Reborn as the Candle Dragon, I became the strongest academy guardian beast.

Inside the alchemy furnace, pale blue Qingxin Jade Dew Pills lay quietly, each one crystal clear, its surface shimmering with a warm, jade-like luster.

Twelve pills were successfully formed, not one was missing!

"It's...Mandan again!" Zhou Hui's voice trembled slightly with shock.

Even refining a second-grade elixir to its full potential is something that only a handful of veteran alchemists in the association can achieve.

However, in the entire Alchemy Association, only the president can achieve the full-strength state of a third-grade pill!

Jiang Daoshu stepped forward and took a Qingxin Yulu Pill from Zhou Hui's hand, his eyes revealing undisguised surprise.

Not only in quantity, but the quality of each pill is frighteningly high.

In particular, the pill in his hand had a faint pill pattern that could be seen.

Crimson patterns!

Only when the quality of the elixir reaches its peak can the elixir pattern manifest.

Even he could only refine pills with pill patterns by chance on occasional occasions.

Jiang Daoshu was deeply shocked.

He has served as the president of the Taoist Alchemy Association for more than 20 years.

In the past twenty years, not a single fourth-grade alchemist has been born in Ningchuan City.

The girl in front of me is definitely the one with the best chance of breaking through to the fourth rank in the last twenty years!

Zhou Hui turned and left, returning with a brand-new gold badge in her hands.

Jiang Daoshu took the badge and solemnly handed the heavy badge to Shen Danqing, his voice filled with immense satisfaction: "Congratulations on passing the third-grade alchemist assessment."

"From today onwards, you are a certified Grade 3 alchemist by the Alchemist Association. From now on, if you need any pill formulas, medicinal herbs, or any other resources, just tell me, and the Alchemist Association will do its best to help you!"

"Thank you." Shen Danqing accepted the badge and nodded calmly.

"She actually passed the third-grade alchemist exam!"

Upon witnessing this scene, the onlookers erupted in uproar.

Everyone present knew perfectly well what a third-grade alchemist meant.

A single grade-three pill can fetch at least tens or even hundreds of thousands of yuan, and even then, it's often in short supply.

A third-grade alchemist would be treated as an honored guest anywhere.

With such terrifying talent, the girl's future is so bright it's almost blinding.

Perhaps she will become the first fifth-grade alchemist in the history of Ningchuan City!

"Shen Danqing? I've never heard of that name before. Who exactly is this young girl?"

"I wonder, could she be from some family of alchemists? Or perhaps she's not even from Ningchuan City?"

"..."

Whispers arose from the crowd, and many couldn't help but speculate about Shen Danqing's identity.

Hearing these speculations, Shen Danqing faced the crowd, gently pushed up his glasses, and said in a voice that, though not loud, clearly echoed throughout the hall: "None of them."

"I'm just an ordinary student at Qinglong Academy."

……

Qinglong Academy.

Shen Danqing successfully passed the third-grade alchemist assessment.

[Congratulations, host, you have received a refund of 5000 Evolution Points!]

[Azure Dragon Academy Reputation +800]

Upon hearing the system notification, a hint of surprise flashed in Su Chen's eyes.

A third-grade alchemist?

Unexpectedly, Shen Danqing's grades were even better than I had imagined.

Looking at the Dan Dao Association in Ningchuan City, a third-grade alchemist is already a veteran level second only to the president.

Grade Three elixirs are extremely precious and have a price but no market.

Third-grade pills, such as the Jade Bone Pill, can even directly improve a person's physique.

As long as Shen Danqing works hard, he can refine more pills.

She alone is enough to raise the potential of all the students at Qinglong Academy by a whole level!

Just then, Zheng Yuanshan's figure walked over from a distance.

"Is there something you need?" Su Chen asked as Zheng Yuanshan walked straight toward him.

"Hmm." Zheng Yuanshan nodded: "I just received news that a martial arts academy in Japan called Amaterasu Martial Arts School wants to have an exchange match with Qinglong Academy."

"An exchange match?" To be honest, Su Chen had no interest in Sakura, this tiny country.

Engaging in an exchange match with them is a complete waste of time.

Just as Su Chen was about to refuse, Zheng Yuanshan continued, "This is not an ordinary exchange match."

"The Sakura Country proposed that if we are willing to have an exchange match with them and win, they are willing to give up three S-level cultivation techniques and the right to explore a ruin. In return, if the Azure Dragon Academy loses, it must give up something of equal value."

"Oh?"

Upon hearing this, Su Chen's golden snake eyes lit up slightly.

While the three S-rank cultivation techniques were indeed valuable, what truly interested him was the right to explore the ruins.

Relics and secret realms are similar in nature, both containing a large number of valuable resources that have not yet been discovered.

In any country, historical sites and hidden gems are rare resources that are never easily shared with other countries.

These people from Japan are really confident to gamble with a historical site.

After a moment's thought, Su Chen gently tapped the snake's head: "Since they've come to us of their own accord, wouldn't it be disrespectful to refuse such a generous gift?"

"Tell them that Azure Dragon Academy agrees to hold the exchange competition."

……

The land of cherry blossoms.

Amaterasu Martial Arts School.

Upon learning that Takeo Yamada was about to lead his students to Daxia for an exchange match with Daxia's martial arts academy, the area outside Amaterasu Martial Arts School was quickly swarmed by reporters.

"Principal Yamada, are you confident of winning the upcoming exchange match?" a reporter asked.

"What do you think?" Takeo Yamada smiled slightly, his expression confident. "Everyone should know the current strength of Amaterasu Martial Arts School. After all, I just won first place in the Kansai Martial Arts Tournament. I'm absolutely confident of victory in this exchange match against Otsuka!"

"Of course." Yamada Takeo then changed the subject, saying, "As the saying goes, friendship comes first, competition second. Our trip to Great Xia is not to show off our strength, nor to embarrass Great Xia. After all, with the invasion of all races, only by uniting can humanity win a chance of survival. Everything I've done is for humanity to achieve final victory!"

"Long live humanity!"

Upon hearing this, the reporters present all showed their admiration and praised Takeo Taro's vision in front of the cameras.

A few minutes later, the interview ended.

Takeo Yamada returned to school.

As soon as he entered the office, he closed the office door behind him and walked to an inconspicuous locker in the corner of the office.

Pulling open the cabinet door reveals a small shrine hidden behind a black curtain.

Lifting the curtain, inside the shrine, there was a hideous demonic statue exuding a dark, demonic aura.

"My Lord Demon Emperor, I am about to head to the Great Xia Dynasty."

Yamada Takeo carefully knelt down, kowtowed several times to the demon statue, and said in a fearful and humble voice, "Long live the Demon Emperor! Long live the Demon Race!"