Lin Fei and Xue Mei

With Master Otto's assistance, Su Heng completed the Alchemist Guild's enrollment procedures with remarkable efficiency.

It had to be said that Alchemists held an exceptionally prestigious status on the Dou Qi Continent. Even apprentices enjoyed generous benefits far beyond those of ordinary people.

The residence the Alchemist Guild arranged for Su Heng came with its own courtyard, a cultivation room, and two bedrooms. During his studies, Su Heng wouldn't be disturbed by anyone.

As for daily meals, they were handled by staff specially hired by the Alchemist Guild. All the household supplies provided were brand-new, high-end goods as well.

Seeing Qing Lin follow Su Heng the entire time, Otto assumed she was Su Heng's maid. He therefore instructed the Guild staff to prepare a full additional set of daily necessities for Qing Lin.

Su Heng gave the slightly smaller of the two bedrooms to Qing Lin. He was also deeply grateful for Master Otto's thoughtfulness.

Not long ago, Xiao Li had sought Su Heng out and entrusted Qing Lin to him.

"Brother Su, Qing Lin only has you in her heart now. If I take her back to Stone Desert City, she'll definitely be heartbroken."

"Besides, Qing Lin can control Third-tier Magical Beasts. With her by your side, she can protect you too."

Having lived and died together, Su Heng couldn't bear to part with Qing Lin either. The two of them were now naturally "together."

With Qing Lin protecting Su Heng, Su Wen and Su Li could return to the Su Clan ahead of schedule. The two of them were overjoyed, having long been impatient to cultivate that Profound Tier technique.

After settling everything, Su Heng prepared to collect his apprentice uniform.

After registering, Alchemist Apprentices could receive a specially made apprentice uniform.

These uniforms were made from special materials. Once finished, they would be soaked in the Alchemist Guild's Medicine Pool for a period of time. After soaking, the medicinal liquid infused into the fabric would react with the air and emit a peculiar medicinal fragrance.

This fragrance could keep the wearer clear-headed at all times. Furthermore, under its stimulation, the body's skin became more sensitive, granting stronger perception during alchemy.

The purple fitted outfit Lin Fei wore was precisely a specially made Alchemist uniform.

Entering the changing room, Su Heng looked over the dazzling array of robes and immediately took a liking to an exquisite long robe in red and white.

The robe had a dark red base, embroidered all over with golden flame patterns. Its chest was flanked by white lapels, upon which vivid red fire-cloud patterns were embroidered.

Su Heng loved this color scheme the most. Without the slightest hesitation, he changed into the robe, unwilling to wait even a moment longer.

Clothes made the man, just as gold adorned the Buddha. Su Heng had previously worn an earthy brown robe that, after weathering hardship and several bloody battles, had become shabby and worn-out.

Now, dressed in this bright and vivid robe, paired with his naturally tall, slender build and handsome face, he truly looked like a jade-like gentleman, unmatched in all the world.

Leaving the changing room and entering the main hall, Su Heng happened to run into Lin Fei, whom he had met earlier.

Lin Fei had initially felt nothing toward Su Heng and had even considered him an ordinary apprentice. Yet upon seeing his current appearance, surprise flashed across her pretty face, and for a moment, she couldn't bear to look away.

"We meet again, Senior Sister Lin Fei!"

Seeing Lin Fei staring at him, Su Heng smiled knowingly and slowly stepped forward, half reminding her and half greeting her.

"Oh! Uh... Junior Brother Su Heng, good afternoon..."

A blush flashed across Lin Fei's face. Feeling somewhat awkward, she tried to find another topic, but with her mind completely blank, she couldn't say a thing.

After exchanging a few polite words with Lin Fei, Su Heng left the Alchemist Guild. According to Otto, formal classes would begin the day after tomorrow, so he still had a day and a half to arrange freely.

It was time to find Xiao Li and the others for a wild drinking celebration!

The alcohol on the Dou Qi Continent wasn't particularly strong, but its aftereffects were truly fierce.

That night, after everyone ate and drank together, a gust of wind hit Su Heng, and he blacked out on the spot.

The sorrowful farewell finally arrived a day later. As they were about to part, Qing Lin hid behind Su Heng, tears pouring down her face as she sobbed uncontrollably.

"Second Brother, we killed so many members of the Mo Family this time. They definitely won't let this go. This is a letter I wrote to Bo'er, the Lord of Salt City, along with a bottle of Second-grade Pills. Give them to Lord Bo'er, and he should be willing to protect you."

"Within a year, I'll definitely become a true Alchemist!"

The Desert Iron Mercenary Group and Su Heng had killed twenty-eight Mo Family disciples. The two sides were already locked in an irreconcilable conflict, and before long, the Mo Family would certainly go to Stone Desert City seeking revenge.

Now that Su Heng had become the disciple of a Fourth-grade Alchemist, he could use his teacher Otto's status to further win over Bo'er, the Dou Wang and Lord of Salt City, so that he would offer some degree of protection to the Su Clan and the Desert Iron Mercenary Group.

Though Su Heng himself carried little weight, Bo'er should still give a Fourth-grade Alchemist this much face.

"Don't worry. Soldiers come, generals block them; water comes, earth dams it. Since I've already gotten involved in this matter, I, Xiao Li, won't be afraid."

Xiao Li boldly patted Su Heng on the shoulder. If anyone came seeking revenge, he believed the spear in his hands would be enough to fend them off.

"Second Commander... all of you, please take care of yourselves!"

Her eyes red from crying, Qing Lin threw herself into Xiao Li's embrace. Xiao Li gently stroked her little head and softly comforted her, promising that he would visit them when he had the chance.

Watching everyone's retreating figures, Su Heng couldn't help feeling a sting in his nose. The pure friendships of youth always made people inexplicably sad at parting. Even after living two lives, those feelings remained unchanged.

Over the following ten-odd days, Su Heng officially began his life as an Alchemist Apprentice.

Otto steadily taught Su Heng the foundational knowledge required of an Alchemist.

Combined with his memories of this world from his previous life, Su Heng quickly mastered every stage of alchemy. Everything was ready; only practical experience remained.

Fifteen days after enrolling, Su Heng, now thoroughly versed in theory, was officially permitted to enter the Alchemy Hall for practical training.

The next morning, the first rays of dawn spilled freely across Su Heng's window. He was already fully dressed and prepared.

As he stepped into the Alchemy Hall he had long awaited, the fragrance of medicinal ingredients filling the room invigorated him. He was the first student to arrive.

Looking around the classroom, he saw eight bluestone platforms neatly arranged in the center. Five portions of medicinal ingredients sat on each platform. Aside from the two platforms in the front row, every other platform held a standard bronze medicinal cauldron.

Su Heng walked to his own bluestone platform and carefully inspected the First-grade Medicinal Cauldron intended for apprentice practice.

The cauldron was about thirty centimeters tall and forty centimeters wide, just large enough for an adult to hold in their arms. It was entirely forged from bronze and looked extremely simple, without any carvings or patterns.

The opening at the top was around twenty centimeters wide and was used to insert medicinal ingredients.

Below it was a fire inlet slightly smaller than a palm.

Otto had once explained that Alchemists' medicinal cauldrons also had grades. The more fire inlets they had, the higher their grade. The cauldrons used by apprentices for practice had only one fire inlet, while the Second-grade Medicinal Cauldron Lin Fei had purchased herself had two.

At the center of the cauldron was a transparent mirror carved from crystal, through which one could observe changes in the medicinal ingredients inside.

Though this bronze medicinal cauldron was low-grade, it was fully equipped. It was perfectly suited for learning alchemy.

After examining the cauldron carefully, Su Heng began checking the medicinal ingredients on the bluestone platform. Today's practical lesson was extracting Blood-Stanching Grass.

As long as one could complete the extraction and remove the refined ingredient from the medicinal cauldron, they would be considered qualified.

The other Alchemists of the Guild would then refine the extracted ingredients into pills, ensuring that none of the medicinal ingredients went to waste. It was truly making the best use of every resource.

A short while later, the other Alchemist Apprentices also arrived at the Alchemy Hall. Most were around twenty years old, with an even split between men and women, all dressed in apprentice uniforms.

Before long, every apprentice except those assigned to the two front-row positions had arrived. There was no need to guess who those two spots had been reserved for.

Lin Fei and Xue Mei. One was the disciple of Vice President Otto, while the other was the disciple of President Frank. They were also the most gifted apprentices in the entire Black Rock City Alchemist Guild.

Su Heng had met Lin Fei before and had been deeply impressed by both her outstanding figure and talent. Unfortunately, after meeting her once upon arriving, he hadn't encountered her again.

As for Xue Mei, Su Heng had only heard from other apprentices that she was an icy beauty. He had never had the chance to meet her all this time, so he was quite curious.

As class time approached, neither of those two great beauties showed any sign of arriving, and Su Heng couldn't help feeling disappointed.

Their abilities aren't that great, but their tempers sure are. Do they really think they're heaven's chosen? With that kind of mindset, becoming high-grade Alchemists is nearly impossible.

As the timekeeping bell rang, a middle-aged man strode into the Alchemy Hall. He was tall and thin, a stark contrast to Master Otto. He was Master Frank, president of the Black Rock City Alchemist Guild.

He wore a black robe and looked energetic and vigorous. A few strands of white hair rested upon his forehead, while his eyes were sharp and resolute.

A badge symbolizing an Alchemist's grade also hung from Master Frank's chest. Like Otto's, it bore four silver ripples.

Frank looked over the noisy Alchemy Hall, cleared his throat, and gave a heavy cough. Then his sharp gaze swept over every apprentice. With just that one glance, the entire room immediately fell silent, leaving only faint breathing.

"Those two girls still aren't here!"

Frank muttered irritably, but soon lowered his head with a helpless sigh. He truly couldn't control those two girls, and getting angry was pointless.

Just as Master Frank was feeling helpless, a slender young girl with clear eyes and delicate brows slowly stepped through the doors of the Alchemy Hall.

Su Heng looked toward the girl. Her skin was as white as snow, and she possessed an ethereal, captivating beauty. Her exquisite face and slender brows made her appearance incomparably stunning.

She had a tall and graceful figure, clad in a fitted silver gown. The gown complemented her snowy skin, giving her an indescribable icy elegance.

Most astonishingly, the silver-robed woman possessed a head of silver hair that fell all the way to her waist.

Her silver hair wasn't the dull white of old age. Instead, it was vibrant and lustrous, like silver satin. Even Su Heng couldn't help admiring such a beauty.

She had to be Xue Mei. Compared to her, Lin Fei had a little more liveliness and cuteness but lacked some of that ethereal grace. If he had to put it into words, Xue Mei was perhaps three parts more beautiful than Lin Fei.

"Teacher... I'm sorry I'm late."

Xue Mei bowed apologetically to Master Frank. Frank, who had been somewhat angry, immediately lost his anger, and it swiftly transformed into gentleness and concern.

"Master Frank, I'm sorry, I'm late... just a little!"

Just after Xue Mei entered the Alchemy Hall, Lin Fei hurried in as well. She had clearly timed it to make her entrance last. When she said the words "just a little," she deliberately turned toward Xue Mei with a smug expression.

Those two girls really were competitive over the most trivial things.

"Hmph. Don't blow up your cauldron again later. If you fail, don't disturb me!"

Lin Fei slapped her Storage Ring, and a huge golden medicinal cauldron appeared. To outdo Xue Mei, she had spent a fortune acquiring this cauldron. Bringing it out now was the perfect way to intimidate Xue Mei.

Xue Mei expressionlessly glanced at Lin Fei and shook her head disdainfully. She too took out a green medicinal cauldron from her Storage Ring. Its size and extravagance were no less impressive than Lin Fei's cauldron. This round ended in another draw between the two.

"Ahem, enough! Today's lesson is about to begin. Hurry and get yourselves ready."

Seeing the tension between Lin Fei and Xue Mei escalating, Frank promptly spoke up to interrupt their confrontation.

"Today's assignment is to extract the ingredients for Blood-Staunching Pills. Each of you has five chances to extract them. If you fail all five times, that's the end, so you must be careful. Don't be impatient."

"Now, inspect your medicinal cauldrons and ingredients first. Once you've confirmed there are no issues, you may light the fire."

The instant Frank finished speaking, blazing heat rose from several bluestone platforms. These apprentices had already checked their ingredients in advance, so the moment permission was granted, they swiftly ignited their cauldrons.

"Inject Dou Qi through the fire inlet, then draw upon the Wood Qi within the body. Wood gives rise to fire."

Su Heng silently recited the formula and placed his palm over the cauldron's fire inlet.

Just as pale yellow Dou Qi slowly reached his palm, a powerful suction force suddenly erupted from the cauldron's fire inlet. Su Heng's Dou Qi left his hand directly and shot straight into the cauldron.

Bang!

A faint explosive sound rang out, making the medicinal cauldron tremble slightly.

The Dou Qi Su Heng had guided through the fire inlet ultimately transformed into fiercely burning pale yellow flames.

The conversion of Dou Qi into fire had succeeded. Next came the infusion of Wood Qi. Su Heng closed his eyes and focused, using his soul perception to search for that trace of Wood Qi inside his body.

A few seconds later, faint Wood Qi transformed into a thread of green light and slipped into the medicinal cauldron through the fire inlet.

The originally violent, churning pale yellow flames gradually calmed as the Wood Qi entered.

At that moment, Su Heng could clearly feel that the violent aura of the pale yellow flames within the cauldron had been neutralized by the Wood Qi. With wood giving rise to fire, the pale yellow flames could now clearly burn longer and had become controllable as well.

After countless theoretical simulations, Su Heng's first attempt at igniting a cauldron for alchemy had succeeded!