Chapter Eighteen: Quality Grading

The classification of weapons in the wizarding world is rather imprecise. The earliest system simply divided them into three categories: basic alchemical implements, intermediate alchemical implements, and advanced alchemical implements. Yet, even the so-called basic alchemical implements were already costly weapons that any Level 1 wizard would have to pay a hefty price to acquire—fully-fledged weapons suitable for an official wizard. As for the advanced ones, each was of strategic importance, and no one would part with them lightly.

And apprentice-level alchemical tools? Could those even be called alchemical creations?

Clearly, such a broad and uneven classification was far from reasonable. In recent times, another rating system has become more prevalent: inferior, common, fine, excellent, exceptional, and perfect—these are now the standards by which equipment is judged.

The Dragon’s Breath Blade could just about be considered a common-grade alchemical weapon. Even a Level 3 wizard apprentice wouldn’t be embarrassed to carry it, and it could easily fetch around 130 magic crystals on the market. The cost of the materials used, on the other hand, was likely no more than 30 magic crystals—a staggering profit margin.

This realization gave Qi Xiao much more confidence in the prospects of becoming an alchemist. Still, he intended to keep this blade as a memento and would forge a new Dragon’s Breath Blade for sale later on.

Despite feeling physically and mentally drained, Qi Xiao was in high spirits. With this cheerful mood, he stepped outside, only to see Raymond squatting dejectedly in the hall. Beside him stood a little girl in a red hat and a fur coat that was obviously several sizes too large, trailing on the ground.

“Senior Raymond? What’s wrong? And who’s this young girl?” Qi Xiao was a bit surprised to see Raymond there and approached to greet him.

No sooner had he spoken than Qi Xiao felt a light knock on his head.

“Ouch,” he muttered, rubbing his head as he looked at the little girl in front of him, who was waving her fist. He had a suspicion.

“Are you... Senior Sister Eve?” Eve had a childlike face, her golden hair braided in several plaits and her emerald eyes radiating nothing but cuteness. She looked up and said, “At least you have some sense. Since it’s your first offense, I’ll overlook it this time. But if it happens again...”

Qi Xiao only saw a little girl acting cute and felt no hint of threat—if anything, he found it rather endearing. Still, he played along with a smile. “I didn’t recognize you the first time we met, Senior Sister. It won’t happen again, I promise.”

Perhaps being called “senior sister” twice had pleased her, for she couldn’t help but smile. “I’ll forgive you for making me wait so long and for your thoughtless comment about my height... Wait a second, is that what you just made?” Eve pointed her chubby finger at the Dragon’s Breath Blade in Qi Xiao’s arms.

“This? Yes, it’s my first real alchemical product. I call it the Dragon’s Breath Blade,” Qi Xiao replied, a touch of pride in his voice.

A flicker of surprise flashed through Eve’s eyes. “Can I take a look?”

Qi Xiao handed her the blade, and Raymond also leaned in for a better view.

Eve ran her hand over the hilt and blade, then tried channeling some magic into it. Only then did her shock fully show.

“You just made this? And you’re not even an apprentice-level wizard yet? You can already memorize those variants of runes? You can even inscribe magic patterns?!”

Eve’s questions weren’t really questions at all, but an outlet for her astonishment. Qi Xiao scratched his head, unsure how to respond—anything he said now would sound like boasting.

Raymond, on the other hand, perked up and said with pride, “I told you, our junior brother’s talent for alchemy is basically off the charts. You didn’t believe me and insisted on coming to see for yourself, just to get a little humbled. And you complain about looking for the ‘Wizard’s Path’ every day—hasn’t that been enough to bother you already, hmph.”

Eve, still in a daze, returned the Dragon’s Breath Blade to Qi Xiao, muttering to herself as if under a spell.

Raymond gloated, “You have no idea how long she spent studying runes just to set up that ritual—never did master them, and in the end had to pay a fortune for a magus to draw the array. You’ve really dealt her quite a blow—she must be so jealous of you right now.”

Eve snapped back to herself, jabbed Raymond hard in the waist, and growled, “Do you think I’m like you? Junior brother is one of us; how could I possibly be jealous? Slander me again and I’ll challenge you in the trial tower.”

She then composed herself and looked at Qi Xiao with satisfaction—couldn’t quite reach his shoulder, so she patted his arm instead and said, “Good junior brother, I have high hopes for you. Someday you’ll have to make a whole set for your senior sister. Here, this is my gift to you for our first meeting. Hunted it this morning—still fresh.”

Eve pressed a button on her wristband, and the carcass of a stag-like magical beast, exuding a faint sense of menace, appeared on the floor.

“This is a Crystal Antler Stag. Its antlers and hide are top-notch alchemical materials, and its blood and meat are excellent ingredients. You can have Grandpa Merck help you process it—your body needs the nourishment right now,” Eve said, clapping her hands, very pleased with her catch.

Qi Xiao smiled. “Then I won’t stand on ceremony. Thank you for your generous gift, Senior Sister.”

At the mention of “ingredients,” Raymond clutched his stomach. Realizing the others would keep exchanging pleasantries for ages, he hurriedly interjected, “I’m starving. Let’s go eat—teacher finished ages ago, and if we don’t hurry, we’ll be going to bed hungry.”

Qi Xiao hadn’t eaten anything since waking up, and now that it was mentioned, he realized he was famished. The three hurried to the dining hall.

They hadn’t waited long before three exquisite dinners were served, each dish a little different. Qi Xiao wasn’t sure what the others were eating, but his own meal was not only delicious—it seemed to ease his mental fatigue as well.

On careful tasting, he thought it must be some kind of seafood. In his previous life, he’d never cared much for fish or shellfish, but this delicacy was impossible to resist.

After eating his fill, Qi Xiao delivered Eve’s gift to Merck for processing, bid farewell to his two seniors, and returned to his dormitory, dragging the Dragon’s Breath Blade behind him.

He placed the blade on a nearby rack, planning to forge a scabbard for it the next day. Turning on his desk lamp, he took out a slip of paper from his pocket, densely covered with formulas, symbols, and various data.

Honestly, over a decade of education made it easier for Qi Xiao to accept and understand these formulas, but the clash, conflict, and eventual fusion of old and new knowledge left him feeling unsettled. It was hard to break away from the thought patterns of his previous life.

Level 1 Spatial Cantrip: Spatial Teleportation.

Level 1 Spatial Cantrip: Spatial Shift.

Compared to the simple and memorable Level 0 cantrips, Level 1 spells were far more complex in their model construction. Spatial spells, in particular, required much more understanding and calculation than other schools. One had to treat the current spatial coordinates as variables and solve them on the spot. Even with formulas to substitute in, it was easy to lag a step behind.