Entering the Alchemy Department (Seeking Recommendations, Seeking Follow-ups)

After walking for quite some time, Xu Tao and Xu Haoyu followed He Guangyi to the Academic Affairs Office.

Through the open doors, they could see the room within. It was quite spacious, sunlight streaming through the windows and making it bright and airy. Several lush green plants stood in the corners, brimming with life.

Behind a desk sat an elderly man in black robes. He held a book in his hands and was reading it with great interest.

At that moment, He Guangyi spoke respectfully.

"Vice-Dean, while we were on patrol today, we encountered a group from outside. They were escorting a clan disciple here to enroll and study. I have brought them here now and await your decision."

As his voice fell, the elderly man behind the desk, who had been reading, raised his head. His expression was calm as he replied gently.

"Very well. Let them come in. The gates of Jia Nan Academy are open to all. Anyone with a clean background may come here to study."

Outside the door, He Guangyi stepped slightly aside, raised a hand toward the room, and made an inviting gesture.

"Please enter. The Vice-Dean will arrange everything from here."

Xu Tao and Xu Haoyu then strode into the room.

The Vice-Dean examined the two of them, while they examined him in turn.

Xu Haoyu's heart stirred. In Jia Nan Academy, the person in charge of the Outer Courtyard was Vice-Dean Hu Qian, a Nine Star Dou Huang. This must be him.

Hu Qian then smiled and asked.

"Hello. I am Hu Qian, Vice-Dean of Jia Nan Academy. Please tell me about your origins, so that we may have a clear understanding."

Xu Tao glanced at Xu Haoyu before speaking first, emphasizing their background.

"My name is Xu Tao. I am from the Xu Family of Tiannan City, Tianxin Empire. This is Xu Haoyu, the grandson of our Xu Family's Grand Elder. He has long admired Jia Nan Academy, and after receiving the elders' approval, I escorted him here."

Hu Qian was taken aback. He was well-traveled and highly knowledgeable, and he knew quite a bit about the Tianxin Empire Xu Tao had mentioned. It was a large empire with vast territory, countless factions, and more powerful experts than one could count.

However, the various forces within the Tianxin Empire were deeply intertwined, and the Xu Family was one of them. Xu Haoyu was even the grandson of the Xu Family's Grand Elder. His background was indeed extraordinary.

At this point, Hu Qian had a better idea of the situation. Although it was not currently Jia Nan Academy's enrollment season, since Xu Haoyu had come all this way, as long as his talent was not too poor, he could be admitted. As the grandson of the Xu Family's Grand Elder, his talent surely could not be lacking.

Hu Qian then looked at Xu Haoyu. Judging by his appearance, he was only in his teens. It would be extremely rude to rashly probe him with Soul Strength, so Hu Qian asked in a mild voice.

"Xu Haoyu, I already understand your background. However, Jia Nan Academy has certain standards for accepting disciples. Please tell me about your current circumstances."

Since Xu Haoyu was here to enroll, he had no intention of hiding anything and replied directly.

"I am eleven years old, and I am currently a Four Star Da Dou Shi!"

Gasp!

Hu Qian did not react at first, but when he processed the words, he sucked in a sharp breath.

Jia Nan Academy's standard for recruiting Outer Courtyard disciples was to reach at least the eighth stage of Dou Qi before turning eighteen.

What kind of monstrous talent was this Xu Haoyu? At only eleven years old, he already possessed the cultivation of a Four Star Da Dou Shi.

Suddenly, Hu Qian rose to his feet. In a single motion, he arrived before Xu Haoyu. Saying, "Forgive my rudeness," he reached out and seized Xu Haoyu's wrist.

He released his Soul Strength to examine Xu Haoyu's physical condition, quickly obtaining the result.

Hu Qian muttered to himself.

"His bone age is correct—eleven years old. But these tendons and bones, muscles, and Meridians... they are unbelievably thick and resilient, like those of a Dou Wang. Given your extraordinary background, you must have encountered some other opportunity. And this Dou Qi is also the solidified Dou Qi only possessed by those at the Da Dou Shi realm and above."

Hu Qian immediately released his hand and retreated two steps, his face full of apology.

Xu Tao stared at him with a dark expression. Hu Qian's probing just now could already be considered a provocation.

Although on the Dou Qi Continent, the strong were revered and the weak could not resist the strong, Xu Haoyu still had the Xu Family behind him.

He had been ordered to escort and protect Xu Haoyu, yet something like this had happened. It certainly could not simply be brushed aside. Xu Tao said in a deep voice.

"Vice-Dean, do you not have an explanation for what you just did?"

Hu Qian looked excited. He gazed at Xu Haoyu and spoke apologetically.

"I am truly sorry. When I heard your age and cultivation, I became overly excited and could not stop myself from investigating. Xu Haoyu, you have been admitted. Welcome to Jia Nan Academy. Regarding what happened just now, you may make one request of me. So long as it is within my power, I will not refuse."

Xu Haoyu rotated his wrist. Hearing that, he answered without a moment's thought.

"I want to enter the Inner Courtyard. I believe that is where I am better suited now."

Hearing this, Hu Qian agreed with Xu Haoyu's words, but the academy had its own rules. He felt greatly troubled and could only say.

"I am sorry. Though I am the academy's Vice-Dean, I cannot break the Inner Courtyard's rules. To enter the Inner Courtyard, you must participate in the Inner Courtyard Selection Competition. The top fifty are qualified to enter the Inner Courtyard, while the top five are also qualified to enter the Treasure Pavilion and select any one treasure to take away. It may be a cultivation technique or a Dou Skill, or it may be a divine weapon or sharp artifact—all of them are treasures collected by the academy over many years."

"The next Inner Courtyard Selection Competition will be held half a year from now. After sending off one batch of old students, we recruit a batch of new students. This has always been the academy's rule. You may participate in the competition half a year from now. With your strength, entering the top fifty will pose absolutely no problem. Even reaching the top five is not impossible."

Xu Haoyu's eyes flickered. The Inner Courtyard Selection Competition would be held in half a year, and that was a length of time he could afford to wait. He then looked at the Vice-Dean before him. Since he could not enter the Inner Courtyard directly, he would have to make another request. He spoke again.

"In that case, I will wait until half a year from now to participate in the Inner Courtyard Selection Competition. I would like to change my request now. I cultivate Fire-Wood Dual Dou Qi and am already a Fourth-Rank Alchemist. I wish to join a department related to alchemy, where I can directly study various high-level Pill Recipes and use the academy's medicinal ingredients to hone my alchemy skills."

Hu Qian was completely stunned. It was already shocking enough that he was such a young Four Star Da Dou Shi, but he was also such a young Fourth-Rank Alchemist. What level of monster was this? Since Jia Nan Academy had been founded, it had likely never recruited such a genius.

In the end, Hu Qian said with blazing eyes.

"Very well, no problem. I will arrange for you to enter the Alchemy Department. So long as the Pill Recipes and medicinal ingredients belong to the academy, you may study and use them as you please. I, the Vice-Dean, will bear all consequences."

Xu Haoyu was fairly satisfied. If he still had to wait half a year before entering the Inner Courtyard, then during these six months in the Outer Courtyard, he would properly hone his alchemy skills.