C140 Profound Grade

"Ren Yuan will guide Fellow Lin through the necessary procedures."

"Understood, Guild President."

Once Chen Anyu issued his instructions, he departed, as his role as Guild President demanded his attention elsewhere and he could not afford to linger.

Lin Xuan, despite his exceptional talent in alchemy, was still young and not yet fully developed. Chen Anyu's personal appearance underscored the high regard he held for Lin Xuan.

Subsequently, the crowd watched the Guild President and Vice President take their leave.

Their gazes then shifted to Lin Xuan, accompanied by a wave of emotion.

The outcome was unexpected to all.

Lin Xuan, not even twenty, had been made an elder of the Guild—a first for the Fengyun City branch of the Alchemists' Guild, setting a new precedent.

Yet, as the Guild President's chosen candidate, and having witnessed Lin Xuan's mastery of Pill Dao, they could not contest the decision.

They were simply astounded once more by Lin Xuan's prodigious gift.

After a moment, Master Ren Yuan, stroking his beard, said with a light chuckle:

"Fellow Lin, as the Alchemists' Guild's nominal elder, you hold a status equal to ours. Within the Guild, peers address each other simply as 'Elder.' You may call me Elder Ren, and I will address you as Elder Lin."

This was Ren Yuan's way of affirming Lin Xuan's new position.

Lin Xuan, without hesitation, nodded in agreement:

"I understand, Elder Ren."

"Good."

Elder Ren smiled and gave a nod of approval.

"Let's proceed, Elder Lin. I'll now take you through the procedures for a nominal elder. Along the way, I'll brief you on the various details and privileges associated with the role."

"Thank you for your assistance."

Lin Xuan responded.

With that, Elder Ren turned to Elder Mo and instructed:

"After Zhang Yu's assessment is complete, you'll handle Yan's registration as a First Class Spiritual Rank alchemist."

"Consider it done."

Elder Mo answered.

Elder Ren then escorted Lin Xuan towards the exit of the Spiritual Rank examination area, and soon, they both vanished from the onlookers' view.

Meanwhile, Mo Ruyan remained, her gaze lingering long after they had disappeared.

"Yan, there's no use watching; they're already far away."

Elder Mo's voice carried a sigh through the air.

He couldn't shake the feeling that his daughter was slipping away from him.

"Grandpa, what are you talking about?"

Mo Ruyan asked with a hint of playfulness in her voice.

Elder Mo, upon witnessing her reaction, simply shook his head and chose to remain silent.

He could easily read Yan's thoughts.

Yet, he could see even more clearly Lin Xuan's disinterest. Lin Xuan clearly did not reciprocate Yan's feelings.

Continuing down this path would only lead to heartache for Yan.

Meanwhile, Lin Xuan was being guided through the necessary procedures by Elder Ren.

As an elder of the Guild, Lin Xuan held a prestigious position, second only to the Guild President and Vice President. He faced no hindrance in acquainting himself with the protocols.

Within half an hour, he had completed the orientation.

Lin Xuan's rise to the position of a nominal elder at such a young age drew gasps and murmurs of admiration.

He capitalized on the moment, amassing a significant number of energy points.

Once the procedures were done, Lin Xuan was awarded a black alchemist's robe and a Spiritual Rank High-grade alchemist badge, and his name was officially entered into the records.

"Elder Ren, I have a favor to ask," Lin Xuan interjected.

"Let's hear it," Elder Ren responded, his smile tinged with curiosity.

Half an hour later, in a VIP room within the outer hall of the Alchemists' Guild, a middle-aged man adorned in embroidered garments entered.

Seated at the head of the room was a strikingly handsome young man.

"Are you Pavilion Master Sun from the Essence Pill Pavilion?"

"Yes. And you must be the newly appointed Elder Lin?" Sun Hee, the man in embroidered attire, greeted with a bow.

He had been summoned by Elder Ren of the Alchemists' Guild and was well-informed about the situation.

"Indeed, Pavilion Master Sun, please have a seat," Lin Xuan said with a light-hearted smile.

"I've asked you here to discuss a matter."

"Elder Lin, please, speak freely," Sun Hee urged, taking a seat on a wooden chair, his expression serious.

Upon confirming Lin Xuan's identity, Sun Hee couldn't help but feel astounded.

He knew Lin Xuan was the nominal elder personally appointed by the Guild President of the Alchemists' Guild, with the skills of an Earth-ranked Alchemist.

Yet, to see such youth paired with such talent, Sun Hee realized he was in the presence of a true Pill Dao prodigy.

He was careful not to show any signs of negligence.

"Do you have any interest in collaborating?" Lin Xuan asked.

"Given your expertise in the Pill Dao, I'd be delighted to work together!" Sun Hee responded with a spark in his eyes.

"Great, but we'll need to iron out the details," Lin Xuan said, nodding in agreement.

Half an hour later, they exited the Alchemists' Guild.

Lin Xuan accompanied Sun Hee to the Essence Pill Pavilion's VIP guest room, where he would temporarily reside.

Having left the Drifting Cloud Sect, Lin Xuan had come to Fengyun City to undergo the alchemist's examination and enhance his alchemy talent. His plan was to craft more pills to acquire resources for cultivation and to bolster his power. This was a commitment Lin Xuan had made to himself from the outset and he hadn't wavered since.

On this occasion, he leveraged the influence of the Alchemists' Guild to have Elder Ren facilitate a meeting with Sun Hee, the renowned Pavilion Master of the Essence Pill Pavilion in Fengyun City.

They forged an agreement for the sale of pills. Lin Xuan would refine the pills using materials provided by the Essence Pill Pavilion, which would then handle the sales. He was entitled to 60% of the revenue from these sales—a generous cut made possible by the Alchemists' Guild's clout.

As a nominal elder of the Guild, Lin Xuan's status was on par with that of a regular elder, commanding respect even from early-stage Spiritual Essence experts. Meanwhile, Sun Hee, the Pavilion Master, was merely in the late phase of the Spirit Opening Stage, making the profit-sharing ratio quite fair.

Subsequently, Lin Xuan settled into the guest room, sitting cross-legged on the bed.

With a mere thought, he tapped into the plethora of treasures he had replicated from the Guild President and Vice President.

A surge of warmth, like rolling waves, flooded through his body.

Lin Xuan's presence began to rise steadily as a cool, automated voice intermittently announced:

"Congratulations, Host, on achieving Profound Grade Cultivation Talent!"

"Congratulations, Host, on advancing to Profound Grade Alchemy Talent!"

"Congratulations, Host, on advancing to 50% mastery of the Artistic Conception of Fire!"

In no time, half an hour had slipped by.

Lin Xuan opened his eyes, exhaling deeply, and his gaze swept over the attribute panel floating before him, a flicker of delight in his eyes.

"Having merged with so many Spirit Grade talents, my own has at last ascended to Profound Grade, enhancing both my cultivation and alchemy talents simultaneously."

Profound Grade talent was in a league of its own, far surpassing that of Spirit Grade.

Possessing such talent, advancing beyond the Spiritual Essence Stage to the Elemental Sea Stage would pose no challenge.

Indeed, Profound Grade talent was the pinnacle of excellence within the entire Scorching Sun Domain.

Such talent was exceedingly scarce, even throughout the Scorching Sun Domain.

Within the Drifting Cloud Sect, he was uncertain if anyone else possessed this caliber of talent.

Now, his talent had eclipsed that of every member within the Drifting Cloud Sect.