179: Who told him to be the master!

Jiang Donghua carefully put away the scarlet heart mystic spirit fruit and the fourth-grade magic core, then his figure flickered, and he swept down the gully like a ghost, not choosing to return the way he came.

Instead, he leaped down the steep mountain wall, his toes lightly tapping the rock crevices, and after a few ups and downs, he landed steadily on the branch of an ancient pine tree.

In the distance, faint sounds of human chatter and the roars of magical beasts could be heard.

"Quick! There's still a second-grade Wind Blade Wolf over there!"

"Haha, today we really struck it rich!"

Jiang Donghua raised his eyebrows slightly, his gaze sweeping over the mountain forest below.

He saw more than a dozen Outer Academy Students wearing Jia Nan Academy uniforms excitedly hunting low-grade magical beasts that were fleeing in all directions. Some of them were even carrying their spoils of war, their faces filled with ecstasy.

"Tsk tsk, these guys are good at picking up scraps."

He shook his head and chuckled softly, his figure swaying as he silently moved through the shadows of the forest.

With his Dou Ling Level strength, coupled with the boost from the Heavenly Thunder Body Tempering Art, avoiding the sight of these Outer Academy Students was as easy as turning his hand.

"Hey, what do you guys think that commotion was all about just now?"

A student holding a long spear asked excitedly while tying up an injured Iron-backed Mountain Boar.

"It must have been two Dou Ling Level magical beasts fighting! Otherwise, how could the whole mountain have been shaking?"

Another person asserted confidently.

"Maybe it was some Senior Brother or Senior Sister from the Inner Academy hunting high-grade magical beasts!"

Someone guessed.

"Heh, would people from the Inner Academy come to a place like this?"

Someone scoffed.

"I think it was just an internal fight among magical beasts. We got lucky today!"

Listening to their discussion, Jiang Donghua's lips curved slightly upwards, and a hint of playfulness flashed in his eyes.

"An internal fight among magical beasts? Heh, that's not entirely wrong."

He chuckled inwardly, after all, he had indeed just fought a beast that shook the heavens and earth.

However, he had no interest in showing himself to explain.

These Outer Academy Students could not imagine that one of the protagonists of that battle was now silently sweeping over their heads.

"Forget it, I should go back to the Alchemy Department."

Jiang Donghua stretched lazily, his figure flickered, and he completely disappeared into the dense forest.

As soon as Jiang Donghua stepped through the gate of the Alchemy Department, the few students at the entrance immediately straightened their backs and respectfully called out,

"Greetings, Senior Brother Jiang!"

He waved his hand casually, a faint smile on his face, and continued to walk inside.

In the main hall of the Alchemy Department, many students were flipping through the Medicine Ceremony and discussing Pill Formula. Seeing him enter, they all stopped what they were doing and nodded in greeting.

"Senior Brother Jiang!"

"Senior Brother, you look well today!"

Jiang Donghua nodded slightly in response.

Although he wasn't cold on a daily basis, he rarely took the initiative to talk to these low-grade Alchemists. Therefore, seeing him in a good mood today, everyone became a bit bolder.

A slightly bolder young man came forward and asked with a grin,

"Senior Brother, I heard that the First-Grade Alchemist assessment for Alchemy Apprentices is in two days. Do you know what the topic of this assessment is?"

Jiang Donghua paused, his eyebrows slightly raised, a hint of surprise appearing on his face.

"Assessment topic?"

He blinked, then laughed self-deprecatingly.

"How would I know? I'm not the Elder who sets the questions."

The young man scratched his head, a bit embarrassed, but still unwilling to give up, he continued to press,

"Then, Senior Brother, do you think it will be a Qi Pill this time? Or a Blood Recovery Powder?"

Jiang Donghua shook his head helplessly and patted his shoulder.

"Instead of trying to find out the topic here, it's better to practice the basic techniques a few more times. The First-Grade Alchemist assessment tests basic skills."

After speaking, he no longer lingered and walked directly towards his alchemy room, leaving the students looking at each other.

"Alas, as expected, we couldn't get anything out of him."

"Senior Brother Jiang is right, we should just practice diligently."

Listening to the discussions behind him, Jiang Donghua's lips curved slightly.

"These little guys are quite good at finding loopholes."

However, he didn't take it to heart.

"First-Grade Alchemist assessment? Heh, back then, I could pass with my eyes closed."

He pushed open the door and stepped into his alchemy room, closing the door behind him, instantly cutting off the outside noise.

"Now, it's time to deal with today's spoils."

Jiang Donghua was pondering how to maximize the use of the scarlet heart mystic spirit fruit and the fourth-grade magic core when the door to the alchemy room was suddenly pushed open, and a familiar figure swaggered in.

"Yo, Stinky Kid, you had a good harvest today, didn't you?"

Jiang Donghua's eyelid twitched, and he looked up to see his Master, Mo Xuan, one of the ten Great Elders of the Alchemy Department, narrowing his eyes, staring intently at the scarlet heart mystic spirit fruit on the table, a meaningful smile hanging at the corner of his lips.

"Master, why do you have time to visit me?"

Jiang Donghua let out a dry laugh, subconsciously reaching out to pull the spirit fruit closer to him.

Elder Mo Xuan, quick-witted, grabbed his wrist and said with a smile,

"What, can't I, your Master, come and see my Disciple?"

Jiang Donghua cursed inwardly.

"Old Fox."

But on his face, he still had to maintain a respectful expression.

"How could that be? Master, you are welcome anytime, Disciple welcomes you."

Elder Mo Xuan nodded in satisfaction, but his gaze never left the scarlet heart mystic spirit fruit, exclaiming in wonder,

"This fruit has excellent quality, the fire attribute energy is rich, at least seventy or eighty years old. Where did you get it, Stinky Kid?"

Jiang Donghua knew he couldn't hide it, so he simply shrugged and said,

"I picked it from the lair of that Mountain Coiling Rock Python in the back mountain."

Elder Mo Xuan raised an eyebrow, slightly surprised.

"Mountain Coiling Rock Python? That's a peak fourth-grade magical beast. You, Stinky Kid, actually managed to snatch food from its mouth?"

Jiang Donghua chuckled, a hint of pride in his voice, and said,

"It wasn't too difficult, just took a bit of effort."

Elder Mo Xuan stared at him for a few seconds, then suddenly reached out and patted his shoulder, his face filled with relief.

"Not bad, not bad, truly worthy of being my Disciple!"

Before Jiang Donghua could even be happy, he heard Elder Mo Xuan's tone shift.

"However, although this scarlet heart mystic spirit fruit is precious, consuming it directly would be too wasteful. It would be more effective if I, your Master, refined it into some fifth-grade pill."

Jiang Donghua's mouth twitched, and alarm bells rang in his heart. This Old Fox really had no good intentions!

"Master, Disciple happens to want to practice alchemy recently. How about letting me try it myself?"

Jiang Donghua asked tentatively.

Elder Mo Xuan stroked his beard, pretending to be profound as he shook his head.

"No, no, this spirit fruit is rare. How regrettable would it be if it were ruined? Let me do it!"

Jiang Donghua cursed inwardly, but still had to force a smile onto his face.

"Then, Master, how much will you charge for your hard work?"

Elder Mo Xuan's eyes lit up, and he laughed heartily.

"Stinky Kid, still so formal with your Master? Don't worry, I won't give you anything at all!"

"Nothing at all?!"

Jiang Donghua almost jumped up.

"Master, you're robbing me!"

Mo Xuan also said ill-temperedly,

"How can refining pills be 100% successful?"

"You only get a share if it's successfully refined. Besides, it's not too late to eat it when you reach the Dou King level!"

"This Old Fox is tricking me again!"

Watching Elder Mo Xuan's retreating figure, Jiang Donghua sighed helplessly, but the corners of his mouth couldn't help but curve slightly upwards.

"Forget it, who told him he's my Master."