Alchemy Guild, Hall One
As Gu Changqing and his companions entered, they saw a group of alchemists above the second rank assisting two elderly men in the alchemy process.
These two elderly men were none other than the Guild Master Fu Lan Ke and the Vice Master Ao Tuo. At this moment, they were working together to refine a fifth-grade lower-tier Spirit Ascension Pill, which could help Dou Spirit warriors increase their strength by about one star.
Despite being Dou Spirit experts, both Fu Lan Ke and Ao Tuo were only fourth-grade alchemists, unable to independently refine fifth-grade pills. Thus, they had to collaborate to produce the pill.
When Gu Changqing and his group arrived, they saw Fu Lan Ke and Ao Tuo, each manipulating a flame in their respective alchemical cauldrons, both drenched in sweat and visibly struggling.
After a brief glance, Gu Changqing shook his head. "They are going to fail."
Though Gu Changqing's voice was low, it was not concealed. All the alchemists present turned their angry glares towards him.
Bang!
The cauldrons in front of FU Lan Ke and Ao Tuo exploded with a dull roar, and the materials inside were destroyed.
"Damn it!"
"Didn't I tell you not to speak while we're refining? Who just spoke up?!"
Otto, covered in soot from the explosion, stood up in a rage and shouted.
Quickly, he followed the gazes of the crowd and spotted the calm-faced Gu Changqing. Seeing his indifferent demeanor, Ao Tuo anger flared. He stormed over and pointed a finger at Gu Changqing, berating him.
"Who do you think you are? Who brought you here? Do you know the rules? Lin Fei, Xue Mei, did you bring him here? Didn't I instruct you all that no one should speak during the refining process? Go and copy the alchemist's code a hundred times and hand it to me tonight! And you—get out of here now!"
Otto's fury was palpable, and even the usually rebellious Lin Fei and Xue Mei, who was Fu Lan Ke disciple, dared not challenge him. They lowered their heads meekly.
"Enough! You're just a bunch of old men making a fuss over a fifth-grade pill. Let me show you how it's done!" Gu Changqing declared, rolling up his sleeves.
"Hey, Big Wolf, don't say too much! Let's go!" Lin Fei was startled by Gu Changqing's words and quickly tugged at his sleeve, trying to drag him out.
She couldn't believe that Gu Changqing could actually refine a fifth-grade pill. After all, even her teacher and Xue Mei's teacher, who had spent their lives studying, struggled to produce one. Gu Changqing was too young to possibly be capable.
Her only hope now was that Gu Changqing's words hadn't provoked Ao Tuo too much. Otherwise, she might not be able to save him.
Otto was momentarily stunned by Gu Changqing's words, but his anger quickly returned.
"Preposterous! Who do you think you are, being so brazen here? This is not a place for you to act like a tyrant. Call your elders here; today, I will teach them a lesson on your behalf!"
However, Ao Tuo tirade was abruptly cut off as his eyes widened in disbelief at the sight of the colorful flames in Gu Changqing's palm.
"Concentrated Real Fire, a fourth-grade alchemist?"
A shocked voice came from the front. Fu Lan Ke, who had just caught his breath and straightened his attire, rushed over to Gu Changqing.
"Is that a colored flame? Could it be some sort of exotic beast fire?!"
Frank did not recognize the flames but realized that real fire should not appear in such a manner.
Nevertheless, just the fact that Gu Changqing could produce such a flame made him worthy of admiration.
"This Big Wolf really is an alchemist?"
Lin Fei's eyes widened in disbelief, her mouth slightly agape as she looked at Gu Changqing.
"What an intense flame!"
Xue Mei's eyes sparkled with astonishment, her chest heaving slightly with excitement.
"Hmph! Just relying on a special flame doesn't mean you can do whatever you want. Boy, what's your name? Who is your teacher? How did they teach you?"
Though Ao Tuo was momentarily stunned by Gu Changqing's colored flame, he quickly recovered and demanded answers. He couldn't believe that Gu Changqing, despite controlling such a flame, could truly be a fifth-grade alchemist. At most, he was likely a second-grade or third-grade alchemist. Ao Tuo felt he still had the right to correct this audacious young man.
"Ha! Ao Tuo, calm down. The kid's right. We were going to fail regardless. Even if he hadn't spoken, we'd have blown the furnace. This kid has quite an eye. Who's your teacher?"
Frank spoke up, soothing Ao Tuo and addressing Gu Changqing with a smile.
He bore no ill will towards Gu Changqing, instead seeing him as a promising talent in alchemy.
"None of you are qualified to be my teacher. Bring out your materials; I will refine a sixth-grade pill for you."
Gu Changqing waved his hand dismissively, letting Lin Fei go, and confidently approached the large cauldron in the center of the hall.
"Impudent!"
Seeing Gu Changqing's arrogance, Ao Tuo was about to erupt again.
"Little guy, it's not that we don't want you to try refining, but refining a sixth-grade pill requires at least Dou Spirit strength. Even our only sixth-grade alchemist in the empire, Master Gu He from Yunlan Sect, was promoted to Dou Wang when he refined sixth-grade pills."
"Why don't we do this? If you really want to refine, we'll prepare some second-grade pill materials for you?"
Fu Lan Ke interrupted Ao Tuo outburst with a smile and turned to Gu Changqing.
"Unnecessary!"
"Watch and learn. I'll show you how it's done!"
Gu Changqing ignored the suggestions of Fu Lan Ke and Ao Tuo. With a flick of his sleeve, a pile of rare materials flew out from his storage ring.
Then, in front of Fu Lan Ke, Ao Tuo, and the others, Gu Changqing began his alchemy demonstration.
His method was peculiar; he didn't even put the materials into the cauldron. Instead, he refined them into their final forms mid-air.
Gu Changqing's alchemy was swift and mesmerizing. Even Ao Tuo and Fu Lan Ke, who had been prepared to scold him, were soon spellbound, staring in awe at his alchemical techniques.