bookbashuk 11. Strive for the top spot
11. Strive for the top spot
Tang Qi was taken aback when he heard Xiao Yan's words. After all, Xiao Yan was really young. Although his cultivation was above Tang Qi's, it was indeed astonishing that he also had extremely high talent in alchemy.
"Mr. Yan Xiao, this medicine ranking list even includes sixth-grade alchemists, your..."
Xiao Yan waved his hand and said, "It's alright, just lead the way."
A sixth-grade alchemist is indeed an existence that Xiao Yan cannot reach at present, but if he can't, there is still Yao Lao. How could he not take such a valuable medicinal herb when he accidentally discovered it?
Tang Qi led the three of them up to the fourth floor. Before they even reached the top, a refreshing fragrance of medicinal herbs wafted out.
Xiao Yan was also surprised; it seemed that leaving one's name on the Medicine Ranking was indeed quite significant.
Upon reaching the fourth floor, aside from the attendants of Wan Yao Xuan, there were only a dozen or so people. Judging from the faint spiritual fluctuations emanating from these individuals, they were all alchemists of considerable rank. Several medicinal cauldrons were also on display, all of excellent quality. At this moment, everyone was gathered around a young alchemist, who was controlling his flames before the cauldron. A faint fragrance of medicinal pills wafted out, indicating that he had clearly reached the crucial moment of pill completion.
Xiao Yan watched with great interest. After all, everyone has their own alchemy habits. Although Yao Lao's alchemy skills are impeccable, it's always good to learn from others' strengths.
Beads of sweat rolled down the young alchemist's face, but he was oblivious, focused solely on controlling the size of the flames.
"Being too concerned about the heat will affect the perfection of the pill formation. You're still young," the old apothecary commented.
As if to confirm the old doctor's comments, the final form of the pill was quite unstable. The young man exerted all his fighting spirit and barely managed to form the pill.
The fifth-grade elixir - Fu Ling Pill.
"Hiss, a fifth-grade pill, no wonder it's the young master of the Heroes Alliance, Wan Qing."
"To be able to refine a fifth-grade pill at such a young age, truly a hero among young people."
"This pill is definitely good enough to rank among the top three on the list of medicines."
Upon hearing this, the boy's lips curled up involuntarily, clearly indicating that he was extremely pleased with the praise.
Seeing this scene, Xiao Yan walked directly to a furnace cauldron. He had no intention of joining the ranks of those praising him, but Wan Qing, who was standing to the side, was somewhat dissatisfied.
Tang Qi then explained, "Mr. Yan Xiao, the medicinal materials for this alchemy ranking will be provided by my Wan Yao Xuan. If the alchemy is successful, the materials will be free, but the pills will be kept for evaluation. Wan Yao Xuan will then sell them publicly, charging a 10% handling fee. If the alchemy fails, the materials will have to be purchased in full."
Hearing this, Xiao Yan was somewhat surprised. Giving away medicinal herbs for free was a generous gesture. As for the failure, it was probably to discourage some people from trying to take advantage of the situation.
Tang Qi pointed to the counter in the center of the hall and said, "The refined pills are all stored there. The current top-ranked one is a sixth-grade Imperial Pill."
Xiao Yan glanced at the counter and saw dozens of pills displayed there. Most of them were grade four, a fifth were grade five, and the top three were grade six. Judging from their quality, the Imperial Pill in the middle was indeed the best.
"Teacher, what are we practicing?" Xiao Yan asked. He had been asleep for the past two years. Although he had refined some pills during the months of travel, he could barely refine fifth-grade pills, and he was still unable to refine sixth-grade pills for the time being.
"We are determined to obtain this Snow Bone Ginseng. Let's refine it into the finest of the sixth-grade pills—the Qi Sea Rejuvenation Pill. The required ingredients are as follows..."
Xiao Yan noted down the medicinal herbs he needed and handed them to Tang Qi, saying, "These are the medicinal herbs I need."
Tang Qi's brows twitched again upon seeing this. Although he didn't know what kind of pill Xiao Yan was going to refine, he could tell from the medicinal materials that it couldn't be low-grade.
"Mr. Yan Xiao, a pharmacist's certificate is required to participate in the competition, would you like to know?"
At this point, Xiao Yan felt a little embarrassed and took out an alchemist's badge from his storage ring. The badge had two silver lines on its ancient-looking cauldron. The alchemist guild's credentials were largely the same across the continent, so they were generally accepted.
But when Tang Qi saw Xiao Yan's badge, his eyes immediately turned strange. A second-grade alchemist, refining the ingredients for those sixth-grade pills must be a problem for him. Xiao Yan's badge made him suspicious of Xiao Yan's true purpose.
But considering that a large number of Xiao Yan's medicinal herbs were still in the hands of Wan Yao Xuan, he could only think that he would have to make Xiao Yan compensate him for the herbs. Then he took Xiao Yan's badge and went straight to get the herbs.
"A second-grade alchemist? It seems like anyone can get into the Myriad Medicines Pavilion these days."
A discordant voice rang out; it was one of the people who had been surrounding Wan Qing, the young alchemist.
Xiao Yan glanced at it and saw that it was just a Dou Ling, whose soul strength was probably barely enough to be a fourth-grade alchemist, so he ignored it.
But as soon as that person called out, many people turned their gazes toward them, their eyes filled with mockery. After all, although there was no restriction on rank for leaving one's name on the Medicine Ranking, most second- or third-rank alchemists would be too embarrassed to participate. Clearly, the people here regarded Xiao Yan as someone who had come to take advantage of them.
Sensing the unfriendly gazes, Xiao Xun'er felt angry, and her fighting spirit began to gather: she could tolerate being wronged herself, but she could not bear to see Xiao Yan being ridiculed.
Xiao Yan noticed Xun'er's unusual behavior, grabbed her hand and squeezed it, then smiled at her to indicate that everything was alright.
Not long after, Tang Qi arrived with the medicinal herbs Xiao Yan needed, and Xiao Yan couldn't help but marvel once again at the wealth and power of Wan Yao Xuan.
Xiao Yan selected a superior medicine cauldron, and laid out all the herbs one by one, instantly attracting the attention of the other alchemists.
"Hundred-bearded green vine, red-veined spirit fruit, long-leaved fungus... what kind of fifth-grade pill requires so many medicinal herbs?"
"This isn't a fifth-grade pill, it's a sixth-grade pill! And it's probably a top-grade sixth-grade pill."
"To practice sixth-grade pills at such a young age, are you crazy?!" If only half of the people thought Xiao Yan was there to take advantage of them before, now almost everyone thinks Xiao Yan has bad intentions. After all, how could a sixth-grade alchemist be so young?
"Deacon Tang, this person is probably here to scam us. If the pill is ruined, we might not be able to afford to compensate him." The discordant voice from before rang out again.
Before Tang Qi could reply, Xiao Xun'er glared at the man, who felt as if he had fallen into an ice cave, struggling to breathe. After Xiao Xun'er withdrew her gaze, she gasped for breath, looking at Xiao Xun'er, who was wearing a veil and cloak, with fear in her eyes, and dared not say another word.
Xiao Yan ignored all that, his pupils turned white, and white flames ignited in his hand as he threw them into the furnace.
Instead of waiting for the furnace to heat up before processing the herbs, he flicked his fingers repeatedly, and half of the herbs were enveloped in white flames.
Those nearby exclaimed in surprise, "It's cauldronless refining, a technique that even a fifth-grade alchemist might not be able to master!"
"And look, the extraction speed of the medicinal herbs is so fast."
"This fire is so cold, it's not an ordinary flame."
"Quiet!" A cold voice came from Xiao Xun'er, and everyone trembled involuntarily. Their eyes changed as they looked at Xiao Xun'er. Although they were still talking to each other, their voices could no longer be heard by others.
Wan Qing, who had just finished refining a fifth-grade pill, looked at Xiao Yan with some hostility. Xiao Yan's move had completely overshadowed the amazement he had just experienced, which made him feel somewhat uncomfortable.
Little did Xiao Yan know, he was also watching intently. Yao Lao's handling of the medicinal herbs was incredibly skillful, with a smooth and beautiful quality.
All the alchemists around were watching intently, because every step the old alchemist took at this moment was worth learning from. The sound had completely disappeared.
In less than an hour, all the medicinal herbs had been transformed into pure medicinal liquid, and more than fifty people had gathered around Xiao Yan.
Xiao Xun'er, on the other hand, felt much more relaxed, because if anyone dared to interfere with Xiao Yan's alchemy at this moment, they would definitely be torn to pieces by the other alchemists.