Chapter 134: The Alchemist Division

That evening, after finishing dinner at the Joslin Academy canteen with Lei Hang, Feng Jun, and the others, Shen Duo returned to her dormitory. She spent the entire night in deep thought, waiting until the eastern sky turned pale with the approach of dawn before she finally arrived at a decision.

She decided to forgo sleep, washed up, changed her clothes, and set out for Linghu Yu’s residence.

Linghu Yu had just opened his door when he saw Shen Duo approaching his courtyard. He was somewhat surprised. "Why have you come so early?"

Shen Duo looked at him with firm resolve, her tone solemn. "Master Linghu, I have decided which department I will join."

"Oh?" Linghu Yu raised an eyebrow. He invited Shen Duo into the living room and gestured for her to sit before asking, "What is your decision?" As he spoke, he lifted a cup of sweet dew from the table and took a sip.

Shen Duo sat up straight. "The Alchemist Department!"

*Pfft!* Linghu Yu had not yet swallowed the sweet dew when he spat it out. He stared at Shen Duo, wide-eyed, seeing that her expression held no hint of a joke. "Why? Is it because Master Luo Hui will be teaching at Joslin Academy?"

Shen Duo’s choice of the Alchemist Department was completely beyond his expectations. Last night, he had also spent half the night awake, eventually convincing himself that no matter which department she chose, it would be a great boon to Joslin Academy, as she would remain a student of the institution. But now, hearing it from her own lips, he still found it hard to believe. She had chosen neither the Swordsman Department nor the Beast Tamer Department, but the Alchemist Department instead!

Shen Duo shook her head. "There is no 'why.' I have simply chosen according to my heart. Please do not overthink it; even if Master Luo Hui were not teaching here, I would still choose the Alchemist Department."

Linghu Yu frowned, staring directly at her. Her expression did not look like she was lying. He couldn't help but swallow hard as a new speculation formed in his mind.

"Xiao Duo, is it possible you are still hiding something from us? Are you, in fact, an accomplished alchemist?" Linghu Yu asked, his eyes wide, as if he longed to see through to her very soul.

Shen Duo felt a bit embarrassed. This time, she would truly disappoint Linghu Yu; she had never practiced alchemy, but she felt a strong, intense interest in the path. Back in another realm, after seeing an old man effortlessly repair Master Luo Hui’s holy artifact sword, she had longed for the profession. At the time, her strength had been too weak, and she did not know if a swordsman could also cultivate as an alchemist, so it had been put off. Now that she had the opportunity, she certainly wouldn't let it slip by. Moreover, having collected quite a few alchemy materials during her journey from Luo City, she felt well-prepared.

Zhou Long, who had been thoroughly beaten by Shen Duo, now regretted deeply that he had provoked such a disaster. For two years at Joslin Academy, he had been accustomed to getting his way, but today, he had carelessly kicked an iron plate.

Seeing him beaten so miserably, many of the independent phantom masters nearby began to cheer, including many who had previously been bullied by Zhou Long at the academy.

Shen Duo held her sword in one hand, the black blade’s tip pointing at Zhou Long’s heart. She asked coldly, "Tell me, based on my strength, am I qualified to enter Joslin Academy?"

Zhou Long lay on his back, his entire body in a wretched state. At this moment, he dared not say otherwise. He was terrified that Shen Duo might lose her grip on the heavy sword, and even a slip would crush half his life away.

"Yes, yes! If a Sword King like you isn't qualified to enter Joslin Academy, then the academy shouldn't bother recruiting at all."

After saying this, Zhou Long was covered in cold sweat, but seeing the warning look in Shen Duo’s eyes, he dared not move.

Shen Duo snorted coldly, withdrew the black sword, returned it to Wei Dong, and left without looking back.

Lei Hang turned to see Zhou Long’s pathetic state, curled his lip in mockery, and also departed the recruitment plaza.

The crowd of onlookers soon dispersed, and the recruitment continued. Zhou Hu and Zhou Bao helped Zhou Long up. The woman who had promised them a large reward earlier looked at Zhou Long with utter disgust, then left with her son in a carriage.

For a moment, Zhou Long felt the sting of "tea cooling as people leave." The stifled frustration in his heart surged up. He looked in the direction Shen Duo had left and gritted his teeth, but the movement pulled at his split lip, making him hiss in pain.

At a street corner, a man in a dark red phantom master robe narrowed his eyes. "Who was that girl just now?"

"Senior Brother Zuo, she arrived at the academy last night. I heard she was brought here by Teacher Linghu."

"A Sword King?" The man hidden in the corner raised an eyebrow. "Go and investigate the identities of her and the two young men by her side."

"Yes, Senior Brother."

"What of it, being a Sword King? Members of the Zhou family, even those of a side branch, are not to be bullied by just anyone."

When the man said this, cold light erupted from his eyes, making those around him shiver.

Meanwhile, Shen Duo and her companions left the plaza. Their good mood for the day had been ruined, and they had no interest in further strolling. By the time they returned to their quarters, Shen Duo had not yet rested when Wei Dong came to find her, saying that Linghu Yu wanted to see her.

Linghu Yu’s residence was located in the Ziyuan Department of Joslin Academy, a rather rustic and quiet courtyard. When she entered, she was slightly surprised to see Linghu Yu, Ji Qingxue, Eleanor, and Luo Hui all present. She bowed slightly and asked, "Master Linghu, why did you summon me?"

Linghu Yu’s eyes shone as he looked at her, as if looking at a walking mountain of gold, which made Shen Duo feel awkward. Even the usually indifferent Ji Qingxue looked at her with warmth.

"Ahem," Linghu Yu coughed twice to cover his reaction, then said, "Xiao Duo, oh Xiao Duo, I never expected you to be a beast tamer as well. If Eleanor hadn't told me, were you planning to hide it from us forever?"

Linghu Yu was certainly trying to get close; when had the form of address changed?

Shen Duo glanced at him and calmly replied, "I never hid it from you."

Linghu Yu was choked by these words. He realized that Shen Duo had indeed never said she *couldn't* tame beasts; it was just their own assumption. After all, how could a Sword King also be a beast tamer? He had been puzzled when Eleanor first told him, so he had gone to ask the "old man" for an answer.

In ancient times, the path of the swordsman was not as fallen as it is today. Back then, whether it was beast taming or alchemy, swordsmen participated in both; there were many powerful beast tamers and alchemists among them. It was only after tens of thousands of years of change, and the decline of the swordsman, that those who cultivated both disappeared, leading to the misconception that swordsmen could not tame beasts or practice alchemy.

"The recruitment season will end in a few days, and a new batch of students will enter our academy. Although I brought you to the academy myself, my discipline is that of a phantom master, not a swordsman. Joslin Academy has a dedicated Swordsman Department, which I assume you already know. I had intended to place you directly in the elite swordsman training class, but considering you are also a beast tamer—and the academy has a dedicated Beast Tamer Department led by a Grandmaster Beast Tamer who could likely teach you much—I wanted to ask your opinion today. Of course, even if you join the Beast Tamer Department, you are still free to come to the Swordsman Department for training and study."

Shen Duo frowned. In the path of the sword, she truly needed an experienced teacher to guide her, but as for being a beast tamer? She knew exactly what was going on there.

Only she knew whether she could truly tame beasts; it would be more accurate to say it was the Holy Radiance energy within her. Her method was completely different from others, and she would likely learn nothing at the Beast Tamer Department.

Thinking of this, Shen Duo looked at Linghu Yu, who was also deep in thought. He was hesitant; with such talent for the sword, she *should* enter the Swordsman Department, but Eleanor had told him that Shen Duo’s taming abilities exceeded her own—that she was a once-in-a-century genius. Just imagine, if Joslin Academy produced a peak Taming Grandmaster or an Emperor-level Tamer, the academy’s reputation would rise to a new level on the continent. It would bring such honor to Joslin Academy!

However, Joslin Academy had a rule: a student could only have one master. If she joined the Beast Tamer Department, she could only study under the Dean of that department. That was why Linghu Yu was so conflicted.

Shen Duo thought for a moment and looked up. "Master Linghu, could I have some time to think about it and give you an answer tomorrow?"

Linghu Yu readily agreed. "Fine, come to my residence first thing tomorrow morning and tell me your decision!"

Shen Duo nodded.

Just as she was about to take her leave, she was called back by Ji Qingxue, whose expression was gentle. "There is one more piece of great news. Master Luo Hui has accepted Master Wei Lan's invitation and will be teaching at our Joslin Academy for three years. The students in our Alchemist Department will be ecstatic."

Old Luo Hui raised an eyebrow at Shen Duo after Ji Qingxue spoke.

Shen Duo looked at Luo Hui in surprise, then smiled. "Welcome to Joslin Academy, Master Luo Hui. In the future, if there is anything I do not understand, may I come to ask for your guidance?"

"Easily done, easily done!" Old Luo Hui laughed heartily. He was quite satisfied with his beloved disciple's little sweetheart. Not only was she exceptionally strong, but she was also a beast tamer. As long as his disciple held onto this young girl tightly, he would never have to worry about wanting for phantom beasts!

Shen Duo bowed to Old Luo Hui once more before leaving.

As soon as she exited Linghu Yu’s residence, she headed straight for the dormitory; she wanted to tell Lei Hang the news about Master Luo Hui staying to teach.

Upon hearing it, Lei Hang looked surprised, clearly puzzled by his teacher’s decision. However, he had always respected his teacher’s choices. Besides, Luo Hui was a renowned alchemist, and the Will Academy could not restrain him anyway—as long as the old man was happy, that was all that mattered. Lei Hang soon felt at ease with the news.