Chapter 512: Shock at the Alchemy Workshop

As the competition ended, the results of the qualifying competition quickly spread throughout the academy.

The most eye‑catching news, of course, was that Jiang Cheng had successively defeated three opponents and advanced to the Finals Round.

Most people initially found the name Jiang Cheng a bit unfamiliar, but after being reminded they instantly recalled that he was the alchemist rumored to have defied Principal Sun.

He actually managed to advance to the Finals Round? And at the Level One realm?

Of course, it's not that the Level One realm is weak, but for the competing teachers it is already the lowest level of strength.

At this moment, in the Alchemy Workshop office, a group of teachers had rushed in upon hearing the news, surrounding the few teachers who had returned from the arena and bombarding them with questions.

"Teacher Li, did Director Jiang really advance to the Finals Round?"

"Teacher Li, Teacher Li, I heard Director Jiang even defeated a Fifth-level Spirit Master; is that true?"

"Teacher Li, how exactly did Director Jiang manage it?"

Teacher Li, hearing this, coughed twice and said, "We saw it with our own eyes; could it be any less real? Apart from the first battle, where everyone was at Level One, in the remaining two battles Director Jiang fought above his level, especially in the third round of the qualifying competition, whose opponent was Teacher Sun Tong; I suppose I needn't say more about Teacher Sun."

"What?"

Upon hearing the name, the surrounding teachers exchanged glances, and the atmosphere grew somewhat tense.

Before anyone spoke, someone cautiously looked outside, noted that nothing was amiss, and then said, "Teacher Sun Tong, isn't he Principal Sun's younger brother? The Fifth-level Master who was defeated by Director Jiang was actually Teacher Sun?"

The others also held their breath, eyes fixed on Teacher Li.

Jiang Cheng defeating a Fifth-level Master was enough to shock them, but there was an even more astonishing piece of news.

"What, still don't believe it?" Teacher Li snorted, "If you don't trust me, you can ask the other few of us who were present at the time."

"Exactly, exactly," the other teachers nodded in agreement without waiting for further questions.

"At the outset, Teacher Sun Tong went all out, seeming to want to end the fight outright, but it must be admitted that Teacher Sun Tong was very powerful—he managed to gather five flying knives together, whose force was five times that of a typical Ten-level Spirit Thought Master attack."

The others, hearing this, were not particularly surprised.

After all, the Academy Grand Competition had been held many times; they had watched numerous matches and were familiar with the contestants' offensive methods.

An attack that merges five Psychic Weapons into one is something an ordinary person simply cannot block.

"And then?"

"Later, Teacher Jiang also used that technique, and was actually on par with Teacher Sun."

"What?"

As the words fell, a collective gasp rose from the crowd.

They knew the method, but that didn't mean they could execute it; even merging two Psychic Weapons is a difficult feat for most of them, let alone five, yet Jiang Cheng actually managed it?

"I know you doubt it; in fact, if we hadn't seen it with our own eyes, we would find it equally hard to believe!" Teacher Li emphasized.

"And more."

At that moment, another teacher said, "Actually, there's a small detail during this period."

"A small detail?"

"What small detail?"

Everyone rushed to ask in turn.

"When Director Jiang fought the first battle, he used only three Psychic Weapons, about the same as an ordinary person. In the second battle, facing Third-Level Master Fang, he used an extra Psychic Weapon. Yet in the third battle, Director Jiang suddenly employed five Psychic Weapons at once. What does that indicate?"

The crowd kept glancing at each other, then urged again.

They no longer wanted to waste time pondering; they just wanted the answer.

"On one hand, this shows that the opponents Jiang faced grew stronger, forcing him to reveal more of his trump cards."

Hearing this, the others nodded.

"And what about the other side?"

"On the other hand, could it be possible that even Teacher Sun Tong didn't force Director Jiang to use all his trump cards? For instance, could Director Jiang still control an additional Psychic Weapon?"

The office fell silent in an instant, everyone's eyes widened.

After an uncertain amount of time, someone stammered, "No, that can't be… If Director Jiang could control another one, wouldn't that mean he could wield six Psychic Weapons?"

"? Even those teachers couldn't control more, could they?"

"Yes, to control a larger number of Psychic Weapons you must resort to lower‑grade ones, but that would actually be disadvantageous in combat."

"Exactly, if Director Jiang could control six Psychic Weapons at once, he could just use them outright and win, right?"

"You make a valid point," the teacher nodded, "but we can't deny that such a possibility exists, can we? Looking at these three battles, Director Jiang's style appears to be to adjust his power according to the opponent's strength. Think about it: with his ability, he could have begun the second bout by deploying five Psychic Weapons immediately; even using four would have concluded the fight swiftly, yet he chose not to, right?"

You guys think, with Director Jiang's ability, he could completely in the second match, right from the start use five Psychic Weapons to fight, wouldn't that work? Even if he used one less, using four Psychic Weapons, he could quickly end the battle, but he didn't do that, right?

It seemed that it really was so.

Including the first battle, Jiang Cheng also used only three Psychic Weapons; had he used one more, that fight wouldn't have taken so long and would have ended quickly.

Including the first battle, Jiang Cheng also only used three Psychic Weapons; if he had used one more, then that battle would not have taken so long, and could have ended quickly.

When Jiang Cheng faced Sun Tong, was he also matching his opponent's level?

Sun Tong could wield five Psychic Weapons at once, and he did so.

But if Sun Tong could use six Psychic Weapons, Jiang Cheng might also have produced six.

Even though, to them, that possibility was downright shocking.

"Of course, these are all my conjectures; I don't know whether Director Jiang can actually do this, but the first round of the Finals is tomorrow, and if Director Jiang meets those opponents, everything will become clear."

Of course, these are all just my guesses; I don't know whether Director Jiang can actually achieve this, but tomorrow the First Round of the Finals Round will be held; if Director Jiang meets those few, everything will become clear.

"That's the logic."

The crowd nodded repeatedly.

The intensity of the Finals Round matches is not comparable to that of the qualifying competition.

The intensity of the Finals Round matches is not something the qualifying rounds can compare to.

(End of chapter)