Bai Mo was puzzled when Fang Xiaoyu sent a post from the Immortal Discussion Forum.
[Ranking of Current Alchemy Experts]
[First, Wang E, originally a drug lord, started engaging with alchemy three years ago. Now he is Sequence Eight Soup Man, has repeatedly provoked the Imperial Capital Research Institute, yet remains elusive.]
[Second, Zhang Ye, originally a university professor, started engaging with alchemy three years ago...]
Fang Xiaoyu sent another message.
[The one coming this time is the second-ranked Professor Zhang!]
[Some of my colleagues wanted to get some benefits from him, like high-end cosmetics.]
[But they ended up being scolded by the director. His level is so high, he doesn't have time for us little guys, hahahaha.]
Bai Mo frowned.
Why has an alchemy expert come? To study that potion's aura?
"Whatever."
Bai Mo lowered his head, continued drinking the noodles, and eating the beef. The thin slices of beef mixed with scallions tasted particularly delicious.
That potion's aura was concocted casually two years ago when he had just advanced to Sequence Eight—a crude insecticide already obsolete on Fox Mountain. The materials were ordinary, and the technique had some superficial flourishes and tricks. Not very valuable.
"If they think it's useful, they can refine it themselves."
...
In the laboratory, Chairman Chen Shu stood guard beside a camp bed.
On the camp bed, Professor Zhang clutched a test tube, lay flatly, and soon entered a dream state.
The test tube in his hand emanated white smoke, blurring the boundary between dreams and reality, pulling him into a dream.
...
In the dilapidated stone palace, a Bronze Great Tripod stood, its inscriptions and patterns obscured by rust.
Professor Zhang knelt on a mat, showing a gentle smile despite his middle age, reminiscent of his graduate study days, as if facing his mentor once more.
On the adjacent mat sat an Ancient Immortal, looking surprised, sniffing the bottle of green potion aura.
This Ancient Immortal, known as "Qing Lu Ancient Immortal," had a youthful, fair countenance, appearing much younger than Professor Zhang. Sporting a bizarrely large hat, his cheeks seemed smaller.
He sniffed the green potion aura, his eyes sparkling, gradually smiling.
"Very interesting."
He looked at Professor Zhang.
"Do you want to learn how to refine this?"
"Yes, Master, could you decipher its formula?
"Could you decipher its refining technique?"
"It's not difficult to decipher. It's merely a Sequence Eight formula. I can teach you."
Professor Zhang was about to be pleased when his master spoke again.
"But, with your talent and skills, I'm afraid you won't achieve the same effect. You might only manage five or six out of ten efficacy."
Professor Zhang's mouth twitched.
"But, you said this is a Sequence Eight formula. I'm also Sequence Eight..."
Qing Lu Ancient Immortal shook his head and laughed.
"My dear disciple, you must understand, even within Sequence Eight, there are differences.
"In my time, Sequence Eight included skilled hands, average hands, and clumsy hands who struggled to refine medicine.
"With your skill level, if placed in my era... hmm..."
Professor Zhang's face turned gloomy.
Was his master implying he's clumsy?
"With your skill level, if placed in my era... you likely wouldn't qualify to refine medicine, but you could wash the Medicine Furnace."
Professor Zhang blushed, but being a middle-aged man who had weathered social storms, his complexion quickly regained its color.
Qing Lu Ancient Immortal continued his admiration.
"I always sensed that this formula seems original, created by your era's alchemist, originally..."
Professor Zhang frowned. Weren't formulas all learned from Ancient Immortals? Could this thing be original?
With complicated feelings, he asked again, "Master, then what level would the alchemist who originally created this formula be in your era?"
Qing Lu Ancient Immortal pondered for a moment, then frowned.
"From my intuition... this formula was merely an incidental creation.
"From such an incidental creation, it's hard to discern his depth...."
...
In the conference room, doors and windows tightly shut, blackout curtains drawn.
The ceiling light cast illumination.
Professor Zhang and Chairman Chen Shu opened their laptops and started a video conference.
Soon, the conference room was filled with dozens of participants; everyone needed was present.
Professor Zhang briefly explained the situation, then began sharing his judgment results.
"... In conclusion, integrating my and my Ancient Immortal Master's judgment.
"This Mr. Mystery, what he's displaying now is just the tip of the iceberg.
"It's tough to estimate his true capabilities."
The video conference plunged into prolonged silence.
Professor Zhang sipped some water, looked at the screen, and spoke again.
"So, I now have two questions.
"First, shouldn't we name this potion aura Blood Transformation Powder? The ingredients used are not rare, and I can learn the refining technique, potentially enabling mass production to address the current issue of blood Qi infiltration in the Immortal Martial Path.
"However, it's Mr. Mystery's formula. Without his consent, can we use it?
"Second, regarding such a mysterious person, how should we approach him?"
The attendees obviously cared more about the second question. This enigmatic Mr. Mystery instilled a sense of lack of control, a feeling of insecurity, and a faint internal fear!
"Let's find him! Our endeavors are challenging, and we cannot tolerate such a major instability."
Everyone understood, such a figure, if outside control, presents a great risk, akin to a ticking bomb ready to explode! But if under control, all hidden dangers vanish, and his immortal techniques and resources, under the Committee's management, could be better developed, unleashing greater effects!
"I agree with this viewpoint."
"I also agree."
Seated in front of the computer screen, Chairman Chen Shu remained silent. These veteran attendees who once held power across various industries and fields, now at the Immortal Technique Committee, remained fearful of strong individuals, of losing control and stability, with an intense desire for control.
Suddenly, a hearty voice overshadowed everyone.
It was Wu Jianxian, the President of the Immortal Technique Committee, Sword Immortal Path, Sequence Seven, the strongest human force on the surface.
"Have you considered the possibility that Mr. Mystery may no longer be Sequence Eight?
"In fact, given his current displays, if he is still Sequence Eight, that would be peculiar."
The video conference fell silent again.
But how could that be?
Everyone at the meeting is Sequence Eight; their understanding of immortal techniques far surpasses ordinary people, naturally aware of the ritual in Alchemy Path. The transition from Sequence Eight to Sequence Seven is a qualitative change, yet it's a vast chasm! According to Ancient Immortals, it's akin to certain death, pursuing advancement only to end up reduced to ashes by the Pill Fire.
If Mr. Mystery is already Sequence Seven in the Alchemy Path, the situation transforms into a different scenario...