"It's a brand-new Alchemy course, called the Myriad Phenomena Alchemy Canon," the middle-aged female lecturer said.
A collective hiss swept through the room.
"The Myriad Phenomena Alchemy Canon? That's an enormous subject."
"Does he really have what it takes to handle something like that?"
The lecturers and teaching assistants all looked stunned.
Just as they were still whispering among themselves, a young man walked in from outside.
Behind him followed none other than the Grand Chancellor's personal assistant—the Overseer of the academy.
The Overseer was in charge of enforcing all laws and discipline within the Dao Academy and was known for his unbending seriousness. Yet now, he was acting with an almost deferential politeness toward this young man.
"Everyone, quiet," the Overseer said as his gaze swept the hall.
At once, silence fell.
Only then did the Overseer continue, "This is the newly appointed Alchemy Master of our academy—Master Yang Cheng. Please, welcome him."
A round of applause spread through the hall, though beneath the surface, countless thoughts flickered through the minds of the lecturers and assistants.
"He really looks far too young… what, twelve or thirteen at most?"
"I don't think he's one of those old monsters skilled at maintaining youth. His body's vitality feels genuinely pure—truly young."
"His looks are extraordinary, though… like some immortal descended from the heavens."
Murmurs and mental whispers continued to ripple quietly through the crowd.
"Wang Rou," the Overseer said suddenly, turning his eyes toward her.
"Yes, I'm here."
"Master Yang Cheng is not yet familiar with our academy," the Overseer said. "From now on, you'll serve as his assistant lecturer."
Wang Rou instinctively replied, "Yes."
But the moment the words left her lips, her mind went blank. Wait—just like that, I've become his assistant?
The Overseer then proceeded to assign Yang Cheng a private study—a privilege reserved only for official Alchemy Masters.
All other lecturers and instructors shared common halls.
"Master Yang Cheng?" the Overseer asked politely.
Yang Cheng nodded. "You may go about your duties, Overseer. I have Lecturer Wang here with me."
"If you need anything, Master Yang Cheng, come find me anytime," the Overseer said with a courteous bow before departing.
Once he was gone, all eyes turned toward Yang Cheng.
Before closing the door to his study, the middle-aged female lecturer couldn't help blurting out, "Master Yang, if it's not too bold of me to ask—how old are you exactly?"
The others, equally curious, waited for his answer.
"Not yet a hundred," Yang Cheng said.
A chorus of surprised gasps rippled through the hall.
They had assumed he meant he was in his nineties—still incredibly young for An Alchemy Master—but hearing it said so plainly left them speechless.
"Lecturer Wang, aren't you coming in?" Yang Cheng said.
"Ah—yes!" Wang Rou snapped out of her daze and hurried into the study.
As his assistant, she naturally shared the same workspace with him.
Several of the male lecturers and instructors watching from the outside couldn't help feeling a pang of envy.
Wang Rou was regarded as one of the academy's most admired women—graceful, intelligent, and gentle.
And now, she would be sharing a private study alone with Master Yang.
"Not even a hundred years old and already An Alchemy Master? Does he really have that kind of ability?"
A man's voice broke the tense silence, carrying a trace of disdain.
Everyone recognized it immediately.
The speaker was Zheng Qiu, a man with both powerful connections and formidable alchemical skill—one of the top candidates expected to be promoted to Alchemy Master next.
If someone like Zheng Qiu dared to voice his doubts about Master Yang, no one else dared to follow.
Soon, however, news of the young new Alchemy Master spread throughout the entire Myriad Phenomena Dao Academy.
A new Master had arrived—and he was said to be under a hundred years old.
The whole academy—lecturers, assistants, and disciples alike—erupted into a storm of curiosity and gossip.
Many Alchemy Masters were openly displeased.
The Dao Academy's Masters were generally all over two hundred years old, yet now, someone under a hundred had appeared among them—it immediately made people suspect something was off.
Alchemy was not a path one could master by talent alone. It required vast experience, accumulated knowledge, and the tempering of time.
And this new Master's course was called the Myriad Phenomena Alchemy Canon—clearly a major subject.
Even some of the younger lecturers and instructors had begun to voice their protests, demanding to know if there was some hidden scheme behind this appointment.
"If this person has a powerful background, there are plenty of idle positions within the Dao Academy he could have taken. Why make him teach the disciples of the Alchemy Hall?"
"That's right. If he lacks true ability, won't he only mislead the students?"
"I heard that his Alchemy Master Token was personally granted by the Grand Chancellor."
Some people were even subtly steering the conversation, using the uproar to direct criticism toward the Grand Chancellor himself.
Once upon a time, the Grand Chancellor had been a figure of faith within the Dao Academy.
But now, people were beginning to wonder—had even the Grand Chancellor fallen from grace?
Then, a new piece of news exploded through the academy like thunder.
Someone recognized the new Alchemy Master—not as a hidden elder or wandering genius—but as none other than the Crown Prince of Great Zhou.
Instantly, the entire academy erupted.
"The Crown Prince of Great Zhou? That's an aboriginal cultivator of the Wasteland Realm! He's only twelve years old!"
"Heavens above—what kind of joke is this? Letting a twelve-year-old child become An Alchemy Master and teach others?"
"I heard that the academy was originally going to be built in Western Luo, but somehow, after the Crown Prince got involved with the Grand Chancellor, the location nearly changed to Great Zhou territory. If not for the deans uniting to protest and the Great Yan Dao Palace stepping in, it would've already happened!"
"There's no doubt something shady is going on behind all this."
The protests grew louder and louder.
Even Wang Rou came under immense pressure.
"Lecturer Wang, is it true that Master Yang is really the Crown Prince of Great Zhou—and only twelve years old?" someone asked.
"This…" Wang Rou's expression froze. "I—I'm not entirely sure. You all know I've only just started serving as his assistant lecturer. But from my brief time with him, I can say that Master Yang truly has real skill in the Alchemy…"
"Who would believe that?"
"A twelve-year-old boy? What could he possibly understand about Alchemy?"
"It takes at least a hundred years just to get a basic grasp, and two hundred years to even claim minor understanding. He's twelve. Twelve!"
"Our Myriad Phenomena Dao Academy has been devoted to pure Dao study since its founding. Are we really going to stray from that now?"
Many lecturers and instructors were openly frustrated, their faces filled with resentment.
Zheng Qiu wore a cold sneer.
The entire situation left Wang Rou feeling deeply shaken.
When she had first learned of Yang Cheng's true identity and age, she had been completely stunned.
If she hadn't spent the past few days speaking with him, discussing the Dao of Alchemy, and personally experiencing that awe-inspiring depth of knowledge that felt as vast and unreachable as a sacred mountain, she might have doubted him too.
Even so, seeing the crowd's emotions spiral like this still made her waver slightly.
Yang Cheng, however, remained utterly unconcerned by the uproar outside.
At this moment, he was within his own courtyard.
"Yang Cheng, it's been a while," Xu Letian greeted with a grin.
Everyone's attention shifted toward the girl beside him—a fair-skinned beauty with delicate makeup, exuding elegance and charm.
"And this is…?" Dongfang Sheng asked curiously.
"Heh, this is your sister-in-law, Yan Qingzhi," Xu Letian said smugly.
"Nonsense," the girl said with a soft, playful glare.
Xu Letian only laughed out loud.
"Sister-in-law is really beautiful, Xu Letian. You've done well," Dongfang Sheng teased.
"She is quite beautiful," Zeng Niu said, scratching his head in genuine admiration.
Yan Qingzhi smiled, clearly pleased by the compliment.
"Brothers, don't say I never look out for you," Xu Letian said, grinning. "Your sister-in-law knows plenty of beautiful ladies. I'll have her introduce a few to you today."
Zeng Niu's eyes lit up instantly, while Dongfang Sheng's expression showed mild interest.
Yang Cheng remained calm but didn't mind joining in the lighthearted mood.
Yan Qingzhi glanced at the three men.
She completely ignored Zeng Niu at first glance. Dongfang Sheng looked too effeminate for her taste. But Yang Cheng—his appearance stood out immediately, refined and composed, with a kind of unearthly aura.
"And this is?" Yan Qingzhi asked, intrigued.
"This is Yang Cheng," Xu Letian said casually, without the slightest concern. He was confident enough in himself that he didn't worry about her being swayed.
"Yang Cheng, where are you from?" Yan Qingzhi asked, her tone curious and light.