Submission!

A Ninth-Grade Alchemist?!

He was actually a Ninth-Grade Alchemist?!

At that moment, Gu He's entire body trembled, both hands clutching the Beast-Skin Scroll in a death grip.

What did it mean to be a Ninth-Grade Alchemist?

Such an Alchemy Master stood at the pinnacle of the Dou Qi Continent, far more exalted than even a Dou Sheng Expert of the same rank.

There were probably no more than ten alchemists of that caliber across the entire Dou Qi Continent.

Yet Chen Xuan had just told him that the scroll in his hands contained the Pill Refining Insights left behind by a Ninth-Grade Alchemist. This was tantamount to obtaining a Ninth-Grade Alchemist's lifetime legacy.

If I could obtain it...?!

Then I could surely surpass my current sixth grade, break through to become a Seventh-Grade Alchemist, and enter the ranks of high-level alchemists.

There would even be a sliver of hope of reaching the eighth or ninth grade!

This was an opportunity as vast as the heavens. Even heavenly flames amounted to little beside a Ninth-Grade Alchemist's insights.

After all, heavenly flames merely assisted in refining pills, while these Pill Refining Insights opened a door leading straight to becoming a Ninth-Grade Alchemist!

The value of the two simply could not be compared.

"Of course, what you hold now contains only the alchemy insights below the seventh grade. As long as you join our Snake-People Tribe, the rest of these insights will be given to you in the future."

Chen Xuan remained calm as he watched the excitement on Pill King Gu He's face.

Of course Chen Xuan knew why Gu He was so excited. If these insights appeared on the Central Plains Continent, they would surely stir up towering waves. It was perfectly normal for Gu He to lose his composure like this.

At those words, however, Gu He's expression grew conflicted. He was caught between two difficult choices.

On one side were a Ninth-Grade Alchemist's Pill Refining Insights, offering a broad, golden road ahead; on the other was his lifelong freedom, which he would have to surrender by joining the Snake-People Tribe.

These two considerations made it difficult for Gu He to reach a final decision.

Chen Xuan was in no hurry at all. He simply watched the wavering Gu He in silence.

He believed Gu He was a clever man who would make a clever man's choice.

"Gu He pays his respects to Your Majesty."

Sure enough, a moment later, Gu He finally made his decision. A sharp gleam flashed through his eyes as he knelt respectfully before Chen Xuan above him.

"Please rise, Master Gu He. Welcome to our Snake-People Tribe."

At those words, Chen Xuan smiled as he addressed Gu He.

Hearing Chen Xuan's reply, Gu He slowly rose.

"Excellent. With a Sixth-Grade Alchemist like Master Gu He joining us, our Snake-People Tribe will surely rise to an entirely new standing."

"From this day onward, Master Gu He shall be an esteemed honored guest of our Snake-People Tribe, with a status equal to that of the Eight Leaders."

Chen Xuan swept his gaze across the elders and leaders present before finally resting it on Gu He and speaking slowly.

The Four Snake-People Tribe Elders and the tribe's Eight Leaders all nodded slightly, raising no objections.

They knew full well just how much influence a Sixth-Grade Alchemist wielded.

Had they not forcibly brought Gu He to the Snake-People Tribe and tempted him with enormous benefits, he would never have joined them.

Moreover, Gu He was not merely a Sixth-Grade Alchemist but also a Dou Wang expert. His own strength even surpassed that of the leaders present, so granting him equal status was only fitting.

Having a Sixth-Grade Alchemist like Pill King Gu He would be enormously beneficial to the entire Snake-People Tribe. Naturally, they understood the situation.

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

"I will certainly spare no effort to make the greatest possible contribution to Your Majesty."

A trace of gratitude appeared on Gu He's face as he swiftly spoke.

As a human joining the Snake-People Tribe, Gu He naturally needed to tread carefully.

Yet Queen Medusa had granted him authority equal to a leader's from the outset, which certainly came as something of a surprise.

Why had Gu He joined the Snake-People Tribe?

Was it simply because he wanted these Pill Refining Insights?!

In truth, that was not entirely the case.

Gu He naturally wanted the Pill Refining Insights. After all, they offered a chance to become a Ninth-Grade Alchemist, an opportunity vast enough to blot out the heavens. But that was only one reason.

The other reason was his own life!

If he refused, could he still walk out of the Snake-People Holy City alive?!

Her Majesty had already let him in on such an enormous secret, and he still hoped to leave?!

Rather than saying he had been given a choice, it was more accurate to say Gu He had never had one from the beginning-unless he no longer wished to live.

"Your Majesty, these are some of the pills I have remaining. I hope they will be of some use to the Snake-People Tribe."

Immediately afterward, Gu He waved his hand and took some pills out of his Storage Ring.

A dozen or so medicine bottles of various sizes appeared before everyone's eyes.

The most exciting among them were the five Emperor's Extreme Pills and the Transformation Pill, one of the Seventh-Grade Pills, along with some fourth- and fifth-grade pills that aided the recovery of Dou Qi and the like.

After all, even the Pill King had to prepare for unforeseen circumstances.

Everyone was stunned as they looked at the assortment of pills Pill King Gu He had produced.

"There's even a Burning Qi Pill!"

Great Elder Snake Ji's expression grew solemn as she stared at the name written on one of the bottles and exclaimed in shock.

The Burning Qi Pill was a Peak Sixth-Grade Pill.

It could greatly increase one's strength for a short time. A Dou Huang expert could gain three stars of cultivation, while a Dou Wang expert could reach Peak Dou Wang directly.

That was a terrifying increase!

In an instant, everyone present turned solemn gazes toward Pill King Gu He.

They had originally assumed this fellow was merely an alchemist without much strength. Now, however, it seemed that pills could make up for whatever strength he lacked!

Had the Eight Leaders been sent to capture Gu He, they would most likely have returned empty-handed.

If the Snake-People Tribe had not dispatched two Dou Emperors along with two Dou Wang experts, leaving Gu He without any hope, capturing him would probably not have been so simple.

There were fifth-grade pills such as the Spirit-Restoring Pill, Recovery Pill, Dragon Strength Pill, Qi-Nourishing Pill, Qi Cultivation Pill... a whole array of pills that healed injuries or bolstered strength.

There was even a Sixth-Grade Pill, the Emperor-Breaking Pill. Gu He had presumably prepared it for his own advancement to Dou Emperor, as it could increase a Peak Dou Wang expert's chances of breaking through to that realm.

Only now did the Snake-People Tribe's experts realize just how wealthy a Sixth-Grade Alchemist was. Any single pill he casually produced was worth a fortune!

Moreover, most of these pills could enable a desperate counterattack against a powerful opponent. One careless mistake, and they could die at his hands.

Although Gu He possessed only the strength of a High-Rank Dou Wang, if he fought with his life on the line, he could probably wield the strength of a Dou Emperor.

That was just how terrifying an alchemist could be.