Entering the Alchemy Department

Entering the Alchemy Department

Before long, the two arrived before a secluded little courtyard. It was plainly furnished, without any luxurious decorations. Anyone unaware of its owner might have taken it for an ordinary commoner's home.

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

"Alright, let him come in. I'm extremely curious about him." A deep, resonant voice came from within the house. Though slightly aged, it carried such force that it 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 studied Hu Gan.

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, while a small tuft of white beard hung from his chin, giving him an approachable air.

Hu Gan set down his pen and looked up at Xiao Ling, completely unconcerned by the boy's scrutiny. With a kindly smile, he asked, "Child, how old are you? Why do you wish to come to Jia Nan Academy? And what is your current cultivation?"

"Principal, I am eight years old and already a Dou Zhe," Xiao Ling said calmly, a maturity far beyond that of an ordinary child glinting in his eyes. "I want to increase my strength quickly, and I am 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, Hu Gan examined Xiao Ling's aura, stepped forward, and felt Xiao Ling's hand. His eyes grew brighter and brighter. He was already overjoyed inside.

His cultivation foundation is solid, his physique is even stronger than that of some Dou Shi, and he has already refined a fairly powerful Beast Flame. His Dou Qi has a fire attribute mixed with a trace of Wood Attribute, and his Soul Power is exceptionally strong as well. He is a natural-born alchemist. Haha, with such a genius, Jia Nan Academy will surely rise to greatness once more.

Seeing Hu Gan stare at him 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 century. Even on the Zhongzhou Continent, you would count as a top 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 academy elder. I know Jia Nan Academy will not be your final destination, and you may go out to gain experience as well. You only need to lend the academy your strength when it is in danger. When you grow old, settling down here would not be a bad choice either. Furthermore, Jia Nan Academy has a deep foundation. Although the principal is not currently at the academy, he left behind many precious treasures. This is absolutely the best place to nurture you at your current stage. If you do not wish to become an academy elder, we will still nurture you well. The resource allocation will not be as great, but it will still exceed the treatment given to S-rank freshmen. You need only remember this bond in the future. So, what is your answer?" Having said that, he stared directly at Xiao Ling, the smile on his face gone.

Facing Hu Gan's serious gaze, Xiao Ling did not hesitate for long before replying, "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 in return and contribute to its development. I will not betray the academy's efforts in nurturing me."

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." 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 Rank 3 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 the next day before heading off alone.

Looking at the Storage Ring in his hand, Xiao Ling felt somewhat moved. Xiao Yan's alchemy had seemed so easy in the original story, but aside from his talent, it was largely because Venerable Yao, reputed to be the number one alchemist on the Dou Qi Continent, had personally taught him at his side. Even so, Xiao Yan had consumed quite a lot 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 through the Misty Cloud Sect's countless resources. It was clear just how resource-intensive an alchemist was.

Coming back to his senses, he stopped thinking about such matters. He arrived at his dormitory, pushed open the door, and sat on the bed. The exhaustion from days of bumpy flying and cultivation washed over him. After stretching, 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. He looked himself over in the mirror and was quite satisfied with the outfit.

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

Walking along the bluestone paths of the academy, Xiao Ling watched the uniformed boys and girls passing by, chatting with one another. His expression became somewhat dazed, as though he had returned to the familiar university life of his previous world. Shaking his head with a smile, he said, "I can no longer return to the past."

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

The instructor first asked whether Xiao Ling possessed the talent to become an alchemist and whether he had studied Alchemy before.

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

"First, in our Alchemy Department, instructors who are Fourth-grade Alchemists or above regularly give lectures. These classes are open, and anyone may attend. After class, you may ask the instructors questions."

"Of course, if a student possesses outstanding alchemist aptitude and is accepted as an instructor's disciple, then it is another matter entirely. The instructor may be willing to devote their time to teaching their own disciple everything they know."

"Second, in our Alchemy Department, every time you advance by one alchemist grade, you can receive three pill formulae as a reward. You may choose the types of formulae yourself. If you want more formulae, you will need to 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 passed around freely."

"Of course, the academy provides the medicinal ingredients for refining pills on its behalf, but you must guarantee a certain success rate. In addition, alchemists of different grades may 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 there is no need to think about so much for now. Just study properly first. Remember my advice: an alchemist's growth consumes enormous resources. Buy more medicinal ingredients to practice with first. Once you gain a grade, you can refine pills for the academy to obtain the resources you need afterward."

Xiao Ling nodded to show his 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 merely to improve his Alchemy.

Suddenly, an old man walked out of the Alchemy Department. The moment he saw Xiao Ling, his eyes lit up. "Boy, you're the new freshman, Xiao Ling, right? I am the Rank 5 Alchemist in charge of the Alchemy Department. You can call me Elder Huo."

The academy's higher-ups all knew that the academy had admitted 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, the boy would at the very least become a Dou Zun Expert.

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

When Elder Huo had first learned about Xiao Ling, he discovered that not only was the boy's cultivation talent outstanding, he also possessed the talent to become an alchemist. He had immediately wanted to take him as a disciple. Once Xiao Ling grew up, he could even boast about it to his old friends.

However, just as he had been preparing to go out and find Xiao Ling, that old man Hu Gan had come to him first. He said the child needed the guidance of Jia Nan Academy's elders together, and that if he were to take masters, he would need several. Thus, Hu Gan had rejected Elder Huo's idea.

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

Though he could not take Xiao Ling as a disciple, he could still personally teach him about Alchemy. Then, when Xiao Ling became a high-grade alchemist in the future, Elder Huo could still say he had taught him step by step.

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

"I heard that your cultivation talent is exceptional, but I wonder how your talent in Alchemy is. Come with me. I will first teach you some basic knowledge about Alchemy." With that, Elder Huo headed into the Alchemy Department.

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

When they arrived at a study within the Alchemy Department, Elder Huo handed Xiao Ling a Storage Ring and said, "This Storage Ring contains some cultivation techniques and Dou Skills suitable for alchemists, as well as some books, pill formulae, and cauldrons. Take them back and study them yourself. Your status at Jia Nan Academy is rather special. 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 guidance and support."

Elder Huo saw that Xiao Ling was sincere and respectful toward his elders, without the arrogance common among young geniuses. Stroking his grizzled beard, he smiled, deeply pleased by Xiao Ling's attitude.

"You have never encountered Alchemy before, so I will first tell you some basic knowledge. To refine pills, you must first have a cauldron. An alchemist's cauldron is like a warrior's weapon—indispensable."

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

"Besides a cauldron, the flames we alchemists use are generally produced by catalyzing our Dou Qi. Thus, 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 best flames are naturally the Divine Flames nurtured by heaven and earth. They are all born in the most perilous and inaccessible places in the world, so they can only be encountered by chance." Longing for a Divine Flame appeared in Elder Huo's eyes. "And Jia Nan Academy possesses one such Divine Flame."

There's more than one—there are two! Xiao Ling muttered inwardly. He knew Jia Nan Academy's secrets. One was mature, and one was immature; both were Fallen Heart Flame. Who wouldn't be tempted? Unfortunately, the academy's higher-ups did not know about this. Otherwise, the Fallen Heart Flame that had been constantly causing trouble would have been refined long ago.

When Elder Huo saw Xiao Ling's gaze grow fervent at his words, he assumed that Xiao Ling had set his sights on the academy's Fallen Heart Flame. He shook his head unconcernedly.

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

Hearing Elder Huo's warning, Xiao Ling nodded solemnly. "Understood, Elder. I will not speak of it."

"Do not feel disappointed merely because you do not have a Divine Flame. Aside from Divine Flames, you can find other flames to replace them, such as Beast Flames. Their effects are likewise impressive."

As he spoke, Elder Huo extended his right hand. A dark, black flame emerged from his palm, faintly warping the space around it. Even from some distance away, Xiao Ling could feel its terrifying heat.

Hearing this, Xiao Ling summoned his own Fused Beast Flame as well. Spreading his palm, a ball of blue-pink flame emerged, looking exceptionally lively. He then said, "Actually, I have also refined a Beast Flame. Elder, what do you think of its quality?"

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

"This Beast Flame of yours resembles the Beast Flame of a Blazing Fire Wolf, but it possesses an extra touch of gentleness. Though this old man has never seen one before, its quality should not be low. It is even somewhat higher in quality than an ordinary Sixth Rank Beast Flame. Its energy is not particularly powerful, but it suits your current cultivation very well. As your strength increases, the Beast Flame will also grow stronger. It will remain suitable even when you reach the Dou Zong level."

Withdrawing his gaze, Elder Huo continued, "That is enough theory. 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." Having spoken, Elder Huo turned and left the study.

Xiao Ling quickly followed, filled with delight. His path as an alchemist was finally about to begin.