Chapter 101: Zhao Ya's Gratitude

Having sworn to take him as her master, Yao Han had conducted a thorough investigation of Zhang Xuan over the past few days.

This Teacher Zhang was hailed as a genius, reaching the peak of the third level of Martial Artist, True Energy Realm, at sixteen. Unfortunately, that was as far as he got; he remained stuck there ever since, turning from a genius into a waste.

At eighteen, he passed the teacher qualification exam in one go, becoming the youngest teacher at Hongtian Academy. For a time, he made a name for himself and became a legend, drawing jealousy from many other teachers.

It was thought that this youngest teacher would achieve great results and soar to prominence, but reality was harsh. An incident of qi deviation occurred, and the students he had previously recruited withdrew one after another, leaving him isolated. In the end, he scored zero on the end-of-term teacher assessment, and his reputation grew increasingly foul.

The youngest teacher at Hongtian Academy became a laughingstock, the biggest waste.

These reports were well-founded. She had thought her young mistress was merely confused for a moment and would surely see the true face of this useless teacher with proper guidance!

Now, hearing that he had scored full marks on the first part of the apprentice exam, her deeply ingrained belief could not help but waver.

An alchemist must have deep knowledge not only of herbs but also of the human body; otherwise, it would be impossible to formulate pills tailored to cultivators.

How could someone who scored full marks on the first part of the alchemy apprentice exam have caused his students to suffer qi deviation?

"Good theory is useless without practice. The second part tests timed identification—ten herbs. If he gets even one wrong, he won't pass either..."

Wen Xue snorted from the side.

She still harbored some resentment toward Zhang Xuan. She had thought he was a playboy trying to get her attention, but he turned out to be genuinely capable, making her face burn with embarrassment and reluctant to face him.

Before she finished speaking, she saw two people approaching.

They were two of the three who had passed the first part earlier: Sun Tao and Qian Wenman.

"How did it go? Did you pass?"

Wen Xue went up to them.

Having often examined apprentices, they were already acquainted.

"No!" Both shook their heads simultaneously.

Though unwilling, they accepted defeat.

They had no choice but to accept it—the man had scored full marks on the first part and even spotted mistakes made by real alchemists in the second... His ability was beyond their imagination.

"And... that Zhang Xuan?"

Hearing that neither had passed the second part, Wen Xue couldn't help asking again.

"He... passed. He is now an alchemy apprentice!" Sun Tao said.

"Alchemy apprentice?" Wen Xue's body swayed.

When she had spoken with him earlier, it was clear he knew nothing about herbs and couldn't even grasp what an alchemist was... She had thought his signing up for the exam was a joke and felt nothing but disdain. Yet not only had he passed the first part, but he had also passed the remaining two and become an alchemy apprentice!

The slap to her face stung fiercely.

She had studied hard for so many years and couldn't even pass the first part...

He casually took the exam and became an apprentice...

And she had had the nerve to mock him...

Where did her confidence come from?

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

She wasn't as shocked as Wen Xue. In her heart, Teacher Zhang was all-powerful; becoming an alchemy apprentice was nothing special.

"He went to the library. He plans to undergo the Alchemy Debate tomorrow afternoon to become a full alchemist!" Sun Tao said, still unable to believe it himself.

To attempt the Alchemy Debate right after becoming an apprentice—what audacity!

"Become a full alchemist?" Wen Xue staggered, her eyes nearly popping out. She felt faint.

"Alchemy Debate tomorrow afternoon?"

This couldn't be real!

It sounded like a joke!

And... what was an Alchemy Debate?

"The Alchemy Debate is a method to assess alchemists. One must debate with ten full alchemists and defeat them all!" Seeing their confusion, Sun Tao explained. "This kind of assessment is harder than alchemy itself, and the penalty for failure is even greater!"

He couldn't help shaking his head.

"I've read about the Alchemy Debate in books. It's many times harder than the alchemy exam; one must surpass ten full alchemists in knowledge and practice! Extremely difficult!" Li Shu suppressed his shock and nodded, then added with confusion: "He's young and already an alchemy apprentice—he has plenty of time. Why rush into the Alchemy Debate? He could learn alchemy step by step. If he fails, the consequences are hard to bear!"

Becoming an alchemy apprentice before twenty was an achievement that ranked high even in the centuries- or millennia-long history of the Tianxuan Kingdom Alchemist Guild. He could afford to take a few years to learn alchemy properly before taking the exam. Why risk the Alchemy Debate?

Everyone knew the Alchemy Debate was several times harder than the alchemy exam, and few succeeded.

"I don't know either. He said something about looking for books on special constitutions, and only full alchemists have the right to read such books!" Sun Tao thought for a moment, recalling Zhang Xuan's conversation with Ouyang Cheng and the others. "Oh, and he mentioned something about half a month, as if something urgent was driving him to become a full alchemist within half a month to find those books."

"Half a month? Special constitution?"

Wen Xue and the others listened in bewilderment, while Zhao Ya's face turned pale, her body trembling.

She had a special constitution—the Pure Yin Body.

Teacher Zhang had told her that.

Half a month—wasn't that the day of the freshman competition? To do it within half a month... Could it be that Teacher Zhang was trying to help her activate her constitution and improve her strength?

Without activation, a special constitution couldn't unleash its true power!

It must be!

Clenching her fists, Zhao Ya suppressed the emotion stirring within her and looked at Li Shu: "Senior, you said the Alchemy Debate carries severe penalties. What exactly are they?"

"This... I'm not too sure either!" Li Shu shook his head.

He had only read about the Alchemy Debate in books; he didn't know the penalties.

"Oh, I know this. I heard Master Ouyang say it!" Sun Tao thought for a moment and said: "There are three. First, the examinee must compensate each alchemist at least one hundred thousand gold coins—that's one million for ten. Second, endure one hundred killing blows. Third, no retaking the exam for ten years!"

"One million gold coins? One hundred killing blows? No retaking for ten years?"

Zhao Ya's body trembled uncontrollably.

The penalties were too severe!

To help her activate her constitution, Teacher Zhang was willing to take such a risk...

Teacher... thank you!

This kindness, even if I, Zhao Ya, were ground to dust, I could never repay!

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