Chapter 7: Enrollment

**Chapter 7: Enrollment**

Jie Ming quickly reviewed the scroll. Its contents matched the Alchemy promotion screen, just more detailed.

During the apprenticeship, the academy’s alchemy workshop would provide basic food, lodging, systematic knowledge, and limited experimental resources.

Apprentices had to complete assigned study tasks and workshop chores to earn credits for advanced knowledge and resources.

The obligation: upon reaching first-rank official wizard status or completing ten years of study, apprentices must serve the workshop on the front lines for thirty years.

This involved following orders and completing tasks like crafting potions, repairing tools, and participating in research projects.

The penalty for breaching the contract was dire—massive credit and resource fines, plus damage to the soul’s origin, ranging from mental strength decline to soul collapse, a fate worse than death.

Why not death? Because wizards themselves were valuable research material, and the workshop wouldn’t waste them in a manpower shortage.

“I have no questions, Mentor.” Jie Ming looked up, his gaze resolute.

Clark glanced at him, a glint in his eyes. His earlier smug smile had reverted to a stern expression.

He nodded, instructing Jie Ming to drip a drop of blood and let a wisp of mental strength be drawn into the scroll.

As the blood seeped in and the mental strength merged, the scroll erupted in brighter light.

Complex runes flickered, then transformed into a stream of light that merged into the apprentice badge in Clark’s hand.

The alchemy crucible emblem on the badge glowed briefly.

The contract was sealed.

Clark put away the scroll, his tone returning to its usual flatness. “Good. Since you’ve chosen Alchemy, prepare for patience and resolve. There are no thrilling adventures here, only daily experiments, calculations, and failures. But if you persist, the rewards won’t disappoint.”

He pulled two heavy books and a seemingly weighty wooden box from under the desk.

“This is the *Basic Alchemy Manual*, covering everything a novice alchemist apprentice must master—from material identification to potion crafting, basic rune carving to simple alchemical constructs. Your basic credits will come from these.” Clark handed the book to Jie Ming, its pages heavy in his hands.

He passed over a slightly thinner book. “This is the *Basic Meditation Method*. You have ten days until classes start to master and enter it. Failure means losing a month’s resources.”

He handed over the wooden box. “This contains basic tools and common materials. The workshop has public labs, but you need to book time, and all material usage must be logged. Advanced materials require credits.”

Finally, Clark’s expression grew stern. “Some basic rules. First, safety above all! Alchemy experiments are dangerous; any mistake could cause explosions, toxic gas, or worse. Follow protocols strictly! Second, no private fighting in the workshop; disputes go to mentors for arbitration. Third, respect knowledge—handle borrowed books and equipment with care. Fourth, credits are your only currency here. Earn them diligently.”

After a few more words, he waved dismissively. “Your dorm is in District One; the enrollment guide has a map. Go. Master the *Basic Meditation Method*, ignite your spiritual flame, and preview the *Basic Alchemy Manual*. Ask me only about problems you can’t solve through thinking and practice.”

Jie Ming thanked the mentor respectfully, donned his alchemist apprentice badge, and left the Alchemy area with the heavy books and box.

Following the map, he quickly found the Alchemy apprentice dorms.

The entire building seemed made of an unknown metal, gleaming under the sunlight.

Occasional faint explosions echoed from rooms, and the air carried various unidentifiable odors.

Thankfully, the dorm’s ventilation and safety systems were effective, swiftly dispersing stray gases with seemingly minimal casualties… probably.

Jie Ming watched silently as a frothing, convulsing apprentice was swiftly carried off by silver-white humanoid golems.

…Okay, maybe not *that* safe.

He found his room number and opened the door with his badge.

The dorm was small, about ten square meters.

Besides a private bathroom near the entrance, it had only a bed, a desk, and a long chair.

Most notable was a worn-looking small experiment table in the corner, with glassware, test tubes, and an intricately detailed mechanical clock on the desk.

This would be his home and study space for a long time. It was modest, but sufficient as a dorm.

Jie Ming placed the *Basic Alchemy Manual* and *Basic Meditation Method* on the desk and opened the heavy wooden box. Inside were neatly arranged basic alchemy tools—crucible, mortar, measuring cup, tweezers, a small flame projector—and bottles of various colored powders, liquids, and plants.

Without sorting the contents, Jie Ming plopped onto the chair, sensing the energy fluctuations and aura around him, so different from his internal true essence, and gazed out the window at the sky, slightly dazed.

The *Basic Alchemy Manual*, the experimental tools, the unfamiliar glassware, and the grand, mysterious academy buildings outside all silently told him—he had stepped into a new world.

“Hoo…”

Exhaling deeply as if exhausted, Jie Ming regained some energy.

Though the process had gone smoothly, his mind had been on high alert until now, finally relaxing slightly.

“I was a bit careless…” he sighed, shaking his head.

With his keen perception, he could feel the Logistics mentors’ intense gazes and knew he’d become too conspicuous.

“This was due to insufficient information. To match today’s performance, I’ll need to tweak my plans going forward…”