Page 25: Grade 1Pill

After the ruse in the alchemy house, Long Bai was dragged by his senior sister to register at the alchemy tower. Although "drag" was the term use, to Long Bai, it was a good thing. Starting off as an alchemist may be better than anything he could imagine. This way, he could gather more resources to complete his developing essence core.

This alchemist title would prove beneficial since they are respected like an elder. In this cultivation world, the pills alchemists create are products that gives hope to cultivators, may it be those who are stuck at bottlenecks or those who wanted a more efficient cultivator pace. There is no place in the city where an alchemist will be disrespected aside from a fellow alchemist. It may be true that out there, the title of being an alchemist brings reverence but inside the field, there will always be competition.

This is the reason why Long Bai had been dragged to register as an alchemist. A year from now, the sect will be having a competition among the three alchemy houses of the sect. This competition will preside on the week of martial arts competition as the sect's qualifying event for the interschool competitions.

Just yesterday, after Long Bai showed a great potential in front of Senior Li, he was recruited to join the competition. Senior Li explained a lot of things but the most essential that registered in Long Bai's memory was that the winner would be given 2 grade 4 pill that would immediately enhance one's cultivation by five layers faster and grade 3 or more spiritual herbs from the medicine hall of the sect. For alchemists that does not allot of time in cultivation, this offer is huge as they would be able to jump levels in no time.

Another thing, an alchemist can also sell their products at the alchemy tower. With this, an alchemist can increase his proficiency while amassing resources. This was what attracted Long Bai at the moment. An immediate solution for his lacking of resources. If he could make pills and have people bring shards or cores to him rather than hunting, it would be win-win situation. Now Long Bai had already thought of his routine once he will be registered; alchemy training during the day and martial skills during the night. This way, the time spent is maximized.

Bai and Zhang Li reached the alchemy tower afrer an hour of going down from the alchemy house. Since the sect established their place a distance from the city, there's quite a distance to travel. At the entrance, Bai saw the long queues of people entering the tower. Although it was said to be a tower, the place looked like a four- storey mega mall in a form of a pagoda structure. Some of the people in the queue were cultivators of the lower realm but most were commoners trying to buy medicine.

As Long Bai followed behind, he can feel the stares from the people around but since they wore the sect's robes, no one dared to stop them. Even the guard at the entrance gave a greeting to Zhang Li upon noticing the alchemy badge on her waist.

Inside, there were lanes of tables with different pill products and behind each is a personal pill room. Zhang Li went straight to a table but then an explosion took place beside her area.

A moment later, a woman who looked at the same age as Zhang Li came out coughing , dishreveled hair and roughed up clothes. Long Bai who was amazed the situation, saw Zhang Li letting out a hard laugh.

"Hahaha! sister Yan, why are you practicing your pill making here? You shouldn't make a mess in the alchemy tower. Who will buy your pills in this case?"

Although accidents happen inside the tower, the pill room provided were sturdy enough to withstand explosions from failed attempts. In addition, there had been many cases of such incident that happens inside. This may be normal but as an alchemist, showing your failure in front of your costumers is a let down, this means that your reputation may be in jeopardy.

"Sister Li, I didn't know that you're back. Are you here to sell the same grade 1 pills?"

The words Wang Yan spoke were like needles to Zhang Li, they were tiny but painfully pricks the heart. Since they entered the sect, both of them have always been tied in every aspects except when Wang Yan passed the grade 2 test before her.

"No worries sister Yan, I'm challenging the test today. You better watch me mop up that smug face of yours. Hmmp."

Both went on their own business and things returned to normal. Long Bai watched Zhang Li set up her pills on the table and put some price tags on it. He was called and instructed to eat h over her stall.

"Long Bai, when somebody wants to haggle price with this pill, tell them to go to the market instead. Watch over my stall for a while. I'll go to the test hall on the second floor to get my grade 2 promotion. Don't slack off."

Zhang Li who did not wait for Bai's reply went straight to the second floor. No that he is alone, he can observe the place freely. After some time, a few costumers has come to visit the stall and bought the pills presented. Although the pills Zhang Li made were the same grade as the others, it might have been because of her popularity that called for them to buy. His senior sister must have a good reputation the alchemy tower. At that moment of boredom, a commotion started to flare. A man was on the floor begging someone to concoct a pill for him. Even after asking the grade 2 alchemists around, no one was moving. Everyone's eyes were trying to not look at the man on the floor.

"Old man, what you're asking is difficult. Even though yiu have the ingredients, you don't even have the fee to pay us. How can someone agree to this?" An alchemist near the old man retorted after he was tired of hearing the old man's plea.

Long Bai approached the stall beside Zhang Li's and asked a question to the lady who was sitting. It was Wang Yan who was trying to keep her face straight but Long Bai can see the struggle on her eyes. It was pity for the man but a helpless one.

"I greet senior sister Yan. This is senior Li's medicine boy, Long Bai. May I ask why no one wants to help the old man?"

Wang Yan, who was engrossed with her emotions was startled from the sudden voice coming from her side. She looked at Long Bai and gave him a reply.

"You see, the real reason why no one wants to concoct the pill is because it is the Poison fly antidote that he was asking to make. Although it is a grade 1 pill, the difficulty is high since what you're trying to make is a poison. It is a poison but it serves as an antidote to the poison fly venom. At the same time, if you accept to make the pill, your reputation is at stake. If you fail in the pill making, the poison in the herbs can take your life. It happened before that's why no one dares to try. If a grade 3 alchemist will try, there's an 80% chance of succeeding but less than that percentage is too risky."

Long Bai realized the severity of the situation but this is also an opportunity. Considering the percentages on his screen, his percentage of succeeding in creating the Poison fly antidote is similar to a grade 3 or even higher. He might gain a good reputation in the hall if this succeeds.

"Say, sister Yan. If a grade 3 alchemist will make the pill, what grade will it be and how many pills will be made bases on that herbs he is carrying?" Long Bai asked seriously.

On the other hand, Wang Yan thought that Long Bai was just curious so she answered the query.

"Hmm. If its a regular grade 3 alchemist, he might be able to make 3 to 4 low grade ones while 1 to 2 pills for middle grade. Any more than that are considered grade 4 alchemists and higher. This is just the case for the Poison fly antidote. Don't think that this is the basis of ranking the alchemists. Its just that this is the Poison Fly pill we are talking about." Wang Yan clarified as for Long Bai not use such feat to compare alchemy grades.

After hearing Wang Yan's words, Long Bai finally decided to step up.