"Indeed, I'm still too weak!"
Lin Xuan sighed inwardly.
If his strength were formidable enough, he wouldn't need to worry about any of this.
He had to focus on improving his strength.
As for alchemy, it was merely a tool to assist his martial path.
Lin Xuan thought to himself.
These were decisions he had made long ago.
Then, Lin Xuan spoke:
"Master Mo, Master Ren Yuan, how do you rate my results?"
His words snapped everyone in the hall back to reality.
"Excellent, truly outstanding!"
"In this competition, young friend Lin, you have won."
Both Master Mo and Master Ren Yuan replied in succession, showering him with praise.
Their gazes fell on Lin Xuan, complex and profound.
The shock in their hearts had yet to subside.
They hadn't expected that decades of painstaking study in alchemy might already be surpassed by this young man before them.
It was a hard pill to swallow.
"Young friend Lin, Yan'er, congratulations on becoming high-grade Spirit-level alchemists!"
Then, Master Ren Yuan announced loudly.
Lin Xuan nodded slightly upon hearing this, a hint of a smile in his eyes.
Now, the first goal he had set for coming to the Alchemist Guild was achieved.
Next, it was time to refine pills and earn a fortune in cultivation resources.
Mo Ruyan was also beaming with joy. After so many attempts at the assessment, she had finally succeeded.
She felt a sense of relief wash over her.
But her gaze quickly returned to Lin Xuan, shimmering with a peculiar light.
After a pause, Master Ren Yuan continued:
"Young friend Lin, your talent in alchemy far surpasses us old-timers.
Have you considered joining our Alchemist Guild?
Our guild always offers generous treatment to alchemy prodigies like you."
"What obligations come with joining the Alchemist Guild?
I am committed to the martial path, and alchemy is only meant to support it. I won't spend too much time on it."
Lin Xuan replied calmly, not agreeing immediately.
"Hmm? Committed to the martial path? Alchemy as support?"
"I see... what a pity."
The crowd was taken aback, momentarily at a loss.
With such extraordinary alchemy talent, why focus on martial arts?
After all, among those of the same rank, alchemists held a much higher status than ordinary martial artists.
A wave of sighs and regret swept through the hall.
Mo Ruyan stood frozen as if struck by lightning, a hint of paleness creeping onto her face.
The joy she had felt earlier receded like a tide.
Master Ren Yuan, however, was inwardly shaken again.
From Lin Xuan's words, it was clear he hadn't spent much time on alchemy.
Yet he had achieved such mastery.
This only highlighted the terrifying extent of his alchemy talent.
Master Mo, standing nearby, also grasped the implication.
Both masters were once again deeply stunned.
But what troubled them was this:
With such remarkable alchemy talent, he was set on the martial path, using alchemy only as a supplement.
They didn't know what to say.
Still, Master Ren Yuan was the first to accept it, offering a smile:
"With your talent, martial arts and alchemy don't have to conflict. You can still join our Alchemist Guild.
Rest assured, the guild is quite lenient with its members.
Obligations are minimal. Within the guild, there's a task board where you can take on assignments and earn rewards.
If you don't work at the guild and are away for long periods without taking tasks, there are essentially no obligations.
Of course, if the guild faces a crisis, as a member, you must unconditionally come to its aid.
That's the main obligation. I trust you can accept that."
He had seen Lin Xuan outside the guild before.
He had also witnessed Lin Xuan's strength through a recording stone.
At just sixteen, he was already at the Condensing Whirlpool Layer 3.
Such cultivation was unprecedented in Windcloud City.
Not to mention Lin Xuan's combat prowess.
With a single casual palm strike, he had instantly killed several top geniuses of Windcloud City, all at the late Condensing Whirlpool stage.
Such strength could likely rival a weaker Opening Spirit realm.
With his experience and having seen countless prodigies, he had rarely encountered anyone with such cross-realm capabilities.
Clearly, Lin Xuan's martial talent ranked among the best in the entire Cangyuan Kingdom.
It might even rival, if not surpass, his alchemy talent.
Thus, he could understand why Lin Xuan was committed to the martial path.
At the same time, he was even more awed by Lin Xuan's terrifying talent.
Exceptional in both martial arts and alchemy—two great paths.
He had never even heard of such a prodigy before, yet today he was seeing one in person.
He couldn't help but marvel.
"I can accept that."
Lin Xuan replied, looking at Master Ren Yuan.
Seeing this, Master Ren Yuan knew Lin Xuan wanted more details and continued:
"As for treatment, the guild is never stingy with geniuses. For example, there are discounts on purchasing medicinal herbs, pill formulas, and so on.
You can also request assistance from high-level alchemists or seek their guidance.
For a talent of your caliber, I'm not qualified to make a decision.
Please wait a moment, young friend Lin. I'll have someone fetch the Guild Master.
As it happens, the Guild Master is still in the guild."
Then, turning to Sun Jingyun beside him, he said:
"Xiao Sun, go and invite the Guild Master."
Since Sun Jingyun and his team had discovered Lin Xuan, this alchemy prodigy, Master Ren Yuan had no intention of taking credit for the reward—he had no need for it.
"Yes, Elder Ren, I'll go at once."
Sun Jingyun's face lit up with joy as he turned to leave.
Just then, a cool voice rang out.
"No need. I'm already here."
Everyone in the hall was startled and turned to look.
A tall, ordinary-looking man in a black alchemist's robe walked in through a side door.
On his chest was a silver alchemy cauldron with a five-pointed star.
Clearly, like Master Mo and Master Ren Yuan, he was a low-grade Earth-level alchemist.
But his presence far surpassed theirs.
Behind him followed another low-grade Earth-level alchemist in a black robe, exuding a similar aura.
However, he appeared visibly aged, unlike the one in front.
"Guild Master, Vice Guild Master Zhou!"
"Greetings, Guild Master, Vice Guild Master Zhou!"
"Paying respects to the Guild Master and Vice Guild Master Zhou!"
"..."
The crowd was momentarily stunned at the sight of the two.
Then, with respectful expressions, they bowed.
Lin Xuan followed suit, bowing as well.
By now, he had no doubt about their identities.
They were the Guild Master and a Vice Guild Master of the Alchemist Guild.
"Rise."
The plain words fell.
Everyone straightened up.
Their gazes converged on the two leaders.
Lin Xuan's eyes also swept over them.