Chapter 17: The Pill Masters' Struggle

Early the next morning, Lu Xingzhou, uncharacteristically, had A'nuo push him out the door, with their destination being the Alchemy Division (Dan Yao Si).

He was going to undergo the seventh-grade alchemist certification.

The Alchemy Division is responsible for controlling and verifying listed medicinal pills to prevent issues like using inferior substitutes for superior ones or selling goods that don't match their descriptions. They are also responsible for evaluating alchemists' grades and recommending excellent alchemist candidates to the court.

In this world, alchemists are highly valued professionals.

Because alchemists are often also doctors, and everyone inevitably faces illness and difficulties needing treatment, physicians are already respected. Moreover, many difficult and complex diseases require specifically refined, symptomatic medicinal pills that simply cannot be bought on the market.

A more crucial factor is that important medicinal pills like those aiding in breakthroughs, providing instant healing, or prolonging life are generally not sold everywhere on the streets like low-grade pills. Even if they are sold, they are very few and often just serve as a showcase for various alchemy workshops to attract customers. Most alchemists capable of refining such medicinal pills are heavily recruited by powerful forces with generous rewards. Within their respective forces, their status is very high, even having the qualification to be accompanied by servants much stronger than the alchemist themselves for protection.

Not to mention the genuinely capable of making people ascend to immortality Nine-Turn Golden Pill, that is the ultimate pursuit.

Establishing a perfect alchemist evaluation and recommendation system is naturally very important to the court. The best alchemists should, of course, be utilized by the emperor.

Obtaining official recognition of a high grade naturally garners respect wherever one goes and eliminates worries about resources. Generally speaking, alchemists in this world consider passing the court's grade evaluation as an important goal, advancing level by level.

There are also a minority of excellent alchemists who don't want to be watched by the court and dislike participating in evaluations. Lu Xingzhou is a typical example. He is clearly at the upper level of seventh grade, even arguably a half-step sixth grade, yet he always only shows himself as eighth grade. This isn't to pretend to be weak to trick the Dan Xia Gang; he just previously didn't want to attract the court's attention. The reason he hasn't gone for certification in the past half-year is also due to inertia.

This time, Shen Tang's involvement with the Alchemy Division, on the contrary, reminded Lu Xingzhou of this matter. In fact, he can now openly display his abilities, as long as it's not too conspicuous.

After all, he now has no relation with the Yan Luo Hall... On the contrary, after obtaining high-grade certification, it will be beneficial for some future plans.

As soon as he entered the Alchemy Division, he was surprised to discover that Liu Qingcang and his daughter, along with Bai Chi, were also there.

They seemed to be undergoing seventh-grade certification as well, and were already halfway through.

The criteria for judging alchemists are different from cultivation. Cultivation provides alchemists with stable flame control and sufficient high temperature. To refine high-grade medicinal pills, one naturally needs corresponding-grade cultivation; this is a prerequisite. But the standard for alchemy level has its own separate evaluation system.

Seventh, eighth, and ninth grades belong to the lower three grades, and the examination is relatively easy. Ninth-grade certification only requires you to accurately follow a pill formula, refine the corresponding-grade medicinal pill, and achieve a good success rate of eighty percent. If you can consistently produce superior products or refine multiple pills simultaneously, that's a requirement for the middle to upper level.

Eighth grade is already the level where one can take apprentices. Besides refining the corresponding-grade medicinal pills, you also need to be tested on your understanding of medicinal pills. For example, whether you can adjust the proportions of the same pill formula for different patients or provide symptomatic treatment based on individuals. Ultimately, this still involves minor adjustments to existing pill formulas, which isn't difficult.

Seventh grade then requires you to be able to formulate your own pill formula based on an illness or, without following established methods, use your own understanding to achieve the same effect as existing finished medicinal pills. For example, Lu Xingzhou's Yi Qi Dan. Although the formula is very different from the market's pill formulas, the effect is consistent and it is also Yi Qi Dan.

Overall, seventh grade already has a bit of an "entering the hall" feel. At least in this Xia State, there aren't many.

When Lu Xingzhou entered, Bai Chi had already refined a specified seventh-grade medicinal pill and completed the refining examination. The remaining part was to examine his understanding of pill formulas.

In front, an elder stroked his beard while looking at the pill formula in his hand, constantly nodding: "Your detoxifying pill, although only at the ninth-grade level, is indeed different from all the pill formulas seen on the market, and the cost is low. The drawback is that the types of poisons it can detoxify are too few..."

Bai Chi was somewhat smug: "This is just for easier promotion. If the types of detoxifiable poisons increase, then it has to rise in grade."

The elder hesitated slightly: "You are here for seventh-grade certification. Providing only a ninth-grade pill formula is insufficient. Either increase the grade of this pill formula, or this old man will add another question..."

As he spoke, his gaze fell on Lu Xingzhou, who had just entered the room. His eyes brightened, and he laughed: "This young man's internal organs and meridians suffered serious poison damage in his early years. After many years of recuperation, the residual poison has been cleared, but the internal organs are not completely restored and still have some slight damage. Can you formulate a formula to help him recuperate? This will be your seventh-grade test question."

Bai Chi turned his head in surprise, looking at the equally surprised Lu Xingzhou. His face became very ugly: "I treat him?"

The elder was stunned for a moment: "Why? This old man didn't ask you to treat his leg; that would be beyond the scope. Just recuperating his internal organs, what's difficult about that?"

Bai Chi flicked his sleeve: "Elder Chen, please give me another question. I won't treat him."

Lu Xingzhou smiled slightly: "Then how about this question be given to me?"

Elder Chen Palm Officer said strangely: "You also come to certify seventh-grade?"

"Correct." Lu Xingzhou signaled A'nuo to push him to the table. He picked up the pen and ink on the table and quickly wrote a pill formula: "This pill can be named Return to Life Pill. It soothes internal hidden injuries and recuperates meridians. Officer, please appraise it?"

Officer Chen carefully looked for a while, his expression somewhat joyful: "This formula can enter the seventh grade. A self-formulated seventh-grade pill formula, so young and already have such understanding of medicinal pills! What is your name?"

"Liu Xingzhou." Lu Xingzhou handed over his original eighth-grade certification card.

Bai Chi couldn't help but say: "His own illness, he probably pondered over it for many years. And who knows if it was formed with the guidance of others? It can't be counted."

These words were indeed not wrong. Officer Chen looked towards Lu Xingzhou: "Mister Lu, do you have anything to say?"

"The opposite is also true. Actually, my body was originally recuperated by myself. It was just initially too severe, so it hasn't completely healed after so many years. One is too clear about one's own matters; it indeed cannot be counted." Lu Xingzhou laughed: "However, he doesn't help me treat, but I can help him treat. Mister Bai Chi has hidden syphilis in his body. It hasn't manifested yet, but it will flare up sooner or later... I have a formula here..."

Liu Yan'er's face turned completely white. Bai Chi furiously slapped the table: "Lu Xingzhou, stop spouting nonsense!"

Officer Chen sized up Bai Chi with a glance and kept his mouth shut.

Liu Yan'er: "?"

Liu Qingcang: "..."

Lu Xingzhou was fundamentally too lazy to pay attention to Bai Chi's distorted expression. He leisurely wrote a formula and handed it to Officer Chen: "Whether he treats it or not is his business. We certify ours. Is this formula acceptable?"

Officer Chen thoughtfully looked at the pill formula and didn't mention the grade, just said: "Mister Lu's understanding of medicinal pills indeed surpasses Mister Bai's. We can proceed to the refining stage. Let this old man see your refining standard... Hmm, how about refining a seventh-grade Gui Yu Dan?"

"Wait!" Bai Chi endured his anger: "First come, first served. How can you just let him cut in line like this?"

Officer Chen glanced at him and said faintly: "Let's not say this old man is making things difficult for you. Provide another eighth-grade pill formula that is different from those on the market, and then consider yourself passed. Right, don't try to fool this old man with Fen Xiang Lou's exclusive pill formula. Even if this old man doesn't recognize the formula, I recognize Fen Xiang Lou's characteristics."

"My sect's exclusive pill formula is also impossible to show you!" Bai Chi's face twisted with anger, and he slapped another pill formula onto the table: "Look at this one!"

Officer Chen slightly furrowed his brow as he looked, seemingly somewhat hesitant.

Because it was directly slapped onto the table, it also allowed Lu Xingzhou to see it. At a glance, he burst out laughing: "Is this a medicinal pill or a poisonous pill? Yin and yang are unbalanced, sovereign and minister are disordered, the toxicity is so heavy."

Bai Chi didn't care about being seen. After all, in front of the Alchemy Division Officer, if Lu Xingzhou really stole and refined his pill formula later, he could report him and get accurate results, making Lu Xingzhou compensate until he was bankrupt. Hearing this, he arrogantly said: "What do you understand? This is a breakthrough pill to assist in breaking through to eighth-grade cultivation. Breakthrough naturally requires strong medicine. No matter how toxic, there are still a large number of people willing to take it!"

Lu Xingzhou laughed: "A breakthrough pill, huh? Impressive. I indeed haven't formulated this kind of thing."

Officer Chen was silent for a while and then slowly said: "This formula is indeed effective, but also indeed very toxic... From an alchemist's perspective, this old man doesn't like this kind of eager-for-quick-success medicinal configuration thinking, but from a qualification standpoint, you can barely be..."

Before the word "passed" came out, Lu Xingzhou suddenly interrupted: "Wait."

Bai Chi angrily said: "What do you want to do now?"

Lu Xingzhou quickly wrote a few more words and handed them to Officer Chen, blinking: "Don't show him, okay?"

Officer Chen looked for a while and suddenly stood up: "Good, good! With this adjustment, the effect is not lost, the toxicity is greatly reduced. Good thinking, good thinking!"

Bai Chi's face was as black as the bottom of a pot.

Officer Chen leisurely leaned back in his chair: "The Xia State Alchemy Division hasn't certified a seventh-grade alchemist for at least three years... Today, Mister Bai came here. Originally, this old man thought about reluctantly passing him to give Xia State some face. But now with Mister Lu's brilliance as a comparison, Mister Bai's abilities are like fireflies compared to the bright moon. It really goes against my conscience to pass you. Mister Bai, you should go back and practice. Come again next time."

Bai Chi was so angry he almost exploded: "You are colluding and maliciously making things difficult! I want to report to the City Lord!"

Officer Chen rolled his eyes: "Although this old man listens to the City Lord's instructions in official matters, privately the City Lord also has to show me a smiling face. Do you really think we alchemists have no standing? Someone, see off the guest!"

Bai Chi still wanted to say something, but Liu Qingcang, who had been silent with a dark face beside him, finally made a move to hold him and slightly shook his head as a signal. Bai Chi indignantly closed his mouth.

Liu Qingcang turned towards Lu Xingzhou and said faintly: "Xingzhou, if you want to use this kind of tactic to make us regret, you might be mistaken. Recently, our Dan Xia Gang has been flourishing. Compared to when you were there, the atmosphere is ten times better. What future can you have following Shen Tang selling those cheap sword talismans? If you are willing to come back..."

Lu Xingzhou waved his hand to interrupt: "I know you're anxious. Don't be anxious first."

Liu Qingcang felt a breath stuck in his throat and almost choked to death.

"Really flourishing?" A'nuo timidly poked her head out from behind Lu Xingzhou: "Can you first give fifty yuan of treasures to see the strength?"

"You!" Liu Qingcang took a deep breath, flicked his sleeve, and left: "Stubborn!"

The Liu family father and daughter and Bai Chi, three people filled with anger, indignantly left the Alchemy Division. Just as they reached the door, a gang member hurried over: "Gang leader, gang leader! Bad news!"

Liu Qingcang kicked him over: "Speak properly if something is wrong!"

The gang member was kicked to the ground, struggled to his feet, and said in a pathetic state: "These past few days in the city, someone has been spreading rumors saying that our Qi Dan's toxicity is seven or eight percent higher than general Yi Qi Dan! With the current city-wide trend of purifying pill toxins, many people are demanding refunds, and various medicinal pill shops have already refused to accept Qi Dan!"

Liu Qingcang's brain processed this news several times, and his face suddenly turned pale.