Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
The alchemy academy was divided into four separate buildings, namely Heaven, Earth, Black, and Yellow which made up the four different levels.
Low-grade disciples were only allowed to study in the Yellow Building, and medium-grade disciples were allowed to enter the Black Building while high-grade disciples were allowed to enter the Earth Building. As for the Heaven Building which was the highest rank, only a few true lineage disciples were authorized to enter.
Other than these four buildings that made up the main section of the alchemy academy, there were also a few side halls.
Fang Lin was given an annual pass to enter and stay in the alchemy academy at his will. However, he was only allowed to study in the Yellow Building because of his status as a low-grade disciple. He did not have the authority to enter the rest of the three buildings.
It was the beginning of the month when Fang Lin joined Xu Shangao and some low-grade disciples to go to the alchemy academy. They worshipped the cauldron sculpture placed in front of the main entrance of the alchemy academy before heading to the Yellow Building.
“Fang Lin, it’s your first time here, so you might not know certain things well yet. Don’t simply wander anywhere and be careful not to bump into someone else,” said Xu Shangao to Fang Lin softly.
Upon inquiring closer, Fang Lin learned that there were ten alchemy rooms in the Yellow Building that catered to the official disciples to refine elixirs. They were allowed to use any medicinal herbs available in the alchemy academy as they pleased.
Most importantly, these ten alchemy rooms were enchanted with arrays. The alchemy rooms were effective in not just elevating the success rate of refining elixirs but they also allowed the disciples to achieve even more thorough comprehension during the process. It could be said that one would achieve rather vast improvements in alchemy skills just by refining elixirs in those ten rooms a few times.
By right, every low-grade disciple would have the chance to enter these ten alchemy rooms inside the Yellow Building. However, the reality was not the same. There were also ten alchemy rooms in each of the Black and the Earth Buildings as well. On the other hand, there were so many official disciples. Therefore, not everyone could have a chance to enter these rooms to refine elixirs.
As a result, the official disciples that failed to enter the alchemy rooms in the Black and the Earth Buildings would go over to the Yellow Building and dominate the alchemy rooms there.
That was the current situation. Eight out of ten alchemy rooms in the Yellow building were occupied by medium- and high-grade disciples, leaving only two other alchemy rooms for low-grade disciples.
The reason why they handed those two rooms over was only that the medium- disciples and high-grade disciples did not wish to go too far. Otherwise, there was nothing the low-grade disciples could do even if they were to dominate all the rooms.
The elders in the alchemy sect would not interfere with this matter. In fact, it had already turned into an unwritten rule in the alchemy academy.
As a result, the majority of the low-grade disciples almost did not get to enter the few alchemy rooms. Even for those that did manage to enter the rooms, other official disciples would eventually kick them out after a while.
The low-grade disciples were infuriated, but they dared not speak up. Even though they felt very displeased, there was utterly nothing they could do. In the course of time, they could only let things slide.
Upon hearing that, Fang Lin felt very bothered. However, he changed his point of view and realized that it was unrelated to him because he was not interested in entering those alchemy rooms.
“I haven’t even managed to enter the alchemy room in the academy during the three years that I’ve been a low-grade disciple. I’m afraid that I’ll only have a chance to steal a look when I’m a medium-grade disciple,” Xu Shangao said, heaving a sigh.
Fang Lin pursed his lips and said, “You failed your promotion examination to become a medium-grade disciple this year. I think it will take you another few years before you can make your way to become a medium-grade disciple.”
“Can you stop crushing my dreams?” Xu Shangao begged exasperatedly.
When Fang Lin had taken part in the promotion examination, Xu Shangao had also sat for the medium-grade disciple promotion examination although he failed, unfortunately. Even though he was mentally prepared for the failure, he was still feeling rather dejected. After all, he had been a low-grade disciple for three years. If he did not seize the opportunity to become a medium-grade disciple, his time would be wasted.
The group of people stepped into the alchemy lecture hall to find an elder already waiting inside.
The alchemy lecture hall was the venue that specially catered for teaching lessons to low-grade disciples. Each lesson lasted a day, but one was allowed to leave periodically during the lesson. However, the person would not be allowed to enter the alchemy lecture hall anymore if he was away for any longer than the time limit which was the time it took to burn a joss stick.
Fang Lin and Xu Shangao sat together. Suddenly, Fang Lin felt as if someone eyes staring at him, so he turned around to take a look. It was Kang Lu.
Kang Lu immediately retracted his gloomy cold gaze when he noticed Fang Lin turn around to look at him. He lowered his head and refused to look at him anymore.
Fang Lin’s lips curled up. Kang Lu, why haven’t you given up by now? I wonder what kind of wicked idea you have on your mind.
As the lesson began, everyone listened attentively. Fang Lin paid attention for a while before he got bored, so he notified Xu Shangao before he got up and was about to leave. The elder giving the lecture frowned upon seeing that because he was annoyed.
“Hold up. The lesson has just begun, yet you are leaving already?” said the old man in black with a deep voice.
Fang Lin stopped walking. He turned around and looked at the old man. He said in puzzlement, “Are you talking to me, Elder?”
The group of people suppressed their laughter. ‘Fang Lin, you are truly something!’ they all thought to themselves.
The old man’s face turned pitch black in rage upon hearing that. He scolded, “You’re the only person standing up about to leave here. Could I possibly be talking to someone else?”
Xu Shangao tugged at Fang Lin’s sleeve gently to signal him not to cross the elder.
Fang Lin did not wish to cause trouble either. He cupped his hands together before his chest at once. “I’m sorry for being impolite. I have some matters that I really need to attend to. Please forgive me, Elder.”
The old man did not have the slightest intention to let Fang Lin off after listening to his explanation. “What’s the matter? Is it more important than attending the lesson?”
Fang Lin heaved a sigh and said, “Elder, this is the rule of the alchemy lecture hall. The disciples are allowed to leave midway. Why are you making things difficult for me, Elder?”
As soon as those words were spoken, the old man’s expression became even more thunderous. Fang Lin’s tone of speech could be described as being passive-aggressive when he used the alchemy lecture hall’s rule to argue with him.
“Very well. You may leave if you must. However, if I ever see you attending lessons here after today, I shall expel you from the lesson and I won’t lecture you anymore,” said the old man coldly.
Fang Lin waved his hand to dismiss the threat since he did not care about that in the slightest bit. He turned around and left.
Infuriated, the old man slapped the stone table in front of him heavily while glaring at Fang Lin’s departure.
Fang Lin walked out of the alchemy lecture, not taking the matter that just happened to heart. He began strolling around the Yellow Building casually. After a while, he arrived before a side hall labeled ‘Alchemy Prescription’.
“I think this is where alchemy prescriptions are stored. However, I don’t think that I can get in.” Fang Lin looked at the side hall and saw a fine radiance flickering over the door. That was how he distinguished that the place was guarded by an enchanted array.
Just as he was about to turn around and leave, he saw a woman walking over all of a sudden.
Fang Lin was instantly stunned when he saw her. He had a rather astonished expression on his face.
The reason behind his bewilderment was the woman’s unusually exquisite appearance. She was as beautiful as a fairy maiden. She made everything else under heaven dim in the brightness of her beauty just by standing there.
Fang Lin questioned himself and came to the conclusion that he had seen plenty of exquisite women in his past life. However, despite his rich experience, he could not manage to recall any women in his past life that could compare to her.
Dressed in a royal suit, she was pure and spotlessly clean. Her long, black hair hung down loosely behind her back akin to silk. Her black hair formed a bright contrast to her delicate complexion which was as fair as snow.
While Fang Lin was caught in his momentary daze, the woman in the white dress approached him.