Alchemist Guild

"Hello, I'm Yang Xin, a Director at the Alchemist Guild." The sexy and graceful Yang Xin slowly extended her fair and smooth jade-like hand.

Xian Wu was the first to step forward, taking Yang Xin's hand. He chuckled, "We are students from Sacred Orchid Academy, sent by Vice Dean Ye Sheng. Hello, Sister Yang. My name is Xian Wu, and I'm their captain. You can tell me anything you need."

Yang Xin's precious little hand is so smooth~~~ Xian Wu howled inwardly.

Seeing Xian Wu holding Yang Xin's hand and not letting go, the other six companions all looked at him with disdain.

Xian Wu, maintaining his composure, briefly clasped her hand before quickly retracting it.

"I've read the letter. Since Vice Dean Ye Sheng has entrusted you to me, you will all be under my management for these four days," Yang Xin said, her voice melodious and her breath fragrant.

"Xiao Lan, take them to the backyard. The masters happen to need some help," Yang Xin instructed, turning to give an order.

"Wait," Nie Li suddenly interjected. "Director Yang, forgive my boldness, but may I ask if I can take the exam for an intermediate Alchemist Master?"

Alchemists are divided into three major ranks: Apprentice, Master, and Grandmaster. Each major rank is further divided into Junior, Intermediate, and Senior levels. Apprentices wear grey robes, Masters wear white robes, and Grandmasters wear silver robes.

At the Alchemist Guild, attire represents status.

Xiao Lan, in her grey robe, is the lowest-ranking Apprentice Alchemist, while Yang Xin, in her white robe, is a Master Alchemist.

"Yes, you can. First, you'll need to pay the exam fee of two hundred Demon Spirit Coins," Yang Xin said, extending her slender hand.

Although Nie Li was young, Yang Xin did not refuse his participation in the exam based on his age.

The Alchemist Guild has explicit regulations stating that exams for both Apprentice and Master levels are completely open to the public, with no age restrictions.

Yang Xin, as a Director of the Alchemist Guild, was very busy with her daily work and had no time to waste on children.

Pay the money, take the exam; no money, get lost.

It was that simple!

"Here," Nie Li pulled out two hundred-yuan Demonic Crystal cards from his pocket and placed them in Yang Xin's hand.

Demonic Crystal cards are the currency circulating in the City of Brilliance, with denominations ranging from ten thousand Demon Spirit Coins at the highest to five Demon Spirit Coins at the lowest.

The seven companions split into two groups. One group followed Sister Xiao Lan to the backyard, while the other followed Director Yang to take the exam.

Xian Wu felt a vague sense of unease. Could Nie Li be trying to interfere?

A friend's wife must not be deceived, Nie Li!

And, you are my sworn father. Doing this would be incest, and I'd be struck by lightning.

Xiao Lan assigned the six companions to six Alchemists who needed help.

Xian Wu, being strong and robust, was assigned to an Intermediate Alchemist Master – Hu Yan Ming.

Upon hearing the name "Hu Yan," Xian Wu's heart skipped a beat. Could this old man be related to Hu Yan Lan Ruo?

"Little Xian, go chop the firewood in the yard," Master Hu Yan commanded.

Looking at the pile of firewood that was taller than him, a drop of sweat broke out on Xian Wu's forehead. No wonder they picked me, someone strong and robust. Du Ze and the other little chicks couldn't possibly complete such a difficult task.

Xian Wu did not use his Demon Left Hand. There were many Apprentice Alchemists grinding herbs in the yard, and with so many people around, it would be easy to expose himself.

"Senior brother, what's been happening lately? Why is the Alchemist Guild so busy?" Xian Wu asked during a break.

The man, holding a pipe, puffed out smoke and said, "What else could be happening? Demonic Beasts attacking the city. It's early summer, everything is reviving, and the hibernating Demonic Beasts are all active. They're foraging in groups, and some have already approached the City of Brilliance."

"Summer is actually good. The Demonic Beasts are exhausted after a winter of consumption, making it easier for the city guards to deal with them. But by late autumn, when the Demonic Beasts are fat and strong, and their young are out, that's when the Demonic Beast Tide is truly terrifying."

Xian Wu was puzzled. "Why would Demonic Beasts attack the City of Brilliance? I don't quite understand why they'd come in groups to die."

The senior brother tapped his pipe on the floor twice and said, "What's there not to understand? Resources in the Sacred Ancestor Mountain Range are limited, and not all Demonic Beasts have stored enough food."

"The relationship between the City of Brilliance and the Demonic Beasts is like a beehive and a brown bear. Even if they get bruised and battered, the brown bear finds it worthwhile to get honey."

"To put it bluntly, the Demonic Beasts raise humans like livestock. When winter approaches and food becomes scarce, the Demonic Beasts begin their slaughter."

The senior brother sighed. "The future of the City of Brilliance rests on you young people. If we could have a few Legendary Spirit Masters, our human race wouldn't have to endure the humiliation from the demon race anymore. Alright, hurry up and rest. Try to finish chopping the firewood tonight."

After hearing the senior brother's words, Xian Wu fell into thought.

Legendary Spirit Masters?

For someone like me, who possesses the Chaos Spirit Devouring Art, it doesn't seem like a difficult task.

It was noon, and the sun was shining brightly.

The six companions gathered in the Alchemist Guild's cafeteria, drinking medicinal tea and enjoying a sumptuous lunch.

The Alchemist Guild's lunch was on a completely different level compared to Sacred Orchid Academy's.

"Compared to the lunch here, what we ate before was like pig slop," Zhang Ming complained loudly. He really wished he could work at the Alchemist Guild forever; at least he'd have meat every day.

Zhu Jun Xiang, however, was more rational and objective. "It's good enough to have free food. You're being picky. If they starved you for three days, you'd find even pig slop delicious."

Sacred Orchid Academy is a semi-public welfare organization, while the Alchemist Guild is a purely private enterprise. It's understandable that their meals are different.

"Don't just see the thief eating meat; you also have to see the thief getting beaten," Xian Wu said, sipping his medicinal tea and offering his opinion. "Haven't you seen that the eyebrows and beards of those Alchemist Masters have all turned white?"

"To become an excellent Alchemist requires time and accumulation. If someone is willing to sit in front of an alchemy furnace and books all day, then they are quite suited to be an Alchemist."

"Like Wei Nan!" Lu Piao said with a smile, patting Wei Nan on the shoulder.

Everyone thought Wei Nan was quite suited to be an Alchemist, and he thought so himself too.

However, since he had already learned the top-tier cultivation method Nie Li gave him and had the potential to become a Gold or even Black Gold Spirit Master, switching to become an Alchemist would be too much of a waste.

Moreover, the power in the City of Brilliance was tied to the rank of Spirit Masters. Although the Alchemist Guild held considerable influence, the ones who truly wielded power were the Spirit Masters, with Alchemists only being a supporting role.

For ordinary people, cultivating both Spirit Master and Alchemist paths was unreasonable.

One couldn't refine pills while cultivating Soul Force, nor could one cultivate Soul Force while refining pills. In the end, they would only end up with the awkward titles of "the best alchemist among Spirit Masters" and "the strongest in Soul Force among Alchemists."

Being proficient in neither, they would be too incompetent for any important task.

"Hey! Look, isn't that Nie Li wearing the white robe?" Du Ze suddenly exclaimed.