Peak of Fourth Rank

[Constitution: None.]

[Copy Time: Twenty minutes.]

[Confirm copy?]

Clearly, as Xiao Lei's cultivation base rose, the time required for Xiao Lei to copy Otto had shrunk rapidly; after all, Xiao Lei possessed the Woe Poison Body.

At the same time, the side effects during the copying process had also diminished. Of course, alchemy was a delicate craft; the slightest issue would cause the flames to die out.

Sure enough, halfway through the third attempt at refining the pill, the medicinal herbs were incinerated once again.

Looking at the medicine cauldron before him, Otto let out a long sigh.

"Sigh! Forget it. It seems the two of us are not fated; let us drop the matter of taking you as an apprentice!"

"Oh~ hiss!"

"Little fellow, stay here for a moment. I need to relieve myself, and I will return shortly to personally issue you your Alchemist Badge and alchemist robes!"

Meanwhile, the copy time before Xiao Lei's eyes had reached its end.

[Copy successful.]

[Please select the options to copy.]

"Copy Alchemy!"

Of everything on Otto, these were the only two things Xiao Lei found worth taking. Alchemists were not skilled in combat, and Xiao Lei had already looked over Otto's Dou Techniques, finding them unappealing. As for soul power, the system would force Xiao Lei to reach the corresponding soul power realm when copying alchemy.

[Copy successful. Host has become a Grade 4 Advanced Alchemist, and soul power has risen to the level of a Grade 4 Alchemist.]

Everything went extremely smoothly, and just like that, Xiao Lei became a Grade 4 Alchemist.

A massive influx of information surged into Xiao Lei's mind—all of it accumulated by Otto over the decades he had spent studying alchemy. Among this knowledge was the Bone Tempering Pill that Otto had been refining earlier.

At the same time, because the system provided Xiao Lei with any content related to alchemy, Xiao Lei also acquired a great deal of knowledge adjacent to the craft.

For instance, knowledge regarding Heavenly Flame, the refining of Beast Flame...

Among the knowledge obtained from Otto, Xiao Lei found a method for acquiring Beast Flame, though the difficulty was somewhat high.

"Blood Flame: use the flesh and blood of fire-attribute magical beasts as an offering, and the bloodline of at least a Tier 6 magical beast as a guide to condense the Blood Flame..."

It was no wonder that in the original work, this fellow Otto was shocked to see Xiao Yan's Beast Flame. If one had to follow such standards to obtain a Beast Flame, it truly required great fortune or immense strength.

"Little fellow, the pill that old fellow Otto was refining is called the Bone Tempering Pill. It is the pill he is most proficient in, and he usually maintains a ninety percent success rate. I don't know what happened today, but for it to fail three times in a row, even I am astonished..."

"Looking at it this way, perhaps you two really aren't suited to be master and apprentice..."

Frank spoke earnestly, not realizing that Xiao Lei's gaze had already swept over to him.

[Target: Renowned alchemist of Black Rock City.]

[Cultivation: Six-star Dou Ling.]

[Cultivation Method: Flame Chasing Art, Xuan-tier Intermediate.]

[Dou Technique: ...]

[Alchemy: Grade 4 Advanced.]

[Constitution: None.]

[Copy Time: Ten minutes.]

[Confirm copy?]

With Xiao Lei now possessing Grade 4 Advanced alchemy, the time to copy Frank, who was on par with Otto, decreased once again.

"Copy."

Transmitting this thought to the system within his mind, Xiao Lei turned his head to chat with Frank.

"I wonder what pill the senior is most proficient in?"

"Naturally, it is the Marrow Cleansing Pill. I obtained the pill recipe for the Marrow Cleansing Pill from my master back in the day. Like the Bone Tempering Pill, this pill also has the effect of improving one's innate talent, and it is extremely popular among the children of large clans. Thus, after I reached Grade 4, I refined this pill many times."

"However, the more I refined it, the more I felt that the recipe passed down from my master had flaws. There were many overly complex techniques involved in the refining process, which increased the difficulty."

"In the years that followed, I delved deep into research and eventually optimized the recipe. The Marrow Cleansing Pill then became the pill I was most proficient in..."

Frank spoke incessantly, recounting the most stirring achievement of his life to Xiao Lei...

The discomfort of the system copy had no effect whatsoever under the passion of Frank's storytelling, even though it was only ten minutes of discomfort...

Xiao Lei listened quietly, nodding from time to time.

There are too many people in this world who would rather focus on the trivial matters of celebrities than listen to the surging emotions of those beside them...

Ten minutes passed quickly.

[Please select the copy option.]

"Alchemy!"

Xiao Lei calmly transmitted his intent. Ever since he first acquired Guni's alchemy techniques, he had been curious: was the replication of alchemy skills an overwrite like his cultivation base, or was it something else?

A familiar sensation washed over him as knowledge related to alchemy rapidly coursed through Xiao Lei's mind; the various medicinal pills recorded within felt as though he had refined them countless times himself.

The massive influx of information left Xiao Lei feeling somewhat dazed, and the throbbing headache persisted for a long while before finally receding.

Frank noticed Xiao Lei's abnormality and was just about to ask when Xiao Lei waved his hand to signal that he was fine.

Previously, the gap between Otto's and Guni's alchemy techniques was too large, so merging them had no real impact. But switching to Frank's similar techniques has actually yielded such a massive gain.

[Replication successful. Host possesses peak Tier 4 alchemy.]

Xiao Lei rubbed his temples, the discomfort in his brain only just beginning to subside.

The alchemy techniques of Otto and Frank had rapidly fused within his mind, granting him numerous insights that neither man possessed, instantly pushing his alchemy to the peak of Tier 4. It could be said that the refinement of Tier 4 medicinal pills would no longer pose any difficulty to him.

After all, this was a peak Tier 4 status recognized by the System!

In this way, the value of replicating alchemy techniques is immense!

In this era, high-grade alchemists were few and far between, and those capable of refining Tier 9 Profound Pills could be counted on one hand. If Xiao Lei's replication of alchemy were merely an overwrite, he would at best be equal to these people, refining only Tier 9 Profound Pills.

But now it was different; Xiao Lei had the potential to gather the alchemy techniques of the entire world into one, achieving a great breakthrough to create Tier 9 Golden Pills or even higher!

Of course, all of that was still a long way off for Xiao Lei.

For the present, however, the significance was equally great.

If I were to replicate the alchemy techniques of Fama and Gu He at the same time, what realm could I reach?

Just thinking about it made him feel a little excited!

Frank, standing to the side, saw Xiao Lei suddenly start grinning foolishly...

This... has the little fellow been stimulated by something?

Fortunately, Otto had already returned looking refreshed; it had been a long time since he had felt so smooth and unburdened.

"Little fellow, come with me to collect your Alchemist Badge and robe!"

Seeing Otto looking so refreshed, Xiao Lei was quite surprised. So much for the discomfort—why does this look wrong?

Xiao Lei clearly remembered that during the Coming-of-Age Ceremony, Xiao Zhan had looked like he had eaten... something foul, sweating profusely as he forced himself to endure it...

"This alchemist robe is made from special materials; its defensive properties are even stronger than the armor equipped by the empire's soldiers. Consider it one of the benefits of joining the Alchemist Guild."

"Furthermore, you can collect various resources you need through the guild; you only need to provide the corresponding compensation."

Listening to Otto explain the various functions of an alchemist's status, Xiao Lei could not help but sigh at the somewhat distorted, exalted status alchemists held on the Dou Qi Continent.

"In that case, I would trouble the guild to help me acquire some poison-attribute cultivation methods and Dou Techniques!"

Xiao Lei did not shy away; he was now a six-star Dou Ling, so there was no need to hide or skulk about.

"Poison-attribute cultivation methods?"

"Oh! No problem, I will do my best to search for them through the guild's channels."

"Additionally, I would like to invite you, Xiao Lei, to serve as an honorary elder of the guild. What do you think?"

Xiao Lei did not answer, merely putting on a thoughtful expression.

"Oh, an honorary elder does not need to hold a position within the guild; it is more for publicity. After all, a Tier 2 alchemist as young as you, Xiao Lei, is rarely seen even in the history of the empire!"

"Haha, that is easy to say, Master Otto, but I currently have many matters to attend to. I will be leaving Black Rock City in seven days, and I will naturally give you an answer by then."

Xiao Lei soon departed from the Alchemist Guild, while Otto, after Xiao Lei had left, immediately went to relay his stance:

Within seven days, collect as many poison-attribute cultivation methods and Dou Techniques as possible!