Chapter 41 (1/2)

The alchemy academy was divided into four separate buildings, namely Heaven, Earth, Black, and Yellow which made up the four different levels.

Low-grade disciples were only allowed to study in the Yellow Building, and medium-grade disciples were allowed to enter the Black Building while high-grade disciples were allowed to enter the Earth Building. As for the Heaven Building which was the highest rank, only a few true lineage disciples were authorized to enter.

Other than these four buildings that made up the main section of the alchemy academy, there were also a few side halls.

Fang Lin was given an annual pass to enter and stay in the alchemy academy at his will. However, he was only allowed to study in the Yellow Building because of his status as a low-grade disciple. He did not have the authority to enter the rest of the three buildings.

It was the beginning of the month when Fang Lin joined Xu Shangao and some low-grade disciples to go to the alchemy academy. They worshipped the cauldron sculpture placed in front of the main entrance of the alchemy academy before heading to the Yellow Building.

“Fang Lin, it’s your first time here, so you might not know certain things well yet. Don’t simply wander anywhere and be careful not to bump into someone else,” said Xu Shangao to Fang Lin softly.

Upon inquiring closer, Fang Lin learned that there were ten alchemy rooms in the Yellow Building that catered to the official disciples to refine elixirs. They were allowed to use any medicinal herbs available in the alchemy academy as they pleased.

Most importantly, these ten alchemy rooms were enchanted with arrays. The alchemy rooms were effective in not just elevating the success rate of refining elixirs but they also allowed the disciples to achieve even more thorough comprehension during the process. It could be said that one would achieve rather vast improvements in alchemy skills just by refining elixirs in those ten rooms a few times.

By right, every low-grade disciple would have the chance to enter these ten alchemy rooms inside the Yellow Building. However, the reality was not the same. There were also ten alchemy rooms in each of the Black and the Earth Buildings as well. On the other hand, there were so many official disciples. Therefore, not everyone could have a chance to enter these rooms to refine elixirs.

As a result, the official disciples that failed to enter the alchemy rooms in the Black and the Earth Buildings would go over to the Yellow Building and dominate the alchemy rooms there.

That was the current situation. Eight out of ten alchemy rooms in the Yellow building were occupied by medium- and high-grade disciples, leaving only two other alchemy rooms for low-grade disciples.

The reason why they handed those two rooms over was only that the medium- disciples and high-grade disciples did not wish to go too far. Otherwise, there was nothing the low-grade disciples could do even if they were to dominate all the rooms.

The elders in the alchemy sect would not interfere with this matter. In fact, it had already turned into an unwritten rule in the alchemy academy.

As a result, the majority of the low-grade disciples almost did not get to enter the few alchemy rooms. Even for those that did manage to enter the rooms, other official disciples would eventually kick them out after a while.

The low-grade disciples were infuriated, but they dared not speak up. Even though they felt very displeased, there was utterly nothing they could do. In the course of time, they could only let things slide.

Upon hearing that, Fang Lin felt very bothered. However, he changed his point of view and realized that it was unrelated to him because he was not interested in entering those alchemy rooms.

“I haven’t even managed to enter the alchemy room in the academy during the three years that I’ve been a low-grade disciple. I’m afraid that I’ll only have a chance to steal a look when I’m a medium-grade disciple,” Xu Shangao said, heaving a sigh.

Fang Lin pursed his lips and said, “You failed your promotion examination to become a medium-grade disciple this year. I think it will take you another few years before you can make your way to become a medium-grade disciple.”

“Can you stop crushing my dreams?” Xu Shangao begged exasperatedly.

When Fang Lin had taken part in the promotion examination, Xu Shangao had also sat for the medium-grade disciple promotion examination although he failed, unfortunately. Even though he was mentally prepared for the failure, he was still feeling rather dejected. After all, he had been a low-grade disciple for three years. If he did not seize the opportunity to become a medium-grade disciple, his time would be wasted.

The group of people stepped into the alchemy lecture hall to find an elder already waiting inside.

The alchemy lecture hall was the venue that specially catered for teaching lessons to low-grade disciples. Each lesson lasted a day, but one was allowed to leave periodically during the lesson. However, the person would not be allowed to enter the alchemy lecture hall anymore if he was away for any longer than the time limit which was the time it took to burn a joss stick.

Fang Lin and Xu Shangao sat together. Suddenly, Fang Lin felt as if someone eyes staring at him, so he turned around to take a look. It was Kang Lu.