Fengyuan Star was a planet at the edge of the Tianhe Star Domain, near the Gray Star Domain. Since the Gray Star Domain was an infected zone, many experts in genetic research would stay on Fengyuan Star to collect various genetic viruses, conduct experiments, and develop new types of potions.
The Sea Emperor chose this route partly because it was a new navigation path and also because there might be a way on this planet to enhance Guding's genetic level.
At the speed of the Eagle Chicks, it would take a week to travel from Sea Blue Star to Fengyuan Star.
After bidding farewell to a group of friends on Sea Blue Star, Guding climbed into the Eagle Chicks. The Sea Emperor took over the ship's system, set the destination, and adjusted the ship to an automatic navigation mode. A brand-new Eagle Chicks soon flew away from Sea Blue Star.
The interior of the Eagle Chicks was less than eight square meters in size and had no built-in gravity device. In a spacecraft without a gravity device, travelers spent most of the journey in a sleep pod in deep sleep. This meant that, under normal circumstances, Guding would spend most of this week asleep. However, being someone who couldn't sit still, he decided to spend the seven days on the virtual network.
Guding had now become a member of the Medicine God Alliance and could enter the Medicine God Alliance's dedicated network—the Medicine King Valley.
Securing himself in the pilot seat, Guding had the Sea Emperor connect to the Medicine King Valley network.
Upon entering Medicine King Valley, Guding realized that the name was really misleading. It was not a secluded forest valley but a modern metropolis. It was even more prosperous than the most bustling city on Sea Blue Star, Shangjing City, with numerous high-rise buildings and a variety of transportation. The streets were also filled with people.
"Weren't there supposed to be very few pharmacists?" Guding was slightly surprised, noting the flow of vehicles and people. Although it didn't compare to the multimillion population of Shangjing City, this virtual city surely had at least a few hundred thousand residents.
"In the Medicine King Valley, the number of true pharmacists is less than one-tenth of the total population. Everyone else is a temporary resident." In just a few seconds, the Sea Emperor had gathered considerable information about Medicine King Valley from various sources. "Most of these temporary residents are ordinary people who come to the city to buy potions. There are also some large-scale buyers and material suppliers. Only true pharmacists can obtain permanent residency and have the privilege to enter restricted areas. The higher the rank of the pharmacist, the higher the access they receive."
"It sounds just like an online game," Guding grinned.
At this moment, a luxury hover car stopped in front of Guding, and the driver inside waved at him, "Young pharmacist, where would you like to go?"
"I'm not quite sure..." Guding scratched his head in slight embarrassment, "And I don't have the currency here, so you don't need to bother with me."
"This must be your first time in the Medicine King Valley, right? Pharmacists can ride transportation for free here," the driver smiled. "Hop in, I'll give you a tour. Being a tour guide is part of our job too."
"He's not lying. Free transportation is indeed one of the privileges for pharmacists. Temporary residents have to pay. You should follow him for a tour," the Sea Emperor suggested.
Sitting in the passenger seat, Guding glanced at the nameplate on the driver's chest, which read "Kael." He couldn't help but ask, "Uncle Kael, how did you recognize that I'm a pharmacist?"
"Everyone in Medicine King Valley has a viewing function. You can know a person's identity just by checking their status," Kael smiled. "The Medicine King Valley is somewhat similar to a virtual game, and many functions have to be explored gradually. Let me give you a brief introduction."
As he drove, Kael explained various functions within Medicine King Valley. When they encountered some special buildings, Kael would slow down the car to tell Guding the buildings' purposes.
"That tall spire building ahead is the trading post. Pharmacists can receive virtual materials of their corresponding level for practice based on their rank for free."
"So, F-rank pharmacists can only obtain materials for F-rank potions for free?" Guding surmised.
"Yes." Kael nodded.
"Is there a place here to upgrade my pharmacist rank? I heard before that the rank upgrade here is the same as in the real world," Guding recalled Pama mentioning this.
"There is, the rank upgrade is over at the Medicine God Academy. I'll take you there later to show you," Kael explained enthusiastically. "Medicine King Valley is a system that manages pharmacist ranks. Promotions in this virtual environment are the same as advancing in the Medicine God Alliance branches. Although the pharmaceutical materials and potions here are virtual, the system incorporates every variable that might occur, allowing a one-hundred percent simulation of potion crafting reactions. If you can craft A-level potions here, it means you can also do it in the real world."
"One-hundred percent simulation..." Guding found it somewhat unbelievable. After all, there were so many variables in the combinations of pharmaceutical materials, not to mention the various effects of the potions.
"This Medicine King Valley system is actually a special intelligence derived from the Heavenly Net. Its simulation is not only based on stored data but also includes predictive calculations. Every piece of data for pharmaceutical materials is precisely recorded, so the result of the calculations is unlikely to be erroneous. Computation itself isn't difficult, but with such a large population here, it is indeed quite a task," the Sea Emperor interjected to explain.
"Once we finish exploring this area, I'll take you over to the Medicine God Academy," Kael continued driving.
When passing a densely populated area, Kael slowed down again.
"Uncle Kael, why are there so many people over there?" Guding couldn't help but ask upon seeing the crowd.
"Oh, that's a combat arena. Many young pharmacists gather there for duels, so there's a lot of onlookers," Kael explained with a grin.
"Combat arena?" Guding was a bit puzzled. "Do pharmacists here compete in martial arts like in a virtual arena?"
"Of course not martial arts. They compete in potion crafting. The quality and speed of potion crafting are the keys to winning. However, I wouldn't understand much since I'm just a spectator," Kael laughed.
"Then, Uncle Kael, I'll get off here." Guding smiled broadly, sensing that he found a good place. "Thank you."
"Alright then, young man, I hope you have fun here." Kael nodded with a smile, knowing that young people all had a competitive spirit.