Chapter 170 - : The Ranks between Master Apothecaries (1/2)

Ye Chen had risen as an Intermediate Apothecary but he was still far from being satisfied. Currently, if his cultivation base was not at the Venerable Rank, he was unable to attack a Master Apothecary. However, before anything else, he must first become an Advanced Apothecary!

Li Xu was an Advanced Apothecary but he could not teach Ye Chen the ways of an Advanced Apothecary. Only Master Apothecary Xuanyi could do so. Ye Chen sat before Master Apothecary Xuanyi, who was refining the pills while explaining thoroughly the knowledge and key alchemy points an Advanced Apothecary must grasp. This went on for two days. These things would not be written in books. They were based on Master Apothecary Xuanyi’s realizations and practice of alchemy.

“Beginner and Intermediate Apothecaries are merely the foundation. True alchemy begins at the level of an Advanced Apothecary. It took Li Xu and I over a decade to reach the level of an Advanced Apothecary. When Beginner and Intermediate Apothecaries refined and produced pills, they just had to follow a consistent set of rules. On the other hand, an Advanced Apothecary must be familiar with the medicinal properties of tens of thousands of herbs and match them wisely. He or she must also know how to use various assisting tools. I can only give you a rough account. There are many things that you must learn for yourself. There are many volumes and letters in this alchemy room which you may peruse as you wish. After you have gained some understanding, let Li Xu guide you in refining and producing Chi Deposition Pills,” Master Apothecary Xuanyi said. An Intermediate Apothecary, in their later stages, could refine and produce Chi Deposition Pills. Their success rate must be higher than sixty percent before they could move on to other medicinal pills.

“Yes, Master,” Ye Chen answered deferentially. After living together for so many days, he was filled with respect for this warm, old man before him. Without Master Apothecary Xuanyi’s selfless teachings, Ye Chen might not be exposed to all this. Now, Ye Chen had learned a lot about alchemy. Whether it was ordinary or ancient alchemy methods, he had a brand new understanding.

Ye Chen was engrossed in the vast sea of books, wildly absorbing knowledge like a sponge sucking up water. In five days, he had read through everything an Advanced Apothecary must know. Due to his Astral Body’s strengthening function, Ye Chen would mostly remember everything that he had read.

Although he had not refined and produced pills which could only be made by an Advanced Apothecary, Ye Chen was confident that he could do it, and that his success rate would not be too low!

The current Ye Chen was definitely at the standard of an Advanced Apothecary!

Ye Chen started to skim through the alchemy knowledge of a Master Apothecary. At the moment, his cultivation base was insufficient and he could not join the ranks of Master Apothecaries. Even so, this did not stop Ye Chen from learning.

It turned out that Master Apothecaries could be differentiated too.

Master Apothecaries were divided into six ranks – Junior Master, Senior Master, Expert Master, Great Master, Grand Master, and Divine Master. To be in any of these six ranks, one simply must reach the Earthly Venerable Rank. However, though they were Master Apothecaries, there was a world of difference between each rank. Master Apothecary Xuanyi was currently at the Great Master Rank. In the entire Great Eastern Continent, he would be in the top ten. Those at the Grand Master Rank were extremely rare existences. Progressing even by one step was immensely difficult. As for the Divine Master Rank, they practically only existed in legends.

Master Apothecary Xuanyi had a century plus a few decades’ worth of practical experience in alchemy! Therefore, his learning was vast and profound to an extent unimaginable to Ye Chen.

It looked like there was still a very long road ahead. Fortunately, if one reached the level of a Master Apothecary, even if just at the Junior Master Attainment Level, it was enough to deal with day-to-day alchemy.

After Ye Chen had committed to memory everything he had learned, he began to study ancient alchemy methods in the armguard’s space. He attempted to refine and produce medicinal pills of a higher rank.

As Master Apothecary Xuanyi and the rest focused on their alchemy, dark undercurrents were swirling in the Capital City. Many had heard about the Purple-gold Divine Fish and gathered in the Capital City.

Great Emperor Mingwu was drinking tea in a courtyard when a gold-armored imperial guard rushed in and knelt. “A report for Your Majesty – the sect leaders of the Taiyi Sword Sect and the Stalwarts of the Heavenly Stars Sect have arrived with their people. They’re staying at Yunlai Inn in the Capital City.”

“Did you notice anyone from the Emerald Cloud Sect?” When Great Emperor Mingwu heard this news, he did not bat an eyelid.

“I’ve only discovered a few disciples from the Emerald Cloud Sect. Their sect leader is in isolated cultivation. Moreover, he had given strict orders to his disciples that they must not stir up trouble while he’s in isolation,” the gold-armored imperial guard still had one knee on the ground as he lowered his head and spoke respectfully.

“Well, since Nie Qingyun of the Emerald Cloud Sect didn’t come, that saves us some trouble. Pay close attention to the movements of the Taiyi Sword Sect and the Stalwarts of the Heavenly Stars Sect. Since they’ve arrived in the Capital City, naturally, I must visit them!”

“The Hao Clan, the Zhan Clan, and other clans of the Xiwu Empire had brought many troops into the Capital City as well.”

“Forget about them. In the Xiwu Empire, they won’t be able to cause much trouble!” Great Emperor Mingwu sipped his tea and spoke serenely.

The Taiyi Sword Sect and the Stalwarts of the Heavenly Stars Sect were led by Heavenly Venerable Rank powerhouses while these clans were much inferior in terms of strength. Even if they sent out the old-timers they had been hiding, at most, they would be Earthly Venerable Rank.

“Your Majesty, the Nanman Kingdom seemed to have sent some people over too. They’re still on their way here for now.”

Upon hearing that the Nanman Kingdom had sent people over, a murderous glint flashed in Great Emperor Mingwu’s eyes. “Find out their whereabouts and their abilities. If they’re below the Tenth Level, kill them without exception. If there are Venerable Rank fighters, report back immediately!”