Qi Gathering Powder?

Inside a quiet examination room at the Alchemist Guild.

Watching Lin Feng's fluid movements, Fa Ma stroked his beard and secretly marveled, "With such practiced skill, it may not be long before he becomes a Fourth-grade Alchemist."

As he looked at Lin Feng's youthful profile, Fa Ma could not help but sigh. "Gu He was already a Heaven's Favorite in his day, but I wonder whether Lin Feng, who surpasses him still, can go even further in the future and reach the legendary Seventh-grade realm?"

As for an Eighth-grade Alchemist Grandmaster, Fa Ma did not even dare to contemplate it. After all, on this barren Northwest Continent, even Seventh-Grade Alchemists were rarely seen.

Even in the vast Jia Ma Empire, there was only one Low-level Sixth-grade Alchemist. Moreover, that person was not from the Alchemist Guild. At this thought, Fa Ma's old face reddened.

The strongest alchemist in a nation was not even from the Alchemist Guild—this could be considered a failure on his part.

However, as he watched Lin Feng in the room, an idea sprang into Fa Ma's mind, and the more he considered it, the better it seemed.

"Crackle..."

Flames burned continuously within the medicine cauldron. With all five elements, Lin Feng could refine with ease and composure even without counting the abundant Dou Qi of his Dou Spirit realm.

Under Lin Feng's powerful Soul Force, the flames continuously scorched the Third-tier magic core. After an unknown amount of time, it finally turned into a mass of multicolored liquid rippling with energy.

"It's time." Lin Feng suddenly changed his hand seal and drew over the medicinal liquids refined from the floating Clear Heart Three-leaf Clover, Buddha Heart Fruit, and Spirit Absorbing Tree within the cauldron.

Once a certain balance had been reached inside the cauldron, his powerful Soul Force burst from his body, entered through the mouth of the cauldron, and fiercely pressed down on the medicinal mass.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Powerful energy fluctuations surged out and slammed violently against the four walls of the cauldron, producing a series of resounding blasts. Fortunately, Lin Feng's medicine cauldron was of decent quality. Otherwise, it truly might have exploded. Pills contained immense energy, and if one carelessly exploded, the alchemist could even suffer serious injuries.

"It's done!"

With a wave of his hand, a pale white pill appeared in Lin Feng's palm. Just as he had expected, it was another top-grade pill with pill patterns.

"President Fa Ma, please take a look. This is the Third-grade pill, the Spirit Awakening Pill." Lin Feng handed the pill in his palm to Fa Ma, who had walked over.

"Its color is pale white, and merely smelling it clears the mind. This is indeed a Spirit Awakening Pill." Fa Ma carefully examined the pill in his palm. "And it is a Spirit Awakening Pill with pill patterns. It seems that your experience in refining Third-grade pills is already extremely proficient. Before long, you will be able to advance to a Fourth-grade Alchemist."

Spirit Awakening Pill: A Third-grade pill. Its effect was to make cultivators more sensitive to energy and increase the efficiency of energy absorption. Its refining materials were Clear Heart Three-leaf Clover, Buddha Heart Fruit, Spirit Absorbing Tree, and one Third-tier magic core. (Thanks to brother Empty City Offers Red Dust for providing the information, hahaha, another filler chapter.)

Looking at Lin Feng's youthful face, the aged Fa Ma could not help but sigh again. "What youthful brilliance."

Watching Fa Ma sigh to himself, Lin Feng curled his lips and interrupted, "President Fa Ma, may I continue with the Fourth-grade Alchemist examination?"

"Yes, you can..." Fa Ma was examining the pill in his palm and considering how to persuade this Heaven's Favorite, whose talent surpassed Gu He's, to join the Alchemist Guild. Thus, upon hearing Lin Feng's voice, he instinctively began to agree.

"What? Taking the Fourth-grade Alchemist examination?" Fa Ma came back to his senses, disbelief in his eyes.

"Boy Lin Feng, do you still remember the rules This old man explained to you? If you fail an examination, you can only take it again the following year. Even if you are a genius, you must abide by them." Fa Ma paused after saying this, then continued, "As long as you heed This old man's advice, I will personally guide you from now on and ensure that you become a Fourth-grade Alchemist within half a year."

"Thank you for your guidance, President, but I still have some confidence in refining Fourth-grade pills."

"Very well, This old man will trust you, then!" Seeing Lin Feng's high spirits, Fa Ma was slightly moved as well.

After the staff had prepared the materials for the examination, Fa Ma turned to Lin Feng again. "Boy Lin Feng, if you give up now and study under This old man for half a year, you will certainly advance to the fourth grade!"

Seeing Fa Ma's serious expression, Lin Feng clasped his hands and replied solemnly, "Thank you for your concern, Elder Fa, but I still wish to give it a try."

"Very well." Seeing Lin Feng's persistence, Fa Ma no longer tried to dissuade him. Instead, he encouraged him, "Boy Lin Feng, if you pass the examination, you will be the youngest Fourth-grade Alchemist in the Jia Ma Empire in centuries. At that time, This old man will pay out of his own pocket and gift you a Fifth-grade Pill Recipe."

Lin Feng froze for a moment. His impression of this old man, who had been testing him all along, improved somewhat. Then, he walked toward the examination platform.

Looking at the two sets of medicinal ingredients and a scroll placed on the platform, Lin Feng directly picked up the scroll this time.

Qi Gathering Powder: A Fourth-grade pill. Its effect was to allow those whose Dou Qi had reached completion to form a Dou Qi Cyclone with one hundred percent certainty. Its main refining ingredients were Ink Leaf Lotus, Snake Saliva Fruit, Spirit Gathering Grass, and one Second-tier Water Attribute Demonic Core.

"The easiest Fourth-grade pill to refine?" Looking at the scroll in his palm, Lin Feng thought to himself, It seems I really should properly thank Elder Fa.

After memorizing the pill recipe, he closed his eyes and repeatedly considered it three times. Once he had confirmed there were no mistakes, Lin Feng abruptly opened his eyes and brushed his Storage Ring. Five medicine cauldrons appeared in the room once more.

Boom...

Beast Flame rose from his palm. With a wave of his hand, Lin Feng sent it into the cauldrons and began warming them.

Once the medicine cauldrons had reached a suitable temperature, Lin Feng did not place all the medicinal ingredients into them at once this time. After all, this was also his first time refining a Fourth-grade pill. Therefore, no amount of caution was excessive.

He first placed the relatively easy-to-refine Ink Leaf Lotus into a medicine cauldron. Boom... The flames gradually intensified as he carefully roasted it according to the method indicated in the pill recipe.

After the outer lotus leaves turned to ash, he finally extracted a small mass of medicinal liquid and controlled it to float within the medicine cauldron.

"Phew..." His first success boosted Lin Feng's confidence, but he still did not dare relax. After exhaling a breath of stale air—

He then placed the Snake Saliva Fruit into the medicine cauldron. After successfully refining it, he proceeded to the Spirit Gathering Grass. Once it was refined successfully without incident, Lin Feng exhaled another breath of stale air and turned his gaze toward the final Second-tier Water Attribute Demonic Core.

Although water and fire could sometimes generate one another, they were opposed more often than not. Therefore, even though Lin Feng had refined Water Attribute Demonic Cores many times before, he did not dare be careless.

After placing the demonic core into the medicine cauldron, Lin Feng abruptly intensified his Soul Force, carefully observing the core's condition as he prepared to deal with any possible situation at any moment.

Just as Lin Feng increased his Soul Force, Fa Ma, who was supervising the examination ten meters away, suddenly widened his eyes. "Th-this Soul Force... How is that possible!?"