How to become powerful?
That is the question Flower Shirong must ponder carefully.
To become powerful, one must leave Yishui Town and continue studying at the Phoenix Academy!
That is the first step to empower oneself.
However...
As Flower Shirong thinks about the predicament he faces, he feels helpless: at the fourth level of Martial Disciple realm, he is still five small realms away from the minimum requirement of Martial Student realm at the Phoenix Academy.
After studying at the academy for seven years, he has only improved by four small realms. If it weren't for his poor physical aptitude, it would be due to laziness, aversion to hardship, and unwillingness to exert effort, preferring comfort and idleness.
Flower Shirong doesn't naively believe that by doubling his efforts in cultivation from today, he can rapidly advance by five small realms within less than two years.
If that were the case, it would be like cheating.
Cheating?
A thought sparks in Flower Shirong's mind: Mortal's Secret?
The vast difference in the effects of cultivating Mortal's Secret on Earth and on the Nine Provinces Continent left a deep impression on Flower Shirong.
In his mind, Flower Shirong recalls the feeling of immense power coursing through his body after practicing Mortal's Secret yesterday.
"Halt!"
A cold reprimand interrupts Flower Shirong's contemplation!
Flower Shirong lifts his head and sees a middle-aged man standing in front of him. They are mere inches away from colliding, and the man quickly speaks up to stop it.
By the moonlight, Flower Shirong recognizes the person in front of him—it's Hu Deqing, the mentor who teaches him alchemy.
In his memory, this person is close to fifty years old, with a clear appearance. He likes to wear a white long robe, and on the left side of his chest, he always carries the second-level alchemist badge issued by the Alchemy Guild—a round copper emblem.
It depicts a burning flame in fiery red and a black cauldron.
Upon seeing him, Flower Shirong quickly pays his respects and says, "Student Flower Shirong greets Mentor Hu!"
"You just came out of the library?"
Hu Deqing's words carry a hint of surprise as he glances at the library behind Flower Shirong.
"Yes, Mentor Hu," Flower Shirong replies with a respectful attitude.
"Did you encounter any difficult problems?"
Hu Deqing looks at Flower Shirong with interest.
...
This leaves Flower Shirong in a dilemma, unsure how to answer as he stands there awkwardly.
But with his current mature mindset, he doesn't panic. His mind is already racing, contemplating a suitable response.
While at the academy, he must never offend his mentor, especially a renowned second-level alchemist.
Flower Shirong pondered for a moment and replied seriously, "Student is indeed faced with a perplexing problem. That's why I specifically came to the library to search for books, hoping to find an answer."
"Do you have any answers now?" Hu Deqing pressed on.
Flower Shirong's thoughts raced, contemplating what topic to bring up that wouldn't displease Mentor Hu.
When he saw the second-level alchemist badge on Hu Deqing's chest, Flower Shirong's eyes brightened, and he came up with a plan.
That's it!
Flower Shirong calmly said, "Mentor Hu, as a young disciple, I may sometimes speak without weighing my words. If I say anything improper, I sincerely ask for your forgiveness and guidance."
Hu Deqing remained noncommittal, staring coldly at Flower Shirong.
Flower Shirong organized his thoughts and then spoke slowly, "I have been enrolled for seven years. Being young and ignorant of worldly matters, I spent my days playing and indulging in pleasure, neglecting my studies. As a result, my academic progress has been neglected, and my martial skills are lacking. I am now in a state of confusion, unsure of how to handle myself."
Flower Shirong carefully chose his words, trying to be tactful in his speech.
"Passing through this place today, I pondered in my heart: after seven years of enrollment, with graduation approaching, I suddenly realized that I have never set foot in the library. It filled me with a sense of shame."
"In order to not have any regrets and to unravel the long-standing confusion in my heart, today, I made a firm decision..."
"You talk too much!"
Hu Deqing interrupted Flower Shirong, looking displeased.
Flower Shirong forced a bitter smile in his heart but maintained a solemn expression. He discreetly glanced at Hu Deqing and continued, "During these seven years, I bid farewell to batches of successful senior students and welcomed new batches of junior students."
"At the beginning, every student who entered the academy showed great interest and attention in courses such as pharmaceuticals and alchemy. The classrooms were always filled to capacity."
"But as the teaching progressed and with the students growing older, the number of students who genuinely focused on these two subjects decreased. The students were confused by this phenomenon, and they even had thoughts that learning or not learning these subjects didn't matter."
"Today, when I entered the library to peruse the books, I learned that pharmaceuticals and alchemy are highly valued throughout the Nine Provinces Continent, regardless of the size or strength of each province. I thought to myself, books shouldn't be wrong, right?"
"However, when I compare it to reality, the disparity is too great, which gives me a sense of absurdity, feeling that the books are too distant from me while reality is too close. Mentor Hu, is it a fault in my thinking or a misrepresentation in the books?"
As Flower Shirong posed the final question, he let out a long sigh. It's truly not easy, exhausting!
With Flower Shirong's words, Hu Deqing's facial expression changed from initial mockery to seriousness. By the time Flower Shirong posed the final question, Hu Deqing had already put away his contempt for Flower Shirong.
It should be said that the question Flower Shirong raised is a common issue in various academies, not only in the Great Qin Empire but also in the other two empires of Fengming Continent.
After a moment, Hu Deqing sighed softly, "Your thoughts and ideas are not wrong, and the explanations in the books are not incorrect either."
"Mentor Hu, why is that?" Flower Shirong had been wanting to know the reason behind this lingering problem.
Without waiting for Hu Deqing's response, Flower Shirong continued, "From birth till now, whether it's elders in the family, predecessors from other clans, friends, or even our mentors who taught us, whenever the topic of pharmaceuticals and alchemy comes up, they always shake their heads or sigh, saying it's 'beyond our capabilities,' and they don't mention it further."
"Looking at all the students in Yishui Town Academy throughout the years, I have never heard of anyone achieving success in pharmaceuticals and alchemy. As a result, students have developed a disdain for pharmaceuticals and alchemy. And this disdain directly affects the teaching and promotion of these two subjects."
Hu Deqing nodded, his eyes showing approval. He answered, "You're right. Nowadays, these two subjects are indeed unpopular among students. There are very few students who delve deeply into them. In fact, several hundred years ago, there were suggestions to remove these two subjects from the curriculum, but they were vetoed by the 'Three Palaces.' Do you know why?"
"Why?" Flower Shirong didn't know what the 'Three Palaces' referred to, but he knew it wasn't the best time to ask that question. So he chose to ignore it.
"The explanation from the 'Three Palaces' is that pharmaceuticals and alchemy are elite courses. They don't expect everyone to master them, but they require everyone to have a basic understanding. You see, the growth of an alchemist requires various conditions. Wood elemental roots are fundamental, time and temperament are foundational, and wealth provides security."
Flower Shirong stared blankly at Hu Deqing. He didn't expect that a casual question he asked would evoke such emotions from a second-level alchemist.
As for wood elemental roots and such, it was the first time Flower Shirong had heard someone mention them, but he understood their importance in pharmaceuticals.
Hu Deqing continued, "The growth of a senior alchemist requires extensive practice time, finding experience through failures, and accumulating insights from experience. This requires a good temperament. Even if someone has wood elemental roots, they cannot become a good alchemist if they are restless and impatient."
"Financial security is also essential. Without strong financial support, even the best talent cannot become a good alchemist. Without numerous spiritual herbs for experimentation, what is there to talk about in alchemy?"
"If so many people cannot become alchemists, why must everyone have a basic understanding?" Flower Shirong curiously asked.
"Because a good alchemist relies on the existence of these people. Throughout the entire Nine Provinces Continent, almost everyone knows dozens or hundreds of types of spiritual herbs. After collecting these herbs, they can sell them to herbal shops in exchange for silver to support their families."
Hu Deqing was in a good mood, and a smile appeared on his face as he spoke.
"And the 'Three Palaces,' 'Six Institutes,' 'Eighteen Sects,' and 'Seventy-Two Schools' on the Nine Provinces Continent also purchase a large quantity of these medicinal herbs to cultivate their own alchemists."
"Some of the pills produced by these prestigious alchemists flow into the market, allowing martial practitioners with a demand to purchase them and enhance their strength. In this way, a beneficial interactive cycle is formed."
"The same goes for metallurgists, but this profession requires more manpower and is mostly carried out by clans or sects. Minerals are deeply buried in the underground layers and are difficult for individuals to extract."
"It truly is a pyramid structure. Millions of people contribute to the success of one person!" Flower Shirong sighed after hearing this.
Hu Deqing also sighed, "In my case, even after decades of immersing myself in the art of alchemy, I'm still just a second-level alchemist. But in Yishui Town, I am highly respected. Do you know why?"
"Because you are the highest-ranking alchemist in Yishui Town!" Flower Shirong blurted out.
"That's only one aspect. The most important reason is that I can successfully refine the healing sacred medicine 'Yikou Pill.'"
Hu Deqing's tone and expression were filled with pride.
"Yikou Pill? Is it used to treat knife wounds?" Flower Shirong asked.
It's not surprising that Flower Shirong was uninformed. The past "him" was truly messed up.
"Whether it's a knife wound or an injury caused by a demonic beast, as long as there's a breath left, it can be healed, bringing the person back from the brink of death."
Hu Deqing answered with great pride. It was evident that he felt a sense of accomplishment in being able to refine the Yikou Pill.
Flower Shirong couldn't help but ask, "When I was seriously injured last time, the doctors in the academy said it was incurable and sent me back home. Why didn't you use the 'Yikou Pill' to treat me?"
"Young and ignorant, can you afford it?" Hu Deqing reprimanded loudly, his face showing anger.
"Is the 'Yikou Pill' very expensive?" Flower Shirong retorted.
"What do you think?" Hu Deqing glared at Flower Shirong.
"Compared to my life, what is the value of a single 'Yikou Pill'? Can life be measured by money?" Flower Shirong replied loudly, unwilling to show weakness.
"What does your life have to do with me?" Hu Deqing sneered coldly.
Flower Shirong couldn't accept it and said indignantly, "Since I study and live in this academy, the academy should guarantee my safety!"
"Idiot!" Hu Deqing coldly laughed. "On the Nine Provinces Continent, with billions and billions of people, what significance does Flower Shirong hold? Even if it's not just you, but the entire Yishui Town, if a powerful expert wanted to annihilate it, who would dare to complain? They would only understand that the strong are respected, and power rules the world."
Hu Deqing felt greatly disappointed, shaking his head repeatedly as he turned to leave.
While walking, he muttered to himself, "What a fool I am! I wasted my time talking to an idiot. You think that studying and living in the academy guarantees your safety? That's a delusion! Who decided that? How come I'm not aware of it? Truly... truly... a naive child!"
Flower Shirong watched Hu Deqing's figure disappear into the library, and her emotions gradually calmed down.
She suddenly realized that this was the Nine Provinces Continent, no longer the Earth she originally knew.
Thinking about the fact that the weak are treated as ants on this continent, and considering her current circumstances, she thought to herself, "Am I going to be content with mediocrity for the rest of my life? Would that not be a waste of such a great opportunity to be reborn as a human?"
Hu Deqing, just you wait!
I will surpass you in realm and alchemy! The humiliation I suffer today will be repaid twofold in the future!
Flower Shirong vowed with hatred in her heart.