Opportunity

Lin Feng took Fa Ma's teachings to heart and closed his eyes again to adjust himself. At a certain moment, he suddenly opened his eyes, divine light shooting from them.

"Bang..."

The same medicinal ingredients, the same refining techniques, yet this time, there were subtle differences in the steps. If no master well versed in medicinal principles were present, they would never have noticed.

Fa Ma, who was carefully observing from the side, lightly stroked his beard and nodded almost imperceptibly, inwardly sighing, The boy can be taught!

Lin Feng, meanwhile, devoted all his attention to the inside of the Medicine Cauldron, controlling the ingredients as they gradually transformed into the energy clusters or powdered liquids needed for Pill Merging.

During this second attempt, Lin Feng's technique was clearly much more practiced. It was not quite flowing as naturally as clouds and water, but it had reached the average standard of a Fifth-grade Alchemist.

Although he had failed once and suffered a blow, Lin Feng had already adjusted his mindset under Fa Ma's guidance and was no longer affected by it.

When all the medicinal ingredients had finally been refined, Lin Feng focused his mind. Finally, it has come to this step again!

He increased the output of his Soul Force, tightly enveloping the wildly burning azure-blue flames and sealing the three energy clusters at the center within them.

Having learned from his previous mistake, Lin Feng did not rush this time. Instead, he continued nourishing the energy clusters.

The outer flames seemed hot enough to burn someone into ash, yet the energy clusters within remained lush and vibrant with life. This was the wonder of alchemy, and the fundamental reason why Alchemists needed powerful Soul Force.

Those with weak Soul Force could fail to notice even the slightest change in the flames. What should have been the forming of a pill would then become an Exploding Cauldron. Many novice Alchemists, and even those who had been practicing for years, had more or less experienced Exploding Cauldrons in private, though such matters were not worth mentioning to outsiders.

"Screech..."

Once the energy clusters within the Medicine Cauldron had been nourished to a certain extent, Lin Feng abruptly changed his approach. Dou Qi surged forth, and the flames rose sharply in temperature. Even the Medicine Cauldron faintly reddened, as though it could barely withstand the extreme heat.

Great torrents of Soul Force poured out, firmly controlling the seemingly runaway flames and driving them fiercely toward the energy clusters that had already fused into one.

"Boom..."

A continuous rumbling sounded from within the Medicine Cauldron. Immediately afterward, an unusual radiant glow appeared before Lin Feng's eyes, accompanied by an incomparably rich and exotic fragrance that struck his nostrils, leaving both Lin Feng and Fa Ma invigorated.

"Hahaha, Lin Feng, if I had not seen it with my own eyes, I truly would never have imagined that the Jia Ma Empire possessed a supreme genius like you." Fa Ma repeatedly stroked his beard, his face flushed with excitement, no longer displaying the composure and calmness expected of the Alchemist Guild's president.

An Eighteen Years Old Fifth-grade Alchemist, and also a Peak Dou Ling—so long as Lin Feng did not die young, Fa Ma believed that becoming a Dou Zong would be his minimum achievement. He might even have a chance to glimpse the legendary realm of Dou Zun.

To the Jia Ma Empire, Dou Zun were not figures who merely kept themselves hidden. They were legendary beings. Aside from Yun Potian several centuries ago, there had not been the slightest trace of information regarding any other.

And he had actually been fortunate enough to nurture a genius who might one day advance to become a Dou Zun. What incredible luck!

At that moment, as the pill took form, a tangible ripple of energy suddenly appeared in the sky above the Alchemist Guild. Centered on the Alchemist Guild, it spread outward in all directions.

Along with it, pill fragrance carrying an unusual radiant glow continued spreading with the ripples. When passersby inhaled it into their lungs, their spirits, exhausted from an entire day, were immediately refreshed.

Of course, no miraculous phenomenon such as pill fragrance growing white bones occurred. After all, this was merely a Fifth-grade Pill.

However, according to a particularly well-informed passerby, the legendary Ninth-grade Pill supposedly possessed such powerful effects.

The surrounding crowd scoffed at him and burst into laughter. An old man who was merely a Dou Zhe dared to spout nonsense about Ninth-grade Pills. The old man kept blurting out things like "physician, Alchemy Apprentice" and "Alchemist's Notes," which only made everyone laugh even harder.

Ignoring the amusement of these low-level cultivators, several leaders of the major factions in the Jia Ma Imperial Capital reacted as soon as the strange fragrance emerged.

Within the Jia Ma Imperial Family, before a vast Artificial Lake, an old man was discussing the state of the empire with a young woman when they paused at the appearance of the pill fragrance.

"That old fellow Fa Ma certainly knows how to draw attention. Whenever a Fifth-grade Pill appears, the entire Imperial Capital takes notice."

Jia Xingtian, reclining in a rocking chair, sighed. His expression did not change much; he had long grown accustomed to the pill fragrance that appeared eight or ten times a year.

However, when he noticed Yao Ye beside him seemingly deep in thought, Jia Xingtian found it strange.

"Ye'er, do you have something to say?"

"Grandfather, do you think Master Lin Feng may have advanced to the Fifth Grade? I heard that Master Lin Feng has recently been studying alchemy. Though that should not be possible—there are no shortcuts to improving one's alchemy."

There was a trace of uncertainty in Yao Ye's voice. By the end, she smiled freely. A Fourth-grade Alchemist at such a young age was already unbelievable. If he had advanced to the Fifth Grade, it would truly be earth-shattering.

Such geniuses might exist, but for the Jia Ma Empire, they were nothing more than a fantasy.

"No!"

At that moment, an aged voice interrupted Yao Ye's thoughts.

"Grandfather?"

Jia Xingtian, dressed in hemp clothing, slowly rose to his feet. Although his face was aged, the imposing aura around him made others instinctively feel pressure.

"Perhaps it really is that genius Alchemist, Lin Feng." As he spoke, he ignored the shocked expression on Yao Ye's face.

"Ye'er, prepare a congratulatory gift. Then bring Yue'er along and accompany me to see whether this is the rare genius the Jia Ma Empire has only seen once in a thousand years!"

"Yes!"

Within the residences of the other major powers in the Imperial Capital, Mitter Tengshan, Nalan Jie, and the others all reached the same conclusion as Jia Xingtian after a brief hesitation.

Although their strength was indeed far inferior to Jia Xingtian's, everyone capable of becoming the leader of a major faction was a seasoned old fox. They could uncover the essence of a matter from the faintest clues.

Besides, befriending an Alchemist was not work that required risking one's life. Even if their guess was wrong, it would still be beneficial to maintain frequent contact with Lin Feng.

His extraordinary talent had long become common knowledge throughout the Jia Ma Empire. Befriending such a genius was bound to require a great price.

Meanwhile, inside the private alchemy room, Lin Feng and Fa Ma were both overjoyed, unable to contain their delight.

"Lin Feng, now that you have advanced to become a Fifth-grade Alchemist, should we hold a grand banquet and make up for the regret from the Fourth Grade celebration?"

The old man Fa Ma seemed even happier than Lin Feng himself, as though he desperately wanted everyone to know of the Alchemist Guild's genius.

Lin Feng, however, was examining the Seven Star Spirit Wood Pill. It was not as if he had never seen a Fifth-grade Pill before, but this was the first one he had personally refined, and he could hardly bear to put it down.

Upon hearing Fa Ma's words, he gently shook his head in disagreement.

"Elder Fa, an Eighteen Years Old Fourth-grade Alchemist is already shocking enough. The tallest tree catches the strongest wind."

A group of black-clad figures whose appearances were always accompanied by sinister cackling flashed through Lin Feng's mind. He still felt that he needed to keep a lower profile. The soul of a Fifth-grade Alchemist was quite a fine dish in the barren Northwest Continent.

"Uh..." Fa Ma's hand paused as it stroked his beard. "Very well, I was too fixated on appearances. In that case, we shall announce to the public that this pill was refined by me!"

After discussing some insights about pills with Fa Ma, Lin Feng prepared to leave the Secret Chamber and ease his tense mind.

"Mm!"

The instant he took a step forward, Lin Feng's expression abruptly changed. A sudden opportunity emerged within his mind. The aura around his body trembled, becoming somewhat unstable. Fa Ma, standing nearby, was filled with disbelief. "This... seems to be!?"

"Elder Fa, please help me inform Xiao Yi Xian."

As soon as he finished speaking, Lin Feng vanished from where he stood, leaving behind only an afterimage.

Fa Ma was left standing there in a daze. After a long while, prolonged laughter echoed through the Secret Chamber.