Chapter 35: Chapter 35: Theoretical Debate
"Ahem. Alright, let me make a formal introduction." Huaa Que coughed twice, looking at the dumbfounded teachers. "Starting today, this young man beside me, Qin Ya, will be one of the teachers at our Mingxin Academy."
At his words, the teachers, who were already shocked beyond belief, suddenly felt the world spin. It was as if a hundred thousand bolts of lightning had crashed in their minds. They stared at Qin Ya, their faces masks of utter disbelief.
"Mansion Master, are you sure you’re not joking?"
Someone spoke up, voicing the thought on everyone’s mind. A boy with a cultivation of merely the Profound Origin Realm was going to be a teacher? That was obviously a joke. It couldn’t be possible!
To be fair, Qin Ya reaching the Profound Origin Realm at his age certainly showed he had some talent. However, it wasn’t enough to truly shake them. It was surprising, at most. After all, Mingxin Academy was the largest academy in the Yunxiao Empire. What kind of geniuses or prodigies hadn’t they seen?
"A joke? No, I’m serious." Huaa Que, naturally understanding their shock, shook his head with a solemn expression.
The teachers looked at each other, not knowing what to say. In the entire thousand-year history of Mingxin Academy, nothing like this had ever happened.
Taking a deep breath, one of the few Special-Level Teachers in the academy, Yun Yu, slowly spoke. "Mansion Master, it’s not that I doubt your decision, but this matter is truly hard to believe."
"Mingxin Academy is the bedrock of the Yunxiao Empire, responsible for cultivating talent for the Empire. In other words, the students who graduate from the Academy are the future of the Empire. Therefore, the Academy’s selection of teachers is absolutely rigorous."
"A teacher’s duty is to impart knowledge and resolve doubts."
"If one is unable to do so, not only will they lead students astray and destroy the Academy’s thousand-year reputation, but they could even damage the very foundation of the Empire."
"I wonder what is so remarkable about this young man that he can bear such a heavy responsibility."
Yun Yu’s tone was gentle, but it carried a pressure heavier than a mountain. As she spoke her last words, her gaze swept past Huaa Que to land directly on Qin Ya.
The other teachers nodded repeatedly, in full agreement with her words.
’Heh, Teacher Yun seems so kind and approachable, but on matters of principle, she doesn’t yield an inch.’ The middle-aged man in blue robes smiled faintly, shaking his head in admiration as he watched her.
Zhao Yunge, hearing this, pursed his lips. "Forget Teacher Yun and the others. I can’t figure out what that old boy is plotting either."
"Teacher Yun, you can rest assured on this point. I have absolute faith in this boy Qin Ya’s abilities," Huaa Que guaranteed, but Yun Yu’s gaze remained fixed on Qin Ya.
Huaa Que frowned and then sighed. ’I know her temperament,’ he thought. ’She means no harm; she’s just thinking about what’s best for Mingxin Academy. I can’t really blame her.’
"Heh. So I’m being doubted," Qin Ya said with a cool smile, his deep eyes meeting Yun Yu’s gaze without a hint of weakness. "Teacher Yun, your concerns are simply doubts about my abilities, correct?"
"Yes, young man," Yun Yu nodded.
"Very well. That’s easily solved, then." Qin Ya smiled and addressed the assembled teachers. "May I ask who among you are Alchemists, or who is in charge of the Academy’s Alchemy curriculum?"
’An Alchemist? Don’t tell me this boy is an Alchemist.’
’Is he trying to become an Alchemy Teacher here?’
’I remember the person with the highest skill in the Alchemy Dao here is Teacher Liu, a Fifth-Grade Alchemist. He’s ranked among the very best in the Empire.’
As they were murmuring, a fair-faced, beardless old man in a gold-and-black Pill Robe stepped forward. He looked at Qin Ya and snorted. "Junior, I am Liu Qing, a Fifth-Grade Alchemist and a High-Level Teacher at Mingxin Academy."
Liu Qing had been at Mingxin Academy for nearly twenty years and had trained countless outstanding Alchemists for the Empire. He held considerable prestige throughout the entire Pill Realm of the Yunxiao Empire.
"Since we are both Alchemists, let’s hold a Discourse. Any objections, Teacher Liu?" Qin Ya said calmly. ’To doubt a Pill Venerable’s qualifications to teach,’ he scoffed internally. ’They truly don’t know their own place.’
Liu Qing was stunned for a moment, then broke into a cold, mocking laugh. "What an arrogant upstart! You want to hold a Discourse with me? Junior, do you really think you’re qualified?"
A Discourse was a professional term in the scholarly circles of the Martial Arts world.
It referred to a formal theoretical debate between two professionals, such as Alchemists or Artifact Refiners. Taking Alchemists as an example, a Discourse was typically held only between peers of the same grade. For a Low-Level Alchemist to demand one with a High-Level Alchemist was considered a grave insult.
"Hmph! You should be asking for my guidance, not demanding a Discourse!" Liu Qing added icily, his already low opinion of Qin Ya plummeting. ’If he hadn’t been brought here by Huaa Que, and if I didn’t have to mind my own status, I would have left already.’
’In his eyes, even if Qin Ya was an Alchemist, he was far too young. How could he possibly compare to a Fifth-Grade Alchemist like me?’
A cold glint flashed in Qin Ya’s eyes as he frowned. ’I, a magnificent Pill Venerable, am already showing immense restraint by offering to hold a Discourse with a mere Fifth-Grade Alchemist. And now this Liu Qing actually expects me to ask *him* for guidance?’ He was so angry he laughed. "Fine! Very well! Then please, do enlighten me!"
"Junior, on which subject do you require my guidance? The *Ten Treatises on Flora*? The *Thousand Jade Linglong Pill Scripture*? The *Cloud Sea Hundred Pills*? Or perhaps the *Black Moon Turbid Water*?" The texts Liu Qing listed were all timeless classics in the Pill Realm, fundamental knowledge required of every Alchemist.
Liu Qing’s tone was casual, and he made no attempt to hide his disdain, which infuriated Qin Ya. He replied coldly, "Any of them."
’Ten thousand years from now, the Alchemy Dao is in decline. Most of the so-called "classics" are just texts passed down verbatim from my era. Not only do I know them by heart, but my mastery of them is perfect. I can even extrapolate from them to derive new principles.’
’When it came to the Alchemy Dao, he had long since reached a level unprecedented in history.’
"Arrogant whelp! So, you’re an Alchemist, are you? Then let’s discuss one of the most basic First-Grade Elixirs. Tell us about the refining method and ingredients for the Profound Pure Gathering Essence Pill."
Qin Ya gave Liu Qing an indifferent glance and slowly said, "The Profound Pure Gathering Source Pill requires a total of forty-eight ingredients. They are Clear Sky Water, Profound Pure Three-Leaf Fruit, Stone Insect Hide, Golden Spirit Sand..."
"The refining method requires heating the Clear Sky Water over a low flame, mixing the juice of the Profound Pure Three-Leaf Fruit with Lark Gallbladder, and then..."
Qin Ya’s expression was cool and detached, but his words flowed like pearls, his speech smooth and without the slightest hesitation. Initially, Liu Qing found himself nodding internally. ’This young man may be arrogant, but he does have some genuine skill,’ he thought.
’Although the Profound Pure Gathering Essence Pill is a First-Grade Elixir, the combination of ingredients is quite complex. Its refining difficulty is no less than that of a Second-Grade pill. Even some veteran First-Grade Alchemists will fail if they are the slightest bit careless.’
There were quite a few Alchemists among the teachers, and they were all secretly amazed. ’This boy’s explanation is so clear and logical,’ they thought. ’The steps are precise, and the ingredient pairings are seamless. Many First-Grade Alchemists couldn’t do this. Mmm, he’s got some real skill.’
But gradually, the Alchemists’ expressions shifted from admiration to surprise, then to confusion, and finally to elation. Their faces were a whirlwind of changing emotions. The way they looked at Qin Ya began to change, their gazes growing heavy with significance.
