Like the Heavenly Flame Ranking, the world of alchemy also had a Heavenly Cauldron Ranking.
As its name suggested, the ranking recorded those exceptionally perfect and outstanding medicinal cauldrons.
There were thirteen medicinal cauldrons on the ranking, each possessing a magic that drew countless alchemists flocking to it like ducks to water.
Every one of these cauldrons offered unique assistance, even improving the chances of successfully refining pills. Their value to alchemists went without saying.
Even if an alchemist's skills someday reached such transcendent heights that a pill cauldron was no longer needed, such an object remained a symbol of status.
"Master, there is a Dou Huang expert."
Sensing the crushing pressure from the sky, ugly figures with pitch-black bodies and pointed ears began converging from every direction on the altar beneath the enormous cauldron, making no effort to conceal their intense hostility.
To them, these people standing high above the Sacred Cauldron committed the greatest possible sacrilege and had already given cause for their own deaths.
"Humans, leave now, and our tribe will let this pass. Otherwise, you will all die!"
An exceptionally burly member of the Nightmare Demon Tribe slowly stepped out from the crowd and rose into the sky to confront them. Forcing down its killing intent, it issued a warning with a fierce exterior that concealed its fear, its aged voice harsh and grating.
It could sense a powerful threat from these people.
But their visitors clearly bore ill intentions, and compromise would accomplish nothing.
Besides, so many tribespeople were watching expectantly below that it had no choice but to take a hard line.
Unfortunately, taking a hard line without the strength to back it up was no different from courting death.
"Sure enough, a pack of homeless curs. I was right not to treat you