Li Fengyuan followed Wu Tianlan and Sun Huai through the long corridor of the academy.
The noise from the classroom faded behind them until only their footsteps echoed against the floor.
The three did not speak immediately.
Wu Tianlan walked at a brisk pace, his robe swaying with each step, while Sun Huai kept glancing at Li Fengyuan with a complicated expression—respect, curiosity, and faint disbelief mixed together.
After a short walk, they arrived at a quiet courtyard reserved for teachers.
Wu Tianlan finally stopped and turned around.
"Young Master Li," he said, voice steady yet respectful, "before anything else, allow me to apologize for yesterday's misunderstanding."
Li Fengyuan raised a brow.
"Misunderstanding?"
Wu Tianlan exhaled and cupped his fists.
"Indeed. I was informed that you had barged into my private alchemy room. Naturally, I intended to reprimand you. But after seeing the pill you refined…"
His eyes brightened, admiration seeping into his tone.
"I realized that you are more than qualified to use the Grade-3 Alchemist Room!"
Sun Huai nodded, adding, "The pill you refined yesterday… Head Alchemist Wu examined it personally. The quality surpassed Grade-3. It reached the very peak. I have never produced such refinement."
Well, considering he was just a Grade-2 Alchemist, he wouldn't be able to refine Grade-3 pills much less something like the pills that Li Fengyuan has refined.
Wu Tianlan continued, "Not only that… while I couldn't identify what pill it was, I could tell that it has immense Qi which is very good for cultivation."
His gaze sharpened. "Young Master Li, may I dare ask—just what kind of pills did you take yesterday?"
The reason why Wu Tianlan asked so respectfully is because the pills might be a secret of the Li Clan as many powerful Clan have them.
They don't usually show it to the public and he thought that the pills that Li Fengyuan refined might be some secret pill of the Li Clan.
Li Fengyuan smiled faintly.
"The pill I refined yesterday is called the Scarlet Meridian Ascension Pill."
Both Wu Tianlan and Sun Huai thought about the name but nothing rings a bell.
They both thought it must be a secret pill of the Li Clan.
"It is," Li Fengyuan continued, voice calm, "a pill meant to increase cultivation. Effective for all stages… even for those in the Grandmaster Realm."
The courtyard fell silent.
Wu Tianlan's eyes widened a fraction, his composed demeanor cracking.
"G–Grandmaster Realm…?"
He muttered under his breath.
He was surprised because only Grade-4 and above can affect those realms. Below that… the efficiency drops to nearly nothing.
So, to claim that a pill of Grade-3 is effective for Grandmaster Stage was too much of an exaggeration.
Whether it's truly effective for Grandmasters or not, that would require testing.
But judging from the nature of the Qi present in the pills that they inspected yesterday, Li Fengyuan's claim doesn't seem too ridiculous.
Li Fengyuan glanced at Head Alchemist Wu Tianlan.
"Does Head Alchemist Wu want the recipe?"
Wu Tianlan froze.
Then—
"Hahaha!" He burst into laughter, waving his hand as if Li Fengyuan had told the funniest joke in the world.
"Young Master Li surely jests. Pill recipes passed down by powerful clans are tightly guarded treasures. I would never dare to covet such a thing. I am already honored that you're willing to even mention the pill at all."
Li Fengyuan blinked slowly.
He was serious about sharing the pill recipe and for sharing the pill recipe, he would have asked for pills to be refined for him.
But this wasn't just the reason, he remembered Wu TInalan the Head Alchemist of Heavenly Path Academy who taught everyone regardless of status or talent.
Not only that, during the destruction of Liangzhuo City, he has protected lots of children and even stayed behind to stop the Demons.
Well, but seeing that his words weren't taken seriously, he didn't say much for now.
Wu Tianlan didn't realize he had just missed a heaven-sent opportunity.
Still smiling, he clasped his fists respectfully.
"Young Master Li's alchemy skill… even though I haven't seen you refine with my own eyes, just the pill alone speaks volumes. Such refinement and purity… even I couldn't do it."
Wu Tianlan continued, looking almost excited, "Young Master Li, have you taken any alchemist tests before? What is Young Master Li Alchemist Rank?"
Li Fengyuan shook his head.
"No!"
Wu Tianlan was completely baffled.
A talented person like Li Fengyuan who could refine Grade-3 pills, he was definitely Grade-3 or perhaps above.
But he hasn't taken a single alchemist test?
If it was any other young person, as long as he has skill, he wouldn't wait to show off to the world.
"You absolutely must take the Alchemist Examination," Wu Tianlan urged.
"Once you pass, you will gain access to the academy's restricted room, advanced furnaces, and higher-grade materials. And that is only the beginning!"
Sun Huai added, "With your talent, Young Master Li, achieving the rank of Grade-3 Alchemist will be a formality."
Li Fengyuan nodded thoughtfully.
"I understand. I'll take the test as soon as I can."
Wu Tianlan's expression lit with satisfaction—no, relief, as though he had just discovered a priceless treasure.
He stepped back, bowing once more toward Li Fengyuan.
"I am truly fortunate to witness such talent in my lifetime… a heavenly genius indeed. The Li Clan truly hides its stars well."
"Young Master Li, if you ever find yourself free, may this old man have the honor of refining pills alongside you and exchanging guidance?"
Li Fengyuan nodded.
"Haha… Thank you. And Young Master Li can use my alchemist's room whenever you need."
Still muttering praises under his breath, Wu Tianlan turned, robes fluttering as he hurried away.
Sun Huai bowed once more and followed after him.
Li Fengyuan stood alone in the quiet courtyard.
The faint smile returned to his lips.
(Alchemist Examination? There are definitely a lot of benefits for passing.)