Outside the Alchemist Guild, there were no guards. No one dared to cause trouble at the Alchemist Guild, so order could be maintained without guards. Moreover, don’t assume alchemists only knew how to refine pills and were weak in strength. Every alchemist could produce large quantities of precious pills for sale, making them incredibly wealthy. They had no shortage of spirit stones and possessed countless spiritual tools, secret manuals, and treasures. They didn’t even need to make a move; they could easily crush opponents of the same rank by throwing various treasures at them. Yet that wasn’t the most formidable aspect—an alchemist’s greatest strength was their influence. Even top-tier experts needed alchemists to refine pills for them. Thus, every alchemist had a terrifying network of connections. Many troubles were resolved by others on their behalf without them lifting a finger. Those who dared to cause trouble at the Alchemist Guild rarely walked out alive, leaving their lives behind.
Lin Xuan glanced around, pondered for a moment, and was about to step into the Alchemist Guild. Just then, a haughty female voice came from behind. “What are you standing at the entrance for? Get out of the way!”
Lin Xuan turned to look and saw a slender, clear-eyed young woman with a curvaceous figure and shoulder-length hair walking briskly toward him. She wore a white robe exclusive to alchemists, with a palm-sized cauldron embroidered on her chest, above which were two gray five-pointed stars. Seeing this, Lin Xuan’s expression shifted slightly. He hadn’t expected to casually encounter a alchemy prodigy.
After reading the alchemy texts Zhang Chen had given him, he had gained a certain understanding of the alchemy path and the Alchemist Guild. Within the guild, alchemists were ranked according to the highest-grade pills they could proficiently refine. The ranks were divided into four tiers: Mortal, Spirit, Earth, and Heaven, each further split into lower, middle, and upper grades. Among these, Mortal lower grade was the lowest, and Heaven upper grade was the highest. Mortal-tier alchemists could only refine pills up to the third grade, which were used by the Qi Gathering realm—the lowest level. Thus, their alchemist robes were plain and blank, the simplest kind. These were also the most common alchemists.
Above them, Spirit, Earth, and Heaven-tier alchemists were far rarer. The guild’s specially made robes for these alchemists were much more refined. On the chest, a palm-sized cauldron was embroidered, with five-pointed stars above it. One star represented lower grade, three stars upper grade. They were further distinguished by color. Gray cauldron and stars indicated Spirit tier, silver for Earth tier, and gold for Heaven tier. However, in the entire Red Sun Domain, the highest was an Earth-tier alchemist, known as an Alchemy Master. As for Heaven-tier alchemists, also called Alchemy Grandmasters, there wasn’t a single one in the entire Red Sun Domain. They likely only existed in more prosperous regions beyond the domain.
The emblem on the clear-eyed young woman’s chest indicated she was a Spirit-tier middle-grade alchemist. Given her appearance, she was clearly under twenty, which further highlighted her status as an alchemy prodigy. Lin Xuan immediately looked at her attribute panel.
Whoosh! “Name: Mo Ruyan.” “Cultivation: Condensing Whirl Layer 7.” “Talents: Spirit-grade cultivation talent, Spirit-grade alchemy talent, Supreme-grade strength talent, Supreme-grade speed talent, Supreme-grade sword talent, Supreme-grade crimson fire attribute talent, Supreme-grade green wood attribute talent, High-grade gale attribute talent, High-grade sharp metal attribute talent.” “Martial Arts: Flame Element Cloud Transformation Art (6th-grade upper, Minor Completion), Flame Manipulation Art (6th-grade lower, Minor Completion), Green Flame Condensing Feather Sword Technique (6th-grade lower, Major Completion), Green Wood Life-Giving Hand (6th-grade lower, Major Completion), Gale Rolling Wave Palm (6th-grade lower, Major Completion)...” “Intent: Half-complete Fire Intent, One-and-a-half-tenths Wood Intent, Half-tenth Sword Intent.” “Carried Treasures: None.”
Staring at Mo Ruyan’s attribute panel in the void before him, Lin Xuan was momentarily stunned. Spirit-grade alchemy talent meant she could theoretically reach the level of an Earth-tier alchemist. This panel was far superior to that of Zhang Chen, the top alchemy prodigy of Flowing Cloud Sect. And this was just someone he happened to meet at the entrance. Lin Xuan’s heart stirred with great shock. Indeed, in the path of alchemy, the Alchemist Guild far surpassed Flowing Cloud Sect. This trip was definitely worthwhile.
As for Mo Ruyan’s Spirit-grade alchemy talent and Spirit-grade cultivation talent, Lin Xuan naturally wouldn’t let them slip by. With a thought, “Ding, consumed 100,000 energy points, replication successful, obtained [Spirit-grade Alchemy Talent].” “Ding, consumed 100,000 energy points, replication successful, obtained [Spirit-grade Cultivation Talent].” He then chose to use them. A warm current flowed through him. “Ding, congratulations to the host for improving cultivation talent!” “Ding, congratulations to the host for advancing to Spirit-grade Alchemy Talent!” The crisp, cool prompt echoed in his ears.
“Upgraded to Spirit-grade,” Lin Xuan murmured inwardly. A hint of satisfaction flickered in his eyes. And this was just at the entrance of the Alchemist Guild; he believed there would be even more alchemy talents inside. If he copied them all, he could improve even further. Lin Xuan felt quite eager.
All of this happened in an instant. Naturally, no one on the scene noticed. Not far away, Mo Ruyan sensed Lin Xuan’s gaze on her chest and a flash of annoyance crossed her eyes, as if she was about to get angry. But when her eyes swept over Lin Xuan’s face, Seeing his strikingly handsome features, she suppressed her anger. She let out a cold snort and decided not to make a fuss. She continued walking toward the Alchemist Guild.
“It’s Miss Mo Ruyan!” Suddenly, an exclamation came from the surrounding crowd. “Miss Mo Ruyan?” “You don’t know Miss Mo Ruyan? How do you even get by in Wind Cloud City? Miss Mo Ruyan is one of the three great beauties of our city!” “And, Miss Mo Ruyan is only eighteen years old, already at Condensing Whirl Layer 7—a martial arts prodigy!” “That’s not all; Miss Mo Ruyan is also an alchemy prodigy, already a Spirit-tier middle-grade alchemist!” “Yeah, a beauty with both talent and looks like Miss Mo is incredibly rare!” “...”
Many young martial artists around were buzzing with chatter. Their gazes fell on Mo Ruyan, filled with undisguised admiration. Mo Ruyan, however, acted as if she hadn’t heard, arriving at the guild entrance. A plain-looking maid in green clothes came out to greet her, wearing a fawning smile: “Miss Mo, are you here to take the Spirit-tier upper-grade alchemist exam this time?” “Yes, I’ve tried many times; this time should be fine,” Mo Ruyan replied with a light laugh. “Then Xiao Lü here congratulates Miss Mo on passing the exam in advance,” the maid said with a sycophantic grin. “Mm, Xiao Lü, once I succeed, I’ll definitely reward you well,” Mo Ruyan said, her smile widening. “Thank you, Miss Mo. With your talent, you’ll surely become an Earth-tier Alchemy Master in the future. Unlike some country bumpkins who get scared stiff at the sight of the Alchemist Guild, and even dare to block Miss Mo’s path—how lacking in discernment!” Xiao Lü flattered Mo Ruyan while sneering at Lin Xuan.
Hearing this, Lin Xuan’s face instantly turned cold. If it were other martial artists, seeing a beauty like Mo Ruyan might leave them too nervous to speak, completely focused on her and ignoring Xiao Lü’s words. But Lin Xuan had seen plenty of beauties in his past life; even Guan Yuanshuang, the top beauty of Flowing Cloud Sect’s outer sect, was no less than Mo Ruyan. Lin Xuan had shown no mercy, defeating her on the spot during the competition. Let alone this stranger Mo Ruyan. Lin Xuan naturally paid her no mind. As for the maid, even if she worked in the Alchemist Guild, so what? She wasn’t worth Lin Xuan’s notice.