Fourth-Grade Alchemist

Frank's aura suddenly erupted, and the pressure of a Dou Ling swept out. Before Xiao Fan could explain, Zi Yan stepped to his side first, releasing a pressure of her own. Yet Frank's pressure was clearly utterly powerless before hers.

"You dare lay a hand on my person!" Zi Yan glared furiously at Frank as he was sent flying backward.

Bang!

Frank fell straight backward and crashed into the staircase behind him, leaving even his mind somewhat dazed.

"Hmm? That aura just now?"

"Why did it feel like I was hit by a small mountain?"

Only then did he notice Zi Yan beside Xiao Fan. The pressure from before had come from that sweet, harmless-looking little girl.

"Th-This little one couldn't be a Dou Wang, could she?"

To send him sprawling with pressure alone, only a Dou Wang could do that. As for a Dou Emperor, Frank did not even dare imagine it.

After all, Zi Yan truly looked so tiny.

Frank struggled to his feet, his legs still trembling. Even as a veteran Fourth-Grade Alchemist, he did not dare offend a Dou Wang expert, much less one so young. He could not imagine the force backing her.

If Frank had harbored any doubts about Xiao Fan's alchemy skills before, he now likely believed them completely.

"Little friend, since that is the case... cough, cough." The moment he opened his mouth, a tight feeling rose in his chest, and Frank could not help coughing.

Finding it somewhat difficult to speak, Frank directly took a Medicine Cauldron with five fire ports from his Storage Ring and handed it to Xiao Fan.

Xiao Fan did not waste words. He accepted the Medicine Cauldron and prepared to begin refining pills.

"May I ask what kind of fourth-grade pill the Guildmaster wishes to see?"

"Hmm?" Frank looked at Xiao Fan strangely. Shouldn't he be the one choosing a fourth-grade pill formula for Xiao Fan? How had it become a request for a specific fourth-grade pill?

"The guild currently has enough materials for two batches of Beast Strength Pills."

After consuming a Beast Strength Pill, one could temporarily gain the physical strength and power of a magical beast. It was considered a mid-tier fourth-grade pill.

Beast Strength Pills? Xiao Fan first recalled the formula for the pill, then nodded. "Then I'll have to trouble the Guildmaster."

"Little friend, do you not need to look over the formula?" Frank could not believe an Alchemist would refuse the chance to examine a pill formula. Unless he already knew this formula.

Frank glanced at Zi Yan once more, already beginning to speculate inwardly. What faction could have raised such a monstrous genius?

A Medicine Cauldron with five fire ports placed even greater demands on an Alchemist's Dou Qi output and control over soul power, making it far more difficult.

But to Xiao Fan, it was merely a byproduct of refining Sugar Pills.

That was right. To Xiao Fan, refining Sugar Pills was more important.

Xiao Fan flicked his hand, and violet-gold flames appeared. Alchemists were exceptionally sensitive to flames, and Frank recognized the extraordinary nature of the flame before him at a glance.

"Beast flame? But it doesn't seem like one either?"

As a fellow Fourth-Grade Alchemist, Frank was extremely curious about how Xiao Fan intended to refine pills without looking at the formula. He could not help reminding him, "Little friend, there are only two sets of ingredients. You must be extra careful."

Before Frank could finish speaking, Xiao Fan directly wrapped both sets of ingredients in soul power and tossed them into the Medicine Cauldron at the same time.

"What!"

"This is simply... nonsense..." Frank's voice grew quieter and quieter until the final words became inaudible.

Because he noticed that a certain angry purple-haired Little Dragon Maiden had begun clenching her fists.

Yet Frank still felt that Xiao Fan's actions were utter nonsense. Refining multiple sets of ingredients simultaneously while also making two pills at once was no longer merely a matter of multitasking. There were demands on Dou Qi output, control over temperature, and the necessary changes when different ingredients fused together.

"Refining ingredients one plant at a time is already my limit. How is this brat refining pills? He's plainly wasting ingredients!"

Frank had already prepared himself for the cauldron to explode.

Yet after a long while, the explosion Frank imagined did not occur. Instead, the ingredients within the cauldron had all been refined, pill fragrance had begun to spread, and Xiao Fan was already preparing to condense the pills.

Only now did Frank finally realize that Xiao Fan's alchemy technique was unbelievably precise. It was also a method far beyond anything he could grasp. Only then did he understand just how ignorant he had been...

Alchemists were always proud. The only things that could make an Alchemist concede were higher-level alchemy techniques and pill formulas.

Gradually, Xiao Fan's techniques captivated him. He moved right beside the cauldron, unwilling to miss a single step.

"Condense!"

The flames in Xiao Fan's palm swirled like a vortex, separately fusing the two sets of ingredients. Wrapped in soul power, the ingredients underwent wondrous changes as round pills began to take shape.

With a muffled grunt, two fourth-grade pills appeared in Xiao Fan's hands. At the same time, Frank's jaw nearly dropped to the floor.

Two pills from one cauldron, and both were perfect pills bearing pill patterns. He stared at the Beast Strength Pills in Xiao Fan's hand in disbelief. "Th-This... this... this..."

"Hey, old man, have you seen enough?" Zi Yan impatiently cut Frank off.

"Of course, of course!"

"If little friend still couldn't pass, then this old man's title as a Fourth-Grade Alchemist would have been earned for nothing." As he spoke, he ordered someone to fetch the fourth-grade Alchemist's guild robe.

"Little friend, I have a request. Could I ask for your help? Of course, it would not be unpaid help. I am willing to provide all the medicinal ingredients you need for alchemy. Even if you wish to become the vice president of the Black Rock City Alchemist Guild, that would be no problem."

Frank rubbed his hands together. The arrogance he had shown upon their first meeting was gone, and his tone was full of ingratiation and respect.

Since he could obtain all kinds of medicinal ingredients for free, Xiao Fan had no reason to refuse. He asked, "May I ask what Guildmaster Frank wants me to do?"

"I simply hope that little friend can represent Black Rock City in the Alchemist Tournament to be held in Jia Ma Imperial City a year from now."

Frank believed Xiao Fan would not refuse this request. After all, Xiao Fan would essentially receive the support of an Alchemist Guild for free.

"The Alchemist Tournament..."

Xiao Fan remembered as well. It seemed Jia Ma Imperial City held an Alchemist Tournament every eight years. Those who achieved good rankings would be invited by the various major factions and nurtured with all their resources. It was both a test of one's alchemy and an excellent opportunity to make a name for oneself.

Xiao Fan had no reason to refuse. "All right, but may I ask whether Guildmaster Frank can also give me a second-grade Alchemist guild robe?"

Frank froze. There was actually an Alchemist so low-key? A fourth-grade Alchemist's guild robe would draw countless people eager to make acquaintances with its wearer just from walking around outside. But he quickly understood Xiao Fan's concerns and nodded. "All right. Rest assured, little friend, I definitely will not speak carelessly about you being a Fourth-Grade Alchemist."

"Mm. Then I'll have to trouble the Guildmaster."