We're Screwed

Today was the Alchemy Workshop's basic theory class.

Sunlight streamed through the tall windows, illuminating Mentor Clark's ever-serious face at the lectern.

He was explaining the energy conduction properties of a certain basic ore, his voice as dull as grinding stone.

Benjamin sat near the back, mechanically taking notes while skillfully circulating the Inner circulation Method to suppress the fluctuations of his True Essence.

As his strength broke through, his Inner circulation Method had become increasingly complete. Instead, he was now even better at concealing himself than when he had been at the first level of Qi Refining.

Thanks to that wisp of Purple Qi of the East, his second level of Qi Refining had stabilized overnight. But his next stage of cultivation would require more accumulation, as well as more points to rent a laboratory.

After all, the Purple Qi of the East's cleansing of his soul had further improved his aptitude. Combined with the increase in mental power from his Qi Refining breakthrough, it had in turn boosted the efficiency of his Meditation Method.

Even though Benjamin had yet to inscribe the fourth Truth Rune, the speed at which his Meditation Method absorbed elemental power and converted it into True Essence was frighteningly fast. He had to suppress it carefully at all times.

He calculated that even if he delayed inscribing the fourth Truth Rune for the time being to disguise his talent, at this rate, he would face another "crisis" of breakthrough in just over a month.

To avoid repeating the previous crisis, he needed to grind out several more tasks before then and save enough points for another safe breakthrough.

Just as his thoughts drifted, Mentor Clark decisively left the classroom as usual once the time was up. A suppressed, excited whisper came from beside him.

"Hey! Benjamin, have you heard? There's huge news!"

It was Amy. She looked especially lively today, her face wearing the expression of someone who had uncovered a shocking secret as she secretly leaned closer.

Benjamin politely turned his head and revealed a slightly weary smile, one that suited the persona of a "hardworking but slow-progressing sixth-grade talent apprentice." "What news? You seem really excited."

"You'll never guess!" Amy lowered her voice, but the excitement in her tone was impossible to hide. "There's an incredibly amazing apprentice in the Workshop! They developed a new kind of material that even stunned all those official wizards!"

"Oh?" Benjamin's heart stirred.

He was rather interested in new materials capable of drawing a wizard's attention. After all, the Wizard World's material system was entirely new knowledge to him. Perhaps he could find more inspiration for integrating it with the Immortal Cultivation System.

"It's not just 'oh'!" Amy waved her hand exaggeratedly. "It's huge! Huge! Huge news!" She mouthed the words emphatically, her eyes gleaming with gossip.

"I heard that the material had barely been submitted for testing before it shocked the old wizard in charge so much he nearly fell over! When the assessment results came out, they frightened every wizard in the testing center! Think about it—those are official wizards! What rare thing haven't they seen before? Yet they were actually scared by something an apprentice made!"

Benjamin listened with great interest.

Indeed, any achievement capable of shocking official wizards could not possibly be simple.

Then he thought of his own Adamantine material, which had vanished without a trace, and he could not help sighing inwardly.

Comparisons really can kill a person. I already have a cheat, yet I still can't compare to these native-born geniuses?

Come to think of it, he seemed to have forgotten to check the review status of his material yesterday. It was probably still under review, so there was no need to care too much...

He cooperatively showed a surprised expression. "That exaggerated? What kind of material is it?"

"It really is that exaggerated!" Amy said mysteriously. "I only found out after asking around for ages! It seems to be some kind of isolation material! But it's especially, especially powerful! Word from the testing department is that... it apparently has terrifyingly high resistance to elemental erosion and curses! For several tests, even their instruments couldn't assess the upper limit and directly reported 'out of range'!"

Benjamin had still been smiling, with just the right amount of admiration and curiosity on his face.

He imagined how gifted that unknown apprentice must be to develop something so incredible.

Being able to stir up the Wizard World like this—that was what a true genius was...

Huh? Wait?

His smile froze for a moment.

An isolation material?

Terrifying resistance to elemental erosion and curses?

That description... sounded a little familiar.

He shook his head.

Impossible, absolutely impossible! There are countless materials in the world... Besides, although Adamantine involves part of those concepts, it's only a basic material. It can't possibly be that strong... probably...

According to the knowledge provided by the Great Dao Library, Adamantine was merely the most basic spiritual material. Based on Adamantine, one could continually refine the related concepts and obtain even higher-grade materials.

So theoretically, there should not be a problem... right?

Amy did not notice Benjamin's slight change and continued excitedly, "And the best part is, I heard the material was put up for sale on the Workshop's internal Magic Network, and the official wizards bought it all out instantly! Now a lot of wizards are privately asking around to find out who that apprentice is because they want to buy some! The price has already been driven through the roof! I heard... one unit costs a hundred contribution points!"

"A hundred contribution points! Oh my god!" Amy marveled at the jaw-dropping price. "Even if I saved for a month, I couldn't afford even a fraction of it! I wonder which big shot quietly got rich! And I heard the submitter's information was kept confidential. It seems the Academy values this material very highly!"

In Benjamin's mind, the apprentice identification number attached to his own submission record on the Workshop task terminal surfaced uncontrollably.

Amy continued, "And I heard the name this apprentice gave the material was totally casual too. Something like... 'White Iron-based Isolation Material'? Hahahaha, what an ordinary name! Who would have thought? That just proves you can't judge people by appearances—and materials are the same!"

Benjamin's expression completely stiffened.

Upon hearing that material name, the one that had haunted and infuriated him, it felt as if a planet had exploded in Benjamin's mind!

Apparently...

Maybe...

Probably...

Perhaps...

Possibly...

That Wizard Apprentice... really... was him?!

Watching Amy vividly describe the "mysterious apprentice's" "awesome" deeds, Benjamin felt his vision darken in waves.

Quietly? Getting rich?

Rich my ass!

I just wanted to make a low-level material and earn a few points. How did I suddenly become the center of attention for no reason?!

Great. No more keeping quiet now. Because of this piece of material, he had directly become high-profile enough to alarm the entire Academy, and perhaps even other Academies!

Amy kept talking, utterly unaware that a certain apprentice was experiencing an inner tsunami.

"Amy, I suddenly remembered that I have something urgent to do!" He casually came up with a flimsy excuse, ignored Amy's confused gaze, and rushed out of the classroom like a gust of wind.

He ran to the task hall, found a Magic Network Terminal in a corner, and took out his badge with trembling hands.

Log in!

His gaze immediately locked onto the "point balance" field on his personal information page.

On the screen, a dazzling, dizzying number appeared before Benjamin like the cruelest judgment:

Point Balance: 500

Five... five hundred?!

Benjamin's entire body swayed. His legs went weak, and he nearly lost his footing.

Under normal circumstances, he would have been overjoyed to see such a large balance.

But now, leaning against the cold wall, Benjamin stared at the shocking point total on the terminal and the "sold out" status beside it in the material sales record, seeing stars before his eyes.

"We're screwed!"