After tidying his robe, Qin Chu noticed a Pill Furnace embroidered on the left side of his chest, with four exquisite Medicinal Pill bottles below it and five wisps of green smoke floating above the Pill Furnace.
Qin Chu put his robe into his Storage Ring and arrived at the lobby of the Alchemist Guild.
As Qin Chu entered the lobby, the Alchemists inside all turned their gazes to him, their expressions complex!
"Come here, come to my side!" Chu Shan waved at Qin Chu. At this moment, Chu Shan, Yuan Qi, and several other Elders were seated, while everyone else stood in the lobby.
"Do you see the emblem? The number of Medicinal Pill bottles indicates the Rank of Alchemist, and the number of wisps of green smoke above indicates the star Rank of Alchemist. I must say, when you wear this robe, you truly look like a Great Master," Chu Shan said, pointing to the emblem on Qin Chu's robe and explaining the Rank divisions to him.
Hearing Chu Shan's words, Qin Chu looked at the other Alchemists and immediately noticed the differences in their Ranks.
The most formidable were Chu Shan and Yuan Qi, both Six-Rank Four-Star Alchemists. The other Elders were Five-Rank Alchemists, but only Elder Qiu was Four-Star, while the other Elders were Three-Star. The standing Alchemists were all Four-Rank and Three-Rank Alchemists, but all were Three-Star, meaning all the Alchemists in the lobby could stably refine High Grade Medicinal Pills.
"Qin Chu! It's a good thing that you can refine top-grade Medicinal Pills, it's an honor for the Alchemist Guild. However, it has also caused some problems. That is, the Cultivators in Heaven Sword City now all want top-grade Medicinal Pills, which leaves no room for our other Alchemist colleagues. Therefore, there will be some restrictions on the refining of top-grade Medicinal Pills going forward, which might affect your resource income," Yuan Qi said.
"We can compensate him for the impact he's experiencing. We're not targeting Alchemist Qin, it's just that the current situation is too awkward!" an Alchemist spoke up.
"No need for compensation. Qin Chu has affected everyone, so he won't refine Medicinal Pills easily in the future," Qin Chu sighed. He wanted to earn resources, but he couldn't bring himself to ruin others' livelihoods.
"Don't stop refining Medicinal Pills! Wouldn't that be a waste of Alchemy? In the future, for those who want top-grade Medicinal Pills, we'll add conditions. It's not impossible to get top-grade Medicinal Pills, but the price they pay must be higher. This way, you can have your share, and it won't prevent others from having theirs. The world still needs balance," Yuan Qi said.
"I will follow the arrangements of the Guild Master and the Elders. My apologies to everyone," Qin Chu cupped his fists at the Alchemists in the lobby. Having just arrived in Heaven Sword City, he didn't want to be ostracized.
Seeing Qin Chu cup his fists, the other Alchemists also bowed in return. Today's matter had indeed harmed Qin Chu's interests.
The rules for refining top-grade Medicinal Pills were discussed by Yuan Qi and the other Elders. Qin Chu then left the lobby and returned to his Pill room.
"Oh my, Boss, your robe is so cool! It's an Alchemist's exclusive robe, Five-Star..." When he saw the emblem on Qin Chu's Alchemist robe, Qian Xun's jaw dropped. Unlike Qin Chu, he knew the Alchemist rules and understood what a Five-Star Alchemist meant.
"Isn't it impressive? You can also study it!" Qin Chu said.
Qian Xun nodded blankly, still reeling from the shock of Qin Chu becoming a Five-Star Alchemist.
With no Medicinal Pills to refine, Qin Chu and Qian Xun left the Alchemist Guild and ordered a few dishes at a restaurant.
As Qin Chu and Qian Xun drank, many people looked over. Such a young Alchemist, and not just young, but a Five-Star Alchemist at that! One couldn't help but show respect. Could you guarantee you wouldn't get injured in the future? Or not need the Medicinal Pills he refined?
After showing off a bit in the restaurant, Qin Chu and Qian Xun returned to the inn.
In the evening, Qin Chu changed into a different robe, put on a cloak to cover his head, and, under the cover of night, entered the Demon Castle. The appointed day had arrived, and Qin Chu needed to know if he had passed the assessment.
As Qin Chu entered the Demon Castle, a creaking sound came from behind him as the gate closed again. The silver-rimmed cloaked figure appeared and led Qin Chu into a room.
Once in the room, Qin Chu threw back his cloak.
"Why aren't you wearing your Alchemist robe? Wouldn't that be more imposing?" the silver-cloaked figure asked.
"Uh..." Qin Chu didn't know what to say. It seemed the other party knew all about his situation.
"Your background isn't entirely clean, but you're a Four-Rank Five-Star Alchemist with Four-Rank Sword Intent, under twenty years old. There's no reason for you not to pass the assessment!" the silver-cloaked figure said.
"You can only say my background is untraceable, not that it's unclean. How am I unclean?" Qin Chu disliked the words 'unclean background'.
"Hehe! The little fellow has some temper. These are the Demon Laws for Demon Hunters. Take a look. If there are no problems, we'll proceed to the next step," the silver-cloaked figure chuckled, completely unconcerned by Qin Chu's displeasure.
After reading it, Qin Chu felt that the Demon Castle was quite humane. For example, if a Demon Hunter encountered trouble, they could ask the Demon Castle for help, but then they would have to complete a fixed number of tasks each year. Additionally, if the Demon Castle faced a crisis and a Demon Hunter willingly offered protection, the Demon Castle would provide Demon Protection, which meant protecting the Demon Hunter's family. The only restrictions for joining the Demon Castle were not to reveal its secrets and not to harm its interests.
"Demon Protection, that's very good!" Qin Chu said.
"It is very good, but after countless years, Demon Protection has only appeared once. The force protected by the Demon Castle gained some renown on the Saint Martial Continent. As long as the Demon Castle stands, that force will not fall," the silver-cloaked figure said.
"I'll do it!" Qin Chu said after thinking for a moment.
"You will be a very good Demon Hunter, you will become a Great Demon, haha!" the silver-cloaked figure laughed loudly.
"May I ask Your Excellency's name? And why are you laughing?" Qin Chu was a bit puzzled. Was he funny?
"You can call me Enforcement Officer Guan. Why am I laughing? The Demon Castle also needs talent, and people get injured. Isn't it a good thing to have a Five-Star Alchemist become a Demon Hunter?" Enforcement Officer Guan said.
Qin Chu also laughed. Enforcement Officer Guan was right; no one could do without Medicinal Pills, and every force needed high-Rank Alchemists.
Enforcement Officer Guan took out a whistle from under the counter. "This is a special whistle. If it vibrates, it means the Demon Castle needs something, and you must rush to the nearest Demon Castle. For ordinary Demon Hunters, they might not be actively summoned for ten or eight years, or even a lifetime, but you might be different because you are an Alchemist."
"Qin Chu understands," Qin Chu put away the whistle.
Then Enforcement Officer Guan took out several cloaks. "These are exclusive cloaks for Demon Hunters. If they get damaged, come and get new ones."
"Qin Chu understands," Qin Chu said after putting away the cloaks.
"If you encounter any difficulties, you can come to the Demon Castle," Enforcement Officer Guan said to Qin Chu.
Afterward, Qin Chu was escorted out of the Demon Castle. He was very puzzled; the Demon Castle was not like the rumors suggested. It seemed to have a lot of humanity.
What Qin Chu didn't know was that any force highly valued talent. Ordinary Demon Hunters would never receive the same treatment he did.