"Alright..."

Inside the private examination room, Fa Ma stared in stunned disbelief as he sensed the powerful Soul Force emanating from Lin Feng. He even plucked out a tuft of beard without noticing, muttering to himself.

"Impossible, absolutely impossible!" Fa Ma found it inconceivable. "The strength of this Soul Force is actually far greater than that of Gu He, a Sixth-grade Alchemist. Perhaps even a Seventh-Grade Alchemist would be no stronger than this."

(PS: A little cheat here. If you revisit the earlier chapters, you'll find that Lin Feng possesses a High-Grade Yellow Rank Soul Severing Cultivation Technique. Coupled with his transmigration and rebirth, his Dou Ling cultivation, and the traces of Spiritual Energy absorbed while cultivating the Five Elements Art, having this level of soul strength is barely acceptable, hahaha. This old man will not suppress his level. A so-called genius must not only be stronger than others at the same level—the speed of their advancement must also surpass ordinary people's imagination...)

Immediately afterward, that thought surfaced in Fa Ma's mind once more. I must keep Lin Feng in the Alchemist Guild, no matter... no matter how great the price.

Lin Feng, who was refining the pill, paid no attention to the somewhat unhinged Fa Ma beside him and continued melting the Demonic Core in an orderly fashion.

The flames continuously scorched the Demonic Core, producing crackling sounds. Finally, at a certain moment, the core began to melt into droplets of energy liquid.

It's time, Lin Feng thought. As his hand seals shifted, his Soul Force controlled the several clusters of liquid within the Medicine Cauldron, gradually fusing them together. This time, Lin Feng was not as casual as usual. After all, the examination only came once a year.

If Hun Tiandi were not about to make his move, Lin Feng would have liked to imitate those cautious saints and remain in seclusion until he reached Nine-star Dou Sheng and an Emperor Realm Soul.

Unfortunately, time waited for no one. Although, if everything remained unchanged, Xiao Yan Yao would bring peace to the continent, having been reborn, who would be willing to remain ordinary? Who would not wish to witness the view from the summit?

Thus, the first place Lin Feng went upon arriving in the Jia Ma Imperial Capital was the Alchemist Guild. It was the best way to open doors, and it offered considerable freedom as well.

Countless thoughts flashed through his mind, yet his hands never stopped moving. As his hand seals changed, he had already reached the final step: Pill Merging.

Thump, thump, thump...

Amid waves of energy fluctuations, a series of sounds rang out. Immediately afterward, a fragrance unlike any Lin Feng had ever produced while refining pills wafted from the mouth of the Medicine Cauldron. Sensing this phenomenon, Lin Feng smiled faintly.

"Once the pill fragrance emerges, it is a fourth-grade pill!"

Elder Fa, who was even more excited than Lin Feng, could not help speaking aloud. His hand continuously stroked his beard, his expression stirred.

With a wave of his hand, a ball of light covered in pill patterns slowly rose from the Medicine Cauldron. By the time it landed in Lin Feng's hand, it had become an utterly ordinary-looking pill.

After examining it briefly and looking at the pill patterns on the Qi Gathering Powder, Lin Feng nodded in satisfaction, sighing inwardly.

As expected. Although I've never refined a fourth-grade pill before, with my foundation, I can still produce pill patterns. I merely lack the pill recipes and medicinal ingredients.

"Please take a look, Elder Fa. I was fortunate enough to succeed." Lin Feng handed the pill to Fa Ma, whose expression had returned to normal, and smiled faintly.

"Hahaha, once the pill fragrance emerges, it is a fourth-grade pill. This is an ironclad rule established by alchemists since ancient times; there can be no mistake with this pill." Though he said so, Fa Ma still accepted the pill from Lin Feng and examined it carefully.

"Still, I find it rather strange. A pill used to help someone advance from Dou Qi to Dou Zhe is actually classified as fourth-grade." Lin Feng raised a small question as he watched Fa Ma inspect the pill.

"Hahaha, you've stumped this old man. Naturally, I've wondered about that myself." Only then did Fa Ma raise his head and explain, "But since the entire Dou Qi Continent uses this classification, perhaps only the legendary Pill Tower has the ability to change such rankings!"

After a pause, Fa Ma continued, "But there is no need to change it. After all, its refinement difficulty is no less than that of an ordinary fourth-grade pill."

"Oh? The Pill Tower?" Upon hearing those words, Lin Feng appropriately showed a trace of confusion.

"Hahaha, I forgot to tell you. I thought your teacher would have mentioned it." Fa Ma slapped his forehead and continued, "It is the legendary holy land of alchemists. Alchemists of every grade gather there, along with all kinds of secret techniques and pill recipes. Legend even says that Ninth-grade Grandmaster Alchemists exist there."

"Even someone as gifted as Gu He would be commonplace in the Pill Tower. Otherwise, do you really think he would stay behind for a woman? As a fellow alchemist, this old man understands Gu He all too well." Fa Ma then looked at Lin Feng, his gaze carrying a hint of yearning. "But if it were you, even in the Pill Tower, you would have a place of your own!"

Not knowing how to respond, Lin Feng could only put on an equally yearning expression.

Seeing Lin Feng like this, Fa Ma came back to his senses. "This old man has been rambling. With your talent, you will one day reach that stage."

"But now, it is time for this old man to fulfill his promise." Fa Ma suddenly waved a hand grandly. "Which Fifth-grade Pill Recipe do you want? As long as the Alchemist Guild has it, this old man can obtain it for you."

"Oh, a Fifth-grade Pill Recipe is certainly good, but what I want right now is the recipe for the Three-patterned Azure Spirit Pill, a peak fourth-grade pill. I wonder if Elder Fa can give me that recipe." Lin Feng stated his request directly.

"Of course I can. But boy, Lin Feng, are you certain you do not want a Fifth-grade Pill Recipe? You only get one chance, so you must think carefully." Fa Ma confirmed it once more, his tone wholly sincere.

Buzz... Lin Feng did not answer. Instead, he swiftly released a trace of his aura, then immediately withdrew it. It flashed by in an instant. Had Fa Ma not possessed powerful Soul Force, he might have thought it was merely his imagination.

Fa Ma's pupils contracted slightly before he burst into laughter. "Now I am certain that you will shine brightly in the Pill Tower one day."

Lin Feng smiled as well, making no effort to hide the confidence in his eyes.

Suddenly, Fa Ma's laughter paused. His eyes fixed tightly on Lin Feng. "Boy, Lin Feng, are you willing to become an elder of the Alchemist Guild?" After a pause, Fa Ma made his ultimate offer. "As long as you agree, all the Guild's resources will be open to you—pill recipes, medicinal ingredients, and this old man will personally teach you. What do you say?"

Faced with the old man's astonishing offer, Lin Feng fell silent and considered it carefully.

In the end, Lin Feng raised his head. A hint of apology appeared in his expression as he was just about to speak...

But Fa Ma waved a hand, cutting off Lin Feng's words. "Boy, Lin Feng, what are you thinking? Why are you being so wishy-washy? You would only be a Guest Elder. You would not need to handle any official duties. All you need to do is return after completing your studies, let the Guild record your name, and bring more advanced alchemy to the Guild."

Seeing Lin Feng's stunned expression, Fa Ma narrowed his eyes with a smile, looking somewhat like an old child. "Do you think this old man doesn't understand young people like you? You all want to venture out into the world." After a pause, he added, "Besides, even if you wanted to stay in the Guild forever, this old man would not have you!"

Looking at Fa Ma like this, Lin Feng's expression shifted. A smile touched his lips as he slowly uttered one word.

"Alright..."