"This is the main point I want to talk about in this lecture." Xu Qi'an, who was well-versed in the essence of breaking chapters, paused deliberately here and smiled at the white-robed sorcerers who were eager to learn.

He glanced at the door with the corner of his eye and saw Wei Yuan looking at him, as well as the stunning beauty beside Wei Yuan looking at him.

Who is she? She is so beautiful... Xu Qi'an coughed and said, "Among all things, there exist some very subtle substances that make up the myriad worlds in our eyes. These substances are connected and have rules. To give a simple example, a pill requires more than ten or dozens of medicinal materials to be refined, but the effects of each medicinal material are different."

"Why? Because the subtle properties of certain medicinal materials are similar, so they can react and merge with each other. The same is true for refining metals."

Xu Qi'an tried his best to express himself in simple terms without using chemical terms like "atoms," which would only increase the difficulty of understanding for alchemists.

The sorcerers present were excited because they knew the value of this knowledge.

Not only them, but also the princess and Wei Yuan outside, who were both highly educated and interested in obscure knowledge, realized that what Xu Qi'an was talking about was a very advanced secret technique in the field of alchemy.

The noble princess and the grand eunuch stood patiently and listened.

Xu Qi'an continued, "In that incomplete alchemy secret book, there is a mantra that describes substances with similar properties. I call this mantra the 'periodic table of elements.'"

In an instant, a rapid breathing sound echoed in the hall, and the white-robed sorcerers of the Tianjian Court clenched their fists tightly with excitement.

"I know, I know!" Song Qing suddenly realized and stood up excitedly, staring at Xu Qi'an as if seeking confirmation, "The reason why my biological alchemy failed is that they don't have similar properties. Yes, how could a cat and a tree have similar properties? They are completely different things."

...That's a reasonable interpretation! Xu Qi'an laughed, "Brother Song is indeed a genius in alchemy, with outstanding comprehension ability."

That's true!

Song Qing frowned, "Although I understand your reasoning, how do we verify the similar properties between living things, and what is the correct direction for biological alchemy?"

Good question, I'm waiting for this moment to straighten you out.

Xu Qi'an stood with his hands behind his back, like a great scholar founding a school, and said leisurely, "The direction of biological alchemy is cells."

"Cells?" Song Qing was stunned, another unfamiliar word he had never heard before.

Yes, cells, but before that, you have to consider making a microscope or something. I don't really understand, but success is my good teaching, and failure is your dull aptitude.

Xu Qi'an took out a booklet from his pocket, "This is the second blue book I gave to the Tianjian Court, which records the periodic table of elements mantra and my personal annotations. There is also Brother Song Qing's correct direction for biological alchemy, all in here."

Song Qing rushed over and grabbed the booklet, eagerly flipping through it.

The first sentence of the opening: Cells are the beginning of life!

"Haha, hahaha, hahaha...."

As he read, Song Qing tightly held the booklet and burst into laughter.

What is written in the booklet... I really want to know, I really want to know, I really want to know... The fiery eyes of more than forty white-robed sorcerers were fixed on the booklet in Song Qing's hand, feeling like a cat scratching inside their hearts.Song Qing restrained his smile and spoke calmly, "As Xu Ningyan said earlier, the field of living creatures is too profound, and your level is not high enough. When I fully comprehend it, I will naturally pass it on to you on behalf of our master."

This "master" referred not to Xu Qi'an, but the supervisor.

Everyone noticed Song Qing's knuckles turning white as he tightly held onto the book.

His excitement was far stronger than what he showed.

Chemistry includes various fields such as electrochemistry, nuclear chemistry, and quantum chemistry...

Xu Qi'an himself only had a vague understanding and didn't plan to continue explaining. He didn't want to reveal all his knowledge at once, as they were not Fu Xiang and not worth his full disclosure.

Equal exchange requires a long-term investment.

The white-robed sorcerer stood up, made a neat bow to Xu Qi'an, and said, "Thank you, Sir Xu, for your teachings."

Outside the door, the princess watched everything with a slightly dazed expression.

A sorcerer from the Bureau of Heaven's Observation bowing to a martial arts disciple was probably the first time in the history of the Bureau.

With just this, Xu Qi'an was enough to leave a brief mention in the history books.

Song Qing exhaled and patted Chu Caiwei's arm beside him. "Junior Sister, the princess is looking for you."

Song Qing had already sensed the arrival of Wei Yuan and his entourage. He was the only one with the highest level of cultivation present.

But now that they had arrived, Song Qing wouldn't disrupt the class rhythm just because of the princess's noble birth and Wei Yuan's immense power.

Because no matter how noble and beautiful the princess was, or how powerful Wei Yuan was, they were still mundane.

Chu Caiwei turned her head in surprise and saw the stunning princess.

Xu Qi'an stepped forward and saluted, "Greetings, Lord Wei."

Wei Yuan smiled and gestured to the woman in a magnificent long dress beside him. "This is the princess."

Seeing her up close, Xu Qi'an was stunned by her stunning beauty and saluted again, "Thank you, Princess, for your recommendation."

Li Yuchun had told him that it was the princess's recommendation that allowed him to join the Nightwatchers.

Xu Qi'an could have kept quiet about it, but mentioning it would leave a good impression on the princess and show his gratitude.

The princess smiled and nodded, her voice pleasant. "Alchemy secret techniques?"

"When I was young, I met a master who taught me a book of alchemy secret techniques." Xu Qi'an answered. If the princess or Wei Yuan asked to see it, he would say that he had lost it but remembered all the contents.

By using the same knowledge, he had "borrowed" from the Bureau of Heaven's Observation and now from the princess and Wei Yuan.

Who knew, the princess just smiled and didn't ask any more questions.

She spoke well and seemed to be a very clever woman... so beautiful... and with a great figure... Xu Qi'an couldn't help but admire her.

With a fragrant woman in his arms, he walked towards the east wing. Her delicate eyebrows and bright eyes were charming... How wonderful it would be to marry her.

After the lecture, Wei Yuan appreciated the little copper gong even more and said, "Come with me to see the supervisor."

To see the supervisor... the peak of sorcery... Xu Qi'an's breathing became uncontrollably rapid.

...

The top floor of the Star-Picking Tower was an octagonal platform made of heavy bluestones.

Xu Qi'an followed Wei Yuan to the platform and saw the supervisor sitting at the desk with his back to them.

With white hair like snow and white clothes like snow, the old man's back seemed unremarkable at first glance, but upon closer inspection, one could see that he was far away and unattainable.

"You're here." The old voice came.Not sure if it was an illusion, Xu Qi'an had a surreal sense that "he was talking to me."

"I'm here."

Wei Yuan, with frost-white temples, walked to the edge of the octagonal platform, standing shoulder to shoulder with the chief jailer.

Xu Qi'an was not a novice in the officialdom. Seeing this scene, he was surprised.

Wei Yuan was actually sitting side by side with the chief jailer.

"It's been a long time since I played chess. Lord Chief Jailer, would you like to play a game with me?" Wei Yuan smiled and opened the topic as he made a move.

The chief jailer did not speak and waved his hand.

A chessboard and two boxes of chess pieces appeared out of thin air on the table.

Wei Yuan laughed and shook his robe, sitting opposite the chief jailer.

"Has Lord Chief Jailer been focusing on observing the mortal world lately?" Wei Yuan made a move and talked casually.

"I'm old and my eyes are not good anymore." The chief jailer made his move and replied.

The two of them didn't speak for a long time, focusing on playing chess.

"The leader of the Human Sect has fallen into demonic cultivation." Wei Yuan said.

"Things will turn around. It's not that simple to achieve immortality through merit." The chief jailer said and made his move.

"I received news that there are remnants of the Ten Thousand Demon Kingdom lurking in the capital."

"They are just small roles." Wei Yuan nodded with relief upon hearing this.

After a while, Wei Yuan casually said, "If I remember correctly, the Earth Sect moved to the imperial city nineteen years ago. Before that, the emperor begged the three sects of Heaven, Earth, and Human for help in cultivating immortality, but they ignored him."

The chief jailer remained silent.

"Recently, the remnants of the Ten Thousand Demon Kingdom have been active around the capital. In three days, it will be the day of the emperor's ancestor worship. Lord Chief Jailer, please keep an eye on the capital."

...

"The banditry in Yunzhou is getting worse and worse. The emperor has no intention of suppressing it, which is worrying."

...

"What does Lord Chief Jailer think of the alchemist behind the tax and silver case?"

The two played faster and faster, until they didn't even need time to think, and the black and white pieces covered the entire chessboard.

It was a draw.

The chief jailer waved his hand, making the chessboard disappear, and looked at Wei Yuan with his wrinkled face, staring at him:

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"When you were practicing martial arts, I predicted that a second-grade talent would emerge in the Great Feng. But in the end, you gave up your cultivation."

"It's not interesting." Wei Yuan shook his head.

"Why not pursue the path of Confucianism?"

"I can't get along with the scholars of Yunlu Academy. It's boring."

"Twenty-five years ago, I asked you if you were willing to be my disciple."

"I have no interest in magic." Wei Yuan replied.

The chief jailer was silent for a moment and said, "You are amazing. Please teach my students for me, and I will give you a gift."