Doubts? I have Fa Ma's backing

The box in Mo Xuan's hands held a medicinal herb: fourth-tier Soul-Piercing Grass.

This herb had mild medicinal properties that tempered harsher ingredients. Combined with a fourth-tier fire demon core, a fourth-tier wood demon core, the fourth-tier heavenly and earthly spirit medicine purple moonflower, and several third-tier herbs, it could be used to refine a Purple Heart Barrier-Breaking Pill.

In short, Soul-Piercing Grass was the main ingredient for refining the Purple Heart Barrier-Breaking Pill, as well as the rarest and most expensive.

But what excited Chu Zhou was the distinctive purple pattern at the roots of this soul-piercing grass, which could only be detected with sufficiently powerful soul power.

That meant this stalk was a Soul-Piercing Grass King. Not only was it more potent than ordinary Soul-Piercing Grass, but a single leaf could serve in place of an entire stalk.

This Soul-Piercing Grass King had four leaves in total, equivalent to four stalks of more potent Soul-Piercing Grass. It could be used to refine four Purple Heart Barrier-Breaking Pills.

"Soul-Piercing Grass?" Teras clearly had not recognized the Soul-Piercing Grass King. After a moment's hesitation, he shook his head. "If I had nothing else to do lately, I might agree to refine it for you just this once. But I have quite a few Grade Four Pills to help refine, and I also need to make a trip. Since you're pressed for time, this Soul-Piercing Grass isn't enough."

"If you're really in a hurry, why not go to Host City? The branch president of the Alchemist Guild there is only a Third-Rank Alchemist, but he specializes in refining Qi Gathering Powder. You could offer him some additional resources."

Although Teras was proud, his words showed that he had sound professional ethics and good character. He gave Mo Xuan a clear reason for refusing and even offered advice.

Of course, he might simply have been showing some courtesy because of the Mo Clan's considerable influence in the Northeast Province.

"The Alchemist Guild in Host City..." Mo Xuan lowered his head in thought. "A round trip from Salt City would take nearly ten days even riding hard, not counting any delays during refinement. I should just barely make it."

"Thank you for your guidance, President Teras. I'll head to Host City, then." Mo Xuan made his decision.

Hearing that the Soul-Piercing Grass he coveted was about to slip away, Chu Zhou could no longer stand by and watch. He immediately stepped forward. "I happen to need a stalk of Soul-Piercing Grass for a pill I'm refining. I could refine the Qi Gathering Powder for you."

The moment he spoke, Chu Zhou became the center of everyone's attention.

Qi Gathering Powder was a low-grade Grade Four Pill. It was among the easiest Grade Four Pills to refine, but it was still a genuine Grade Four Pill. Anyone capable of refining it had to be at least an experienced Third-Rank Alchemist.

An experienced Third-Rank Alchemist would receive respect and favorable treatment even from a Family like the Mo Clan, which had quite a few Dou Ling experts and the backing of the Misty Cloud Sect.

"Are you a Fourth-Rank Alchemist, sir?" Mo Xuan's gaze swept over Chu Zhou's alchemist robes as he asked hopefully, shock flashing in his eyes.

Chu Zhou looked so young. If he was a Fourth-Rank Alchemist, his future would be limitless.

Mo Xuan was not alone in thinking this. Teras, the other alchemists nearby, and even the customers who had come to the Alchemist Guild to purchase graded pills were all deeply shocked.

"I'm still a little short of the fourth rank, about the same as the branch president of the Host City Alchemist Guild whom President Teras recommended," Chu Zhou answered calmly.

That answer also left Mo Xuan and the others stunned.

A near-Fourth-Rank Alchemist so young had just as boundless a future.

"Could you show me your Alchemist Badge, sir?" Mo Xuan asked with a hint of excitement. "I'm not questioning you. I simply don't know you, so I need to follow the usual procedure."

"You'll have to wait a moment for that." Chu Zhou smiled faintly, took a letter from his Storage Ring, and handed it to Teras. "Hello, Branch President Teras. I'd like to take the certification exam for Third-Rank Alchemists."

Everyone present: ???

He had not even passed the Third-Rank Alchemist certification exam, yet he dared claim he could refine Grade Four Pills. This...

"Alchemist Chu Zhou." Teras opened the letter and read its contents. When he reached the recommending alchemist's signature at the end, his expression abruptly changed. "This is an examination recommendation personally written by President Fa Ma himself! I'll have everything arranged immediately."

That recommendation letter had been obtained for Chu Zhou by Ya Fei, a woman who knew how to take care of things.

With Gu Ni vouching for him, Ya Fei had written to Mittel Tengshan, asking the clan leader to approach Fa Ma for an examination recommendation letter.

Whenever Chu Zhou needed the status of a Third-Rank Alchemist, he could take the exam at any Alchemist Guild within the Jia Ma Empire qualified to certify Third-Rank Alchemists.

With Teras, a Fourth-Rank Alchemist, and three Third-Rank Alchemists, the Salt City Alchemist Guild was naturally qualified to conduct the exam.

If he wanted to take the Fourth-Rank Alchemist exam, however, he would have to go to the Jia Ma Empire's Alchemist Guild headquarters in Jia Ma Holy City.

"Please wait a moment."

Teras turned and hurried away.

Fa Ma was the president of the Alchemist Guild and an experienced Fifth-Rank Alchemist capable of refining a select few Sixth-Grade Pills. Someone he personally recommended was certain to be skilled, and might also have a significant background.

With Chu Zhou's youth on top of that, he was well worth befriending!

Seeing Teras's reaction, Mo Xuan and the others once again changed their assessment.

Chu Zhou probably did possess genuine ability.

"Master Teras and the others will see my alchemy skills for themselves during the exam shortly." Chu Zhou looked at Mo Xuan with a calm expression. "If you're still worried, you can ask them whether I have the ability to refine Grade Four Pills."

"Of course, if you really don't trust me, you can leave for Host City now. I'm only willing to help this once because I happen to need that soul-piercing grass you're holding. I'm not some kindhearted soul determined to help you."

Alchemists' arrogance had been indulged by every cultivator on the Dou Qi Continent. Chu Zhou had no intention of playing the nice guy, either.

I'm an alchemist. My status is prestigious, and I can damn well talk like it.

"Not at all, not at all." Seeing Chu Zhou's confidence and the examination recommendation personally written by Fa Ma, Mo Xuan immediately decided to take a gamble. Beaming, he said, "Mr. Chu, I can give you two sets of ingredients for Qi Gathering Powder and the soul-piercing grass right now. When might you have time to refine it?"

As he spoke, Mo Xuan took out an ordinary Storage Ring and handed it to Chu Zhou along with the Soul-Piercing Grass.

Salt City was the Mo Clan's home base. They were on the Alchemist Guild's grounds, with so many witnesses watching. Mo Xuan was not worried at all about Chu Zhou causing trouble.

"Straightforward. I like that." Chu Zhou put away the Storage Ring and considered briefly. "I'll refine it in a little while."

"Good, good, good. Sorry for the trouble, Mr. Chu." Mo Xuan rubbed his hands together. "I'm the Mo Clan's fourth elder. If you need anything in Salt City, Mr. Chu, just let me know. Our clan's word still carries some weight here."

"Sure." Pretending not to catch the threat in Mo Xuan's words, Chu Zhou agreed casually.

Before long, Teras returned with two Third-Rank Alchemists. He smiled at Chu Zhou. "Young friend, the examination room is ready. This way, please!"

"Please!"

Chu Zhou followed Teras and the other two Third-Rank Alchemists to the second floor.

Mo Xuan did not follow. Instead, once they were out of sight, he summoned a subordinate. "Go find out who he is and what his background is."

If someone so young was a near-Fourth-Rank Alchemist, he should not have been a complete unknown.