Chapter 461: The Empire's Top Poison Master!

After leaving the Lin Mansion, Ling Feng headed straight to the Alchemist Guild.

The guards at the gate, recognizing the newly appointed chief honorary elder, greeted him with utmost respect and promptly escorted him to the alchemy room of President Hong Haotian.

Inside, Hong Haotian and Yan Cangtian had been waiting for a while, along with another middle-aged man Ling Feng had never seen before. This man, appearing to be in his forties or fifties, had a head of vigorous white hair cut into a crew cut, giving him a very spirited look.

There was a deep scar on the left side of his face, stretching from his forehead down across his cheek.

This scar didn't make him look ugly; instead, it added to his rugged masculinity.

Given that Hong Haotian had kept him around, it was clear that this man's alchemical skills must be on par with that of a guild president!

"Finally, you're here!"

Yan Cangtian couldn't help but grumble as Ling Feng entered the alchemy room. "Only you in the entire empire would dare keep us waiting this long!"

"

Uh...

" Ling Feng rubbed his nose, smiling sheepishly. "Sorry, Elder Yan, I got held up by some matters."

𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖

Ling Feng then approached the alchemy furnace, gave a fist-and-palm salute to Hong Haotian, and turned to the white-haired man with curiosity. "May I ask who this gentleman is?"

"This is Master Su Dongling, the other honorary president of our Alchemist Guild, besides Master Yun Danqing. Master Su usually enjoys traveling and searching for rare herbs, so he's seldom in the imperial capital. He happened to return and heard about your plan to refine the legendary Demon-Transforming Pill, so he came to witness it," Hong Haotian introduced.

"Master Su Dongling?" Ling Feng's eyes widened, realizing that this must be Su Qingxuan's father. Su Qingxuan had mentioned her father was due to return soon, and here he was, meeting the esteemed Master Su.

Ling Feng smiled and gave a fist-and-palm salute. "Junior Ling Feng greets Master Su."

Su Dongling nodded slightly and said, "It's true that every generation has its talents. I didn't expect someone as young as you to possess the advanced skills of a sixth-grade alchemist. I'd be honored to witness the refining of the legendary Demon-Transforming Pill."

"Master Su, you're too kind."

"Alright, enough with the compliments," Yan Cangtian interrupted while stretching. "Old Su, you're not here just to observe. As the empire's top poison master, your fire control skills are unmatched. Ling Feng's cultivation isn't quite there yet, so it'd be best if you handle the fire control."

"You old rascal, I knew there was a catch to you calling me here!" Su Dongling, clearly having a good relationship with Yan Cangtian, complained but still nodded in agreement.

After all, the Demon-Transforming Pill was a unique medicinal pill. Since its invention by a legendary alchemist, there hadn't been a single successful attempt in centuries.

With only one crystal core of a thousand-year-old demonic shen, success had to be achieved in one go!

With the best alchemy furnace, the finest array, and the top alchemists working together, the success rate would be maximized.

"President Hong Haotian and I will assist with the materials. Ling Feng, you will lead the process," Yan Cangtian said.

"Understood," Ling Feng nodded. With four of the empire's top alchemists working together, if they still failed to produce the Demon-Transforming Pill, they might as well all give up alchemy.

However, Ling Feng was particularly curious about Su Dongling's title as the Empire's Top Poison Master.

Strictly speaking, alchemists and poison masters both belonged to the category of alchemists, but poison masters tended to focus on refining poisons, while alchemists refined beneficial spiritual medicines.

Thus, alchemists were generally respected by society, whereas poison masters were seen as mysterious and terrifying, commanding awe and fear.

After all, a poison master could kill with just a flick of the wrist, and a top-notch poison master could effortlessly annihilate an elite army!

Su Dongling was such a poison master. During a battle against the Tianyang Empire, he used his skills to destroy one of their main forces. This feat made Su Dongling famous, earning him titles and honors from the empire.

Later, he joined the Alchemist Guild, becoming an honorary president.

In a sense, the advancement of a poison master was far more challenging than that of an alchemist’s.

A top-notch poison master was undoubtedly a first-rate alchemist, but a top-notch alchemist may not necessarily be able to become a poison master.

"Alright, you must have carefully studied the formula for the Demon-Transforming Pill by now, right?" Yan Cangtian asked.

"Yes," Ling Feng nodded slightly. Although he hadn't expected Yan Cangtian and the others to prepare all the materials in advance, his photographic memory allowed him to master the formula with just one look.

"Take out the demonic shen’s crystal core. That thing is the hardest to handle," Yan Cangtian said loudly.

"Alright," Ling Feng quickly took out the demonic shen’s crystal core and handed it to Yan Cangtian.

"It's truly the crystal core of a thousand-year-old demonic shen!" Yan Cangtian exclaimed. "It's a stroke of luck that Old Man Deng encountered a thousand-year-old demonic shen. Otherwise, this crystal core would be nearly impossible to find!"

"So, General Deng had a demonic shen’s crystal core all along. That old fox hid it well!" Hong Haotian muttered. In fact, this crystal core was one of the high-tier materials he had been searching for over the years.

"This crystal core has been separated from its main body for at least fifteen years and has accumulated a lot of impurities. Purifying it won't be an easy task," Su Dongling commented with a faint smile. "President Hong, Elder Yan, who's going to tackle this tough job, or should I do it?"

"No need, I'll do it," Ling Feng spoke up. "Master Su, you need to conserve your elemental force for controlling the Six Yang True Fire array."

"

Oh?

" Su Dongling looked at Ling Feng. Seeing was believing, hearing was not.

Despite the Alchemist Guild elders speaking highly of Ling Feng's alchemy skills, Su Dongling couldn't help but think this young man looked too young.

His precious daughter, Su Qingxuan, whom he had trained from a young age, was a few years older than Ling Feng but was only a fourth-grade alchemist.

No matter how gifted Ling Feng was, his age was a factor. Su Dongling suspected that the other alchemists might have exaggerated Ling Feng's actual skills because of his youth.

"Alright, young friend. Let me see how you refine and purify this demonic shen’s crystal core," Su Dongling said, resting his chin on his hand with a slight smile.

"Then allow me to demonstrate," Ling Feng said as he took a deep breath, holding the demonic shen’s crystal core and silently activating the water and fire true qi within his body.