Alchemist

Biodata

Power Progression

Overview

Alchemy is a highly respected profession on the Douqi Continent. Alchemists use flames, pill furnaces, medicinal formulas, ingredients, and soul strength to refine medicinal pills that can heal injuries, accelerate cultivation, or raise a cultivator's realm. Their rank is commonly expressed in tiers or grades corresponding to the pills they can refine. 11 21 59

High-level alchemists can influence the standing of clans, sects, and entire empires. Xiao Ze's ability to refine Tier 6 and Tier 7 pills draws the attention of the Jia Ma Empire's royal family, the Misty Cloud Sect, Pill King Gu He, and other major factions. 23 63 64

Requirements and Techniques

Flame Control

Alchemy requires a suitable flame for refining ingredients. Ordinary Dou Qi flames may be used, but Beast Flames and Heavenly Flames are substantially more effective. 11 15

• Beast Flame — stronger than ordinary Dou Qi flame; Xiao Ze uses a Five-Pattern Beast Flame and later the Ten Thousand Beast Spirit Flame. 11 15 18
• Heavenly Flame — a rarer and more powerful flame type that benefits both cultivation and alchemy. Yao Chen's Bone Chilling Flame is one such flame. 11
• Fire-control ability — directly improves the handling of alchemical flames; Xiao Ze gains an enhancement through a system reward. 15

Soul Strength

Strong soul strength is treated as an important qualification for advanced alchemy. Yao Chen seeks a disciple with powerful soul strength who could eventually refine a body for his resurrection, and identifies Xiao Ze as a superior candidate. 5 6 8

Pill Furnaces and Formulas

Alchemists refine pills in pill furnaces using specific ingredients and formulas. Formula knowledge is treated as private, and Gu Ni initially avoids watching Xiao Ze refine pills out of concern that it could be considered theft of a medicinal formula. 15 37

• Ingredients must match the intended pill and may be difficult to obtain at higher tiers. 16 59 60
• Pill furnaces are used to contain and control the refining process. 15 22
• Refinement success depends on the alchemist's ability; even experienced alchemists may fail when refining high-tier pills. 63

Pill Ranks and Effects

Pill Lightning

Pill Lightning is a celestial phenomenon associated with the successful refinement of Tier 7 medicinal pills. It is visible over great distances and alerts powerful factions to the presence of a high-tier alchemist. 62 63

• Xiao Ze's Tier 7 refinement produces Pill Lightning witnessed by Yao Yue. 62
• The phenomenon alarms the Jia Ma Empire's royal family and the Misty Cloud Sect. 63 64
• Gu He identifies the phenomenon as evidence that a Tier 7 alchemist has appeared in the Jia Ma Empire. 64
• The event elevates Xiao Ze's reputation beyond that of the empire's established alchemists. 63 64

Known Alchemists

• Xiao Ze — Advances from first-grade to Tier 7 Alchemist at extraordinary speed; capable of refining Tier 7 pills and producing Pill Lightning. 12 30 59 62
• Yao Chen / Medicine Elder — Xiao Ze's teacher; a Tier 8 Alchemist in life who teaches him alchemy and seeks his eventual help in refining a resurrection body. 8 16
• Gu He / Pill King Gu He — Regarded as the foremost established alchemist of the Jia Ma Empire before Xiao Ze's rise; capable of refining Tier 4 pills and identified as a Tier 6 Alchemist. 9 22 64
• Yao Yue — Little princess of the Jia Ma Empire; initially a Tier 3 Alchemist, later reaches Tier 4 and eventually seeks Xiao Ze's guidance. 41 49 66
• Gu Ni — A Second-Grade Alchemist affiliated with the Mittel Auction House. 37
• Liu Bai — A Tier 6 Alchemist from the Chu Yun Empire who challenges Xiao Ze on behalf of an inter-empire rivalry. 70 71

Major Events

• Yao Chen accepts Xiao Ze as his disciple and begins teaching him the art of alchemy after recognizing his cultivation talent, soul strength, and potential. 8 11
• Xiao Ze rapidly establishes himself as an alchemist by refining Tier 1 pills without failure, then rises through the second-, third-, and fourth-tier ranks. 11 12 15 18
• His Tier 4 refinement before Yun Yun confirms that his alchemical ability rivals or exceeds many higher-ranked alchemists in the Jia Ma Empire. 22
• The sale of the Tier 6 Imperial Extreme Pill causes a sensation in the Jia Ma Empire and helps secure Jia Xingtian's support for the Xiao Family. 23 30
• Xiao Ze defeats Yao Yue in an alchemy contest by refining an ordinary Rejuvenation Pill to fourth-grade quality. 42 44
• After attaining Tier 7, Xiao Ze's pill refinement causes Pill Lightning, making his identity and value a matter of concern for major factions. 59 62 64
• Xiao Ze agrees to represent the Jia Ma Empire against Liu Bai, a Tier 6 alchemist from the Chu Yun Empire, in a Rejuvenation Pill competition. 69 70 71