Chapter Summaries

After passing the First-Tier Alchemist assessment, Xiao Tianci asked to take the Second-Rank Alchemist assessment, shocking the Black Rock City Alchemist Guild. Frank agreed to let him proceed, and the hall prepared for the extraordinary test.

• Xiao Tianci applied for the Second-Rank Alchemist assessment, stunning everyone in the hall.
• Lin Fei warned Xiao Tianci that he needed to refine a second-rank pill and reach Dou Shi level to pass.
• Frank and Otto questioned Xiao Tianci about his condition and confidence, and he said he expected no problem.
• Xiao Tianci grew impatient and threatened to leave for another city if the guild would not let him take the assessment.
• Frank agreed to the assessment, unwilling to let another city claim the opportunity.

Xiao Tianci agreed to take the Second-Rank Alchemist assessment and learned how guild membership could help him exchange for rare ingredients. Otto allowed Lin Fei, Xue Mei, and the other registered alchemists to observe, while those who had failed the First-Tier assessment left outside.

• Frank ordered the Second-Rank Alchemist assessment prepared after Xiao Tianci was about to leave.
• Xiao Tianci asked about guild privileges, and Frank explained how registered alchemists could arrange exchanges for medicinal ingredients.
• Frank led Xiao Tianci into the assessment room, and Otto followed while telling the crowd they could not enter without applying in advance.
• Lin Fei and Xue Mei pleaded with Otto to let them observe, and Otto agreed on the condition that they submit applications afterward.
• Otto allowed the other registered alchemists to enter and observe, but the people who had failed the First-Tier assessment left.

Xiao Tianci began the Second-Rank Alchemist assessment while Lin Fei and Xue Mei argued over which of them had a better claim to him. After hearing the rules, he chose three demanding pills, leaving Frank and Otto shocked by his confidence.

• Xiao Tianci entered the assessment room and went to the stone platform prepared for alchemy.
• Lin Fei and Xue Mei praised Xiao Tianci's talent and argued over who had met him first and might marry him.
• Xiao Tianci asked Frank about the assessment, and Frank explained that he had to choose three of five pills and successfully refine two.
• Otto warned Xiao Tianci that some pills consumed more battle qi and advised him to choose carefully.
• Xiao Tianci selected the Curse-Dispelling Pill, Spirit-Clearing Pill, and Diamond Pill, prompting Frank and Otto to question his choice.

Xiao Tianci began the Second-Rank Alchemist assessment by choosing five difficult pills and quickly refined the Curse-Dispelling Pill and Spirit-Clearing Pill. He declared the assessment over after making two pills, and Frank discovered that the Curse-Dispelling Pill was supreme quality.

• Lin Fei and the other alchemists questioned Xiao Tianci’s choice of difficult pills, but he refused to change them.
• Frank began the assessment, and Xiao Tianci refined the Curse-Dispelling Pill without using a pill furnace.
• Xiao Tianci immediately refined a Spirit-Clearing Pill, finishing both pills with most of the allotted time remaining.
• Xiao Tianci stopped refining and told Frank and Otto that he had passed by refining two types of pills.
• Frank and Otto inspected the pills, and Frank found that the Curse-Dispelling Pill had Pill Patterns and a Manifestation, proving it was supreme quality.

After passing the Second-Grade Alchemist Examination, Xiao Tianci asked to take the Third-Grade examination, astonishing the Alchemist Guild examiners and spectators. Frank and Otto agreed to prepare a private examination, hoping Xiao Tianci’s success would bring the Black Rock City Guild attention at the Alchemist Conference.

• Frank and Otto examined and exchanged Xiao Tianci’s Qingxin Pills, then announced that he had passed the Second-Grade Alchemist Examination.
• Frank offered to arrange Xiao Tianci’s badge, while Lin Fei and Xue Mei reacted to his achievement.
• Xiao Tianci asked to take the Third-Grade Alchemist Examination, leaving Frank, Otto, and the spectators stunned.
• Frank and Otto discussed Xiao Tianci’s prospects and agreed to let him continue the examination.
• Frank dismissed the spectators so he and Otto could prepare the Third-Grade Alchemist Examination.

Xiao Tianci passed the Third-Tier Alchemist examination, astonishing the Black Rock City Alchemist Guild with his skill and earning recognition as the Jia Ma Empire’s youngest Third-Tier Alchemist in over a century. He emerged from the examination room to a hall full of alchemists who treated him with newfound respect, while Frank and Otto remained curious about his mysterious teacher and yellow flame.

• Lin Fei and Xue Mei waited with the other alchemists for the Third-Tier examination results.
• Frank and Otto emerged from the examination room and announced that Xiao Tianci was set to become the youngest Third-Tier Alchemist in over a century.
• Lin Fei and Xue Mei reacted in shock as the alchemists realized Xiao Tianci had passed.
• Frank and Otto praised Xiao Tianci’s precise pill refining and said his answers had inspired them to improve their own alchemy.
• Frank and Otto wondered about Xiao Tianci’s teacher and the mysterious yellow flame he had used.
• Xiao Tianci came out of the room, and the alchemists greeted him with friendly respect.

After Xiao Tianci passed the Third-Tier Alchemist assessment, Frank and Otto treated him with special respect and presented him with a functional Alchemist Robe. Frank invited him to talk privately, while Otto took him to complete his registration.

• Frank told Xiao Tianci that Black Rock City could assess alchemists only up to Third-Tier and that the Fourth-Tier examination was held at the Jia Ma Empire headquarters.
• Frank presented Xiao Tianci with a specially made Third-Tier Alchemist Robe, which Xiao Tianci accepted and tried on.
• Frank ended the assessment gathering and invited Xiao Tianci to talk with him.
• Lin Fei offered to help Xiao Tianci complete his registration, but Otto said he would take care of it himself and left with Frank and Xiao Tianci.

Xiao Tianci joined the Black Rock City Alchemist Guild and learned that its leaders wanted him to compete in the Alchemist Conference in the capital six months later. He recognized the chance for personal rewards and greater benefits for the guild, and asked Frank and Otto to confirm what the guild would gain from a strong showing.

• Xue Mei told Lin Fei to take the Third-Tier Alchemist examination if she was dissatisfied, and Lin Fei followed the others without confidence.
• Xiao Tianci agreed to register with the Black Rock City Alchemist Guild but wrote “None” as his mentor and said he did not know the origins of his unusual yellow flame.
• Otto asked whether Xiao Tianci could travel to the capital in six months, and Xiao Tianci said he likely could.
• Otto and Frank explained that the Alchemist Conference would take place in the capital and that their guild had to send a participant.
• Xiao Tianci asked whether a high ranking at the conference would bring greater benefits to the Black Rock City Alchemist Guild.

Xiao Tianci agreed to represent Black Rock City's Alchemist Guild at the Alchemist Conference in exchange for a favor from Frank and Otto. After leaving the guild, he accepted Xue Mei's offer to stay there and set off with her and Lin Fei to collect his belongings from the inn.

• Xiao Tianci inferred that his participation in the Alchemist Conference would benefit Black Rock City's Alchemist Guild and secured a favor from Frank and Otto in return.
• Otto encouraged Xiao Tianci to attend the conference to broaden his horizons, and Xiao Tianci agreed to meet Frank and Otto at the Alchemist General Guild in the capital.
• Frank and Otto celebrated Xiao Tianci's expected success at the conference after he left.
• Lin Fei invited Xiao Tianci to stay at her home, but Xue Mei offered him lodging at the Alchemist Guild instead.
• Xiao Tianci agreed to return to the inn for his belongings and the Green Ox before moving into the guild, while Lin Fei and Xue Mei accompanied him.

After returning to the inn, Xiao Tianci went to the Alchemist Guild lodging with Lin Fei and Xue Mei, then waited until they left to begin his ten consecutive draws. His early rewards included the Great Sun Divine Art and a Diamond Draw, which gave him the Resurrection Pill formula.

• The innkeeper recognized Xiao Tianci as a Third-Tier Alchemist and offered to care for his mount free of charge.
• Xiao Tianci showed Lin Fei and Xue Mei his Green Ox and rode it to the Alchemist Guild lodging.
• After Lin Fei and Xue Mei left, Xiao Tianci dropped his act of exhaustion and prepared to make ten consecutive draws.
• Xiao Tianci drew the Great Sun Divine Art, which could help upgrade his Green Emperor Longevity Art.
• His second draw awarded him a Diamond Draw, which yielded the Resurrection Pill formula.
• Xiao Tianci learned that the Resurrection Pill could revive someone who had been dead for no more than two days if their body remained intact.

Xiao Tianci examined the Resurrection Pill formula and realized that its rare ingredients would be difficult to obtain, so he asked Otto and Frank to investigate. Otto began checking the Alchemist Guild’s trade records, while the Azure Cloud Sacred Ice remained a mystery.

• Xiao Tianci considered the Resurrection Pill’s power and decided to keep it secret from anyone he could not trust.
• Xiao Tianci found that the formula required three ingredients he did not recognize: the Immortal-Slaying Underworld Flower, Azure Cloud Sacred Ice, and Yin-Yang Immortal Spring.
• Xiao Tianci continued his lottery draws, received various rewards, and went to sleep without practicing his newly acquired technique.
• Xiao Tianci visited the Alchemist Guild the next morning and asked Otto and Frank to find out whether anyone had the three ingredients.
• Otto and Frank recognized the Immortal-Slaying Underworld Flower and Yin-Yang Immortal Spring as extremely rare treasures but had never heard of Azure Cloud Sacred Ice.
• Otto went to investigate, and Frank told Xiao Tianci that Otto was the guild’s vice president and usually handled trades.

Xiao Tianci searched the Alchemist Guild for ingredients needed to make the Resurrection Pill, but Otto found neither the Yin-Yang Immortal Spring nor the Immortal-Slaying Underworld Flower, and neither alchemist knew of the Azure Cloud Sacred Ice. Otto then revealed that the eccentric alchemist Gute might own the flower, leaving Xiao Tianci determined to seek him out despite warnings that he was fiercely protective of his collection.

• Otto searched the Guild's records and told Xiao Tianci that no one in the Jia Ma Empire was recorded as having the Immortal-Slaying Underworld Flower or the Yin-Yang Immortal Spring, while the Azure Cloud Sacred Ice was unknown to him and Frank.
• Frank suggested Xiao Tianci try an auction house, but Xiao Tianci gave up on the Guild search and prepared to leave.
• Otto stopped Xiao Tianci and said he might have seen the Immortal-Slaying Underworld Flower with an eccentric alchemist, though obtaining it would require a steep price.
• Frank recognized the alchemist as Gute, a Third-Tier Alchemist famed for his valuable collection, and doubted Xiao Tianci could trade for the flower.
• Xiao Tianci asked who Gute was and whether he belonged to the Alchemist Guild.

Xiao Tianci learned that Gute, a reclusive Third-Tier Alchemist protected by Pill King Gu He, could be persuaded through rare natural treasures. Otto took Xiao Tianci to find him in Black Rock City, while Frank stayed behind wondering what restorative pill Xiao Tianci intended to refine.

• Frank and Otto told Xiao Tianci how Gute had relentlessly pestered Frank until he traded away his Blood Spirit Ganoderma.
• Otto explained that Gute was Pill King Gu He's brother and warned Xiao Tianci not to mention Gu He around him.
• Xiao Tianci confirmed that he needed Gute's medicinal herbs and agreed to try offering him rare natural treasures.
• Otto offered to take Xiao Tianci to Gute, and Frank asked him to warn Gute to stay away from the Alchemist Guild.
• Frank inferred that Xiao Tianci wanted to refine a powerful restorative pill, while Otto led Xiao Tianci out of the Alchemist Guild.

Otto brought Xiao Tianci to visit Gute, whose home was filled with elaborate pranks and hazards. They reached Gute’s room, where Otto kicked a metal door and hurt his foot while Xiao Tianci struggled to hide his laughter.

• Otto led Xiao Tianci through Black Rock City to Gute’s secluded home and warned him to expect trouble.
• A burst of black powder flew from the doorway, but Otto swept it away and explained that it caused intense itching.
• Otto guided Xiao Tianci through the cluttered building, avoiding traps and attacks while his robe was damaged by a corrosive medicine that only harmed clothing.
• Gute angrily cursed Otto from behind a door after hearing him criticize his experiments.
• Otto kicked the metal door, hurt his foot, and left Xiao Tianci trying not to laugh.

Otto brought Xiao Tianci to meet Gute, a reclusive collector and fellow Third-Tier Alchemist. Xiao Tianci hoped Gute might know where to find the Azure Cloud Sacred Ice, while Gute recognized his talent and asked about the Alchemist Conference.

• Otto kicked through Gute’s reinforced steel door after Gute gloated about the trap, then threatened to expose Gute’s treasure room.
• Otto invited Xiao Tianci inside, and Gute objected to Otto bringing a visitor.
• Xiao Tianci noticed Gute’s crystal cabinet of rare treasures and hoped Gute might know about the Azure Cloud Sacred Ice.
• Gute confronted Xiao Tianci for staring at his collection, then listened after Xiao Tianci explained his curiosity.
• Gute noticed Xiao Tianci’s Third-Tier Alchemist badge, praised his talent, and asked whether Frank had recruited him for the Jia Ma Empire’s Alchemist Conference.

Xiao Tianci asked Gute for the Immortal-Slaying Underworld Flower, which Gute initially denied possessing before Otto exposed him. Gute refused to hand it over, so Xiao Tianci began considering what rare treasure he could offer in exchange.

• Gute asked what rewards Frank and Otto would receive if Xiao Tianci did well at the Alchemist Conference, but Otto changed the subject.
• Gute suspected Xiao Tianci had rare treasures to sell, but Xiao Tianci asked whether he had an Immortal-Slaying Underworld Flower.
• Gute denied owning the flower, and Otto revealed that Gute had shown it off before.
• Otto left Xiao Tianci alone with Gute and sealed the doorway to show he would not eavesdrop.
• Gute refused to give up the flower, and Xiao Tianci argued that a sufficient offer could make any deal possible.
• Gute told Xiao Tianci he was interested in rare treasures, not cultivation methods or Dou Skills.

Xiao Tianci asked Gute about the Azure Cloud Sacred Ice and Yin-Yang Immortal Spring, then offered him a jade bottle containing a rare treasure. Gute recognized the drop inside as Demon-Subduing Golden Dragon essence blood and reacted with intense excitement.

• Xiao Tianci asked Gute whether he knew of the Azure Cloud Sacred Ice and Yin-Yang Immortal Spring, and Gute said the Azure Cloud Sacred Ice was extraordinarily rare while the Yin-Yang Immortal Spring might be available for trade.
• Xiao Tianci brought out a jade bottle and asked Gute to circulate his Dou Qi before removing its stopper.
• The pressure from the bottle and the faint dragon's roar overwhelmed Gute until Xiao Tianci sealed it again.
• Gute examined the blood inside the bottle and searched through an ancient book for its identity.
• Gute identified the blood as Demon-Subduing Golden Dragon essence blood and declared it more valuable than Heavenly Flames for tempering the body.

Xiao Tianci tried to trade Demon-Subduing Golden Dragon essence blood to Gute for the Immortal-Slaying Underworld Flower and Yin-Yang Immortal Spring. When Gute tried to downplay the essence blood’s value, Xiao Tianci reclaimed the vial and prepared to leave, leaving Gute scrambling to stop the deal.

• Gute was captivated by the Demon-Subduing Golden Dragon essence blood Xiao Tianci offered and admitted he had misjudged him.
• Xiao Tianci explained that he wanted the Immortal-Slaying Underworld Flower and Yin-Yang Immortal Spring and knew how rare they were.
• Gute argued that the two treasures had broader uses than the essence blood, which mainly strengthened the body.
• Xiao Tianci rejected Gute’s attempt to lower the price, took back the vial, and threatened to offer it to other buyers.
• Gute stood up and protested when Xiao Tianci declared the deal off and began to leave.

Xiao Tianci negotiated with Gute for the Demon-Subduing Golden Dragon’s essence blood in exchange for rare Resurrection Pill ingredients. Gute revealed the Immortal-Slaying Underworld Flower, leaving Xiao Tianci surprised by its dried-up appearance.

• Xiao Tianci demanded that Gute prove his sincerity before they continued negotiating.
• Xiao Tianci added a Tier 6 Wood-Attribute Monster Core to his requested payment, and Gute agreed to the deal.
• Xiao Tianci handed Gute the jade bottle containing the Demon-Subduing Golden Dragon’s essence blood, and Gute examined it with delight.
• Gute entered a hidden passage and returned with several sealed white jade boxes for Xiao Tianci.
• Gute opened a box to reveal the dried black Immortal-Slaying Underworld Flower, which Xiao Tianci confirmed was genuine.

Xiao Tianci traded with Gute for the Immortal-Slaying Underworld Flower and Yin-Yang Immortal Spring, leaving him with only the Azure Cloud Sacred Ice to find for the Resurrection Pill. Gute then offered to share information about the missing ingredient in exchange for the Demon-Subduing Golden Dragon's blood essence.

• Gute showed Xiao Tianci the Immortal-Slaying Underworld Flower and gave him the Yin-Yang Immortal Spring.
• Xiao Tianci absorbed the escaping Yin-Yang mist and stored the three jade boxes, including one containing a Sixth Order Magic Core.
• Gute sent Xiao Tianci away so he could study the Demon-Subduing Golden Dragon's blood essence.
• Xiao Tianci thanked Gute and said he still needed Azure Cloud Sacred Ice for the Resurrection Pill.
• Gute stopped Xiao Tianci and offered information about Azure Cloud Sacred Ice.