Chapter 7: Imperial Alchemy Guild

As Fa Ma walked towards the Alchemy Guild, the faint smell of herbs permeated the air. He felt vaguely refreshed by the scent, signifying the extraordinariness of the herbs being refined. As they grew closer to the door, he saw an old man stroking his long beard. "Is this the legendary Alchemy Monster of our Empire, Brother Gui?" the man pondered knowingly.

"Haha, it won't be long before he surpasses you, Brother Shu! This is the genius I raised!" Old Turtle boasted, unable to contain his grin any longer. Shu Ding, a fourth-grade alchemist who served as an elder at the Alchemy Guild, was often Zhi Gui's contact point. They had been close friends for many years and often helped each other.

"Fa Ma, meet Old Shu, he's a good friend of mine." After exchanging greetings, they quickly walked in, with Old Shu and Turtle catching up on old times. Fa Ma took the opportunity to look around the guild and was amazed at its tidiness. Alchemy is a meticulous profession, and there wasn't a speck of dust in the hall. He wandered for a while before running into a rickety old man leaning on a cane. Immediately, he felt a vast soul pressure engulf him. Not one to suffer a loss, Fa Ma fired back with his own soul power and spear momentum, causing the old man to suffer a small loss.

"Don't overestimate your weight, old man." The old man just laughed, "We finally have a genius in the Jia Ma Empire. Little Ma, my name is Yan Qingshan, peak sixth-grade alchemist, peak Battle Emperor, and President of the Alchemy Guild."

It was Fa Ma's turn to be surprised. He hadn't expected there to be such a big boss in Jia Ma. Sensing that Qingshan had good intentions, he joked, "What old man? You want to give your granddaughter to me too? Sorry, I'm not interested."

Yan Qingshan was hoping for at least some awe, but to hear such an arrogant remark lit a nerve. "What are you talking about, you little brat?! Someone needs to teach you a lesson!" Fa Ma turned around and screamed, "Old Turtle, there's someone trying to kill me!" Fa Ma took off, but he soon felt Heaven and Earth restrict his movements as he tried to run away. He tried to mobilize his spear momentum to break through it, but he was completely stuck. Soon, Old Turtle arrived with Shu Ling, but as soon as they saw who it was, they kneeled down and screamed, "President!"

Yan Qingshan nodded to them and said, "Xiao Gui, this brat seems to have inherited his temper from you." Immediately, Zhi Gui started sweating as he recognized this was a prelude to a beating. Staring fiercely at the source of the trouble, "I'm sorry, President, Fa Ma's a little arrogant."

Fa Ma immediately countered, "Hey old man, when I was one, Old Turtle would tell me about all the times he went to the brothel." Qingshan choked and looked at Zhi Gui in disbelief while Zhi Gui internally promised to beat the living hell out of Fa Ma when they got to the courtyard; he was too arrogant. Feeling the restrictions loosen, Fa Ma exploded his Qi and ran away. However, he was soon caught by Old Turtle, who gave him a good old-fashioned fist of love and sent him flying into the wall.

The old men caught up on old times as Fa Ma picked himself up and trudged over. Yan Qingshan then asked, "Fa Ma, can you refine a pill in public?"

"Give me a fourth-grade recipe and I'll do it. Remember to follow the alchemist rules," Fa Ma replied confidently. Yan Qingshan just laughed, gave him the recipe for the Green Spirit Three Pattern Pill, and walked away. This pill had three grades, depending on the number of flames used. A three-grade pill could even help a Great Battle Master advance three stages. This was one of the foundations of the Alchemy Guild, and he gave it away like that? Fa Ma at least had a better impression of the old man now. After all, who doesn't like when someone gives them money?

For the three fires in the technique, he would borrow two third grades from the Alchemy Guild to complete. Even though borrowing fire requires advanced fire control skills, with enlightenment mode and his outstanding soul power, he didn't have to worry about the requirements. He studied the recipe for the night and prepared for his official public debut.

In the morning, famous names of the empire were seen heading towards the Alchemy Guild. The famous "Alchemy Monster" was going to refine pills in front of everyone. Everyone wanted to see the birth of an eleven-year-old fourth-grade alchemist. Inside the guild, Zhi Gui was anxious, as failure could deal a critical blow to Fa Ma's heart. However, Fa Ma was confident in his abilities. As various celebrities filled in, two old men could be seen talking to Yan Qingshan. They were the current Jia Ma emperor, Yao Yan, and Misty Cloud Sect Leader Yun Dong. The leaders of the next generation: Yun Shan, Jia Xingtian, and Hai Bodong could also be seen together. However, today was his spotlight. As he made his way into the square, all voices quieted down. He simply took out the various ingredients, beast fires, and his new six-mouth cauldron.

As Fa Ma prepared to refine the Green Spirit Three Pattern Pill, the atmosphere in the Alchemy Guild was thick with anticipation. This pill was not just any fourth-grade pill; it required exceptional skill to balance its potent ingredients and harness the correct amount of energy from the three fires used in its creation. Fa Ma's confidence was evident, and he was determined to make his public debut a spectacular one. 

He began by setting up his workspace, meticulously arranging the various ingredients on a clean, polished table. The ingredients included rare herbs, magical beast cores, and exotic minerals, all carefully selected for their unique properties.

Fa Ma activated the enlightenment mode and ignited the three flames. Usually, alchemists would use the three fires separately in the refining process and multitask. However, Fa Ma chose a more daring approach—fusing the three fires from the start. This method required an incredible amount of fire control, as the fires were inherently repulsive and violent. With his outstanding soul power, Fa Ma expertly manipulated the flames, merging them into a single harmonious force. The cauldron glowed with a bright, ethereal light as the fires intertwined, creating a unique energy blend that would infuse the pill with extraordinary potency.

Fa Ma began the refining process by placing the more resilient ingredients into the cauldron and slowly worked his way through the ingredient list. Throughout this process, Fa Ma's hands moved with practiced precision, adjusting the intensity and flow of the fires as needed. For the materials he had already refined, he simply wrapped them in the fused fire to prevent any impurities.

As the materials began to meld, Fa Ma started to attract the Sun's energy. This energy, inherently Yang, was both powerful and dangerous, capable of overpowering the materials if not controlled carefully. He extended his senses, feeling the warmth of the Sun's rays and channeling them into the cauldron. The Sun's energy began to blend with the essence of the ingredients, adding a layer of vitality and strength to the pill. Fa Ma's face was a mask of concentration as he balanced the fiery energies, ensuring that the materials did not burn or lose their potency.

The hour passed slowly, each moment filled with the delicate dance of controlling the fires and blending the energies. Fa Ma wrapped the refined materials in the combined fire, allowing the essence to fuse into a cohesive whole. As the pill took shape, he carefully introduced the three different fires into the core, letting them condense into intricate patterns on the pill's surface. The process required absolute precision, as any misstep could ruin the entire batch.

When the pill was finally complete, a colorful fragrance wafted through the air, a rare phenomenon usually associated with fifth-grade pills. Not wanting to waste any of the precious energy, Fa Ma drew the fragrance into the pill, boosting its effectiveness. As the fires dissipated, he reached into the cauldron with trembling hands and extracted the finished pill. The strain of the process was evident on his pale face, but his eyes shone with triumph.

The pill, now glowing with an inner light, was placed into a jade bottle and presented to Yan Qingshan. As Yan Qingshan examined it, he immediately recognized its surpassing quality. The fusion of the fires had eliminated any chance of backlash, and the infusion of the Sun's energy meant it could subtly warm the meridians, enhancing the user's cultivation.

Yan Qingshan announced to the gathered crowd, "The pill that Fa Ma refined can be called the Sun Three Pattern Green Spirit Pill, which has no chance of backlash while retaining the regular effects along with warming the meridians." The crowd gasped in awe, and all eyes turned to Fa Ma with admiration and respect.

The process Fa Ma had demonstrated was not just a display of skill but a groundbreaking approach to alchemy. His ability to control and fuse multiple fires, blend potent energies, and refine a pill of such quality at his young age truly showed that he was worthy of the moniker "Alchemy Monster."

All the young ladies in the area looked at Fa Ma with possessiveness. After all, if they were to be married off, who better than Fa Ma in the empire? The two peak Battle Emperors, Yun Dong and Yao Yan, also stared at Fa Ma with fiery eyes. If Fa Ma could align with them, he could take their entire faction up a notch. Yan Qingshan, noticing the fiery eyes, slowly let out his pressure and proclaimed, "I declare Fa Ma as the young master of the Alchemy Guild, and anyone who harms him will be met with the full wrath of the Alchemy Guild." This tyrannical speech stifled all thoughts of harm, and Fa Ma couldn't be bothered to deal with any of the follow-up, so he simply left and returned to his room. However, fearing the worst, he threatened Zhi Gui, "Old Turtle, if you dare marry me off, you will say goodbye to your balls." As he unhurriedly paced back to the mansion, the tale of the "Alchemy Monster" slowly spread across the land.