Teacher by day, Farmer by passion

Pot Black stomach churned.

Damn it! This brat actually pulled it off!

A bead of sweat rolled down his temple. His fingers twitched as he fought the urge to reach out and snatch a pill for himself.

The wager.

50,000 taels of gold!

That wasn't a small amount, No! it was his entire fortune.

As a Level 4 Formation Master, he wasn't poor, but that much gold represented years of careful investments and strategic saving.

Losing it all in a single moment…

Unacceptable!

He had to find a flaw.

His hand shot out. "I need to check these pills!"

Ace raised an eyebrow, but he didn't stop him.

Pot Black walked down the podium and snatched a pill, his movements quick, almost desperate.

He turned it over, squinting hard, searching for any possible flaws, an imperfection, a crack, something he could use to discredit Ace's victory.

The students began to whisper among themselves.

"What is Elder Pot Black doing?"

"Isn't Professor Lotus' judgment enough? She admitted it was better than hers."

Pot Black's hands trembled slightly as he could really find no fault with it.

There was nothing wrong with the pill.

It wasn't fake pill, nor could be find it flawed. It was perfect. Freshly refined.

His face paled, lips parting slightly as if to speak but no words came.

Ace watched Pot Black with mild amusement, arms crossed as the old man turned the pill over and over in his trembling hands.

DESPERATE.

That was the only word to describe Pot Black right now.

Ace finally let out a chuckle, slow and deliberate, like a predator toying with its prey.

"Elder," he said lazily, "If you stare any harder at that pill, I'm afraid you'll burn a hole through it."

The comment made the students snicker, but Pot Black didn't respond, he couldn't.

His mind was too busy scrambling for a way out.

Ace stepped closer, his voice dropping just enough for Pot Black to hear.

"Would you like to test it? Just like Professor Lotus did?"

The moment those words left his lips, Pot Black's fingers clenched around the pill. His reaction was so immediate, so telling, that Ace had to stop himself from laughing.

Scared, are we?

It was one thing to nitpick, to search for flaws with his eyes. But to take the pill himself? To prove—without a doubt—that Ace's alchemy was superior?

That would be admitting complete and utter defeat.

Pot Black's jaw tightened. He couldn't afford to refuse, not in front of all these students, not after making such a scene.

But the hesitation had already been seen.

Ignoring the old man entirely, Ace turned his gaze to the gathered students.

His voice was calm yet commanding, carrying across the stunned silence that had overtaken the arena.

"With this, I believe none of you should have any doubts left."

The golden-hued pills still floated lazily above his palm, a silent but undeniable testament to his skill.

The students were too shocked to respond.

Some still struggled to reconcile what they had just witnessed.

Ace continued, his tone cool and matter-of-fact.

"As a Master Alchemist myself, if you wish to attend my class, make it worth my time."

A ripple of disbelief spread through the students, some exchanging stunned glances while others gaped outright.

"A Master Alchemist? Here?"

"NO WAY!"

He had said it so casually, as if it were nothing, when even Level 3 Alchemists were highly respected within the academy.

Ace's eyes swept over them, unwavering.

"There are a few things you'll want to keep in mind," he continued, voice steady but laced with undeniable authority.

"Arrogance and disrespect stay outside the door of my class."

More whispers.

He wasn't even in the academy properly yet, and he was already laying down rules?!

"Obedience, respect, and concentration. These are what I demand."

Silence. The students, still too stunned to fully react, exchanged glances.

Then, without another word, Ace turned.

"Disperse." The word rang out, calm yet absolute, leaving no room for argument.

No more explanation nor further instructions. Just disperse, as if he had already decided they were dismissed.

The students were frozen in place.

What?

This new professor, who hadn't even been properly introduced to the academy yet, was already dismissing them?

In front of the headmaster?!

A heavy pause stretched between them all as they tried to process what had just happened, some even turned to see Headmaster Amon reaction.

Just then, from behind Ace, a faint exhale broke the silence.

Lotus slowly opened her eyes as she had just finished absorbing the pill.

And the first thing she did…

Was stare at Ace.

Completely, utterly speechless.

I was competing against a master Alchemist?!

Ace crossed his arms, looking at Lotus with an impatient expression. "What are you staring at? Pack up your things."

Lotus froze. A cold chill ran down her spine as countless thoughts flooded her mind. Was she getting fired?

Her fingers clenched at the hem of her robes. But why? Was it because she had challenged him? Because she had dared to stand against him in the alchemy duel?

The more she thought about it, the more plausible it seemed.

A Master Alchemist held power beyond measure. Even the royal family would bend over backward to curry favor with someone like that.

If the new professor truly wanted her gone…

She swallowed. I could be dismissed… exiled… even silenced.

Her stomach twisted at the thought. She wasn't just some lowly apprentice. She was a respected professor, just a step away from becoming a Master Alchemist herself.

But in front of him, that gap may as well have been a bottomless chasm.

Despair began to creep into her heart.

Then, she heard something that made her nearly stumble.

"What are you daydreaming about? You'll be my assistant. I don't want a useless bulb hanging around."

Lotus blinked. "A… an assistant?"

Her mind blanked for a second. Did she mishear?

She wasn't being cast out?

Ace was choosing her—a respected professor—as his assistant?

She should've been insulted. Outraged. But when she met Ace's gaze, all she felt was relief.

She didn't even have time to question what a 'bulb' was before she lowered her head into a deep bow.

"Thank you for sparing me, Senior. I will do my best to be your greatest assistant," she said, her voice genuine.

Ace simply waved a hand dismissively, already turning away.

Meanwhile, Pot Black, still lost in his own grief, had completely missed the hateful glare Lotus shot at him.