After the Dragon’s Cry Assessment, the Heaven, Earth, and Man Rankings were finalized.

Because of this, the vast machine that was the Thunder Saint Academy gradually revived, began to operate, and slowly started to display its divine might.

Any prodigious cultivators with a shred of ambition were completely swamped.

Even the laziest among them were forced to find their motivation when faced with mandatory assessment missions.

At the Thunder Saint Academy, students had to select and complete an assessment mission every two years.

If a student accumulated three failures, they would be asked to leave the Saint Institute and would be considered a disgrace to their family.

Most importantly, the difficulty of these regular assessment missions only increased with the passage of time!

In other words, it was relatively easier to complete the assessment missions sooner rather than later.

And just as Fang Yang was contemplating which assessment mission to choose, Sen Hui had already made up her mind. She planned to take on the mission to refine Tier Four Nourishing Spirit Pills.

This particular mission was special, as it had been posted by a Saint: Bai Zhi the Medicine Saint.

Furthermore, due to the unique nature of the Nourishing Spirit Pill, once accepted, the mission could be repeated at least five times. It was an easy and low-effort task, an exclusive perk for Alchemist Doctor prodigies.

As it happened, Murong Caiwei also had her eye on this mission.

Unfortunately, this was a unique mission that only one person could accept.

Ultimately, after various factors led Bai Zhi the Medicine Saint to eliminate the other candidates, only the two of them were left in the final round.

This gave Bai Zhi the Medicine Saint a slight headache. The mission was already posted, and she couldn’t very well change it—after all, rules were rules.

’Murong Caiwei, daughter of the Soldier Star Great Saint, is an exceptionally dazzling prodigy of the Murong clan.’

’And Changkong Senhui is even more incredible. She’s the daughter of the legendary Han Wu the Great Saint of the Eight Domains, and Han Wu the Great Saint is on the verge of ascending to Longevity Heaven!’

The hall was dim, the lamplight flickering.

A hint of worry gradually appeared on Bai Zhi the Medicine Saint’s pale, lovely face.

In truth, she, Bai Zhi, was put on a pedestal at the Thunder Saint Academy, adored by all and seen by countless people as the goddess of their dreams.

But wherever you have people, you have politics.

And politics isn’t about fighting and killing; it’s more about connections and social intricacies.

Besides, she had a faint suspicion about what was really going on.

Namely, whichever young woman she chose would essentially be a declaration of which faction she favored.

More than that, she might even take the chosen one as her disciple, passing down her unparalleled skills as an Alchemist Doctor.

This was both a storm and an opportunity.

But now, she feared she could no longer maintain her detached and transcendent status.

’Caiwei... Sen Hui...’

The worry on Bai Zhi the Medicine Saint’s face gradually faded. She tapped a slender finger on the stone table and began to ponder.

A student chooses their master, but a master also chooses their student.

At this moment, she repeatedly weighed the temperaments of Caiwei and Sen Hui.

...

"Caiwei, in two days, Bai Zhi the Medicine Saint will be giving a lecture in Apothecary Hall A-1. I think we should make a trip there," said a tall, handsome young man dressed in a crimson brocade robe.

His name was Minghai Dongli, and he was Murong Caiwei’s fiancé.

He was also a peerless prodigy, ranked third on the Earth Ranking.

Murong Caiwei pursed her lips, remaining seated calmly in the pavilion as she watched the moon’s reflection on the lake, looking thoroughly unimpressed.

"I’m a Tier Four Pill Master. My skills are exceptional. Anyone who isn’t blind would choose me. Is that Bai Zhi the Medicine Saint just waiting for the highest bidder?"

Faced with her fiancé’s advice, Murong Caiwei remained as stubborn and independent as ever.

Her entire life had taught her that as long as she was strong enough, everyone would revolve around her!

’Build connections? Heh, no need.’

’That Sen Hui is just the daughter of a concubine. What right does she have to compete with me?!’

SIGH. Seeing this, Minghai Dongli sighed inwardly and could only raise his head to gaze silently at the moon.

All he could think was that every family had its own troubles.

Others only envied the power and perks he was presumed to have as a Great Saint’s Son-in-law, but they didn’t know his frustrations.

For example, on matters that he and Murong Caiwei should have decided together, he often found he could only offer advice. If he said even a few words too many, he would be angrily rebuked by Murong Caiwei and given the cold shoulder.

Meanwhile...

Wind Peng Dojo.

The night, the sea breeze, the soft moonlight.

At this very moment, Fang Yang and Sen Hui were strolling along the beach, enjoying a moment of peace.

"Xiaohui," Fang Yang said, "in two days, Bai Zhi the Medicine Saint will be giving a lecture in Apothecary Hall A-1. Let’s go together. It might help you with getting that assessment mission."

"Really?" Sen Hui asked. "That’s wonderful! Ah Yang is going to attend the grand lecture with me... But will this delay your cultivation?"

Fang Yang smiled faintly, his eyes crinkling. "Of course not."

In an instant, Sen Hui’s smile blossomed like a flower as she hurried to walk alongside Fang Yang.

...

「Two days later.」

In the early morning, the usually quiet Apothecary Hall A-1 was once again filled with clamor.

One after another, prodigious cultivators who aspired to the path of the Alchemist Doctor flocked to the hall.

Like Fang Yang, most of the cultivators present treated the profession of Pill Master or physician as a secondary pursuit.

Only a small minority planned to specialize in this path exclusively.

"Hmm, isn’t that figure Fang Yang?"

"That black and white Yin Yang Dao robe, that tall posture, that heroic bearing... Who else could it be?"

"HISS... If I’m not mistaken, the girl next to him is Sen Hui..."

Many cultivators whispered among themselves, as if they hadn’t expected Fang Yang to be here.

After all, the prodigious cultivators on the Earth Ranking were all battle maniacs; it was rare for them to have the patience to study other skills.

’What a perfect couple, a talented man and a beautiful woman. A match made in heaven...’ For some reason, Dongfang Xuezhi felt a wave of complex emotions.

Faced with the surprised gazes of the others, Fang Yang remained perfectly calm.

However, Sen Hui, who was beside him, found her breathing growing ragged, as if she were reverting to her formerly timid self.

"It’s okay, I’m here with you." Fang Yang reached out and gently took Sen Hui’s delicate hand, helping her emotions to gradually stabilize.

Before long, the hall gradually quieted down, and everyone stopped trying to figure out why Fang Yang had come.

This was because Bai Zhi the Medicine Saint was about to arrive!

A gentle breeze stirred, and a woman appeared on the dais at the front.

Fang Yang focused his gaze on the dais. A woman in elegant green robes stood there alone, like a single lotus leaf drifting gently on the water’s surface. She gave off an aura that was at once approachable yet inviolable.

The woman scanned her surroundings. A fleeting glimpse of her devastatingly beautiful face made all the students in the hall adopt solemn expressions, waiting with respectful poise.

"Greetings, Your Eminence Bai Zhi," the crowd said in unison, cupping their hands in respect.

Fang Yang followed the crowd in paying his respects. His expression was reverent and his movements proper, utterly flawless.

But though his etiquette was perfect, he could feel Bai Zhi the Medicine Saint’s scrutiny on him. No, not just him—on both him and Sen Hui!

Although it was just a glance, the faint trembling of his Yi Wood Saint Spear confirmed his suspicion.

He hadn’t been wrong.

When Bai Zhi the Medicine Saint saw that Sen Hui had come in person while Caiwei had not, the scales in her heart tipped once again.