Chapter 67

"Alright, this practical session is to verify the theories we've learned. The results of the experiment will be recorded in your regular grades. While it does have some impact, it won't be too significant. Don't feel pressured, or you'll be more likely to fail the experiment." The old professor finally turned the topic back to the experiment at hand.

A school staff member, probably the old professor's assistant, opened the box and distributed the prepared materials to each student's desk.

This being the first experiment, and it being conducted in the classroom rather than a dedicated alchemy lab, indicated that it was not a complex experiment and certainly not one with any lethal potential. If it failed, the consequences would be minimal, just a waste of materials.

After the distribution, some observant students noticed that there were still many materials left in the box... most likely for those who would fail the experiment.

"You have the entire morning to use as you please. In principle, I hope you follow the content I've taught, but if you wish to modify it, I won't stop you. I will evaluate based on the final product, and poor modifications will lower your grades," the old professor said, though he was verbose, he explained things quite thoroughly.

The content of the experiment was predetermined: using the materials in front of them, they were to create the simplest magic pendant.

The effect was straightforward: to increase a bit of mana. The increase in mana would be enough for a mage to cast a low-level spell... provided the mage had strong control and the spell required minimal mana.

In fact, alchemy was often a side job for spellcasters. After all, magical items provided more benefits to spellcasters than to warriors.

This did not mean that warriors did not need magical items; on the contrary, warriors were more eager for magical items to enhance their strength. However, since they were magical items, alchemical products were clearly closer to magic. Historically, powerful alchemists were almost always spellcasters.

As a swordsman, Ji Ran was an anomaly for studying alchemy, and it was inevitable that he would be looked down upon by people like East.

"Heh, let's see what those guys can come up with..." East whispered to the students around him.

"Better yet, let's bet on how many materials they'll waste..." Another student's words made the small group laugh.

Ji Ran heard their words but ignored them completely. The few students near him, who also lacked background, were all red with anger. Of course, they couldn't refute the comments.

Ji Ran's attention was now focused on the materials in front of him.

A fingernail-sized piece of copper essence, ground white ice stone, and a small piece of a wild bull's bone... all very common materials. Of course, even the most common materials were not cheap for ordinary people.

If following the previous lessons, making a small pendant to increase mana would not be difficult. However, Ji Ran now had other ideas.

He wanted to integrate alchemy with weapon forging, but doing it alone was too hard. If he could get the help of a master alchemist, wouldn't things be much simpler?

To achieve this, he needed to attract the attention of a master alchemist. Currently, Professor Sergei seemed to be a good candidate.

So, for this practical session, he decided to show a little something. Of course, just a little, enough to not reveal his secret of forging magical items.

Others began their work, accurately measuring the materials, using various potions or flames to process them, and waiting for the materials to change before using their mana or battle aura to manipulate them...

The top students were skilled, while the rest were progressively less so. One student even ruined a material right at the start, looking dejected.

Ji Ran was different. He had used these low-level materials countless times in the game. If he still failed to process them—let alone if their properties were even slightly reduced—it would be a huge disgrace!

He quickly and accurately processed all the materials without wasting any time. Of course, he subtly used some weapon forging techniques to speed up the process, but his movements were so small that no one noticed.

Next came the actual alchemy process.

He definitely wouldn't follow the same steps as the others... although if he did, the quality of his product would definitely be higher, and he would almost certainly top the class. But that wouldn't attract the attention of a master alchemist.

He needed something novel, something different from the mainstream. Only such a thing would catch the eye of a master alchemist who had already reached the pinnacle of alchemy.

He decided to use the mindset of weapon forging and the techniques of alchemy to create this item.

The energy between heaven and earth was slightly guided by him, slowly infused into the melted copper essence. Following a strange rhythm and special rules, it slowly arranged itself. Sensing the right moment, Ji Ran added the other materials in different sequences and quantities, steadily and accurately.

These techniques were essential in alchemy, but Ji Ran used many ideas from weapon forging, both in the sequence and quantity of materials, which were completely different from what was taught in class.

According to the alchemy of this world, his actions would result in a pile of worthless waste. However, with the energy control techniques from weapon forging, everything was different.

The flow of earth, fire, water, and wind energies, and the interplay of metal, wood, water, fire, and earth, were quite different. Ji Ran was very confident that, following the principles he brought with him, the pendant he would create would definitely catch the eye of the master alchemist!

Actually, if it succeeded on the first try, this low-level magical item wouldn't take much time. Among the top students, East was the first to succeed. He looked around proudly, and the sight of his classmates still working on their materials, or even buying a second set from the assistant, made him even more pleased, his vanity fully satisfied.

"Professor! My experiment is complete!" East called out, enjoying the astonished, envious, and even jealous looks from his classmates.

"Oh? That's quite fast." Professor Sergei walked over and looked at East's finished product.

It was a heart-shaped pendant—of course, the shape didn't matter, it was up to the alchemist's preference. However, making it too ugly would affect the value of the magical item.

East's pendant looked decent, and Professor Sergei, upon picking it up, nodded slightly.

"Very good, the materials were processed well, and the quantities were quite accurate. The fusion technique is still a bit immature, but it's acceptable. For a first-year student, this is an excellent result."

This was not a low evaluation; an excellent rating was not easy to get. Although there was some leniency in the first practical session of the first year, East was still very satisfied. He was the fastest and had received an excellent rating. Who in this classroom could match him?

After praising East, Professor Sergei didn't linger and walked around the classroom, observing the other students' experiments and offering some guidance. Some students, upon hearing the advice, suddenly understood and made rapid progress; others, due to excessive nervousness, accidentally destroyed their materials and were on the verge of tears...

Professor Sergei didn't take responsibility for the consequences of his guidance. After all, if they couldn't handle even this much pressure, they deserved to pay more tuition.

When he reached Ji Ran, Professor Sergei stopped. Because Ji Ran's pendant was also complete and sitting on the desk.

Ji Ran's pendant was much more beautiful than East's. It was a hexagonal shape, with copper essence dotted with crystal powder, like a sky full of stars. Even the naturally formed patterns in the alchemy process resembled clouds in the night sky, adding a sense of tranquility to the pendant.

"Very nice work..." Just by looking at the appearance, Sergei perked up. The appearance of a magical item was part of its value; that's why elven items were always more expensive. Moreover, an alchemist who could create such a beautiful pendant would likely not be weak in other aspects.

But when he picked up the pendant, Sergei's eyes suddenly widened.

"Is this your work? The properties are completely different from what was required!" Sergei stared intently at Ji Ran.

His voice drew the attention of the other students, except for a few who were at critical points in their experiments. East, in particular, looked stunned. What happened?

"Yes, I added some of my own understanding and some special techniques. Didn't you say we could modify it?" Ji Ran remained calm, looking at Professor Sergei.

"Tch, taking compliments seriously? With our current level, how can we improve alchemical items that have been standardized for hundreds of years?" East sneered. His voice wasn't loud, but many heard it.

The group of top students around him also wore mocking expressions. Modifying a magical item that had been standardized for so long—how could it be that simple? If there were better modification methods, wouldn't the great alchemists have thought of them over the years? You, a teenager who has just started learning alchemy, dare to claim you can improve a magical item?

Indeed, you are overestimating yourself! They had already made up their minds about Ji Ran.

Sergei, however, did not show such an expression. Instead, he held the pendant seriously, as if feeling its internal structure.

"Increased mana regeneration, increased mana capacity, and another property... it shortens the casting time of a first-level spell by half a second! How did you do it?" Sergei asked again.

Hearing this, Ji Ran hadn't even responded, but East and the others were already stunned.

"That's impossible!"