Chapter Eighteen: Master Alchemist of the Highest Rank
“Hmph! Your tone is quite bold, but I wonder if you really have the skill to back it up?”
The two clashed swords.
After wiping out the One-Eyed Demon Wolf pack, Lu Xingchen’s cultivation had risen to a four-star martial artist.
Facing Wang Li, who was only one small realm above him, was surprisingly easy.
Although Lu Xingchen was seriously wounded, dealing with Wang Li posed no real challenge.
Within just fifteen minutes, Lu Xingchen had slain Wang Li.
After taking Wang Li’s storage ring, Lu Xingchen found a nearby spot to bury him.
Since it was a conflict between disciples, it was best not to let Lingxiao Sect know.
Examining the storage ring, Lu Xingchen sighed, “Wang Li is really poor! Nothing inside except a few dozen taels of silver.”
He then checked his system panel again.
[Host: Lu Xingchen]
[Realm: Four-Star Martial Artist]
[Experience: 210/500]
[Exchange Points: 420]
[Talents: Eagle Eye (20), Strong Strike (20), Frenzy (16), Blade (20), Jade Shatter (1)]
[Profession: Apprentice Alchemist (3/10)]
Not bad; everything was progressing well.
Lu Xingchen extracted the demon cores from the wolf pack, returned to Lingxiao Sect, took a bath, and then headed to the task hall.
“Already finished? That was fifty One-Eyed Demon Wolves!” The elder at the task hall was somewhat surprised when he saw Lu Xingchen placing a pile of demon cores on the table.
Lu Xingchen smiled faintly, “Just lucky.”
“That’s probably an understatement. Anyway, congratulations on completing the task. You’ve earned 200 task points. Is there anything you want to exchange them for?”
“Not for now.”
Lu Xingchen only considered items of the Profound rank or above.
Profound martial arts techniques required at least 500 points, so he still needed to accumulate more.
In the following days, Lu Xingchen studied alchemy in the morning with Lin Qingzhu and hunted beasts in the Sunset Forest in the afternoon.
On the morning of the fourth day, he finally heard the long-awaited message.
[Congratulations, host! You have practiced alchemy for one hour and gained one point of profession experience!]
[Congratulations, host! You have become a First-Rank Alchemist!]
As the system’s voice faded, Lu Xingchen felt a flood of alchemy knowledge pouring into his mind, as if he had been immersed in it for a long time.
A slight smile lifted the corner of his mouth as he said to Lin Qingzhu, “Sect Leader, I’ve learned the theory almost completely. Shall we move on to practical training?”
Lin Qingzhu was momentarily surprised but replied calmly, “Are you confident? Even our most talented disciple, Wang Dongxuan, took a month to get started.”
Lu Xingchen chuckled lightly, “No harm in trying.”
Lin Qingzhu said indifferently, “Then let’s give it a try.”
Yet in her heart, she already labeled Lu Xingchen as overly ambitious.
Trying practical alchemy within five days of study was certainly reaching too far.
Lin Qingzhu took out an alchemy cauldron from her storage ring and placed it before Lu Xingchen, saying sternly, “Take whatever herbs you need.”
Lu Xingchen nodded slightly, ignited the cauldron, and infused it with his qi, immediately igniting a blazing fire.
This demonstrated the importance of spiritual power.
An alchemist must constantly control the fire’s intensity — too high would ruin the herbs, too low would fail to extract their essence.
Only those with strong spiritual power could precisely control the flame.
Higher-quality pills required even more refined control and better cauldrons.
High-level alchemists often sought out special flames from the world to preserve for pill crafting.
Of course, such things were still far beyond Lu Xingchen.
Ordinary flame was sufficient for him.
He carefully placed one herb after another into the cauldron, urging the fire to refine them.
From the herbs Lu Xingchen selected, Lin Qingzhu discerned the pill he was brewing: the Breakthrough Pill.
Effect: Helps a martial artist at the tenth level successfully break through to a one-star martial artist realm.
It was among the more difficult pills in the first-rank category.
Just as Lin Qingzhu began to look down on him, she saw how perfectly Lu Xingchen controlled the fire, fully extracting the potency from each herb.
Her heart was shaken.
Near-perfect alchemy!
Could this really be the work of a novice just beginning to study alchemy?
An alchemist must concentrate fully during the process, without interruption.
Though amazed, Lin Qingzhu said nothing and silently observed Lu Xingchen’s performance.
Half an hour later, a jade-green pill was completed.
It was the Breakthrough Pill!
[Congratulations, host! You have crafted a first-rank pill, Breakthrough Pill, and gained one point of profession experience!]
Lu Xingchen was overjoyed.
Crafting pills also granted profession experience? That meant he could earn money and level up simultaneously.
Having such a system was truly wonderful!
He handed the pill to Lin Qingzhu with a light smile. “Sect Leader, I hope I haven’t disappointed you.”
Lin Qingzhu took the pill and examined it carefully.
After a moment, she spoke in astonishment, “This is an exceptionally perfect Breakthrough Pill. Even I might not achieve such quality. Lu Xingchen, you are a genius alchemist!”
Lu Xingchen waved his hand, “It’s all thanks to your teaching, Sect Leader.”
“I won’t steal your credit. Lu Xingchen, from now on, you can craft pills here. I’ll provide the materials and help sell your products. After deducting costs, the profits will be paid to you regularly. How does that sound?”
“Of course, that sounds perfect!”
Lu Xingchen thought the same.
After leaving Lin Qingzhu and returning to his room, Lu Xingchen saw a familiar face.
It was Lin Wanqing, whom he had not seen for a long time.
She wore a dark green long dress, without any makeup, looking fresh and charming.
Upon seeing Lu Xingchen, she hurried over.
“Dazhuang, long time no see!”
Lu Xingchen smiled lightly, “Not that long, just over ten days. How have you been at Spirit Sword Peak?”
“The sect leader pays great attention to me, giving me one-on-one sword training every day and various pills to boost my strength. I feel I’m about to break through to four-star martial artist.”
Lu Xingchen grinned broadly, “That’s good, very good. Seems like you’re living well.”
“What about you? Has anyone at Bamboo Peak given you a hard time?”
Lin Wanqing didn’t know the story between Fu Xin and Lin Qingzhu; seeing that none of the sect leaders had accepted Lu Xingchen, she assumed he must have been ostracized.
“No, the sect leader treats me well and even teaches me alchemy.”
Hearing this, Lin Wanqing was stunned.
“Alchemy? Dazhuang, you’re incredible! Alchemists hold the highest status on Tianyuan Continent, unshakable at the top!”
Lu Xingchen replied, “I’ve just started. Enough about that, what did you come to see me about?”