Jade Slip

Fire Elder pondered for a moment, then took out a jade slip from his Storage Ring and handed it to Xiao Qing.

"Though I can no longer teach you much, Jia Nan Academy has a deep foundation. The Alchemy Department once even produced a Seventh-Grade Alchemist."

"This jade tube was left behind by that Seventh-Grade Alchemist. It should prove helpful to your advancement on the path of alchemy."

Xiao Qing did not refuse. He solemnly accepted it and said, "Thank you, Teacher."

Fire Elder chuckled and nodded in satisfaction.

"There is no need for this. It is of little use to me; otherwise, how could I have remained stuck at the peak of the fifth grade for so long?"

Looking at the jade tube in Xiao Qing's hands, Fire Elder revealed a nostalgic expression.

Back then, he too had held lofty ambitions. When he obtained this jade tube, he had imagined himself breaking through to the Seventh Grade one day.

Yet now, he had not even reached the Sixth Grade and remained trapped at the peak of the fifth grade, unable to advance.

Hearing Fire Elder's words, Xiao Qing hesitated inwardly.

Did he have a way to help Fire Elder break through to the Sixth Grade?

Not only did he have one, but more than one.

Over the past two years, he had already figured out how to cultivate the Taiyi Soul Art in his mind.

The reason he had advanced so quickly in alchemy was not only because his soul power, tempered through two lifetimes, was exceptionally strong. It was also due to the effects of cultivating the Taiyi Soul Art and absorbing spiritual energy.

Xiao Qing focused on the space between his brows. Threads of spiritual energy invisible to ordinary people slowly gathered there, bringing a faint coolness to his soul.

Besides that, there was the Green Lotus Core Flame in the Tagor Desert.

At this point in time, Medusa had yet to find the Green Lotus Core Flame.

If he told Fire Elder about the Green Lotus Core Flame and let him refine it, then with the effects of the Scarlet Flame Manual, he might have a chance to break through to the Dou Zong realm.

With his cultivation feeding back into his soul and raising it, the bottleneck before the Sixth Grade would naturally collapse.

But the problem was, how had he obtained this soul cultivation technique and that information?

Over the past two years, he had not even left Jia Nan Academy. Could he claim that the technique and information had appeared out of thin air?

Even if he brought out the soul cultivation technique or the information, how could Fire Elder not grow suspicious later?

After some thought, Xiao Qing temporarily gave up on the idea.

He could only wait for another opportunity to help Fire Elder break through in the future.

With the jade tube tucked away, Xiao Qing left the Alchemy Department. Rather than returning directly to his dormitory, he headed toward Ge Long's office.

He wanted to participate in the Inner Academy Selection Tournament two months later, so he needed to inform Ge Long, his mentor.

Before long, Xiao Qing arrived outside Ge Long's office.

Just as he raised his hand to knock, a teasing voice came from behind him.

"Well, well. Isn't this Master Xiao from the Alchemy Department? What brings you here?"

Hearing the familiar voice, Xiao Qing looked helpless. He turned around and saw Ge Long's burly figure slowly approaching.

"Mentor Ge Long, you jest. You are my mentor. Isn't it perfectly normal for me to come visit you?"

Ge Long looked Xiao Qing over from head to toe and said in surprise,

"Well now, that doesn't sound like something you would say, kid."

"Tell me. Do you need my help with something?"

Xiao Qing rubbed the back of his head. Even though Ge Long had seen through him, he did not feel embarrassed.

"Well, the Inner Academy Selection Tournament is in two months. I came to ask you to register me, Mentor."

Ge Long folded his arms and nodded. "I knew you wouldn't come here without a reason."

"Don't worry. I registered your name long ago. Just make sure you aren't late when the Inner Academy Selection Tournament begins."

Xiao Qing clasped his fists toward Ge Long. "Thank you, Mentor Ge Long."

Ge Long waved his hand. "You are my student. Why thank me for registering you?"

"Want to come in and sit for a while?"

Ge Long pointed toward the office in invitation.

"I'll pass. I still need to go back and cultivate."

Xiao Qing shook his head and declined.

Ge Long was not surprised.

After all, he knew that over the past two years, aside from studying alchemy in the Alchemy Department during the day, Xiao Qing had spent virtually all his remaining time cultivating in his dormitory.

"Very well. I won't keep you from returning to your cultivation."

Ge Long nodded, then seemed to recall something.

"Oh, right. I think there are two freshmen this year who are members of your clan. Do you want to go see them?"

Xiao Qing was curious upon hearing this. He did not remember anyone from the Xiao Household joining Jia Nan Academy at this point in the original story.

"Oh? What are their names?"

"I think they are called Xiao Ding and Xiao Li. That should be right. Their talent is fairly ordinary."

Ge Long thought for a moment, sounding somewhat uncertain.

Xiao Qing was surprised upon hearing those two names. Why had Xiao Ding and Xiao Li come to Jia Nan Academy?

Logically, after Xiao Yan became useless, they should have gone to Stone Desert City in the Tagor Desert and established the Mo Tie Mercenary Group.

But considering that this might be the butterfly effect caused by him, Xiao Qing no longer found it strange.

Seeing the change in Xiao Qing's expression, Ge Long asked curiously, "You know those two?"

Xiao Qing shook his head. "No. We merely ran into each other at the Xiao Household."

Ge Long understood. Since they were from the same clan, it was normal for them to have met before.

"Then do you want to go see them?"

"I'll pass. We are all at Jia Nan Academy, so we will meet sooner or later." After thinking it over, Xiao Qing still chose not to meet them.

After all, he was not familiar with either of them. Even if they met, there would not be much to talk about beyond the current state of the Xiao Household.

However, over the past two years, he had mailed back quite a few pills he had refined, and Xiao Zhan occasionally wrote letters telling him about the Xiao Household's situation.

So he truly had little to discuss with them.

After saying goodbye to Ge Long, Xiao Qing headed toward his dormitory.

Watching Xiao Qing's receding back, Ge Long could not help recalling the inexplicable thought that had surfaced in his mind two years ago, when Xiao Qing had first joined Jia Nan Academy.

"This boy will surely achieve great things in the future?"

Ge Long shook his head with a bitter smile. It had only been two years, yet Xiao Qing's cultivation was already about to surpass his. What need was there to speak of the future?

By the time he came back to his senses, Xiao Qing's figure had long disappeared into the distance.

After returning to his dormitory, Xiao Qing sat cross-legged on his bed and took out the jade tube Fire Elder had given him from his Storage Ring.

He pressed it against the space between his brows. Immediately, a vast amount of information surged into his mind like a roaring sea.

Xiao Qing half-closed his eyes and digested the information in his mind. Only after a long while did he slowly let out a breath.

"As expected of an inheritance left behind by a Seventh-Grade Alchemist."

This alchemy inheritance was excellent. It even included all kinds of instruction on refining pills from the first through seventh grades.

Even Xiao Qing, who was currently at the peak of the fourth grade, gained tremendously from reading it.

"Too bad there are no pill formulas."

Xiao Qing felt somewhat regretful. Compared to the instruction, he valued the pill formulas left behind by the Seventh-Grade Alchemist more.

After all, the value of high-grade pill formulas far exceeded that of this instruction.