Chapter 2

The elder, who had a long beard and misty eyes, was a bit rude at first, but he was straight to the point.

"I know many of you dream of being mighty mages, soaring through the sky and achieving great things. But don't let arrogance cloud your judgment. Remember, mages also save lives—whether through pills or magical cuisine.

You might think mages are weaker than martial artists, but that's not accurate. At the same level, a mage and a martial artist are equal in power and skill—they can go head-to-head."

After this introduction, the elder began explaining the steps of pill-making.

"The first step is identification and preparation. Each herb has a special purpose. If you mix the wrong herbs together, it could lead to deviation, an exploding cauldron, or a ruined batch. Herbs are expensive, so no one wants to waste them. This caution applies to every step of pill-making, so you must be careful.

An example of this is when an idiot tried to mix the Flame Jade Herb with the Ice Frost Herb. The result? His cauldron exploded, and he had no eyebrows for months. This is your warning!"

Xiao Yun couldn't help but feel bad for the poor guy. He had probably been used as a bad example countless times for new students.

The elder continued, "The next step is purification. Removing impurities from the herbs increases the pill's efficacy, resulting in higher-grade pills. Then comes refining, where you liquefy the herbs in the cauldron into an essence.

Once the essence is refined, the mage condenses it into pill form. This step is delicate and mentally taxing, requiring intense focus to crystallize the essence evenly. Successful pills radiate spiritual light, emit unique fragrances, or resonate with the mage's energy. Low-quality pills, however, are dull and uneven, with unstable energy."

Finally, the elder explained, "Once the pills are formed, they must be sealed in jade containers to preserve their potency. Without proper sealing, the pill's spiritual energy will dissipate. Some mages inscribe protective runes on the containers to guard against thieves or enhance longevity."

The elder glanced at the students. "While some of you are here for magical cuisine, I know most of you are interested in pill-making. We have manuals on magical cuisine, but it's not the main focus here."

When the elder said that, Xiao Yun heard the collective sound of disappointed sighs.

To Xiao Yun, the art of pill-making was fascinating. Back in his world, he had wanted to go to medical school, and this was the closest thing to that here. Plus, he wasn't the best cook, so magical cuisine wasn't for him anyway.

After the lecture, everyone was handed a schedule. Xiao Yun took one look and sighed.

"Damn, I feel like I'm in school again," he thought.

The Ling Wu Sect operated similarly to a boarding school but with some differences. Students had classes twice a week, with the rest of the time reserved for self-study. There were beginner, intermediate, and advanced classes.

The sect also had a point system. Missions earned disciples a certain number of points. Attending class gave them two points, but skipping class meant losing two points, points can be used for paying things.

"We're going to be in the same beginner class!" Le Xing chirped happily.

"Yeah, I guess we can help each other out. Also, now I have someone to copy off of," Xiao Yun teased.

"Hey! I'm your fellow disciple, not your cheat sheet," Le Xing huffed, turning his head away.

Xiao Yun nearly burst out laughing. With his puffed-out cheeks and pout, Le Xing looked like an oversized chipmunk.

"Okay, okay, I'm sorry. I was joking. Will dear fellow disciple Le Xing forgive me?" Xiao Yun said with mock sincerity, emphasizing the "dear fellow disciple" for effect.

Le Xing rolled his eyes. "You're annoying."

"Who taught you to roll your eyes? Don't you know that's disrespectful, young man?" Xiao Yun exaggerated, putting his hands on his head as if he were a hurt mother.

"Let's just go; it's almost time for the martial artists to arrive," Le Xing said, brushing him off.

Xiao Yun ears perked up at that.

The Ling Wu Sect promoted both martial arts and pill-making, encouraging mages and martial artists to work together. Sometimes, mages and martial artists even became companions for missions.

Soon, the probationary mage disciples were going to meet the probationary martial artists with some that joined earlier . Xiao Yun's interest was piqued. If he'd had the choice earlier, he might have considered becoming a martial artist. Their ability to soar through the skies and split mountains with their swords was impressive. Still, he was content with his decision to become a mage—it was more stable work.

When the group of mages heard approaching footsteps, a group of young men with swords appeared. Both sides watched each other like they were observing a new species.

"Everyone, get to know each other. You may need the help of a martial artist or mage someday, so start building connections," the elder suggested.

The mages and martial artists walked side by side to a large courtyard, where all kinds of interactions began—some with pure intentions, others not so much.

Xiao Yun felt overwhelmed by the noise and chaos. His head was spinning, and it didn't help that Le Xing was dragging him around to talk to every martial artist they encountered.

Le Xing was an extrovert through and through—hyperactive, sociable, and naturally likeable. Meanwhile, Xiao Yun was more introverted. Back in school, he had been the quiet kid in the back, always studying or doing his own thing. He only opened up to people he knew or hated, and with people like Le Xing, he was a complete chatterbox.

After a while, Xiao Yun couldn't take it anymore. He ditched Le Xing and wandered off to a quieter area outside the courtyard. There were fewer people here, and he was finally able to relax.

As he strolled, he passed a martial artist who seemed familiar. Xiao Yun squinted, trying to recall where he'd seen the guy before. Just as he was about to get a better look, a loud clamor erupted from the courtyard.

Xiao Yun hesitated, but the mysterious figure disappeared into the crowd. Giving up, he headed back to the courtyard to see what was going on.

A circle of people had formed, all staring at two figures—one on the ground and one standing. Xiao Yun's heart sank when he saw that the person sprawled on the ground was Le Xing.

He immediately pushed through the crowd, ignoring the annoyed grumbles of those he bumped into. Reaching the front, he helped Le Xing off the ground and brushed the dirt off his clothes. Then, he turned to face the guy who had pushed le xing