Joining the Alchemy Department

Before long, the two arrived at a quiet little courtyard. It was simple and unadorned, without any luxurious decorations. Anyone unaware of its owner might have mistaken it for the home of an ordinary commoner.

Instructor Ruo Lin stepped forward and knocked on the door before saying, "Principal Hu Gan, I've brought Xiao Ling."

"Alright, let him come in. I'm terribly curious about him." A deep, powerful voice came from inside the house. Though it sounded somewhat aged, it carried great force and could not be underestimated.

Xiao Ling pushed open the door and entered the small house. He first bowed to Hu Gan. "Student Xiao Ling greets Principal Hu Gan." Then he raised his head and examined Hu Gan.

Hu Gan wore a black-and-white robe and a large white hat patterned with gold. A pair of gold-rimmed glasses rested on his slightly aged face, and a small tuft of white beard hung from his chin, giving him a very approachable air.

Hu Gan set down his pen and looked at Xiao Ling, completely unconcerned by the way Xiao Ling had just examined him. Smiling kindly, he asked, "Child, how old are you this year? Why did you want to come to Jia Nan Academy? What is your current cultivation level?"

"Principal, I'm eight years old this year, and I'm already a Dou Zhe." Xiao Ling spoke calmly, a maturity far beyond that of an ordinary child flickering in his eyes. "I want to increase my strength quickly, and I'm also very interested in alchemy, so I chose to join Jia Nan Academy."

As his words fell, Xiao Ling released the unique aura of a Dou Zhe. Though it was still immature, it was enough to reveal his potential.

Hearing this, Hu Gan sensed Xiao Ling's aura and stepped forward to feel his hand. His eyes grew brighter and brighter, and inwardly, he was already overjoyed.

His cultivation foundation is solid, his physical constitution is stronger than that of some Dou Shi, and he has a fairly strong Beast Fire within him. His Dou Qi Attribute is fire mixed with a trace of Wood Attribute, and his Soul Power is also quite formidable. He's a natural Alchemist. Haha, with such a genius, Jia Nan Academy will surely rise to greatness again.

Seeing Hu Gan look at him as if he wanted to devour him, a bead of cold sweat formed on Xiao Ling's forehead. He hurriedly asked, "Principal Hu Gan, is there anything else?"

Realizing that he had lost his composure, Hu Gan's old face reddened. After coughing twice, he said, "I won't beat around the bush. Your talent is the finest Jia Nan Academy has seen in a hundred years. Even on the Zhongzhou Continent, you could be considered a top-tier genius. We intend to devote all our efforts to nurturing your growth, but such benefits do not come for free. After graduating from the academy, you must serve as an elder here. I also know Jia Nan Academy will not be your final destination. You may go out and travel, as long as you lend the academy your strength when it is in danger. When you grow old, settling down here would also be a fine choice. Moreover, Jia Nan Academy has a deep foundation. Although the academy head is not currently here, he left behind many precious treasures. This is absolutely the place best suited to nurture you at this stage. If you do not wish to become an academy elder, we will still nurture you well. Though the resource allocation will not be as generous, it will still exceed the treatment given to S-rank freshmen. You need only remember this goodwill in the future. So, what is your answer?" After speaking, he stared directly at Xiao Ling, the smile disappearing from his face.

Facing Hu Gan's serious gaze, Xiao Ling did not hesitate for long before answering, "I am willing to become an academy elder after graduation. The academy will protect me as I grow, and I will certainly protect the academy's peace and contribute to its development. I will not disappoint the academy's cultivation."

Hearing the answer he wanted, Hu Gan burst into laughter. "Good. Go back to your dormitory and rest first. If you want to learn alchemy, visit the Alchemy Department tomorrow. The instructors there will teach you alchemy." As he spoke, he took out a Storage Ring and handed it to Xiao Ling. "Inside are medicinal ingredients for refining First-grade Pills through Third Grade Pills. They will be enough for your early practice. If you run out of ingredients, come find me again."

Xiao Ling accepted the Storage Ring and nodded. After thanking him, he turned and left the room. He asked Instructor Ruo Lin where his dormitory was and told her that he would be going to the Alchemy Department tomorrow before heading off alone.

Looking at the Storage Ring in his hand, Xiao Ling felt somewhat moved. Xiao Yan might have seemed to refine pills effortlessly in the original story, but aside from his talent, the greater reason was that Venerable Yao, known as the number one Alchemist on the Dou Qi Continent, had personally taught him at his side. Even so, Xiao Yan had consumed a great deal of medicinal ingredients. Over all those years, only one Sixth-grade Alchemist, Gu He, had appeared in the Jia Ma Empire, and even he had been raised with countless resources from the Misty Cloud Sect. That showed just how resource-intensive an Alchemist was.

Coming back to his senses, he stopped thinking about such matters. Arriving at his dormitory, he pushed open the door and sat on the bed. The exhaustion from days of bumpy flight and cultivation washed over him. After stretching lazily, Xiao Ling fell into a deep sleep.

The next morning

Xiao Ling woke up in his academy dormitory bed. After washing up, he put on the academy uniform placed on the bedside table. Looking at himself in the mirror, he was quite satisfied with his appearance.

Leaving the small house, he eagerly rushed toward the Alchemy Department.

Walking along the bluestone paths of the academy, Xiao Ling watched the young men and women in academy uniforms pass by, chatting with one another. His expression turned slightly dazed, as if he had returned to the familiar university life of his previous world. He smiled and shook his head. "I can no longer return to the past."

Before long, he arrived at the entrance of the Alchemy Department. Xiao Ling found a middle-aged man who appeared to be an instructor and expressed his wish to join the department.

The instructor first asked whether Xiao Ling possessed the talent of an Alchemist and whether he had ever studied alchemy before.

After Xiao Ling explained that he only possessed the attributes required of an Alchemist and had never studied alchemy, the instructor tested his Dou Qi Attribute and confirmed that he was telling the truth. Only then did the instructor begin explaining the Alchemy Department's basic rules.

"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 possesses exceptional aptitude as an Alchemist and is accepted as an instructor's disciple, then it is another matter if that instructor is willing to devote time to teaching their student everything they know."

"Second, each time you advance by one grade as an Alchemist, you will receive three pill formulae as a reward. You may choose the types of formulae yourself. If you want more formulae, you must exchange Contribution Points for them. Contribution Points can be earned by refining pills for the academy. Remember, pill formulae obtained from the academy must not be casually passed on to others."

"Of course, the academy provides the ingredients when you refine pills for it, but you must guarantee a certain success rate. In addition, Alchemists of different grades may apply to the academy for a set amount of medicinal ingredients each month for practice. Success or failure will not be counted. If you succeed, the pills belong to the academy. If you fail, the academy bears the cost of the ingredients as well."

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

Xiao Ling nodded in understanding and lowered his head to look at the Storage Ring in his hand. Without the academy's support in medicinal ingredients, he might have needed to desperately earn resources just to improve his alchemy.

Suddenly, an old man emerged from the Alchemy Department. The moment he saw Xiao Ling, his eyes lit up. "Kid, you're the newly arrived freshman, Xiao Ling, right? I'm the Fifth-grade Alchemist in charge of the Alchemy Department. You can call me Elder Huo."

The academy's higher-ups had long since all heard about the academy recruiting an eight-year-old Dou Zhe.

An eight-year-old Dou Zhe—how outrageous. He had never seen such a person in his entire life.

Given time to grow, Xiao Ling would at the very least become a Dou Zun expert.

He was countless times stronger than Hu Gan's so-called prodigious granddaughter.

When Elder Huo had first learned that Xiao Ling possessed not only outstanding cultivation talent but also the aptitude of an Alchemist, he had intended to immediately take him as a disciple. Once Xiao Ling grew stronger, he could boast about it to his old friends.

But just as he had been preparing to go out and find Xiao Ling, that old man Hu Gan had come to him first. Hu Gan told him that the child needed guidance from Jia Nan Academy's elders together and that he should have several teachers if he was to take masters, thus rejecting Elder Huo's idea.

Out of curiosity, Elder Huo had come today to see just how good this child's aptitude as an Alchemist truly was.

Though he could not take him as a disciple, Elder Huo would have to personally teach him in alchemy. Then, when Xiao Ling became a high-grade Alchemist in the future, he would still have been taught hand by hand by Elder Huo.

"Student greets Elder Huo. I am Xiao Ling." Xiao Ling stepped forward and bowed.

"I heard your cultivation talent is exceptional. I wonder how your talent in alchemy is? Come with me. I'll first teach you some basic knowledge of alchemy." After speaking, Elder Huo headed into the Alchemy Department.

Seeing this, Xiao Ling first thanked the middle-aged instructor, then quickly followed after him.

When they reached a study room within the Alchemy Department, Elder Huo handed Xiao Ling a Storage Ring. "This Storage Ring contains some cultivation methods and Dou Techniques suitable for Alchemists, along with some books, pill formulae, and cauldrons. Take them back and study them yourself. Your status in Jia Nan Academy is rather special, so if there is anything you do not understand, ask me directly."

Seeing Elder Huo treat him so generously, Xiao Ling bowed and said, "Thank you to the academy and Elder Huo for nurturing me."

Elder Huo saw that Xiao Ling was sincere, respectful toward his elders, and lacked the arrogance common among young geniuses. Stroking his grizzled beard, he smiled, greatly appreciating Xiao Ling's attitude.

"You have never come into contact with alchemy before, so I'll first tell you some common knowledge. If one wishes to refine pills, the first thing needed is a cauldron. To an Alchemist, a cauldron is like a warrior's weapon—indispensable."

"Cauldrons are divided into grades. The more fire vents a cauldron has, the higher its grade and the rarer it is. These fire vents are not made by simply punching a few holes into it. Their mysteries are impossible for outsiders to perceive. The fire vents are the essence of a cauldron and require extremely precise polishing. During forging, even the slightest mistake will turn the entire cauldron into a failed product. Therefore, the more fire vents a cauldron has, the stronger its assistance in pill refinement will be. Of course, controlling multiple fire vents requires powerful Soul Perception."

"Besides a cauldron, the flames we use for pill refinement are generally produced by catalyzing our Dou Qi. Therefore, refining high-quality pills requires deep Dou Qi cultivation. Even the lowest-grade pills require the cultivation of a Dou Zhe. Fortunately, you reached that level early."

"For us alchemists, the finest flames are naturally the Divine Flames nurtured by heaven and earth. They are born in the most perilous and inaccessible places in the world, making them things that can only be encountered by chance." Longing for Heavenly Flames shone in Elder Huo's eyes. "And Jia Nan Academy possesses one Heavenly Flame."

More than one. There are two! Xiao Ling secretly muttered to himself. He knew Jia Nan Academy's secrets. One was mature, the other immature, and both were Fallen Heart Flame. Who would not be tempted by that? Unfortunately, Jia Nan Academy's higher-ups did not know about it. Otherwise, the Fallen Heart Flame that had been constantly causing trouble would have long since been refined by someone.

Seeing Xiao Ling's gaze grow fiery as he spoke, Elder Huo assumed that Xiao Ling had set his sights on the academy's Fallen Heart Flame and shook his head unconcernedly.

"Don't even think of setting your sights on that Heavenly Flame. It is the foundation upon which the academy was established. Whoever dares covet it becomes an enemy of Jia Nan Academy. You will understand the specifics once you enter the Inner Academy. Do not tell others that the academy possesses a Heavenly Flame either. The academy is not afraid of others causing trouble, but there is no need to create unnecessary trouble."

Hearing Elder Huo's warning, Xiao Ling nodded solemnly. "Understood, Elder. I won't tell anyone."

"You need not be disappointed because you do not have a Heavenly Flame. Besides Heavenly Flames, you can find other flames to replace them, such as Beast Fire. Their effects are no less impressive."

As he spoke, Elder Huo extended his right palm, and a jet-black flame emerged from it. The space around the flame faintly warped, and Xiao Ling, standing not far from Elder Huo, could feel its terrifying heat.

Hearing this, Xiao Ling summoned his own Fused Beast Flame. Spreading open his palm, a cluster of blue-pink flames emerged, looking remarkably lively. He then asked, "I have also refined a Beast Fire. Elder, what do you think of its quality?"

At this sight, Elder Huo became somewhat interested. He carefully examined the Beast Fire in Xiao Ling's hand and gave his assessment.

"This Beast Fire of yours resembles the Beast Fire of a Blazing Wolf, but it has an added trace of gentleness. Though this old man has never seen it before, its quality should be quite high—higher even than that of an ordinary sixth-tier Beast Fire. Its energy is not particularly powerful, but it suits your current cultivation very well. As your strength increases, the Beast Fire will also become stronger. It will remain suitable for use all the way to the Dou Zong realm."

Withdrawing his gaze, Elder Huo continued, "That is enough theoretical knowledge. Now it is time for hands-on practice. Come with me to the pill-refining room. I'll demonstrate once for you first, then you can practice on your own. I will watch from the side, and you may ask me about anything at any time." With that, Elder Huo turned and left the study.

Xiao Ling quickly followed, his heart filled with joy. His path as an Alchemist was finally about to begin.