Battle Through the Heavens: Who put Laozi in my storage ring?

Upon hearing this, the girl's beautiful eyes dimmed, and she bit her lip: "Just... friends?"

"..."

"I'll take this thousand-year-old white lotus." Xiao Yan tossed out a bag of gold coins, and the shopkeeper, beaming, packed it up and handed it to Xiao Yan.

"Let's go to the Alchemist's Guild."

They didn't encounter any hidden techniques hidden in the iron pieces, nor any old bronze artifacts that were actually ancient treasures. They only managed to buy some materials for refining Qi-Boosting Powder, but they had overdone the refining process and hadn't kept any materials at all.

I should have gone to see Ya Fei before leaving...

……

Blackrock City.

Alchemists' Guild

On the ancient gate, there is a light silver cauldron symbol, which seems simple but actually makes the whole tall building look extraordinary.

"This must be the place."

Xiao Yan stroked his chin and stepped inside. Perhaps because of his extraordinary attire, the two guards at the door did not stop him.

"Sir, are you here to apply for the alchemist exam?" a receptionist asked with a smile.

"Yes." Xiao Yan nodded.

"Alright, seeing that you're not wearing a first-grade alchemist insignia and are a new face, you must be here in Blackrock City for the assessment for the first time, right?" The woman chuckled and handed Xiao Yan a registration form. "Please fill this out."

"...This is indeed my first time in Blackrock City, but I'm not here to participate in the first-grade alchemist assessment." Xiao Yan shook his head. "I'm a third-grade alchemist."

The maid covered her red lips slightly, her beautiful eyes filled with astonishment.

"Yes, but..."

"I know you can't make the decision on this matter. Call Master Otto out," Xiao Yan said calmly, waving his hand.

"No need, I am here."

As soon as he finished speaking, a chubby old man walked out, followed by a pretty young girl. The girl was about twenty years old, and her face was full of arrogance. She glanced at Xiao Yan with a hint of disdain.

He tried to show off in front of the teacher.

A third-grade alchemist is a pillar of the entire Jia Ma Empire. If it were her, she would probably be over forty at the earliest if she wanted to advance to the third grade. But this guy... dared to speak so arrogantly.

"it is good!"

But to her even greater surprise, Otto nodded with a smile.

Xiao Yan calmly nodded in acknowledgment, clasped his hands in a fist salute, and stepped into the examination arena.

Linfei, along with several maids, were left standing there dumbfounded.

Linfei said anxiously, "Teacher, are you... getting senile? How could you let a greenhorn participate in the third-grade alchemist assessment? What can he do besides wasting materials?"

Losing several portions of ingredients for grade-three pills would be painful even for a master like Otto.

but……

“A few days ago, Ya Fei from the Mittel family branch personally wrote to me recommending someone who, at a young age, can refine third-grade pills, and she also included three sets of pill-making materials.” Otto said slowly, stroking his beard with a smile.

"Moreover, the letter was signed not only by Ya Fei, but also by... that old guy Teng Shan."

"Given the shrewd nature of the Mittel family, do you think they would do a losing business? Heh, the only genius that old man Tengshan would invest so heavily in is probably someone I've never even seen before."

A burning glint flashed in Otto's eyes.

He dedicated his entire life to alchemy, pouring everything into it out of passion. So when he saw a prodigy with terrifying talent in alchemy, his first reaction wasn't jealousy, but rather…

This life has been worth it!

"A third-grade alchemist? How is that possible..." Only Lin Fei, amidst her shock, muttered to herself, quite suspicious. What kind of monster was this...?

The inner area.

Many alchemists gathered together, creating a noisy and chaotic atmosphere.

Xiao Yan raised an eyebrow and casually found a stone platform.

He glanced at the prescription on it: "A third-grade pill, the Spirit Rhinoceros Meridian Opening Pill. Required ingredients: Nether Water Algae, Qi Condensation Branch, Third-Order Wind Attribute Magic Core, Stone Heart Milk. Effects: When consumed by Great Dou Masters and below, it can heal hidden injuries, open the meridians, and help with breakthroughs."

The advanced version of the Qi-Boosting Powder was quite useful to him.

After all, the pill formulas we currently possess are all geared towards combat, not suitable for breaking through realms. The only Qi-Boosting Powder is only suitable for breaking through to the Dou Zhe realm. This thing... we can collect more medicinal herbs to prepare some for our father, eldest and second brothers, and the family elders.

and……

Xiao Yan smiled.

As expected of the angel investment power in the original work, from top to bottom, Hai Bodong, Tengshan, Yafei, this Mittel family really has something to say.

Chapter 32 Laozi: Don't go out and say you're my disciple, it's shameful.

"The assessment begins!"

Although Xue Mei and the other girl looked at them with surprise, the assessment began as scheduled.

As Otto's voice rang out, flames began to rise, but Xiao Yan remained calm. He snapped his fingers, and dark green flames coiled like fire snakes within the black Bagua Furnace. The sheer power of these flames caused even Otto and Frank's pupils to shrink in shock.

"Condensing Qi into Fire! What a monstrous talent!" Otto clenched his fist tightly, his eyes filled with shock.

"This is a strange fire, isn't it? Where did you summon such a monster from?" Frank spat out a mouthful of tea, spraying it all over Otto's face, and wiped his lips in shock.

The entire room fell silent.

Countless gazes were unconsciously drawn to it, and their faces immediately went blank.

The young man skillfully tossed in medicinal herbs one by one, even throwing them in several times in a row, expertly controlling the different temperatures in various parts of the alchemy furnace to roast and refine the essence of the herbs.

Although the Netherworld Poison Fire contains potent poison, with his current cultivation level, he is skilled enough to manipulate it so that the pills he refines do not become contaminated with the poison. Of course, he can also secretly conceal poison, which is colorless and odorless, making it difficult for ordinary people to detect. This method can only be described as... utterly insidious.

Xue Mei looked surprised and turned to Lin Fei with a questioning expression.

The latter shook his head, his throat bobbing, unsure of what to say.

So this is what a true...genius is?

A bitter look flashed in the eyes of the two women. Looking at the quality of the pill, it was clearly a third-grade pill. Even if their teacher were to refine it, it would be impossible to be absolutely certain of success. But when this guy was refining it, he was as calm and composed as a fifth-grade alchemy master.

Looking at myself, I'm twenty years old, yet I'm still taking the first-grade alchemist exam.

In comparison, his toes awkwardly gripped the ground.

"Om..."

Xiao Yan sat cross-legged on the ground, with the furnace half-suspended. A dark green fire snake, like a green dragon, coiled on the furnace, flicking its tongue at the alchemists around him. Even Xue Mei was so frightened that her face turned pale, and she had no choice but to turn her head to refine her own pills.

"It still possesses self-awareness, and it's still this powerful."

The two fourth-grade alchemists exchanged a glance and exclaimed in unison, "Netherworld Poison Fire!!!"

"At such a young age, how can he have such masterful control over flames? Even you and I are slightly inferior to him. This young man's teacher must be a sixth-grade alchemist." Frank shook his head.

"Dan Wang Guhe's disciple seems to have just broken through to the second rank recently, but his age... is already nineteen years old, isn't it?" Otto remarked.

The two watched as the young man lit the fire, began refining the pill, and finally, a fragrant aroma wafted from the furnace, white mist rose, and transformed into a pale blue pill, which was held in the young man's palm.

"Please verify, gentlemen."

Xiao Yan stepped down from the stage and handed the pills to the two men.

The two of them stared longingly at the pill. On the azure pill, there was a formed pill pattern. Even for the two of them, only when they were in the best condition would they have a chance to refine a grade three pill with a formed pill pattern.

In other words, let alone verification, the three of them are probably at roughly the same level in alchemy.

"Young friend's fire control skills are even beyond the reach of the two of us. You truly are the next Pill King." Otto sighed and waved for the maid to register.

Blackrock City still has the authority to assess third-grade alchemists.

Of course, one would not be qualified to go any higher; one would have to go to the headquarters of the Gama Empire and be personally assessed by the president of the Alchemist Association.

"You guys are refining, what are you staring at!" Frank glanced at Xue Mei speechlessly, then heard a muffled groan, and flames erupted from the latter's alchemy furnace.

As Xiao Yan left, everyone slowly recovered from their shock and focused on their own assessment.

Only Linfei and Xuemei exchanged a glance, both of them showing signs of their Dao hearts breaking.

……

Xiao Yan stroked the black gauze robe and the three exquisitely crafted golden stars embroidered on it, and nodded slightly.

"Teacher, I'm a third-grade alchemist now!"

Xiao Yan was overjoyed.

From within the storage ring came Laozi's gentle, yet seemingly benevolent, smile, as if looking at a fool: "Good, good, good..."

Xiao Yan awkwardly touched his nose.

To him, this third-grade alchemist was already quite excellent, but to Lao Jun, there seemed to be a hint of disdain in his smile.

"Don't mention my name when you go out in the future. I can't bear the shame."

Xiao Yan: "..."

Seeing Lao Jun's disdainful expression, as if he had given up on acting, Xiao Yan was deeply discouraged. However, he quickly regained his confidence and asked with great anticipation, "Lao Jun, what kind of identity do you think I would have if I became a Dou Di and returned to another world?"