"He actually has to refine a Fifth-grade Pill!" Han Beng understood the difficulty as soon as he heard.
Even if Old Man Huo of the Alchemy Department refined a pill of that grade himself, his chances of success would not be high. Liu Bai was only a Fourth-Rank Alchemist.
Han Xian coughed and said weakly, "This again? Don't those old fossils have any new tricks?"
Anger rose in his heart, bringing a flush of red to his pale face. "Their scheme will fall flat this time. Back then, I'd only just become a Third-Grade Alchemist, and that was why I lost. But you're different, Brother Liu. You've spent a long time at the fourth rank. Xiao Yan can't compare to you."
The pressure on Liu Bai eased at once. That was right. He did not necessarily have to refine the Fifth-grade Pill successfully. He only had to do better than Xiao Yan.
Han Beng thought that made some sense. Liu Bai's circumstances were different from Han Xian's, though it was no guarantee.
Thinking of the treasure he had recently acquired and stored in his Storage Ring, Han Beng lowered his voice. "Liu Bai, your Medicine Cauldron is fourth tier, isn't it?"
At the mention of his Medicine Cauldron, Liu Bai grew a little proud. "Yes. I still remember buying it for a very low price at the Black Seal Auction House when I was a Third-Grade Alchemist. I've used it ever since, and it's been a great help with my alchemy."
Han Xian listened with envy. To an alchemist, a Medicine Cauldron was like a sword in a warrior's hand: the higher its grade, the sharper its edge. A warrior wielding a scrap of battered metal was nothing like one wielding a divine weapon.
The Black-Corner Region was chaotic, but