Everything that Lin Ran had revealed so far was far too shocking to be believed.
Seventeen or eighteen years old, a sixth-tier alchemist certified by the Pill Tower, hailing from Zhongzhou, with terrifying backing and unfathomable heritage.
In the face of someone like this—whose strength, influence, and potential were maxed out—who could resist the urge to curry favor or invest in such a future powerhouse?
Franke was the first to step forward, with Otto closely behind. In Lin Fei and Xue Mei's dumbfounded gazes, the two highest-status alchemists in Black Rock City—usually lofty and reserved—were now no different from common flatterers and sycophants.
Perhaps that's just human nature.
Those whom they once looked down upon were, in the eyes of someone like Lin Ran, no different than themselves.
Xue Mei's expression was complicated, while Xiao Yixian had a faint smile on her face, her steps light as she cheerfully collected all the treasures and stored them into her own storage ring.
Under Gu Te's lead, Lin Ran and the others arrived at a secluded underground chamber. The energy within the room was thick and stable—indeed an ideal place for pill refinement.
"Since everything's ready, let's begin," Lin Ran said indifferently.
As soon as he spoke, the room grew quiet. Everyone instinctively moved to the corners of the room, their gazes fixed upon Lin Ran without blinking. Even Xiao Yixian was full of curiosity and admiration.
She had once been a physician, and to a physician, an alchemist was the ultimate goal to aspire to. Though she lacked the talent for alchemy herself, the mere sight of Lin Ran personally refining a sixth-tier pill filled her with excitement—perhaps even more than if she were refining it herself.
Lin Ran remained calm as he reached toward his storage ring. With a flash of light, a large alchemical cauldron appeared before him.
It was a faint golden cauldron the size of a tabletop, its surface etched with densely packed ancient patterns. The entire cauldron radiated a golden brilliance, exuding an aura of domineering Yang energy—fiery and majestic.
"What a magnificent cauldron!" Otto and Franke exclaimed in unison, their eyes shining.
Even Gu Te's usually dull expression lit up as he stared at the cauldron.
Compared to this, their own alchemical furnaces were utterly inferior. The wave of scorching energy rolling off it alone revealed its quality. A cauldron like this would significantly boost the success rate of refining.
"In the world of alchemy, the cauldron is the soul of the alchemist. A good cauldron can greatly enhance one's pill refinement," Gu Te muttered.
"This one… Even if it's not one of the thirteen Heavenly Cauldrons, it's certainly close."
"The Heavenly Cauldrons?" someone whispered, clearly unfamiliar with the term.
In the Dou Qi Continent, there were many miraculous objects. Among those of the same category, the best of the best had long been sorted into various prestigious rankings.
Just as there was the Heavenly Flame Ranking for flames, in the world of alchemy, there was the Cauldron Ranking—also known as the Heavenly Cauldrons.
There were thirteen such legendary cauldrons, each one revered as a treasure among treasures, coveted by all alchemists.
"This cauldron is called the 'Sunshine Cauldron.' It's not on the Heavenly Cauldron list, but it once belonged to an eighth-tier alchemist. My teacher found its Yang aura quite compatible with mine and seized it for me," Lin Ran explained lightly.
As he spoke, he flicked his fingers, and a golden flame burst forth from his palm.
The red-golden flame curled upward like a living serpent, and with a flick, it entered the fire port at the bottom of the cauldron, igniting it instantly.
"An eighth-tier alchemist?!" someone gasped.
Everyone was visibly shaken—not because of the cauldron, but because of what Lin Ran had just casually said.
His teacher took it from an eighth-tier alchemist?
A teacher who could defeat an eighth-tier alchemist… What kind of monster was that?
And that kind of monster had taken Lin Ran as a disciple?
The sheer weight of that implication made everyone feel like their brains were short-circuiting.
But after all the shocking things Lin Ran had already shown, was this really so surprising?
Seventeen years old and already a sixth-tier alchemist.
'This boy... What kind of terrifying figure has he grown into already?'
Without giving them time to dwell, Lin Ran began to work.
With a flick of his wrist, herbs flew out of his storage ring and landed inside the cauldron with practiced precision.
As soon as they were inside, Lin Ran's fingers danced in the air like weaving threads, controlling the flames with absolute precision.
With every motion of his fingers, the flame would split into smaller streams, each one wrapping around a different herb with surgical accuracy.
Simultaneous refinement. Precise temperature control. Perfect coordination.
Otto and Franke's expressions became increasingly solemn.
Even Gu Te sat on the ground, staring intently.
To them, even the tiniest of Lin Ran's actions felt like an epiphany.
'This is what true mastery looks like…'
The flames flickered within the cauldron, wrapping each herb in a controlled dance. The aroma of medicine gradually filled the room, neither thick nor thin, just right.
It was like watching a divine painter craft a masterpiece.
The cauldron rotated slowly in midair. The red-golden flame twisted and surged within, while thin energy ripples spread outward with every revolution, dispersing into the surroundings and softly vanishing.
Inside the cauldron, a rough, black-colored pill slowly took shape. Though its surface was still uneven, it emitted an incredibly strong medicinal fragrance.
Suddenly, Lin Ran's eyes gleamed. He raised his palm again.
Another red-golden flame surged up.
Then, in the blink of an eye, a wisp of red-gold Dou Qi flowed silently into the cauldron, hidden within the firelight, and merged into the forming pill.
The Dou Qi quickly dispersed inside the pill, infiltrating every layer and forming subtle gold patterns that stabilized its energy.
At last, Lin Ran clapped his hands.
The cauldron trembled violently.
Boom!
A ripple of energy burst outward from within the pill!
"Not good!"
The expressions of everyone in the room shifted.
Even Green Elder—at the level of a Dou Wang—felt a faint pressure.
The eruption of energy from a sixth-tier pill upon formation was enough to threaten lower-tier Dou Kings.
But Lin Ran merely waved his hand lightly.
In that instant, a translucent barrier formed throughout the entire chamber, completely sealing in the turbulent energy.
Buzz…
The ripples stopped abruptly.
Within the cauldron, a pitch-black pill floated gently, emitting a faint shimmer of light.
The sixth-tier Demon Transformation Pill was complete.
And with it, everyone fell into stunned silence.
(End of Chapter)