After confirming that Liu Xi truly possessed the abilities of a Third-grade Alchemist, Elder Huo promptly decided on the treatment Liu Xi would receive in the Alchemy Department.
Although he regretted that Liu Xi already had a master and could not become his disciple, he was still delighted that the Alchemy Department had gained such a genius.
Elder Huo put away his regretful expression. Looking at Liu Xi, who was bowing respectfully before him, he broke into a hearty smile and patted Liu Xi on the shoulder. "Why are you being so polite, kid? Do you take me for some old-fashioned fossil? Relax. If you run into any problems in the future, you can come find me."
"Then I won't stand on ceremony." Liu Xi smiled in reply as he looked at the forthright Elder Huo. This Elder Huo is quite straightforward. If I want to improve my Alchemy Art in the future, I can discuss it more with him.
Before long, a middle-aged instructor approached them and took out a badge engraved with an exquisite Flame Pattern from his Storage Ring.
The middle-aged instructor respectfully handed the badge to Elder Huo first, while staring in shock at Liu Xi's excessively youthful face. To become a Third-grade Alchemist at such a young age—his future achievements would be limitless!
Elder Huo accepted the badge and handed it to Liu Xi. "From now on, you are a Third-grade Alchemist recognized by the Alchemy Department."
By the time Liu Xi left the Alchemy Department's grounds, it was already close to noon. After taking care of lunch at the academy cafeteria, he returned to his room.
Liu Xi played with the badge in his hand, and the smile on his youthful, handsome face gradually deepened.
His foundation was still too shallow, and he had no cheat to rely on. If he wanted to grow stronger quickly, he could only use Alchemy Art to accumulate enough resources for his advancement.
He had to make good use of his identity as a Third-grade Alchemist. Putting away the badge, he took out the pill formulas he had obtained from Elder Huo. Speaking of which, Elder Huo truly was generous. When Liu Xi said he wanted some high-quality pill formulas to study, Elder Huo had immediately given him a large stack of scrolls.
Liu Xi carefully sorted the scrolls. There were more than thirty Third-grade Pill formulas and over ten Fourth-grade Pill formulas. They would be enough for him to study for a long time. After sorting them, he casually drew out a Third-grade Pill formula and began studying it.
At the same time, news spread wildly throughout the academy that Liu Xi had just joined the Alchemy Department and, under Elder Huo's witness, successfully refined a Third-grade Pill, becoming a Third-grade Alchemist of the Alchemy Department.
"Have you heard? Our Outer Court has produced another Third-grade Alchemist. He already had the abilities of a Third-grade Alchemist when he first joined the Alchemy Department."
"I looked into it. This Alchemist is called Liu Xi. He's a new student who enrolled this year, brought back from the Jia Ma Empire by Instructor Zhang Yan."
"I wonder where I can find Master Liu Xi. Such a young Third-grade Alchemist—I must befriend him."
After all, most elites, whether instructors or students, were in the Inner Court. There were only a few Alchemists above the third grade in the Outer Court. Countless people wanted to ask Alchemists to refine pills for them, and the supply of high-quality pills was always far short of demand!
The next morning, Instructor Zhang Yan came to Liu Xi's place early, his eyes shining and his face filled with shock. The first thing he asked Liu Xi was, "You were already a Third-grade Alchemist?"
Yes, Zhang Yan was shocked once again. He had already thought highly of Liu Xi's talent. His cultivation talent was outstanding, and he also possessed talent in alchemy. His future prospects were limitless!
Yet now, the entire academy was talking about how this kid he had brought back from the Jia Ma Empire had joined the Alchemy Department yesterday, passed the assessment, and become a Third-grade Alchemist.
Heaven knew that, despite being an instructor at Jia Nan Academy with the cultivation of a Da Dou Shi, he sometimes had to swallow his pride and beg someone for a Third-grade Pill—and they might not even deign to help him.
Now people were telling him that Liu Xi, whom he had accepted as a student only two days ago, had become a Third-grade Alchemist he himself needed to curry favor with. His face had felt as though it had been slapped again and again. That was why he had come to Liu Xi personally first thing in the morning, wanting to confirm it.
"That's right. I am indeed already a Third-grade Alchemist." Liu Xi looked at the shocked Zhang Yan before him and replied with an affable smile on his handsome face.
"Then why didn't you tell me earlier?" Zhang Yan felt his face heating up. Just two days ago, he had promised to secure the best treatment for Liu Xi, but now, as a Third-grade Alchemist, Liu Xi's treatment was even better than his own.
"Instructor, you never asked me." Liu Xi replied somewhat speechlessly.
"True enough. Now that the academy's instructors have heard you're my student, many requests for you to refine pills have come to me. What should we do? Do you want to meet them personally?" Zhang Yan sighed and nodded before stating the main purpose of his visit.
Liu Xi thought for a moment. He did not want to spend too much time dealing with the interpersonal affairs of the Outer Court. His current priorities were improving his cultivation and Alchemy Art. Then he looked at Zhang Yan and asked tentatively, "Could I ask Instructor to handle them for me? If someone asks me to refine pills, primarily accept requests for Third-grade Pills. If the payment is high enough, requests for Second-grade Pills can also be accepted. As payment for Instructor, I can refine pills for you free of charge, though you must provide the ingredients."
"No problem. Leave it to me from now on." Hearing such generous terms, Zhang Yan naturally agreed with a broad smile.
"Then I'll leave it to Instructor." Liu Xi did not know anyone well at Jia Nan Academy, and Zhang Yan was the only one he was somewhat familiar with. Hearing Zhang Yan agree, he smiled in reply.
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