BTTH : From Humble Beginnings to Dou Di

After a while, Lin Feng successfully cultivated his technique, and his mind gradually immersed into his body.

Immediately, a complex and terrifyingly intricate diagram of meridians surfaced in his mind.

Controlling his consciousness, he swiftly navigated through several meridians before quickly arriving above the qi cyclone in his lower abdomen.

Now, his Dou Qi cyclone was not only several times larger than before he practiced the cultivation technique, but the quality of the crimson Dou Qi flowing within was also far superior to the attribute-less Dou Qi he previously cultivated.

With a slight movement of his mind, a strand of crimson Dou Qi flowed out from the cyclone and rapidly coursed through his meridians.

As the Dou Qi circulated, Lin Feng could distinctly feel the powerful force within his body gradually rising to a peak he had never reached before.

Slowly opening his eyes, a smile appeared on Lin Feng’s face.

With his current cultivation speed after switching techniques, he would be able to advance to a Two-Star Dou Zhe within a month at most.

After finishing his cultivation, Lin Feng immediately got up, mounted his horse, and headed straight for Black Rock City.

He no longer wanted to stay in Wu Tan City, and Qing Shan Town was too impoverished. Black Rock City, on the other hand, was a much better place.

Moreover, due to the presence of the Alchemist Association in Black Rock City, there were a large number of alchemists there, making it easy for him to acquire the herbs needed for alchemy.

Black Rock City was a large city located in the eastern province of the Jia Ma Empire. Its scale was even grander than Wu Tan City.

In terms of overall strength, it ranked among the top of all large cities in the Jia Ma Empire.

Looking at the massive city reflecting a faint crimson glow under the evening sun, Lin Feng exhaled slightly.

The past few days of living in the wilderness had indeed been quite difficult for him.

As he got closer, Lin Feng finally realized that the towering city walls of this city were at least forty to fifty meters high.

Compared to the walls of Wu Tan City, they were more than twice as tall and were entirely constructed from neatly arranged black rocks, leaving him in awe.

Upon reaching the city gate, he paid the entry tax and was smoothly allowed in, passing through a somewhat dark tunnel within the walls.

Moments later, his vision widened, and a wave of deafening noise filled his ears, catching him off guard and making his head throb slightly.

Inside the city, Lin Feng found that Black Rock City was indeed worthy of its reputation as one of the top cities in the Jia Ma Empire. Even though it was already dusk, the streets remained bustling with people.

From time to time, patrols of guards passed by in an orderly fashion, the synchronized clanking of their armor instilling a sense of deterrence against ill-intentioned individuals.

Lin Feng wandered the streets for a while. When the sky finally darkened, he casually entered an inn, rented a room, and began studying the alchemy books he had obtained from Liu Xi’s storage ring.

The next morning, Lin Feng sat cross-legged on the bed in his inn room, his hands forming seals, eyes tightly shut. With the guidance of his cultivation technique, the surrounding Dou Qi flowed into his meridians.

After an unknown period of time, a dull sound echoed from within his body, as if he had broken through some kind of barrier. He slowly opened his eyes.

”Two-Star Dou Zhe. I should be ready to start practicing alchemy now,” Lin Feng murmured.

For the past month, he had been diligently studying the introductory books on alchemy. Now, he was itching to put theory into practice.

After freshening up, he left the inn and headed toward the Alchemist Association of Black Rock City.

He had inquired beforehand—anyone who passed the guild’s examination and proved they had the talent to become an alchemist would be awarded an Alchemist Apprentice Certificate.

With this certificate, one could freely enter and exit the Alchemist Association and rent an alchemy room.

Of course, renting an alchemy room required a fee of three hundred gold coins per day.

However, as a facility specially built by the Alchemist Association for apprentices, it provided an environment where they could practice alchemy undisturbed while also concealing the noise and fluctuations caused during refining.

After turning through several long streets, Lin Feng finally stopped in front of a grand and imposing building.

This building had a unique design, resembling a massive alchemy cauldron in structure.

Around the building, there were windows designed to look like the fire vents of a cauldron, while the roof was shaped like a large cauldron lid, covering the space beneath it.

On the exterior of the building, an antique plaque made of faint purple sandalwood hung above the entrance. Five ancient characters, glowing with a subtle radiance, were inscribed on it.

”Alchemist Association!”

Lin Feng softly murmured before stepping inside.

As he approached the entrance, two fully armed guards immediately stopped him. In deep, resonant voices, they asked, ”Young man, this is the Alchemist Association. Do you have a recommendation letter from your mentor?”

Lin Feng cupped his hands and replied, ”Big brothers, I’m here to apply for the Alchemist Apprentice Certificate.”

”Applying for an Alchemist Apprentice Certificate? First, you’ll need to test your Dou Qi attribute.” Upon hearing Lin Feng’s request, one of the burly guards skillfully took out a crystal ball and handed it to him.

Lin Feng stepped forward, accepted the crystal ball, and infused it with Dou Qi. As expected, the crystal ball burst into a blazing red light with a hint of green.

”This young man, you may proceed inside.” Noting the crystal ball’s reaction, the guard’s tone took on a hint of flattery.

”Thank you.” Lin Feng nodded before walking in.

As he entered the Alchemist Association, a faint medicinal fragrance filled the air, bringing a sense of calm and clarity.

The spacious hall was not crowded, with only a few people quietly engaged in their own affairs.

Hearing footsteps, some raised their heads, glanced at Lin Feng briefly, then resumed their work.

At that moment, a young woman dressed in a light blue robe hurried out from the back and approached Lin Feng quickly.

”Sir, judging by your unfamiliar face, this must be your first time at Black Rock City’s Alchemist Association, correct?”

With a polite smile, the woman’s beautiful eyes scanned Lin Feng before she inquired with a pleasant demeanor.

”Yes.” Lin Feng took a moment to observe her. She had bright eyes and white teeth, exuding a charming presence. Smiling, he responded, ”It is indeed my first time here. I’m here to apply for an Alchemist Apprentice Certificate.”

”Please, this way.” Upon hearing this, the woman, named Ya Han, showed a touch of respect. She took a few steps back, leading him to the counter with a warm smile.

Retrieving an aged parchment scroll from the counter, she elegantly held a pen in her fair hand and looked up at Lin Feng with a gentle smile. ”Sir, please provide your name, age, and mentor’s name so I can register your details.”

Lin Feng added two years to his actual age and replied, ”Lin Feng, age seventeen. I currently do not have a mentor.”

”No mentor? Hmm… alright.” Ya Han noted it down before taking out a badge from the counter, performing a few procedures, and then handing it along with a form to Lin Feng.

”You only need to take these to Master Ao Te inside for an examination. Once you pass, he will process the badge, allowing Alchemist Associations across the Jia Ma Empire to recognize your identity.”

After expressing his gratitude, Lin Feng followed her instructions and approached an elderly man, presenting the two items Ya Han had given him.

”Place your hand on it and give it a try.” Master Ao Te pointed at a crystal ball on the left side of the wooden table.

Lin Feng stepped forward, placing his hand on the crystal ball and channeling his Dou Qi.

Seeing the compatible Dou Qi attribute, Master Ao Te nodded approvingly and then instructed, ”Now, place your hand on the other crystal ball to test your soul perception.”

Lin Feng complied. Unlike before, this time, the crystal ball emitted a dark glow, appearing rather eerie.

Observing this, Master Ao Te processed the Alchemist Apprentice badge once more before casually tossing it to Lin Feng. ”You’re good to go.”

With the badge in hand, Lin Feng swiftly rented an alchemy room.

Upon entering, he found the room empty. However, noticing the walls were entirely constructed from Black Rock, he couldn’t help but marvel at the guild’s wealth.

Legend had it that Black Rock could withstand attacks from a Dou Wang-level expert. When used to construct alchemy rooms, it absorbed any energy released during refining, preventing leaks. However, the cost was exorbitant.

After surveying the environment, Lin Feng adjusted his state of mind and brushed his fingers over his storage ring. In an instant, a large cauldron appeared on the ground before him.

This cauldron was deep crimson, its surface speckled with faint glimmers of light. At its base, two menacing snake heads were intricately carved, their open mouths forming two interlinked fire holes.

The passage within the holes twisted and narrowed as it extended inward, hinting at hidden intricacies. These fire holes were crucial indicators of a cauldron’s grade.

Lin Feng’s cauldron had two fire holes, categorizing it as a Two-Mouth Cauldron—the lowest tier.

Generally, the more fire holes a cauldron possessed, the higher its grade and rarity. However, controlling multiple fire holes required powerful soul perception.

Of course, these fire holes were not just randomly drilled. Their design involved profound craftsmanship that an untrained person could not fathom.

The fire holes were the essence of the cauldron, requiring precise craftsmanship. Even the slightest flaw during its creation would render the entire cauldron a failure.

At the cauldron’s top, a giant serpent coiled into a dark red lid, with a special opening designed for inserting medicinal ingredients.

The lid featured finely crafted vents made from ice silver, serving as cooling outlets to prevent explosions due to excessive heat.

In the middle section of the cauldron, a transparent mirror-like panel crafted from ice essence was embedded, allowing clear observation of the refining process.

The cauldron’s surface was adorned with exquisitely detailed magical beast engravings, so lifelike that they seemed ready to spring to life.

With everything in place, Lin Feng was now prepared to embark on his journey as an alchemist apprentice.