Apprenticing Under Elder Huo

The next day, once the Opening Ceremony had ended, Xiao Ming impatiently headed toward the Alchemy Department building.

At the Alchemy Department, Xiao Ming found a middle-aged man who appeared to be an instructor and expressed his desire to join the department.

The instructor first asked whether Xiao Ming possessed Alchemist Talent and whether he had studied alchemy before.

Xiao Ming repeated what he had told Ge Hu yesterday.

The middle-aged instructor frowned and Glanced At Xiao Ming.

Instructor Ge Hu had been right. Every year, Many People came to register for the Alchemy Department. While quite a few succeeded, quite a few also failed. Some even came without knowing the requirements for becoming an alchemist.

Therefore, the instructor would not take Xiao Ming at his word alone.

He waved a hand and had a student beside him bring over a Testing Crystal.

"Hold out your hands."

Xiao Ming looked at the smooth crystal sphere without the slightest hesitation and placed both hands over it.

After a brief lull, the crystal sphere suddenly turned fiery red. A moment later, it became as burning hot and dazzling as a fireball.

Amid the sea of red, a striking trace of green was clearly visible.

"Not bad. You really do have Alchemist Talent. From now on, you are a student of our Alchemy Department."

Having received confirmation, the instructor immediately began explaining the basics of the Alchemy Department to Xiao Ming.

"First, in our Alchemy Department, instructors who are Fourth Grade Alchemists or above regularly give lectures. The classes are open, and anyone may attend. After class, you may ask the instructors questions."

"Of course, if a student's alchemist aptitude is exceptional and they are accepted as an instructor's disciple, then it is another matter if that instructor is willing to devote time to teaching their own disciple everything they know."

"Second, the ranks assigned during enrollment do not apply in our Alchemy Department. I know you are this year's S-rank freshman, but that is useless here. If you want anything, you must earn it with your own alchemy ability."

"Third, during the initial stage, the academy will provide every Alchemy Apprentice with pill formulas and medicinal herbs. However, there are only a fixed few types, and the quantities are limited. If an alchemist wishes to truly grow, frequent practice is essential. I suggest that you buy medicinal herbs yourself afterward and get started as soon as possible."

"Once you successfully get started, every time you advance by one alchemist grade, you can receive three pill formula rewards, with the types chosen freely. If you want more formulas, you need to exchange Contribution Points for them. Contribution Points can be earned by refining pills for the academy. Remember, pill formulas obtained from the academy must not be passed on freely."

"Of course, according to alchemist rules, the academy provides the medicinal herbs when you refine pills for it, but you must guarantee the Pill Success Rate. Furthermore, after entering a grade, just as before, alchemists of different grades can apply to the academy each month for a certain amount of medicinal herbs for practice. Success or failure does not matter. Successful pills belong to the academy, while failed attempts are covered by the academy."

"However, you are still a beginner, so you do not need to think about so much for now. Just study properly first. Remember my advice: an alchemist's growth consumes enormous resources. Buy more medicinal herbs to practice with first. Once you enter a grade, you can refine pills for the academy to obtain the resources you need afterward."

Xiao Ming nodded in thanks. The instructor's advice was extremely useful. Although Xiao Yan had seemed to refine pills easily in the Original Work, aside from his talent, it was more because Venerable Yao, known as the Dou Qi Continent's greatest alchemist, had personally taught him at his side. Even so, Xiao Yan had consumed plenty of medicinal herbs.

Xiao Ming did not enjoy Xiao Yan's treatment, and Jia Nan Academy was not some sucker. He would definitely have to pay for things himself.

At this moment, Xiao Ming could already feel that his purse would grow much flatter for quite a long time.

"Phew, fortunately, I am not exactly poor now. Otherwise, this really would have been difficult. The Xiao Family could not afford to support my alchemy."

If he told the Xiao Family that he had Alchemist Talent, they would certainly be willing to support him. However, considering the Xiao Family's means, they would probably be driven bankrupt.

Seeing that Xiao Ming possessed Alchemist Talent and was also the Genius Youth who had become famous throughout Jia Nan Academy over the past two days, the middle-aged instructor suddenly had an idea that he could not shake.

After learning the Alchemy Department's class schedule, Xiao Ming was about to leave when the middle-aged instructor finally could not help but speak.

"How about this, Little Guy? I have a suggestion that could save you resources and give you someone to teach you. Do you want to hear it?"

"There is such a good thing?" Xiao Ming stopped in surprise.

"Cough cough, the elders of the Alchemy Department have recently been accepting disciples. With your talent, you can give it a try. If you want, I can introduce you."

So that was it. There was nothing to consider. Xiao Ming immediately agreed.

Seeing Xiao Ming agree, the middle-aged man was overjoyed. Xiao Ming had excellent Cultivation Talent and stood a high chance of being accepted as a disciple, which would benefit him as well.

"Since that is the case, wait here for me."

"Mm, are you Xiao Ming, the genius who has been widely talked about in the Outer Academy these past two days?"

Elder Huo looked at Xiao Ming, who was quietly waiting some distance away, and asked with interest.

The matter of the academy accepting a Six-year-old Dou Zhe had already become known to every high-level figure in the academy.

A six-year-old Three-star Dou Zhe—how exaggerated was that? He had never seen such a person in his entire life.

Even Hu Gan's granddaughter, known as a prodigy, could not compare to him.

He had even heard that some elders were considering accepting this young Dou Zhe as their disciple.

He had not expected that this Xiao Ming, besides possessing outstanding cultivation talent, also had Alchemist Talent.

Hehe, since that was the case, he would take this disciple before the others came looking for him.

Elder Huo thought happily to himself.

Facing Elder Huo's question, Xiao Ming respectfully saluted and answered, "Yes."

Xiao Ming knew that he would sooner or later cause a sensation, but it had not even been three days. He had not expected even an elder from the Alchemy Department to know about him already. He could only say that he was simply too talented.

The closer Elder Huo looked at Xiao Ming, the more satisfied he became. Despite being a genius at such a young age, there was no arrogance on his face. Very good.

"I am Elder Huo, a Grade Five Alchemist in charge of the Alchemy Department. Are you willing to become my disciple?"

"I am willing. Xiao Ming greets Teacher." Elder Huo's words were exactly what Xiao Ming wanted. There was no reason to refuse, and he immediately bowed.

"Hahaha, excellent. Rise." Elder Huo happily helped Xiao Ming up.

Seeing that things had gone smoothly, the middle-aged instructor at the side said, "Congratulations, Elder Huo, on gaining such a fine disciple."

"Mm." Elder Huo stroked his grizzled beard, then removed a Na Ring from his hand and handed it to Xiao Ming. "Disciple, this Na Ring contains gifts I have prepared for you. Inside are the cultivation methods and Dou Skills you will need for future cultivation, along with some gold coins, cultivation methods, Dou Skills, books, pill formulas, and a medicine cauldron. If there is anything you do not understand, ask me directly."

"Thank you, Teacher." Xiao Ming accepted the Na Ring somewhat embarrassedly. He had not even given his teacher an Apprenticeship Gift yet.

Yet Elder Huo had already given him so many good things. It made him feel rather embarrassed.

This was because Xiao Ming's reputation had grown greatly over the past few days, and some basic information about him had spread among the academy's high-level figures. Elder Huo also knew that Xiao Ming came from a small family in the Jia Ma Empire and likely had little money, and that the cultivation method he practiced was probably not very good.

Xiao Ming was not the only one in such circumstances. Many People who came to study at Jia Nan Academy were the same. Grade Five Alchemist Elder Huo was rich and generous, so he simply prepared everything for his disciple.

Thanks to Little Book Thief for the two Monthly Passes.