Six-star Dou Ling!

"Teacher, are you saying he passed the assessment?"

Lin Fei stared at Xiao Lei in disbelief; on what grounds, just because he was handsome?

Being handsome had nothing to do with alchemy!

"That's enough, Lin Fei. I don't have time to indulge your nonsense today. I need to refine a pill, so you should head back. We won't be studying alchemy today."

Lin Fei was stunned once again. Why was her teacher suddenly rushing to refine pills? Usually, Otto couldn't wait to teach her alchemy every single day, yet today he was actively giving her the day off. Everything was far too abnormal.

"Teacher, what are you doing?"

"Your teacher wants to take this Xiao Lei as a disciple, but the other party didn't agree immediately. Instead, he asked your teacher to refine a Tier 4 pill first to demonstrate his strength. Heh, now your teacher is off to refine a Tier 4 pill to prove himself!"

Frank stood to the side, gossiping enthusiastically to Lin Fei.

Hearing this, Lin Fei was even more bewildered. What did it mean that her teacher, a Tier 4 alchemist, had to prove his strength just to take someone as a disciple?

One had to know that Lin Fei herself had suffered quite a bit just to be accepted as a student back then. How could it be the complete opposite for Xiao Lei?

Wasn't this completely turning the heavens upside down?

Xue Mei was equally shocked. She knew that even she, the daughter of the City Lord, didn't have that much face. When she sought to become a student of Frank—who was also a Tier 4 alchemist like Otto—it had only gone smoothly because her father had personally intervened.

Just what did this Xiao Lei have going for him?

"But Xue Mei, shouldn't you fulfill the words you spoke?"

When it came to embarrassing Xue Mei, Lin Fei could even set aside the matter of her teacher wanting to take Xiao Lei as a disciple.

"You! You... he doesn't count! He isn't from Black Rock City, so I haven't broken my word!"

The bickering between the two had no effect on Xiao Lei and the others.

Soon, the three of them moved to an extremely spacious alchemy room.

"This is where I usually refine pills. Today, I shall demonstrate Tier 4 alchemy for you right here!"

Back on his home turf, Otto immediately regained some of his confidence.

"Just watch from the side. Observing a high-level alchemist at work will be of great benefit to you!"

These words made Xiao Lei chuckle. Soon enough, your alchemy skills will be mine!

Seeing that Otto was in such high spirits, Frank decided not to busy himself with other matters and prepared to see if the man's alchemy had improved over these days.

"Bone Tempering Pill! The old fellow's specialty! It seems he isn't being careless at all; he truly wants to take this Xiao Lei as a disciple!"

Frank and Otto had worked together at the Black Rock City Alchemist Guild for many years and understood each other perfectly, so naturally, he knew which pill the other was best at.

In Frank's memory, Otto almost always succeeded on the first attempt when refining the Bone Tempering Pill; his success rate was incredibly high.

It was clear that he was doing this to show off his strength in front of Xiao Lei, hoping to make the young man willingly submit to becoming his disciple.

[Target: Renowned alchemist of Black Rock City.]
[Cultivation: Six-star Dou Ling.]
[Cultivation Method: Palm Flame, Xuan-tier Intermediate.]
[Dou Technique: ...]
...
[Alchemy Skill: Tier 4 Advanced.]
[Constitution: None.]
[Copy Time: One hour.]
[Copy now?]

"Another hour. Though, considering the gap in our cultivation levels, that is reasonable."

Although Xiao Lei possessed the Woe Poison Body, his cultivation was still a full major stage behind Otto's, and his alchemy skills were two stages behind.

"Copy!"

For the one hour of copying, Otto would have to endure discomfort comparable to what Xiao Zhan had experienced; Xiao Lei could only silently pray for the man.

Wanting to take him as a disciple? It wouldn't be that easy!

Soon, over half an hour passed. The medicinal fragrance wafting from the cauldron in front of Otto grew increasingly rich; it looked as though Otto was about to finish refining all the medicinal materials.

Xiao Lei, however, was not panicked in the slightest. At this stage, the system hadn't even begun to exert its power yet!

Seeing that everything was going so smoothly, Otto couldn't help but praise himself for his improved alchemy. It seemed that taking Xiao Lei as a disciple was a sure thing!

A moment later, as Otto was attempting to fuse the medicinal essence, he suddenly felt a tightness somewhere.

"Hiss—oh!"

Otto hurriedly exerted force, trying to stop a potential accident.

However, it was precisely this moment of distraction that caused the pill in front of Otto to lose control. Amidst the violent flames, the ingredients mixed together chaotically, and then...

BOOM!

The cauldron exploded!

Frank hurriedly flicked his sleeves, his Dou Qi spilling forth to block the full force of the blast.

Otto, however, was not so lucky; the medicinal ingredients were reduced to ash by the explosion, which then slammed directly into his face.

"Hahaha, Otto, you old geezer! To be in such a sorry state while refining a single Bone Tempering Pill—I fear you've been slacking off on your alchemy practice all these years!"

Seeing Otto make a fool of himself, Frank did not hesitate to mock him.

"Senior, failure is the mother of success! Keep it up, you'll definitely succeed next time!"

Watching the progress bar that had only a little left to go, Xiao Lei cheered Otto on without hesitation. If the man gave up and left now, his replication would be a failure!

Hearing their words, Otto wished he could punch the life out of Frank, while simultaneously feeling a surge of goodwill toward Xiao Lei.

Just look at that—he isn't even my disciple yet, and he's already so good at encouraging me!

But why does this brat keep staring at me?

Why does this gaze feel so wrong?

Why do I suddenly want to beat him up?

No, I still need to take him as a disciple. He's just watching me; it's normal for him to stare while I'm refining medicine!

"It is of no consequence! How could anyone succeed on the first try every time in alchemy? I shall simply refine another!"

Another half-quarter of an hour later, Otto felt his nerves tighten again, and the medicinal herbs inside the cauldron were instantly scorched into a pile of ash.

This time, Otto didn't even make it to the pill-fusion stage; he failed while still refining the herbs.

At the same time.

[Target:...]

[Physique: None.]

[Please select the option to replicate.]

"Replicate cultivation."

Compared to the other options, cultivation was undoubtedly the most important. Without strength, Xiao Lei's alchemy skills would be useless regardless of how high they were.

[Replication successful. Host has obtained the cultivation of a six-star Dou Ling.]

"Awesome!"

Having gained the cultivation of a Dou Ling without expending a shred of effort, Xiao Lei couldn't help but praise the system in his heart. Although this thing was usually a scam, it was truly amazing when used correctly!

"Master Otto, calm your mind and try again. Alchemists usually have three chances when refining medicine; please, give it another go!"

He hadn't finished harvesting from Otto yet, so Xiao Lei wasn't about to let go so easily.

Hearing this, Otto was moved.

Just look at that—what a thoughtful, understanding disciple, even granting me a third chance.

Coincidentally, the replication had just finished, and Otto suddenly felt all his physical discomfort vanish, so he decided to proceed with the final attempt.

If he failed to refine the pill after three tries, Otto truly wouldn't have the face to take Xiao Lei as his disciple.

With this determination, Otto began his third attempt.

At the same time, in front of Xiao Lei.

[Target:...]