After submitting the sale review for Refined Gold, Jeming couldn't help but feel a sense of pride for a long time.
He had already begun to imagine making a fortune from Refined Gold, then using the Points he earned to improve himself, creating a perfect resource Cycle, and ultimately becoming a supreme powerhouse.
Occasionally, when he saw those Apprentices diligently running around for Points, though he showed nothing on the surface, Jeming couldn't help feeling a sense of satisfaction inwardly.
"Indeed, without unique skills and production resources, you'll just be exploited by others. This kind of heavy work with low Points, even a dog wouldn't..."
...
...
"...do! If a dog wouldn't do it, I will! I fucking love doing tasks!"
In the Area of Distillation Tower No. 3, Jeming's expression was somewhat twisted.
The air here was filled with a strong, nauseating mixed odor, akin to rotting plants and spoiled Magic Potions combined together.
Jeming was dressed in heavy protective gear, wearing secure goggles and a mask, holding a long-handled scraper issued by the Workshop and a cloth soaked with pungent solvent.
His task was to clean this unusually large metal distillation tower in front of him, at least ten stories high.
For unknown previous reasons, the inside of the distillation tower was left with a black sticky substance reminiscent of tar.
It's said that this thing is quite sensitive to Energy factors and cannot be removed using Witchcraft, so it's purely a manual labor task.
He had to crawl into the cramped internal space, scraping, wiping, washing little by little...
As for why he had to come here to do the task, talking about it would bring tears to one's eyes.
He once thought that refining Refined Gold and finding one of the most urgently needed materials by Wizards would once and for all solve the resource problem.
But reality gave him a harsh blow once again.
The worst situation Jeming had envisioned was that the sale of Refined Gold would attract no interest, disappearing amidst a heap of similar insulation materials.
But the truth was harsher than he imagined — he hadn't even reached the sales step!
The submitted "White Iron Base Insulation Material" showed a stark "Pending Inspection" status in the Workshop's Magic Network system.
No matter how many times he checked each day, this status remained unmoved, as if forgotten in some corner.
Without passing the inspection, there was no way to list for sale, not even to be rejected, let alone to earn Points.
This accidental secret path to fortune was now firmly blocked by unforeseen circumstances.
Meanwhile, Jeming's need for Points was as urgent as breathing.
As his studies progressed, the demand for Points increased sharply.
Want to use other special materials after class to continue practicing shaping?
Fine, first go to the material library to exchange new supplies with Points.
Want to try analyzing an unknown ore with newly learned knowledge?
Sorry, more detailed "Material Characteristics Atlas" requires Points to unlock access authorization.
Want to find a slightly better crucible with Spiritual Power assist functions for more complex experiments?
No problem, just pay for rent with Points at the Magic Network Terminal.
Everything in the academy revolved around Points!
The Alchemy Workshop doesn't keep idlers.
They provide basic accommodation and knowledge, but more is required in exchange for your labor and achievements.
"Damn it, what a shitty inefficient bureaucracy!!"
Jeming cursed angrily yet could only obediently put on the protective suit to get ready for work.
The work was monotonous and exhausting.
The protective suit insulated most of the smell but also made movements slow and cumbersome, and the extreme temperature inside the distillation tower was unbearable even for Jeming's physique.
Sweat evaporated inside the protective suit, and the screeching sound of the scraper against the metal echoed inside the tower.
"Really damn tiring..." another Apprentice beside him murmured complaints, his protective suit covered with a layer of stubborn grime.
Jeming nodded in agreement, not complaining, just mechanically repeating the motions, seemingly having lost interest in conversation due to the heavy work.
But in truth, his strong Spiritual Power was secretly active.
He carefully sensed the internal structure of the distillation tower, those complex pipeline connections, the depiction of Energy transmission Runes, the splicing of different Metal materials... these were all vivid textbooks.
He quickly fed back the sensed information to the Great Dao Book Pavilion, instructing it to find similar knowledge for comparative research based on the information he provided.
"This design of Energy interface... has a striking similarity with the basic Artifact Refining methods in the Great Dao Book Pavilion, even utilizing the principles of Space Folding... though the core still requires memorization of Rune Energy conduction, I'll need to dual-major in Rune Science soon."
In such arduous conditions, Jeming endured both monotony and fatigue while integrating these Wizard World's knowledge into his Cultivation Immortality System understanding.
At the end of a day's work, back in the dormitory, Jeming collapsed onto the bed.
Though mentally feeling extraordinarily fatigued, his body wasn't overly exhausted; instead, his True Essence became even more solidified.
More compellingly, he could feel the Energy within his body accumulating frantically, the barrier of the Qi Cultivation First Layer now fragile, ready to be breached at any moment!
He climbed up from the bed, assumed a meditation posture, and looked towards his Sea of Spirit.
In the seemingly endless ocean, three complex patterns radiating brilliant light occupied three points around the periphery of the ocean, continuously drawing Elemental Power from the outside world into the body.
In over a month's time, he had unknowingly inscribed three Truth Runes within his Sea of Spirit, completing all Runes representing the core concepts of Alchemy: "Transformation," "Fusion," "Refinement," and his Meditation Method progress reached the pinnacle of the First Level Apprentice in the Wizard System!
The Sea of Spirit had also expanded by more than double since he first enrolled, with his Spiritual Power condensed and active.
Next, as long as he successfully meditates and inscribes the fourth Truth Rune, he will officially become a Second Level Apprentice.
However, at the same time, the "Talent" endowed by Jeming also consumed all his Spiritual Power foundation.
Now, he could only continuously absorb external Elemental Power through Meditation Methods to replenish and accumulate more Spiritual Power, to support him in breaking through to the next Rune.
This can be considered an advantage for geniuses, someone with his Talent could effortlessly rise to a First Level Wizard Apprentice, Jeming speculated that top geniuses of the Eighth or Ninth Level might not exhaust their innate Spiritual foundation until they reached a Second Level Wizard Apprentice.
The accumulation of Spiritual Power is not achieved overnight, so the progress of the Meditation Method is not something Jeming needs to worry about right now.
The real trouble is, Jeming's Cultivator cultivation was also on the verge of breakthrough!
Clearly, it hadn't been two months since the breakthrough to Qi Cultivation First Layer, yet now his breakthrough to the next layer was imminent.
The Energy within his body could no longer be restrained, as if it was about to explode the next second.