The Bookish Female Associate Professor

Upon hearing Lin Xi's agreement, Professor An finally set aside her book and turned slightly to regard him, saying, "In that case, you may come starting tomorrow."

Noticing that Professor An had no intention of dismissing him immediately, Lin Xi obediently nodded while surveying the arrangement of the apothecary room.

He observed numerous books and jars filled with peculiar roots and tubers, each adorned with various notes featuring elegant and meticulous handwriting: "Keke, remember to simmer this on low heat for five hours…" "Keke, don't forget that the saw-leaf chrysanthemum needs to be harvested by students in five days…" "Keke, you need to visit Professor Lan…" "Keke, the information you seek is on page thirty-six of this book…"

Curiosity piqued, Lin Xi asked, "Professor An, do you have a student named Keke assisting you here?"

"No," Professor An replied, seeming a bit fatigued from her reading as she rubbed her temples. "Those are notes I wrote for myself."

Lin Xi was taken aback, feeling slightly embarrassed as he said, "So, your surname is An, and your first name is Keke?"

"My name is An Keyi," Professor An shook her head. "Keke is merely a nickname my family uses."

Lin Xi smiled sheepishly once more but suddenly remembered a question and, with a hint of selfish curiosity, inquired, "Professor, you belong to the Apothecary Department, correct? Isn't there also a Chosen one in your department? Why didn't you ask her for assistance earlier?"

An Keyi replied candidly, "Gao Yanan is competent, but I tend to be forgetful and rather careless… Her demeanor seems a bit scattered and also quite careless; you appear to be more composed and attentive."

After a brief pause, An Keyi looked at Lin Xi and, with an unusual emphasis, added, "The subject of my research is quite significant for the academy… If successful, many will benefit, and I might be promoted to professor. In addition to the two credits you earn, you should also receive extra credit rewards, so you must be particularly diligent and careful. If I forget something or make an error, please remind me."

"Extra credit rewards?" 

Lin Xi furrowed his brow, sensing the gravity of An Keyi's research subject and feeling a sense of seriousness settle within him.

"Your fingers still need some care today, so Tong Wei has instructed you to forgo training in the Apothecary Valley and go directly to the Freshman Trial Valley. Many new students have already entered today."

"The Trial Valley?" 

Lin Xi recalled the traditions left by the middle-aged man, the provocations from Qiu Lu in the cafeteria, and the legendary voice-changing mask, igniting a deep curiosity within him. Additionally, since the Zhi Ge Department required students to enter the Trial Valley at least six times a month, he felt no reluctance and nodded in agreement.

"The Freshman Trial Valley is not far from your Zhi Ge Department's Freshman Hall, located to the southwest of the Apothecary Valley where you and Bian Linghan often train. You can head directly to the southwestern corner of our Apothecary Department's mountain; beside the Apothecary Hall, there is a silver cable that leads straight to the Freshman Trial Valley. The Apothecary Hall is a two-story building with yellow bricks and green tiles."

"By the way…" As Lin Xi reached the door, the rather bookish female associate professor seemed to recall something and said, "The credit you earned can be redeemed for rewards at any time. Given your lower cultivation level, since you will be passing by the Apothecary Hall, I suggest you redeem a Ningxiang Pill, which can slightly enhance your cultivation."

Lin Xi halted abruptly, taken aback by the prospect of receiving credits so swiftly. He turned back to the gently massaging An Keyi and asked, "Professor, where can I find out what I can exchange my credits for? Do I have to visit different halls for various items?"

An Keyi was evidently more patient than the one-eyed lecturer, showing no sign of impatience. She explained in a calm tone, as if simply recalling the relevant information, "Not at all. Each mountain where students reside has a Reward and Punishment Hall, which contains a catalog of all items available for credit redemption, including detailed descriptions. Moreover, credits that have already been redeemed cannot be used again, but they are still recorded. Once you accumulate sixteen credits, you can choose to enroll in courses for first-year students without restriction. The Reward and Punishment Hall also specifies how many credits are needed to access certain areas. However, once you select an item for redemption, a lecturer will deliver it to you when available, whereas redeeming directly at the Apothecary Hall allows for immediate registration."

Lin Xi pondered for a moment and asked, "It seems, based on your judgment, that the Ningxiang Pill is the most suitable item for me right now?"

An Keyi nodded without further ado. "Indeed."

"Alright, then I shall go redeem the Ningxiang Pill." Since encountering the stele left by Dean Zhang, Lin Xi had always envisioned the cultivation of soul power as filling a bowl with water—others had one bowl, while he had two. Now that he could fill his two bowls with a bit more water, he felt quite pleased. Yet, observing An Keyi's patient and amiable demeanor compared to Tong Wei's, he decided to clarify some of his lingering questions: "Professor, how exactly is the cultivation realm of soul power delineated?"

Feeling that he had not been sufficiently clear, Lin Xi added, "I understand that the cultivation realms are referred to as Soul Warrior, Soul Master, Grand Soul Master, National Scholar, Grand National Scholar, Holy Master, and Grand Holy Master. What I wish to know is… how is the combat power defined between these realms? Are there any distinct boundaries?"

An Keyi glanced at Lin Xi. "There are numerous books in the academy that you can consult."

"However, it would be quicker if you could explain it to me directly. My aptitude is only two; the more time I spend, the further behind I fall in cultivation."

Lin Xi felt that with someone as bookish and earnest as An Keyi, there was no need for subtlety. Indeed, upon hearing his straightforward words, An Keyi's expression shifted to one of appreciation and realization: "That's true… It's quite simple, really. A novice Soul Warrior can easily lift a stone ball weighing around one hundred pounds, while an intermediate Soul Warrior can manage two hundred pounds, and an advanced Soul Warrior can lift three hundred pounds with ease. Once one reaches the level of Soul Master, the physical strength doesn't increase much, but soul power can be projected onto the body's surface. Therefore, while soul power is not depleted, an entry-level Soul Master can exert around three hundred and fifty pounds of force, an intermediate Soul Master about four hundred pounds, and an advanced Soul Master can exert approximately four hundred and fifty pounds without any issues. As for Grand Soul Masters and above, in addition to increased physical strength, they can channel soul power into their soul weapons… If the weapon's material is sufficiently tough and not easily damaged, an intermediate Grand Soul Master's soul power can cleave through thirty suits of Xuan Iron armor in succession."

"Only thirty suits?" Lin Xi furrowed his brow. An Keyi paused at this point, her expression revealing a lack of ulterior motives; it was clear she believed that Lin Xi had learned enough for now, and striving for more would be overly ambitious. After spending considerable time at Qingluan Academy, Lin Xi understood that reaching the Grand Soul Master level was no easy feat. For him, exerting several hundred pounds of force was already impressive; he could likely send a burly man flying with a single punch. However, if he could only break through thirty suits of heavy armor, wouldn't that be rather perilous on the battlefield?

"No one stands still for you to strike, and no practitioner would simply rely on brute force against heavy armor," An Keyi discerned his thoughts and calmly explained. "On the battlefield, aside from cultivation level, it primarily comes down to martial skills. Unless there are no other options, every practitioner will aim to strike at their opponent's weakest point. If facing ordinary heavy cavalry without practitioners, a mid-level Grand Soul Master could easily defeat a hundred foes without difficulty. However, the opposing practitioners would not remain passive either, so practitioners primarily contend with other practitioners."

To help Lin Xi understand better, An Keyi raised her thumb: "The Xuan Iron armor is typically about as thick as my thumb." She then casually picked up a bamboo slip: "However, many of the joints may only be as thin as this bamboo slip."

Lin Xi couldn't help but chuckle at An Keyi's earnest demonstration. Seeing Lin Xi's smile, An Keyi's slightly furrowed brow expressed confusion, further deepening Lin Xi's amusement.

Suppressing his laughter, Lin Xi bowed respectfully to An Keyi and exited her apothecary room.

The sun hung low in the sky, and though it was still early, he noticed that An Keyi's apothecary room was situated within a three-story gray hall, built halfway up the mountain of the Apothecary Department, offering a clear view of the charred wooden buildings below.

The site of the wooden buildings was now nearly obliterated, leaving only a vast expanse of blackened debris.

"So, the academy's training… is essentially about cultivating greater strength and honing faster, more precise attacks aimed at the opponent's weak points…" gazing at the charred remnants, Lin Xi thought little of it, merely contemplating the academy's training, unaware of the astonishing undercurrents beneath that devastating fire.

…

The academy's architecture remained complex to Lin Xi, much like this world, filled with countless unknowns.

Yet, as a traveler integrating into this world, he chose to think simply.

Regardless of how intricate this world may be, as long as he could appreciate the present and live splendidly, that was enough.

Ascending from An Keyi's apothecary room, he encountered a hillside overgrown with peculiar black-leaved grass. The grass grew sparsely, resembling clusters of long black hair, with no other vegetation in sight. A wooden path wound its way up the slope, exuding a profound tranquility, while in the distance, an ordinary brick building draped in ivy nestled among towering red maple trees.

Following An Keyi's description, Lin Xi soon found the Apothecary Hall, constructed of yellow bricks and green tiles, among a cluster of buildings atop the mountain.

After explaining his purpose to a gaunt, stern-faced middle-aged lecturer clad in black robes, he promptly received a white porcelain pill bottle.

"Good job," the lecturer remarked, unusually praising Lin Xi before turning to leave, having advised him to take the pill immediately.