Chapter 72: Jiang Hekang: Ning An, that spendthrift!

"Should I go back to the elixir refining area and take another look?!"

Ning An couldn't help but think, especially since he had just stepped into the Sixth Grade.

Once at the Sixth Grade, one's cultivation base is destined not to be rushed.

The fusion of spirit and blood-Qi requires a very long process.

Even for a heaven-gifted genius, this is no exception.

During this process, not a single mistake can be made.

Otherwise, it is very easy for the spirit and blood-Qi to fall into chaos.

It is not impossible for this to lead to a massive drop in cultivation base.

In fact, many Sixth Grade martial artists never manage to step into the High Grades in their entire lives.

It is precisely because of this factor that his gaze fell upon alchemy.

Of course, it also happened that he had just rolled an alchemy talent.

Otherwise, Ning An might not have spent time on elixir refining.

After all, with his previous talent, he feared he wouldn't make any progress even after a month of alchemy.

But now he had this ability!

Not to mention becoming a Mid-Grade alchemist, just reaching Third Grade in alchemy was enough.

But in the end, Ning An decided to wait until the next day to head to the elixir refining area.

Returning so soon after leaving would indeed be a strange behavior.

Moreover, Ning An didn't care that much about alchemy skills.

After all, he was no longer a low-grade martial artist!

He didn't value the secondary profession of an alchemist as much as one might imagine.

Most of the time, the identity of an alchemist serves only as the icing on the cake.

The next day.

Ning An followed his usual routine, cultivating for several hundred cycles and practicing basic blade techniques.

Currently, the martial arts he knew were actually quite few.

It wasn't that he didn't want to practice more martial arts!

After all, some martial arts can help a person increase their strength the fastest.

It was just that practicing martial arts required too much time.

Without the ability bonus, his talent and comprehension were more average than one might imagine.

After finishing all this, Ning An took a large amount of materials and headed to the elixir refining area.

Come to think of it, he hadn't refined elixirs for a long time.

Jiang Hekang and the others were still there, and this time, the number of people had increased significantly.

It was clear that this Dean was determined to cultivate a few Mid-Grade alchemists.

After all, this was related to the school's resources for the coming year.

This certainly included the Elixir College, which would definitely be affected.

Among the school's several colleges, the Elixir College had always been at the bottom.

There was no help for it; if one could join a combat-oriented college, no one would choose the Elixir College.

Every year, the Elixir College could only pick up students whose aptitude was slightly less than ideal for other colleges.

Even Ning An had chosen the Elixir College out of necessity back then.

Now, Mid-Grade alchemists could also add a portion of resources to the college.

This was a great opportunity for the Elixir College to hold its head high.

If a martial artist from the Elixir College could make the rankings and also be a Mid-Grade alchemist,

they could win double the resources for the school.

"Old Man Jiang is really going all out!"

Ning An couldn't help but remark.

He had no intention of interrupting Jiang Hekang's teaching.

Because it would be a good thing if the Elixir College could produce a few more Mid-Grade alchemists.

A great war is not just about the number of martial artists.

It is also about elixir reserves and so on!

Especially since Mid-Grade elixirs have always been in short supply.

The Shenxia Lianbang Army had even set long-term acquisition tasks, with progress displayed in real-time.

Yet, every acquisition task had never been completed.

One can imagine that there weren't as many Mid-Grade alchemists as one might think.

It was no wonder the Shenxia Lianbang was giving an extra portion of school resources to Mid-Grade alchemists this time.

As a High-Grade martial artist, Jiang Hekang naturally noticed Ning An.

However, sensing that the kid had no intention of coming over, he didn't pay it any mind.

As for Ning An refining elixirs or whatever, he cared even less.

Ning An himself was an alchemist, even if his grade was only Second Grade.

So it was perfectly normal for him to refine some elixirs.

Perhaps they were to be sent home!

Even though Ning An certainly wouldn't use low-grade elixirs now, that didn't mean his family couldn't.

Ning An was unaware of the Dean's thoughts.

Instead, he began to busy himself with the elixirs he needed to refine.

"Third Grade elixir, Body-Strengthening Pill!"

This type of elixir could be used even by First Grade martial artists.

It was a good item for increasing the strength of the physical body.

However, the price was unusually expensive!

Primarily because the materials required were not ordinary.

At the very least, when Ning An was First or Second Grade, he couldn't afford it.

And by the time he reached Third Grade, this item didn't have much use for him.

But it would be just right for Wen Zhiqiao.

Moreover, besides the expensive materials, the refining steps were also very cumbersome.

Nine out of ten Third Grade alchemists wouldn't know how to refine it.

Fourth Grade alchemists could refine it, but the problem was that refining Body-Strengthening Pills was less efficient than refining other Fourth Grade elixirs.

Under various factors, the price of the Body-Strengthening Pill had remained high.

If not for Ning An's "Alchemy Diligence" ability...

He wouldn't have chosen the Body-Strengthening Pill either!

Just like that, Ning An began his first Third Grade elixir refining.

The steps were all based on the refining videos and insights he had watched last night to form his own technique.

However, as expected!

The first furnace of Body-Strengthening Pills exploded directly.

Although Ning An used his spiritual power to contain the force at the first moment,

the sound still traveled out!

Jiang Hekang and the various instructors who were learning nearby couldn't help but glance at Ning An several times.

Especially with expressions that were hard to suppress.

One must know that since Ning An's cultivation base had improved, he was a legend at Nanjiang Martial Arts University.

And yet, this person had blown up his furnace not long after starting to refine elixirs.

And in front of so many people!

This contrast naturally made many instructors unable to control themselves.

Of course, they also knew that Ning An's current strength was not simple.

So they didn't go so far as to laugh out loud to his face.

As for Jiang Hekang, his face was darker than usual.

Because this kid was purely bringing shame to the Elixir College!

"Ahem, sorry!"

"Had a little accident, you all continue."

"Dean, I will pay for the cost of this furnace."

Ning An said, feeling a bit embarrassed at the moment.

But soon, he switched to a different furnace.

This elixir refining area was an open-air area.

There were quite a few furnaces!

However, various unexpected situations appeared next.

Either the elixir turned to ash halfway through,

or after refining was complete, it ended up as a lump of paste.

This thing was probably poison!

At first, the many instructors receiving guidance really didn't want to pay attention to Ning An's side.

But there was no help for it; Ning An failed time and time again, so it would be strange if he didn't attract attention.

And every portion of elixir refining materials was not cheap!

This made many instructors envious.

Especially many Fourth Grade instructors; they didn't have the means to be so willful.

"What on earth is this kid doing!?"

Jiang Hekang was similarly puzzled by Ning An's actions.

Because Ning An didn't look like he was refining First or Second Grade elixirs.

Instead, he was refining Body-Strengthening Pills!!

This was one of the more difficult Third Grade elixirs to refine.

He didn't remember when Ning An had become a Third Grade alchemist.

So was Ning An forcing the refining of the elixir?!

Even Jiang Hekang couldn't help but want to scold Ning An as a spendthrift at this moment.

A single portion of Body-Strengthening Pill materials was not cheap.

This kid had already gone through nearly ten portions of materials in one go.

Especially as an alchemist, he hated seeing others waste materials in front of him.