The second stage of the test was something completely different than anyone could have expected. As it turned out, it was no longer a simple test of alchemical skills, but a trial that was to last over a month.

  “Everyone who got here is both knowledgeable about the basics and passionate about alchemy, so no simple test or exam would work here,” Hua Tang explained enthusiastically. “I'm not looking for a student just to open some measly workshop, but someone who can change the world.”

  His words were grandiose and perhaps arrogant. However, in his own way, May liked him. He still had a passion and love for alchemy, and was not just an old relic of the past, clinging to the achievements of his former years. He didn't seem like the nicest person to work with, but reliability was much more important.

  “So, I want to see you in action. To see you at work as real alchemists will tell me more about you than any test... But let's move on to the rules of the second stage!” He said, and everyone focused fully. “I have prepared everything for you so that you can conduct your own alchemical experiment! You will have five thousand [mu] at your disposal, and the Alchemy Department will provide you with the necessary laboratories and equipment.”

  Everyone was stunned. Although he was the head of the Alchemy Department, wasn't this an exaggeration and an abuse of power? Even if he paid for it out of his own pocket, just providing the equipment and facilities was incredible. After all, even some of the department's employees did not have such privileges.

  However, May quickly realized that influence and power were everything in this world. On Earth, this would probably be considered corruption, but here, no one had the right to object. Hua Tang was, after all, the best alchemist at Cloud Academy, so who would dare to oppose him?

  If he wanted to give students access to laboratories and equipment for their own research, he could do so. May wasn't going to complain about that, as it was beneficial to her.

  “All research results must be carefully recorded. Once a week, one person per day will have a consultation with me, during which I will be able to give some advice or help with the project, within common sense of course.” He said, after a moment, when everyone had calmed down a bit. “Any questions?”

  A boy she didn't know raised his hand. “So we have exactly one month to do this? Can this project be about anything?”

  “The answer to both questions is yes.”

  The confident-looking Sung Haoyu raised his hand and asked, “On what basis will our experiments be evaluated?”

  Hua Tang snorted as if he had heard a stupid question. “Evaluated? This isn't a test for grades or percentages. I'm the only one who will check them and determine if you're worth anything.”

  In short, the criteria were completely subjective and dependent on him. May didn't expect anything more.

  “If there are no more questions, that's it for today. Figure out the rest yourselves. A true alchemist should be able to solve problems on their own. The first consultations are in a week, so I advise you to hurry.” With that, he left the room.

  The two whose names she didn't know left, and May was left alone with Nadine and Sung, who were the only real opponents at this stage. The two of them seemed excited about the opportunity to conduct their own experiment.

  “This isn't what I expected, but I must admit I'm pleasantly surprised...” Nadine said with a smile.

  “I agree, even if you lose, it will be worth the time, won't it...?” Haoyu replied mockingly, teasing her.

  “Contrary to what you think, we still have a chance, Senior Sung...” May replied. “The very fact that we are here proves it.”

  “Really? You have the same chances as those two who already left here...” He laughed. “You don't even know their names, but according to your logic, they have the same chances as us?”

  May was embarrassed, but she quickly recovered and was about to contradict him, but before she could speak, Nadine hit him lightly on the back of the head.

  “Give it a rest,” she said, rolling her eyes. “You'd better focus on your experiment, because I've had an idea for a long time, and now I have the opportunity to do it. So instead of teasing Junior Shang, focus on yourself.”

  “Oh? As it happens, I've also been thinking about a certain problem for a long time... It's just a pity that we have so little money to go ahead with it.”

  May sighed. Was it really not enough money?

  “I thought five thousand was a pretty good amount...” May said. "That amount would be enough to support an entire family for months…”

  Even her father, leader of the guards and cultivator of the 9th stage of Qi Refinement, earned about 2,500 mu a month. And yet they were among the richest. Of course, the Outer Court was much poorer. Earnings in the Inner Court, and those in the capital, were completely different.

  If they lived in the Inner Court, her father, who was at stage nine of Qi Refinement, could earn two or three times more... Unfortunately, for some reason, this was not possible. Neither her father nor her mother liked to talk about it, so May never pressed the issue.

  Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.

  “Maybe for normal people it's a huge sum. But we want to be alchemists, you know?” asked the boy irritably, playing with his braids. “It's one of the most money-consuming fields...”

  “It rarely happens, but I have to agree with Brother Sung. Five thousand... For an experiment? It's pocket change for a serious alchemist, but I guess it should be enough for a simple test...” Nadine added.

  May shook her head. She was no longer a child in a small town on the outskirts of the poorest part of Outer Court, but in the capital, where standards were different. In addition, she lived at Cloud Academy, among the elite; there were no poor people here, and if there were, they were mocked. May had to change her attitude.

  “Well, normally I would wish you luck, but since I know the outcome, I'll just say have fun instead,” said Sung Haoyu. “But you'll have to excuse me, it's time for me to go.”

  With that, he left immediately. Nadine Albrecht talked with May for a while longer, but she also left shortly after. They both had a lot on their minds, as they were in their fifth year.

  This was the last stage of “basic education.” After that, it was possible to continue studying at Cloud Academy, but it was significantly different from the current teaching cycle. It was more like a university after the fifth year.

  Not surprisingly, both of them wanted to become Hua Tang's disciple. If you wanted to continue your education at Cloud Academy, you needed a master. That was the basic requirement. Of course, with their knowledge and experience, almost any professor would accept them, but Hua Tang was the best.

  May also left, deep in thought. Unlike Nadine and Sung, she didn't have any ideas yet. Her lack of experience in alchemy was significant.

  Perhaps instead of thinking about alchemy, I should think about chemistry or biology? The topic is open, so... Antibiotics? Vaccines? Hmm, that might be difficult in the current situation. There's not enough time, especially since I've just started my first year at the academy, which is known for being difficult.

  On the other hand, her experience with alchemy was much less extensive. Of course, she learned more than others and even had an elf who taught her personally for a while, but... She doubted that she would be able to do anything impressive enough to become Hua Tang's student.

  She had a lot of ideas, which she immediately rejected. Because they were either too simple or required too much funding.

  Walking around the academy grounds in deep thought, she finally reached three huge, several hundred-year-old oak trees, which for some reason were twisted in an abnormal way. She noticed Izzy, whom she often bumped into for some reason, sitting there with her boyfriend Zhifang.

  May was about to turn away and leave, hoping they wouldn't notice her, but unfortunately, she was too late. Deng Zhifang waved at her. Wearily, she made her way over to them.

  “May! Good to see you!” Zhifang said cheerfully.

  “Good to see you too,” May replied. It seemed as if they were in the middle of a romantic picnic, which she didn't want to interrupt. Unfortunately, it was too late to back out.

  “What are you doing here? I thought you were supposed to be on the second stage of your test... Unless you failed?” Izzy asked with concern.

  May was surprised by her words, she didn't expect her to know when the second stage was supposed to take place. Even at Cloud Academy, she was well informed. Some things never change.

  “Well, the game is still in progress,” she replied, sitting down on the grass. “As it turns out, this test will take quite some time.”

  She told them what had happened. She also told them about her doubts, that she currently had no idea what to do.

  “I'd love to give you some advice, but...” Zhifang began, embarrassed. “But even in the Outer Court, I barely managed to cope with alchemy, so I have no idea that could help you.”

  “That's okay.” May shook her head, not expecting any help from them anyway. She wanted to talk to them, not look for a solution.

  “I think I have an idea,” Izzy smiled.

  May was surprised. Izzy wasn't the type of person who would just help others if she didn't benefit from it herself.

  “Oh, really? Then I'd love to hear it,” May replied. Despite her words, she did not believe that she could actually help her in any way.

  “Your problem stems from a few things: lack of experience, adequate support, and money,” she said. “And the solution to this problem is very simple.”

  “Huh...?” May was surprised and tried to figure out what Izzy meant. It took her a moment to understand, and she sighed deeply.

  She had forgotten for a moment that her father had once tried to recruit her to the Mage Support Group after she won a tournament at his residence. And now his daughter wanted to recruit her too.

  “I see you've already figured out what I'm talking about,” she said with a smile, seeing May's bitter expression. “We even have an alchemist at the Foundation Establishment in the capital who could help you with that... With his help, you could definitely become a disciple of Hua Tang!”

  May felt disappointed by her words and was very displeased with her. She didn't like it.

  “So that's what this was about,” May replied harshly. If the alchemist Izzy was talking about helped May and she became a student of Hua Tang, the Mage Support Group would certainly require a favor in return.

  “I don't understand why you're refusing. It would be beneficial for both sides,” she said hastily, trying to smooth things over. Izzy wasn't stupid and knew she had gone too far.

  “It sounds like a trick that could get me disqualified.”

  “We're discreet.”

  “I can see that,” she replied, squinting and looking around. “We're talking about this very discreetly in the middle of a college town with hundreds of people around us.”

  “May...”

  “Let me finish. But even that's not the worst part.” She replied, feeling resentment towards her. “Am I nothing more to you than an opportunity? Someone who could be profitable in the future and must be recruited at all costs, isn't that right?”

  “Izzy?” Zhifang asked, confused. “What are you talking about? I think I've lost the plot.”

  “Oh. So Zhifang doesn't know...” she said in a rush of emotion.

  But it made sense, Zhifang wasn't a descendant of mages. Izzy had no reason to let him in on the secret.

  “May!” Izzy shouted, then turned to her boyfriend. “And you, honey, please don't get involved! This is between us.”

  “There's nothing between us,” May replied, getting up and walking away.

  “May! Wait!” Zhifang shouted, but she was deaf to his cries and calmly returned to her room.