He quickened his pace, taking the auxiliary medicine list needed by Chu Feng from the hands of an assisting logistic teacher.
"Alright, I’ll be responsible for these auxiliary medicine lists!" Ouyang Xiu, holding the list, headed towards the window where medicinal materials were distributed. While unnoticed, he stealthily took out a silver note worth one hundred taels and stuffed it into the hands of the old man responsible for dispensing the medicine.
Blinking, he whispered with a smile, "There’s a mistake on this auxiliary medicine list with the Yellow flower pollen; could you help me swap it for Yellow Stone Powder!"
The old man was just a storekeeper at the academy, and his income wasn’t high. Suddenly receiving a benefit of one hundred silver taels, he couldn’t stop smiling broadly and promptly got the hint, hurriedly agreeing.
He had seen plenty of dark and ugly acts within the academy.
Some teachers, wanting students from other classes to lose in competitions, often secretly swapped medicinal materials.
Yellow flower pollen and Yellow Stone Powder only have one character difference, and their appearances are almost indistinguishable.
But their medicinal properties are entirely different.
When Yellow Stone Powder is mixed with Red River Black and heated at high temperatures, it’s guaranteed to cause the furnace to explode.
It’s just like mixing gunpowder and then igniting it.
Soon after Ouyang Xiu collected the medicine, he distributed them one by one.
Chu Feng was once sabotaged by Liu Ping with a swapped medicinal material. Seeing Ouyang Xiu eagerly distributing the auxiliary medicine, he was extra cautious this time.
With his Alchemy Venerate level eyesight and discernment ability, upon close inspection, his eyes narrowed involuntarily.
Rage surged wildly; he did not expect that Ouyang Xiu would secretly sabotage, swapping his Yellow flower pollen for Yellow Stone Powder.
This was definitely a setup for an explosion.
If things went wrong, he might even be blown to death.
"As a teacher, devoid of moral integrity and completely lacking in teacher’s ethics. You shouldn’t be spared." A trace of killing intent surged in Chu Feng’s heart. After taking the auxiliary medicine without showing any reaction, he immediately said apologetically, "I’m sorry, Ouyang Xiu, I forgot to write down two types of auxiliary medicines."
"Would you mind fetching another two hundred grams of White Phosphorus Powder and three hundred grams of nitric oil for me!"
Hearing this, Ouyang Xiu, clearly impatient, said, "Always you with the problems! Wait!" He was worried that Chu Feng would swap out the previous three types of auxiliary medicine, but now hearing that Chu Feng was just adding two types, he breathed a sigh of relief.
Accordingly, he followed Chu Feng’s request and fetched the two types of auxiliary medicine.
This time, he didn’t play any tricks.
After all, important figures like the dean and Niu Baotian were watching from the judge’s seats. If he made it too obvious and exposed himself, he could lose his job.
With these two augmented auxiliary medicines, Chu Feng was not only able to prevent the furnace explosion, but the Elixirs he concocted also underwent a change.
It was no longer Fierce Sun Elixir, but rather the frightening Thunder Elixir.
The potency of this Elixir was greater than that of the First-grade Flame Burst Talisman Pill. Those below the level of a Great Sword Master almost certainly faced death or at least severe, crippling injuries.
Such a dangerous Elixir, perhaps even the dean dared not concoct it.
Nor did he have the ability to do so.
However, Chu Feng was unruffled and utterly confident in successfully concocting it.
"Alright, the medicinal materials for everyone have been distributed, let’s get ready to draw lots for the order of Alchemy!"
Seeing that everything was in order, the dean signaled Niu Baotian to bring out the drawing box, which contained a total of eighty-two numbers. Those who drew the first forty numbers, in order, could choose the corresponding Pill Furnace and participate in the first batch of the Alchemy competition.
Chu Feng walked over to draw a lot, and a tall young man full of grandeur coldly glanced at him.
"You trash also came to participate in the Alchemy competition?"
"And you even passed the first preliminary round, this Prince really suspects the teacher was pitying you, intentionally letting you pass!"
This tall young man is a senior student, possessing an extremely dazzling identity— the Second Prince of the Jianyun Dynasty.
This person, having the same father and mother as the Crown Prince, receives vastly different treatment.
The Crown Prince is merely a year older than him, but was established as the Eastern Palace Crown Prince from the moment he was a month old. This means that the Second Prince can only be a Prince all his life.
The Imperial Family is ruthless; it all depends on the mood of the Crown Prince. If he fears the Second Prince contesting for the Emperor’s Throne, the Crown Prince might even brutally eliminate him, his own brother.
The Second Prince is very clever and extremely good at enduring.
Before he has the power to oppose the Crown Prince, he acts as a filial son in front of the Emperor, and a caring younger brother in front of the Crown Prince. Dealing with Chu Feng, also meant pleasing both his father and elder brother, which he was naturally very happy to do.
The Second Prince’s gaze, demeanor, and tone towards Chu Feng were all filled with condescending disdain.
"Giggle... The Second Prince already knows he is trash, why bother exposing him publicly! Watching him perform like a clown, isn’t that more amusing?" a glamorous young lady chuckled, helping the Second Prince shame Chu Feng together.
This young lady was exceptionally beautiful, not only with a delicate face but a pointed melon-seed face with painted eyebrows and cheeks.
And this glamorous young lady, at most seventeen or eighteen years old, was just at the blossoming age. To have such a figure at her age was indeed quite rare.
Among other girls, she definitely stood out from the crowd, attracting everyone’s attention.
No wonder the noble Second Prince took a fancy to her.
"If the beautiful senior likes me, I’m always available, and I’m not picky!" Chu Feng, who had lived for thousands of years as an old monster, wasn’t someone easy to deal with. He’d let things slide if unprovoked, but once provoked, he didn’t care if it was a man or a woman, he would deal with them all the same.
He would never be soft-hearted.
Allowing a woman to shit and piss on his head? He’d ask where she got the gall!
"You... shameless!" The glamorous girl’s face turned red with rage, furiously scolding Chu Feng.
She glanced somewhat guiltily at the Second Prince, worried that the Second Prince might misunderstand her as a frivolous woman. If so, her dream of marrying into the Royal Family would probably be thoroughly shattered.
By this time, Chu Feng had already reached out to draw a lot.
The glamorous girl waited disdainfully for Chu Feng to leave before she reached into the box to draw.
"Damn... why is it number 13!" Chu Feng, seeing the number in his hand, wore an unlucky face; it was a very inauspicious number.
"Serves you right!" The glamorous girl sneered coldly.
Chu Feng immediately walked towards the number thirteen Pill Furnace, ignoring the Second Prince’s disdainful, icy gaze.
Like it or not, keep staring.
Upon reaching the Pill Furnace, Chu Feng first familiarly checked the Pill Furnace, Earth fire, and other equipment, causing the judges including the dean to nod in approval silently.
Just like checking the tires and mirrors around the car before driving. This is a basic necessity before starting Alchemy.
When Chu Feng prepared the materials and started heating the furnace by drawing out Earth fire, he turned his head and discovered the same glamorous young lady who had insulted him earlier walking towards him.
"Hi, seems like senior is really interested in me! Wherever I go, you follow, what’s that called? Oh right, ’where the husband sings, the wife accompanies’!"
Chu Feng’s mouth burst out, severely dealing with the glamorous young lady.