60: Elder Binghong of the Alchemy Department

Jiang Donghua grinned, revealing a highly punchable expression.

"Master, you have to learn to admit that some geniuses are just that amazing."

Elder Mo Xuan's beard twitched, and he nearly slapped him, but he quickly took a deep breath, suppressed the shock in his heart, and patted Jiang Donghua's shoulder, feigning calmness.

"Alright, Stinky Kid, I know what you're thinking."

He snorted.

"Isn't it just that you want a reward? I'll give you a scroll of Xuan-rank Combat Skill tomorrow. It's not like I can run away, is it?"

"A Xuan-rank Combat Skill?!"

Jiang Donghua's eyes lit up, and he immediately stepped closer.

"Master, don't try to fool me with some Huang-rank one!"

"Get lost!"

Mo Xuan laughed and cursed.

"I wouldn't be that stingy!"

The conversation between the master and Disciple landed in the ears of the surrounding students like heavy hammers, striking their hearts hard.

Less than a year, and he can refine a third-grade pill?!

And he can make Elder Mo Xuan willingly give him a Xuan-rank Combat Skill?!

Are they even letting people live anymore?!

A student looked down at the first-grade elixir he had barely managed to refine successfully in his hand and suddenly felt dull, even wanting to cry.

"Should I... should I change careers and go farm?"

He muttered to himself.

"Farm? Heh, you probably can't even recognize all the spiritual herbs, can you?"

The person next to him gave a self-mocking smile.

The entire Alchemy Hall was filled with a thick aura of self-doubt.

Originally, they thought that being able to reach the rank of Third-Grade Alchemist before graduation was already considered genius level.

But now, the appearance of Jiang Donghua had completely shattered their illusions.

It turned out that beyond genius, there was an even more heaven-defying genius!

And they couldn't even touch the edge of "genius"!

A female student covered her face, her voice trembling.

"I... I suddenly feel like I might not be suited for alchemy?"

"Don't lose heart."

The person next to her patted her shoulder, their tone heavy.

"At least, we can still be ordinary people."

"..."

Jiang Donghua listened to the whispers around him, feeling secretly pleased, but maintained a calm and indifferent appearance on the surface.

"Sigh, actually, I just refined it casually. I didn't think it would be so simple."

He sighed, feigning humility.

"Pfft—!"

"Crack—!"

Around them came the sound of people spitting blood and clenching their fists.

Refined it casually?!

A third-grade pill is called 'simple'?!

Listen to that! Are those the words of a human being?!

Elder Mo Xuan's mouth twitched, and he finally couldn't resist slapping the back of Jiang Donghua's head.

"Stinky Kid, you're boasting after getting a benefit!"

"Ow!"

Jiang Donghua clutched his head, looking wronged.

"Master, why are you hitting people?"

"You are the one I'm hitting!"

Mo Xuan glared.

"If you dare to show off again, tomorrow's Xuan-rank Combat Skill is gone!"

"No, no, no!"

Jiang Donghua immediately backed down.

"Master is wise and mighty! Your Disciple knows he was wrong!"

Mo Xuan snorted and turned to leave, but the corners of his mouth couldn't help but curl up slightly.

This kid, though highly punchable, truly is a monster!

Perhaps Jia Nan Academy is truly about to produce an extraordinary figure.

In the hall, the group of Alchemy Department students watched Jiang Donghua's retreating figure with complicated expressions.

Envy? Jealousy? Awe?

Perhaps all of the above.

But more than that, it was a deep sense of powerlessness.

"Forget it, let's disperse, let's disperse~"

Someone sighed.

"Yeah, if I keep watching, I'm afraid my Dao heart will collapse!"

The crowd gradually dispersed, but the events of today were destined to become a legend in the Alchemy Department of Jia Nan Academy.

Meanwhile, Jiang Donghua stretched leisurely, humming a little tune as he walked towards his residence.

"AFK cultivation is truly awesome!"

He thought happily.

"After I get the Xuan-rank Combat Skill tomorrow, if I let the system idle for a bit, won't I be able to freeload another wave of gains?"

"Hehe, life is truly getting better and better!"

The students of the Alchemy Department tacitly chose silence.

It wasn't that they didn't want to boast about witnessing a miracle; it was just that compared to him, they were too mediocre!

Half a year, jumping straight from a First-Pattern Alchemist to Third-Grade?

This could no longer be described as "genius"; this was simply a monster!

Moreover, even if they went out and told others, who would believe them?

"Half a year? A Third-Grade Alchemist? You must be dreaming and gone mad!"

"Hahaha, there has to be a limit to bragging, right? A Third-Grade Alchemist is an existence who can stand shoulder-to-shoulder with a Dou Ling Expert!"

"Exactly! The youngest Third-Grade Alchemist in the history of Jia Nan Academy still took a full year and a half! Half a year? Do you think refining medicine is as easy as eating and drinking?"

No one believed them.

Some people even sneered when they heard it, patted their shoulders, and said earnestly.

"Junior Disciple, cultivation must be done step by step. Don't spend all day thinking about unrealistic things."

They didn't even have the courage to refute.

Because even they themselves felt it was too outrageous!

Thus, this matter gradually became a "taboo topic" within the Alchemy Department in the following days.

No one mentioned it proactively, but whenever Jiang Donghua appeared in the Alchemy Hall, everyone's gaze would involuntarily focus on him, their eyes complex.

There was awe, jealousy, and envy, but more than that, there was a deep sense of powerlessness.

They struggled desperately practicing Fire Control Technique, memorizing prescriptions, and studying pharmacology, yet he easily stood at a height they might never reach in their entire lives.

How could they compare?

How could they catch up?

Elder Mo Xuan stood at the window of the Alchemy Pavilion with his hands behind his back, his brows tightly furrowed.

The reason he didn't immediately give Jiang Donghua the Xuan-rank Combat Skill was not due to stinginess.

Rather, he needed time to confirm some things.

In the past six months, the friction between the Blood Demon Sect and Jia Nan Academy had intensified. The two sides had secretly clashed several times, and several Outer Academy instructors had even mysteriously disappeared, not to mention how many members of the Law Enforcement Team had died!

Yet, precisely at this time, an inexplicable genius suddenly appeared in the Alchemy Department!

In half a year, he soared from a Dou Practitioner to a Four-Star Dou Shi!

From knowing nothing about alchemy to casually refining a third-grade pill!

He could even master the Fire Control Technique without a teacher!

This could no longer be explained by "extraordinary talent"!

Elder Mo Xuan narrowed his eyes, recalling the situation when Jiang Donghua first arrived at the Alchemy Department.

At that time, that old fellow Yan Feng swore solemnly.

"This kid has been in seclusion for half a year, his comprehension is excellent, he's a good seed!"

But why would a Dou Practitioner enter seclusion?

Secluded for half a year, and came out as a Four-Star Dou Shi?

And also learned to refine first- and second-grade medicinal pills?

Who are you trying to fool?!

"No, I need to go ask the other old fellows!"

Mo Xuan muttered softly, a trace of vigilance flashing in his eyes.

He turned and walked out of the Alchemy Pavilion, heading toward an ancient, simple pavilion deep within the instructors' residence.

That was the residence of another Elder of the Alchemy Department—Ice Red.

Suddenly, Elder Mo Xuan's meaningful gaze flashed through Jiang Donghua's mind.

"Hmm? That Old Fox couldn't have grown suspicious, could he?"

Jiang Donghua rubbed his chin, deep in thought.

His growth rate was indeed a bit outrageous.

Although he could use 'talent' to brush it off, that old fellow Mo Xuan was not so easily fooled.

"Tsk, looks like I need to figure something out."

He narrowed his eyes, a cunning smile curling at the corner of his mouth.

"I'll do it this way!"

On the other side, Elder Mo Xuan had already arrived in front of Ice Red's pavilion.

Just as he raised his hand to knock, the door creaked open by itself.

Ice Red's cold yet slightly hoarse voice came from inside.

"Mo Xuan, why have you come to me?"

Mo Xuan said in a deep voice.

"Ice Red, I have something to ask you."

"About Jiang Donghua?"

Mo Xuan's pupils contracted.

"How did you know?"

Ice Red chuckled lightly, her voice as cold as frost.

"Because I am also investigating him."

The matter seemed far from simple now.

Elder Mo Xuan's expression suddenly darkened. He fiercely waved his sleeve and roared angrily.

"Ice Red! How dare you secretly investigate my Disciple?!"

His hair stood on end, and Dou Qi faintly surged, showing the appearance of a protective master.

However, Ice Red merely shook her head faintly, tapping the table gently with her fingertip. An invisible soundproof barrier silently enveloped the room.

"Mo Xuan, we have known each other for decades. Why bother putting on an act in front of me?"

Her gaze was like ice, but her voice carried a hint of solemnity.

"Half a year ago, the Blood Demon Sect's core Disciple who had been in seclusion for six years—'Blood Fiend'—suddenly disappeared. At the same time, the Outer Academy of Jia Nan Academy gained a Jiang Donghua who had been 'in seclusion for half a year'."

Mo Xuan's eyelid twitched, but he still maintained a forced look of anger.

"Absurd! Based on this baseless speculation, you dare to suspect my Disciple?!"

Ice Red sneered and flicked a secret letter from her sleeve.

"The Blood Demon Sect's secret technique, the Blood-Devouring Spirit Transformation Art, allows one to absorb the cultivation of others to advance quickly in a short period. And Jiang Donghua, in the past half year~"

She spoke slowly, word by word.

"His cultivation soared, his pill refinement skills reached godly levels, and he even mastered your unique 'Fire Control Technique' without a teacher—Mo Xuan, do you really think this is reasonable?"

Mo Xuan was silent for a moment, then suddenly sneered.

"Just based on this?"

He slammed the table fiercely.

"If that kid really belongs to the Blood Demon Sect, why would he publicly refine a third-grade pill and expose his talent? Why wouldn't he continue to hide?!"

Ice Red's eyes flickered slightly.

"Perhaps... he is gambling."

"Gambling that we wouldn't dare touch a 'peerless genius,' gambling that Jia Nan Academy would protect him at all costs."

Her fingertip traced a line of blood-red small characters on the secret letter.

"After all, what the Blood Demon Sect is best at is 'the cuckoo taking over the magpie's nest'."

The room fell into deadly silence.

After a long time, Mo Xuan slowly sat down, his voice hoarse.

"What do you plan to do?"

Ice Red put away the secret letter, her tone chilling.

"Jia Nan Academy will not wrongly accuse a good person, but it will certainly not let a traitor go."

An ice crystal condensed on her fingertip.

"In three days, I will test him under the pretense of 'giving guidance on pill refinement.' If he truly belongs to the Blood Demon Sect!"

The ice crystal shattered, the chill bone-piercing.

"I will ensure his soul is scattered!"