My Master Is Shen Xitong

The woman in yellow took out an aged, antique parchment scroll and a pen from the counter. Frank accepted them, then looked up at Lin Qing and asked respectfully:

"What is your name, age, and mentor's name?"

"Lin Qing, twelve years old. My teacher is Shen Xitong."

"You are truly outstanding for your age, little friend!"

Upon hearing Lin Qing's age, Frank could not help crying out in surprise.

Gasp!

The others beside Frank also drew sharp breaths.

Then Frank asked somewhat awkwardly, "However, I have never heard your mentor's name before?"

"My master came from the Central Plains and has been traveling the world. She only arrived in the Jia Ma Empire in recent years."

Lin Qing's expression remained calm.

Wasn't she traveling everywhere? Today, she was a reward from one world; tomorrow, she was a reward from another. He had only been bound to her a few years ago, so he was indeed telling the truth.

"Our young master's teacher is an Eighth-Rank Alchemy Grandmaster."

Lion spoke with some pride.

Gasp!

Frank, Otto, and the others inhaled sharply again.

They had thought she was some reclusive old monster. They had not expected her to be an Eighth-Rank Alchemist from the Central Plains.

"Little friend, we will arrange your assessment immediately. However, our guild can only conduct assessments up to Fourth-Rank. Fifth- and Sixth-Grade assessments must be taken in the Imperial Capital. But since your attendant says that you are already a Sixth-Grade Alchemist, we can make an exception and preside over a Fifth-Grade assessment for you."

Frank and Otto exchanged a glance before speaking in unison.

Handling this well would benefit them too. First, Lin Qing would be assessed at their guild, meaning he would count as a talent discovered by them. When the Imperial Capital's Alchemist Headquarters considered promotions in the future, the two of them would definitely receive priority consideration. Second, they would have befriended Lin Qing. Finally, watching him refine pills would benefit them as well.

"Alright!"

Lin Qing nodded slightly and gave the two men a deep look.

This was already a rather good outcome. He had originally hoped to go from Tier 3 to Tier 4, and had even thought he would need to start from the First-Rank assessment. He had not expected to directly take the Fifth-Grade assessment. Obtaining a Fifth-Grade qualification was an unexpected delight.

"Then, little friend, please come with us along with this lord."

Frank gestured invitingly, then led the way with Otto at his side.

A while later, the group arrived before a large gate. Two fully armed Big Men stood guard outside, both of them already One-Star Grand Dou Masters.

"My lords!"

Upon seeing Frank and the others, the two Big Men called out respectfully.

Frank and Otto nodded, then instructed the two men to open the gate.

"This is where Otto and I usually refine Medicinal Pills and teach the guild's Alchemists. Little friend, please follow me!"

Frank turned and spoke to Lin Qing.

The group entered through the gate. Beyond it, bright lighting illuminated the spacious hall as though it were daytime. Two enormous stone platforms stood in the center of the hall.

"Please wait a moment, senior. The Medicinal Pill Formula and Medicinal Herbs will be prepared shortly!"

Frank had gone to prepare the Medicinal Pill Formula and Medicinal Herbs. Afraid that Lin Qing might grow impatient, Otto quietly explained.

For Alchemist assessments below Eighth-Rank, the Alchemist did not need to provide the Medicinal Pill Formula or Medicinal Herbs. However, the refined Medicinal Pills had to be handed over to the guild, while any remaining Medicinal Herbs could be kept. It could be considered a hidden benefit.

"You should still call me little friend. I'm only twelve years old. Calling me senior makes me sound old!"

Lin Qing waved his hand. Others respected him, so he respected them in return.

Seeing Lin Qing's attitude, Otto did not insist further. Before long, Frank hurried over, leaving even an afterimage behind him.

Frank took out an aged, antique parchment scroll and a small pile of Medicinal Herbs from his Storage Ring. The Medicinal Herbs completely filled the observation table.

"Little friend, this is the Medicinal Pill Formula and three portions of Medicinal Herbs."

Lin Qing smiled as he accepted the Medicinal Pill Formula. He immersed his Soul Strength into it and carefully reviewed everything recorded within before returning it to Frank.

Dragon Strength Pill. It's one of the more difficult Fifth-Grade Pills. I've never refined it before, so this will be a bit of a challenge.

This Medicinal Pill could grant its user exceptionally powerful strength for a short time. This strength had nothing to do with Dou Qi amplification; it was an exceedingly pure form of physical strength. Thus, the Dragon Strength Pill was the kind of Medicinal Pill that directly enhanced one's combat power, making it somewhat more difficult to refine than ordinary Fifth-Grade Pills.

After carefully checking the Medicinal Herbs again and finding nothing missing, Lin Qing nodded slightly and put them away.

Seeing Lin Qing's relaxed expression, Frank and Otto became even more convinced that he possessed extraordinary talent.

Lin Qing slowly stepped onto the stone platform and lightly waved his hand.

Bang!

With a soft sound, Lin Qing released the Dragon-Phoenix Cauldron and the Medicinal Herbs.

"That Medication Cauldron is extraordinary! Its grade is not low." Frank spoke solemnly from outside the platform.

"It should be comparable to the Medication Cauldrons recorded in the legendary Heavenly Cauldron Ranking. I just don't know whether it is Tier 8 or Tier 9." Otto agreed.

As Fourth-Rank Alchemists, the two of them had some knowledge, though not all that much.

Whoosh!

With a flick of his fingertip, Lin Qing tossed a wisp of dark yellow flame into the Medication Cauldron.

"Is that a Heavenly Flame?" Seeing the dark yellow flame rise within Lin Qing's Medication Cauldron, Otto's eyes suddenly widened. He pointed at Lin Qing on the stone platform with a trembling finger and asked in shock.

"It should be. Dark yellow... it should be the Xuanhuang Flame, ranked twenty-third on the Heavenly Flame Ranking. His teacher must have given it to him."

Thinking of how Lin Qing had such an excellent teacher, Frank could not help feeling envious. An Eighth-Rank Alchemist personally taught him and had even given her disciple a Heavenly Flame. Yet when Frank considered Lin Qing's age, he accepted it. A twelve-year-old Sixth-Grade Alchemist whose cultivation was at least Dou Wang—Frank was already over fifty and was only a Fourth-Rank Alchemist, his cultivation still hovering around Dou Ling. The difference between people was greater than the difference between people and dogs.

Lin Qing stared intently into the Medication Cauldron. His fingers slowly passed over the Medicinal Herbs at his side. Occasionally, with a casual touch of his fingertip, a strangely shaped Medicinal Herb would be pinched between his fingers.

While staring closely, Lin Qing rapidly reviewed the various pieces of information recorded on the Medicinal Pill Formula in his mind. Refining the Dragon Strength Pill required a great many materials, likely over forty types in total. The degree to which the various Medicinal Herbs had to fuse and intermingle with one another was as troublesome as a tangled mass of hemp. If not for being able to follow the formula step by step, it would be impossible for an ordinary person to refine it by sheer luck without an unimaginably tiny probability.

Fortunately, Lin Qing's Soul Strength had already reached the Perfected Mortal Realm, and he was also a Sixth-Grade Alchemist. This gave him at least a seventy percent chance of successfully refining the Dragon Strength Pill.

After remaining lost in thought for nearly two or three minutes, Lin Qing came back to his senses. He took a deep breath and slowly calmed himself. The fingers holding the Medicinal Herbs trembled slightly, and two withered-leaf-like herbs fell into the Medication Cauldron.

His right palm was held in the air before the Medication Cauldron, his fingertips dancing nimbly. As his fingers moved, the surging yellow flames within the Medication Cauldron continuously twisted, and the temperature they emitted rose and fell unpredictably.