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Chapter 212: The Grandmasters of the Alchemist Association
"Yes, senior, I’m the one who concocted it," Aldrian said.
"How did you do it? This kind of pill is unheard of—the purity, the smell, the energy it exudes—there’s nothing like other pills," Marco said as he took the pill, gazing at it as though inspecting a treasure. He then looked at Aldrian.
"May I consume it?"
Before Aldrian could answer, someone had already entered the room.
"Damn it, Marco got here before us."
"That old man is really fast."
Two people entered through the door—a man and a woman of the same age as Marco. They walked inside and immediately glanced at the pills in Marco’s and Aldrian’s hands. They wore the same robes and badges, each adorned with 10 stars, signifying that they held the same status as Marco.
"Aberin Louise and Maria Valentina."
Aldrian glanced at their information before answering Marco.
"Of course, senior. You can consume it. It’s only a supplement pill—I can make more if you need," Aldrian replied.
Hearing his answer, the three alchemists widened their eyes in disbelief.
"This is a supplement pill? Not some kind of complex pill meant for Emperor-stage cultivators?" Marco asked.
The other alchemists also examined the pill, now noticing its six distinct stripes. Their reactions mirrored Marco’s when he first saw it. They wanted to ask Aldrian more questions, but Aldrian turned to Marco and said to him.
"Of course not, senior. You can see the ingredients over there—these are just ordinary supplement pills," Aldrian said, gesturing toward the cauldron with his thumb.
The three elderly alchemists turned to look at the cauldron, and, true to Aldrian’s words, the ingredients beside it were indeed for supplement pills. Marco was utterly speechless. To think he had assumed this was some kind of revolutionary pill, only to find out it was just a supplement pill.
However, they were confused. The ingredients were the same as those used to create regular supplement pills, so how could the final product be so vastly different?
Without hesitation, Marco swallowed the pill in his hand. Instantly, he felt his body rejuvenate. His muscles grew a little stronger, his spirit was revitalized, and his stamina surged by 100%, making him feel as though he had returned to his younger days.
"This is incredible! How can a supplement pill have this kind of effect, even at the Emperor stage of cultivation?!" Marco thought.
"How is it?" the other elderly man, Aberin Louise, asked Marco.
Marco snapped out of the effects of the pill and looked at Aberin.
"It’s amazing! I can feel my stamina increase by 120%! It’s 120%, you know! And the effect doesn’t stop at stamina—it’s also strengthened my muscles! This is something worth celebrating! I’ve never tasted anything like it!" Marco said, his expression filled with amazement.
The other two were in shock at Marco’s testimony. If a supplement pill could affect even an Emperor-stage cultivator with the same ingredients, it would become a sensation and surely make waves across the continent!
There was only one more pill left in Aldrian’s hand, and he knew that the other two senior alchemists also wanted to try it. Aldrian, of course, gladly offered it to them.
"Seniors can have this pill. I can concoct another batch, and you can watch how I make it," Aldrian said, handing the last supplement pill to the other two.
Aberin took it without hesitation and swallowed it instantly. His expression shifted to one of shock as he felt the effect of the pill.
At that moment, a commotion broke out outside the room due to the appearance of the three alchemists. People were eager to see what was going on and why the three most prominent alchemists of the association had come to this room.
Noticing the growing bustle, Marco glanced at the door, where he could see many people trying to peek inside. The door then shut on its own.
"Finally, it’s serene again. What is your name, young man?" Marco asked.
"My name is Aldrian Aster, senior."
"Do you know me, young man?" Marco asked again.
"Of course I do, Senior Marco Vilares. I’ve heard your great name in the alchemy world, along with these two seniors, Aberin Louise and Maria Valentina," Aldrian said, bowing his head toward them.
"Oho, you certainly have composure, even in my presence. Not bad, young man. Now, you said you want to concoct another batch of these pills. Are you sure you’ll let us watch?" Marco asked.
He asked this because, usually, an alchemist would hide their concoction methods and the ingredients of their pills to prevent others from duplicating their process—unless they wanted their method to be widely known.
"Of course, senior. There is nothing special about my concoction method anyway, and anyone can do it too," Aldrian said as he walked toward the cauldron and sat down in front of it.
The three alchemists watched Aldrian intently, not wanting to miss anything. Shortly after, Aldrian began the concoction process. The three alchemists quickly realized from Aldrian’s movements that he was in the beginner stage of becoming an alchemist. They were confused by this, as they had thought Aldrian was an expert in alchemy with years of experience. However, his rigid and unnatural movements suggested otherwise.
They set aside their thoughts and continued to observe the concoction. After a few steps, they finally noticed something different compared to the usual method of creating supplement pills. Although they recognized the new method as genius, it still didn’t make sense how such an extraordinary pill could be created with these methods—something that had never happened before. They still believed that it wasn’t enough to produce something like six stripes pill.
Another thing is that Aldrian’s control of fire could be said to be flawless. He seemed to know exactly how much temperature was needed at each step, like an experienced alchemist. They were truly confused—on one hand, Aldrian’s movements were awkward and unnatural, like that of an amateur. On the other hand, he handled the herbs and mixed them with the precision of an expert.
They didn’t know how to assess Aldrian—was he a beginner or not? As they were thinking this, Aldrian had already reached the condensing pill phase. After a few seconds, Aldrian finally finished and opened the lid of the cauldron. The three alchemists rushed over to inspect it, and they saw three exact replicas of the pill they had consumed earlier. They were truly astounded. What Aldrian had said was true—there was nothing special about his concoction method. While there were some differences from the usual method, they still couldn’t explain how Aldrian had managed to create a six stripes pills.
Seeing their confused expressions, Aldrian simply smiled. The method could be followed, and the ingredients were the same, but there was something others didn’t have—that was his golden energy. In every step of the concoction process, he added his golden energy to the mixture of herbs. This was also what his Eyes of the Heaven had shown him.
The three alchemists continued to search for the special method in Aldrian’s concoction process that could raise the pills’ tier. They brainstormed but still couldn’t figure it out. In the end, they decided to look Aldrian.
"Young man, we really don’t understand how you did it. How did you completely erase the impurities from the ingredients and the mixture without damaging the herbs themselves? We’ve watched your concoction process, but it seems the impurities dissolve on their own once you control it," Marco said.
"I myself really don’t know, senior. This is also my first time concocting pills. I just followed the basic rules of the process and tried to purify the ingredients as best as I could, and this is the result," Aldrian answered.
"Wait, you said this is the first time you’ve concocted pills?" Maria asked, her eyes wide. The others were also in shock at what they had just heard.
"Yes, well, I did just do it for the second time in front of you," Aldrian said.
The three alchemists’ bodies trembled as they looked at Aldrian like he was a monster.
"You... you must be lying," Marco said, his voice trembling.
"Why would I be lying? You’ve already seen for yourself how I concoct pills, and you must have noticed something. Also, I came to the Alchemist Association to take the test to become an alchemist today. I’m here in this room to practice before I attempt the test. You can ask the receptionist in the sales section for alchemist supplies. I just bought the cauldron and the beginner’s book on alchemy," Aldrian answered, tilting his head.
Without further ado, Marco dashed outside. The crowd waiting outside the room was stunned by his actions. They watched as he rushed toward the section where the association sold supplies. After a few moments, he returned with a blank expression. The onlookers had never been so confused by the Grandmaster of the Alchemist Association. What had happened inside? Many of them pulled their hair in frustration, unable to contain their curiosity about what had made Marco and the other Grandmaster alchemists gather in this room.
