Xiao Yan's Unwillingness, Ruo Lin's Shock, and Her Desire to Recruit Wang Teng into Canaan Academy

"Losing is losing. You've been studying alchemy for too short a time, so it's perfectly normal. But your talent is better than his. As long as you're willing to work hard, this old man will make sure you defeat him the next time you meet." Yao Lao spoke softly.

"Mm. If there's another chance to compete, I won't lose again!" Xiao Yan clenched his fists, letting his nails dig into his palms.

Things have gone too smoothly for me these past six months. I forgot that there are always people better than me.

On the stage, Ya Fei failed to notice Xiao Yan's gaze. She smiled as she greeted Wang Teng. "Master Wang Teng, don't worry. I'll definitely sell the Combined-Strength Pills for a price that satisfies you."

"Since the chief auctioneer has said so, naturally I trust you." Wang Teng highly approved of Ya Fei's business abilities.

He put away the remaining four Combined-Strength Pills and declined the city lord's invitation to lunch.

After stepping down from the stage, Jia Lie Bi approached with members of his clan.

"Master Wang Teng, I've already reserved a table at the best restaurant in the city. Let's go now." Jia Lie Bi was delighted. The resentment the Jia Lie Clan had endured these past few months was finally vented today.

Wang Teng shook his head. "You go ahead. I'm going back to finish refining the remaining Blood Surge Pills. It's about time for me to leave."

The previously jubilant group froze at once.

"Master Wang Teng, must you leave so soon?" Jia Lie Bi asked reluctantly.

"I only came here in the first place on my teacher's orders to investigate," Wang Teng said calmly.

In the end, the Jia Lie Clan split into two groups. Jia Lie Bi and the elders escorted Wang Teng back, while the other clan members continued on to celebrate.

Because she was thinking about Wang Teng, Ruo Lin followed Ya Fei back to the Mittel Auction House.

"Have a seat." Ya Fei turned and went out. When she returned, she carried a stack of papers in her arms.

Seeing Ruo Lin's confusion, she smiled. "Actually, I only heard about Wang Teng recently as well, so I had someone investigate him as quickly as possible. These are his relevant records."

Ruo Lin was stunned. "Investigate him? Isn't that inappropriate?"

"You misunderstand. This is all very basic information," Ya Fei explained.

Ruo Lin was handed several sheets of paper.

"Let's read them together and discuss them afterward. I still have to host an auction this afternoon. Master Wang Teng didn't give us advance notice, so time is tight," Ya Fei said without looking up.

Ruo Lin lowered her head, and the moment her eyes swept over the page, her entire body froze.

Name: Wang Teng. Registered residence: South Star City, Jia Ma Empire. Age: nineteen. Cultivation: nine-star Dou Zhe...

"Nineteen? He's only nineteen? He really is under twenty?!" Ruo Lin was overjoyed.

Ever since Wang Teng had revealed his strength, she had wondered whether, since he looked so young, he might actually be fairly young.

Now, her guess had been answered.

Wang Teng truly was not yet twenty!

Canaan Academy's potential ratings were as follows: for those under twenty, a one-star Dou Zhe was D-rank, two stars C-rank, three stars B-rank, four stars A-rank, and a five-star Dou Zhe counted as S-rank.

A nineteen-year-old nine-star Dou Zhe—how many S-ranks was that worth?

Before leaving the academy, Ruo Lin had thought that encountering even one student with B-rank potential on this trip would be pretty good.

Yet the Xiao Clan alone had already given her an enormous surprise.

She had thought her luck had already peaked. Who could have imagined an even greater surprise was waiting afterward?

If I bring Wang Teng back to Canaan Academy, will Principal Hu Gan go crazy?

And then there's this: besides being a nine-star Dou Zhe, Wang Teng is also an alchemist, and his alchemy isn't weak either.

The bunch of old men in the Alchemy Department probably won't be able to sit still, either.

The two sides won't start fighting, will they? Within the academy, the Alchemy Department is independent, much like the Enforcement Team.

It was entirely possible that they would fight over a single student.

As Wang Teng's mentor, perhaps they'll even try to bribe me with a fortune. Would that mean I could upgrade from being a Yellow-rank mentor?

Ruo Lin thought of many things at once, and her thoughts stretched far into the future.

After all, becoming a mentor did not mean one's future was set in stone. There was still plenty of room for advancement.

"Miss Ruo Lin?" After Ya Fei finished reading the materials in her hands, she looked up and saw Ruo Lin staring at the papers and smiling for some unknown reason. After calling her several times without getting a response, she gave her a gentle push.

Ruo Lin came back to herself, her cheeks burning. "Miss Ya Fei, what is it?"

"I've finished mine. Are you done with yours?" Ya Fei asked.

Ruo Lin said apologetically, "Not yet. Please wait a moment."

"I'll help you." Ya Fei took another portion of the papers.

This time, Ruo Lin did not let her mind wander. The two quickly finished reading and exchanged the information they had found.

Ya Fei immediately rose, preparing to handle the auction.

"Miss Ya Fei." Ruo Lin stopped her. "Are you going to see Wang Teng later?"

Ya Fei nodded. "Yes."

"Could you take me with you?" Ruo Lin asked somewhat embarrassedly.

Ya Fei considered it. Since she could befriend a Canaan Academy mentor without paying any price, she agreed.

After returning to the Jia Lie Clan, Wang Teng instructed everyone not to disturb him, then shut the door to the alchemy room.

Sitting on a meditation cushion, he took out a Combined-Strength Pill.

No more waiting. I'm breaking through to Dou Shi. A decision flashed through Wang Teng's mind.

Things are different now!

Before, I thought I had no backing. I only wanted a stable life and to rely on my status as an alchemist to take care of my family.

That was why I never pursued improvements in cultivation too aggressively. As long as my cultivation was sufficient to support pill refinement, I was content.

After all, alchemy didn't require fighting and killing.

But the system wants me to win the Alchemist Tournament, so I can only pick up the pace.

Although I can't tell anything from the name Wish-Power Orb alone, the Soul-Eating Insect and Samadhi True Fire are both exceedingly rare treasures.

I believe the Wish-Power Orb definitely won't disappoint me.

Most importantly, I don't know whether failing this mission will cause the main quest to stall.

If future main quests get stuck at this point, won't I be completely screwed?

Wang Teng swallowed the pill and circulated his cultivation technique.

A moment later, the air around him rippled slightly, and a thin layer of pale yellow gauze emerged over his body.

"Dou Shi!" Wang Teng looked at the gauze covering his hands.

Without clan support, without a sect background, and relying only on a third-rank alchemist teacher, it truly wasn't easy for me to reach this point!

Since breaking through to Dou Zhe and taking Liu Jiang as his teacher, he had spent more than half of every day practicing alchemy and had not devoted that much attention to cultivating Dou Qi.

Even so, he had become a nine-star Dou Zhe at nineteen. Now, he had become a Dou Shi.

"At my age and at this level, I'd be a rare genius even in Canaan Academy. Not to mention, I haven't enjoyed such abundant resources." Wang Teng sighed.

Forget it. The hard days are already behind me.

He shook his head, casting away his scattered thoughts, and brought all the remaining Blood Surge Pill ingredients to his side.

Whoosh!

With a thought, a ball of unusual flame shot into the medicine cauldron.

It was not as explosive or terrifying as a Heavenly Flame, nor did it radiate a scorching heat capable of destroying heaven and earth.

It was quiet, even somewhat gentle.

Wang Teng felt that he and the Samadhi True Fire were connected in mind and spirit. It felt exceptionally familiar, more intimate than the pill fire he had painstakingly tempered himself.

"Can it be used to attack?" Wang Teng wanted to witness the power of the Samadhi True Fire. Looking toward a wooden rack not far away, he flicked out a wisp of flame.

The next second, Wang Teng's face went pale. His whole body collapsed to the ground as the Dou Qi within him was instantly drained dry, as though swallowed by a whale.

The flame he had flicked out flew only a little over ten centimeters before fading away.