From its appearance alone, the alchemist certificate was genuinely beautiful. The front bore the words “High-rank Yellow-grade Alchemist” in green lettering, with Ling Xiao’s name beneath them. The back displayed the emblem of the Alchemists’ Association, complete with anti-counterfeit measures that made forgery impossible.
“Ling Xiao, do not underestimate this token. It is a special magical treasure. Not only does it contain your personal information, it can also connect to nearby branches of the Alchemists’ Association and to association members.
Even more impressively, it can receive announcements from the association at any time. These include news from the alchemy world and the latest research findings.
You can even use it to chat and discuss matters with alchemists in other locations.”
When Lin personally presented the certificate to Ling Xiao, he smiled and added, “Of course, as a high-rank Yellow-grade alchemist, you can only contact alchemists of high-rank Yellow-grade and below. Higher ranks are restricted unless you continue raising your alchemist grade.
If you need any ingredients, you can also post a request through the certificate. Anyone who has them will contact you directly, and the transaction will be handled through the association. It is completely safe and reliable.”
A look of surprise appeared on Ling Xiao’s face.
He had thought the certificate was merely proof of identity, yet it possessed so many functions. This was simply astonishing.
If he had known earlier, he would never have waited until now to join the association.
No wonder virtually every alchemist chose to join. Very few stayed independent unless they had special reasons.
These benefits alone were enough to make any alchemist yearn for membership.
“Counterfeit certificates do appear on the black market. Even a low-rank Yellow-grade one already costs ten million low-grade spirit stones, and most of the functions remain unusable because every certificate is bound to the alchemist himself.”
Lin said with a smile.
His palm brushed across his pitch-black robe. The fabric felt as soft as a woman’s tender skin, utterly exquisite.
Ling Xiao inwardly clicked his tongue. Ten million low-grade spirit stones, and that was only for low-rank Yellow-grade. How astronomically expensive must mid-rank or high-rank certificates be?
Looking at the beautiful certificate in Ling Xiao’s hand and listening to Lin’s explanation, unmistakable envy and jealousy appeared on the pretty faces of Tie Yunshan and Sikong Yue.
A hint of genuine admiration shone in Tie Yunshan’s eyes.
“Very well, Sikong Yue. You may now begin your mid-rank Yellow-grade alchemist certification. The venue is prepared. Follow me.”
Lin turned to Sikong Yue.
“No, I won’t take it today. I’ll come back another time.”
Sikong Yue was deeply unsettled and had suffered a severe blow to her confidence. If she attempted the examination now, she would probably fail.
She was clever enough not to waste the opportunity.
“Alright. Come back whenever you feel ready.”
Lin shook his head helplessly. Not even her father’s death had shaken Sikong Yue, yet Ling Xiao’s performance today had completely shattered her composure.
The impact on her had clearly been immense.
“As for the two of you, go to the front desk to collect your low-rank Yellow-grade certificates.”
Having witnessed Ling Xiao’s genius, Lin now found everyone else rather dull by comparison.
Tie Yunshan pouted. People really could drive you mad with envy. This blatant favouritism was impossible to protest. She was merely a low-rank Yellow-grade alchemist, while he was a genuine high-rank one.
“Ling Xiao, if there is anything you need, just say it. As long as it is within our power, we will do everything we can to help.”
After Sikong Yue and Tie Yunshan left, Lin and Tiemu invited Ling Xiao into the office and accorded him the highest level of treatment.
After all, his alchemist rank matched theirs, and his actual pill-refining skill probably surpassed both of them.
Lin was even tempted to report immediately to headquarters and have Ling Xiao appointed vice-president of the Demon City branch.
“Actually, there is one small matter. Have either of you ever heard of something called ‘soul armour’?”
Soul armour was something Ling Xiao had learnt about from the Fragmentary Primordial Spirit Scroll.
For cultivators practising the scroll, possessing soul armour allowed them to achieve far more, and most importantly, it protected their primordial spirit from collapsing.
Prolonged use would also accelerate the condensation and formation of the primordial spirit.
It was undoubtedly an extremely important item for anyone cultivating the primordial spirit.
He only asked casually, without much expectation.
To his surprise, Tiemu gave him a delightful answer.
“Soul armour is incredibly rare. Only the Soul Race can craft it. Very few ever reach the market, and they generally cost over a hundred million low-grade spirit stones. Even if you have the money, you still can’t buy one.”
Tiemu frowned. “But your luck is good, young man. There happens to be someone in Demon City who owns a piece of soul armour. Whether you can obtain it from him, however, depends entirely on your own ability.”
“Oh? Please tell me more, Master Tiemu.”
Joy surged in Ling Xiao’s heart.
He still did not know exactly which continent the Soul Race primarily inhabited. There was supposedly a Soul Race tribe on the White Tiger Continent, but that was certainly not all of them.
Finding soul armour was therefore exceedingly difficult.
Since Tiemu said someone in Demon City possessed one, no matter how hard it might be to acquire, it had to be easier than buying directly from the Soul Race.
“Before I tell you, I must warn you. This fellow is unbelievably stingy. Getting anything from him is harder than climbing to heaven unless you have something he desperately needs.”
Tiemu cautioned.
“Tell me first. Whether a deal can be made is a later concern. I can’t be frightened off before I even try, can I?”
Ling Xiao laughed.
“Tiemu, you can’t possibly mean the emperor of the True Demon Empire, Jiao Batian, can you?”
Lin suddenly exclaimed.
“Heh, exactly. It’s Jiao Batian.”
Tiemu grinned. “Although Jiao Batian’s cultivation cannot compare to the Yin-Yang Demon King or the Lightning Demon King, the Sea Race still made him emperor of the True Demon Empire. Just like his name, he is utterly domineering. Anyone who disobeys his orders is simply eliminated without a word.”
“If it’s him, Ling Xiao, I suggest you give up. Jiao Batian despises humans more than anyone. In the past, the True Demon Empire nearly unified the Mysterious Realm, and it was humans who ruined their plans.”
Lin said helplessly. “Moreover, he is the emperor of the True Demon Empire. How could you possibly meet him?”
“What is there to fear about the emperor of the True Demon Empire? I have met the Holy Emperor of the Sacred Dynasty and the Emperor of the Divine Phoenix Empire. The new True Demon Empire has only just been established. Why should I be afraid of him?”
Ling Xiao smiled faintly. “Thank you both for the information. I will now go discuss the soul armour with Jiao Batian.”
Discuss? There would be no discussion. Since the soul armour was in Jiao Batian’s hands, Ling Xiao intended to take it by force.
They were enemies anyway. There was no need to be polite.
