Chapter 84 - 82: Having Children is the Top Priority
Chapter 84: Chapter 82: Having Children is the Top Priority
The recent turn of events had stunned every examinee. It was already shocking enough that Dean Sun Yaowen had personally conducted the inspection, but no one expected him to actually try and take on a disciple. What was even more unbelievable was that this titan of the Alchemy Realm had been rejected—and so utterly and unequivocally that it left everyone completely dumbfounded.
The hundred-plus examinees present wanted to tear Feng Hao to shreds. How could he reject such a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity?!
"Holy hell, if that were me, I would’ve agreed without a second thought."
"Yeah, tons of people are dying to become the Dean’s disciple, and this kid actually turned him down? Is he kidding?"
"No kidding! I came here specifically for the Dean’s reputation. If he took me as his disciple, I’d be fucking grinning in my sleep."
"Speaking of which, where did that kid even come from? His alchemy skills are seriously impressive. I’m nowhere near his level, that’s for sure."
"Who cares about all that? We should be figuring out how to concoct a poison with one hundred percent purity. Dammit, I’ve never seen such an unorthodox exam question!"
"He’s right. There isn’t much time left for the exam. Let’s all get a move on."
And so, the once-raucous examination hall gradually fell silent. Feng Hao’s actions had been jaw-dropping, but the exam right in front of them was the most important thing.
As for Houhuiyao, even though he had finished his concoction, he couldn’t feel the least bit happy. He couldn’t help it; the shock from what had just happened was simply too great.
Of course, unlike the other examinees, Houhuiyao wasn’t particularly interested in becoming anyone’s disciple. What truly stunned him was Feng Hao’s skill in alchemy and the powerful poison he had created.
’Dad, oh Dad, so there are things you don’t know after all,’ Houhuiyao thought with a wry smile. ’With Brother Feng’s refining technique alone, he could at least be ranked as a Sixth-level Alchemist by the association, couldn’t he?’
Seeing that Houhuiyao had finished, Instructor Guo quickly came over. He began to test the result with a smile, and in a moment, he had measured the poison’s potency.
Instructor Guo looked at the results on the testing device, a satisfied expression on his face. "Not bad at all. Much better than the others."
"But it’s nothing compared to Brother Feng," Houhuiyao said wistfully.
"Ah, there’s no need to compare yourself to him. That kid is obviously an expert at making poisons. It’s perfectly normal not to be on his level," Instructor Guo said with an amused chuckle.
Hearing this, Houhuiyao’s expression brightened considerably. He broke into a wide smile. "Thank you for the encouragement, Instructor."
"It’s nothing," Instructor Guo chuckled. "Alright, you’ve passed the exam. Go register with Teacher Yang."
"Okay." Houhuiyao nodded and hurried over to the female instructor.
Meanwhile, Feng Hao had already completed his registration and become a first-year student in the Alchemy Department. He fiddled with the student card in his hand, clicking his tongue in amazement. The Advanced Academy really was different from the junior academies. The student card was surprisingly similar to a Thief’s Mark.
The only difference was that the Thief’s Mark was implanted inside the body, while the student card was an external device.
"Teacher Yang, what are the credits on this card used for?" Feng Hao asked curiously. If he recalled correctly, the Crystal Eye that Yue Linglong had given them was purchased with credits.
Instructor Yang gave him a dazzling smile and explained patiently, "Credits are a special currency system at the academy. You can use them in the main departments to exchange for all sorts of resources, and they can also be traded between students. You can earn credits by completing missions from the Celestial Secret Tower or by passing the year-end assessments."
"Also, new students receive one hundred starting credits. Be sure to use them wisely and don’t get scammed by the upperclassmen," Instructor Yang added as a reminder.
"Are credits that valuable?" Feng Hao asked, nodding.
Instructor Yang nodded with a smile. "Of course. You can exchange credits for many precious resources: Spirit Souls, Demon Patterns, Crystal Eyes... basically, if you can think of it, you can get it with credits."
"Even Spirit Souls?" Feng Hao asked, amazed.
"We have them, but the price is terrifyingly high. Don’t even think about it unless you’ve been saving for a year or two," Instructor Yang chuckled.
Feng Hao nodded in understanding. He bowed his thanks and turned to leave, his mind reeling from the shock.
’No wonder so many people tried every trick in the book to get into an Advanced Academy. The credit exchange system alone was enough to make any ordinary Mage drool with envy!’
"Brother Feng! I’m a man of my word. Here, take this Level 4 Refined Iron." Feng Hao had only taken a few steps before running into Houhuiyao, who immediately stuffed a piece of Refined Iron into his hand.
Feng Hao didn’t stand on ceremony. He accepted it readily and chuckled. "I take it you passed, Brother Houhui?"
"Of course! I’m a Level 5 Alchemist, after all," Houhuiyao said, grinning proudly.
"Perfect timing. Go get registered. I’ll wait for you here, and we can go check out the Combat Mage Department together," Feng Hao offered.
Houhuiyao’s eyes lit up. He dashed over to Instructor Yang to register and came dashing back a moment later.
And so, against a backdrop of examinees with worried expressions, the two of them left the Alchemy Department, chatting and laughing...
"Brother Feng, I heard the exams for the Combat Mage Department are absolutely brutal. We’ll get there just in time to see the action," Houhuiyao said, his eyes filled with excitement. He clearly had a deep admiration for Combat Mages.
Feng Hao scoffed. "Honestly, their skill level is nothing special. Not much to see."
"Then why are you going?" Houhuiyao asked, looking exasperated.
"I’m looking for someone. And I might as well check out the legendary Celestial Secret Tower while I’m at it," Feng Hao said with a shrug.
Houhuiyao nodded in understanding, though his focus had clearly drifted from the main topic. His eyes gleamed with curiosity. "Brother Feng, you have friends in the Combat Mage Department, too? A guy or a girl? Is she pretty?"
"..." Feng Hao’s face darkened. "A girl!"
"Whoa! Brother Feng, you’re truly my lucky star! Let’s go, hurry up! You have to introduce me this time, no matter what. If my dad finds out I landed a girlfriend from the Combat Mage Department, he’ll be absolutely ecstatic!" Houhuiyao exclaimed, practically buzzing with excitement.
Feng Hao was utterly defeated by the guy. "Can’t you think about anything else, for fuck’s sake?" he snapped.
"Why would I think about anything else? Starting a family is the most important thing in life!" Houhuiyao declared with a completely straight face.
Feng Hao was left completely speechless, allowing Houhuiyao to drag him into a sprint toward the Combat Mage Department.
「Over half an hour later.」
The two arrived at the legendary Combat Mage Department as planned. As the main department of the Five Provinces Academy, it was larger than all the auxiliary vocational departments combined. The moment he stepped through the gates, Feng Hao was taken aback by the sea of people before him.
’Holy crap,’ Feng Hao thought. ’How am I supposed to find Xiyue Frost and the others in a crowd this massive?’
Unlike Feng Hao, the moment he entered the Combat Mage Department, Houhuiyao started craning his neck and looking all around, whispering frantically in his ear, "Where is she? Where? Where’s the beauty?"
"Get lost! I don’t fucking know you!" Faced with the strange looks from the crowd, Feng Hao kicked Houhuiyao away. ’Dammit,’ he thought, ’I never should have brought this dumbass with me.’
Houhuiyao was completely unfazed. The moment Feng Hao kicked him away, he was right back at his side. "Brother Feng, you can’t do that! We’re comrades in the same department now, you know."
"Then knock it off," Feng Hao snarled through gritted teeth.
"Don’t worry, Brother Feng. Just introduce me to your beautiful friend, and I’ll do anything you ask," Houhuiyao said, nodding earnestly.
Feng Hao couldn’t help but sneer. "It’s not that I’m looking down on you, but given how ferocious that woman is, you couldn’t handle her."
"No problem! As long as I can marry a girl from the Combat Mage Department, I’m willing to risk it all!" Houhuiyao declared, striking a pose like a martyr marching to his doom.
"Alright, then. I hope you’re still this brave and fearless in a little while," Feng Hao thought with a private smirk, then went back to searching the crowd on his own.