Chapter 101: Zhao Ya's Touching Moment

The young lady was dead set on becoming Zhang Xuan's disciple, and in the past few days, Yao Han had conducted a thorough investigation into him.

This Teacher Zhang was reputed to be a genius, having reached the peak of the Martial Artist Triple True Qi realm at sixteen. However, that was as far as he got. After that, he became stuck, making no further progress, and the genius turned into a good-for-nothing.

At eighteen, he passed the teacher qualification exam in one go, becoming the youngest teacher at Hongtian Academy. At the time, he gained widespread fame and was the subject of much discussion, drawing envy from many other teachers.

It was believed that this youngest teacher would achieve great results and soar to success, but reality proved harsh. An incident of qi deviation occurred, causing all the students he had previously enrolled to drop out, leaving him with no students. Furthermore, he scored zero in the final teacher performance evaluation, and his reputation plummeted.

The youngest teacher at Hongtian Academy also became a joke for a time, widely considered the biggest good-for-nothing.

These reports were conclusive, and it was assumed the young lady was merely confused for a moment. With proper guidance, she would surely realize her mistake and see the true nature of this good-for-nothing teacher!

However, hearing that he scored full marks on the first part of the apprentice examination, her deeply ingrained beliefs couldn't help but waver.

Alchemists not only possess a profound understanding of medicinal ingredients but also extensive knowledge of the human body. Otherwise, it would be impossible for them to formulate elixirs specifically for cultivators.

How could someone who scored full marks on the first part of the alchemist apprentice examination possibly teach students to suffer qi deviation?

"Good theory is useless without practice," Wen Xue scoffed from the side. "The second part of the examination is timed identification. If you misidentify even one of the ten medicinal herbs, you cannot pass."

She still harbored some resentment towards Zhang Xuan. She had initially thought he was merely a dandy trying to get her attention, but it turned out he was genuinely capable. This made her blush and feel somewhat hesitant to face him.

Before she finished speaking, she saw two people approaching.

They were Sun Tao and Qian Wenman, two of the three who had previously passed the first part of the examination.

Wen Xue went to meet them, asking, "Well, did you pass the examination?"

Having frequently overseen apprentice examinations, they were already acquainted.

"No!" Both shook their heads simultaneously. Although they were unwilling to admit it, they were convinced of their defeat.

There was no point in being unconvinced. He had scored full marks on the first part of the examination, and on the second, he could even identify mistakes made by true alchemists. His ability was far beyond their imagination.

Hearing that neither of them had passed the second part, Wen Xue couldn't help but ask again, "What about... that Zhang Xuan?"

"He... passed," Sun Tao said. "He's an alchemist apprentice now!"

"An alchemist apprentice?" Wen Xue's delicate body swayed in shock.

When she had chatted with him before, it was clear that he knew nothing about medicinal ingredients and didn't even seem to fully understand what an alchemist was. She had thought his application for the examination was a joke and had been full of disdain. Yet, he not only passed the first part but also successively passed the remaining two parts, becoming an alchemist apprentice!

The humiliation stung fiercely.

She herself had diligently studied for so many years, yet couldn't even pass the first part…

He, however, casually took the examination and became an apprentice…

And she had brazenly mocked him…

Where did she get such confidence?

Zhao Ya looked around but didn't see Zhang Xuan, so she couldn't help but ask, "When will... Teacher Zhang Xuan come out?"

She wasn't as surprised as Wen Xue. In her mind, Teacher Zhang was omnipotent, and becoming an alchemist apprentice was surely nothing remarkable for him.

"He went to the library," Sun Tao said, still unable to believe it himself. "He plans to conduct a Dan Debate tomorrow afternoon to qualify as a formal alchemist!"

To engage in a Dan Debate right after becoming an alchemist apprentice—how bold was that?

"Qualify as a formal alchemist?" Wen Xue staggered, her eyes nearly popping out of her head, almost fainting.

"Qualifying as a formal alchemist tomorrow afternoon?" This can't be real!

It sounds like a joke.

And... what in the world is a Dan Debate?

Noticing everyone's confusion, Sun Tao explained, "A Dan Debate is a method of examining alchemists. You have to debate with ten formal alchemists and defeat all of them to pass! This examination is more difficult than actual alchemy, and the penalties for failure are also greater!"

As he spoke, he couldn't help but shake his head.

Uncle Li suppressed the shock in his heart and nodded, saying, "I've read about Dan Debates in books. Their difficulty is many times that of a regular alchemy examination. You must surpass ten formal alchemists in both knowledge and practical skill to pass! It's extremely difficult!" He then added, full of doubt, "He's so young to become an alchemist apprentice; he has plenty of time. Why is he in such a hurry to undertake a Dan Debate? He could easily follow a gradual process to learn alchemy, because once he fails, the consequences will be unbearable!"

Becoming an alchemist apprentice before twenty—such an achievement would rank highly even in the hundreds or thousands of years of history of the Tianxuan Kingdom Alchemist Guild. He could easily wait a few years, master alchemy, and then take the examination. Why must he risk a Dan Debate?

One must know that the difficulty of a Dan Debate is several times that of alchemy; few people succeed.

"I don't know either," Sun Tao said, after thinking for a moment and recalling Zhang Xuan's conversation with Ouyang Cheng and others. "He seemed to say he needed to find books about special constitutions, and only true alchemists have the right to view such books! Oh, he also mentioned something about half a month; it seems he's being pressed by something and must become an alchemist within half a month to find these books!"

"Half a month? Special constitution?" Wen Xue and others on the side listened, baffled. Zhao Ya, however, turned pale, her delicate body trembling.

She possessed the Pure Yin Constitution, a special constitution.

Teacher Zhang had told her this.

Half a month—wasn't that the date of the Freshman Grand Competition? To rush before then… was Teacher Zhang doing this to help her activate her constitution and improve her strength?

If a special constitution isn't activated, its true power cannot be unleashed!

It must be!

Her delicate fists clenched, Zhao Ya suppressed the emotion in her heart. She looked at Uncle Li and asked, "Senior, you just said that failing the Dan Debate would incur a heavy penalty. What exactly are these penalties?"

"About that... I'm not entirely sure!" Uncle Li shook his head.

He had only read about Dan Debates in books and was unaware of the specific penalties.

"Oh, I know this," Sun Tao said after thinking for a moment. "I just heard Master Ouyang mention it! There are three penalties. First, he must compensate each of the examining alchemists with at least one hundred thousand gold coins, totaling one million gold coins for ten alchemists! Second, he must endure one hundred God-Slaying Rod strikes! Third, he will not be allowed to retake the examination for ten years!"

"One million gold coins? One hundred God-Slaying Rod strikes? Not allowed to retake the exam for ten years?" Zhao Ya's delicate body trembled uncontrollably.

This punishment is truly too severe!

To help her activate her constitution, Teacher Zhang would go so far as to take such a risk…

Teacher… thank you!

This kindness, I, Zhao Ya, could never repay, even if I were to be utterly destroyed!

Tears instantly streamed down her fair, jade-like face, and Zhao Ya could no longer hold them back.