Alchemist Guild

Zhao Li walked through the crowd, hearing the people around him eagerly discussing the Alchemist Grand Meeting. His heart stirred.

Zhao Li remembered that in the Original Work, the Alchemist Competition was one of the grandest events in the Jia Ma Empire. Several major forces would come to watch. He immediately decided to participate, planning to use the competition to make contact with the major forces of the Jia Ma Empire and make things more convenient for himself in the future.

Zhao Li did not delay. He asked a passerby for the location of the Alchemist Guild in Jia Ma Holy City. Although the man was puzzled that anyone still did not know where that building everyone yearned for was located, he still told Zhao Li.

After learning the location, Zhao Li followed the flow of people. After passing through several crowded streets, he finally saw an imposing, old-fashioned complex beside a street that was much wider by comparison and far less crowded. It was the Alchemist Guild.

Zhao Li stopped and looked at the imposing, old-fashioned building before him. It clearly had a long history. Before he even entered, a faint Medicinal Fragrance wafted into his nose.

Zhao Li could sense that whenever the people nearby looked at this building, their eyes held a hint of awe and envy. This look caused everyone entering or leaving the Alchemist Guild to unconsciously raise their heads.

Zhao Li looked up. It was indeed his destination, so he walked over.

The two guards at the entrance were carrying out their duties. They stopped Zhao Li and questioned him.

"Young man, this is the Alchemist Guild. Are you an Alchemist? If not, do you have a letter of introduction? Without one, you aren't allowed inside."

Zhao Li thought for a moment, then took out his Alchemist Badge and pinned it to his chest. Although the Medicine Cauldron on the badge only had two silver patterns shining on it, it was enough to prove his identity as an Alchemist.

The guards naturally recognized the badge Zhao Li had taken out. When they saw the two silver glints, their voices became gentler and more cautious. They carefully invited Zhao Li inside, bowing and scraping as they apologized for stopping him. If a Second-Grade Alchemist became displeased and casually killed them, no one would speak up for them. That was the helplessness of small figures.

"Esteemed Alchemist, please come in. I failed to recognize your distinguished status. Please don't take offense."

Zhao Li nodded and gave a quiet "Mm" before walking inside. Seeing the guards' attitude, Zhao Li naturally had no intention of making things difficult for them. He only felt more strongly that the hierarchy was rigid and the weak lived in constant fear.

After entering the Alchemist Guild, Zhao Li found that there were not many people in the main hall. Everyone was occupied with their own business. When they noticed someone enter, they only glanced over before looking away.

Zhao Li surveyed the hall. The atmosphere reminded him of the libraries on the Blue Planet, and a trace of nostalgia rose in his heart.

When a staff member saw Zhao Li looking around as though searching for something, she quickly walked over. She was somewhat surprised to see the Second-Grade Alchemist Badge pinned to Zhao Li's chest, but her excellent composure allowed her to recover quickly, and she spoke up.

"Sir, is this your first time visiting our Alchemist Guild? Is there anything you need help with?"

Zhao Li looked over the young woman before him. She was still quite young, yet she was already extremely polished in dealing with people. He sighed inwardly. She was about the age he had been when he attended university in his previous life. Most university students were still sheltered in the Ivory Tower, free from worries about making a living, innocent yet sharp-edged. They certainly would not have been so smooth.

"It is indeed my first time here. I'd like to take the examination for an Alchemist rank."

The woman said gently, "Are you here to undergo the Third-Rank Alchemist certification? Please follow me."

Zhao Li shook his head and said calmly, "Fourth-Grade."

The woman froze for a moment before confirming with Zhao Li.

"My lord, do you mean that you want to take the Fourth-Grade Alchemist examination?"

After Zhao Li confirmed it, she explained that this examination required the person in charge to conduct it. She arranged a seat for Zhao Li, then hurried away, presumably to report the matter.

Zhao Li leaned against the table, bored and idle, observing the Alchemists in the hall. The sound of two people arguing drew his attention.

Zhao Li looked over and saw two young men flushed with anger, already arguing fiercely. Yet the people around them quickly looked away after one glance. No one dared to intervene.

"These two dare to argue here, and no one dares to stop them. Their identities must be fairly significant, but their skill is limited. That young fellow does seem to have some insight."

Neither man was willing to yield. They remained locked in a stalemate, glaring at each other. Zhao Li found the sight amusing and laughed.

That made him especially conspicuous in the hall, where everyone had lowered their heads and dared not look at the two men. It drew their attention. When Buluo saw Zhao Li, he snapped at him.

"Hey, you over there! Didn't your teacher tell you that you have to wear an Alchemist robe to wear an Alchemist Badge? Pinning a badge on yourself like that will make people think my Alchemist Guild doesn't even have clothes to give you."

Zhao Li frowned. He had not expected there to be such a rule here. Seeing that everyone in the hall was dressed that way, he had assumed they were simply proud of their identities as Alchemists.

Before Zhao Li could speak, the young man whom he felt had some insight spoke first.

"Buluo, what do you mean? You and I are arguing. Why are you taking your anger out on someone else? Don't take offense, little brother. This fellow has always been rigid and places great importance on rules."

Zhao Li had always been happy to accept goodwill from others. He returned the courtesy with a gesture.

"It's fine. I didn't know the rules here either. It's only right that he point it out. Thank you."

"Heh heh, Jia Wen, you like playing the good person, don't you? He doesn't even appreciate it."

Hearing this, Zhao Li found Buluo extremely strange. He was not someone who would quietly suffer a loss, so he immediately stopped being polite.

"Some people haven't even learned how to conduct themselves properly. Perhaps they should stop thinking about learning Alchemy Technique for now."

Before Zhao Li had finished speaking, the main hall fell utterly silent. Everyone turned their gaze toward Zhao Li, seemingly unable to understand why this young man was being so bold.

Buluo was, after all, a Fourth-Grade Alchemist. Moreover, his teacher was someone who could advance to become a Sixth-Rank Alchemist at any time, an existence whom even Dou Emperors would welcome with smiles.

When had Buluo ever been treated like this? After a brief moment of stupefaction, he flew into a rage.

"What did you say? You're nothing but a lowly Second-Grade Alchemist. What qualifications do you have to criticize me?"

Zhao Li could not be bothered with that much. Recalling the subject of the two men's earlier argument, he began speaking with the young man called Jia Wen.

"Are you a member of the Imperial Family? What you said earlier was correct. Pill Formulas aren't unchangeable. A so-called Pill Formula is merely the most suitable combination that Alchemists have discovered through constant experimentation. But there are countless Medicinal Ingredients, and no one can test every possible combination. Someone well-versed in medicinal theory might not know how to practice Alchemy Technique, yet could still formulate a Pill Formula. Your idea is good. Daring to question what your predecessors left behind is already extremely difficult."

Zhao Li remembered that the Imperial Family of the Jia Ma Empire seemed to bear the surname Jia. After asking Jia Wen a question, he offered him some guidance.

Zhao Li had naturally heard the two men's argument about the Pill Formula clearly. With his current Alchemy Technique, he viewed the matter from a much higher level. In just a few words, he pointed out the doubt that Jia Wen had sensed was wrong but could not understand. Jia Wen suddenly saw the light. How could he fail to realize that he had encountered a fortuitous opportunity?

The moment Zhao Li spoke, some quick-witted people sensed that something was wrong. Afraid that matters would escalate, they hurried to find someone in the guild who truly had authority. They arrived somewhat faster than the young woman who had left earlier.

The person who arrived was Buluo's teacher, Ao Feng. He had the Cultivation Level of a Dou Wang and had spent many years studying as a Fifth-Grade Alchemist. He could break through to Sixth-Rank at any time.

Buluo, who had been left standing to one side, hurriedly told Ao Feng what had happened when he saw his teacher arrive. In the end, he even put in a bad word for Zhao Li.

"He's just a lowly Second-Grade Alchemist. He hasn't even refined many pills, yet he actually had the nerve to boast, saying that daring to question his predecessors was already difficult."