Within the realm of alchemy, pills were classified not only by their tiers but also by their sub-grades. The tier of a pill denoted the rarity of ingredients used and the overall effect it could achieve. Meanwhile, the sub-grade indicated the level of efficacy the pill retained after meticulous refinement.
The tiers spanned from the humble tier-1 to the lofty tier-9, and an alchemist's star ranking often corresponded closely to the highest tier of pill they were proficient in crafting. A 1-star alchemist possessed the skill to consistently produce tier-1 pills, while a 5-star alchemist commanded mastery over tier-5 pills, and so forth.
However, the sub-grade was an epitome of an alchemist's refinement prowess. It distinguished alchemists of the same tier, emphasizing their ability to execute proper refining techniques. Even among a group of 1-star alchemists, for instance, the one capable of producing high-grade pills would be highly sought after.
