After some time, Lin Feng successfully mastered the technique, and his consciousness began to immerse itself deeply within his body.
Suddenly, an intricate and almost daunting image of his meridians materialized in his mind.
He guided his awareness through several meridians, swiftly arriving at the cyclone in his lower abdomen.
Now, the area his Dou Qi cyclone could occupy had expanded several times compared to before practicing the technique.
Moreover, the scarlet Dou Qi flowing within him was of a significantly higher quality than the attribute-less Dou Qi he possessed prior to his training.
With a slight movement of his mind, a strand of red fighting spirit flowed out from the cyclone and surged quickly through his meridians.
As the Dou Qi coursed through him, Lin Feng felt the powerful force within his body building to a peak he had never experienced before.
Slowly opening his eyes, a smile formed on Lin Feng's face.
With the speed he was training at after altering his technique, he estimated he could become a two-star Dou Practitioner within a month.
After finishing his training, Lin Feng stood up and rode his horse straight towards Black Rock City.
He no longer wanted to stay in Wu Tan City, and Qingshan Town was too desolate; Black Rock City would be a better place.
Furthermore, with the Alchemist Guild's presence in Black Rock City, there was a large community of alchemists there, making it easier for him to acquire the medicinal ingredients needed for alchemy.
Black Rock City was a large city in the eastern province of the Jia Ma Empire, its scale even grander than Wu Tan City.
In terms of overall power, it ranked among the top cities in the Jia Ma Empire.
As Lin Feng gazed at the massive city reflecting a faint red glow under the evening sun, he breathed a sigh of relief.
Days spent in the wild had worn him out.
Upon getting closer, Lin Feng noted that the towering city walls were forty or fifty meters high.
Compared to the city walls of Wu Tan City, these were over twice as tall, built entirely of meticulously arranged black stone, leaving Lin Feng awestruck.
After reaching the city gate and paying the entrance tax, he passed smoothly through the dim passage within the city wall.
Soon, his view expanded, and the bustling sounds of people filled his ears, making Lin Feng feel slightly overwhelmed.
Inside the city, Lin Feng saw that Black Rock City was indeed one of the Jia Ma Empire's premier cities. Although it was dusk, the streets teemed with people.
Occasionally, the sound of guards marching in formation, the clanking of their armor scaring off some unsavory individuals, echoed through the streets.
Lin Feng wandered around for a while until nightfall, then entered an inn, rented a room, and began studying the alchemist book he had taken from Liu Xi's ring.
Early the next morning, Lin Feng sat cross-legged on the bed in his inn room, hands clasped and eyes closed. Guided by martial arts techniques, his Dou Qi flowed through his meridians.
After an unknown amount of time, he heard a low sound within him, as if he had broken through an obstacle, and he slowly opened his eyes.
"As a two-star Dou Practitioner, I can almost start practicing alchemy," Lin Feng murmured.
Over the past month, he had been studying beginner alchemy texts daily and was eager to try it himself.
After freshening up, he left the inn and headed to the Alchemist Guild in Black Rock City.
He had learned that by passing the Alchemist Guild's exam and proving his aptitude, he could obtain an alchemist apprentice certificate.
This certificate would allow him free access to the Alchemist Guild and the privilege to rent the guild's alchemy rooms.
Of course, renting came at a price of three hundred gold coins per day.
But the guild's alchemy rooms were designed for apprentices, ensuring they would not be disturbed during their work and would muffle any noise generated during alchemy.
After turning down a few long streets, Lin Feng stopped and looked up at the grand building before him.
The structure was unique, resembling a massive cauldron, with windows shaped like the air holes in a medicine cauldron. The high roof was topped with a giant cauldron lid that covered the room beneath it.
Outside the building, a lavender wooden plaque bore five ancient words that shimmered faintly: Alchemist GuildMurmuring to himself, he walked inside.
At the entrance, two armored guards stopped him, asking in a deep voice, "Young man, do you have a letter of introduction from your mentor?"
Lin Feng bowed and replied, "I'm here to apply for an alchemist apprentice certificate."
"Applying for the certificate? You'll need to test your Dou Qi attributes first." One of the guards brought out a crystal ball and handed it to Lin Feng.
Lin Feng stepped forward, took the crystal ball, and infused it with his Dou Qi. The crystal ball glowed with a brilliant red light tinged with green.
"Go ahead," the guard said, now more respectful.
"Thank you," Lin Feng replied, stepping inside.
A faint medicinal aroma greeted him, instantly putting him at ease.
The main hall was sparsely populated; a few people went about their business quietly.
Upon hearing his footsteps, some glanced at Lin Feng before returning to their tasks.
A woman in a light blue dress quickly approached him from a back room.
"Sir, you look unfamiliar. Is this your first visit to Black Rock City's Alchemist Guild?" she asked with a smile.
"Yes," Lin Feng answered, taking in her bright eyes and friendly demeanor. "I'm here to apply for the alchemist apprentice certificate."
"Please, follow me." Her expression turned respectful as she led him to the counter and took out a yellowed parchment. "Could you tell me your name, age, and the name of your mentor?"
Lin Feng added two years to his age and replied, "Lin Feng, I'm seventeen, and I currently don't have a mentor."
"No mentor? Very well." She wrote down the information and handed him a badge along with a form. "Bring these to Master Ao for testing. Once you pass, he'll register your information, making it accessible throughout the Alchemist Guilds in the Jia Ma Empire."
After thanking her, Lin Feng approached Master Ao, who asked him to place his hand on a crystal ball.
Lin Feng complied, infusing his Dou Qi into it. Master Ao nodded, then asked him to test his soul perception by placing his hand on a different crystal ball, which emitted a strange black light.
Satisfied, Master Otto handed him back his newly registered alchemist apprentice badge.
Lin Feng quickly rented an alchemy room in the guild.
The room was simple, with walls made of black rock. Legends claimed that this rock could withstand attacks from even a Dou Wang and could absorb any energy released during alchemy, though its cost was steep.
After settling in, Lin Feng took out a cauldron from his storage ring. Dark red in color, with two fierce snakeheads at the base forming the fire holes, this cauldron, despite its simple design, had an intricate fire hole system. Two fire mouths made it a basic cauldron but demanded excellent control to manage.
The lid, shaped like a coiled snake, had a hole for adding ingredients, and tiny ice-silver vents prevented overheating.
At the center, a transparent mirror allowed Lin Feng to observe the alchemical reactions inside.
The cauldron's exterior was carved with lifelike magical beasts, as if ready to spring to life, exuding an aura of mystery and grandeur.