zun expert, if caught off guard and struck by this Soul Needle, would die instantly!"
"Most Dou Zun experts, even those comparable to sixth or seventh-grade alchemists due to their improved Dou Qi realm, are no match for this Soul Needle, which begins with a perfected Mortal Realm soul cultivation."
"And even with similar soul realms, without a soul defense technique, they would still suffer severe injuries."
"After mastering this technique, even without relying on the Dragon Emperor's essence blood, one can rival a beginner Dou Zun."
A sense of security truly arose in Lin Feng's heart. This was power he had cultivated himself; as long as he could recover his soul power, he could use it continuously.
Unlike the Dragon Emperor's essence blood, which was non-renewable. Of the three Dragon Emperor's essence blood he possessed, the one he used for cultivation had shrunk almost imperceptibly.
And after Lin Feng advanced to Dou Zun, with his robust Five Elements physique, the consumption of essence blood would increase exponentially.
After all, this essence blood was only a small portion of the Dragon Emperor's boundless and profound body.
Of course, with his physical strength comparable to a seventh-tier magical beast and the secret techniques left behind by the Thunder Clan, Lin Feng can now refine pills of grade seven or higher, using the energy of the pill lightning to rapidly improve his strength.
As for the Five Elements Pill he originally researched, after many days of contemplation, Lin Feng has decided to abandon his research on Five Elements Pills at the Dou Zong level.
Firstly, he has already entered the eight-star Dou Zong realm, and even reaching the ninth-tier Dou Zong is just around the corner; there's no need for him to research Five Elements Pills at the Dou Zong level.
Secondly, after entering the Dou Zong realm, the difference between each star level is enormous.
The main ingredient for refining Five Elements Pills is the magic core of a magical beast of the same level. If he uses the magic core of a magical beast that has just advanced to the seventh tier as the main ingredient, how could the Five Elements Pills refined from it possibly meet the energy requirements for breaking through from eight to nine stars?
Even for Dou Zong, this is the case,
let alone the Dou Zun and Dou Sheng realms. More importantly, Lin Feng's current alchemy skills are only barely enough to refine mid-grade seventh-tier pills.
If Lin Feng were to stubbornly insist on researching the Five Elements Pill at the Dou Zong level, he wouldn't know when he'd reach the Dou Zun level, wasting countless hours.
After all, both alchemy and Dou Qi cultivation require time to accumulate after reaching advanced stages.
In the original story, Xiao Yan's seemingly meteoric rise, defying common sense
, was actually traceable, not a sudden boost from some system.
His Dou Qi advancement largely relied on pills and strange fire, while his alchemy improvement could be attributed to the Bodhi Tree's hundred lifetimes of reincarnation. His
soul realm advancement initially stemmed from the Soul Palace's millennia-long accumulation of soul essence, and Xiao Xuan even directly burned his own essence, using it to enhance Xiao Yan.
Subsequent opportunities like the Nine Profound Golden Thunder and the Dou Di inheritance were countless.
Of course, now that Lin Feng has come to this world, he'll naturally seize some opportunities.
Self-preservation is the only way to survive!
Although Lin Feng and Xiao Yan are not enemies, and in fact, they are quite amicable at the moment
, Lin Feng still wants to give it a try. If he can defeat the Soul Emperor through his own efforts, that would be ideal.
At the same time, Lin Feng will also invest in Xiao Yan when the time is right.
If Lin Feng runs out of strength in the future, or if he lacks the power to fight when the Soul Emperor launches his plan, then he will have to rely on the Flame Emperor.
Given Xiao Yan's personality, investing in him now while he is weak will surely yield considerable returns in the future.
After sorting everything out, Lin Feng slowly stood up, checked his suppression of Yuan Kui, and finding it still very stable, his soul body dissipated within his soul sea.
Meanwhile, Lin Feng, who had been in seclusion for a long time, gradually opened his eyes and gazed ahead.
In his perception, a glimmer of light had appeared at the end of the spatial passage.
"Dan City, we've arrived!"
"The Spirit Opening Fruit, freshly harvested from the Desolate Ancient Domain, not only instantly boosts soul power upon consumption, but this effect will continue to enhance soul power in the future."
"With the Spirit Opening Fruit, soul power is greatly increased. If you are also a esteemed alchemist, then you should definitely choose the Spirit Opening Fruit. With the Spirit Opening Fruit, becoming an alchemy genius is not a dream!"
"You won't lose out! Just one top-grade sixth-rank pill, delivered right to your door!"
"A seventh-order fire-attribute magical beast core, freshly forged!" "
First-hand information on the ruins left by a super strongman, the essential path to the rise of countless powerful individuals, delivered right to your door with just one fifth-rank pill, first come, first served!"
"A private channel to enter the Pill Tower, the only one available, first come, first served!
"
Upon entering the Pill Tower, the first thing that caught his eye was a boundless, gigantic city; even with Lin Feng's perception, he couldn't sense its end.
Guided by Han Fei, Lin Feng and his companions traveled for some distance within the vast Dan City, intending to first find a place to stay and purchase a courtyard as their lodging.
However, Dan City truly lived up to its reputation as the location of the powerful Dan Tower; even though Lin Feng was currently in the outer city,
the resources available to the vendors hawking their wares on the streets far exceeded Lin Feng's expectations.
No wonder Lin Feng felt like a country bumpkin entering the city; the resources here were simply too abundant, as if they had gathered the essence of the entire continent.
Spiritual treasures of heaven and earth were everywhere!
Lin Feng had spent years searching the Northwest Continent, only managing to obtain one or two sets of seventh-grade medicinal herbs. With just a cursory glance, he spotted several.
"The Pill Tower truly lives up to its reputation as a holy land for alchemists!"
After a moment of reflection, Lin Feng didn't immediately rush to collect the herbs he desired. Instead, led by Han Fei, he used a sixth-grade pill to purchase a relatively spacious courtyard.
After the transaction was completed, Lin Feng and his companions settled down there.
On a large peach tree, they gathered around a round table, discussing their next course of action.
Of course, this peach tree wasn't the one from Canaan Academy.
Lin Feng currently didn't have a storage ring capable of holding living beings, and it didn't seem to be mentioned in the original story.
However, Zi Yan, as a member of the Ancient Void Dragon clan and a darling of space, did mention it. She
said there was a strange spiritual substance in the world, even rarer than a spirit-storing device. If one could use it as a foundation, one could create a space capable of storing living beings.
Of course, Zi Yan was quite regretful; this magical substance had long since disappeared in the ancient times, according to the inheritance given by the Dragon Emperor.
Hearing this, Lin Feng also felt a little regretful, but thinking of the existence of the ancient clans in the Heavenly Curtain, he felt that perhaps a Dou Di could solve this problem.
As for why Xiao Yan in the original story didn't use this magical space to bring Cai Lin and Xun'er to the Upper Realm, it was probably due to his fear of the unknown!
Not thinking about these distant matters, Lin Feng had already discussed a plan with the others.
That was to collect the medicinal materials for refining seventh-grade pills at all costs.
Then, to begin refining the pills!
Indeed, Lin Feng intended to use this method to attract the attention of the Pill Tower's higher-ups.
After all, an alchemist capable of consistently refining seventh-grade pills was a pillar of strength even in the Pill Tower, where alchemists were numerous.
Lin Feng's intention was quite simple and clear.
Although he possessed the letter of introduction from Yao Chen, and given Yao Chen's relationship with the three giants of the Pill Tower, he could certainly establish himself quickly in the upper echelons of the Pill Tower
, those who offered themselves up were not as worthy of respect as those who were invited.
Lin Feng was using this method to make the Pill Tower come to him; an unfamiliar seventh-grade alchemy technique would always arouse their suspicion.
Moreover, having mastered all of Yao Chen's alchemy techniques, Lin Feng didn't actually need to enter the Pill Tower to learn in the short term.
What he lacked was simply a large quantity of high-grade spiritual herbs!
These high-grade spiritual herbs were readily available throughout Pill City. Of course, if he wanted to find spiritual herbs for refining eighth-grade pills, he would still need to truly enter the upper echelons of the Pill Tower for greater convenience.
"Husband, I'd better continue my seclusion!"
After Lin Feng revealed his plan, Cai Lin shared her own intentions.
"Sister Cai Lin."
Seeing the concern on the faces of the group, Cai Lin felt a surge of warmth in her heart.
"After this period of seclusion, I've gradually reached the threshold of the Nine-Star Dou Zong realm. I'm confident I can break through to the Nine-Star Dou Zong realm in a short time!"
"In that case, let's split up."
Seeing that Cai Lin was likely to break through soon, Lin Feng was delighted; his team was growing stronger and stronger.
"Cai Lin will stay here in seclusion. With the Five Elements Barrier in place, she doesn't need to worry about being affected by others."
"We'll go and exchange for spiritual herbs to refine seventh-grade pills. This time, I'm determined to raise my alchemy skills to the advanced seventh grade!"
Thinking that half of his soul power was already filled with spiritual energy, Lin Feng remembered the Spirit-Nourishing Powder that appeared in the original story. If he had such a treasure, the speed of his soul breakthrough would definitely increase greatly.
However, such rare treasures depended on fate, and in such a large pill city, Lin Feng couldn't guarantee that he would encounter it.
"Brother Lin Feng, if we collect more top-tier poisonous rare herbs this time, I feel the barrier to becoming a Dou Zun is just around the corner!"
At this moment, Little Fairy Doctor suddenly spoke up, her tone revealing a strong sense of confidence.
"Alright! Then let's focus on poisonous herbs first, and prioritize Xian'er's breakthrough to Dou Zun. Only when a true Dou Zun appears among us can we have a voice!"
As for Lin Feng's Soul Needle, it can only be used as a trump card; he can't just reveal this secret technique to everyone he meets!
Zi Yan, standing to the side, felt a bit of pressure. Originally, she thought that having obtained the Dragon Clan's inheritance, she should be the fastest to advance to Dou Zun.
"It seems that I also need to go into seclusion for a while. I can't keep being suppressed by Sister Xian'er!"
Han Fei, on the other hand, was already numb. After truly knowing the realms and ages of the others, besides a bright outlook on their future, he only felt the highest respect for them.
"Let's get moving!"
"Young master, what kind of spiritual herbs do you need? I have everything you could possibly need here!"
When Lin Feng stopped in front of a vendor, the old man selling the herbs immediately greeted him warmly.
Those in this line of work are adept at reading people. From Lin Feng's attire, the old man knew that this young master would be extremely generous.
More importantly, having cultivated a secret tracking technique, he clearly sensed the faint, exotic fragrance emanating from Lin Feng.
And the power mixed within it, seemingly divine might, he was certain—it was the pill lightning that only appears when at least a seventh-grade pill is refined.
"Where did this come from? Such a young seventh-grade alchemist, could he be a secret disciple of one of the five great families or even the Pill Tower?"
Beneath his enthusiastic old face lay a face full of questions. "Never mind, as long as I close this deal, it'll be enough to keep me worry-free for the next few decades!"
"Do you have Ghost Face Flower, Soul-Returning Demon Fruit, or other spiritual herbs?"
After observing the stall in front of him, Lin Feng picked up a seventh-order fire-attribute magical beast's core and asked.
"This demonic core is quite good. Judging from the energy intensity, it should have reached the peak of a mid-level seventh-tier demonic beast, just one step away from advancing to the advanced level."
"And judging from the energy fluctuations, it must have just been slaughtered. It seems this vendor has some skill!"
"Young master, I happen to have three of the Resurrection Demon Fruits you mentioned!"
The old man said enthusiastically, carefully taking out several frozen jade boxes from his storage ring. Opening them, he found the Resurrection Demon Fruits.
"As for the Ghost Face Flower, if you are willing to wait, I can deliver it to you within ten days. Would you be willing to wait a moment?"
Looking at Lin Feng expectantly, the old man was overjoyed. "As expected of a seventh-grade alchemist! He immediately offers top-tier spiritual items. I must secure this deal!"
"Take a look at these spiritual items. How many can you offer? Offer them all!"
"In exchange, I have all the seventh-grade pills I could possibly need!"
Chapter 237 Loose Cultivator Alliance
"Ten seventh-tier demonic beast cores, a thousand-year-old spirit wood heart, Bodhi Transformation Saliva, Dragon Blood Fungus, Xuan Tian Green Vine, and Demon Spirit Valley Grass."
The old merchant pressed the jade slip Lin Feng handed him to his forehead, and the names of the spiritual herbs Lin Feng needed appeared in his mind. As he looked at them, the old merchant's joy grew increasingly uncontrollable.
However, after a few deep breaths, the old merchant calmed down.
"Young master, the spiritual items you need are far too high-end, some even too rare. It may take quite a while!"
After saying this, the old merchant looked at Lin Feng with trepidation. He was truly afraid of losing this big deal.
However, he would never dare to deceive Lin Feng. This young master was clearly a seventh-grade or higher alchemist. Moreover, judging from his extravagant spending, the power behind him was extraordinary.
Old Li still wanted to live in Dan City for at least another hundred years. If he offended Lin Feng, he would have no choice but to pack his bags and run away.
"Let's use what we can offer now for the trade!"
Although it was a pity, Lin Feng didn't intend to waste time on it. He only needed to refine seven-grade pills three to five times; the resulting pill lightning would be enough to attract the attention of the higher-ups of the Pill Tower.
Once inside the Pill Tower, Lin Feng would have extremely wide channels to obtain high-grade spiritual herbs, so there was no need to waste time on this.
"Young master, please hear what this old man has to say!"
Seemingly sensing Lin Feng's thoughts, the old merchant looked bitter, hesitated for a moment, and then gritted his teeth and spoke.
"Oh?"
"Behind me is a vast alliance of rogue cultivators, even containing Dou Zun level experts." "
However, this alliance isn't as rigorous as a force like the Pill Tower, but its information network is extremely efficient." "
And the alliance's headquarters is located in the Desolate Ancient Domain, where spiritual herbs and treasures abound!"
"If you're willing to spend a little more time, young master, I can obtain the treasures you need through the alliance!"
"To be honest, only a small portion of the many spiritual herbs and demonic cores before me are mine; the rest are for resale!"
After saying this, the old merchant looked at Lin Feng expectantly. He vaguely sensed that this young master before him was the most important opportunity of his life.
"A rogue cultivator alliance? This wasn't mentioned in the original story. However, if this alliance can truly provide me with spiritual herbs, it wouldn't be a bad assistant!" Lin Feng stood with his hands behind his back, staring at the old merchant.
In his perception, the old merchant's soul didn't fluctuate much, so he was probably not lying.
Of course, even if the old merchant had some scheme, Lin Feng wasn't afraid.
Putting aside his adherence to the cash-on-delivery principle, even if the forces behind him wanted to forcibly seize it, Lin Feng didn't believe they could cause any trouble within Dan City.
Moreover, Lin Feng possessed the Dragon Emperor's essence blood, his greatest source of confidence!
Without a Dou Sheng present, Lin Feng had no fear!
"If the loose cultivator alliance behind you, senior, can truly provide me with enough spiritual herbs, then a few days isn't out of the question!"
"Please rest assured, young master, I guarantee with my life that as long as you can afford the price, the loose cultivator alliance can provide most of the spiritual items you desire!"
Hearing Lin Feng's agreement, the old merchant was overjoyed and quickly made his promise.
"Remember this address. Once you have the spiritual herbs, deliver them directly to my residence!"
After transmitting this information to the old merchant's mind using soul power, Lin Feng planned to continue strolling around the area.
As for this method of transmitting information using soul power, it was a small trick Lin Feng had comprehended from the secret techniques left behind by the Great Sage Guiyuan.
Of course, for complex information, Lin Feng still uses jade slips, as he's not yet familiar with this method.
"Oh, by the way, if the Loose Cultivator Alliance has any poisonous natural treasures suitable for high-level Dou Zong or even Dou Zun, they can be sent to my residence in exchange for rank six or higher pills!"
"Of course, if anyone in the Loose Cultivator Alliance needs pills refined, as long as it's according to the rules for alchemists, I can agree!"
"The prerequisite is that the pill's grade must be no lower than rank seven!"
This is because alchemists in Dan City are incredibly numerous, with rank six or higher alchemists readily available!
If Lin Feng were to refine rank six pills, it would not only waste his time but also fail to reflect his prestige.
Furthermore, since discovering the Dan Lei Body Tempering secret formula for rapid advancement, Lin Feng no longer intends to refine rank six or lower pills.
For him, pill refining is not just about refining pills; it's also a form of cultivation beyond Dou Qi, which can greatly save him cultivation time.
Moreover, using Dan Lei as energy, the resulting increase in physical strength and accompanying boost in Dou Qi is even more stable than refining the Dragon Emperor's essence blood.
"Thank you for giving me this opportunity, young master. I will certainly fulfill all your needs!"
Seeing the old merchant bowing repeatedly in thanks, Lin Feng paid no attention, waving his hand slightly before continuing forward. Only one sentence lingered in the old merchant's ears:
"Words are useless. I only want to see the spiritual herbs as quickly as possible. This will determine whether your alliance of rogue cultivators will have the opportunity to continue cooperating with me!"
"Thank you, young master!"
After thanking him again, the old merchant immediately packed up his stall and put it into his storage ring, then rushed out of Dan City.
Judging from his appearance, he was probably anxious to inform his alliance of rogue cultivators about this matter!
Lin Feng, on the other hand, continued to stroll around Dan City. On the Dou Qi Continent, there was a saying that divine objects were often defiled.
Many top-tier secret techniques or spiritual treasures are often hidden within ordinary fragments or jade slips.
Whether it was the Heavenly Flame Three Transformations that Xiao Yan obtained in the original story, or the secret technique Lin Feng once acquired, both were relatively rudimentary under the powerful perception of his soul.
In this vast Pill City, Lin Feng refused to believe that with his soul perception, which was almost at the Spirit Realm level, he couldn't find a treasure or two.
As dusk settled, Lin Feng walked back to his residence, his expression as somber and uncertain as the sky.
"Today, I was simply too tired, to the point that my soul perception has become dim and unclear,"
Lin Feng thought to himself after wandering around for half a day without finding anything.
"Otherwise, I wouldn't be returning empty-handed. Well, I'll go back and rest for today, and fight again another day!"
Unlike Lin Feng's dejected mood, the old merchant, using some unknown means of transportation, arrived at the branch of the Loose Cultivator Alliance in less than half a day, despite his mid-level Dou Zong strength.
This was a medium-sized city called Dihuang City. There was no city lord or powerful family residing there.
Instead, many loose cultivators had settled there, as the city was built by members of the Loose Cultivator Alliance for trade and exchange. Of course
, in this magical Dou Qi Continent, building a city at a high cultivation level didn't take long.
For example, the Beast Venerable City, overseen by Lin Feng, was completed in just over a month even by students of the Dou Ling Grand Dou Shi level.
"Old Mo, are you sure what you're saying is true?"
A friendly voice rang out in a grand hall in the center of Dihuang City, where the Loose Cultivator Alliance's Dihuang City branch was located.
"Venerable Cangmo, everything I've said is true!"
The speaker was the old merchant Lin Feng had met during the day, known in the Loose Cultivator Alliance as Old Man Mo.
"Venerable, please look, this is the pill that the seventh-grade alchemist used for the transaction!"
To prove his words, Old Man Mo quickly took out the low-grade seventh-grade pill—the Instant Qi Pill—that Lin Feng had given him in exchange from his storage ring.
"Venerable, as you know, my unique cultivation technique makes my perception of aura extremely astounding."
"That young master's aura, unique to alchemists, is completely transparent to me!"
"More importantly, he also carries a fresh scent of pill lightning; I have no doubt about it!"
"Hmm!"
The being known as Venerable Cangmo carefully examined the seventh-grade pill Old Man Mo presented, and soon a smile appeared on his face.
"Indeed, it's a freshly made seventh-grade pill. Judging from its refining method, it is indeed from a family tradition!"
Venerable Cangmo stroked his beard, his mood somewhat pleased.
"I also know your secret technique. In terms of sensing aura, even I am inferior."
"I dare not!"
Hearing Venerable Cangmo's praise, Old Man Mo repeatedly expressed his humility, but the pride on his face was hard to conceal.
"Old Man Mo, you have indeed made a great contribution this time. Well then, I will bestow this seventh-grade pill, the Instant Qi Pill, upon you!"
"Thank you, Venerable One! Thank you, Venerable One!"
Old Man Mo, who was stroking his beard with pride, never expected to receive such a great reward, and almost plucked out his beard.
After a moment of stunned silence, he immediately reacted and bowed to Venerable Cangmo in gratitude.
Waving his hand, indicating that Old Man Mo did not need to do so, Venerable Cangmo looked at the jade slip that Old Man Mo had handed over.
It not only recorded the spiritual items that Lin Feng needed, but also the names of many poisonous natural treasures. With Venerable Cangmo's discerning eye, he could naturally see that most of these were materials for refining seventh-grade pills.
"It seems this alchemist who intends to trade with us is no ordinary person!"
Although not widely known, Venerable Cangmo is a formidable figure in the Dou Zun realm.
His talent is considerable, and despite not receiving training from a major power, he has reached the six-star Dou Zun realm after hundreds of years of honing his skills.
Such strength places him among the elite even in the Central Continent, a land teeming with experts.
However, within this Loose Cultivator Alliance, he is not the true leader; above him lies a mysterious figure. It is this figure who ensures the Loose Cultivator Alliance's continued existence and fairness.
Of course, this revered elder, to whom many Loose Cultivators are deeply grateful, has not appeared for many years.
"Unfortunately, this alchemist's level is still somewhat low. If his rank were eighth grade, perhaps my own realm could be raised further."
"Venerable, you are unaware of this!"
Hearing Venerable Cangmo's lament, Old Man Mo seemed to remember something and suddenly spoke.
"Oh? Is there some hidden story behind this?"
"No, what I want to say is that when I was secretly observing using a secret method, I discovered that this seventh-grade alchemy master's bone age is actually less than twenty-five!"
"What!"
Venerable Cangmo, who had been listening attentively, was also somewhat surprised upon hearing this.
As far as he knew, even the disciples of the three giants of the Pill Tower, or the favored young talents of the elders of the Pill Tower, would only have just entered the seventh-grade realm at this age.
"Could it be that this genius alchemist is actually a genius secretly cultivated by the Pill Tower?"
"Moreover, his alchemy skills have already reached the middle level of the seventh grade, and judging from the list of spiritual herbs he provided, many of them are even needed to refine high-grade seventh-grade pills."
"Old Mo, in my name, I would like to inform all my fellow cultivators that I ask you all to give me face and exchange any of the spiritual herbs on this list with this genius alchemist."
"Yes!"
Watching Old Mo slowly leave the hall, Venerable Cangmo gently stroked his beloved beard, gazing in the direction of Pill City, and murmured softly.
"A genius alchemist? Perhaps the opportunity for me to advance further and reach the Seven-Star Dou Zun realm lies with you!"
Half a month after Lin Feng's encounter with that old man Mo, Lin Feng, refusing to believe in bad luck, wandered aimlessly through the roadside stalls of Dan City for several days.
Finally, he reluctantly admitted that he was indeed the legendary unlucky one!
On the other hand, Zi Yan, while idly strolling with Lin Feng, had incredibly good luck, finding a high-level water-attribute earth-rank cultivation technique in an ancient jade slip!
Zi Yan's smug expression contrasted sharply with Lin Feng's dark expression.
Of course, Han Fei, as an observer, dared not openly mock his master. But Lin Feng's perception was incredibly strong; he could sense the suppressed smile emanating from the trembling of Lin Feng's shoulders.
Instantly, Lin Feng's face darkened even further.
These were minor matters, not a big deal. The important thing was that Venerable Cangmo of the Loose Cultivator Alliance, having placed his hopes for further advancement on Lin Feng, continuously sent him a large quantity of high-grade spiritual herbs from the Desolate Ancient Domain.
To settle the outstanding payment and to rapidly improve his physical body and battle qi realm, Lin Feng also resumed his alchemy work.
The result was a strange spectacle in the usually clear-sky Dan City.
Every time the moon rabbit was about to depart, the sun was about to rise, and dawn was just breaking, dark clouds would begin to gather above Dan City.
For the residents of Dan City, alchemical lightning was a common sight.
Some older residents had even witnessed the birth of eighth-grade pills during the Pill Tower's grand competition.
Those colorful thunderclouds were far more beautiful than the current dark clouds.
However, the appearance of seventh-grade pill lightning for ten consecutive days was something even the residents of the Pill Tower had never seen before.
What surprised them even more was that every time the pill lightning struck down, a young figure would suddenly appear beneath it.
Without using any fighting techniques, he relied solely on the power of his own body to shatter the pill lightning, a force even a Dou Zong expert wouldn't dare to underestimate!
Chapter 238 Why is he even more monstrous than me!
The strange events that have recently occurred in Dan City, which spans the entire Dou Qi Continent, have spread rapidly to the surrounding areas.
In just half a month, everyone knows that a genius in the alchemy world has appeared here.
Since there was no deliberate concealment, everyone already knows Lin Feng's general background. Therefore, during this period, the mansion that Lin Feng bought has been constantly visited by guests.
However, at Lin Feng's instruction, all these guests were blocked by Han Fei in the reception hall.
The secluded cultivation place of Cai Lin and others was also unaffected by these guests thanks to the barrier of Lin Feng's Five Elements Barrier.
The only one who could meet Lin Feng was Old Man Mo from the Loose Cultivator Alliance.
Due to his continuous trade of seventh-grade pills for the Loose Cultivator Alliance, Old Man Mo's status in the alliance has risen sharply in recent days.
Don't think that just because the Loose Cultivator Alliance is very loose, this increase in status is meaningless; at least now, even Venerable Cang Mo is much more polite to Old Man Mo.
Of course, Old Man Mo, who had lived for hundreds of years and was well-versed in human relationships, didn't become arrogant because of this.
However, after each transaction with Lin Feng, the trading partners within the alliance would give him a generous sum of resources.
If it weren't for the need to continue trading with Lin Feng, the travel expenses earned from these two weeks of transactions alone would have been enough for Old Man Mo to go into seclusion and attempt a breakthrough.
"However, I can take the Azure Longevity Pill that Master Lin Feng gave me first!"
Thinking of the spiritual pill lying quietly in his storage ring, Old Man Mo's steps became even lighter.
He had already lived for hundreds of years, and his fierce and combative nature in his youth had left him with many hidden injuries, so his lifespan was already limited.
Otherwise, he wouldn't have chosen to apply to retire in Dan City, knowing that his unique tracking technique was an extremely powerful tool for treasure hunting. Fortunately,
although the founder of the Loose Cultivator Alliance hadn't appeared for many years, the atmosphere he left behind in the alliance was extremely good.
If it were any other force, his secret technique would have already been half-forced to hand over.
With this life-extending pill and the resources he'd earned in the past half-month, breaking through to the advanced Dou Zong realm would grant him nearly a hundred more years of carefree life.
"Master Lin Feng, this is truly a great opportunity for me, Old Mo!"
Meanwhile, Lin Feng, unusually, appeared in the reception hall today, not refining pills in his secret chamber.
After half a month of preparation, Lin Feng had achieved his desired effect; his name was known throughout Dan City. The continuous seventh-grade pill lightning not only bombarded Lin Feng's body but also deeply impacted the hearts of millions, even tens of millions, of people in Dan City.
Even the prodigies nurtured by the Pill Tower cast interested glances.
Feeling his luck had been fully cultivated, Lin Feng prepared to emerge from seclusion today to take the alchemist level assessment at the Pill Tower!
Slowly rising, he walked outside the hall, watching Old Mo approach, a slight smile playing on his lips.
"You've arrived!"
Saint Pill City, as the true center of Dan City, was where the essence of the continent's alchemists truly converged.
Lin Feng and his companions walked through the area, and in just half an hour, they saw no fewer than a hundred alchemists.
Of course, most were only third or fourth-grade alchemists, with a very few reaching fifth or sixth grade.
As for the seventh-grade and even higher eighth-grade alchemy masters, they were either in their private quarters, studying newly acquired top-tier alchemy manuals, or busy with other matters. The
truly top-tier practitioners rarely showed themselves on the streets.
After all, a master's status isn't achieved overnight, and during that time, they would inevitably be recognized. Aside from the commotion, they didn't want to waste any time.
True masters, aside from those blessed by heaven, are definitely masters of time management!
Before a tall black tower, Lin Feng and his companions gradually stopped, looking up at this strange structure that resembled both a tower and a cauldron. A surge of pride welled up in Lin Feng's heart.
From this day forward, Lin Feng's name would begin to resound throughout the continent!
"Those taking the Alchemist Examination, please come this way. During the examination, unauthorized personnel are not allowed to observe. Please wait here!"
Upon entering the black tower, a young woman in purple greeted him, perhaps because there were fewer people today.
However, Lin Feng suspected it was because of the fifth-grade alchemist badge hanging on his chest!
Indeed, this was the badge given to him by Old Man Fa Ma at the Alchemist Guild of the Gama Empire, who said it would be convenient for errands.
As for why a sixth-grade badge wasn't given, it was because the Gama Empire's Alchemist Guild hadn't yet obtained the necessary authorization.
Of course, for true masters, the badge was merely an ornament.
Old Man Fa Ma's words weren't without merit; the tower staff were now enthusiastically inquiring about Lin Feng's abilities. With
Cai Lin and the others beside him, Lin Feng's expression remained rather indifferent.
Or perhaps, he wasn't interested in beautiful women!
After greeting Cai Lin and the others, indicating they should wait, Lin Feng followed the young woman to the examination area.
"Young master, may I ask what rank of alchemist you wish to be assessed on today?"
After briefly inquiring about Lin Feng's name, the staff member didn't ask about his lineage; the fifth-rank alchemist badge spoke for itself.
Sensing Lin Feng's indifference, the purple-clad girl felt a momentary pang of sadness before quickly adjusting her mood and continuing to cooperate.
This was merely her usual test; the beauties Lin Feng had brought were far beyond her reach!
"Seventh-rank, advanced!"
"Seventh-rank, advanced! What?! Seventh-rank, advanced!?"
When Lin Feng stated the alchemist rank he wished to be assessed on, the girl, who had just regained her composure, immediately broke down, falling into a state of utter astonishment.
"That's right, precisely seventh-rank, advanced!"
The reason Lin Feng had spent half a month refining pills in Pill City was partly to utilize the power of pill lightning for cultivation, but more importantly, it was for his true purpose.
With the support of the Loose Cultivator Alliance's spiritual herbs, Lin Feng began refining mid-grade seventh-rank pills. In the final two days of trials, he successfully refined a high-grade seventh-rank pill.
Meanwhile, with the blessing of the Dragon Emperor's blood essence, Cai Lin had broken through her cultivation barrier and reached the Nine-Star Dou Zong realm.
"Young master, are you really going to take the high-grade seventh-rank alchemist exam?"
"Hmm, is it not allowed to take the exam here?"
"This..."
"Hahaha, young friend Lin Feng, let this old man answer your question!"
Just then, a hearty laugh came from around the corner of the corridor.
"Deacon Han!"
Upon seeing the newcomer, the staff member immediately bowed.
"Deacon Han? Could he be the one from the original story who tested Xiao Yan and the others?"
Looking at him, Lin Feng's heart stirred, and he had a guess.
"Leave this to me, you can go now!"
"Yes!"
"Even in this Holy Pill City, I have heard of young friend Lin Feng's great name!"
After the staff member left, Deacon Han suddenly exclaimed.
"Deacon, you flatter me. May I ask about the test?"
After a slightly humble remark, Lin Feng inquired about the test, which was the purpose of his visit.
"Haha, old people always like to ramble on!"
After stroking his beard and sighing, Deacon Han's expression turned serious.
"Young friend Lin Feng, you may not know this, but this assessment point is merely a branch tower, and with my authority, the highest level I can assess is only mid-grade seventh-rank alchemists."
"Is that so?"
"However," Lin Feng, who had originally thought he would also need to pass the main tower's exam to obtain the high-grade seventh-rank alchemist badge, heard Deacon Han's tone change.
"Young friend Lin Feng's name is not only known to this old man, but even the giants of the Pill Tower have taken notice. Lord Xuan Kongzi has already given orders that if young friend Lin Feng comes, there is no need for an assessment; he can be met directly!"
"As for the badge and uniform of a seventh-grade advanced alchemist, this old man will not bother with that. After young friend Lin Feng meets with President Xuan Kongzi, the president will make the arrangements!"
"Indeed, how could the Pill Tower not be attracted by at least seventh-grade mid-level pill lightning that has appeared for more than ten consecutive days? Not to mention that the pill lightning that appeared in the last two days reached the level of seventh-grade advanced."
"If the three giants of the Pill Tower are of sound mind, they certainly will not make things difficult for him over such trivial matters!"
"Young friend Lin Feng, this way please!"
After explaining the matter, Deacon Han led the way with a smile.
"Brother Lin Feng!"
"Lin Feng!
" "Husband!"
"My lord!"
Within half a quarter of an hour of entering the assessment area, Cai Lin and the others saw Lin Feng appear, and couldn't help but be a little surprised.
The pill lightning that supposedly produces seventh-grade pills didn't appear either. Could it be that they failed the assessment?
The group, filled with doubt, hurriedly stepped forward to inquire.
"I'll explain later. Now, you all go and buy a courtyard. I'll go with Steward Han to meet with President Xuan Kongzi, one of the giants of the Pill Tower!"
Seeing the puzzled expressions of Cai Lin and the others, Lin Feng didn't say much. Before meeting Xuan Kongzi, he didn't know what that guy was up to.
After leaving the Pill Tower, led by Steward Han, they walked for half an hour before stopping in front of a tall, cauldron-shaped building.
"Truly magnificent!"
Lin Feng wasn't unfamiliar with tall buildings; he had even personally directed the students of Canaan Academy to build a city of magical beasts.
However, compared to the building before him, it was nothing.
Moreover, this building faintly emitted a medicinal fragrance. Could it be...?
"Hahaha, young friend Lin Feng, have you noticed?"
Seeing Lin Feng's expression, Steward Han finally smiled and explained.
"That's right, this cauldron-shaped building is more than just a symbol of the Pill Tower."
"One of the Pill Tower's elders once had a brilliant idea: using this building as a cauldron, he refined an eighth-grade nine-colored pill lightning that was extremely close to ninth grade!"
"According to the Pill Tower's seniors, the nine-colored pill lightning almost blotted out the entire sky."
"In fact, that pill lightning was just one step away from becoming the Black Demon Lightning that symbolizes a ninth-grade pill!"
"A ninth-grade pill? Perhaps one day I can have one too!"
Looking at the building before him, Lin Feng's ambition surged again.
"Hahaha, if it's young friend Lin Feng, it's really possible!"
Interrupted by Lin Feng's words, Deacon Han wasn't angry; instead, he agreed.
If the information was correct, Lin Feng was only in his early twenties, far from thirty.
However, just a few days ago, he had already independently refined a high-grade seventh-grade pill!
In terms of alchemy alone, Lin Feng has already surpassed him. And if he were to receive further training from the Pill Tower, Deacon Han believed that the Pill Tower might indeed produce another ninth-grade alchemist within the next five hundred years!
That's right, exactly five hundred years!
Deacon Han believed this because the current three giants, while not quite as talented as Lin Feng now, were not far off.
However, for so many years, they had remained stuck at the eighth-grade, ninth-color realm.
This was because the three realms required for an alchemist to reach the ninth grade were extremely difficult.
"Deacon Han, bring young friend Lin Feng up here!"
Just as Deacon Han was getting into his talkative mode and wanted to explain the threshold of a ninth-grade alchemist to Lin Feng, an aged yet very deep voice suddenly rang in his mind.
"Yes, Guild Master!"
This voice belonged to Xuan Kongzi, one of the Pill Tower's giants, who was currently standing at the top of the Pill Tower, gazing at this place from afar.
Knowing Deacon Han's old habits, he decisively interrupted, because he wasn't the only one in the room.
"Xuan Kongzi, has that prodigy arrived yet?" As
soon as Xuan Kongzi finished speaking, a noble yet gentle voice rang out in the room.
Even without looking, just by hearing the voice, if the lone ranger Tian Boguang were here, he would know what kind of noblewoman this was.
"What? Xuan Yi, are you also interested in this Lin Feng? I remember you didn't accept disciples?"
After Xuan Yi spoke, another being standing in the room suddenly became anxious.
"Hehe, Tian Leizi, you know that little fellow Lin Feng has caught your eye, so I won't compete with you for him!"
"Hahahaha, as long as Xuan Yi doesn't compete with me, I will definitely take little fellow Lin Feng as my disciple."
Hearing Xuan Yi's promise, the last giant of the Pill Tower, Tian Leizi, finally showed a joyful expression.
However, perhaps because he hadn't smiled in a long time, his face was incredibly stiff, causing the other three people in the room to quickly turn their heads away.
Seeing this, Tian Lei Zi awkwardly scratched his head.
"Tap tap tap,"
just then, several crisp footsteps sounded, and the others immediately straightened up upon hearing the sounds.
"Lord Xuan Kong Zi, Lin Feng has arrived!"
"Come in!"
"Click."
The moment the door opened, a captivating pair of eyes immediately looked towards the entrance.
"Lin Feng, this young lady wants to see what makes you even more enchanting than me!"
Chapter 239 Refusal
The
doors opened with a series of footsteps, and two figures slowly entered the hall. One of them was none other than Steward Han, whom Xuan Kongzi and the others knew well, and was naturally overlooked.
The other figure was a very young and energetic one, who, if there were no surprises, was none other than the genius alchemist Lin Feng!
"President Xuan Kongzi, young friend Lin Feng has been brought here, so this old man will take his leave!"
Before Xuan Kongzi and the others could speak, Steward Han tactfully said this and withdrew, closing the hall doors behind him.
"Click."
As the fragrant doors closed, the hall, which was slightly scented with medicinal herbs, immediately fell silent. Four pairs of eyes turned to Lin Feng, seemingly trying to discern what made this genius alchemist different.
Of course, Lin Feng had relied entirely on his own efforts, without any special advantages. Facing the scrutinizing gazes of the crowd, he remained completely unfazed.
"Lord Xuan Kongzi, my name is Lin Feng. May I ask about the alchemist assessment?"
Although he didn't mind being probed, Lin Feng didn't want to waste any more time, so he took the initiative to ask.
"Haha, young friend Lin Feng, please don't be offended. I was just curious and took a closer look."
After Lin Feng spoke, Xuan Kongzi and the others also came to their senses. After stroking his beard slightly, Xuan Kongzi said,
"Regarding the alchemist assessment, I will personally conduct the assessment for you later. However,"
after answering about the assessment, Xuan Kongzi changed his tone, still unable to suppress his curiosity.
"Before that, young friend Lin Feng, could you please enlighten me on who your master is?"
Not only Xuan Kongzi, but Tian Leizi, Xuan Yi, and the others beside him were also extremely curious. Especially Tian Leizi, who had long decided to take Lin Feng as his disciple to pass on his mantle, was particularly interested.
From his name, it could be seen that besides being skilled in alchemy, Tian Leizi's greatest skill was controlling lightning.
Lin Feng's fame in Dan City stemmed not only from his young age at reaching the seventh rank, but also from his incredibly aggressive methods in combating the Dan Lightning.
This, ironically, appealed to Tian Lei Zi, who now looked at Lin Feng expectantly, awaiting his answer.
If Lin Feng were a disciple privately trained by some old monster, reaching the seventh-rank advanced alchemist level at such a young age would be surprising, but not beyond their comprehension.
However, if Lin Feng had grown up independently, his talent was unimaginable; such a genius was a must for the Dan Tower to acquire.
Of course, information about Lin Feng had already been delivered to the desks of several powerful figures.
This renewed inquiry was merely a confirmation.
"I have no master!"
Lin Feng said slowly, then changed the subject.
"However, I once received the inheritance of a master alchemist."
At this point, Lin Feng paused, looking at the three guild leaders in the hall, especially the woman in black, his tone quite subtle.
"This master is quite familiar to the other giants."
"Oh? Young friend Lin Feng, please speak freely."
Seeing the curious gazes of the group, Lin Feng put away his mischievousness and stopped keeping them in suspense.
"This master's name is—Medicine Venerable Yao Chen!"
"What!?"
As soon as Lin Feng finished speaking, the people in the hall were immediately taken aback.
"Whoosh!"
A blur flashed across the hall, and then a noble and gentle figure appeared before Lin Feng's eyes—it was Xuan Yi, the only woman among the three giants!
"Lin Feng, you said you've seen Yao Chen? Is he still alive? What is his condition? Why hasn't he returned to Zhongzhou?"
As Yao Chen's peer, and even one of Yao Chen's well-known confidantes back then, Xuan Yi naturally cared deeply about Yao Chen.
In the decades since Yao Chen disappeared, she had never given up searching for him, and even issued a bounty in Zhongzhou under the name of an eighth-grade nine-color alchemist.
Anyone who could provide information about Yao Chen would receive at least an eighth-grade five-color pill!
This shows how deep Xuan Yi's feelings for Yao Chen were. Now that Lin Feng suddenly revealed that his alchemy skills came from Yao Chen, one can only imagine the excitement in Xuan Yi's heart!
"Master Xuan Yi..."
"Lin Feng, you can just call me Aunt Xuan. If you'd like, you can also call me Master's Wife!"
Hearing Lin Feng's address, Xuan Yi unconsciously smoothed a strand of hair, reminding him.
"Aunt Xuan!"
Although he knew Yao Chen was incredibly charming in his youth, seeing the giant of the Pill Tower in such a state still made Lin Feng's lips twitch slightly.
"Aunt Xuan, actually, I'm not Yao Chen's disciple. It's just that due to some reasons, I was able to obtain Yao Chen's alchemy skills!"
After explaining, Lin Feng, seeing Xuan Yi's eager expression, didn't say anything more and went straight to the point.
"Aunt Xuan should know that I am from the Northwest Continent, and my encounter with Elder Yao was naturally also on the Northwest Continent!"
"Decades ago, Elder Yao was betrayed by Han Feng..."
"I knew that Han Feng was definitely an ingrate. Back then, I always advised Yao Chen to give up on him."
"But who knew that he would abandon me for this ingrate?"
Before Lin Feng could finish speaking, Xuan Yi interrupted him. Her face was full of fierce anger, her fists clenched, and she seemed to want to tear Han Feng apart on the spot.
"Ahem."
Seeing Xuan Yi's outburst, Xuan Kongzi coughed lightly, signaling her to mind her manners, as there were juniors present.
Reminded by Xuan Kongzi, Xuan Yi regained her composure, looking at Lin Feng and Cao Ying, who had been silently observing, with an unchanging expression, and asked in a rather subtle tone.
"Did Aunt Xuan lose her composure just now?"
"No, no, Aunt Xuan is naturally beautiful. If Ying'er were a man, she would be infatuated with her! Hehehe."
Seeing the threatening look in Xuan Yi's eyes, Cao Ying hurriedly spoke up. She still wanted to stay and watch the drama unfold. If she offended this martial uncle, she wouldn't be able to enjoy the gossip.
"Me too!"
Seeing this, Lin Feng also quickly chimed in.
"Pfft."
Hearing Lin Feng's straightforward remarks, Xuan Yi couldn't help but laugh, and her anger eased considerably.
"Lin Feng, as a man, you can't be so blunt. I really don't know how you've managed to find so many women."
"Ahem,"
Lin Feng, unsure how to respond, could only cough to cover his embarrassment. He couldn't very well say that as Yao Chen's contemporary, even if she looked the same, he couldn't make suggestive remarks!
"Aunt Xuan, let's continue talking about Elder Yao!"
This was the first time in decades that she had heard news about that old fellow Yao Chen so clearly. Seeing this, Xuan Yi's expression also turned serious.
"Back then, Han Feng was bewitched by Elder Mu Gu, colluding with the Soul Palace to secretly deliver a fatal blow to Elder Yao!"
Hearing this, Xuan Yi clenched her hands tightly.
However, being one of the giants of the Pill Tower and having weathered many storms, he didn't interrupt but continued listening.
"However, Elder Yao was incredibly lucky. At that time, he was an eighth-grade, nine-colored alchemist, and his soul power had reached the peak of the Spirit Realm, even having one foot in the Heaven Realm!"
"After abandoning his physical body, he escaped the Soul Palace's pursuit thanks to his powerful soul power and the strange power of the Bone Spirit Cold Flame."
"However, Elder Yao fell into a deep sleep, his soul residing in the Bone Nether Ring, its whereabouts unknown ever since!"
"That guy Yao Chen was the champion of our year's Alchemist Conference; his talent far surpasses ours."
"If he hadn't refused to join the Pill Tower, he might already be a member of the Lesser Pill Tower!"
"However, his talent is indeed extraordinary; he achieved the peak of the Spirit Realm early on through his own strength. It seems we are destined to meet again in Zhongzhou!"
Hearing that Yao Chen's soul realm had already reached the perfection of the Spirit Realm, Xuan Kongzi wasn't surprised, only slightly moved.
"Perhaps, if he had chosen to stay in the Pill Tower back then, he might have already reached the ninth rank!"
"That was his choice. He naturally loves freedom. If it weren't for that, I wouldn't have..."
After the others finished their reflections, Lin Feng continued,
"After many years of twists and turns, the Bone Ring finally ended up in the hands of the patriarch's wife of a third-rate family in the Northwest Continent. After some changes, it was inherited by the third young master of this family."
"Perhaps it was fate, or perhaps for other reasons, this third young master, who possessed considerable talent, eventually became a disciple of Elder Yao."
"This third young master is named Xiao Yan. He is currently cultivating at Canaan Academy. Perhaps, in a few years, he will come to the Central Continent under Elder Yao's arrangement!"
"It seems Yao Chen's pride remains!"
Hearing this, Xuan Kongzi couldn't help but stroke his beard and smile. Xuan Yi and Tian Leizi beside him also nodded with smiles.
Seeing Cao Ying's somewhat curious expression, the giants did not explain, while Lin Feng was not curious about it.
"Lin Feng, thank you for bringing news of Yao Chen to Aunt Xuan. Aunt Xuan once offered a bounty in Zhongzhou: anyone who could bring news of Yao Chen would be rewarded with an eighth-grade pill."
With that, Xuan Yi took out a small white fox from her storage ring and handed it to Lin Feng.
"Consider this little white fox Aunt Xuan's thank-you gift!"
"Hahaha, Xuan Yi, you're really generous! Lin Feng, you've really gotten a great deal this time. This little white fox is no ordinary fox!"
Even without Xuan Kongzi's explanation, Lin Feng sensed the fox's extraordinary nature.
In his perception, this wasn't just a white fox; it was clearly a super pill containing terrifying energy and radiating seven colors.
"Could this be...?"
"Hahaha, this is an eighth-grade, six-colored pill that Xuan Yi refined years ago. Because it never had a chance to be used, it has been nurtured until now, reaching the eighth-grade, seven-colored level."
Xuan Kongzi was clearly happy to explain, and even the usually taciturn Tian Leizi nodded with a smile.
"Aunt Xuan, this is far too precious, please forgive me for not being able to accept it!"
"Silly child, this was originally meant as your reward. Do you want Aunt Xuan to break her promise?"
"Well, alright!" Unable
to refuse such hospitality, Lin Feng had no choice but to put the eighth-grade, seven-colored white fox into his storage ring. Because the white fox was not a living creature, or rather, because the spirit formed from the pill was quite peculiar, it could be stored in his storage ring.
"Ahem."
Just then, Tian Lei Zi suddenly coughed lightly, attracting everyone's attention.
Xuan Yi and Xuan Kong Zi also seemed to remember something, and looked at Lin Feng with smiles on their faces.
"Young friend Lin Feng, I am Tian Lei Zi, a giant of the Pill Tower. I'm sure you've heard of my name!"
"Senior Tian Lei Zi!"
Seeing this giant who had been silent speak, Lin Feng couldn't help but cup his hands slightly.
"No need for formalities!"
Tian Lei Zi waved his hand slightly and asked.
"According to you, your alchemy skills come from Yao Chen, but you didn't formally become his apprentice. So, you don't have any formal teachers?"
"I guess I have one or two teachers!"
Lin Feng recalled the inheritance he received from the nameless fourth-grade alchemist in the desert, and Fa Ma from the Jia Ma Empire.
One was the nameless senior who opened his path to alchemy, and the other was both a teacher and a friend. Although not explicitly stated, Fa Ma truly treated him as half a disciple.
Although Fa Ma tactfully refrained from speaking because he knew Lin Feng possessed a high-level alchemist's inheritance, he still imparted his experience to him without reservation.
In return, Lin Feng taught Fa Ma some of Yao Chen's alchemy techniques and the soul secrets he had obtained.
Fa Ma thus broke through his long-standing bottleneck and entered the sixth-grade alchemist realm. With the inheritance and soul techniques, Fa Ma might even surpass Gu He, whose talent surpassed his own, and
enter the peak of the sixth-grade realm first.
As for the seventh-grade realm, that would depend on fate!
"Oh?"
Hearing that Lin Feng had a teacher, Tian Lei Zi and the others were somewhat curious.
Seeing this, Lin Feng then mentioned the existence of the nameless fourth-grade alchemist and Fa Ma.
"Well, in that case, young friend Lin Feng, you still don't have a teacher. In fact, on this Dou Qi Continent, there's no rule that one cannot have two teachers."
"I wonder, would you be willing to become my disciple?"
As soon as he finished speaking, Tian Lei Zi looked at Lin Feng expectantly; Lin Feng was simply too much to his liking.
Not only was his background impeccable, but his talent was also extremely high. At roughly the same age as Cao Ying, he had already reached the seventh-grade advanced alchemist realm.
In Dou Qi cultivation, he had even reached the nine-star Dou Zong realm, and his foundation was extremely solid.
He was also skilled in lightning magic. This was practically a disciple arranged by heaven for Tian Lei Zi; it would be a great regret not to take him under his wing and pass on his mantle!
"Please forgive me, this junior cannot agree!"
After considering it for a while, Lin Feng still refused.
Admittedly, if he were to become Tian Lei Zi's disciple and the closed-door apprentice of a giant in the Pill Tower, his actions within the Pill Tower would be extremely convenient.
Not only would many secrets be immediately opened to him, but he would also have access to a multitude of high-level spiritual items, and could receive guidance from an eighth-grade, nine-colored alchemy master at any time.
All these conveniences would be available to Lin Feng simply by agreeing.
However, faced with this opportunity that most alchemists would covet but never obtain, Lin Feng hesitated for a moment before ultimately choosing to refuse.
Chapter 240 The Assessment
"Very well, since it's your choice, I won't force you!"
Tian Lei Zi, surprised by the rejection, sighed helplessly. He then took out two sets of scrolls from his storage ring and tossed them to Lin Feng.
"Young friend Lin Feng, one of these scrolls contains my insights into alchemy, and the other contains my understanding of thunder magic!"
Seeing Lin Feng's hesitant expression, Tian Lei Zi waved his hand, indicating that he should accept the scrolls.
"Over the years, I've encountered many geniuses, none of whom are suitable to inherit my mantle. Although we don't have a master-disciple relationship, I don't care about that."
"I'm giving you my inheritance. If you find it useful, learn it; if you don't like it, pass it on to someone destined for you!"
After speaking, seemingly afraid of Lin Feng's refusal, Tian Lei Zi greeted Xuan Kong Zi and Xuan Yi before disappearing from the spot.
Seeing this, Lin Feng could only look to Xuan Kongzi and Xuan Yi, hoping they could offer a solution.
"Haha, Lin Feng, just accept these two scrolls!"
Although he didn't understand why Lin Feng would refuse such a great opportunity, Xuan Kongzi didn't delve into it. Seeing Lin Feng's hesitation, he simply told him to accept the scrolls.
"Just as Tian Leizi said, consider it his concern for his junior!"
"Yes, Lin Feng, Aunt Xuan has never seen this taciturn Tian Leizi speak so much in all these years. Just accept them!"
"Besides, he's already gone. If you want to return them, you'll have to do it yourself next time."
Seeing this, Lin Feng had no choice but to put the two scrolls into his storage ring. He felt a slight respect for Tian Leizi, the giant of the Pill Tower who was described so little in the original story.
Of course, this didn't change Lin Feng's mind; he still wouldn't become Tian Leizi's disciple.
Having reached his current level, even without this master-disciple relationship, many secret techniques and methods would be available to him once he entered the Pill Tower.
With his alchemy skills, he could exchange many high-grade spiritual herbs for pills.
The greatest help Tian Leizi could offer him was actually his status as a giant in the Pill Tower and his peak Dou Zun strength.
However, Lin Feng, who had already decided to stay in the Pill Tower and cultivate to at least the Dou Zun realm, didn't need this too much. In fact,
if pushed to the limit, he still had the Dragon Emperor's essence blood as a backup. Therefore, after some hesitation, he still refused to become a disciple.
More importantly, Lin Feng valued the bond between master and disciple extremely much. If he became a disciple today, he would inevitably have to consider it more in the future.
Furthermore, Lin Feng didn't want to have an elder overshadowing him.
Of course, if Tian Leizi had appeared before Lin Feng ten years ago, he would definitely have kowtowed ten times as a gift for becoming a disciple.
"Lin Feng, since you're free, Aunt Xuan should go and watch your assessment!"
Knowing that Yao Chen was safe and sound and had even taken on a disciple with remarkable talent, and that they could meet again in a few years, Xuan Yi was in a very good mood.
As for Lin Feng, who brought the news, Xuan Yi naturally grew more and more fond of him. If Lin Feng didn't already have several female confidantes, she would have definitely tried to bring Lin Feng and Cao Ying, that little vixen, together.
"Hahaha, I almost forgot the important matter. Let's set off now!"
In the assessment area of the Pill Tower headquarters, the appearance of the powerful figures Xuan Kongzi and Xuan Yi caused quite a stir. Cao Ying and Lin Feng, following behind the two giants, also became the subject of much discussion.
"Miss Cao Ying has appeared again! Oh my god, she just looked at me! I'm in love!"
"Miss Cao Ying is truly my dream goddess! Look at her graceful figure, those alluring eyes! She's the most beautiful woman in the Pill Tower!"
"..."
"Who is that young man following behind the two presidents? Does anyone know?"
"No, but he's quite handsome!"
"Could he also be an alchemist?"
"Have you noticed? I can't see through his Dou Qi realm!!!"
"Hiss..."
Only after a sixth-grade alchemist spoke did everyone realize that they really couldn't see through Lin Feng's cultivation realm.
This was the Pill Tower headquarters' assessment area. Besides the alchemists taking the assessment, many powerful individuals were here, hoping to meet the rarely seen high-level alchemists. Among them
was an old man whose Dou Qi level had reached the sixth-star Dou Zong.
If Lin Feng didn't possess any secret treasures to conceal his aura, wouldn't that mean his Dou Qi realm was at least the seventh-star Dou Zong?
Judging from its surging vitality, its age must be no more than thirty!
"Crack."
Ignoring the probing looks in everyone's eyes, Xuan Kongzi led Lin Feng and the others into the assessment area. He waved for the stewards who were about to bow to leave, and Xuan Kongzi and Cao Ying in black robes came to the top of the assessment room, indicating that Lin Feng could begin at any time.
"Thump."
Lin Feng, already prepared, showed no stage fright and unhesitatingly threw the Heart of the Earth, which landed inside the assessment room.
"Could this be the one on the Heavenly Cauldron Ranking?"
Looking at the unique patterns on the cauldron and the pulsating earth power, Xuan Kongzi and Cao Ying exchanged a glance, both having their own guesses.
"Bang!"
However, what they were anticipating was yet to come. After taking out the cauldron, Lin Feng began to mobilize the Azure Lotus Earth Core Flame within his body.
A ball of greenish-blue flame suddenly appeared in Lin Feng's palm, which he then tossed into the cauldron to begin nourishing it.
"Teacher, could this be...?"
Feeling the tremors emanating from the Blood Demon Flame within her body, Cao Ying's eyes flashed with disbelief as she asked with some uncertainty.
"When a strange fire emerges, all other fires submit!"
"That's right, the strange fire in Lin Feng's hand is the supreme fire among fires, and judging from its color and intensity, it's most likely the Azure Lotus Earth Core Flame, ranked nineteenth on the Strange Fire Ranking!"
"Having obtained this alchemist's treasure, as well as Yao Chen's inheritance, coupled with Lin Feng's own powerful soul force talent, it's no wonder he has reached such a level at such a young age!" Xuan Kongzi
stroked his beard, with a hint of emotion.
"A strange fire, ah, back then, that guy Yao Chen risked his life for the Bone Spirit Cold Fire, enduring years of hardship in that eternally frigid land, and even when he finally subdued it, he still faced death almost every time."
"I wonder how this little guy managed to subdue the strange fire!"
Xuan Yi, standing to the side, also showed a hint of surprise. Hearing the praise from her two elders, Cao Ying became even more curious about Lin Feng.
Of course, it would be too simplistic to expect the little devil of the Cao family to admit defeat so easily.
As the favored daughter of one of the five great guest families of the Pill Tower, and the personal disciple of Xuan Kongzi, one of the Pill Tower's giants, her talent was extremely strong.
Becoming an alchemist at the age of seven meant she had reached the Dou Zhe realm at seven, entered the Pill Tower at fifteen, and became a seventh-grade alchemist at twenty.
In terms of alchemy skills alone, Cao Ying was currently only a hair's breadth away from Lin Feng.
Of course, the resources Cao Ying received were incomparable to those of Lin Feng.
However, if Lin Feng had received Cao Ying's resources from a young age, he might only be a Dou Huang and a sixth-grade alchemist now.
While the upbringing of powerful families was stable, it also greatly stifled the unbridled growth of geniuses, which was the difference between Lin Feng and Cao Ying.
Moreover, Lin Feng has already reached the final stage of Dou Zong in his Dou Qi cultivation.
It won't be long before he prepares to break through to Dou Zun in seclusion. At that time, he might even gain the title of Venerable Feng or Five Elements Venerable!
As for his soul power cultivation, Lin Feng already has a vague premonition that even without other opportunities, he can steadily enter the Spirit Realm within a year through his own cultivation.
If his Dou Qi reaches the Dou Zun realm during this period, his soul power might also be boosted.
Having reached the Spirit Realm, Lin Feng can already be called a quasi-eighth-grade alchemist. As long as his alchemy skills keep up, the "quasi" title can be used.
An eighth-grade alchemist or a Dou Zun expert is already the strongest person on the continent in this era where Dou Sheng are rare!
One by one, the spiritual herbs radiating powerful energy fluctuations were added to the medicine cauldron by Lin Feng. Before long, a total of forty-nine kinds of medicinal herbs were added to the cauldron.
After a moment's hesitation, Lin Feng still didn't choose to use the Dragon Emperor's essence blood as the main ingredient for this pill.
This Heavenly Soul Blood Fusion Pill he was refining was merely for the assessment, to prove he had reached the seventh-grade advanced alchemist realm.
If Cai Lin or Little Fairy Doctor were to become pregnant in the future, Lin Feng's alchemy skills would certainly far surpass his current level, requiring at least an eighth-grade pill for foundation building.
What he refined this time would serve as the inheritance of the Snake-People race, to be used on a future Medusa Queen!
Moreover, Xuan Kongzi's realm was quite high, with one foot already in the threshold of half-saint, and his knowledge was quite extensive. If he could discern the origin of the Dragon Emperor's essence blood, even if he didn't say anything, he would likely have some guesses in his heart.
"Dragon Blood Mushroom, Bone Spirit Fruit, Xuan Tian Green Vine, Teacher, can you tell what kind of pill Lin Feng is refining?"
Perhaps the Snake-People race's inherited pill formula was too obscure; even Cao Ying, a prodigy of the Pill Tower, couldn't recognize what kind of pill Lin Feng was refining.
"I haven't seen it either, but judging from the mild nature of these spiritual herbs, the pill Lin Feng is refining this time is definitely geared towards consolidating the foundation and strengthening the body's vital energy."
"Even if it can harmonize the violent power within the essence blood of magical beasts, it would be extremely beneficial for magical beasts or infants with strong constitutions!"
"Based on this, I guess the pill Lin Feng is refining this time is definitely for newborns!"
As expected of one of the giants of the Pill Tower, even without seeing the pill formula or the complete refining process, he can roughly deduce the use of a seventh-grade pill simply by understanding the pharmacology of various medicinal herbs!
"Indeed, there is still so much for me to learn!"
Lin Feng, who hadn't yet reached the pill fusion stage, overheard Xuan Kongzi and the others' conversation and couldn't help but admire the knowledge of this Pill Tower giant.
Of course, refining a seventh-grade pill itself requires at least ten days, let alone a high-grade seventh-grade pill.
The reason Lin Feng could refine over ten Grade Seven pills in half a month was because he relentlessly refined ten Grade Seven pills simultaneously.
Whenever Old Man Mo obtained medicinal herbs from the Loose Cultivator Alliance, Lin Feng would put them into the cauldron and then use his powerful soul force combined with the Five Elements Alchemy Technique to isolate the cauldron into ten separate spaces.
However, this was an alchemy assessment, so Lin Feng couldn't use this method and had to start refining from scratch.
Even with the help of a strange fire, which greatly shortened the time,
and with his powerful soul perception about to break through to the Spirit Realm, he quickly found the melting point of the spiritual herbs and refined them rapidly. By the time he reached the final step, it had taken him five days.
During this time, Xuan Kongzi and Xuan Yi also offered guidance, even using Lin Feng's refining methods as teaching materials to instruct Cao Ying. Xuan
Kongzi and Xuan Yi realized that with Lin Feng's strength, he could easily refine these Grade Seven pills. However, his understanding of certain key aspects of alchemy was somewhat flawed.
This was unavoidable. Even though Lin Feng later received all of Yao Chen's inheritance, errors were inevitable when learning on his own without guidance.
"It seems that after entering the Pill Tower and advancing to the Dou Zun level, I'll have to spend some time rebuilding my alchemy skills from the basics!"
Lin Feng couldn't help but feel envious, recalling how Xiao Yan could refine eighth-grade five-colored pills with lightning-level power as soon as he entered the Spirit Realm.
That guy had the guidance of Master Yao Chen; even though his progress wasn't as good as his, his foundation was solid, and he could advance step by step.
But for someone like him, even if he progressed faster initially, encountering a bottleneck would waste a lot of time.
This was another reason Lin Feng entered the Pill Tower—besides seeking protection and gaining time to develop, another important reason was that Lin Feng planned to use it to rebuild his alchemy skills.
"Buzz!"
Time passed unnoticed, and the sixth day arrived. The forty-nine ingredients inside the cauldron had long since transformed into clusters of energy light, scattered in various places.
Recalling the techniques recorded on the scroll, Lin Feng rapidly formed hand seals, his soul power fiercely suppressing the numerous orbs of light within the cauldron.
"Seventh-grade high-level pill—Heavenly Soul Blood-Melting Pill, condense!"
"Boom!"
As if in response to Lin Feng's shout, a thunderclap suddenly resounded in the clear sky, followed by a dense cloud gathering above the examination hall.
Seeing this, Xuan Kongzi stroked his beard, gazing at the sky and murmuring,
"It's done!"
Lin Feng, however, showed no intention of moving an inch, continuing to refine the pill within the cauldron under the pill thunder, attempting to improve its quality by even a fraction.
The speed at which the high-grade seventh-rank pill lightning condensed was even faster than that of the low-grade seventh-rank. Before Lin Feng could make a move, a massive bolt of lightning struck down fiercely towards the medicine cauldron, or rather, the pill about to be born.
Lin Feng, standing before the medicine cauldron, merely glanced up, and suddenly his entire body was enveloped in lightning, mingling with the striking pill lightning.
"Boom!"
(End of Chapter)