At the intersection of several streets stands an immense building, perpetually enveloped in a soft, delicate fragrance of a warm, crimson hue. Upon its towering entrance, five ancient, gracefully calligraphed characters of the Pharmaceutical Guild shimmer with a gentle silver glow, drawing the admiration and respectful glances of passersby. As the central hub of pharmaceutical practitioners in the Gamma Empire, even the imperial monarchs of the royal family must bow slightly upon arrival—because the energy emanating from the residents within this building is powerful enough to shake the very foundations of the empire. They are the most esteemed profession on the continent of Qi. Outside the grand doors of the Pharmaceutical Guild, practitioners who are rarely seen in daily life move swiftly back and forth, their robes of varying colors proudly displaying their respective ranks. Standing outside the main gate, Xiao Yan looked up at the imposing and majestic Hall of Alchemists, marveling and shaking his head in admiration—such an aura truly warranted its status as the leading hub of alchemists in the Jia Ma Empire. "Are you planning to attend the Alchemist Grand Assembly?" asked Hai Bo Dong, standing beside him, gazing upward at the Alchemist Guild, which now appeared noticeably more crowded and lively than usual. He turned his head slightly to inquire. "Let's see," Xiao Yan replied. "If there's something that truly appeals to me, I might go. Otherwise…" He spread his hands, clearly indicating that if there was no compelling reason, he had no intention of going through the trouble. "Then it's up to you," said Hai Bo Dong, nodding. "For alchemists, such gatherings are essential—many alchemists from other nations have also come to attend." He then patted Xiao Yan's shoulder. "So, go on in. I'll be off to handle some matters with old acquaintances at the guild." "To the Mitel family, then?" Xiao Yan glanced at Hai Bo Dong, smiled, and said. Hai Bo Dong smiled lightly, didn't directly answer, waved at Xiao Yan, then turned and slowly walked toward the street to the left. Watching the elderly figure gradually blend into the flowing crowd, Xiao Yan murmured softly, "It seems he has deep ties with the Mitel family..." After a brief moment of thought, Xiao Yan shook his head slightly, setting these questions aside. Whether or not Hai Bo Dong had old connections with the Mitel family, it didn't matter much to him. He glanced once again at the ancient-looking plaque above his head, then stepped forward and entered the crowd of the Alchemist Guild. Xiao Yan's face still bore the smooth, icy texture of the Ice Silkworm's skin, dressed in a standard second-rank alchemist's robe—ordinary, unremarkable. As he stepped into the guild's entrance, a rich, fragrant aroma of elixirs immediately enveloped him, prompting him to take a deep, refreshing breath and look around with a sense of serene delight. The Hall of the Herbalist Guild is remarkably spacious, broadly divided into three areas—east, south, and west. In the eastern hall, numerous square platforms made of Qinggang stone are neatly arranged. Behind these platforms, herbalists in long robes sit at attentive posts, while on the platforms themselves, a variety of medicinal herbs, jade vases, scrolls, and other items are displayed—suggesting this area serves as a trading and browsing zone. In the southern hall, several cauldrons are blazing with intense heat. Herbalists stationed behind the cauldrons carefully regulate the flame, their expressions serious. Surrounding them, junior herbalists gather, pointing and whispering to one another, exchanging tips and experiences on the art of alchemical preparation. The hall to the west was undoubtedly much quieter than the other two halls, with guards stationed along the corridor, as though only certain pharmacists of a certain rank were entitled to enter. Even junior pharmacists who occasionally passed by would cast looks of reverence and admiration toward it. Standing at the entrance, Xiao Yan found himself momentarily stunned by the bustling activity in the hall, gradually regaining his composure after a while, only to shake his head with a wry smile. Taking a slow, steady step into the hall, he glanced around, hesitated slightly, then proceeded toward the area where transactions and merchandise were being exchanged. Having once stumbled upon a hand-to-hand combat technique in Wutan City by chance, he had grown particularly interested in the act of discovering treasures amidst vast heaps of debris. As he moved through the eastern section, Xiao Yan walked slowly between the various platforms, his eyes curiously scanning the rare herbs and other items—many of which he had never seen before. Although this area is named the Trading Taobao Zone, the sellers here do not loudly haw their wares like merchants in the markets. Instead, they sit leisurely on soft chairs, occasionally glancing at those standing outside the platforms. Only if they perceive someone with potential do a few pharmacists rise to engage in conversation. Most remain relaxed, tucked comfortably in their seats, paying little attention to the onlookers. This calm, laid-back demeanor is far from what one would expect of a merchant. Indeed, they are not merchants at all. What they seek is not the gold and wealth that merchants typically covet, but rather barter—specifically, rare and precious treasures. To obtain the herbs or elixirs you need, you must offer something truly extraordinary that captures their interest. Strolling slowly, Xiao Yan was treated to a variety of rare herbs and pills, many of which were materials used to craft Fuxing Zizhan Pills. Driven by curiosity, he approached the vendor to inquire, only to be met with a mere glance and a quiet mention of a fourth-rank pill. Unwillingly, Xiao Yan had to retreat, though the herbs were indeed remarkable—offering a fourth-rank pill in exchange was clearly beyond his means. He didn’t need to worry too much about these herbs; he’d simply inform Hai Bodo upon returning and let him handle the matter himself. This flame is known as Peach Blossom Flame. It exists only within a relatively rare fifth-tier wooden beast, Kui Mu Shou. While its rank may be comparable to the purple flame of the purple-crystal lion king, it is far more gentle and easier to tame. Though it falls short of the purple flame in temperature and destructive power, the Peach Blossom Flame still commands considerable admiration among the alchemists in the Taobao region. Many seasoned practitioners have repeatedly approached the elder to inquire about it. However, due to the high asking price, no one has yet successfully secured a vial of this precious Peach Blossom Flame. Standing outside the crowd, Xiao Yan stroked his chin, gazing at the peach-flower flame on the stone platform, furrowed in thought before finally deciding to part with it. For him, who already possessed hetero-fire and purple fire, this flame no longer offered significant advantages—there was no need to pay a substantial price to acquire it. With this contemplation, he set aside the idea of exchanging for it and simply stood outside, watching the spectacle unfold. As one after another failed in their transactions, many people, aware of their own limitations, chose to abandon their efforts but did not immediately depart. They remained in place, eagerly watching the graceful, blooming pink flame. Observing their somewhat comical expressions, Xiao Yan found himself momentarily at a loss for words, chuckling softly and shaking his head. As he prepared to turn and leave, a silver-tinged figure suddenly pushed through the crowd, swiftly reaching the platform under everyone's gaze, her eyes shining with admiration as she fixed them on the pink flame. "Is it her?" Staring at the woman dressed in silver robes, Xiao Yan was momentarily stunned, whispering, "She's also here to attend the Pharmacist Conference?" The woman who had stepped out of the crowd was indeed the one Xiao Yan had first encountered in Black Rock City—Snow Mei, the direct disciple of Foklan, the head of the Black Rock City Pharmaceutical Branch. Usually reserved and somewhat cold, this woman seemed particularly fond of that delicate pink flame. Holding the transparent jade vial in her delicate hands with such affection, Xiao Yan could only shake his head in exasperation. How could this seemingly foolish woman be so eager to display herself now? It was clear she would soon be the subject of much criticism. Indeed, observing her earnest demeanor, the elder smiled gently, his voice still calm, "Miss, would you like to exchange for this peach-flower flame seed?" "Indeed," Snow Mei nodded, asking casually, "What would you like in return?" "A well-detailed fourth-rank prescription," the elder replied with a warm smile. "Black..." Hearing this, Xiao Yan couldn't help but shake his head, silently cursing. A fourth-rank pill formula was already rarer than this Peach Fire medicine. To say nothing of his additional requirement—that the soul traces on the formula must be clear. After all, every pill formula was inscribed using soul energy. Each time it was read, the soul traces would grow fainter. Once a formula had been read five times or more, the traces would gradually blur. At that point, readers would have to rely on their own intuition to interpret the vague sections—clearly wasting both time and energy. As for crafting the prescription scrolls, it requires the mastery of a Fourth Rank Alchemist, and the success rate is exceptionally low. Thus, medicinal prescriptions are not merely casually recorded on paper with a pen and ink as one might imagine. Details such as temperature control, concentration of materials, and the interactions between various ingredients—elements that are nearly as complex as chemical formulas—when listed on paper, can easily overwhelm even the most attentive reader. Therefore, these prescriptions are inscribed using spiritual energy. Once someone obtains a prescription, they merely need to scan it once with their spiritual energy, and all the necessary information will be deeply etched into their mind, as if permanently imprinted. Hearing the elder's request, Xue Mei's cheeks clearly changed, evidently finding it somewhat difficult to meet. Yet she seemed not particularly skilled at bargaining, and given her deep affection for the rosy flame, she finally nodded in the midst of Xiao Yan's astonishment. "This woman—she's willing to part with a fourth-rank prescription? Oh well, I'm sure Elder Foklan will be heartbroken this time," Xiao Yan sighed, genuinely impressed by her generosity. Seeing Xue Mei so readily agree, the elder was momentarily taken aback, then hesitated, asking with a mixture of doubt, "You've agreed?" Xue Mei said nothing further, simply reached into her storage bracelet, pulled out a scroll, and tossed it toward the elder. Then, holding the transparent jade bottle in her hands, she treated it as if it were already her own. Hastily accepting the scroll, the elder quickly surveyed it and then swiftly performed an initial probe using his spiritual power, his weathered face instantly brightening with joy. Observing the expressions of the two, Xiao Yan sighed and shook his head, glanced briefly at the snow-maiden who was fondly holding the peach-fire seed, gave a slight dismissive gesture, and made no effort to greet her, then turned and walked toward the area beyond the shopping zone. As he was about to leave the shopping zone, his steps suddenly halted at a corner near the entrance, where he turned his head to gaze at a somewhat weathered stone platform beside it, furrowed his brow, hesitated, and then slowly approached. Behind the stone pedestal stood a rather plain, thin man with a somewhat awkward appearance. Since the herbs displayed on the table were not particularly rare, few people stopped by to inspect them, so he often carried a slight sense of resignation. When he saw Xiao Yan approaching slowly, he was first taken aback; upon glancing at the second-rank Alchemist badge on Xiao Yan’s chest, his eyes brightened, and he promptly stood up, bowing politely. Smiling casually at the man who seemed to have reached middle age, Xiao Yan felt a subtle sense of reflection. With Yao Lou's guidance, his journey as a pharmacist had been remarkably smooth, few obstacles encountered, and thanks to the accumulated experience of predecessors, he had avoided many detours. Yet now, gazing at this man before him, Xiao Yan realized that advancing as a pharmacist was not as straightforward as he had once imagined.