The State of Ancient Medicine was one of the thirteen states in the Heavenly Region of Bare North. The Medicine City was the state capital and the towering cauldron was its most renowned landmark.

An eight year old girl riding on the back of a feathered creature asked in excitement, “What a magnificent cauldron! It’s taller than a mountain. Does it actually work?”

“Of course it works. That is the Heavenly Cauldron. It used to be the Heavenly Lord of Ancient Medicine’s Dharma Treasure. Over thousands of years, countless Heavenly Lords wanted to take it away, but were unable to move it, not even an inch. Legend has it that only the Heavenly Alchemist could use this cauldron,” an elder in grey robe said.

“Grandpa, what is a Heavenly Alchemist? Are you a Heavenly Alchemist?” the girl asked in curiosity.

“Heavenly Alchemists are more powerful than Grand Alchemists. They were also called Heavenly Masters of Alchemy. There were only a couple of them in the entire Heavenly Region. Grandpa has just reached the Grand Alchemist tier, and is far from being a Heavenly Alchemist.” The elder cracked a smile.

“So, are there any Heavenly Alchemists in the Northern Barren Land?” the girl asked again with pouty lips.

“The Guild Master of the Alchemy Guild might be eligible for the title. However, the Guild Master hasn’t personally created any Elixirs for hundreds of years, and by now, no one knows exactly how skillful he is, the elder shook his head and said to his granddaughter, “You must do your best in this year’s Guild Exam and try to get at least to level three. You won’t have a future in the State of Ancient Medicine if you can’t become an alchemist.”

“Understood, grandpa.” The girl nodded.

Meanwhile, inside the black carriage, another conversation was in progress.

“Master, of all the cities in the State of Ancient Medicine, Medicine City is the most prosperous. It is the Alchemy Guild’s territory and has been this way since the days of Heavenly Lord of Ancient Medicine. The Guild not only oversaw the alchemists in the Northern Barren Land, but also those from a dozen Barren Regions. Inside the Medicine City, alchemists have higher social standing than cultivators,” Zhao Juexian explained.

Being the former Lord Beihan, he had two thousands years to learn everything about the Northern Barren Land.

Chen Fan narrowed his eyes and aimed his gaze at the soaring Heavenly Cauldron. He said, “Very well, let’s find a place to stay for the night.”

Medicine City was huge, and was much larger than the Royal city of the Beihan Region. The Heavenly Cauldron stood right outside the city wall like a red crystalline mountain. Meanwhile, countless towers, big and small, had been erected inside the city wall. Zhao Juexian called them Alchemist Towers. Only the Alchemy Masters recognized by the Alchemy Guild were allowed to construct an Alchemist Tower on his property. It was a sought after status symbol.

The tallest tower was located right at the center of the city where the guild’s headquarters was located.

The two entered the city and looked for a place to rest.

The sprawling spirit medicine shops in the streets really did justice to the city’s name. Some of the stores were multi-story buildings. The variety and quality of its products would put the Golden Crow of the Beihan Region to shame. Even the peddlers on the side of the streets touted spirit pills and even Treasure Pills. However, Chen Fan had yet to see a single Heavenly Pill.

“Heavenly Pills are extremely rare. Only the highest level Heavenly Alchemists are able to create them,” Zhao Juexian explained.

“There are different levels for alchemists?”

Chen Fan was taken aback.

“Why, of course. The Alchemy Guild divided alchemists into nine levels, the ninth being the highest level. Anyone who surpasses level nine can be called Alchemist Master; those alchemists are capable of creating superior-grade Spirit Pills. However, only Grand Alchemists who are a level higher than Alchemy Masters can make Treasure Pills. The three you have defeated were Grand Alchemists,” Zhao Juexian replied, “As for Heavenly Alchemists, they are extremely rare and are as powerful as Heavenly Lords. I suspect that the most powerful alchemist in the city is a Grand Alchemist.”

Zhao Juexian gave Chen Fan a glance as he spoke.

He had watched as Chen Fan crushed those three Grand Alchemists and he still couldn’t wrap his mind around what he had seen.

“Hm.” Chen Fan nodded.

What was a Heavenly Alchemist to Chen Fan? Although his alchemy skills were average among Dao Reunion cultivators, it was enough to outshine anyone on planet Tianhuang.

Once they had checked in at the hotel, they wandered around the city to kill some time.

“Kongyou Grass, superior-grade spirit herbs. It’s a side ingredient for making the Ethereal Spirit Heavenly Pill. I haven’t seen one of these in a while.

“Dragon Blood Tree, inferior-grade treasure medicine. It’s mostly used in physique boosting pills.

“Fruit of Sansheng, it’s a numinous treasure and can be used to form divine souls. It’s worth as much as a mid-grade treasure medicine.”

Medicine City was a treasure trove for Chen Fan. He had never seen so much spirit medicines since he had been reborn. Chen Fan had thought a lot of the herbs were extinct before he saw them being sold there.

“Nice, nice.”

Chen Fan’s face bloomed.

He had searched high and low for three years, and was only able to gather a handful of Heavenly Medicines.

A Heavenly Pill required at least dozens of different kinds of spirit medicines; a few Heavenly Medicines would simply not do. Meanwhile, it would be a huge waste if he swallowed the Heavenly Medicine raw. Therefore, Chen Fan had kept most of the Heavenly Medicines and only used a couple to create a batch of Mixed-essence Heavenly Pills.

“Calling it Heavenly Pill is a stretch. It’s at the most a top tier Treasure Pill.” Chen Fan shook his head.

The main function of the Mixed-essence Heavenly Pills was to elevate a Connate Cultivator’s power to the Golden Core realm. Any Heavenly Pill could have done that.

The Ethereal Spirit Heavenly Pill, for example, could significantly boost his Kun Peng Heavenly Art. If he made enough of them, he could further refine them and form the Kun Peng Golden Core.

“Heavenly Medicine is difficult to find. I doubt that I can find more than one Heavenly Medicine on the entire planet. Once I gather enough Heavenly Medicine, I can easily attain a Sacred grade Golden Core,” Chen Fan rubbed his chin and thought.

However, after spending the entire afternoon browsing the stores, he couldn’t find a single Heavenly Medicine.

“Dear customer, if you are looking for Heavenly Medicine, you are looking at the wrong place. The Heavenly Lord Families and the great sects have a monopoly over them. A dingy shop like mine wouldn’t have any,” a shop owner said with a smile.

“The Alchemy Guild?”

Chen Fan looked up at the soaring tower at the center of the city.

The shop owner said, “Indeed. The Alchemy Guild is one of the oldest and the most powerful sects in the Northern Barren Land. Over tens of thousands years, they have amassed countless Heavenly Medicines. Some of them might have already been used up, but I’m sure they still have plenty left.”

“Thank you.” Chen Fan nodded.

Chen Fan then decided to focus his efforts on the Alchemy Guild.

The Alchemy Guild’s headquarters was a giant stone tower that soared above the clouds. Many Heavenly Arrays had been carved on its walls; they were powerful spells cast by Heavenly Lord of Ancient Medicine and were powerful enough to stop Chen Fan from sneaking in.

“If we can’t sneak in, then we will enter through the front gate. The guild should be open to the public anyways.”

Chen Fan cracked a smile and then saw a notice posted on the wall.

“Alchemy Guild Exam will start in three days.”

The Alchemy Guild Exam was a test for aspiring Alchemists. It was held once every three years and anyone who wanted to test their level of skill could participate. Those who outperformed others would be drafted into the Alchemy Guild.

As the ruling force of the State of Ancient Medicine, the guild was respected across the Beihuang and many other regions. Even the Wang Family of the Beihuang Region would have to think twice before making a move on them.

Three days later, a large crowd had gathered by the entrance of the guild.

Alchemists from as far as the Beihuang Region had flocked to the tower to take the test. Some of them were from other Barren Regions. The Guild Master Elixir Lord showed up and used a spell to summon a huge platform out of thin air. The test would take place on that platform.

“I’ve heard that the Young Elixir Lord Situ Cheng will join the exam this year.”

“Really? Situ Cheng is the most talented Alchemist the State of Ancient Medicine has seen in centuries. He reached level nine when he was only twenty. People thought that one day he would become as powerful as Elixir Lord, so they call him the Young Elixir Lord. He should be an Alchemy Master already, what is he doing here?”

“The alchemy genius Wu Qinyan from the Wu Family, along with Jiang Han, the disciple of Grand Master Xuanhe, and the Alchemy prodigy from the Tianhai Region, Yan Wuwang… All of them should already be at the grand master level, but showed up nonetheless. I’ve heard that they decided to take part in this year’s exam because some elders and the guild master would be personally picking disciples from this year’s examinees,” the Alchemists murmured to each other.

The mention of the Guild Master excited everyone.

Chen Fan looked up and saw a small group of men and women standing by themselves. Their faces were cold and distant, and they were shrouded in mist. Other people stayed clear of them, not daring to approach.

All the men and women carried a lofty and contemptuous demeanor, as if everyone else was beneath them.

One could easily tell an elite alchemist apart from their normal counterparts. Only those had meticulous control over their divine will and possessed the purest form of True Essence, which would enable them to create the best spirit pills. The deep and vast energy floating steadily about those men and women was a telltale sign of their incredible Alchemy skills.

However, they only caught Chen Fan’s attention for a brief moment before he looked away at the platform.

The Alchemy Guild Exam was about to begin.

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