Joining the Alchemy Department

Joining the Alchemy Department

Before long, the two arrived at a quiet little courtyard. It was plain and simple, without any luxurious decorations. Anyone unaware of its owner would have thought it belonged to an ordinary commoner's family.

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

"Good, let him come in. I'm terribly curious about him." A deep, powerful voice came from within the room. Though somewhat aged, it carried tremendous force and was not to 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 sized Hu Gan up.

He wore a black-and-white robe and a large white hat embroidered with golden patterns. Gold-rimmed glasses rested on his somewhat aged face, and a small tuft of white beard hung from his chin, making him seem quite approachable.

Hu Gan set down his pen and looked up at Xiao Ling, paying no mind at all to the boy's scrutiny. With a kindly smile, he asked, "Child, how old are you this year? Why do you wish to attend Jia Nan Academy? What is your current cultivation?"

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

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

Upon hearing this and sensing Xiao Ling's aura, Hu Gan stepped forward and felt his hand. His eyes grew brighter and brighter, while inwardly, he was already overjoyed.

His cultivation foundation is solid, his physique is stronger than that of some Dou Shi, and he even has a fairly powerful Beast Fire within him. His Dou Qi Attribute is fire mixed with a trace of Wood Attribute, and his Soul Power is remarkably strong as well. He is a natural-born Alchemist. Haha, with such a genius, Jia Nan Academy will surely become great once more.

Seeing Hu Gan look as though he wanted to devour him, a bead of cold sweat appeared 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 would count as a top-tier prodigy. We intend to devote all our strength to nurturing your growth, but such benefits do not come for free. After graduating from the academy, you must serve as one of its elders. I also know that Jia Nan Academy will not be your final destination. You may travel outside to gain experience, so long as you lend the academy your aid when it is in danger. When you grow old, retiring here would not be a bad choice either. Moreover, Jia Nan Academy possesses deep foundations. Though the principal is not currently at the academy, he left behind many precious treasures. This is absolutely the best place to nurture you at this stage. If you do not wish to become an academy elder, we will still cultivate you well. Although you will receive fewer resources, your treatment will still be better than that of S-rank freshmen. All we ask is that you remember this bond in the future. So, what is your answer?" After speaking, he stared straight at Xiao Ling, the smile vanishing from his face.

Facing Hu Gan's solemn 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 safeguard a portion of the academy's peace and contribute to its development. I will not disappoint the academy's cultivation."

Having received the answer he wanted, Hu Gan burst into laughter. "Good. Go back to your dormitory and rest for now. If you want to learn alchemy, visit the Alchemy Department tomorrow. The instructors there will teach you." 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 should be enough for your early practice. If you run out of ingredients, come find me again."

Xiao Ling reached out and accepted the Storage Ring. After nodding and offering his thanks, he turned and left the room. He asked Instructor Ruo Lin where his dormitory was, told her that he would be going to the Alchemy Department tomorrow, and then left on his own.

Looking at the Storage Ring in his hand, Xiao Ling felt somewhat moved. Xiao Yan might have seemed to refine pills easily in the original story, but aside from his talent, it was mainly because Venerable Yao, who was 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, the Jia Ma Empire had produced only one Sixth-grade Alchemist, Gu He, and even he had been cultivated with countless resources by the Misty Cloud Sect. This 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 fatigue from several days of bumpy flying 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 hurried eagerly toward the Alchemy Department.

As he walked along the bluestone paths of the campus, watching the young men and women in academy uniforms come and go as they chatted with one another, Xiao Ling's expression became somewhat dazed. It felt as though he had returned to the university life he had known in his previous life. Shaking his head with a smile, he muttered, "I can't go back to the past anymore."

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

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

After Xiao Ling explained that he only possessed the attributes required of an Alchemist but had never studied alchemy, and after a test of his Dou Qi Attribute confirmed that he was telling the truth, the instructor began explaining the basics of the Alchemy Department.

"First, in our Alchemy Department, instructors of Fourth-grade Alchemist rank and above regularly give lectures. The classes are open, and anyone may attend. After class, you may consult the instructors with questions."

"Of course, that is different if a student has outstanding talent as an Alchemist and is accepted as an instructor's disciple. In that case, the instructor may be willing to spend time imparting everything they know to their own student."

"Second, in our Alchemy Department, every time you advance by one grade as an Alchemist, you can receive three pill formulas as a reward. You may choose the types of formulas yourself. If you want more formulas, you will need to exchange contribution points for them. Contribution points can be earned by refining pills for the academy. Remember, pill formulas 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 pill success rate. In addition, Alchemists of different grades can apply to the academy each month for a certain amount of medicinal ingredients to practice with. Success or failure is not counted. If you succeed, the pills belong to the academy; if you fail, the ingredients are still paid for by the academy."

"However, you are still a beginner, so you need not think about all that 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 become a First-grade Alchemist, you can refine pills for the academy and obtain the resources you need afterward."

Xiao Ling nodded to show that he understood. Looking down at the Storage Ring in his hand, he realized that without the academy's support in medicinal ingredients, he might have to desperately earn resources just to improve his alchemy.

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

The academy's upper ranks all knew that it had recruited an eight-year-old Dou Zhe.

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

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

He was countless times better than Hu Gan's so-called monstrous granddaughter.

When Elder Huo had first learned about Xiao Ling, he had discovered that aside from his outstanding cultivation talent, the boy even possessed the talent of an Alchemist. He had immediately planned to take him as a disciple. Once Xiao Ling grew up, he could even boast about him to his old friends.

But just as he was about to go out and look for Xiao Ling, that old man Hu Gan had come to him first and told him that the child needed the guidance of several Jia Nan Academy elders. If he were to take masters, he would have to take several teachers, so Hu Gan rejected his idea.

Out of curiosity, Elder Huo had come today to see just how talented this child truly was in alchemy.

Though he could not take him as a disciple, Elder Huo would have to personally teach him in alchemy. That way, once Xiao Ling became a high-grade Alchemist, he would still have been taught by Elder Huo's own hand.

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

"I heard that your cultivation talent is exceptional, but I wonder how your alchemy talent compares. Come with me. I'll first teach you some basic alchemical knowledge." With that, Elder Huo headed into the Alchemy Department.

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

When they entered a study within the Alchemy Department, Elder Huo first handed Xiao Ling a Storage Ring. "This Storage Ring contains some cultivation techniques and Dou Techniques suitable for Alchemists, as well as some books, pill formulas, and pill 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 your cultivation."

Seeing that Xiao Ling was sincere and respectful toward his elders, without the arrogance common among young geniuses, Elder Huo stroked his grizzled beard and smiled. He was greatly pleased with Xiao Ling's attitude.

"You have never come into contact with alchemy before, so I'll first explain some basic knowledge. To refine pills, you must first have a pill cauldron. To an Alchemist, a pill cauldron is like a warrior's weapon—indispensable."

"Pill cauldrons are divided into grades. The more fire ports a cauldron has, the higher its grade and the rarer it is. These fire ports cannot be made simply by punching a few holes into it. Their mysteries are impossible for outsiders to detect. The fire ports are the essence of a pill cauldron and require extremely precise polishing. During forging, the slightest error will turn the entire cauldron into a defective product. Therefore, pill cauldrons with more fire ports provide stronger assistance in pill refinement. Of course, controlling multiple fire ports requires powerful Soul Perception."

"Besides the pill cauldron, the flames we use for alchemy are generally flames catalyzed from our Dou Qi. Thus, refining high-quality pills requires profound Dou Qi cultivation. Even the lowest-grade pills require the cultivation of a Dou Zhe. Fortunately, you have already reached that level early on."

"For us Alchemists, the finest flames are naturally the Heavenly Flames, divine treasures nurtured by heaven and earth. They are all born in the most dangerous and inaccessible places in the world, so they can only be encountered by chance and never sought." Elder Huo's eyes revealed his yearning for Heavenly Flames. "And Jia Nan Academy possesses one Heavenly Flame."

More than one—there are two! Xiao Ling muttered inwardly. He knew Jia Nan Academy's secrets. One mature flame and one immature flame, both Fallen Heart Flame. Who wouldn't be tempted? Unfortunately, Jia Nan Academy's upper ranks did not know about this. Otherwise, that Fallen Heart Flame that had been constantly causing trouble would have been refined long ago.

Seeing Xiao Ling's eyes grow fiery as he spoke, Elder Huo assumed that he was setting his sights on the academy's Fallen Heart Flame. He merely shook his head indifferently.

"Do not even think about that Heavenly Flame. It is the foundation upon which the academy was established. Whoever dares to covet it becomes an enemy of Jia Nan Academy. You will understand the details once you reach the Inner Academy. Do not tell others that the academy possesses a Heavenly Flame either. The academy may not fear trouble from others, but there is no need to invite unnecessary trouble."

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

"Nor should you be disappointed over not having a Heavenly Flame. Besides Heavenly Flames, you can seek other flames as substitutes, such as Beast Fire. Their effects are also quite good."

As he spoke, Elder Huo extended his right palm. A dark black flame rose from it, and the space around the flame faintly distorted. Standing not far from Elder Huo, Xiao Ling could feel an overwhelming heat.

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

At the sight, Elder Huo became somewhat interested. He examined the Beast Fire in Xiao Ling's hand with great curiosity before giving his assessment.

"This Beast Fire of yours somewhat resembles the Beast Fire of a Blazing Wolf, yet it possesses an added gentleness. Though I have never seen such a flame before, its quality should not be low. It is even better than an ordinary sixth-tier Beast Fire. Its energy is not particularly powerful, but it suits your current cultivation very well. As your strength grows, the Beast Fire will grow stronger as well. It will remain suitable even when you reach Dou Zong."

Withdrawing his gaze, Elder Huo continued, "That is enough theory. Now it is time to put it into practice. Come with me to the pill-refining room. I will demonstrate once for you first, then you can practice on your own. I will watch from the side, and you may ask me anything at any time." After speaking, Elder Huo turned and left the study.

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