Chapter 159: Alchemist Certification!

Staring at the towering fortress walls inscribed with the grand characters "Sacred Pill City," the Little Fairy Doctor couldn't help but exclaim.

In front of them was the true core of the Pill Domain, the holy land in the hearts of all alchemists, Sacred Pill City!

Jiang Yun raised his head and felt the rich spiritual aura emanating from the three characters "Sacred Pill City." Just a glance would make anyone feel a sense of oppressive power that directly affected the soul! 

It must have been inscribed by an Alchemy Grandmaster!

However, given Jiang Yun's current level, this bit of pressure was insignificant, but it could still make every person entering the city feel the power of the Pill Tower.

Entering Sacred Pill City and walking along its main thoroughfare, shops on both sides were filled with a dazzling array of goods, and the bustling crowd came and went, with waves of sound spreading out.

It was evident how prosperous Sacred Pill City was. It was the most prosperous city Jiang Yun had ever seen since coming to the Dou Qi Continent, even more so than the cities of the Ancient Dragon Clan. After all, in terms of population, the Ancient Dragon Clan was still too "scarce."

"Jiang Yun, where are we going?" The Little Fairy Doctor curiously looked around and asked Jiang Yun with a playful glint in her eyes.

"Let's go to the Pill Tower first to take the alchemist level test, and then contact Elder Yao." Seeing the Little Fairy Doctor more active than usual, Jiang Yun's lips curved into a deep smile.

"Alright!" she nodded obediently.

"Boom——"

At that moment, a violent spatial fluctuation erupted in the distant sky. A carriage, pulled by several fiery red beasts and carrying a black carriage, appeared in the sky above.

The sudden appearance of this black carriage immediately attracted countless gazes, followed by exclamations of surprise.

"Is that... the Crimson Charcoal Lipstick Beast? Who on earth is this? Such an ostentatious show?"

Hearing the exclamations below, Jiang Yun's eyebrows furrowed slightly. The Crimson Charcoal Lipstick Beast was a powerful fire-attribute magical beast, reaching the sixth tier upon maturity.

More importantly, it wasn't slow, and its rarity made it a high-value item often unavailable even at auctions.

"Could it be one of the Five Great Families?" Jiang Yun's gaze fell on the family crest on the carriage, contemplating.

"Roar——"

Just as the vehicle was about to pass over Jiang Yun and the Little Fairy Doctor, the Crimson Charcoal Lipstick Beast suddenly stopped, glaring at them warily and emitting a deep growl.

"What is happening?" The Little Fairy Doctor looked at Jiang Yun in confusion over the sudden scenario.

Jiang Yun also stared intently at the Crimson Charcoal Lipstick Beast, and noticing the fear in its eyes, he had a thought. They had just left the Ancient Dragon Clan's Dragon Blood Pool, bearing some residual aura of the ancient Taixu Gulong (Ancient Void Dragon). Being the supreme among magical beasts, it was likely this aura caused the Crimson Charcoal Lipstick Beast's fear.

"How dare you block our carriage? Do you know who is inside?" A sharp voice suddenly rang out. Guards surrounding the carriage immediately encircled Jiang Yun and the Little Fairy Doctor. The leading middle-aged man glared at them maliciously.

"Is this... a scam?" The Little Fairy Doctor's face immediately turned serious, her cold gaze fixed on the intruders. Meanwhile, Jiang Yun watched the scene unfold with a mocking smile, yet his eyes emitted a chilling light.

"I too am curious about who's inside, to be so domineering," Jiang Yun's gaze was cold as he stared at the middle-aged man, releasing his Dou Zun (Battle Venerate) aura.

Boom——

The terrifying aura merged with heaven and earth, spreading out with overwhelming force.

"Dou Zun strongman!!!"

The middle-aged man's face turned pale with shock. Not just him; even the passersby in the distance were full of astonishment.

No one had expected that one of these young individuals would be a Dou Zun strongman. In the absence of a Dou Sheng (Battle Saint), a Dou Zun was among the top-tier powerhouses on the Dou Qi Continent, enough to support a top-tier force.

Simultaneously, the Crimson Charcoal Lipstick Beast behind him let out a sorrowful cry, swaying as it descended.

Bang——

"Master Cao Lin, what's going on?"

A somewhat disheveled figure flew out from the carriage. He was a young and handsome man wearing a purple alchemist robe. However, under that handsome exterior lay an undisguisable arrogance. 

A six-star badge on his chest symbolized his rank as a sixth-tier alchemist, justifying his arrogance.

At this moment, he looked at the middle-aged man, Cao Lin, with displeasure.

"Young Master Cao Xuan..." Cao Lin glanced helplessly at Jiang Yun and covertly signaled to Cao Xuan.

Receiving the hint, Cao Xuan frowned at Jiang Yun, his whole body trembling as he shockingly exclaimed, "Dou Zun!!!"

"If all members of the Cao family are like this, it is indeed disappointing!" Jiang Yun's eyebrows knitted as he glared at Cao Xuan.

"Although you are a Dou Zun strongman, isn't it a bit presumptuous to look down on my Cao family like this?" Cao Xuan clenched his teeth in frustration, suppressing his fear, and glared at Jiang Yun with dissatisfaction.

"Isn't it?" Jiang Yun sneered, "What does this have to do with me? And your guards' behavior?"

Cao Xuan frowned and said solemnly, "Even if we are at fault, you shouldn't insult the Cao family!"

Jiang Yun didn't argue further but smiled at Cao Xuan, which unsettled him as if a prehistoric beast had him in its sights.

"Shush!"

"Master, be careful!"

A cry sounded as Cao Xuan regained his senses, only to see that Jiang Yun had disappeared. The next instant, a slender finger enlarged in his view. Instinctively, he tried to retreat, but the surrounding space was locked. He could only watch as the finger descended.

Boom!

"Ah——" A scream of pain erupted as Jiang Yun's finger landed on Cao Xuan's forehead, sending him tumbling to the ground, howling loudly.

"Master——"

Alarmed, Cao Lin and other guardians rushed at Jiang Yun, exuding Dou Zong (Battle Ancestor) auras.

"Insignificant!" Jiang Yun sneered, sweeping his sleeve and sending a terrifying force that made the oncoming guardians cough blood and fall back beside Cao Xuan.

"A small punishment as a big warning. Don't be so ostentatious next time, the Cao family isn't the same as the Pill Tower!" After dealing with them, Jiang Yun led the Little Fairy Doctor past the fallen group, looking indifferently at the gritting Cao Xuan.

"You!"

Ignoring their reaction, Jiang Yun led the Little Fairy Doctor further in.

The incident spread rapidly throughout the Pill Domain.

Walking through the bustling streets, within minutes they stood before a towering tower-like building situated at the intersection of two broad streets.

The spacious gate opened, and those entering and exiting wore alchemist badges on their chests, exuding a sense of pride.

"Let's go in and take a look!" Jiang Yun smiled gently at the Little Fairy Doctor and stepped through the open gate.

"Sir, please show your alchemist badge before entering the Pill Tower. It's a strict rule, only alchemists are allowed inside," said a Dou Huang (Battle Emperor) level guard at the gate.

Jiang Yun took out the fifth-tier alchemist badge certified at Jia Nan Academy. "I just arrived in Sacred Pill City. Is my previous certification acceptable?"

"Yes, sir, please enter!" Seeing Jiang Yun's fifth-tier badge, the guard showed respect, impressed by his young age.

Nodding, Jiang Yun led the Little Fairy Doctor inside. The place was filled with alchemists, whose looks and badges indicated various levels of pride. Acquaintances greeted each other with reserved smiles.

Walking through a corridor inside the tower for a few minutes, they came to a broad courtyard, comparable in size to the headquarters of the Alchemist Guild in the Jia Ma Empire. Numerous alchemists in various robes bustled about.

"The northern area of the tower is for trading. Many alchemists exchange needed herbs or pills there, and strong non-alchemists often come to buy pills or herbs," explained the attendant leading them, before pointing to a location.

"The certification area should be to the south."

In the certification area, a substantial line had already formed.

The attendant left after bringing them there, and the two queued up properly.

Their outstanding appearances and unusual demeanor naturally drew many eyes, especially towards the Little Fairy Doctor, though most diverted their gazes upon spotting Jiang Yun's fifth-tier badge.

As the saying goes, youth is the greatest asset!

An hour later, most in front of Jiang Yun had completed their certifications, and they entered a spacious and quiet room, where nearly ten people focused on an elderly man filled with an aura of arrogance.

The old man wore a badge with a tower symbol, flames encircling it, and six purple-gold stars gleaming brightly.

Behind the elder were four doors, each marked with the characters "Heaven, Earth, Mystic, Yellow."

Upon seeing everyone enter, the elder spoke, "Everyone's here. Let's start the certification."

"First, tell me what level you wish to certify for."

"Third Tier!"

"Fourth Tier!"

"..."

When it was Jiang Yun and the Little Fairy Doctor's turn, he looked at her and said indifferently, "I'm accompanying her!"

The old man frowned slightly but said nothing, turning to the Little Fairy Doctor, guessing she was perhaps a junior, nervous about her first certification, which he had seen often.

"Sixth Tier!"

The Little Fairy Doctor smiled softly and said calmly.

Her words drew the attention of the alchemists ahead.

"Sixth Tier? Did I hear that right?"

"She looks only seventeen or eighteen and isn't even wearing an alchemist robe. Can she be a Sixth Tier alchemist?"

"Cao Family's demoness is also a Sixth Tier, isn't she? Another prodigy?"

Everyone shook their heads, thinking if Cao Ying's talent was common, she wouldn't be called a demoness.

Facing their strange gazes, the Little Fairy Doctor remained calm and composed.

The elder hesitated and asked again, "Are you sure you want to certify for the Sixth Tier?"

"Is there a restriction on the certification level at the Pill Tower?" She nodded.

"No," the elder shook his head and laughed. "Alright, each of you go to your rooms. Someone will test you. As for this young lady, I'll personally oversee it!"

He led her towards the "Heaven" room.

The obvious favoritism left others helpless but resigned since low-tier alchemists usually had no say against their higher counterparts.

"Go on, believe in yourself!" Jiang Yun gently said, touching her hair softly.

"Um!" She nodded, feeling the warmth and reassured, and walked towards the "Heaven" room.

Time passed, and those ahead finished their tests and either left excitedly or disappointedly.

However, they all stayed quietly, wanting to see if she would succeed and become another prodigy like the Cao Family's demoness.

Finally, the "Heaven" room door opened with a soft creak.

Seeing movement, everyone became alert, eyes fixed on the door, more nervous than the test-taker.

The elder emerged with a frown, shaking his head in disappointment.

Following behind him, the Little Fairy Doctor skipped to Jiang Yun, brandishing a new badge with a playful smile. "I succeeded! I'm now a Sixth Tier alchemist too!"

Excited, she hugged Jiang Yun and whispered in his ear.

"I didn't let you down, did I, Teacher!"