Chapter 637: For Teacher, Zhang Xuan

Legend has it that the fragrance emitted by Grade-6 pills, much like the Heavenly Granting of a Master Teacher's words, can gather spiritual energy, further enhancing their quality to be comparable to spirit stones.

The Guild Leader had long ago reached the pinnacle of a 5-star alchemist. He had always attempted to refine higher-grade elixirs, but unfortunately, his cultivation wasn't sufficient, and without guidance from a formidable teacher, he had never succeeded.

He had initially believed that as long as one's cultivation was insufficient, it would be impossible to refine elixirs of that grade. Witnessing this scene, he now realized that was not the case at all.

Alchemist Luo's strength was two major cultivation realms lower than his own. Even if she came from the Hongyuan Empire and possessed extraordinary insight, she was, after all, too young.

If anyone were to be the first to refine a Grade-6 pill, he felt he would be more likely to succeed...

But reality had just shattered that notion!

The spiritual liquid refined by the other party, with its rich fragrance gathering spiritual energy, instantly elevated its quality, already reaching the Grade-6 level.

"It's him..."

His pupils contracted, and the Guild Leader's body trembled with excitement.

He had observed the alchemy session earlier. Alchemist Luo had strictly followed the other party's instructions, and her success in refining a Grade-6 pill was clearly due to the young man.

Merely through guidance, enabling a 5-star alchemist, who was only at the Mortal-Transcendence 6-dan, to refine a Grade-6 pill... How incredibly powerful was that?

How did he do it?

"Grade-6?"

Others who heard the exclamation also found their lips trembling.

The higher the grade of the pill, the harder it was to refine. They had heard of 1-star alchemists with exceptional talent refining Grade-2 pills, but a 5-star alchemist refining a Grade-6 pill... that was something they had never even dreamt of.

"Refining it just once will significantly advance her confidence and control over elixirs. This Alchemist Luo... her prospects are boundless!"

"Indeed, how foolish I was! If I had rushed forward to become his student, the opportunity would surely have been mine!"

"Such regret! Do you think it's still not too late to seek his tutelage now?"

"Probably too late..."

Many people showed expressions of regret.

With her 5-star status, and having refined a Grade-6 pill, this single experience alone would allow her vision and insight to make a tremendous leap. Breaking through to 6-star in the future would be much simpler.

If they hadn't waited for Alchemist Luo to speak, and had rushed to become his students first, the opportunity would probably have been theirs... Instead of now, sighing in despair and feeling utterly helpless.

While some were filled with lament and others with shock, Alchemist Luo, the person directly involved, let out a sigh of relief. Her face flushed with excitement as she looked at the spiritual liquid quietly suspended before her, her delicate body trembling.

Just as others had said, after this experience, her mastery of alchemy had reached a new level. It was foreseeable that alchemy would become the most illustrious of her auxiliary professions.

Upon returning to the Hongyuan Empire, she would astound countless people.

"Incredible!"

She looked at the young man not far away again, filled with even greater admiration.

Simply by guiding the steps, he enabled her to refine such a high-grade elixir. This level of insight and perception was probably something even the Dean of the Pill College, renowned as the Hongyuan Empire's foremost alchemist, would struggle to match.

"Teacher!"

After bottling the elixir in a jade vial, she respectfully approached the young man and handed it to him.

"Mm!" Taking the jade vial, Zhang Xuan's eyes also showed a hint of excitement.

He had originally thought it would be good enough to refine a Grade-5 spiritual liquid. He hadn't expected that the neutralizing herbs were of sufficient age, and coupled with the flawless process, it had actually reached Grade-6 in one go!

Something of this grade, if used by Yuan Tao, would surely significantly awaken his Dragon Rhino bloodline, leading to a qualitative improvement and leap in his strength.

"To be able to succeed in refining it indicates that you are very talented, and your desire to become my student is very firm. Very well, from today onwards, you are my student for alchemy instruction!"

Suppressing his excitement, Zhang Xuan's expression became as calm as still water again, as if refining a Grade-6 elixir was as simple as eating and drinking.

The alchemic cauldron could have exploded at any moment, yet the other party still trusted him, systematically adding the herbs without the slightest panic. This trust alone showed that she truly wanted to be his student, not merely go through the motions.

"Thank you, Teacher, for accepting me!"

Hearing the "master" before her agree, Alchemist Luo excitedly clenched her fists and hurriedly bowed down.

"Hmm, what is your name?"

Knowing that the other party genuinely sought to be his student, Zhang Xuan looked at her with satisfaction.

"Your student is Luo Qiqi. Teacher can also call me Qiqi!" Alchemist Luo hastily replied.

"Qiqi? Hmm, I'll call you Little Qi from now on..." Zhang Xuan nodded.

"Yes, Teacher!"

Luo Qiqi's face was filled with delight.

"Alright, I have other matters to attend to, so I'll be leaving now!"

Breaking the stone tablet at the Treasure Tower, refining the spiritual liquid at the Alchemist Guild—after all this commotion, four or five hours had passed. The so-called Crown Prince's banquet should be starting soon. As it involved the spot for the Cleansing Pool, he couldn't afford any more delays.

"Understood..."

Seeing him about to leave, Luo Qiqi was filled with reluctance.

"Alchemy isn't something learned overnight. What I taught you today, if you slowly comprehend it, you will make great progress!" Sensing her thoughts, Zhang Xuan said.

Luo Qiqi acknowledged with a sound. Zhang Xuan said no more, casually taking out dozens of mid-grade spirit stones and handing them to the Guild Leader nearby: "This is for the herbs!"

If not for the Guild Leader providing those precious herbs, it would have been impossible for the spiritual liquid to reach Grade-6 in one go. He wasn't one to take advantage of others, so he simply paid the normal price.

On the way to the Alchemist Guild, Sun Qiang had already given him the 700 mid-grade spirit stones paid by that Sixth Miss.

"This... it is my honor to witness such a high-grade elixir being refined before my very eyes in my lifetime. How can I accept money...?" The Guild Leader repeatedly waved his hand.

"Take it!" Zhang Xuan casually tossed the spirit stones.

If the other party didn't accept it, it would mean he owed a favor. He didn't want to owe favors, nor did he want trouble later. It was better to settle the account now to avoid any entanglement later.

"Alright!"

Seeing the other party insistent on paying, the Guild Leader knew he had missed an opportunity to build a connection, and couldn't help but shake his head.

"Farewell!"

Having given the spirit stones, Zhang Xuan lifted his foot and walked out.

"Teacher... where can I find you?"

Seeing him walk away, Luo Qiqi hastily called out.

With his hands behind his back, Zhang Xuan paused, and a faint voice echoed: "Your teacher's name is Zhang Xuan!"

"Why has young master been in there for so long and still hasn't come out? The Crown Prince's banquet must be starting soon!"

Outside the hall, Sun Qiang was full of anxiety.

"Indeed!" Yuan Tao also couldn't help but crane his neck to look inside, but the hall's doors were tightly shut, blocking any view.

They had been waiting here since Zhang Xuan went in. Now, more than two hours had passed, and there was no movement at all, so it was natural to be anxious.

Furthermore, the Crown Prince's banquet was about to begin soon, the purpose of which was to contend for the spots. If he, the champion of the Hongfeng Empire's vassal state, didn't appear in time, Teacher Hong would surely cry himself to death.

During the Master Teacher Tournament, this 5-star master teacher had already been made to cry miserably enough. If this situation drove him mad again, they truly didn't know if the old man could bear it.

"Miss, could I trouble you to go inside for a moment and call our young master out!"

After waiting a little longer, there was still no movement. Sun Qiang couldn't help but look at the woman not far away.

It was the receptionist who had greeted them.

"This... I can't. Everyone inside is a formal alchemist, and some of the high-ranking ones are 5-star. If I go in without permission, I will certainly be reprimanded and lectured. I might even get fired..."

The girl quickly shook her head.

It was a gathering that only formal alchemists could enter. As a service staff member, how could she be qualified?

"This... they are all from the Alchemist Guild, and you're just going to look for someone. It shouldn't be a problem, right?"

Sun Qiang frowned.

"It will be!"

A look of awe appeared in the girl's eyes: "Alchemists belong to the upper nine ranks of professions; their status is revered. They take rules very seriously and never do anything that violates rules or is disrespectful. You haven't seen them, have you? Each of them wears special attire, with extraordinary bearing..."

As she was explaining, about to elaborate on how strict alchemists' rules were, she heard the main doors before them creak open.

Immediately, they saw a group of 3-star and 4-star alchemists rushing out like stray dogs. Some had lost their hats, some had torn clothes, and some, in their haste, crashed into a nearby pillar, lying on the ground like dead pigs...

They looked somewhat like a group of disaster victims, without a trace of an alchemist's dignity.

"This... this is what you call extraordinary bearing?"

Yuan Tao and Sun Qiang's eyes widened.

"..." The girl's vision went dark.

As a receptionist, she frequently dealt with these alchemists. Every single one of them had a dignified aura, giving off a "do not disturb" vibe. How was it that now... they were all like defeated, scattered soldiers, abandoning their armor and weapons, looking incredibly disheveled?

Weren't they listening to a lecture inside?

How did listening to it make them so terrified?

What exactly was lectured about?

"Could it be Teacher... causing trouble again inside?"

Seeing more and more alchemists rushing out, each with a panicked expression, Yuan Tao remembered something and swallowed.

"This..."

Sun Qiang stroked his chin, and couldn't help but nod: "It's quite possible!"

The young master was never one to stay quiet. At the Master Teacher Tournament, he drove all the participants mad. Now, going in to find a 5-star alchemist for proxy refining, would he cause another ruckus?

For anyone else, he wouldn't dare say, but for the young master... it was hard to say!

"Your young master? How could that be! Rest assured, he's only a 3-star alchemist. Even if he had ten times the guts, he couldn't cause any trouble!"

Recovering from her shock, and hearing their conversation, the girl shook her head.

She had seen their teacher and young master before. He was just a 3-star alchemist in his twenties.

Alchemists of this grade could be found in abundance throughout the guild. They kept a low profile. Even if he tried to cause trouble, what kind of trouble could he cause?

"That's not necessarily true..." Sun Qiang shook his head.

"You're overthinking it. Our guild has many 5-star alchemists. While a 3-star alchemist might be quite formidable elsewhere, in front of them, they are nothing, not even daring to breathe loudly..."

The girl shook her head, wanting to continue speaking, when she saw the main doors before her creak open again. The "young master" she had seen before strolled out lazily.

"Respectfully seeing off Alchemist Zhang!"

"We hope Alchemist Zhang will have time to lecture us in the future. Our guild would be immensely honored and grateful!"

Immediately after, they saw the Guild Leader and numerous guild elders, each standing humbly behind him, seeing him off, with respect in their eyes.

"..." The girl actually cried.

Weren't they not even daring to breathe loudly? Weren't they supposed to be nothing?

What on earth was going on?