The Strongest Talent Tree

Chapter 76: Chapter 74: I’m Just Low-Level

Hauled over Feng Hao’s shoulder the whole way, Houhuiyao shrieked like a kidnapped maiden, "Brother Feng, let me down! I haven’t even cast my net yet! Hey, where are you taking me?! And just so you know, I have a very normal sexual orientation!"

"Just shut up. We’re going back to the Alchemy Department to check the exam venue first. And during the assessment tomorrow, don’t you damn well say you know me," Feng Hao said viciously.

"How could you say that, Brother Feng? Am I, Houhuiyao, the kind of person to forsake a friend for personal gain? Don’t you worry. As long as I live, I will never forget you," Houhuiyao said with righteous conviction.

Dark lines formed on Feng Hao’s forehead. After walking out the main gate of the Arts Department, he unceremoniously dumped Houhuiyao on the ground. "Damn it. Walk on your own two feet."

"Okay, okay," Houhuiyao said with a fawning smile.

Feng Hao was utterly speechless. He turned and headed for the Alchemy Department, with Chief Black Cat and Houhuiyao following behind him, each with a swagger more flamboyant than the last.

Compared to the Arts Department, the Alchemy Department was much smaller. After all, it had very few students. This was evident from the number of people who had signed up; a quick glance revealed only a few dozen individuals.

"What’s there to see in this dump? Brother Feng, I say we go back to the Arts Department. Besides, I still don’t know the names of those three beauties," Houhuiyao mumbled.

Feng Hao ignored him. After looking around for a bit, he turned back and asked, puzzled, "Logically, getting started with Alchemy Techniques should be relatively easy. So why are there so few people here?"

"Isn’t that normal? The academy is a place for training Mages. Other than the Main Battle Academies, the other departments are all in a slump. Oh, right, the Arts Department is an exception, since you need Arts Mages for PR and to be the public face of the school," Houhuiyao said offhandedly.

Feng Hao frowned slightly. "But I can see that the other non-combat profession departments have significantly more students than the Alchemy Department," he said, confused.

"Uh, Brother Feng, you don’t even know about this?" Houhuiyao asked, stunned.

"Stop trying to be mysterious. Just spit it out," Feng Hao said irritably.

Houhuiyao smacked his lips and began to explain in a serious tone, "As everyone knows, most Alchemists choose to join the Alchemist Association. After all, that’s the true home base for Alchemists. Only a small number of people who want to both improve their combat strength and not give up on alchemy come to an academy. Of course, there are also plenty of people whose abilities aren’t up to snuff and who want to use Alchemy Techniques as a shortcut."

"Take me, for example. My family has produced Alchemists for three generations, and my own talent for alchemy is, without a doubt, incredible. But my old man just had to insist on turning me into a combat Mage, and so, here I am—I was literally tied up and dragged here." At this, Houhuiyao’s eyes filled with grief and indignation.

"Go on," Feng Hao said, listening intently.

Houhuiyao cleared his throat and continued, "Then there’s the student body composition for academy Alchemists. Aside from the few who don’t want to give up on Alchemy Techniques, the vast majority are just people trying to take a shortcut. But our Five Provinces Academy’s Alchemy Department is notoriously difficult to get into, so those looking to use alchemy to weasel their way into a higher-status program generally don’t come here."

Feng Hao nodded thoughtfully. ’If what Houhuiyao says is true, then it’s perfectly normal for the Alchemy Department to be this small.’

This also showed that the Five Provinces Academy’s Alchemy Department wasn’t a place where students could just coast by and wait for graduation, unlike departments at other academies. Instead, it was a place with clear goals and high standards for alchemy, a fact that Feng Hao appreciated.

"Speaking of which, Brother Feng, you aren’t here to just coast your way into a higher program, are you? I see you’re only level twenty-one," Houhuiyao asked after scanning him with his Crystal Eye.

"And you’re only level twenty-five, aren’t you?" Feng Hao retorted playfully.

Houhuiyao shook his head and explained, "That’s different. I’m from an Alchemy Family, after all. The assessment won’t be a problem for me."

"Don’t worry, I’m very confident in my Alchemy Techniques," Feng Hao said with a knowing smile, not taking the matter seriously at all. ’What a joke. With my Ninth-Level Alchemy Techniques, how could I possibly fail the assessment?’

Hearing this, Houhuiyao’s interest was piqued. With a peculiar expression, he asked, "Does that mean... Brother Feng, you’re the third type of person?"

"What do you mean?" Feng Hao asked, surprised.

"Probably someone like me—decent talent for alchemy, but too weak in combat, and yet unwilling to be just an Alchemist. Of course, in my case, I was dragged here by my dad," Houhuiyao analyzed with a completely straight face.

Feng Hao chuckled. "Who told you I was weak?"

"C’mon, there’s no need to be embarrassed. We’re all friends here," Houhuiyao said, giving him a sleazy wink, his face a mask of "I totally get it."

"..." Feng Hao was speechless for a moment before snapping irritably, "Get outta here. Who said we’re friends? My level is low, but that doesn’t mean I’m weak."

"Is there a difference?" Houhuiyao asked, blinking innocently.

Feng Hao was momentarily stumped. ’Logically speaking, there really isn’t a difference. A Mage’s strength is usually proportional to their level. But my situation is special; you can’t judge me by normal standards.’

"You want to see the difference? Fine. Let’s spar a little, then you’ll know," Feng Hao said after a moment’s silence, having thought of a simple, direct explanation.

Houhuiyao hurriedly shook his head. "Let’s not spar. We’re all friends here. Why resort to fighting? It’s so improper."

"You can’t be serious. A level twenty-five like you is actually afraid of a level twenty-one like me?" Feng Hao was dumbfounded.

"I’m just worried it might ruin our friendly atmosphere," Houhuiyao said with an awkward laugh.

"So at the end of the day, you’re just a coward," Feng Hao said disdainfully.

"You can’t say that. My Genetic Tree is admittedly a bit trash; I can’t even beat a regular First-tier Mage. So how about this? Let’s compete with our Alchemy Techniques instead," Houhuiyao retorted, feeling a little indignant.

Hearing this, Feng Hao wanted to laugh. A playful glint in his eyes, he said, "Alright. The assessment is tomorrow. We can compete then."

"No problem. I guarantee you’ll be utterly convinced of your defeat," Houhuiyao said, brimming with confidence.

"We’ll see about that."

...

It was nearly noon when Feng Hao left the Alchemy Department. He planned to go check out the Thief God Hall branch in Five States City. As for that oddball Houhuiyao, he had run off to fool around in the Arts Department again.

In fact, as soon as he had arrived in Five States City the day before, the Thief’s Mark on his palm had detected the signal of an [Operations Terminal]. Judging from the signal’s fluctuations and strength, it was far more powerful than the one in the Miao Medicine Tower. Only a terminal in a major branch hall could produce such a strong reading.

He followed the signal. Every so often, he passed others in the same trade. As the signal grew stronger, the presence of these colleagues became more frequent.

When a large cluster of signals from his colleagues appeared ahead, the Five States Branch Hall came into view.

Compared to the Jinzhou Branch Hall, this Five States Branch Hall was far more magnificent. Furthermore, judging by the patina on its building materials, it had clearly stood for a very long time.

’Having this kind of ridiculously advanced tech is so convenient. You can find a home base anytime, anywhere,’ Feng Hao mused, subconsciously glancing at his palm.

Stepping into the main hall, his eyes fell upon a familiar, massive mission screen. A steady stream of colleagues moved about—some hurried, some laughed and chatted with one another, and others simply stared at the screen with worried frowns.

Feng Hao’s arrival didn’t cause much of a stir, though a few of the local old-timers gave him a second glance, noticing he was an unfamiliar face.

’First, I’ll see what kind of jobs are available. If I find a suitable one, I’ll take it, as long as it doesn’t interfere with my assessment tomorrow.’

With that, he fixed his gaze on the mission screen and began to browse intently...