Chapter 82

Jiran now found it increasingly difficult to obtain abandoned magical artifacts from Sergai.

"Your assistant work can only be exchanged for a limited number of items. More demanding tasks are required to exchange for more magical artifacts!" Sergai said this when Jiran proposed an exchange request.

"… Can't I just buy them with money?" Jiran now had several thousand gold coins, which made him a bit more confident.

"No! I've said it before, I will never sell these magical artifacts and tarnish my reputation!"

"… I'm not planning to sell them!"

"Taking these magical artifacts from me with money is still selling! No more discussion, continue being my assistant. As long as you work hard, I will gradually give you these things!"

Thus, the negotiation failed.

Damn, this old man must have seen the value in my skills as an assistant! It's my own fault for performing so well recently, whether it's tidying up the room, categorizing materials, or pre-processing materials, everything was done perfectly. I can say that this assistant is absolutely worth more than the pay.

Sergai was originally a bit messy and lazy about tidying up. Now that he has such a capable assistant, how could he possibly let go?

Gold coins? As a master alchemist, the one thing he probably doesn't lack is gold coins...

For the sake of those abandoned magical artifacts, Jiran could only rub his nose and endure it.

Then, Sergai's group of alchemist friends gradually arrived.

Sergai is a master alchemist, so his friends are naturally not inferior. There are other professors from the same school, alchemy authorities from other schools, and even a few alchemists in semi-retirement. When such a group of old scholars gather, it is certainly a significant event in the alchemy community.

Jiran, mixed among these alchemists, stood out quite a bit—being a student among a group of old men, he couldn't be more noticeable.

And this scene was seen by Ist, a high-achieving first-year alchemy student.

Ist himself has a talent for alchemy, and his family can afford to support his studies, so he has always been very confident, considering himself a future master alchemist.

However, his confidence was shattered in the alchemy class.

That Professor Sergai actually values that black-haired boy named Jiran more! That boy has no family background, and his alchemy foundation is not as good as mine. He doesn't even understand some basic knowledge! Just because he got lucky in an alchemy experiment and made something strange, he's now ahead of me!

Is Sergai losing his mind! In what way am I inferior to him! He's always circling around that boy! Later, he even invited that boy to be his assistant!

That position should be mine!

Ist was extremely jealous of Jiran, and seeing that Sergai treated him no differently from ordinary students made him even more indignant.

Later, through family connections, he found another master alchemist. After testing his alchemy talent, that master alchemist praised him highly and even took him as a named disciple. This boosted Ist's confidence—It's not that I'm not capable, but that you, Sergai, lack the discernment!

Thus, in subsequent alchemy classes, he became even more arrogant towards his classmates.

Until he saw Jiran accompanying Sergai to welcome those alchemists.

That guy actually managed to get in! He even got into that large-scale alchemy experiment! You know, the entire Azure Wind is buzzing about this experiment, and if it succeeds, Sergai might advance further, becoming a top master alchemist, even founding his own school, and laying the foundation for his advancement to Grandmaster. What right does Jiran have to get in on such a significant event!

Ist was almost driven mad with jealousy, and he couldn't bear the thought of Jiran staying in that position. If it were an upperclassman, it would be understandable, as they have more seniority. But you, a first-year like me, what right do you have?

So, Ist went to his named teacher.

"Teacher, I noticed that Master Sergai brought someone when welcoming the other alchemists?" Ist asked casually during a consultation with his teacher.

Ist's teacher, Singit, frowned upon hearing this: "That seems to be Sergai's assistant, helping him with the experiments."

Singit was also one of the alchemists invited by Sergai. Being a colleague and a fellow master alchemist, he wouldn't be left out of such an event out of politeness.

"Assistant? An assistant in that large-scale alchemy experiment? Goodness, he's my classmate, just a first-year student. Can he handle such an important task?" Ist's expression was one of great surprise.

Singit was also taken aback: "Just a first-year student? What is Sergai thinking, hiring a first-year as an assistant! Ist, since he's your classmate, you should know his level of alchemy, right?"

"Uh... to be honest, his grasp of basic knowledge is not as good as mine." Ist appeared reluctant to speak, but he was secretly delighted.

"Nonsense! No, tomorrow I will talk to Sergai. We cannot let an untrained apprentice participate in this experiment!" Singit slammed his hand on the table.

Ist stood respectfully to one side, a smug smile playing on his lips.

The next day, the alchemists gathered in Sergai's laboratory, and Jiran was busy organizing various materials, documents, and alchemy tools.

"Sergai, who is this young man?" Singit indeed confronted him.

Sergai, seeing Singit's gaze on Jiran, didn't take it too seriously: "He's one of my assistants, with a good talent for alchemy. I've asked him to assist me in this experiment."

"Assistant?" Singit sneered, glancing at Jiran.

"Judging by his uniform, he must be a first-year student, right? Can a first-year student handle such an important role in this experiment?"

The other alchemists were also shocked by Singit's words. Who are they? Master alchemists! The assistants they choose should at least have intermediate-level alchemy skills. A first-year student, no matter how talented, could be that good? This alchemy experiment is one of the highest-level experiments on the continent. How can a first-year student be involved?

"Are you kidding? A first-year student? Even as an assistant, he's not qualified!"

"Sergai, if you really need an assistant, just shout in the school, and there will be plenty of upperclassmen, even teaching assistants, who would beg to help. Why choose a first-year student?"

"I thought he was here to clean, but he's actually an assistant! This is a big joke, isn't it?"

Almost all the alchemists questioned Jiran.

Sergai, seeing the group's agitation, frowned: "Everyone... everyone! His name is Jiran, and he is indeed a first-year student at Azure Wind. He is currently my assistant, and I can guarantee that his alchemy theory, in some aspects, is on par with a senior alchemist. He will be a significant help in this experiment..."

Sergai did not mention that Jiran possessed a unique alchemy lineage. He could treat Jiran as a research partner, but he couldn't guarantee that the other alchemists wouldn't have other thoughts.

Because he knew how astonishing Jiran's alchemy lineage was. It was a completely different path from the existing alchemy system. Such a treasure was not something everyone could resist.

"Alchemy theory? Just because he's read a few alchemy books, he calls himself a theoretical alchemist? Sergai, you're really confused!" Singit was not convinced by Sergai's words. In his view, this boy is so young and a first-year student. How high could his theory be?

"Besides, what good is theory alone? This is an alchemy experiment! If his lack of experience causes the experiment to fail, who will take responsibility? Who will compensate for the losses? I absolutely do not agree to let him participate in our experiment!" Singit was stern and forceful.

Sergai was also unhappy. This experiment was led by him. Does he not even have the right to choose his assistant? Regardless of Jiran's contributions in this experiment, even if he only cleaned, what's the problem with keeping him?

Just as he was about to speak, Jiran approached.

He stood in front of Sergai, blocking him from view. He smiled and looked at Singit.

"Master Singit, right? Thank you for participating in Master Sergai's alchemy experiment. You see, the situation is this. Without an assistant, who will handle the material processing for this experiment?"

Singit glared at him: "Of course, we will do it ourselves! Material processing is a crucial part of the experiment. How can we entrust it to someone who knows nothing!"

Jiran didn't get angry, still smiling: "Then, the work of organizing experimental data..."

"Of course, we will do it ourselves! Experimental data is crucial to the experiment and cannot be entrusted to you!"

Jiran sighed, his smile fading, and his expression turning gloomy.

"I understand. It seems this experiment is indeed significant. Even the tasks that assistants usually handle are now entrusted to masters like Professor Singit. If that's the case, it's only natural for me to leave... By the way, will Master Singit also take care of cleaning the experimental equipment and tidying up the laboratory?"

Singit, hearing Jiran's offer to leave, felt triumphant. He had shown his authority in front of Sergai! Don't think that just because you lead the experiment, others can't speak up... So, he instinctively answered Jiran's last question.

"Of course... Wait, what?"

He realized too late, but it was already too late. The surrounding master alchemists were already laughing.