Free Web NovelChapter 656: Chapter 655: Breaking the Sacred Institute’s Record!
Mo Fan simply didn’t believe Lin Xuan could succeed. In his opinion, there was no way Lin Xuan could be a fourth-tier Alchemy Master.
The time it took for an incense stick to burn passed, then suddenly, Lin Xuan waved his hand, and an Alchemy Furnace appeared on the ground.
Mo Fan froze. What’s going on? He’s starting the alchemy after just that long? What a joke! That pill recipe, for the Xiao Huandan, is unique to our Sacred Institute. A newcomer like him couldn’t possibly have seen it before. To get a new recipe and immediately try to concoct it without proper study? That’s treating it like a child’s game!
He said aloud, "Junior Brother Lin, studying the pill recipe is a crucial part of alchemy. You must thoroughly digest every detail. I advise you to study it for a while longer."
Even a genuine fourth-tier Alchemy Master would spend at least half a day studying and analyzing a new pill recipe. Yet Lin Xuan started after only the time it took for an incense stick to burn. How could he possibly succeed?
Hearing Mo Fan’s words, Lin Xuan turned his head and said with a smile, "Senior Brother, rest assured. I’ve already fully grasped the entire pill recipe."
Lin Xuan was a fourth-tier Alchemy Master, and not an ordinary one. He was an extremely powerful fourth-tier Alchemy Master, capable of easily concocting high-grade fourth-tier elixirs. Crafting a low-grade fourth-tier elixir was child’s play for him. Although it was his first time seeing this pill recipe, he had completely absorbed it in the time it took for an incense stick to burn.
But Mo Fan didn’t know this. Hearing Lin Xuan’s words left him speechless. I’ve never seen such an arrogant brat.
He decided not to warn him again. In any case, the boy only had three chances. Once he failed, they would just kick him out.
Beside them, Zi Ling also frowned slightly but remained silent.
After producing the Fire Dragon Cauldron, Lin Xuan waved his hand, tossing thirty stalks of medicinal materials into it. Then, he flicked his finger. A ball of turquoise flame emerged, transforming into a turquoise Flame Lotus that enveloped all the medicinal materials.
The moment this flame appeared, the surrounding temperature skyrocketed.
Zi Ling’s eyes instantly lit up.
Mo Fan was so startled that he leaped up from his chair. He stared intently at the turquoise flame and exclaimed, "My goodness, what is this? Why is its power so immense?"
"This is an Anomalous Fire," Zi Ling stated slowly, enunciating each word.
Mo Fan gasped.
What? An Anomalous Fire! This newcomer actually possesses an Anomalous Fire? That’s unbelievable! I don’t even have an Anomalous Fire! Even Senior Sister Zi Ling doesn’t have one! To think this young man possesses an Anomalous Fire... that’s simply heaven-defying!
After summoning the Anomalous Fire, Lin Xuan began to melt the thirty stalks of medicinal materials. He then utilized the Star Plucking Hand technique to start the extraction process. His movements were as smooth as flowing water, leaving Mo Fan utterly dumbfounded. "My goodness! Don’t tell me he’s actually a fourth-tier Alchemy Master?"
Beside him, Zi Ling also gave a slight nod. Judging by his technique alone, he seemed even more skilled than a typical fourth-tier Alchemy Master. However, she couldn’t yet be certain. Extraction was just one part of alchemy; the most crucial step was fusion. Will he be able to succeed in the final step?
Time passed slowly.
Two hours later.
A roar echoed from within the Fire Dragon Cauldron, and an elixir shot into the sky. It hovered in the air, releasing a faint pill fragrance. With a wave of his hand, Lin Xuan plucked the elixir from the air. A smile touched the corner of his mouth as he said, "I’ve succeeded."
Mo Fan’s eyes were wide with disbelief. Concocted in two hours! This is unbelievable!
While he was still in a daze, Zi Ling quickly walked over to Lin Xuan and began to examine the elixir. Soon, she let out a soft breath and said, "It is indeed the Xiao Huandan, and the quality is excellent. You really are a fourth-tier Alchemy Master!"
"You’ve passed our assessment," she continued. "You can join the Pill Emperor Hall. Lin Xuan, I ask you, are you willing to join the Pill Emperor Hall?"
"I am willing."
"Very good. From this moment on, you are a member of our Pill Emperor Hall," Zi Ling said with a smile.
Mo Fan rushed over, his face a mask of shock. He asked, "Junior Brother Lin, how old are you?"
"Nineteen," Lin Xuan replied.
Mo Fan gasped. A nineteen-year-old fourth-tier Alchemy Master! Truly incredible!
"You’ve set a new record for the Sacred Institute," Mo Fan exclaimed. "Before you, the youngest fourth-tier Alchemy Master was Brother Li. He became a fourth-tier Alchemy Master at the age of twenty. I can’t believe you’ve broken his record. You, my friend, have limitless potential."
Lin Xuan was also surprised to hear this. A fourth-tier Alchemy Master at twenty? This Brother Li sounds very powerful. He asked, "Can I meet this Brother Li? Also, what are my duties after joining the Pill Emperor Hall?"
Zi Ling explained, "Brother Li’s full name is Li Yunfeng. He’s the founder of the Pill Emperor Hall, so of course you can meet him. However, not right now. Brother Li is currently in seclusion refining elixirs. You can meet him once he’s finished. As for your duties, there isn’t much to do on a regular basis. Members of the Pill Emperor Hall are only summoned for special tasks, or to team up and search for rare Spirit Medicines, things like that. Basically, we band together to form a powerful faction to contend with others. After all, the competition within the Sacred Institute is quite fierce."
Lin Xuan nodded, then asked, "So how many members are there in the Pill Emperor Hall?"
Mo Fan eagerly cut in, "Our Pill Emperor Hall previously had thirty-five members. With you, that makes thirty-six! From now on, I can call you Junior Brother Thirty-Six."
"Are all thirty-six of them fourth-tier Alchemy Masters?" Lin Xuan asked, astounded. "As expected of the Sacred Institute, to have over thirty fourth-tier Alchemy Masters!"
"Among those thirty-six, one is a Pill King—that’s Li Yunfeng," Zi Ling clarified. "The rest are all fourth-tier Alchemy Masters. But you’re mistaken about one thing. This isn’t all the fourth-tier Alchemy Masters in the Sacred Institute.
"Our Pill Emperor Hall only recruits fourth-tier Alchemy Masters under the age of thirty.
"Those over thirty are not eligible to join us.
"So, in truth, the total number of fourth-tier Alchemy Masters in the Sacred Institute far exceeds thirty-six. Of course, there are also some fourth-tier Alchemy Masters under thirty who have joined other factions instead of ours."
So that’s how it is! Lin Xuan had a sudden realization. It seemed the power of this Sacred Institute was even more terrifying than he had imagined.
"I estimate that Brother Li will be finished with his refinement in two or three days, and you’ll be able to meet him then," Zi Ling said. "Why don’t you stay here for these next couple of days? This place has a fifth-tier Spirit Gathering Array. The Spiritual Qi is much denser here than at your residence. You can take advantage of this time to cultivate."
Lin Xuan’s eyes lit up at the suggestion. He took up residence in the grand hall. His cultivation speed here was indeed far superior to the outside world. After just three days, he felt it was equivalent to three months of training outside. His cultivation level had increased significantly.
「On the fourth day.」
Zi Ling found Lin Xuan again. "Brother Li is out of seclusion," she said. "He wants to see you."
Hearing this, Lin Xuan stood up and walked outside. He followed Zi Ling deeper into the Array, toward a grand and magnificent palace.
When Lin Xuan walked inside, he saw a young man in white robes standing there. The man was imposingly handsome, and an extraordinarily powerful aura of flame emanated from him. The moment Lin Xuan entered, he felt the Anomalous Fire within his body begin to churn, as if it had come face to face with a formidable enemy.
Lin Xuan was taken aback. This was the first time something like this had happened. He quickly suppressed the Anomalous Fire within him.
At the same time, the pupils of the young man in white contracted sharply. He stared intently at Lin Xuan and exclaimed, "You have an Anomalous Fire as well?"
Before Lin Xuan could reply, Zi Ling, who was standing beside them, said, "Brother Li, this is our newly joined disciple, Lin Xuan. He does indeed have one Anomalous Fire."
Li Yunfeng, however, shook his head. "No. Not one."
Zi Ling was stunned. Not one? What does he mean? If not one, could it be... two? Does Lin Xuan have two Anomalous Fires? How is that possible! I’ve never heard of anyone being able to control two Anomalous Fires!
