"It seems none of you have any objections to the arrangements I made for Xiao Ting?"
Su Qian smiled and swept his gaze across all the elders' faces.
"No, no!" Everyone, including the Punishment Elder, shook their heads in unison.
Genius should naturally receive the same preferential treatment as genius, and a prodigy should receive treatment unique to prodigies.
Giving a genius who had once defeated a Demon Flame Valley Dou King the chance to choose three favorite items as a way to make friends was undoubtedly worthwhile.
"Elder, when will this student Xiao Ting arrive?" Old Huo rubbed his hands together. "I'll personally test his alchemy skills."
"I think it would be good to have Student Xiao Ting refine pills in public," one elder seriously suggested. "There are many arrogant students in the inner academy. This would be a good opportunity to let them know there are always people better than themselves and mountains beyond mountains, and to curb their arrogance."
"We don't know his exact arrival time, but it should be soon." Su Qian nodded lightly. "When Xiao Ting arrives, I'll ask him directly about your suggestion."
…
At that moment, Xiao Ting had just exited the library.
As per custom, the two elders did not ask what Xiao Ting had chosen.
They had their own methods to track which materials were missing from the library, so they weren't worried about Xiao Ting breaking the rules.
"Young friend, remember—this is internal library business and must never be leaked," Elder Qian Mu said.
"Elders, please rest assured. I am very cautious and won't say a single word," Xiao Ting replied, cupping his hands.
He had only written down the contents of the library's collection in his Journal.
They had read the Journal and learned the situation—it wasn't something he had voluntarily told them.
"Then I'll take my leave."
After nodding to the two elders, Xiao Ting spread the purple-gold Battle Qi wings on his back and flew toward the living and study area of the inner academy.
The elders and disciples guarding that area had clearly been informed in advance. None of them stopped Xiao Ting, and he reached the core area without issue.
Su Qian sensed the fluctuation of his aura, soared into the air, and confronted him.
"Elder," Xiao Ting greeted Su Qian with a smile. "Thank you for coming out personally to greet me."
"After all, this is your first time here. You might not know the way and could cause some misunderstanding," Su Qian smiled gently. "Xiao Ting, the elder meeting has already been held. With everyone's agreement, you have been granted the right to choose three books from the library to take away. However, there is one condition."
"Elder, please speak."
Xiao Ting was very curious about what conclusion they had reached.
This time, from the library he had obtained the supreme body refinement secret technique, a low-level Earth-rank soul attack secret technique, and a mid-level Earth-rank movement technique—a truly great harvest.
As long as the request wasn't excessive, he would agree to anything Jia Nan Academy asked.
"The elders hope you will refine a fourth-grade pill for them," Su Qian answered.
"Alchemy?" Xiao Ting asked, slightly surprised.
He thought to himself, Is that all?
It seemed those elders just wanted to test his talent. What honest people.
"No problem." Xiao Ting smiled and nodded. "It's already late today, and I have to meet friends in the outer academy. How about tomorrow morning in front of the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower?"
"Understood." Since Xiao Ting agreed readily, Su Qian naturally had no objections.
"This time I only chose three items from the library." Seeing the conversation reach this point, Xiao Ting decided to confirm the truth. "As a reward for slaying the Demon Flame Valley elder, I would like to cultivate in the lowest level of the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower. Would the Great Elder agree?"
"No problem." Su Qian nodded lightly, recalling the Primordial Heart Flame he had accumulated over the years. "After you finish refining the fourth-grade pill, you can enter the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower to cultivate. I'll personally guide you to the lowest level."
The very bottom was the place closest to the Fallen Heart Flame, where the cultivation acceleration effect of the Heart Flame was maximized.
Moreover, Jia Nan Academy occasionally collected Primordial Heart Flame essence, which was extremely effective for Dou Spirit to reach Dou King level. Even Dou King experts could use it to slightly increase their cultivation speed.
Xiao Ting possessed Purple Beast Flame and didn't care about the side effects of the Fallen Heart Flame at all. On the contrary, he could even use the Fallen Heart Flame itself to rapidly advance his cultivation.
After reaching an agreement with Su Qian, Xiao Ting completed the registration procedures with him and officially became a student of Jia Nan Academy.
After quickly finishing the procedures, the waiting elders approached him. The white-haired, white-bearded Old Huo couldn't wait any longer and said, "Student Xiao Ting, I am the head of the Alchemy Department. According to Jia Nan Academy rules, the Alchemy Department can only recruit students who possess alchemy knowledge. The Alchemy Department prioritizes students with alchemy talent. Won't you join?"
"In terms of rewards and safety, my Alchemy Department is the best in the entire inner academy. As an alchemist, you should understand what I'm saying!"
Old Huo stared at Xiao Ting expectantly, fearing he would refuse.
The head of the combat department couldn't help but speak up. "Xiao Ting, while alchemists have the best treatment and are the safest in the academy, they are also the busiest and have the least time for cultivation. Why not consider the combat department? When there are no missions, there's relatively more free time, and it's suitable for growth through battle."
"What nonsense are you talking about?" Old Huo sneered. "You're an alchemist—why do you need to grow through battle? Isn't that just exposing yourself to danger?"
"But Xiao Ting is a Dou King, and he reached such heights at such a young age. It would be a waste not to fight." The combat department head had his own thoughts.
He felt that Xiao Ting's cultivation talent shouldn't be wasted either.
"You…" Old Huo was about to say something when Xiao Ting spoke to the combat department head first.
"Combat Department Head, thank you for the invitation. However, I want to join the Alchemy Department and prioritize improving my alchemy skills."
With the Plane's Blessing and the acquisition of various cultivation methods and battle skills, his strength would accelerate even further.
Those at Dou King or Dou Emperor level wouldn't stay at that level for long, so there was no need to accumulate experience through battle.
Moreover, the Plane's Blessing sometimes brought combat experience—better than going out to find opponents of various strengths.
"Understood. I respect Xiao Ting's choice." The combat department head readily agreed.
The reason he had risked offending Old Huo to invite him was precisely because he highly valued Xiao Ting's talent and sense of responsibility.
Since Xiao Ting had made his own decision, he naturally wouldn't force the issue.
"Xiao Ting is a wise person. This is the right choice." Old Huo laughed. "If academy rules didn't forbid it, I would immediately apply for an honorary elder position for you. Or you could graduate directly and become an elder in my Alchemy Department. In a few years, I'll give you the position of department head."
The title "honorary elder" emphasized the word "honorary." It required a certain contribution to Jia Nan Academy—a form of commendation and status symbol—but it did not grant actual power.
In contrast, when elders officially joined Jia Nan Academy, they immediately gained status and a certain amount of power.
However, Xiao Ting would also be treated as a member of Jia Nan Academy from now on.