Hu Jia (Seeking Recommendations, Seeking Follow-ups)

Noticing the confusion in Xu Haoyu's eyes, Hu Qian smiled and introduced her.

"Haoyu, this is my granddaughter. Her name is Hu Jia. Her talent is decent enough, but she can't compare to you. You're both eleven or twelve, yet she's only at the eighth stage of Dou Qi. She'll still need another year or two of accumulation before she can break through to become a Dou Zhe."

Hearing her grandfather's assessment, Hu Jia immediately pouted, her face full of displeasure. In the past, her grandfather had always considered her his pride and joy, yet today he had spoken of her like this. She promptly reached out her little hand, tugged on his sleeve, and protested, "Grandpa, my talent isn't inferior to anyone's. Where is he stronger than me?"

Hu Qian's expression turned stern at those words. He knew his granddaughter's talent was already quite good, but this was the perfect chance to let her know that there were always greater people beyond people, and higher heavens beyond the sky. He then said solemnly, "Jia'er, the person standing before you is named Xu Haoyu. Yesterday, he came to enroll under the protection of his family elders. He is the same age as you, yet he is already a Four Star Da Dou Shi."

As soon as those words fell, Hu Jia stared at Xu Haoyu in shock. Her little mouth hung open, and her eyes were filled with disbelief.

How could such a monster exist? To become a Four Star Da Dou Shi at eleven or twelve years old—more accurately, a Five Star Da Dou Shi, since he had broken through just last night.

Logically speaking, during the Dou Qi stage, no one could cultivate cultivation methods. They could only rely on the most basic hand seals for absorbing Heaven and Earth Energy, slowly raising their Dou Qi bit by bit.

Only after breaking through to become a Dou Zhe and beginning to cultivate cultivation methods would one have the chance to advance by leaps and bounds.

At that moment, Hu Jia truly understood that the gap between people could be so immense.

Seeing that he had achieved his purpose, Hu Qian reached out and rubbed Hu Jia's head. He did not truly wish to discourage his granddaughter; he only hoped that after this, she would become more humble and more diligent in her cultivation.

Then Hu Qian looked up at Xu Haoyu, his voice turning gentle once more. "Alright, Haoyu. I'll take you to the Alchemy Department to register now."

With that, Hu Qian took Hu Jia by the hand and walked ahead, signaling for Xu Haoyu to follow behind him.

Xu Haoyu chuckled and followed. He had long since grown used to it—he had always been the "other people's child" in the mouths of elders.

However, seeing that Hu Jia was only this young, he could finally guess that Xiao Yan was probably around the same age as him now.

About ten minutes later, they arrived at the Alchemy Department. The moment they reached the place, they could smell a medicinal fragrance—a scent that could only linger after years of alchemy, enduring without dispersing and refreshing the mind.

With Hu Qian leading the way, they encountered no obstacles and quickly reached the top floor of the building, the seventh floor.

The first floor was where alchemy apprentices gathered, the second floor was for First Grade Alchemists, the third floor was for Second Grade Alchemists... and so on. The seventh floor was where Rank 6 Alchemists gathered, and it was also Fire Elder's office.

As soon as they reached the seventh floor, while still in the corridor, Hu Qian called out with a smile, "Fire Elder, I've brought a genius to your Alchemy Department. Come take a look already."

As his voice fell, a deep, powerful voice came from a distant room. "Vice-Dean, what kind of genius could possibly require you to personally bring him here?"

Immediately afterward, an elderly man in a red robe, with half-black, half-white hair, emerged from the room and came forward to greet them.

After coming out, he looked at Hu Qian, then Hu Jia, and finally Xu Haoyu. He promptly sized Xu Haoyu up from head to toe. "Vice-Dean, this is the genius you mentioned? Is he an alchemy apprentice, or a First Grade Alchemist?"

This old man was Fire Elder, the person Hu Qian had mentioned. Xu Haoyu looked quite young, but since Hu Qian had called him a genius, even if he was not a First Grade Alchemist, he had to at least be an alchemy apprentice. Otherwise, he could not be considered a genius.

Hu Qian gave a mysterious smile. "Too low. He is a Fourth-Rank Alchemist, and I've already promised him that he may freely study the Alchemist Guild's Pill Recipes and freely use its medicinal ingredients."

"What?!"

Fire Elder was greatly shocked. He himself was only a peak fifth-rank alchemist. When he looked at Xu Haoyu again, his gaze carried a hint of scrutiny. "You are a Fourth-Rank Alchemist? Do you have any proof? Have you undergone an assessment at the Alchemist Guild in your hometown?"

Xu Haoyu shook his head and replied, "I have always studied under my family's chief alchemist. I have never gone to the Alchemist Guild for an assessment."

Fire Elder frowned deeply. He did not believe it—he truly could not believe that such a young Fourth-Rank Alchemist could exist. "Words alone are no proof. It is difficult for others to believe that you are a Fourth-Rank Alchemist. I will need to reconsider the Vice-Dean's promise to you."

Xu Haoyu shrugged. His age was both an advantage and a disadvantage. It represented extraordinary talent, but it also meant that all his achievements were easily questioned.

So he said directly, "That's simple. Have someone prepare the ingredients for Qi Gathering Powder. I can refine it on the spot."

Without a second thought, Fire Elder agreed. This was indeed the best method. "Very well. Come with me."

Under Fire Elder's lead, the group returned to the fifth floor. This was where Fourth-Rank Alchemists gathered. Quite a few Fourth-Rank Alchemists were present, both students and instructors, and numerous ingredients used to refine Rank 4 Pills were stored here as well.

After Fire Elder gave the order, the ingredients needed to refine Qi Gathering Powder were brought over. However, there was not one set, but three.

Fire Elder was still quite fair. He did not demand that Xu Haoyu succeed on his first try. As long as he succeeded once out of the three attempts, it would prove beyond doubt that he was a Fourth-Rank Alchemist.

At the same time, all the Fourth-Rank Alchemists on this floor who had the time—whether they had been exchanging experiences in the common area or studying Pill Recipes in their rooms—gathered around and pointed at Xu Haoyu as they talked.

Clearly, they had all heard that the youthful-looking Xu Haoyu was about to refine a Rank 4 Pill to prove that he was a Fourth-Rank Alchemist.

A trace of worry appeared in Hu Qian's eyes. At this point, everything depended on Xu Haoyu himself.

Meanwhile, beside Hu Qian, Hu Jia wore an utterly disbelieving expression. How could such a genius exist? At such a young age, he was already a Four Star Da Dou Shi and a Fourth-Rank Alchemist. It made her seem utterly useless—useless even among the useless.

Under countless watchful eyes, Xu Haoyu calmly took out his medicinal cauldron. His state of mind was tranquil, without the slightest trace of nervousness. With a raised hand, he summoned the Heavenly Flame.

With a soft puff, the moment the white flame appeared in his hand, it instantly drew the attention of the entire crowd.

A tangible flame—this was indeed an ability only a Fourth-Rank Alchemist possessed.

The instant this white flame began to burn, it caused the surrounding temperature to rise continuously. It carried an air of savagery and ferocity; it was likely some kind of special Beast Flame.

Without realizing it, everyone had come to believe, at least somewhat, that Xu Haoyu truly was a Fourth-Rank Alchemist...