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In the end, under Qing Xuanling's intensely persistent persuasion—as if she possessed by a spirit—Elder Gao finally relented.
"Brat, I agreed to teach you only because you knelt earlier—but you may come only once a week!" Elder Gao scowled. "I won't be held responsible if your cultivation falls behind!"
Despite his grumbling, he pulled a dozen books from his spatial ring and thrust them into Qing Xuanling's hands. "Read them when you're bored!"
Qing Xuanling beamed, stowing the books carefully in her storage pouch. She opened her mouth to thank him—but Elder Gao was already shoving her out of the forge.
"Go on, get out! We've spent hours forging your sword—I need rest!" He shut the door firmly behind her. "See you next time… though it'd be best if you don't come!"
Qing Xuanling smirked and called toward the closed door, "Thank you for everything today, Master!"
"Don't call me that!!"
Elder Gao's thunderous roar rattled the forge door.
A soft laugh escaped Qing Xuanling as she returned to her quarters, steps light and heart full of joy.
No one crossed her path—or rather, she was too elated to notice anyone else. She reached her dormitory swiftly.
Upon opening her door, she found Xuan Dan still practicing the fire-control technique gifted by Sister Wangu—or Elder Wangu. Qing Xuanling wasn't entirely sure of her title yet.
"Xuan Dan! It's finished!" Qing Xuanling grinned, drawing Memory. "This is Memory—the sword Elder Gao reforged!"
Xuan Dan looked up, eyes widening at the sword. "Wow… that old man is astonishing despite missing an arm… Incredible that this came from reforging that old, plain sword."
Qing Xuanling sheathed Memory with a smile. "Yes—it's truly impressive. Maybe that's why I decided to learn refining…"
"Yeah, maybe…" Xuan Dan nodded—then froze mid-motion. "…Wait. What did you say?"
Qing Xuanling stuck out her tongue. "Exactly what I said—I'll be learning refining from Elder Gao from now on…"
Xuan Dan's eyes nearly popped out. "Are you insane?! Do you know how little time you have each day?! Where will you find time for refining?! I wouldn't have minded if you'd created another incarnation with refining talent—but no! It's still just you and me! How did this cursed idea even occur to you?!"
Qing Xuanling smiled wryly. She understood Xuan Dan's frustration. It was very likely that, with her divine talent, she could create an incarnation with a talent for refinement at some point in the future. There was no real need for her to learn it herself.
Yet so far, Qing Xuanling's divine talent showed no sign. She didn't even know what materials were needed to create a second incarnation. She simply couldn't wait that long.
So she patiently calmed Xuan Dan. After all—her decision was final.
Perhaps for that reason, Xuan Dan settled down surprisingly quickly.
"Sigh… Fine. Tell me, you greedy brat—what's your plan?" Xuan Dan huffed, now calmer. "At least you're not the type to make decisions without a plan."
"Obviously, I've already thought about how to divide my time." Qing Xuanling's smile turned meaningful. "And you're going to be the solution to this problem!"
Xuan Dan tilted her head, confused. "How so?"
"Don't you remember? Tomorrow's the first alchemy class at the university." Qing Xuanling grinned proudly. "Is simple—you go. I'll stay home studying. After all, I can't leave if you're out—and I can't practice sword techniques in such a small room. Perfect time to study refining! Later, I'll spend a few hours with Elder Gao for hands-on practice!"
"…Are you sure about this?" Xuan Dan frowned. "It's feasible, but the risk of the elders discovering our differing spiritual roots is high. It's dangerous."
Qing Xuanling placed a hand on her hip, smiling calmly. "The clan has protected us well so far. Even if discovered, there'll be no issue. Besides—I doubt they'd guess I can create multiple incarnations."
A flicker of confusion crossed Xuan Dan's eyes. "True—divine talents that create clones aren't that rare… but those clones can't possess talents different from the original body, let alone their own divine talent!"
"But in that case, we can say the alchemical talent I display is also yours—but I attend classes because my spiritual roots are better suited for alchemy!"
Xuan Dan relaxed slightly. Indeed—there'd be no issue with her attending alchemy classes.
Qing Xuanling gave a thumbs-up. "Knew you'd understand!"
With that, she headed straight to bed—utterly exhausted from the day's efforts. Xuan Dan shook her head and immersed herself once more in fire-control practice.
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"Ready?" Qing Xuanling smiled at Xuan Dan. "Remember—acts not too different from my usual self. Though discovery wouldn't truly matter… with leaks still in the clan, discretion is best."
Xuan Dan nodded while adjusting her dark green robes. "I know—relax. I likely want to keep a low profile more than you do."
"True!" Qing Xuanling laughed, settling onto the bed to read Elder Gao's books. "The others from yesterday's team don't have classes now—you shouldn't run into them."
"Good. I'd hate for nuisances to interrupt my study time." Xuan Dan finished preparing and left for Green Breeze University.
Qing Xuanling watched her go, smiling. Somehow, Xuan Dan had become quite antisocial—disliking interaction with others. That was why Xuan Dan never truly minded her never leaving the room.
She genuinely enjoyed solitary study.
Sighing contentedly, Qing Xuanling dove into her own studies. She'd genuinely grown fond of the refining craft.
Meanwhile, Xuan Dan walked calmly toward Green Breeze University. Her face remained expressionless—ignoring strangers who greeted or glanced her way. Though instructed to mimic Qing Xuanling, She would only bother doing it with acquaintances.
She wouldn't waste effort acting for minor characters.
With that mindset, she reached a classroom on the university's third floor without incident. A sign on the door read: Alchemy.
Xuan Dan took a deep breath, calming her excited heart. Until now, she'd learned alchemy entirely alone. Rewarding—but painfully slow.
She felt her true potential remained untapped.
She knocked firmly. "Student Xuanling requests entry to the classroom."
The reply came instantly.
"Come in~"
Xuan Dan entered—and blinked in surprise. This wasn't a typical classroom with desks and a blackboard. Only an alchemy cauldron stood at the center, two cushions on the floor.
And, of course, the teacher: Qing Wangu.
Xuan Dan regarded her cautiously. "Hello, Professor… How should I address you…?"
Qing Wangu laughed lightly. "Silly girl—after seeing everything, you now try to build a wall between us? Of course you'll still call me Sister Wangu! My status and cultivation mean nothing here!"
Xuan Dan's face stiffened, eyes perplexed. Qing Xuanling had never mentioned everything had been seen… Still, she lowered her gaze as if ashamed.
Qing Wangu laughed again and gestured her closer.
"You likely guessed—but I am an elder of the Qing Clan, like all university teachers. The Fifth Elder." Qing Wangu smiled sweetly. "I've introduced myself—now it's your turn."
Xuan Dan sat on the cushion opposite her. "Sister Wangu—you know who I am: Qing Xuanling, descendant of the Qing Clan's twenty-seventh generation."
Each Qing Clan generation spanned fifty years—so all children born within that span belonged to the same generation. Qing Xuanling was among its youngest members from twenty-seventh generation.
Such formal self-introductions were rare—but since Qing Wangu had introduced herself formally, Xuan Dan mirrored the tone.
Yet Qing Wangu shook her head.
"Little one—you know that's not what I mean." Her golden eyes gleamed as she glanced at the cauldron. "You might have slipped past any other elder—but impossible to fool me."
Qing Wangu's golden eyes glowed, sending a chill down Xuan Dan's spine—cold sweat beading on her brow.
"To become a great alchemist—one who stands above peers—it takes more than vast herb knowledge, theory, or fire control. Above all—you need keen eyes." Qing Wangu tapped her golden eyes. "A minor flaw in materials can ruin the final product. It's no uncommon alchemists of my level master special pupil techniques."
Her smile turned sharp. "So be honest—before I lose patience. I've been remarkably tolerant thus far."
Qing Wangu's eyes glinted with coldness—but inwardly, turbulent waves of concern churned. She intensified her pupil technique, straining to discern the being before her.
Though the figure visibly was Qing Xuanling… her spiritual roots weren't complete—they were mixed.
When she saw that, curious, she'd activated her technique—and recoiled in shock! The soul before her, though similar, was not Qing Xuanling's!
She conversed with the fake Qing Xuanling while trying to discover her true identity, but after failing for a long time, she lost patience and decided to resort to more drastic methods.
Unaware of this, Xuan Dan trembled. Mouth opening and closing, she found no words. She'd been discovered—far faster than imagined!
Yet she resisted revealing Qing Xuanling's divine talent—not because Qing Xuanling didn't want to, but due to Xuan Dan's cautious nature. Unlike Qing Xuanling, she was colder—believing secret cards should stay hidden for desperate moments.
She'd never reveal her divine talent… if not for Qing Wangu's unnaturally frigid eyes, which made Xuan Dan's very soul tremble.
Conflict flashed across her face—then she spoke.
"I-I'm not a spy or someone possessing Xuanling's body… I—" She drew a shaky breath. "I am part of Qing Xuanling's divine talent."
Qing Wangu blinked, momentarily stunned. Her gaze sharpened. "Explain!"
Xuan Dan nodded hastily. "Qing Xuanling awakened her divine talent later than usual! It allows her to create a conscious clone with different spiritual roots! Since I possess better roots for alchemy—I came in her place!"
Shock flooded Qing Wangu's face. She narrowed her eyes, weighing the claim's plausibility. Finally, she sighed.
"Where is Qing Xuanling now?"
"In her… her room!" Xuan Dan replied instantly.
Qing Wangu stood. Verdant energy suddenly enveloped her and Xuan Dan.
Xuan Dan's eyes flew wide—but before she could speak, her vision darkened. When it returned, the space around her had utterly transformed.
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"Mmm… The theory and research behind every existing alloy are far deeper than I imagined!" Qing Xuanling sighed with delight.
She was reading a book detailing the hundred most used alloys and their histories—especially the immense difficulty in birthing each new alloy.
Apparently, tens of thousands of trials combining different metals were needed for a single usable alloy. And creating a unique, powerful alloy worthy of legacy? That lay beyond effort and attempts.
It depended solely on luck and destiny.
After all—as the book described—each metal comprised tiny points or molecules (whatever they were called). And crucially, for a usable alloy, the molecules of both metals couldn't be incompatible.
Most complex? Each metal held dozens of different molecules—each potentially bearing a different elemental attribute. Worse—other unknown conditions governed metal compatibility.
Qing Xuanling stretched her stiff body. "How complicated~"
She rolled contentedly on the bed, her admiration for refiners swelling.
"Refiners' techniques must be profoundly deep—after all, they are capable of forcibly joining two incompatible metals!"
That was a refiner's core work.
Discovering a perfectly compatible alloy was virtually impossible—so refiners crafted hundreds of thousands of techniques to artificially enhance compatibility.
As she pondered this, a sudden sound sent chills down her spine.
"How lovely~" A mature, beautiful voice—but with something dark in its tone—reached her ears. "What a wonderful sight!"
Qing Xuanling turned toward the voice—and froze in utter shock.
Qing Wangu, alongside Xuan Dan, had somehow appeared in her room…