Chapter 84

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Xing Jide was really about to leave, and the alchemists beside him hurriedly tried to persuade him.

"Don't be impulsive, Xing Jide, it's just a small matter!"

"Exactly, it's just an assistant. What's wrong with letting him help?"

"Don't argue with an assistant. Sergai just wants to reduce everyone's workload!"

The other alchemists all felt that this large-scale experiment was something that could make them famous. It was really embarrassing for such a fuss to happen. After all, this could be considered a scandal, big or small.

"Sergai, I'll give you one more chance. Let him go, and I'll stay!" With the many alchemists trying to retain him, Xing Jide felt his face was somewhat salvaged. But! The culprit must be gone!

Jiran saw the situation escalate to this point and didn't want to tangle with this guy anymore. It was just a large-scale alchemy experiment; he wasn't here to stand out. He just wanted to learn the alchemy of this world. If he fell out with Sergai over this, it would be counterproductive.

"Professor Sergai, forget it. How about I..." Jiran was about to withdraw voluntarily.

"No! I won't let him go. Xing Jide, I would be very sorry if you leave. But Jiran is important to me and to this experiment. I won't let him leave." To his surprise, Sergai interrupted Jiran and firmly told Xing Jide that he would keep Jiran!

Xing Jide's face immediately darkened. He didn't say a word, broke free from the other alchemists' hands, and turned to walk out, quickly leaving their sight.

"…How did things get to this point…"

"Yeah, Xing Jide was a bit too impulsive!"

"Speaking of which, he seemed strange today. Why was he so angry about an assistant? Even if this... Jiran is just a first-year student, his skills are already quite good. He can definitely be a qualified assistant!"

The alchemists discussed. Xing Jide's behavior was indeed unacceptable, which surprised them. Now, they wouldn't be foolish enough to speak well of Xing Jide.

At least now, Sergai and Xing Jide had fallen out. If they still wanted to participate in this experiment, they couldn't offend Sergai either—especially since Xing Jide was in the wrong.

Seeing Xing Jide leave, Sergai's mood wasn't great either. After taking a few deep breaths, he smiled at the other alchemists.

"Don't worry, everyone. I'm very sorry that Xing Jide doesn't want to participate in our experiment, but without him, we will continue. Please trust my assistant; he can do what an assistant should do, and even more than what a regular assistant can do!"

Although he didn't want Jiran to be too conspicuous, he also didn't want him to be underestimated. This experiment was somewhat rushed. Although he had obtained new alchemy knowledge, he still needed to integrate it. At critical points, he might need Jiran's help.

The other alchemists didn't say much. Sergai's chosen assistant wouldn't be a useless fool, right? Plus, he had already shown his ability to handle materials. Handling seventh-level materials so smoothly, he was certainly qualified to participate in this experiment!

Jiran smiled slightly and looked at Sergai. Professor Sergai nodded at him.

With things like this, what could Jiran say? He could only cheerfully start his work as an assistant.

Xing Jide returned to his room and immediately smashed several test tubes and flasks on his desk.

"Damn Sergai! How dare you treat me like this! Just a first-year student, and you kick me out of the experiment to protect him!"

Xing Jide roared. As an alchemy master, he was always respected in Azure Wind, and many young people like Ister would come to him with money and gifts, hoping to become his disciples. A piece of alchemy could sell for a sky-high price in gold. Today, he was humiliated by a first-year student!

Damn Sergai! Damn Jiran! I'll remember you! It's just a large-scale alchemy experiment, I don't care! You wait, don't let me find an opportunity! Otherwise, I'll make you know how big a mistake you've made!

Sergai roared in his laboratory, and the assistants and apprentices outside were all silent, not daring to make a sound.

And Ister, in a corner where no one could see, revealed a smug and sinister smile...

The storm seemed to have calmed down. But the problems it caused wouldn't disappear so easily...

Sergai's experiment would take a long time. After all, such a magic device wasn't easy to create.

Jiran, whenever he had free time—except for sleeping and practicing swordsmanship with Lawrence—would help Sergai. He didn't do much material processing, but organizing data, cleaning, and preparing equipment, he did systematically and efficiently, greatly improving everyone's efficiency.

Moreover, when the alchemists were so engrossed in the experiment that they forgot to eat, Jiran, feeling sorry for them, cooked a meal for them. After that, he had another job—chef.

The alchemists' three meals a day were all made by Jiran.

Jiran, helplessly, would always make a little extra for Lydia to take away. Of course, what he made for Lydia had special effects. Lydia was in a period of rapid strength improvement, and these attribute-enhancing foods could greatly speed up her progress.

The alchemists praised his cooking. Although the ingredients were ordinary, after Jiran's cooking, the taste was completely different. At least these alchemists had never eaten such delicious food!

"I didn't expect you to have this skill, Jiran! It's so delicious... You know, we alchemists often forget to eat because of work and rely on alchemy potions—those things are so unpalatable. And drinking too much has side effects. If only your meals could have the effects of alchemy potions..." An alchemist, unable to move after eating, praised Jiran highly.

Hearing this, Jiran's heart stirred, and he pretended to think.

"Master, you're right. I think it's very feasible. The essence of alchemy potions is to use various methods to transform materials so they can be absorbed by the body to produce various effects. In theory, food should also be able to do the same!"

The alchemist, hearing Jiran's words, waved his hand and smiled. "What you say makes sense, but that's almost opening a new path in alchemy, which isn't easy. Moreover, cooking food and making alchemy potions are very different. Someone has studied this before, but in the end, he found that although his cooked food did have effects, it was even more unpalatable than alchemy potions! At that point, what's the use?"

Jiran couldn't help but break out in a cold sweat. It turned out that someone in this world had thought of this before... But it wasn't surprising. Alchemy potions are drunk, and various dishes are eaten; it's natural to make the connection. However, the cooking techniques in this world were too limited, resulting in various attribute effects, but making them even more unpalatable than alchemy potions...

In comparison, alchemy potions were still more practical.

But Jiran was different. The cooking skills he brought from the Xianxia game were not only effective but also delicious! If the thousands of years of martial arts and magic development in this world had their unique aspects and didn't fall short of the ancient Chinese nation, in cooking, they were truly far behind...

"No problem, I can try. If I just follow in the footsteps of my predecessors, wouldn't that be too boring? Alchemy is a science of discovery and innovation, isn't it?" Jiran smiled.

Hearing Jiran's words, the alchemist narrowed his eyes, looked Jiran up and down, and then nodded. "You're right. Alchemy is a science of discovery and innovation. Finding paths others haven't taken is the essence. Just for these words, you will definitely be an excellent alchemist in the future!"

With the recognition of the alchemy master, Jiran was no longer just an assistant in the eyes of the alchemy masters. Sometimes, they would also entrust him with some material processing tasks.

And Jiran lived up to their expectations, handling the materials very well, earning the praise of the alchemy masters. Moreover, some alchemists found that he handled some materials even better than they did!

Is this still an assistant? With a little more training, he could at least be a senior alchemist!

"Sergai, you've found a treasure! No wonder you'd rather let Xing Jide leave than let this Jiran go. With him, our experiment will progress much faster!" An alchemist enviously told Sergai.

"Exactly! Why don't you take him as a disciple? I'm sure he will surpass you in the future!" Among the alchemists, there were those who envied talent, but there were also those who looked forward to new talent in the alchemy world.

Sergai smiled and shook his head. "I wish I could. But Jiran has his own lineage, so he probably can't be my disciple. As for him surpassing me... I've never doubted that!"

Academics are often dedicated. Knowing that Jiran had an alchemy lineage, no one had the intention of taking it from him. They were all masters with their own alchemy lineages—some of the knowledge they had already passed on was considered a lineage, so why would they try to take someone else's?

Of course, if they knew how unique Jiran's lineage was, things might be different...

But even Sergai didn't fully understand how unique Jiran's alchemy lineage was, only knowing that Jiran had a unique understanding of material combinations. The other alchemy masters couldn't even imagine that Jiran's techniques were not from this world but from another world, a unique technology called "refining."

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