A Leisurely Day

After the alchemist assessment, word spread among the students that the academy had gained two Third-grade Alchemists, one of whom had even refined an Explosive Fire Pill.

After Xia Mo confirmed his alchemist rank and learned of the benefits afforded to a Third-grade Alchemist, he shut himself off from outside affairs. Many elders from the Alchemy Department wanted to take him as their final disciple, but upon learning that Xia Mo already had a master, they were all deeply disappointed.

After all, having a genius inheriting disciple would be a tremendous honor for them.

Early in the morning, Xia Mo sat cross-legged atop the building. It had been a long time since he had leisurely basked in the sun. The dawn clouds at the horizon were crimson, like the blush on a young maiden's cheeks. The sun slowly rose, casting out streaks of brilliant golden light as if laughing loudly.

"Xiao Mo, come down. Breakfast is ready," Xiao Yi Xian called.

"Coming." Xia Mo stood up, then lightly leaped and flipped down.

When Xia Mo entered the living room, Xiao Yi Xian, Xiao Xun'er, and Hu Jia were already seated at the table and eating. They were having steamed buns that morning. Although food gradually became unnecessary as one's strength increased, Xia Mo had never given up his appetite for good food.

Only that made Xia Mo feel the breath of life. Otherwise, he would feel like a robot—cultivating, and then cultivating some more.

"How has this past month been? Have you made any new friends?" Xia Mo asked.

"It's been fine. I got to know the classmates in my class, had a small breakthrough in strength, nothing much," Xiao Yi Xian said.

"We've had a peaceful time too—just cultivating, with the occasional stroll around Jia Nan City. It hasn't been nearly as fulfilling as your life. You're already famous throughout the Outer Academy," Xiao Xun'er teased.

"Mm, nothing much. It's just that boys kept coming to bother Xiao Yi Xian and Xun'er. After I beat them up a few times, no one dared come forward anymore. And once they learned Xiao Yi Xian and Xun'er were your friends, they became even less daring," Hu Jia said excitedly. It seemed she had enjoyed beating people up.

"What about you, Xiao Mo? What are you planning to do next?" Xiao Yi Xian asked.

"Me? No particular plans. I'll just work hard at cultivating," Xia Mo replied casually. "Today, I'll go to class with you."

Ever since arriving at the academy, Xia Mo seemed never to have attended a class. He planned to follow Xiao Yi Xian today and take it as a chance to relax.

"Sure. I'll introduce you to your classmates. Don't stay in your room refining pills and cultivating all day," Xiao Yi Xian said with a smile.

After breakfast, Xia Mo followed behind Xiao Yi Xian and the other two as they headed toward the teaching building.

Yellow Class Two was on the second floor of the Talent Nurturing Building. Quite a few students were already hurrying in that direction.

"Look, it's Goddess Xun'er..."

"I like Xiao Yi Xian..."

"Shh, keep it down. That tomboy's here too. If she hears you, be careful not to get beaten up."

"What did you say? Who are you calling a tomboy? Explain yourself!" Hu Jia roared.

"Ah, run! The tomboy's going to hit someone!" the person shouted before vanishing in a flash.

"Haha, Hu Jia, you... really are intimidating," Xia Mo said with a laugh.

"Wow, look! That little kid is so pretty!" A female student in the nearby crowd couldn't help crying out when she saw Xia Mo's baby face.

"Where, where?" Her voice startled her companions, who quickly turned to look. They were instantly stunned as well.

"He's so cute! He's that monster, isn't he? I heard he's even more talented than the Little Demoness. I've never seen him before."

"Come on, let's follow them. They must be heading to the Talent Nurturing Building for class. It's on the way anyway."

Hearing their words, Xia Mo's mouth twitched, and he hurriedly caught up with Xiao Yi Xian and the others.

The Talent Nurturing Building was the teaching building for Yellow-tier classes. Opposite it stood the Far-Reaching Building, the teaching building for the Profound-tier classes.

Jia Nan Academy had no grades, only Yellow-tier and Profound-tier classes. New and old students trained together; classes were not divided by age, but solely by strength.

After all, they were located in the Black Corner Region, where the law of the jungle was revered. Jia Nan Academy's teaching philosophy therefore differed greatly from that of ordinary academies. It focused more on reality and championed the strong over the weak. A true enemy would not spare you just because you were young. Only freshmen who could stand out would become the academy's priority for cultivation.

In terms of class strength, students in the Profound-tier classes were generally stronger overall than those in the Yellow-tier classes. But that did not apply to everyone; some students in the Yellow-tier classes were also very strong.

For example, Xiao Yi Xian. Xiao Xun'er. Hu Jia. Xia Mo. And... other exceptionally gifted genius students.

"Yellow Class Two... Hah, we're finally here." Looking at the sign before him, Xia Mo let out a breath. After walking for so long, they had finally reached their destination.

"Yellow Class Two? That pretty little brother is in Yellow Class Two, the same class as Xiao Yi Xian and Xiao Xun'er."

Not far away, a group of female students chattered excitedly.

"Tch, you fangirls. Stop preying on that poor kid and look at me instead," a burly hulk beside them muttered.

"Get lost..."

Many students had already arrived in Yellow Class Two. The moment Xia Mo entered, he drew the attention of numerous students. After all, he was the only child there.

"So he's Xia Mo..."

"On his first day of class, he slept the entire day."

"He hasn't come to class for a month."

"He..."

Well, it seemed Xia Mo was rather well-known now. Seeing Xiao Yi Xian and the others heading for seats near the front, Xia Mo paused, then quickly made his way toward the back.

Before long, Instructor Ruo Lin entered with several senior female students. Once everyone had taken their seats, Instructor Ruo Lin began teaching, while Xia Mo lay sprawled across his desk and went to sleep.

At first, Instructor Ruo Lin did not notice Xia Mo. After all, he had not come for a long time, and he was sitting in the back with his head down, asleep. If the students had not kept looking toward the back during class, she might have overlooked him entirely.

Once class was over, Instructor Ruo Lin walked over to Xia Mo. "Well, well, which student might this be? Why does it seem like I've hardly ever seen you before?"

"Instructor, I only missed class. I haven't fallen behind in my cultivation," Xia Mo said with a wry smile. It seemed Instructor Ruo Lin held quite a grudge over his month-long absence from class.

By now, the entire academy was talking about the little fellow she had brought back from the Jia Ma Empire—how he had joined the Alchemy Department a month ago and had become a Third-grade Alchemist just yesterday.

Heavens have mercy—she, Ruo Lin, was an instructor at Jia Nan Academy and possessed the cultivation of a Da Dou Shi. Yet sometimes, even for a single third-grade medicinal pill, she had to swallow her pride and beg others for it, and they might not even be willing to oblige.

Ruo Lin looked at Xia Mo seriously and asked, "Are you really already a Third-grade Alchemist?"

"That's right. I am indeed already a Third-grade Alchemist." Xia Mo smiled as he answered Instructor Ruo Lin, whose face was full of astonishment.

"A lot of people have come to me now, wanting you to refine pills for them. What do you think?" Instructor Ruo Lin asked.

Xia Mo thought for a moment, then looked at Instructor Ruo Lin. "Instructor Ruo Lin, if someone asks me to refine pills, I'll mainly accept third-grade pills. As for second-grade pills, I can take those too if the reward is high enough. As payment for you being my instructor, I can refine pills for you free of charge. Of course, you'll need to provide three sets of ingredients."

"No problem. I'll handle it for you." Upon hearing that she only needed to provide the materials and no additional payment was required, Ruo Lin immediately agreed.

"Then thank you, Instructor Ruo Lin. If I'm not around, just give the things to Xiao Yi Xian. When I return, I'll refine them right away," Xia Mo said to Ruo Lin.