The battle aircraft had arrived at the main fortress of the Black Tower faction. Upon landing, Qin Hanchu descended with a Black Tower executive.
Led by the executive, Qin Hanchu arrived at the Black Tower headquarters.
The architectural style of the Black Tower headquarters was very ancient, yet the interior decoration was opulent.
"May I see the Tower Master?" Qin Hanchu inquired while walking through the main hall of the headquarters.
"The Tower Master is in strict seclusion. No one, apart from the elders of the Black Tower, can see the Tower Master."
Qin Hanchu continued to ask, "What is the ranking system of the Black Tower?"
"Below the Tower Master are five elders, and below the five elders are the fortress lords of each fortress," the Black Tower executive stated, pausing briefly. "Our status as executives is one level lower than that of the fortress lords."
"Is there anything below executives? It can't be the lowest level of management, can it?" Qin Hanchu asked.
The Black Tower executive smiled and shook his head. "Of course not. Below executives are supervisors and commanders, and further down are chiliarchs and centurions!"
"So, they're considered middle management," Qin Hanchu remarked.
"Yes, they're on the upper side of management," the Black Tower executive chuckled awkwardly. "Executives are divided into administrative executives and honorary executives. Those like myself, who manage affairs in the secular world, are administrative executives. Honorary executives, on the other hand, have more freedom and are only required to be present when the Black Tower has a major unified operation."
"Administrative executives should receive additional rewards, right?"
"Certainly, after all, we cannot stay here all the time, and we still have to handle external affairs on a daily basis," the Black Tower executive said with a smile. "Our most important duty is to select potential individuals for martial arts cultivation for the Black Tower; assassination is merely a test and trial for these members."
"Can honorary executives freely go out to search for medicinal materials?"
"Of course, as long as you don't fear death."
With this answer, Qin Hanchu was very satisfied.
Under the guidance of the Black Tower executive, the two entered the Black Tower's registration office.
After registering his identity information, Qin Hanchu received an electronic chip.
This electronic chip served as Qin Hanchu's identity card here.
Due to his Grandmaster level strength, Qin Hanchu was granted the status of an honorary executive.
This status provided him with many conveniences within the Black Tower's territory.
"I'll take you to your residence and then explain some matters here."
"Thank you for your trouble."
"I will also receive a reward for bringing you into the Black Tower."
While chatting, the two arrived at Qin Hanchu's residence.
Although the residence was only a little over seventy square meters, it was sufficient for Qin Hanchu to live in.
In addition to the residence, the Black Tower also provided executives with a mountain motorcycle.
Cars were simply impractical in this place.
Although Grandmasters could fly through the air, motorcycles were faster for travel.
After explaining the situation here, the Black Tower executive stated, "The rest is for you to explore. If you wish to return to the surface, you can apply for a battle aircraft in advance."
"Thank you for your trouble." Qin Hanchu saw the Black Tower executive out.
Qin Hanchu had originally planned to attend an auction held by the Black Tower outside, but now there was no need for that.
There were many people selling medicinal materials in the underground city, and Qin Hanchu could easily purchase them from them.
In fact, he didn't need to spend money. Qin Hanchu could earn the price difference through alchemy.
Although Qin Hanchu in his previous life had not delved into the path of alchemy, he was, after all, an Ancestral level powerhouse.
For alchemy below the Divine Pill level, he could rival the most skilled alchemists of that realm without needing to learn.
Moreover, at the Grandmaster level, he could casually refine pills to a perfect quality.
To earn the price difference by helping others refine pills, he first needed certification from the Alchemist Association.
Stepping out of his residence, Qin Hanchu got on the motorcycle provided by the Black Tower.
This motorcycle did not require fuel or electricity; its energy source was a unique substance from the subterranean world.
Adding a small bottle was enough to travel for a thousand kilometers.
This motorcycle not only had an advanced energy source but also a very intelligent system.
As long as Qin Hanchu's chip was successfully matched, he could drive it directly.
When Qin Hanchu's chip was more than ten meters away, the motorcycle would automatically lock.
Entering the Alchemist Association, the receptionist was a beautiful woman in her thirties.
Although this woman was a martial artist, her cultivation realm had not yet reached Grandmaster.
"I'm here to apply for alchemist certification," Qin Hanchu said, extending his arm. The watch on his wrist was where the chip was located.
The woman scanned Qin Hanchu's chip. Upon seeing that Qin Hanchu was an honorary executive, she respectfully said, "Please wait a moment, Executive. I will register you immediately."
In less than a minute, the front desk receptionist spoke again, "Executive, please follow me."
Following the receptionist, Qin Hanchu entered an alchemy room.
In this alchemy room, there were two staff members, one responsible for the medicinal materials, and the other for posing questions and assessing the quality of the pills.
"Executive Ye, what level of alchemist are you applying for?" the staff member posing questions asked.
Qin Hanchu replied, "What levels are there?"
"The highest level is the Glorious Alchemist, followed successively by Purple Gold Alchemist, Golden Alchemist, Silver Alchemist, and Bronze Alchemist."
"The Glorious Alchemist requires the refinement of the Dou Ling Pill used by peak Grandmasters, with a minimum quality of high-grade."
"The Purple Gold Alchemist requires the refinement of the high-grade Burning Qi Pill used by mid-stage Grandmasters!"
As the staff member was about to continue explaining, Qin Hanchu interjected, "Glorious Alchemist will do."
"What? Are you sure?" The staff member was startled by Qin Hanchu's choice.
There were only three Glorious Alchemists in the entire Black Tower, which illustrated the immense difficulty in becoming one.
Qin Hanchu was applying for the highest level, Glorious Alchemist, on his first attempt at alchemist certification?
"I am sure," Qin Hanchu stated.
The staff member asked in surprise, "May I inquire about your master's name?"
"I prefer not to say."
Upon hearing this answer, the staff member pondered and said, "How about this: you refine a batch of high-grade Burning Qi Pill first. If you succeed, I will help invite a Glorious Alchemist to supervise the exam."
Qin Hanchu pointed to the medicinal materials nearby, "Are these free to use or do I have to pay?"
"If you succeed, you only need to leave half of the pills. If you fail, you will have to pay one billion."
Qin Hanchu did not speak further. He directly selected the medicinal materials required for the Burning Qi Pill.
The medicinal materials in the underground world were potent, making the refinement of the Burning Qi Pill very easy.
Qin Hanchu skillfully processed the medicinal materials and then began the alchemy process.
The staff member who served as the supervisor here had considerable alchemical attainments.
Upon witnessing Qin Hanchu's alchemy techniques, the supervisor's expression was filled with shock.
He had initially thought Qin Hanchu was arrogant and overconfident, but now he believed Qin Hanchu truly had the qualifications to apply for Glorious Alchemist.
It took a full six hours before Qin Hanchu opened the furnace.
As the furnace lid was lifted, a fragrance of pills wafted through the air.
"Perfect grade! This is a perfect grade Burning Qi Pill!" Upon smelling the fragrance, the supervisor exclaimed in surprise.