Gathering

Lin Qing controlled the heat with his right hand while his left danced across the stone platform in a dazzling blur. One medicinal herb after another was tossed into the air, tracing parabolic arcs before accurately falling into the medication cauldron, where the flames swallowed them whole.

Above the stone platform, the medicinal herbs dancing through the air never seemed to stop. Watching Lin Qing's smooth, flowing process—

In the viewing area, Frank and Otto's eyes gleamed. Lin Qing's technique was as fluid as drifting clouds and flowing water, without the slightest pause. It was immensely pleasing to watch.

"Though I may never get the chance, I truly want to meet this youngster's teacher. This kid is such a monster; I wonder how his master taught him. At such a young age, he already possesses such skilled fire control, such Soul Strength, and the cultivation of a Seven-Star Dou Spirit."

Frank stroked his beard, his expression solemn.

The two of them stared fixedly at Lin Qing on the platform, memorizing even his smallest movements.

For Fourth-Rank Alchemists to watch a Sixth-Grade Alchemist refine a Fifth-Grade Pill was itself a form of learning. They normally had no such opportunity.

There was only one Tier 6 Alchemist in the Jia Ma Empire—Gu He. Not to mention that he had joined the Misty Cloud Sect; even if he had not, the two of them would have had few chances to watch him personally refine medicinal pills.

Time slipped quietly through their fingers. Three days and three nights later, a massive mass of pure pale-red medicinal liquid churned rapidly above the blazing yellow flames. Even through the thick medication cauldron, Lin Qing could clearly sense the immense power contained within that medicinal liquid through the Soul Strength extending into the cauldron.

Success or failure rests on this!

Lin Qing's expression grew solemn.

Lin Qing poured all of his immense Soul Strength into the medication cauldron. His Soul Strength split into two streams: one controlled the flames, while the other wrapped around the medicinal liquid, fusing and compressing it.

As though it sensed the compressive force from all around it, the pale-red medicinal liquid suddenly began to fluctuate violently. With every fluctuation, extremely powerful energy ripples surged forth and collided with the invisible giant hand formed by Soul Strength.

Lin Qing paid it no mind and steadily maintained the output of his Soul Strength. Under the suppression of his formidable Soul Strength, the originally massive mass of medicinal liquid had now shrunk to the size of a ping-pong ball.

At last, the ping-pong-ball-sized lump of medicinal liquid slowly condensed into a thumb-sized, pale-red embryonic medicinal pill. Then, he gradually increased the flames and baked the pill embryo.

Under the baking flames, the somewhat irregular pill embryo slowly became round and smooth. Its surface also grew increasingly radiant, like a red gemstone emitting a dazzling glow.

After the medicinal pill took shape, Lin Qing performed every subsequent step flawlessly.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

Wave after wave of fierce energy fluctuations suddenly spread from the flames. In an instant, they rippled outward in all directions. The medication cauldron blocked most of this energy, but a portion still spilled out from within it.

At the same time, a rich medicinal fragrance drifted from the medication cauldron along with a faint white mist.

Lin Qing waved his hand, and a dark-red medicinal pill flew out of the medication cauldron. He caught it with his Soul Strength and drew it swiftly toward himself.

Lin Qing quickly took out a Jade Bottle, and the medicinal pill landed steadily inside it.

Holding the Jade Bottle and putting away the medication cauldron, he slowly stepped down from the stone platform, only to find both guild presidents staring intently at him.

"Presidents, please appraise it!"

Lin Qing handed over the Jade Bottle.

Frank accepted the Jade Bottle and poured out the medicinal pill within. A dark-red medicinal pill patterned with beautiful veins rolled out.

"It succeeded on the first try! It even has Pill Veins. This Dragon Strength Pill can already be considered a top-grade Dragon Strength Pill. Senior Lin truly lives up to his name as a Sixth-Grade Alchemist!"

Frank and Otto had completely cast aside their airs.

"You flatter me, Presidents. I was merely fortunate enough to encounter a good teacher."

Lin Qing cupped his hands toward the two guild presidents.

"Master Lin, this is the Alchemist Badge and robe of the Jia Ma Empire Alchemist Guild."

Frank waved toward the door, and a man entered carrying a jade tray.

On the jade tray lay an exquisite purple robe. Upon it was a beautiful emblem. On the ancient medication cauldron engraved upon the emblem were five mercury-like ripples that twisted faintly and continuously like living things.

"This is the custom attire of a Fifth-Grade Alchemist. It was originally meant for me, but I never managed to break through to the fifth grade, so it remained beyond my reach. Now, it belongs to you, Master Lin. Its cost is equivalent to a Tier 5 Monster Core weapon..."

Frank introduced the attire and the benefits of being a Fifth-Grade Alchemist to Lin Qing with some emotion.

Good heavens, did I just snatch your clothes?

Frank smiled respectfully at Lin Qing. "Master Lin, do you have some time? There are a few matters we would like to ask of you."

Hearing this, Lin Qing smiled and nodded. "Perfect. I actually came to the guild for another matter as well."

"Then good!" Frank exchanged a glance with Otto, and the group of several people and one beast headed toward the study.

"Master Lin, Senior Lion, please sit!" In the quiet, tidy study, Otto poured tea for Lin Qing and Lion while Frank spoke with a smile.

"Lion, sit."

Lin Qing casually sat in a chair. Lion quietly held the shrunken Little Lion and sat beside Lin Qing.

"If you have something to discuss, Presidents, just say it. So long as it does not touch my bottom line, I should agree to your requests."

Lin Qing laughed lightly as he spoke to the two guild presidents.

"It is not really a major matter. First, our Black Rock City guild hopes that Master Lin can teach a few lessons for us. Naturally, we can offer three Tier 6 Medicinal Pill Formulas as compensation."

Frank spoke carefully.

"Secondly, the major factions of Black Rock City have learned that Master Lin is a Sixth-Grade Alchemist and that Senior Lion is a Dou Emperor. The City Lord's Manor, the Xue Clan, which supplies medicinal herbs in the city, and other families wish to visit you, Master."

"I agree to the matter of teaching, but I do not have much time. I will have to leave Black Rock City before long, so I can only teach three lessons, from tomorrow until the day after tomorrow. Use medicinal herbs as payment instead. As for the visits, have them come tomorrow night. Also, I do not currently have a place to stay, so arrange lodging for me."

Lin Qing took out a slip of paper and swiftly wrote down the names of medicinal herbs before handing it to Frank. It listed the medicinal herbs needed for several Medicinal Pill Formulas, ranging in varying quantities from Tier 3 to Tier 5.

"Also, do your best to gather the medicinal herbs listed on this formula. I am willing to pay for them, and I do not require you to gather them all."

After speaking, Lin Qing took out another prepared list of medicinal herbs. These were the ingredients needed to refine Soul-Nourishing Saliva.

"Very well, Master Lin. We will gather the medicinal herbs on the first slip within three days. As for the second, we will do our utmost to collect them. However, consider it our apology for troubling you, Master."

Frank accepted the two slips of paper, glanced over them quickly, and gave his assurance.