Fifth rank

An hour later, the dark red pill slammed into the inner wall of the medicine cauldron with a sharp clink.

The energy in the room gradually grew chaotic, and the faces of those below the platform slowly went blank. Only Elder Huo's smile grew brighter.

As fiery red light illuminated the entire room, a freshly refined dark red pill emerged, and gasps rang out around the room.

"Hiss!"

"Hahahaha... A fifteen-year-old fifth-rank alchemist! The finest student in Jia Nan Academy's history!"

Before Wu Bai could put away his medicine cauldron, Elder Huo could no longer contain his excitement and burst into laughter.

Only then did the fourth-rank alchemists present realize what had just happened.

This boy, who had enrolled less than a year ago, had already surpassed them with ease.

The Dragon Strength Pill was among the more difficult fifth-grade pills to refine, yet this boy had succeeded on his very first attempt.

The boy's youthful face, his shy smile, and the badge that now bore five rippling lines...

All the fourth- and fifth-rank alchemists present shared the same thought: this boy's future would surely be limitless!

Before long, Wu Bai found himself surrounded by friendly, generous seniors.

A quarter of an hour later, everyone gradually said their goodbyes.

Elder Huo stopped Wu Bai and kept him behind until the end.

"Do you remember my promise to give you a gift when you became a fifth-rank alchemist?"

"I do. May I ask what that gift is?"

A hint of smugness flashed through Elder Huo's eyes. He seemed certain that what he was about to produce would astonish Wu Bai.

The next moment, a blue-white glow caught Wu Bai's eye.

At the heart of that light, a tiny flood dragon circled instinctively.

Wu Bai swallowed, astonishment filling his face as he stared at the blue-white flame with burning desire.

"This is..."

"A seventh-tier Flood Dragon Flame Seed, one of the finest seventh-tier beast fires. Ordinary seventh-tier beast fires are nothing but trash compared to it!"

Elder Huo's face brimmed with satisfaction, and unmistakable pride filled his voice.

"Elder Huo, this is too valuable. I can't accept it."

"Hm? Don't you like it? It's such a fine treasure!"

Elder Huo was baffled and looked at Wu Bai curiously.

If those fellows in the Alchemy Department saw something this good, they would probably cry, throw tantrums, and threaten to hang themselves just to beg for it.

Why was this boy turning it down?

"This flame seed is indeed excellent, but it belongs to you, Elder. You should use it yourself."

Wu Bai shook his head. His relationship with Elder Huo did not seem close enough for this yet. The gift was far too precious.

"Haha... Silly boy, of course I'd keep the best things for myself. You needn't feel burdened."

Elder Huo understood now. The boy knew where to draw the line. Good.

As he spoke, a crimson-gold flame rose from his palm.

As the flame burned, the faint sound of a dragon's roar rang out.

"Can you accept it now?"

"I owe you a favor, Elder. If there is anything within my power, please don't hesitate to ask."

Wu Bai pressed his lips together. He still preferred to make these things clear. Even brothers should settle their accounts properly, let alone...

Elder Huo smiled and pointed at Wu Bai, saying jokingly, "All right, then! I'll be counting on you for my Sect Breaking Pill!"

"I'll remember that."

Wu Bai nodded firmly and earnestly, inwardly relieved.

Yes, settling things clearly like this was best.

Afterward, Wu Bai borrowed the pill formula for the Three-Pattern Clear Spirit Pill from the Alchemy Department.

He traded several fourth-rank pills for four relatively mild fifth-tier beast fires.

Wu Bai also spent two hundred thousand gold coins at the Medicinal Materials Warehouse to buy seven sets of medicinal herbs for the Three-Pattern Green Spirit Pill.

Outside the academy, those seven sets would have cost at least five hundred thousand gold coins.

When the elder guarding the Medicinal Materials Warehouse saw him, he even wanted to pay out of his own pocket and give them to Wu Bai, the fifth-rank alchemist.

Fortunately, Wu Bai paid quickly, or he would have owed another favor.

Only after hurrying back to his dormitory did Wu Bai breathe a sigh of relief.

To the people of Jia Nan Academy, his status as a fifth-rank alchemist seemed almost too overwhelming.

But on reflection, it made sense. The Han Family's elderly Zhu Qian was a fifth-rank alchemist, and even Dou Zong experts treated him with deference.

Now that Wu Bai was among people who had yet to reach Dou Zong, such respect did not seem excessive.

Shaking his head, Wu Bai entered a meditation state and prepared to refine the Three-Pattern Green Spirit Pill.

Wu Bai did not intend to absorb the seventh-tier Flood Dragon Flame Seed immediately. Familiarizing himself with a new flame would take considerable time.

Moreover, the Three-Pattern Green Spirit Pill he intended to refine was the most difficult of all fourth-rank pills, surpassing even some ordinary fifth-grade pills in difficulty.

To be safe, he would use the Flame Tiger flame seed he knew best.

"It really is beautiful!"

Despite that decision, Wu Bai could not resist taking a few more looks.

The blue-white flame captivated him, much like Han Yue's long silver hair. Both appealed perfectly to his particular tastes.

"Well, boy, I've figured you out. Your favorite heavenly flame must be the Bone Spirit Cold Flame!"

The Yellow Springs Demon Saint could not resist teasing him. Why was this boy so fascinated with cool-colored things?

"Hehe..."

Wu Bai smiled without arguing. He really did have a special fondness for cool-colored things.

No matter how much I look, I never get enough!

Just as Wu Bai began refining the Three-Pattern Green Spirit Pill, a storm of news about him began sweeping through the Outer Academy.

First came the eighteen Purple Heart Barrier-Breaking Pills that Han Yue had presented outright.

Producing eighteen Purple Heart Barrier-Breaking Pills in just two days was no less than dropping a nuclear bomb on the academy!

Even a fifth-rank alchemist could not achieve that level of efficiency.

Yet Wu Bai had done it.

Before that first nuclear bomb had fully unleashed its force, another one detonated.

Wu Bai had successfully become a fifth-rank alchemist at the age of fifteen!

The two nuclear bombs exploded together, leaving everyone utterly stunned.

Eighteen Purple Heart Barrier-Breaking Pills refined in two days.

A fifteen-year-old fifth-rank alchemist.

Either piece of news alone would have been enough to leave everyone reeling.

Now both had hit at once!

Throughout the Outer Academy, even during lessons, the restless excitement was palpable.

Almost everyone wanted to know everything about that genius alchemist.

What did he look like?

He had to be handsome, surely—loved by everyone, charming enough to make flowers bloom.

His personality had to be wonderful too: kind, gentle, warm, and generous.

And he...

At last, when classes ended, voices could be heard ringing over the entire academy:

"Wu Bai."

"Wu Bai."

"Wu Bai."

"..."

For a time, "Wu Bai" seemed to have become a punctuation mark. No one could say anything without including his name.

Of course, phrases like "fifth-rank alchemist" and "eighteen Purple Heart Barrier-Breaking Pills" were everywhere too.

It was no exaggeration to say that Wu Bai now topped Jia Nan Academy's Trending Rankings.