Taking Elder Huo as His Master

The next day, after the Opening Ceremony ended, Xiao Ming could not wait to head for the Alchemy Department building.

At the Alchemy Department, Xiao Ming found a middle-aged man who looked like 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 Technique before.

Xiao Ming repeated what he had told Ge Hu yesterday.

The middle-aged instructor frowned as he looked at Xiao Ming.

Instructor Ge Hu had been right. Every year, quite a few people came to enroll in the Alchemy Department. While many succeeded, many also failed. Some even came without knowing the conditions required to become an Alchemist.

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

He beckoned for a student nearby to 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 silence, the crystal sphere suddenly turned fiery red. An instant later, it became as scorching and dazzling as a fireball.

Amid the sea of red, a striking thread of green could clearly be seen.

"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, our Alchemy Department regularly has instructors of Fourth Grade Alchemist rank or above giving lectures. The classes are open, and anyone may attend. Afterward, you may ask the instructors questions."

"Of course, if a student possesses exceptional talent as an Alchemist and is accepted as an instructor's disciple, then it is another matter entirely. The instructor may be willing to devote time to teaching their own disciple everything they know."

"Second, the rankings assigned during admission do not apply in our Alchemy Department. I know you are this year's S-rank freshman, but that means nothing here. Whatever you want, you must earn through your own alchemy ability."

"Third, during the initial stage, the academy will provide each Alchemy Apprentice with Pill Formulas and medicinal ingredients. However, there are only a few fixed types, and the quantities will not be large. If an Alchemist truly wishes to grow, frequent practice is essential. I suggest that you purchase medicinal ingredients yourself later and get started as soon as possible."

"Once you successfully get started, every time you advance by one Alchemist grade, you will receive three Pill Formulas as a reward, and you may choose their types yourself. If you want more Pill Formulas, you will need to exchange Contribution Points for them. Contribution Points can be earned by refining pills for the academy. Remember, the formulas obtained from the academy must not be shared casually."

"Of course, according to the rules for Alchemists, the academy provides the ingredients when you refine pills for it, but you must guarantee the Pill Success Rate. Furthermore, after reaching a grade, just as before, Alchemists of different grades may apply to the academy each month for a certain amount of ingredients for practice. Success or failure does not matter. If you succeed, the pills belong to the academy; if you fail, the academy bears the cost of the ingredients."

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

Xiao Ming nodded and thanked him. The instructor's advice was extremely useful. Although Xiao Yan's pill refining had seemed easy in the Original Work, aside from his talent, it was largely because Venerable Yao, who was known as the Dou Qi Continent's greatest Alchemist, had personally taught him at his side. Even so, Xiao Yan had consumed quite a few medicinal ingredients.

Xiao Ming did not have Xiao Yan's treatment, and Jia Nan Academy was not some foolish benefactor. He would definitely have to spend his own money.

At that moment, Xiao Ming could already feel that his purse would grow much thinner for quite some time to come.

"Whew, fortunately, I'm not exactly poor now. Otherwise, this would really be difficult. The Xiao Family couldn't afford to support my alchemy."

If he told the Xiao Family that he had Alchemist Talent, they would surely be willing to support him. But considering the Xiao Family's means, they would probably go bankrupt trying to do so.

Seeing that Xiao Ming had Alchemist Talent and was also the young genius whose name had spread throughout Jia Nan Academy over the past two days, an idea suddenly emerged in the middle-aged instructor's mind and refused to leave.

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

"Say, little fellow, I have a suggestion for you. It can save you resources, and someone will teach you as well. Do you want to hear it?"

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

"Ahem. Recently, the elders of the Alchemy Department have 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 was very likely to be accepted as a disciple. That would benefit him as well.

"Then wait here for me a moment."

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

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

The academy's higher-ups had all heard about the Six-year-old Dou Zhe admitted over the past two days.

A six-year-old Three-star Dou Zhe—how outrageous was that? He had never seen anyone like that in his entire life.

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

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

He had not expected this Xiao Ming to possess Alchemist Talent in addition to his outstanding cultivation 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.

Faced with Elder Huo's question, Xiao Ming respectfully bowed 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 still too talented.

The closer Elder Huo looked at Xiao Ming, the more satisfied he became. Though young and gifted, the boy showed no trace of arrogance. Very good.

"I am Elder Huo, a Grade Five Alchemist in charge of the Alchemy Department. Are you willing to take me as your master?"

"I am willing. Xiao Ming pays respects to Teacher." Elder Huo's words suited Xiao Ming perfectly. There was no reason to refuse, so he immediately bowed.

"Hahaha, good. Get up." Elder Huo happily helped Xiao Ming to his feet.

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

"Mm." Elder Huo stroked his gray-white beard, then removed a Na Ring from his hand and passed it to Xiao Ming. "Disciple, this Na Ring contains the gifts I prepared for you. Inside are the Cultivation Method and Dou Skills you will need for future cultivation, along with some gold coins, 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 presented his master with a gift for becoming his disciple yet.

Yet Elder Huo had already given him so many good things. It really made him feel awkward.

This was because Xiao Ming's reputation had become quite great over the past few days, and some basic information about him had spread among the higher-ups. Elder Huo also knew that he came from a small family in the Jia Ma Empire, was probably not very wealthy, and did not cultivate a particularly good Cultivation Method.

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