It is well known that alchemists are a noble and scarce profession, divided into five levels, each with three sub-levels: high, mid, and low. The first three levels correspond to the Qi Refining Realm, while the last two correspond to the Foundation Establishment True Person Realm! A Third-Level Alchemist, at best, corresponds only to the Late Stage Qi Refining Realm. Is such praise truly warranted?
From Chen Fei's personal perspective, he was indeed qualified to look down on a so-called mere Third-Level Alchemist. But considering the reality of the Cultivation World, never mind Third-Level Alchemists; even low-level First and Second-Level Alchemists were extremely popular and respected, sought after by all the major powers! This was because any alchemist who could successfully produce pills represented Spirit Stones, and therefore, wealth.
And what did a Third-Level Alchemist represent?
Such an existence, even within the vast expanse of Eagle Gorge, would undoubtedly be an honored guest of every prominent power!
Even powerhouses at the 'Cave Master Level' of the Qi Refining Ninth Layer would have to respectfully address them as "Grandmaster" upon meeting.
Viewed this way, Zhang Kui's words were not so strange after all. At least on this patch of land that was Canglan Island, the authority and influence of a Third-Level Alchemist were indeed indisputable.
"Indeed. If I could become a Second-Level Alchemist in this lifetime... no! Even a First-Level one would be enough! As long as I could become a First-Level Alchemist, where in Eagle Gorge would I not be treated with some respect?" Zhang Kui exclaimed with a sigh full of yearning.
For an ordinary cultivator, the very word "alchemist" was synonymous with a supremely noble status. This was to say nothing of a Third-Level Alchemist, who could concoct Third-Level pills and whose status and influence exceeded even that of an ordinary powerhouse of the Qi Refining Ninth Layer. Given this reality, it was no wonder that Zhang Kui harbored such an aspiration.
After all, who wouldn't want to be a revered and sought-after alchemist?
Hearing this, Chen Fei paused for a moment before smiling and saying, "Listening to you, Brother Zhang, it sounds like you know a bit of the Alchemy Technique yourself?"
"Not at all, not at all…"
Hearing Chen Fei's question, Zhang Kui reflexively smiled and said humbly, "I had a stroke of luck on Canglan Island in the past and was taken in by a Second-Level Low Grade Alchemist as a pill-fire boy for a time. Unfortunately, that master later left for Ghost Wolf City in pursuit of a higher level of the Alchemy Dao, and our connection ended then..." As he spoke, a look of deep regret crossed his face. If he had chosen to follow that alchemist to Ghost Wolf City back then, his status and background might be completely different today.
"So, Brother Zhang, you are an alchemist? My apologies for not realizing sooner..."
"Far from it. I can only concoct one or two specific types of First-Level Low-Grade and Mid-Grade pills. It's not worth mentioning."
The two continued their casual conversation, which for Chen Fei was simply a pleasant way to pass the time on the road. About ten minutes later, the entirety of Canglan Island grew clearer and larger in their vision.
"Alright, we've arrived. Everyone off the ship," the middle-aged man at the peak of the Qi Refining Sixth Layer said coldly to the passengers as the vessel docked at the shore of Canglan Island.
SWOOSH! SWOOSH! SWOOSH...
In an instant, figures began to streak out from the ship and its cabins, disembarking onto the shore.
"To the Central Region of Canglan Island! One Low Grade Spirit Stone Fragment! Only eight spots! First come, first served, we leave right away!" Immediately, a loud, clear shout came from not far away.
Chen Fei paused, his gaze reflexively turning toward the sound. In that direction, several vehicles resembling horse-drawn carriages were parked by the side of a wide road. The shout had come from a cultivator with thick brows at the Qi Refining Fourth Layer, standing at the front of the line of carriages.
Of course, the creatures pulling these carriages were not horses, but a pair of fierce-looking beasts that were neither ox nor wolf.
"Brother Zhang, what is this?" Chen Fei asked curiously.
"This? It's a Beast Carriage. Brother Chen, don't tell me you don't even recognize a Beast Carriage? They should be quite common in our Eagle Gorge, right?" Zhang Kui was visibly taken aback. It was strange that Chen Fei didn't recognize something so common in Eagle Gorge and even the Ghost Wolf City area.
Hearing this, Chen Fei's eyes darted around for a moment before he waved his hand with a smile. "Of course, I know it's a Beast Carriage. I was just wondering what so many of them are doing parked here by the shore."
"Oh, that's what you meant? They're here drumming up business," Zhang Kui said, a look of understanding dawning on his face as he explained with a smile. "The true settlement on Canglan Island is in the center of the island, which is nearly a hundred li from here. A Beast Carriage can get us there in less than half an hour! Some people are in a hurry, some just want the convenience, and others are simply too lazy to walk nearly a hundred li… so, this line of business was born. Anyway, if you take this trade seriously, it's more than enough to cover the daily cultivation needs for anyone below the Qi Refining Fifth Layer."
"So that's how it is," Chen Fei nodded in understanding, though he was muttering to himself internally.
Isn't this the exact same scene as the unlicensed taxi drivers hustling for customers outside train stations back on Earth? To think I'd see a 'live reenactment' of that here in the Cultivation World... It's certainly a novel experience.
"Come on, Brother Chen. To celebrate our meeting, how about I treat you to a ride in this Beast Carriage?" Zhang Kui then added with a teasing smile. It was, of course, a joke. A single Low Grade Spirit Stone Fragment was nothing to either of them.
Besides, even if he hadn't met Chen Fei today, he still would have chosen to take a Beast Carriage to the central part of Canglan Island. After all, a distance of nearly a hundred li was neither short nor long.
Now, it was just a matter of one extra Low Grade Spirit Stone Fragment, which was no big deal to him at all.
"Well, in that case, it would be rude to refuse. I'll be shameless and take you up on that offer," Chen Fei replied with a laugh. Although he had only just met Zhang Kui under confusing circumstances, he had to admit the man made a good impression. He seemed like someone worth befriending. As for anything deeper, that could be discovered later if the opportunity arose.
With that, Chen Fei and Zhang Kui casually boarded a Beast Carriage. The creature that was neither ox nor wolf raised its hooves, let out a strange cry, and pulled the carriage toward the center of Canglan Island.
Less than half an hour later, the Beast Carriage was already approaching its destination: a small city that had a rather imposing air about it.
Though it was called a small city, the place didn't look much different from a town on Earth. Looking from afar through the carriage window, the city was encircled by a towering stone wall several zhang high. Every seven or eight hundred meters, an even taller watchtower stood, making the city look quite formidable. Peering over the wall, one could vaguely make out a dense collection of stone and wooden rooftops of varying heights.
On the towering stone walls, there were even some unidentifiable, exquisite patterns that faintly emitted a chilling and hair-raising aura. Clearly, these beautiful patterns were not harmless decorations but concealed dangers.
"This is the so-called Canglan Island?" Upon seeing this, Chen Fei was left somewhat speechless, a sense of disappointment welling up inside him. Isn't this a bit too... primitive? Is the living environment for all cultivators in the Cultivation World this grim? In comparison, the major cities on Earth are so much better...
"The wilderness of the Cultivation World hides too many dangers, so it's impossible to have cities everywhere full of people, like on your Earth," Zhen Jingkong's voice sounded in his mind, seeming to understand his disappointment. He explained calmly, "Basically, those without a talent for cultivation, or with only average talent, gather for generations around the cities built by powerful factions. Over time, desolate and harsh cultivation lands like this one rarely see any particularly lively scenes. However, when you visit the true great cities in the future, what you see will be much better... To be honest, I also look down on places like this. They're too desolate."
"Is that so?"
Chen Fei was startled by the words, but just then, the Beast Carriage they were in arrived at the city gate.
Beneath the gate, people in twos and threes, dressed in strange clothes or old Dao Robes, were coming and going. A small number of Demon Clan members with bestial heads and human bodies, or even in fully bestial forms, were mingled among them. A massive, pitch-black iron gate stood at the entrance. To the right, a small group of soldiers in bronze armor stood guard, looking thoroughly bored.
"We're here. Everyone, please disembark." At that moment, the Beast Carriage's driver called out cheerfully from outside. A slight stir went through the carriage as the passengers began to get off in small groups. Chen Fei did the same.
"Brother Chen, let's go. Let's enter the city," Zhang Kui said with his persistent enthusiasm after they disembarked, leading Chen Fei toward the black iron gate.
Only after walking through the city gate did Chen Fei realize that the central area of Canglan Island was not as small as it had appeared from the outside. Once inside, the place felt significantly larger.
As far as the eye could see, the city was filled with various types of houses—tall and short, mostly square—and though their placement seemed a bit irregular and the styles and materials varied greatly between stone and wood, the overall layout was still quite neat. A main street paved with bluestone, several zhang wide, ran through the center and extended in all directions like a spider's web.
While the street was not teeming with the bustling crowds one might imagine, there were still a good number of people about. More importantly, those passing by all possessed a significant Cultivation Level. It seemed rare to see anyone below the Qi Refining Fourth Layer here.
"This central region of Canglan Island is divided into three major zones, arranged in layers," Zhang Kui began to explain with a smile. "The outermost layer is the trading district, which is basically for outsiders like us to set up shops or temporary stalls. The middle layer is the residential area for the natives of Canglan Island, such as the three major families. Generally, we don't enter there without a specific reason. The innermost layer is the Island Master's Residence, which is off-limits to outsiders."
Just then, Zhang Kui smiled again and said, "However, I have some business to attend to, so how about we part ways here for now? Brother Chen, if you want to chat or have a drink sometime, feel free to contact me with this Jade Talisman. As long as you're within a hundred-li radius of the island, I'll receive the message."
As he spoke, Zhang Kui took out a palm-sized jade talisman. It was a common Communication Spirit Talisman in the Cultivation World.