My health recovery is incredibly fast.

call..

Xia Zuo breathed a sigh of relief. It turned out to be a little fangirl. He thought he had been confessed to.

"Then don't forget. We'll be classmates from now on, and there will be plenty of opportunities for you to perform."

After Xia Zuo finished speaking, he really wanted to slap himself in the face.

He was somehow led astray by the other person, and inexplicably started acting up, even flirting a little.

"I have a few works I'd like you to look at. Please wait a moment while I go and get them."

Anru'er's pink cheeks turned bright red. She buried her face in her hands and took small steps toward the door, leaving a somewhat disheveled Xia Zuo in the library, lost in thought.

Ten minutes later.

Anru ran back and forth, slightly out of breath, and unfolded three oil paintings on the table.

The first image depicts Chazo standing in a pillar of light, spewing white flames. The parchment is yellowed, highlighting the sunlight and flames.

In the second painting, Shazo breathes purple flames, and the clown sister leaps through the air. The rest of the circus members are depicted with simple lines.

In the third painting, Chazor and the others stand in a row, bowing to the audience in thanks. The faces of Audrey and the others are clearly visible.

Xia Zuo's eyes welled up with tears, and he regretted not going to see the circus troupe off. Actually, he couldn't bear to see people crying.

"cough.."

Xia Zuo held back her tears and pointed to the third painting, "Can I buy it?"

"These are gifts I gave you. Do you like them? I've always felt that you have a unique charm. The flames that others see as dangerous are like old friends to you; you get along so well."

Anruer stood beside her and spoke softly, with shallow dimples on both sides of her mouth.

"Thank you, I like it very much."

Xia Zuo shamelessly rolled up the three paintings and placed them on his seat.

Anru leaned forward and sniffed closely, her small nose brushing against Xia Zuo's collar and shoulders.

"The pungent smell has faded. Have you been reading in the library lately? No wonder I haven't seen you at the circus."

"Yes, what about you? Are you also bogged down by trivial matters like Xiao Moben and Ke Li?"

Xia Zuo walked to the bookshelf and found an illustrated book. These kinds of books are faster to read, and the rewards are not low, making them very cost-effective.

"I still have a few pieces that I haven't finished. The buyer is a regular customer. I felt bad turning him down."

Anru waved her jade-like arms. "I'm going back to paint now. I hope I can finish it before I leave."

After the other party left, Xia Zuo unfolded the three paintings and stared at them for a long time.

It wasn't until noon, when Mars came in, that Xia Zuo finally put away the scroll, his eyes reddening.

Mars, with his light blond hair, immediately understood that the other person was saddened by the separation.

He glanced at the illustrated book on the table and said in a lighthearted tone:

"The Kingdom Trees Atlas, a decent popular book on alchemical products, a cross between potion alchemy and artifact alchemy."

Xia Zuo rubbed his eyes, his sadness replaced by an inquisitive look.

Mars pulled out a chair, sat down, and turned to a page in the book that showed a picture of a brown tree trunk and some explanatory text.

"Look, the book says that there are more brown trees in the kingdom's territory, which is the result of the Starry Night Kingdom opening up the wilderness a hundred or two hundred years ago. The pioneers cut down the white trees that were infested with insects and planted brown trees that were more vigorous."

Xia Zuo recalled a passage:

If you get lost in the forest, walk in the opposite direction of the white trees. The more brown trees you see, the closer you are to a populated area.

It now appears there are historical reasons for this.

"Actually, the truth is far more complicated than that."

Mars blew on his hair, revealing a mysterious smile.

"Brown trees are alchemical products."

"First, use the Alchemy of Wonders to modify the seeds, then plant them in a nutrient solution made by the Alchemy of Potions, and once they sprout roots, plant them in the soil."

"Its uses are not limited to pointing out directions."

"The brown trees emit a fragrance that is imperceptible to ordinary humans. Wild beasts in the forest dislike this scent. They eventually migrate south and live in the desolate wilderness south of the kingdom."

Xia Zuo's memory returned to the two days he hiked in the forest.

Aside from mosquitoes, the most common animals I encountered were wild rabbits and pheasants. I didn't see any aggressive wild animals like forest wolves, forest bears, or wild boars.

"Mars, why is alchemy a required course at Starry Night Academy? Why not start learning meditation directly?"

Xia Zuo sat down at the table, resting his chin on his arm, looking puzzled.

There was a book on the bookshelf that specifically introduced the university's courses. He read it through immediately, but he still couldn't understand the question.

It's as if this is common sense, requiring no deliberate explanation.

Mars scratched his cheek, seemingly troubled.

"Honestly, I finally understand the struggle professors face when they're trying to adapt their tutorials. Introducing elements to people who are naturally inclined to learn is like trying to scratch an itch through a boot—you can't find the right spot."

Mars stood up and paced back and forth.

“That’s right, Shazo. Elements are a complex and profound existence. If you want to absorb elements through meditation, you must first understand them.”

Mars gestured a circle in front of him, "It's like a pancake; you have to know what's inside before you can decide whether or not to eat it."

Xia Zuo nodded as if he understood.

There are two ways to understand elements.

Mars spread his arms wide, waving his hands to the left and right.

He first raised his right hand, making a gesture as if he were turning the pages of a book, reading, and taking notes.

"The first method is to learn alchemy. Alchemy of potions, alchemy of oils, alchemy of poisons, and alchemy of wonders. Once you have mastered these four subjects, you will understand what the elements are."

"It's like smelling the pancake, lifting the layers to see the color, and tasting the filling with your finger."

"The second method."

Mars raised his left hand, his fingers making a loose clench in the air, grasping the air and placing it at the position of his chest.

"The Demon Hunter school that prevails in the Eastern Continent does not employ magic, but it can still use elemental power."

"The Demon Hunter school advocates taking potions or food containing elements and forcibly absorbing the elements with a strong will and a strong body."

"It's like a pancake, no matter what the filling is, you take a bite first. If you don't like it, you spit it out and eat the next one until you find one you like."

Then I should go to the Eastern Continent! The style of the Demon Hunter School is just my cup of tea.

My will is so strong...

Wait, that's not right.

With my high energy level, it's still possible for me to forcibly absorb elements.

Xia Zuo's eyes widened, and he asked anxiously, "Can I transfer to a school in the Eastern Continent?"

Mars paused for a moment, then laughed and said, "The Eastern Continent is thousands of kilometers away across the sea."

Chapter 2 Farewell

Xia Zuo was somewhat disappointed.

It seems there's no hope of going to the Eastern Continent; I'll just have to stick to the mental mage route.

"However, you don't need to go to the trouble of finding something closer."

Mars rubbed his chin, pondering for a few seconds.

"Lord Thales said your willpower is good, more like the style of the Demon Hunter school. There happens to be a branch of meditation at Starry Night Academy that is similar to the Demon Hunter school."

There's an 80% chance you'll be assigned to the Department of Poison Alchemy.

Xia Zuo straightened his back, his eyes wide with surprise, and asked, "The Department of Poison Alchemy?"

Mars walked to the bookshelf and pulled out a classic book with a black cover.

Fundamentals of Poison Alchemy: Isolation of Toxins

"boom"

The heavy tome was placed on the table with a dull thud. The pages, about three fingers thick, contained over a thousand pages of content.

"Poison alchemy is quite unique; its alchemical products are highly toxic. The academy focuses on teaching methods for separating toxins. As for how to use toxins to create poisons..."

Mars' face turned pale, as if he was recalling unpleasant memories.

He swallowed hard, and said in a daze:

"You'll find out when you take Professor Kurov's poison-making class. He'll not only teach you how to make poison yourself, but he'll also make you drink it."

"That feeling..."

Mars shuddered. "Anyway, someone with a weak will like me is very prone to nausea and vomiting. But I must warn you, whatever you do, don't actually throw up, or Professor Kurov will make you make another bottle to drink."

Xia Zuo pressed his forehead and chuckled silently.

They're going to start testing drugs again, but this time they're drinking poison they made themselves.

He shook his head, somewhat speechless, and then asked, "Do I need to learn other branches of alchemy?"

Mars nodded. "Of course. It's just that the focus is different. You'll focus on poison alchemy, and learn some other branches of alchemy as well. After all, the meditation methods of the poison school require a strong resistance to toxins."

Mars took a palm-sized notebook out of his pocket, flipped through a few pages, and read aloud as he said:

"The resistance to toxins has been found. According to the acquired affinity theory compiled by the institute's chief, the resistance to toxins comes from soil-based resistance."

“But I have fire resistance…” Xia Zuo blinked.

"So, there's still a 20% chance you'll be assigned to the Department of Rare Alchemy."

Mars walked up to the bookshelf twice. "There are no books on magical alchemy here."

"Then let me give you a brief explanation."