Wang Teng, Alchemist

"Sir, Wu Tan City is just ahead. Where would you like to get off?"

A carriage rolled along the road. The driver withdrew his gaze from the distant city walls, turned toward the carriage compartment, and spoke softly.

"We're finally here?"

Not long after, the curtain over the carriage door was lifted, and a figure leaned out.

He was a young man with thick brows, large eyes, well-defined features, and a slender build.

He wore a white robe, with a badge pinned to his chest. The badge bore the image of an ancient-looking medicinal cauldron, its surface marked by a single silver ripple.

The driver's gaze moved from the young man's face to the badge on his chest, and a trace of envy flashed through his eyes.

He recognized that badge. Only alchemists were qualified to wear it.

On the Dou Qi Continent, alchemists were rarer than fighters, and their status was more esteemed.

Wang Teng braced himself against the carriage as he stood. Shielding his eyes with his right hand, he looked into the distance. The outline of the city walls was crystal clear, and the words "Wu Tan City" could vaguely be seen above the gate.

Wu Tan City—the starting point of the Battle Through the Heavens story, the beginning of the Flame Emperor's legend.

If I weren't a transmigrator, it would be hard to believe that such a remote little city could produce a Dou Emperor.

Wang Teng had transmigrated into this world long ago. When he had first been born, he had thought he had simply traveled back to ancient times.

It was only after hearing names like dou qi and the Jia Ma Empire that he belatedly realized he had arrived in the world of Battle Through the Heavens.

As a transmigrator, he possessed talent equal to Xiao Yan's, and his soul power was stronger than that of others his age.

Because of this, after becoming a fighter, he had caught the eye of his current teacher and been accepted as a disciple, becoming a respected alchemist.

This time, he had come to Wu Tan City on his teacher's orders to investigate the truth behind his senior brother Liu Xi's disappearance.

In truth, Wang Teng had already known Liu Xi's fate the moment he received the news.

He had been beaten to the brink of death by Xun'er, then reduced to ashes by Xiao Yan.

Logically speaking, Wang Teng should not have come to Wu Tan City.

Present-day Wu Tan City was a muddy quagmire. Anyone who stepped into it would meet no good end.

Xiao Yan, who was about to leave Wu Tan City, would not allow any other force in the city to continue opposing the Xiao Clan.

Xiao Yan had killed Liu Xi partly because of Xun'er, but more importantly, because he wanted the Jia Lie Clan to lose the ability to contend with the Xiao Clan sooner.

Yet Wang Teng had still come.

Because this was a system mission.

Nineteen years! He had already mentally prepared himself to live without a cheat, yet the system had actually arrived not long ago!

He had bound himself to a system called the Alchemy God System.

As its name suggested, the system's purpose was to assist him in becoming the strongest alchemist.

There were two simple ways to obtain system rewards.

The first was to continuously refine medicine. Each attempt earned proficiency, and once enough had accumulated, his alchemy ability would improve.

The second was completing missions. The system would either issue them proactively or trigger them at random. As long as he completed the mission, he would receive a reward.

Wang Teng had come to Wu Tan City precisely to complete a mission issued by the system.

"Notify me before we enter the city." Having given the order, Wang Teng returned to the carriage compartment.

He sat down and stared at the empty space before him. A light screen visible only to him emerged.

[Main Mission: Arrive safely at Wu Tan City! Completion Reward: Soul-Eating Insect.]

[Side Mission: Investigate the truth behind senior brother Liu Xi's disappearance! Reward: Unknown.]

Beside the task list was an information panel.

Host: Wang Teng

Profession: Alchemist

Realm: Nine-Star Fighter

Professional Skills:

Fire Control (Intermediate): 396/1000 (Controlling flames is an alchemist's basic skill)

Perception (Intermediate): 410/1000 (An outstanding alchemist can accurately judge changes in medicinal ingredients)

Compounding (Intermediate): 196/1000 (The ratio of every medicinal liquid determines the success rate of a pill)

Mastered Formulas:

Return Spring Powder (First Tier): 12/1000 (Mastery)

Strength-Storing Pill (First Tier): 25/1000 (Mastery)

Insect-Repelling Powder (First Tier): 78/100 (Proficient)

Detoxification Pill (First Tier): 98/100 (Beginner)

Energy-Lifting Pill (First Tier): 22/100 (Proficient)

Through the panel, Wang Teng gained a clearer understanding of his current strength.

In terms of alchemy skill alone, he already qualified to take the assessment for a second-tier alchemist. Once his realm improved, he could head to the Alchemist Guild for the official examination.

As for the pills he refined, formulas whose proficiency had reached the Mastery level had an eighty percent yield rate and almost never failed.

At the Proficient level, the yield rate was only fifty percent, with a thirty percent chance of failure.

According to the system's standards, beyond Mastery lay two more levels: Great Accomplishment and Perfection.

The former meant every pill refinement would succeed, with a chance of producing pills of perfect quality.

Such pills could maximize medicinal effects while minimizing side effects.

As for the Perfection level, it meant fully mastering the formula. Not only would the pill quality be perfect, but the quantity produced would also be the greatest.

"Sir, we've arrived." The driver's voice came from outside the carriage, interrupting Wang Teng's thoughts.

He came back to himself. With a thought, his vision returned to normal.

Before the gate arch of Wu Tan City, people entering the city stood in line, paying their fees one by one before entering.

Soon, Wang Teng's carriage arrived beneath the gate tower.

"Whoever's inside the carriage, get down for inspection." The soldier slapped away the driver's outstretched hand and barked coldly.

The driver said nervously, "Sir, inside the carriage..."

"Cut the nonsense. If you've come to Wu Tan City, you follow Wu Tan City's rules!" the soldier said impatiently.

The nearby soldiers cast complicated looks his way. Some were envious, while others were disdainful.

This newly arrived soldier relied on the fact that his brother-in-law worked at the City Lord's Manor, and he had always been unbearably arrogant.

Wu Tan City was located on the empire's border, and hardly any nobles or prominent figures ever came here. That only made him more overbearing.

At that moment, the soldier greedily eyed the luxurious carriage before him, wondering what excuse he could use to extort a larger entry fee.

"What's going on?" The curtain was lifted, and Wang Teng stepped out with an expressionless face.

He glanced at the driver before turning his gaze to the soldier. "Why have you stopped the carriage?"

The soldier raised his hand, about to speak, when he accidentally caught sight of the alchemist badge on Wang Teng's chest. His face went pale, and his entire body began trembling uncontrollably.

He was utterly terrified. How could an alchemist have come to a remote city like Wu Tan City?

"My apologies, sir. This fellow is new." The captain of the guards sent the soldier flying with a slap, then smiled as he personally led the carriage into the city for Wang Teng.

The wheels turned slowly as the carriage passed through the city gate.

[Ding! Mission "Arrive safely at Wu Tan City" has been completed. Reward: Soul-Eating Insect.]

[Soul-Eating Insect: Top-tier spirit pet. Feeds on soul power and has remarkable effects on restoring and strengthening soul power.]

The moment Wang Teng sat back inside the carriage, text appeared before his eyes.

Immediately afterward, his head began to itch, as though something had been added inside it.

He closed his eyes and concentrated inward, seeing an illusory insect within his mind.

The insect resembled a moth. Its wings were spread wide and fluttered faintly.

Tiny specks of light shook loose from its wings. Wang Teng immediately felt his mind become clear and refreshed, as though the fatigue from the journey had eased somewhat.

What a treasure! It actually acts directly on the soul.

The Soul-Eating Insect's effects made Wang Teng's eyes shine.

Soul power was different from dou qi. It was exceptionally troublesome to cultivate and progressed at an especially slow pace, yet becoming a powerful alchemist required immense soul power.

Whether controlling the temperature of flames, sensing minute changes in medicinal ingredients, or causing medicinal liquids to fuse, all required the support of soul power.

Furthermore, refining pills also placed a tremendous test on the strength of one's soul power.

The higher a pill's tier, the longer it took to refine and the greater the demand on soul power.