128. Small World

Elves have different physique and they have natural resistances to poisons and this extends to pill poison from having ingested low quality pills in succession. For a human, one must wait a minimum of ten days before ingesting another low level pill to allow the previous poison accumulation to be expelled from the body but Elves can ingest five to ten low quality pills in one go and their path to cultivation is still unhampered.

While it is a glaring racial disadvantage, only a few realized that it is with this reason that Human Alchemy stands atop across the continent. The need to ensure that pills must not hinder a human towards their goal of becoming stronger has pushed human Alchemists to their limits and as an unintended effect of competitions that the Kingdom Alchemist Association has been established.

The Association intends to regulate standards for human Alchemy practitioners and for a long time, the rules implemented by the Association had become a benchmark regardless if the Alchemist has affiliation or not. The easiest measurement to assess an Alchemist ability is to assign Stars on how good the quality of their pills are. Every major realm of cultivation is divided into three minor levels like Early, Mid and Late, and since majority of pills needed by cultivators fall within that category, this is where measurements have been derived from.

For one to be considered Tier I Alchemist, the first standard test a person must be able to concoct are pills needed for each minor realm which are Qi Enhancement Pill, Body Forging, and Qi Reinforcement Pill and other variant and mostly healing pills. The Star System is then assigned depending on the quality of pill concocted for the 3rd minor realm, so if an Alchemist can only concoct low quality pills across each minor realm for Qi Condensation, then that Alchemist is considered Tier I and 1 star. Tier I and two star if the alchemist can concoct a Qi Enhancement pill or a pill within the same category if the quality is between 25 to 50 percent and three stars for 50 to 75 and lastly, 4 stars for if the pill is above 75 percent.

The only problem with this measurement is that, when an Alchemist becomes capable of refining pills for higher levels, majority of them can only concoct low quality pills that when they obtain Tier III status and 1 star rank, many cultivators are mislead with the 1 star rank making them think that the Alchemist can only concoct low quality pills across all levels. So for Alchemists wanting to maintain a reputation, they would rather remain Tier II with 3 Star Rank rather than becoming a Tier III with 1 Star.

The world of Alchemy is a widely mysterious and a challenging division within cultivation society that only those who put all their heart into the profession that they become successful and Clay has yet to encounter a real Alchemist.

On this glorious occasion sponsored by Xu Fan City, the registration and initial assessment of the Alchemy competition has already began and Clay had been standing in line for two hours now ignoring the rain like everybody else.

“Next!”

Clay smiled as his turn has finally arrived. He activated his Qi and stored away the wide straw hat that had been sheltering him from the rain and walked inside a two-storey building into his designated chamber. His robe can easily hide his missing arm but not when confronted with discerning eyes.

Upon entering the room, the guard closed the door revealing an elderly human sitting in front of a desk.

“Show me your flame.”

Clay is delighted the old man did not care or emphasized on his missing arms. Since his plans on concocting pill and obtaining the herb that can recover his arms failed, he decided to show-off a little bit of his talent. Just like when elder Nuu wanted to test him, he materialized at least 100 little candle-like flames around him. Since it is a competition, getting into top 10 is a must for him and hiding his talent will do him not good this time.

“Your control of flame is impressive however I am unable to recommend you. Please see yourself out.”

Clay was hoping to surprise the old man with his perfect flame control but it was him who was shocked instead.

Clay slightly bowed and said, “Pardon me but if this revered master would give me a fair test so I could display my qualifications. I can concoct a pill right now and present you a High Quality Pills.”

“I don’t know who your master is and I’m quite baffled by your ignorance. The problem is your flame. You have integrated with an Essence Flame that has yet to become mature. I’m guessing you have only been refining standard pills and I’m not questioning your ability to concoct pills but even if this is your standard Alchemy examination, even if you can concoct High Tier Pills, the association will still think twice before giving you a Tier I status.

Case in point, I can smell lingering scents from you and I may not know what kind of healing pill you’re trying to concoct, I am sure you have not been successful. And I am even more positive that even if it’s just a regular healing pill you’ve concocted, you will still have failed. Now judging from your missing arms, you’re trying to refine a pill that even Alchemists with Heaven Class Essence Flames have less than 1 percent of successful concoction. The audacity you have!

See yourself our or I will kick you out myself.”

“I asked this senior’s forgiveness and I thank elder for his wisdom.” Clay turned around to leave. He has some questions but the atmosphere has become heavy and this Sherlock may take another of his limb if he doesn’t get out soon.

The old man on the other hand was surprised by Clay’s reaction. Every aspiring Alchemist he turned down today had all displayed their arrogance and this is the first applicant who wants to see himself out after reprimanded.

“Elven colonies are always in need of Alchemists but you’ll have to be patient and work hard if you want your arms back.”

As soon as the Clay opened door, the old man spoke again. He paused and wanted to thank him again but the next candidate entered in excitement then pushed him out.

Clay did not know whether to laugh or cry. All this time he had always thought that flame control is all that matters. All this time he had always thought that with his ability to see the flow Qi with his Godly Eyes would ensure him an undisputed rank among the top Alchemists but now he just realized how much he lacks. He thought about exposing a bit of his Dao Powers but he is grateful the old man immediately explained something he may really lack.

Whenever he would concoct higher level of pills, he had always relied on Fire Crystals and today, he now has an idea of its limitation. For the first time he understands why Essence Flames have classifications and why Alchemists wants to own a Heaven Class Flame. Although he has doubts as he had experienced how Flames imbued with Dao can still concoct a pill. The only issue is controlling the intensity of the mystic power as it would cause the pill to form too fast then turn to ashes. He really has a lot to learn.

Clay suddenly remembered the gigantic Essence Flame buried in one of the mountains of Rising Cloud Sect. He reckons that flame must be an Earth Class.

“So I left the sect where I could have had refined the Barnachea Pill?”

He wanted to curse himself. His arrogance had costed him less than three years of perilous journey and another missing arm.

Clay exited the building and started to walk towards the gate. When he arrived in the city this morning, he did ask about possible healing pills being sold but like every town had had visited, healing pills are strictly regulated to the point that the trade is exclusive and monopolized by the resistance army or anything any group that has something to do with the invading Kulfagar Demons.

Clay took a right turn to avoid bumping into any group of wealthy Alchemist and expectators who came to witness the event. As he passed by, he can’t help but notice another long line on this side of the road. He turned his head to observe what the fuss is all about.

He continued walking upon realizing that the line is for people wanting to buy pills produced during the initial assessment of the competition. Since plan C which is becoming a famous Alchemist failed, he can only continue on his journey.

That old Alchemist just now might be correct. Maybe if he listened to Elder Nuu’s piece of advice about him staying at that colony would have had given him a better chance of obtaining a Rebeclum Flower. Since it is too late for regret, he can only start over again. He does want to settle where humans are his neighbors but given the need to grow back his arms, he can indeed only work hard and be patient.

After a minute, Clay noticed he was approaching the end of the line. As he got closer, he spotted a group of Elves towards the end of the line. He wanted to look away but one of the Elves was strikingly familiar.

He glanced at them one more time and activated his Godly Eyes.

“Is that Ilya?”

Who would have thought that he would meet Ilya within the human kingdom?

As much as he wanted to approach her, he did not want expose himself but he still feels indebted to this Elven girl. Before he left Ilya’s village, he heard a rumor that Ilya rebelled after losing the competition. He did not know what happened afterwards but looking at her appearance now, this girl was probably blinded by her pride she could not accept her loss and wants to prove her own worth even if it means leaving the village.

What a classic rebellious teenage girl.

Clay inserted his Qi into his spatial ring and controlled a spare ring and stored a bottle of three Foundation Establishment Pills and nine Qi Reinforcement Pills. After that, he summoned the ring and surrounded it with his Qi then threw it towards Ilya’s direction.

Ilya on the other hand caught the ring that was tossed to her. Upon looking at the back figure of where the ring came from, she got curious and inspected the ring.

“Are these….”

Ilya almost drop ring upon checking what was inside. She ran towards the unknown human.

“It is unacceptable for an Elf to receive such gifts without doing anything in return. I maybe weak now but there must be something I can do to return the favor.” Ilya slightly bowed and kowtowed with her fist behind the unknown man.

“I don’t know what your circumstances are but I would appreciate if you have never met me here.”

Ilya was stunned upon hearing Clay’s voice. She was not holding her umbrella and wanted to say something but she can only stand in the rain while watching Clay’s disappearing figure.

During and that time when she saved Clay, she had always looked down on him. When she decided to leave the village and go on a journey to become stronger, old Granny gave her three pills and she was advised that it was a gift from the human she saved. It was thanks to those pills that she managed to break through to Late Qi Condensation. And now it looks like it will be thanks to Clay again that she will manage to break through to Foundation Establishment.

Ilya clenched her fist.