C125 Alchemists' Guild
"Is this the equivalent of a million pounds of force, the same as that possessed by a cow?"
Lin Xuan watched the scene before him and slowly withdrew his fist, murmuring to himself as his gaze flickered with intrigue.
On this occasion, not only had his cultivation soared through several realms, but his Golden Scale Barbaric Elephant Arts had also significantly advanced.
His power surged by several hundred thousand pounds, hitting the million-pound mark.
Back in Ancient Times, a common bull possessed the strength of one million pounds.
Hence, a million pounds of force came to be known as the strength of a bull.
It might seem commonplace.
Yet, in the contemporary era, it's nothing short of remarkable.
Forget those at the Condensation Spin Stage; even individuals at the Spirit Opening Stage couldn't reach this benchmark.
Only those at the Spiritual Essence Stage, who also practiced Body Building Martial Arts, could achieve this feat.
With this added million pounds of strength, someone at the peak of the Condensation Spin Stage could effortlessly overpower opponents with a single punch.
Even someone at the early stages of the Spirit Opening Stage might struggle to withstand such a force.
And yet, Lin Xuan had still not mastered the Golden Scale Barbaric Elephant Arts at even the beginner level.
This fact alone underscored the exceptional nature of the technique.
Lin Xuan nodded to himself, thoroughly pleased with the outcome of his recent secluded cultivation.
He continued to peruse his attribute panel.
Just five days earlier, while earning cultivation resources in the Strong List area, he had startled numerous elite disciples and replicated several treasures.
Having assimilated those treasures, his various talents had climbed to the pinnacle within his sect.
His martial arts and understanding of Concepts remained largely unchanged.
Lin Xuan's eyes moved further down the panel.
"Two million energy points?"
His eyes settled on the bottom of the panel, and a surge of elation shook him. He took a moment and a deep breath to steady his excitement, but the smile in his eyes remained undiminished.
He hadn't anticipated accumulating such an immense sum of energy points in mere days.
Such a wealth of energy points would allow him to replicate many high-grade treasures.
Lin Xuan was, understandably, ecstatic.
"It looks like the buzz from my recent exploits has spread, stirring up another sensation within the sect."
Lin Xuan nodded thoughtfully, his eyes reflecting a glint of understanding.
After a few more minutes, Lin Xuan gathered his composure, rose from his seat, and exited the cultivation chamber.
He took a brief respite.
Seated in a chair within the tranquil courtyard, he inhaled the sweet scent of blossoms, savored some desserts, and delved into the Basic Book of Pill Dao provided by Zhang Chen.
In recent times, Lin Xuan's renown within the sect had soared, amassing a substantial number of energy points.
Yet, having shown a glimpse of his capabilities, acquiring cultivation resources had become less straightforward.
He needed to chart a new course.
That new path lay in the Pill Dao.
At the Pill Refining Pavilion, he had uncovered a natural gift for alchemy and had managed to replicate it.
From that moment, Lin Xuan was resolute in his decision.
Armed with his talent for alchemy, all he had to do was continue replicating to elevate his proficiency.
For him, mastering the Pill Dao was a breeze.
Without squandering much time, he could gather a wealth of cultivation resources.
Why wouldn't he pursue it?
In just over an hour, Lin Xuan had thoroughly read and committed to memory all the materials he had received from Zhang Chen.
He now possessed a solid grasp of the alchemical arts.
Subsequently, Lin Xuan tidied up, instructed Zhou Yun to watch over the courtyard, and set out.
Brandishing the elite disciple's Identity Badge, he effortlessly departed from the Drifting Cloud Sect.
His destination was Fengyun City, the nearest metropolis to the sect.
Fengyun City, one of the five grand cities of Cangyuan Country, dwarfed any ordinary county in size.
Though it stood in proximity to the Drifting Cloud Sect, it fell outside of its governance.
The city was home to numerous influential powers, some not on par with the Drifting Cloud Sect and others that were top-tier forces far exceeding it, with established branches there.
These included various merchant guilds, the Alchemists' Guild, the Weapon Refiners' Guild, among others.
Consequently, the Drifting Cloud Sect neither dared nor had the authority to oversee Fengyun City.
This information, along with a map detailing the route from the Drifting Cloud Sect to Fengyun City, was all detailed in the books Zhang Chen had provided.
Lin Xuan's departure from the Drifting Cloud Sect was motivated by a visit to the Alchemists' Guild in Fengyun City.
The tomes he had studied provided detailed descriptions of the Guild.
Founded countless years ago by elite alchemists, the Alchemists' Guild had evolved from a casual assembly to a formidable entity spanning the Tianyuan Continent.
No power dared to underestimate the Guild, not in the least.
This was because nearly 90% of the top alchemists were affiliated with the Guild.
Whether it was a faction or an individual seeking to enhance their cultivation with elixirs, they inevitably sought the expertise of the Alchemists' Guild.
Consequently, no one risked antagonizing the Guild.
The branch of the Alchemists' Guild in Fengyun City was but one part of this extensive network.
Yet, this branch was in no way inferior to the Drifting Cloud Sect; it was, in fact, marginally more formidable.
Many of the high-grade pills required by the Sect had to be procured from the Guild.
Armed with this knowledge, Lin Xuan embarked on his current quest.
In Fengyun City, the alchemical prowess of the Alchemists' Guild far surpassed that of the Drifting Cloud Sect's Pill Refining Hall.
By aligning himself with the Guild, Lin Xuan could more readily replicate valuable artifacts and enhance his innate alchemical skills.
All he needed was to pass another alchemist certification exam. With the Guild's resources at his disposal, he could engage in prolific pill production and sales, amassing a wealth of resources for his cultivation.
In due time, he would be poised to rapidly advance his cultivation level and power.
Half an hour later, Lin Xuan had left the Drifting Cloud Sect far behind.
After a careful scan of his surroundings to ensure he wasn't being followed, he dropped his concealment and picked up his pace.
Empowered by the 40% boost from the Artistic Conception of Wind and his Rank 7 movement technique, his speed surged to more than tenfold that of an ordinary cultivator.
He outpaced even those in the Early Spirit Opening Stage.
In just over an hour, Lin Xuan was greeted by the sight of a city, grand and imposing as a colossal beast, looming on the horizon.
The experience sent a jolt through his soul.
"Is this Fengyun City? Truly deserving of its reputation as one of Cangyuan Country's finest cities!"
Lin Xuan murmured to himself, gazing into the distance.
He then slowed his pace and pressed on.
Before long, he found himself within the walls of Fengyun City.
Pavilions and towers abounded, with red bricks and green tiles conjuring the ambiance of an ancient metropolis.
The city's bustle nearly matched that of the great cities Lin Xuan recalled from his past life.
It was leagues beyond a minor city like Green Jade City.
Lin Xuan took in the sights, his heart brimming with nostalgia.
Yet, with his past life's experiences, this awe was but a fleeting sensation.
He soon regained his composure.
After making a few inquiries, Lin Xuan made his way toward the Alchemists' Guild.
It wasn't long before he stood before a colossal complex shaped like a Pill Tripod, the air rich with aromatic scents.
The words 'Alchemists' Guild' were boldly inscribed on the plaque above the entrance, exuding an intimidating presence.
Those not at the Condensation Spin Stage would find their eyes stinging merely from beholding the inscription.
"Is this the Alchemists' Guild?"
Lin Xuan stood in the plaza, his gaze fixed on the entrance.
The surrounding crowd was a sea of formidable presences, with even the least among them at the Late Qi Transformation Stage. The abundance of Condensation Spin Stage cultivators only served to underscore the Alchemists' Guild's eminent standing.
