The alchemy masters who enjoyed no small measure of fame in the Central Plains might not be common in the Yao Clan, but they were certainly far from rare. With such foundations, it was only natural for them to feel somewhat proud when compared with other alchemists.
Of course, this applied only to the middle ranks of alchemists. Among those truly standing at the peak of the alchemist pyramid, the Yao Clan held no overwhelming advantage over other regions. Though the power of their bloodline allowed them to handle alchemy with ease, bloodline power alone could never carry them to the summit of the alchemy world. At times, such talent could even become an obstacle preventing them from reaching that highest level.
Perhaps this was one of the minor drawbacks of bloodline power.
Alchemists were divided into grades one through nine, with first-grade being the lowest and ninth-grade the highest. Ninth-grade alchemy grandmasters were further divided into three levels: Treasure Pill Grandmasters, Mystic Pill Grandmasters, and Golden Pill Grandmasters!
Mystic Pill Grandmasters were already among the most elite figures in the continent's alchemy world, few enough to count on one's fingers. As for Golden Pill Grandmasters, no one had reached that level in nearly a thousand years, because no one had been able to refine a Ninth-grade Golden Elixir.
Above Golden Pill Grandmasters lay the legendary Emperor-grade. Emperor was the pinnacle, beyond anyone's reach.
To most of those present, the preliminary events of the Pill Codex were a fascinating spectacle. The younger generation of the Yao Clan truly possessed talents that ordinary alchemists could only envy. Every participant who stepped onto the stage was at least a Sixth-grade Alchemist, if not higher. As cauldrons rose one after another, the sight was especially magnificent.
Naturally, alchemy at this level was like