Chapter 7

Chapter 7

When noon arrived and classes ended, Bruce invited Li Qingzhi to join him for lunch. However, Li Qingzhi was preoccupied with his Alchemy Furnace and politely declined the offer:

"Next time, I'd like to head back to my place first."

Curious, Bruce inquired, "Your place? Did you bring food with you, or what will you eat for lunch?"

Reminded by Bruce, Li Qingzhi recalled that he indeed had plenty of edibles on hand: "I need to sort out my belongings first. There's still some dried food there."

Bruce's interest piqued. He had noticed that everything Li Qingzhi had brought was novel and intriguing, and he couldn't resist the urge to explore Li Qingzhi's dormitory:

"Can I come with you? I'm really curious about what else you've brought."

"Sure." Li Qingzhi agreed readily, seeing it as an opportunity to have company. "I'll find something to share with you then."

As the two were talking, a green-haired girl with a ponytail suddenly spoke up softly, "C-Could I come with you too?"

The girl's name was Amelia, adorned with adorable freckles. She had nearly stumbled during her flying lesson and was helped up by Li Qingzhi. This encounter led to a budding friendship between her, Li Qingzhi, and Bruce.

Despite her timid nature, Li Qingzhi and Bruce's "encouragement" had surprisingly turned her into one of the first daring students to learn standing flight from Li Qingzhi.

Unbeknownst to the pair, Amelia wished to continue playing with them even after the session ended.

Upon hearing Amelia's request, Bruce, looking at the bashful green-haired girl before him, quickly nodded. However, he promptly added, "As long as Li Qingzhi agrees, we can head to his dorm together."

Li Qingzhi, naturally, had no objections and happily agreed to their trio's outing, saying, "Then let's go."

Subsequently, the three of them took off, with Li Qingzhi riding his sword while the other two "rode" their brooms. Their unconventional method soon caught the attention of other students:

"One more person flying upright! Goodness, is this a new trend in flying styles?"

"It looks so dangerous but also so cool. What should I do? I'm too scared to try, yet how can they be so brave?"

"It must be from the Plant Elemental School... I've seen several standing flyers, and when someone asked, they all turned out to be new students from the Plant School."

"Maybe the Plant School teachers taught them specifically? Why didn't our teachers teach us something like that?"

Amidst the discussions of the other students, the Plant Elemental School's freshmen unknowingly became the center of attention on their very first day. Unaware, the others didn't realize that the pioneer of this innovative flight style was actually the Eastern exchange student Li Qingzhi, not a teacher from the Plant School.

As the three of them arrived at Li Qingzhi's room and opened the door, Bruce was immediately struck by the massive Bagua furnace in the center of the room: "This, what is this?"

Li Qingzhi elucidated, "This is a Bagua furnace used for alchemical purposes, but I haven't had the chance to ignite it yet. I came over today at noon with the intention of starting the fire and attempting to refine something."

Bruce remained utterly perplexed. "Alchemizing? What does that mean?"

Li Qingzhi pondered for a few seconds before attempting an explanation. "This furnace is used to create various efficacious pills..." As he spoke, Li Qingzhi recalled that his senior sister Qing Lian had given him quite a number of them. He turned around and rummaged through his pack before producing several gourds filled with medicinal pills.

"Discovered! These are the refined pills I brought from the Three Silent Mountains."

Bruce glanced at the gourd in Li Qingzhi's hand. "From what you're saying, it seems very similar to the potion class we'll be taking!"

Amelia also nodded softly. "I recall that students from our Herbology department are required to study potion-making as well." As she spoke, Amelia couldn't help but glance at the characters on Li Qingzhi's gourd. "What do these characters mean?"

Li Qingzhi quickly recited their meanings. "Oh, these characters signify possession, internal ailments, madness, reversed meridians, and demonic possession..."

Bruce's and Amelia's expressions paled as they listened. Bruce exclaimed in astonishment, "These are actually unique eastern witchcraft pills!"

Amelia grew slightly anxious. "I think I've read about them before. In the East, there are mysterious witchcraft practices that can make one wish for death..."

Hearing their words, Li Qingzhi was taken aback before quickly shaking his head with a smile. "No, it's not about the effects of these medicines. It lists what ailments they can treat!"

The moment the misunderstanding was cleared up, both Bruce and Amelia heaved a sigh of relief in unison. "That scared me!"

Curiosity piqued, Bruce asked after recovering, "Are all these magical potions made using this furnace?"

"Yes," Li Qingzhi replied as he picked up some herbs and cinnabar for demonstration. "Put these corresponding ingredients into the alchemy furnace, then cook them according to the time needed."

Amelia wore an amazed expression. "Will these herbs eventually turn into something that looks like chocolate beans?"

Confused by her words, Li Qingzhi asked, "Chocolate beans?"

Promptly, Bruce took out a small bag of chocolate from his pocket and showed it to Li Qingzhi. "Chocolate is a kind of candy here. It tastes pretty good. I happened to bring some. You should give it a try."

As Li Qingzhi accepted the chocolate, Bruce, who was staring at the mysterious alchemy furnace with its intricate vintage patterns, suddenly had an idea. "I wonder if it can be used to cook other things."

Li Qingzhi, who had just taken a bite of the chocolate, blinked. A sweet and rich flavor spread on his tongue, which he found quite enjoyable. "This tastes pretty good. Oh, right, what do you want to cook?"

Bruce pointed at the bag of chocolate in Li Qingzhi's hand. "Why don't we try making chocolate beans?"

"Since this furnace can transform herbs into beans, perhaps it can turn chocolate into candy too."

Upon hearing this, Amelia appeared hesitant. "That might not be appropriate. This alchemy furnace seems to be of great significance. Wouldn't it be... too much to use it for chocolate?"

To their surprise, Li Qingzhi nodded thoughtfully, his eyes gleaming with anticipation. "I hadn't considered that. Let's give it a try! I've never attempted to put in anything without following a formula before!"

Back on the Three Silent Mountains, alchemy furnaces were not to be trifled with. Only under Ling Shen's supervision could students attempt to refine simple pills according to formulas. When Ling Shen was absent, young apprentices guarded the furnaces.

Though Senior Sister Qing Lian had directly provided Li Qingzhi with an alchemy furnace this time, he had yet to thoroughly explore its capabilities. Bruce's suggestion piqued his curiosity.

So, instead of filling the furnace with herbal ingredients or cinnabar, it was now stuffed with a generous handful of aromatic chocolate pieces.

As Li Qingzhi prepared to ignite the refining process as usual, he drew out a fire charm from his backpack to light the furnace. Seeing the flickering flames, Bruce and Amelia became intrigued by the mysterious talismans he occasionally pulled from behind his back:

"You already know fire magic? Qingzhi, how do you always have such fascinating items in your bag?"

Just as Li Qingzhi was about to explain the nature of the charms, he felt a faint warmth in the fingertips that had held the talisman. Despite using the fire charm to refine, just as he did on the Three Silent Mountains, the true qi around him began to fluctuate gently, suggesting a change within his body that he himself was unaware of.

Confused but undeterred, Li Qingzhi continued to use the fire charm to stoke the furnace. In the next instant, the true qi at his fingertips transformed into a flame, which, as desired, surged into the furnace.

Li Qingzhi couldn't help but be surprised. Master Ling Shen had clearly stated that his Fire Spirit Root was dormant, limiting him to using charms for fire. So why was this happening now?

As Li Qingzhi pondered, Bruce seemed to sense something and promptly said,

"Oh, we have a Potions class this afternoon. Let's go."

The trio checked the time and realized it was indeed getting late, so they hurriedly headed in the direction of the Botanical Institute together.

After they left, the alchemy furnace in Li Qingzhi's room continued to operate steadily, with the flames at its base lingering obstinately. Before long, a rich aroma began to spread subtly...

...

The Botanical Institute's Potions class was one of its signature courses.

The freshmen who had practiced flying on the institute's grounds earlier that morning now officially entered the lush surroundings of the school.

If the Flame Academy, surrounded by crimson flames, symbolized power, and the Water Academy, formed from emerald water, represented agility; if the Earth Academy, atop brown rock, signified resilience, and the Spirit Academy, shielded by black anti-magic stones, conveyed danger, then the Botanical Institute, encircled by myriad enigmatic plants, embodied life.

The Botanical Institute was one of the few schools to offer Potions classes, as students proficient in plant elements found it easier to connect with herbs and living organisms, making their study of Potions more effective.

At that moment, as the new students of the Botanical Institute entered the school under the watchful gaze of the exotic plants, a familiar blue-haired teacher emerged with a smile.

"Hello everyone, nice to meet you again. I'm Wendy, and I'll also be your Potions instructor."

The newcomers quickly recognized that this was the female teacher who had helped them with their magical element assessments earlier.

In the classroom, a clean, unused cauldron sat in front of each student, accompanied by an array of potion-making ingredients and an introductory manual to Potions.

Wendy picked up her manual and then gestured for everyone to open their guides, "This book contains the most basic methods of potion-making. I've prepared the materials for you. In this class, you'll attempt to brew one of these potions on your own. Before the end of the lesson, I'll be checking your results."

Bruce whispered to Li Qingzhi, "This should resemble alchemy, right? You must already know how to do it, don't you?"

Looking at the large pot before him, Li Qingzhi hesitated, "Well, sort of. When I see this pot, I can't help but think I'm cooking rice..."

Why does this Western alchemy furnace look so much like our Three Silent Mountains' cooking pots?

Confused by Li Qingzhi's comment, Bruce asked, "Huh?"

Li Qingzhi gave the cauldron another thorough inspection.

Beneath it were logs of wood, and among the ingredients, Li Qingzhi spotted some familiar food items: mushrooms, spinach, and even chunks of unidentified meat.

In that instant, Li Qingzhi was suddenly struck with the illusion that he was gathered with his fellow disciples, preparing to cook a hot pot together.

With a sense of novelty, Li Qingzhi opened the first page of the nearby potion-making manual, ready to commence the process of potion brewing.

Instructions for Basic Flight Potion:

Step 1: Ignite the firewood and boil the water in the cauldron.

Step 2: Chop the mushrooms and add them to the magical potion pot.

Step 3: Add fennel, spinach, then stir the mixture with a magic wand three times.

Step 4: Incorporate the flesh of a Red Warbler, skilled in flight, and wait for the color change of the meat.

Three minutes later...

Li Qingzhi blinked, somewhat speechless. Isn't this just cooking a hot pot?!

Across from him, Bruce watched Li Qingzhi's fluid movements, couldn't help but marvel at Li Qingzhi's inexplicable proficiency.

A few minutes later, as the pot's aroma intensified, Li Qingzhi couldn't resist any longer. He reached into his backpack and took out a bunch of scallions and a piece of ginger.

Bruce was puzzled. "What kind of herb is this?"

Li Qingzhi scratched his cheek. "This... It's hard to explain to you."

As he spoke, Li Qingzhi chopped some scallions and ginger and added them to the pot, reasoning to himself that a little bit wouldn't hurt.

After all, it was too frustrating not to use anything to remove the off-putting scent when cooking meat! It made him lose his appetite!

But a few minutes later, several students around Li Qingzhi lifted their heads. "What's that smell? It's so fragrant..."

Bruce, who hadn't eaten lunch, felt his stomach rumble at the savory scent. Previously engrossed in brewing his potion, he now found his gaze repeatedly drifting towards Li Qingzhi's pot. "What did you add? Why does it smell so good?"

Li Qingzhi, who had also missed lunch, swallowed, his Adam's apple bobbing. After much hesitation, he silently retrieved a small jar of secret dipping sauce he had brought from the Three Silent Mountains. The sauce had received rave reviews from his fellow disciples and was hailed as the perfect accompaniment for hot pot.

"Maybe... you should give it a try?" he offered. If necessary, he could always brew another pot later – there was still time!

Bruce pressed his lips together. "Not really appropriate." Despite his words, he promptly scooted closer to Li Qingzhi.

"Wendy, there are no chopsticks. Go wash two wands; they'll do as stirring utensils for now."

After an indeterminate amount of time, the alluring fragrance had permeated the entire Potions classroom.

Some daring students, taking advantage of Wendy's momentary distraction, lined up behind Li Qingzhi and his group, eager to taste that intoxicating potion – or rather, the chicken and mushroom stew.

On the lectern, Wendy, who had been engrossed in a newly published Potions textbook, finally caught whiff of the irresistible aroma filling the room.

Perplexed, she lifted her head. Wait, where was this smell of food coming from?

As Wendy observed more closely, she noticed several students gathered around the Eastern exchange student, their eyes fixed on the cauldron of potion before him. Strangely, they used their wands like chopsticks to pluck mushrooms from the pot, dipped them into a mysterious black sauce, and then, unbelievably, popped the mushrooms into their mouths.

While taste-testing was common in Potions class, it was unusual for it to smell this appetizing. And for multiple people to taste it simultaneously...

Realization dawned on Wendy, and her usually composed demeanor began to fray. This – this was essentially a meal, wasn't it?

On the other side, Li Qingzhi and the others had yet to notice Wendy's glance in their direction. Bruce, meanwhile, was utterly enchanted, succumbing to the allure of the exotic Eastern hot pot. The brown-haired youth was incessantly scooping up his favorite mushrooms, all while urging Li Qingzhi to add more white mushrooms into the pot so that he could continue dipping them into the subtly spicy, rich sauce.

The other students, having mustered their courage to taste it as well, exclaimed in amazement, "Why does the potion you brew taste so good?"

This magical creature, the Crimson Songbird, has meat that is tender and velvety, far surpassing the taste of the village chickens Li Qingzhi used to purchase when he ventured down the mountain. The soup it yields is so delectable, it could literally make one's eyebrows fall off with delight.

The freckled green-haired girl, Amelia, was initially hesitant. But with Bruce's encouragement and repeated assurances of its "tremendous taste," she mustered the courage to take a bite. In the end, she gave Li Qingzhi a thumbs up.

"It truly tastes divine..."

Bruce, savoring the aromatic mushrooms, said to Li Qingzhi, "This is truly delicious. I wonder if the chocolate beans from your alchemy furnace would taste as good."

Li Qingzhi recalled the chocolate he had stashed in his own cauldron. "I suppose we'll have to wait and see for that."

In the midst of their conversation, Li Qingzhi ladled a bowl for each student who asked to sample his "magical potion." The delectable chicken and mushroom stew quickly won over everyone's taste buds, with some even asking for seconds.

By the time Wendy, the blue-haired instructor, noticed, almost every student sitting near Li Qingzhi had tasted the tantalizing potion crafted by the Eastern student.

She hurried to restore classroom discipline. "You mustn't add strange things to your potion cauldrons; it could render the magic ineffective..."

As Wendy finished speaking, the group of freshmen who had consumed Li Qingzhi's potion, centered around him, suddenly began to float weightlessly like feathers.

Bruce, suspended in mid-air, waved his arms excitedly. "Qingzhi, your Basic Levitation Potion is a success!"

Li Qingzhi also felt a sense of joy. "It actually worked." It seemed that adding some flavorings didn't hinder the potion's effectiveness.

The floating freshmen, experiencing flight for the first time without broomsticks, joyfully drifted around the classroom ceiling.

Those who had initially hesitated to try Li Qingzhi's unusually fragrant potion now expressed their envy and eagerness to sample this unusually delectable "medicine."

Miss Wendy was dumbfounded. Staring at Li Qingzhi's pot of aromatic yet effective potion, she momentarily found herself at a loss for words. "This..."

It actually succeeded...

Amidst the chaos in the Herbology potions class, a loud rumble suddenly echoed through the dormitory area of Almont School. Immediately after, a brown smoke began to spread across the sky above the dormitories.

Strangely, the smoke didn't have an unpleasant burnt smell but instead carried an unusually rich chocolate aroma.

Students from the nearby Flame Academy, who were in the middle of a magic lesson, instinctively paused upon hearing the odd noise. They looked outside with surprise:

What's going on?

Also, where is this intense chocolate aroma coming from?