Meeting Fire Elder's gaze, Xiao Feng nodded and said:
"The Vice Dean told me that the cultivation technique Senior practices is the same as mine, and that if I encounter anything I don't understand, I could come and ask you."
Although Fire Elder was excited deep down, he maintained a calm exterior to avoid frightening his future disciple.
Hearing what Xiao Feng said, a smile couldn't help but appear at the corners of his mouth. He lightly stroked his long beard and said:
"I see. I indeed have deep insights into the 'Crimson Flame Fire Canon'. If there's anything you don't understand, feel free to speak up."
Hearing this, Xiao Feng's face lit up with joy, and he immediately voiced all the difficulties he had encountered while practicing the 'Crimson Flame Fire Canon'.
Upon hearing Xiao Feng's questions, Fire Elder was happy but did not forget to provide answers.
In this way, between the elder and the youth, through questions and answers, time slowly passed.
From the early morning sunrise to the scorching midday sun, only then did the two stop their exchange.
Xiao Feng smacked his lips, wanting more, but he also knew that enough was as good as a feast. The mysteries and concepts contained within a Profound High Level cultivation technique were not something a mere Dou Practitioner like him could fully grasp.
Beside him, Fire Elder breathed a sigh of relief, thinking to himself that he was indeed worthy of being his future disciple; any more questions and even he wouldn't have been able to answer.
Recalling another objective of his trip, Xiao Feng cupped his hands toward Fire Elder and asked:
"May I ask, Senior, what are the requirements to join the Alchemy Department?"
Hearing this, Fire Elder was overjoyed but remained expressionless as he said:
"To join the Alchemy Department, one only needs to possess the talent of an Alchemist. Why? Do you wish to learn alchemy?"
Xiao Feng nodded and said, "To be honest, Senior, besides seeking answers to my confusion, my purpose for this trip is to join the Alchemy Department and learn alchemy."
Fire Elder smiled and stroked his long beard, saying:
"There's no need for such trouble. If you want to learn alchemy, why not take me as your master? I dare say that in the entire Alchemy Department, no one's alchemy skills can surpass mine!"
Speaking of this, a hint of pride couldn't help but surface on Fire Elder's face. As a Fifth-Grade Peak Alchemist, he had the capital to be proud.
"Well? Are you willing?"
Fire Elder looked at Xiao Feng with anticipation.
With Xiao Feng's talent combined with his guidance, he would surely surpass him in the future and become a Sixth-Rank or even a Seventh-Rank Alchemist!
Facing such a temptation, Xiao Feng had no reason to refuse and immediately bowed down.
"Xiao Feng pays his respects to Teacher!"
"Hahaha! Good! Excellent!"
Fire Elder was overjoyed and quickly helped Xiao Feng up.
Looking at the youthful Xiao Feng, Fire Elder became more and more satisfied. Despite being a young genius, there was no trace of arrogance on his face.
"I'll let you know that in the path of alchemy, your master is a Fifth-Grade Peak Alchemist, only one step away from the Sixth-Rank realm."
Saying so, Fire Elder took off a storage ring from his hand and handed it to Xiao Feng. "The storage ring contains several scrolls of alchemy-related books and pill formulas, as well as some medicinal herbs and a two-vent cauldron suitable for a novice."
"Starting tomorrow, you won't have to attend those theory and practical combat classes. Just come here to learn alchemy from me; I will inform your instructor."
Looking at the storage ring before him and hearing Fire Elder's words, a wave of emotion rose in Xiao Feng's heart.
Heaven have mercy, he finally didn't have to attend those boring theory classes!
Reaching out to take the storage ring, Xiao Feng cupped his hands toward the kindly Fire Elder and said, "Thank you, Teacher!"
Fire Elder chuckled and waved his hand. "No need for thanks; this is a gift from your master."
Xiao Feng rubbed his head, feeling a bit embarrassed.
He hadn't even prepared an apprenticeship gift for his teacher yet, but Fire Elder had already given him so many good things, which made him feel quite sheepish.
Seeming to see through Xiao Feng's thoughts, Fire Elder explained, "Don't feel burdened. These things aren't particularly precious, and they're of no use to me anyway."
Hearing this, Xiao Feng nodded, secretly resolving to repay Fire Elder generously in the future.
Returning to the dormitory, Xiao Feng sat cross-legged on the bed, reflecting on everything that had just happened with some emotion.
Originally, he only wanted to go to the Alchemy Department to ask Fire Elder for guidance regarding the confusion he encountered while practicing the 'Crimson Flame Fire Canon'.
And incidentally see if he could join the Alchemy Department.
He hadn't expected such an unexpected pleasant surprise.
Now, he had not only become Fire Elder's personal disciple but had also paved the way for his future path in alchemy.
Xiao Feng placed the storage ring given by Fire Elder in front of him, and Soul Power surged from between his brows to probe inside.
After a brief scan of the pill formulas and medicinal herbs within, he turned his attention to the books.
From the collection of books, he selected one that recorded various medicinal herbs and their properties.
Taking it out with his Soul Power, Xiao Feng stopped overthinking and began to flip through the book in his hand.
The next morning,
Following Fire Elder's instructions from the previous day's parting, Xiao Feng went alone to the room on the top floor of the Alchemy Department.
Inside the room, Fire Elder had already been waiting. Seeing Xiao Feng push the door and enter, a smile couldn't help but appear on his face.
Upon seeing Fire Elder, Xiao Feng gave a respectful salute. "My respects, Teacher."
Fire Elder stroked his graying beard, very satisfied with Xiao Feng's attitude.
"Disciple, come sit here. Today I will teach you some basics and precautions of alchemy. Once you are familiar with them, I will teach you alchemy techniques."
Saying so, Fire Elder pointed to a chair in front of him.
Xiao Feng had no objections; he nodded and walked over to sit in the position Fire Elder pointed out.
Seeing Xiao Feng enter a focused state, Fire Elder immediately began his explanation.
"The path of alchemy is about combining various medicinal herbs with complementary properties to condense them into pills."
"To refine pills, one must first have a medicine cauldron, but medicine cauldrons also have different grades."
"The more fire vents a cauldron has, the higher the grade and the rarer the medicine cauldron is. Don't think these vents are just a few holes punched at random; the mysteries within are difficult for laymen to perceive. The vents are the essence of the medicine cauldron and require high-precision polishing. During construction, even a slight error will turn the entire cauldron into a failure. Therefore, cauldrons with more vents have a stronger auxiliary effect on alchemy. Of course, to control multiple vents, one needs strong soul perception," Fire Elder said with a smile.
Xiao Feng showed a serious expression. Although he had already learned about these things through his previous knowledge, he didn't show the slightest impatience.
After all, the person before him was the teacher who was imparting knowledge and resolving his doubts. Respecting one's teacher is the most basic principle for a student.
As Fire Elder's explanation hit its stride, he also shared some knowledge that hadn't been revealed in the original work.
Xiao Feng carefully noted down each point, gaining a solid basic understanding of the path of alchemy.
A few days later,
Inside a room on the highest floor of the Alchemy Department, in front of a platform holding a two-mouthed medicine cauldron,
Xiao Feng was meticulously controlling the Dou Qi fire to sear the medicinal ingredients within the cauldron.
Beside him, Fire Elder stroked his beard, watching the scene before him with satisfaction.
As the temperature of the Dou Qi fire gradually rose, the medicinal ingredients inside the cauldron began to shed their outer layers, and the medicinal essence contained within the herbs was refined by Xiao Feng.
Xiao Feng watched the flames inside the cauldron with rapt attention, his youthful face covered in fine beads of sweat.
Carefully, he took out the previously refined medicinal essence from a nearby jade bottle and poured it into the medicine cauldron.
Xiao Feng's gaze sharpened as he used his Soul Power to control several clumps of medicinal essence, merging them together. The Dou Qi fire flared up, and the clumps of essence slowly formed an embryonic pill with a pitted surface.
With the formation of the embryonic pill, Xiao Feng stopped the input of Dou Qi fire.
Beside him, Fire Elder raised his hand to suck the embryonic pill from the cauldron into his palm. After examining it for a moment, he praised the sweating Xiao Feng:
"Although the Healing Pill isn't particularly difficult to refine among Tier 1 medicinal pills, for you to condense an embryonic pill on your first attempt is quite remarkable. No one else in the Alchemy Department could have achieved this."
Xiao Feng looked at the embryonic pill in Fire Elder's hand, a satisfied smile appearing on his face.
"Thank you for the praise, Teacher."
Fire Elder stroked his snow-white beard, very satisfied with Xiao Feng, but he still spoke up to caution him:
"Even though you successfully condensed an embryonic pill this time, remember not to become arrogant and complacent."
"To become an excellent Alchemist, the quality and success rate of the pills are also extremely important. You are still far from that level, so you must never slack off in the future!"
In his many years at Cannon Academy, he had seen countless geniuses.
He could not even count the number of those who had fallen midway or suffered heavy losses due to arrogance and overambition.
For a disciple as monstrously talented as Xiao Feng, he naturally did not want him to follow in their footsteps.
"I understand, Teacher."
Facing Fire Elder's earnest warning, Xiao Feng nodded solemnly.
Seeing that Xiao Feng had truly taken his words to heart, Fire Elder nodded with relief and flipped his hand to produce a jade-green flame.
"Disciple, the 'Crimson Flame Fire Canon' you practice still lacks a Beast Fire to transform your Dou Qi."
"Considering you only have the cultivation of a Dou Practitioner, I have specifically chosen a Green Spirit Fire nurtured by a Rank 5 Azure Wood Fox from the storehouse."
"This fire inherits the gentle nature of the Azure Wood Fox, unlike other Beast Fires that are so violent."
"With my assistance, you should be able to absorb it smoothly."
Looking at the jade-green flame in Fire Elder's hand, Xiao Feng's face showed a look of emotion as he said deeply, "Thank you, Teacher."
Fire Elder chuckled, "There's no need for thanks. Between master and disciple, isn't it only right for a teacher to prepare resources for his student?"
Hearing this, a warm current flowed through Xiao Feng's heart.
He immediately sat cross-legged on the spot and, under Fire Elder's guidance, began to absorb the Green Spirit Fire.
With Fire Elder's help, the process of absorbing the Green Spirit Fire encountered no setbacks and proceeded very smoothly.
After a long while, Xiao Feng, having finished transforming his Dou Qi, slowly opened his eyes, a flicker of jade-green light flashing through them.
Seeing this, Fire Elder wiped the sweat from his forehead, a smile appearing on his face.
Xiao Feng stood up and bowed solemnly, "Teacher's kindness, Xiao Feng will keep it engraved in his heart!"
Fire Elder waved his hand, his eyes revealing a hint of gratification.
"No need for formalities. Once you become familiar with this Green Spirit Fire, refining medicine will surely be even easier."
As he spoke, he handed over a storage ring filled with medicinal ingredients, "These are the herbs for you to practice with after you return. If you run out, you can come back to me for more."
Xiao Feng reached out to take it, his heart feeling heavy with gratitude.