The next day, after a night of cultivation, Lin Yuan glanced at the white strands of hair that had appeared due to the consumption of the Devouring Life Pill. He left his small courtyard and headed towards the Alchemy Department.
Upon arriving at the Alchemy Department, Lin Yuan successfully met Elder Huo, who was experimenting and deducing the techniques of alchemical fire on the back mountain.
Seeing Lin Yuan, Elder Huo instinctively used his soul power to probe, only to be astonished to find that he could not detect Lin Yuan's specific aura. He couldn't help but ask in surprise, "Lin kid, what happened in just a few days? I can't even sense your true cultivation level!"
As he watched Elder Huo approach him with the dissipating flames in his hand, Lin Yuan forced a bitter smile. He then stopped concealing his aura, and a powerful presence, belonging to a Dou Wang level, erupted from him.
Noticing Lin Yuan's Dou Wang aura, Elder Huo was shocked and exclaimed, "Dou Wang? How is this possible? Didn't you just break through to Da Dou Shi? How did you suddenly become a Dou Wang?"
After bowing respectfully, Lin Yuan explained, "Elder Huo, here's the situation..."
He then recounted the story of how he consumed the Devouring Life Pill to break through to Dou Wang, mostly sticking to the truth but making slight modifications. For instance, he claimed that he obtained the Devouring Life Pill by chance during a mission with the enforcement team, and that he took it to escape from pursuers.
After listening, Elder Huo looked at the white strands mixed in Lin Yuan's long hair and sighed, "The Devouring Life Pill, the legendary pinnacle-grade seventh-tier pill. I really don't know whether to say you're lucky or unlucky!"
Lin Yuan responded with a bitter smile and then clasped his fists, saying, "Elder Huo, please teach me. I can feel that after consuming the Devouring Life Pill, according to the records, I only have three years of life left."
Elder Huo pondered for a moment, then made a decision and waved to Lin Yuan, "Follow me. This matter is serious; we need to see the vice president." With that, he spread his crimson fire wings and flew off into the distance, with Lin Yuan following closely behind with his azure fire wings.
After arriving at the core area of the outer courtyard, Lin Yuan met the vice president and several other elders. After explaining the situation to them, Hu Qian couldn't help but sigh at Lin Yuan, "Without the Devouring Life Pill, with your talent, you could have successfully advanced to Dou Wang within five years. Now you have become an extremely rare fifteen-year-old Dou Wang on the continent, but you have to pay such a high price!"
Then, Hu Qian looked at Elder Huo and asked, "Elder Huo, you're an expert in pills. Is there any way to help?"
Elder Huo sighed, "What I can do is extremely limited. Pinnacle-grade seventh-tier pills are too profound, especially this long-lost miraculous pill. I have no way to help. The only thing I can think of is to get Lin Yuan some medicines that can extend life and replenish vitality. I know of a fifth-tier intermediate pill, the Recovery Pill, which can extend life by two years, but I'm short on some materials. This matter needs the academy's support! After Lin Yuan takes it, he will have five years to find a solution."
Hu Qian exchanged glances with the other elders present and then made a decision: "Lin Yuan is a direct descendant of our Jia Nan Academy, part of the Chuzheng Plan. He encountered such a change during the enforcement team mission, and moreover, he has indeed become a Dou Wang. He should be rewarded. I decide to reward him with a fifth-tier intermediate pill in the name of the academy. Do any of you have objections?"
"It should be so!"
"It should be so!"
"I agree!"
"Old Hu is right!"
Seeing everyone's agreement, Hu Qian showed a satisfied expression and then said to Elder Huo, "Elder Huo, I'll leave the alchemy matters to you. Just go to the medicine storage to get the materials you need!"
Then he turned to Lin Yuan and comforted him, "Lin kid, I believe you will find a way to resolve this within five years. My intuition tells me that your future is still very long, so don't lose heart!"
Upon hearing this, Lin Yuan deeply bowed to Hu Qian, Elder Huo, and the other elders from the bottom of his heart.
"Lin Yuan's achievements today are all thanks to the academy's cultivation. Although I am still young, I have received so much grace from the academy, and I also want to do what I can for Jia Nan Academy."
After a pause, as if contemplating, Lin Yuan continued, "I am not talented, and my cultivation still has a considerable gap compared to the seniors. However, my alchemy skills are worth mentioning. I have already broken through to the fourth tier in alchemy, and when I broke through to Dou Wang, I felt a significant improvement in my soul power. I believe I will soon be able to refine fifth-tier pills. If there is any place where I can be of help, please feel free to let me know."
Hu Qian couldn't help but praise, "Good! You truly are the proud disciple of Jia Nan Academy. Since you have this intention, Jia Nan Academy will support you. Elder Huo."
Elder Huo, as if in agreement, continued, "Since your alchemy skills have reached this level, I, as the head of the Alchemy Department, announce that Lin Yuan will be appointed as an honorary elder of the Alchemy Department, granting him access to fifth-tier and lower alchemical formulas, while also taking on part of the academy's alchemical reserve plan."
Hu Qian thought for a moment and then added, "Although it is a matter of opportunity, you have already completed the goals of the Chuzheng Plan ahead of time. Becoming an elder is not a problem, but you are still young. I hope you will first go to the inner courtyard for further study to understand the foundation of Jia Nan Academy's standing on the continent. You can also practice alchemy in the inner courtyard. What do you think?"
Lin Yuan considered for a moment and replied, "I also want to study in the inner courtyard for a while. Am I supposed to enter the inner courtyard through the selection competition in two months?"
Hu Qian, hearing this, couldn't help but laugh and cry at the same time, "You are already a Dou Wang; isn't it a bit unfair to participate in such a competition? Those are meant for ordinary students. For an exceptional case like you, let's skip it. I will inform the inner courtyard, and you can go directly."
"Then," Lin Yuan hesitated, a strange expression appearing on his face.
Seeing this, Hu Qian quickly understood the key point, his expression revealing a strange smile, and his tone became teasing, "Hehe, you are thinking about the rewards for the top five in the competition, right? Don't worry, you won't miss out. Come find me in two days, and for now, just go back!"
"Thank you, Vice President and all the elders. I take my leave!" With that, Lin Yuan followed their instructions and flew back to his small courtyard.
After everyone left, only Hu Qian and Elder Huo remained. Hu Qian asked Elder Huo with a meaningful look, "Old Huo, what do you think of this kid Lin Yuan?"
Elder Huo waved his hand, "What do I think? Of course, I admire him. This kid has grown up under my watch. He has high talent, a good character, is steady in his actions, and is good at assessing situations. He is also grateful. Although he is a bit deep in thought, in this world of the survival of the fittest, being a bit deep can help one go far!"
After a pause, Elder Huo's tone also carried a hint of envy, "Thinking about it carefully, this kid has great fortune. A pinnacle-grade seventh-tier pill! I've been refining pills for so many years and have never seen one. He has the opportunity to obtain such a thing at such a young age."
Hu Qian nodded in agreement, "Indeed, I have a feeling that the Devouring Life Pill won't stop this kid. It seems that Jia Nan Academy is about to produce an extraordinary genius!" After a pause, as if thinking of something, he added with a hint of a smile, "If this kid could become my granddaughter's husband in the future, that would be even better, haha."
Elder Huo shot Hu Qian a disapproving glance, "You old man, can't you be serious? If this gets to Qia, see if she doesn't strip your beard off." With that, he turned and left.
Hu Qian paid no mind and strolled towards the inner courtyard.
"It's time to arrange for Lin Yuan to enter the inner courtyard and discuss the specific arrangements for him with the Grand Elder!"
Meanwhile, back in his small courtyard, Lin Yuan let out a sigh of relief.
"The goals have all been achieved: the longevity pill, the early entry into the inner courtyard, and the qualification to go to the library. I thought there would be some setbacks, but Jia Nan Academy..."
"If Lin Yuan does not die, the grace of Jia Nan will surely be repaid in the future!"
Collecting his thoughts, Lin Yuan considered his next steps.
"The next goal: within six months, to solidify my foundation through the Fallen Heart Flame in the inner courtyard, and to help the academy refine pills to break through and strengthen my alchemy skills. And most importantly, Zi Yan."
**(End of Chapter)**