Chapter Thirty-Six: Special Treatment and Choices (Third Update)

With tearful eyes, I beg for recommendations.

———

“Inner disciple, Xu Wen, greets the patriarch!”

Under Elder Xu’s signal, Xu Wen stepped forward and bowed respectfully.

“Haha… there’s no need for formality. Now that you’ve entered the inner sect, you are already a member of the Hortonklin family… Young brother Xu, so talented at such a young age, will surely become our family’s pride in the future!” As he spoke, Mu Yuanshan smiled, rose from his seat, and walked over. Without any airs, he helped Xu Wen, who was kneeling on one knee, to his feet, gently patting his shoulder. His every gesture was noble, yet he exuded warmth and approachability.

Xu Wen was just about to respond when Mu Yuanshan lowered his voice and whispered in his ear:

“I’ve heard from your master that you’ve only been learning alchemy for three months, and in that short time created two three-star formulas. Tsk, as patriarch, I feel somewhat ashamed—I’ve lived thirty-eight years and only contributed two formulas to the family. If we judged purely by alchemy achievements, perhaps that position ought to be yours, young brother Xu! Haha!”

“Patriarch!”

The voices of the two elders nearby cut in, cautioning:

“Yuanshan, don’t joke like that in front of the young ones.”

“Really now.”

“……”

Xu Wen was left speechless, staring at the laughing Mu Yuanshan, thinking to himself that the patriarch was certainly no ordinary man, and possessed an uncanny talent for awkward jokes!

“I just thought you three old men were always too stiff and serious.” Mu Yuanshan shrugged innocently, prompting even Elder Xu to raise his brows and hurriedly steer the conversation to its proper course:

“Xu Wen, let me ask you—those two prescriptions, are they truly your own creations?” His clear gaze gleamed with intensity, as if trying to peer into Xu Wen’s very soul.

Xu Wen nodded.

Mu Yuanshan hoped to find flaws on the fourteen-year-old’s face, hidden behind the soul of a twenty-three-year-old, but naturally, that was impossible.

“Excellent!”

———

“Both of these formulas are outstanding. However, because of the unique nature of the ‘Fixed Fire Pill,’ we will keep it within the family and not announce it to the public; ‘Drunken Breeze’ is suitable only for those below three stars and will be managed by fourteen elders of the Alchemy Peak…”

“In recognition of your contributions, the family has decided to grant you the position of inner disciple steward. You may freely withdraw four-star grade alchemical materials from the Alchemy Peak and the medicine vault; for five-star materials, you must report to an elder and collect them as appropriate. In addition, you will receive a monthly salary of one hundred gold coins. The family will also purchase a property for you within Blackwater City.”

At this point, Mu Yuanshan paused. The three elders and himself all hoped to see some sign of excitement in the boy from a poor family before them.

Unfortunately, they were disappointed.

Xu Wen’s expression was calm as a lake, undisturbed. He seemed unmoved by the special privileges of alchemy, and even the property and generous salary—luxuries unattainable for ordinary youths—did not stir him.

One hundred gold coins a month was equivalent to ten thousand RMB on Earth, enough to support a family of three for ten years. For a poor child like Xu Wen, this was not merely escaping poverty—it was sudden wealth.

Mu Yuanshan drew a breath and cast a serious glance at Xu Wen:

“These are the privileges of an inner disciple steward. In view of your remarkable talent in alchemy, after discussion with all the elders, we have unanimously decided to grant you unrestricted access to the library… You may freely study all alchemical insights and fire magic manuals below five stars, including ‘Earth Sovereign’ grade fire magic manuals under four stars!”

“Earth Sovereign grade fire magic manuals? What are those?” Hearing this last privilege, Xu Wen, who had shown a hint of disappointment, was finally moved, blurting out instinctively.

He had never heard of such a thing in the worlds of his previous games!

Xu Wen’s puzzled reaction was fully observed by Mu Yuanshan and the others, who were both satisfied and relieved.

Elder Xu stepped forward, fulfilling his duty as a mentor, and explained:

“Mysterious Heaven, Earth Sovereign, Chaos, and Primeval—four grades of manuals, collecting the profound spells and combat skills created by predecessors. Earth Sovereign is the lowest grade, but it consumes less mana and its power far exceeds other spells of the same rank. For example, a three-star Earth Sovereign spell is no less powerful than a four-star intermediate regular spell!”

“……” Xu Wen was shocked! He naturally understood the significance of his master’s analogy.

Less mana consumption than a three-star spell, but attacks on par with intermediate four-star spells—if it came to battle, a three-star mage could easily suppress a four-star mage.

Elder Xu’s voice continued:

“Above Earth Sovereign are Mysterious Heaven, Chaos, and Primeval… The higher the grade, the stronger and more domineering the power!”

“These manuals also include some alchemical formulas and crafting laws… It is normal that you’ve never heard of Earth Sovereign grade fire magic manuals. Ordinary people don’t know of their existence, and even some magicians and warriors are unaware of them.”

———

Seeing Xu Wen’s stunned expression, Elder Xu stroked his beard and smiled:

“Every family has its pride! For us Hortonklin, becoming a mid-sized fire magic family in the Azure Cloud Empire is due, firstly, to our heritage of a grandmaster and several masters in alchemy, and secondly, to several Earth Sovereign grade fire spells and three-star Earth Sovereign grade pills created by our ancestors. That is what allows the Hortonklin family to stand strong to this day!”

Hearing this, Xu Wen took a deep breath. “Thank you, Patriarch, and thank you, elders, for your guidance!” He spoke respectfully. It was only at this moment that he truly sensed the determination of the patriarch and elders to draw him into the family—displaying such treasures to a newly admitted inner disciple required no small courage and resolve.

“Haha, but…” Elder Xu shifted his tone, smiling as he spoke to Xu Wen:

“Although Earth Sovereign grade fire spells are powerful, they are also extremely profound and difficult to master. Suitable practitioners must have a solid foundation in magical knowledge; otherwise, they cannot even begin. In our family, some highly talented senior inner disciples have yet to grasp them!”

“I would like to try!”

Xu Wen’s curiosity about Earth Sovereign grade fire spells was now intense, and Elder Xu’s words only stirred his pride.

Elder Xu exchanged glances with Mu Yuanshan and the other two elders, smiling:

“You will certainly have the opportunity! However, cultivating Earth Sovereign grade fire spells will take considerable time and delay your participation in this year’s Azure Cloud Academy entrance ceremony… If you insist on cultivating, you must give up the chance to enter the Academy this year!”

“That’s right!” The elder on the right, who had been silent, spoke at the right moment:

“Earth Sovereign grade magic cannot be mastered overnight. The Academy entrance exam is only a month away. We’ve decided to hold the competition for Academy spots in half a month. I suggest you compete next year instead! In three months, you’ve risen from an ordinary civilian to a two-star eighth-rank fire magician, which proves your extraordinary talent. If you master one or two Earth Sovereign grade spells within the family and enter the Academy next year, you will surely bring glory to the Hortonklin family and win the highest honor!”

“What do you say?”

Mu Yuanshan gazed at Xu Wen with a gentle smile, presenting him with a difficult choice—temporarily give up Earth Sovereign grade magic and choose Azure Cloud Academy, or delve into Earth Sovereign grade magic and postpone entering the Academy by a year.