Chapter 50: The Alchemist’s Ambition and a Night Market Encounter

Having meticulously researched within the academy over the past three years, Ye Xingchen discovered that the scope of alchemy far surpassed his initial imagination.

This ancient discipline not only encompassed foundational fields such as alchemy, physics, and chemistry, but also extended into numerous areas like biological modification, magic potion brewing, and magic array inscription.

Such an all-encompassing system opened the gates to a new world for him, particularly offering fresh perspectives on expanding his side professions and enhancing his pharmaceutical skills.

The magical realm’s potionology, in particular, provided him with a wealth of inspiration; unlike the simple fusion of medicinal herbs in the cultivation world, here, the properties of elixirs could be altered by integrating different elemental magical energies, even leading to the creation of novel concoctions with elemental characteristics.

Indeed, the semi-finished handgun at his waist represented one of his most significant research achievements during these years.

This design stemmed from his concept of combining non-attributed elemental affinity with spiritual energy.

While firearms on Earth relied on gunpowder propulsion, in this magical world, he endeavored to utilize magical energy as a power source.

Ideally, it would only require an injection of energy to activate, making it both environmentally friendly and highly efficient.

However, the actual development process proved far more arduous than anticipated; materials capable of bearing spiritual energy were unexpectedly scarce.

Ordinary metals simply could not withstand the energy impact, let alone a core barrel that needed to endure repeated energy overloads.

This particular issue was even more challenging than engraving power-generating magic arrays onto the firearm, so much so that its external design remained stuck in the blueprint stage.

In Ye Xingchen’s vision, this magic-powered kinetic gun would perfectly resolve the dilemma of force control.

When facing weaker opponents, he would merely need to adjust the injected energy to precisely control its lethality, thereby eliminating the concern of inadvertently delivering a fatal blow with his Saint-tier cultivation.

Yet, all of this hinged on finding specialized materials capable of containing spiritual energy.

It was within the reward list of this very competition that a certain rare material, Star Ore, presented him with a glimmer of hope.

***

At this moment, Ye Xingchen was navigating the bustling night market, simultaneously conceptualizing improvement plans.

His dual body’s greatest advantage lay in its ability to multitask: Ye Xingchen handled the purchasing and payments, while Su Liyue could simply focus on savoring various snacks.

This division of labor was highly efficient, saving both time and effort, though it left Mu Wanqing, who followed alongside, in a somewhat awkward position, enduring her best friend’s constant feeding while witnessing the peculiar sight of ‘two people’ working in such perfect synchronicity.

As they passed a herb stall, Ye Xingchen suddenly halted.

A certain herb, glowing with a faint blue luminescence on the stall, instantly captured his attention.

This magical plant, known to periodically change color under moonlight, was precisely what he had recently encountered in an ancient text…

“Boss, how much for this?” Ye Xingchen leaned down, pointing to the herb shimmering with a faint blue light.

The proprietor, without lifting his head, lazily raised a single finger: “One gold coin.”

‘One gold coin?!’ Ye Xingchen nearly bit his tongue.

This was the academy’s commercial street; where would ordinary students acquire such a sum?

According to this world’s currency conversion, 100 copper coins equaled one silver coin, and 100 silver coins equaled one gold coin.

Together, his and Su Liyue’s monthly allowance barely amounted to 30 silver coins, not even enough to buy half a stalk of the herb.

This price instantly transported him back to his student days on Earth, recalling the hardship of subsisting on instant noodles in his dorm just to afford game equipment.

Should he actually buy this herb, he and Su Liyue would likely be forced to eat dirt for several months.

Ye Xingchen silently shook his head.

Subjecting Su Liyue to months of austere living for an herb that wasn’t urgently needed simply wasn’t worth it.

Moreover, in this world, he was once again experiencing that familiar predicament of ‘even a hero can be stumped by a single coin’ (TL Note: A Chinese idiom describing the helplessness of even capable individuals when faced with financial constraints).

Developing magic firearms and purchasing alchemical materials — which of these didn’t demand funds?

Not to mention, he now had a wife to support.

His gaze then shifted to the discarded peppercorns and mint leaves in a neglected corner, and his eyes brightened.

He hadn’t expected the magical world to possess these spices, though it seemed the local populace was completely unaware of their culinary value.

“How much for these?” he asked, pointing to the pile of spices in the corner.

“Take them all for one copper coin.

Just so you know, these are just weird-smelling weeds; don’t expect any magical effects,” the vendor waved dismissively.

“Deal.” Ye Xingchen promptly paid, and as the boss packed them in coarse paper, he couldn’t help but muse.

This world, he thought, was quite environmentally conscious, lacking even plastic bags.

Still, for such ‘junk materials,’ a paper bag was already a generous gesture, as they weren’t valuable magical herbs; who would bother to include an expensive magic preservation bag with them?

Having just bought the spices, Ye Xingchen quickened his pace to catch up with Su Liyue and Mu Wanqing, who happened to be standing before an accessories shop.

Su Liyue held a water-element magic necklace, inlaid with a sapphire.

Its price of 10 silver coins was indeed affordable for an apprentice mage, especially with practical training scheduled for tomorrow; this necklace, which boosted water-element magic effects, would be quite beneficial for team combat.

Although the enhancement wasn’t substantial, for apprentice mages like them, it was still a decent advantage for tomorrow’s practical training, at least in terms of boosting overall team strength, given that their team would undoubtedly consist of Mu Wanqing, Su Liyue, and her ‘inexpensive boyfriend,’ Ye Xingchen.

Consequently, Su Liyue hurriedly urged Ye Xingchen to come over as soon as he finished his purchase, as her wallet was still in his possession.

However, just as Ye Xingchen pulled out Su Liyue’s adorable pink wallet, preparing to pay, an irritating voice suddenly broke the silence,

“Fellow student, I’ve taken a liking to this water-element magic necklace; might you be willing to part with it?”

Su Liyue and Ye Xingchen simultaneously frowned and looked in the direction of the voice, spotting a senior student with blond hair, fanning himself with a folding fan.

Though he wore the school uniform, he had deliberately unbuttoned a few buttons, revealing a trendy inner layer.

The fourth-year emblem on his chest glinted under the lights, and an uncomfortably smug smile played on his lips.

‘It seems these persistent nuisances are everywhere; no sooner had Xiao Qicai left than another delinquent, this blond-haired youth, appeared,’ Su Liyue thought, unable to help but press a hand to her forehead, a look of utter exasperation on her face.

‘Indeed, being beautiful can sometimes be quite a bother.’

“I apologize, Senior, but I saw this necklace first. I trust you wouldn’t try to snatch something from a junior like me, would you?” she said, forcing a polite smile despite her discomfort.

The blond-haired senior, far from backing down, instead took a step closer with a slightly lewd grin, snapping his fan shut with a ‘clack’:

“How could I? Junior Su Liyue is widely recognized as Starfall Academy’s genius campus belle… I merely wish to buy it to give ‘personally’ to you, Junior.”

He even emphasized the word “personally,” as if afraid others wouldn’t grasp his implication.

His words sent shivers down Su Liyue’s spine.

This familiar tactic instantly reminded her of the ‘Shamat’ (TL Note: A Chinese subculture known for flamboyant hairstyles, often dyed bright colors, and rebellious attitudes) trend that was popular on Earth for a while; wasn’t he precisely a blond-haired Shamat?

Only, his natural blond hair was far more authentic than any dye job on Earth.

Su Liyue couldn’t help but glance at Ye Xingchen’s standard black hair, then touched her own silver-white long hair.

Setting aside Earth’s expressions like ‘black and white matching’ or ‘boy and girl pairing’ for couple hairstyles, she was simply grateful to both their parents for not having them ‘born with yellow hair’ (TL Note: A humorous reference to the blond-haired senior, implying a less desirable appearance).

Otherwise, she imagined Ye Xingchen, returning to the Spirit Realm with a head of blond hair, would surely be laughed at by the Yaochi Saintess, his masters, and other fellow Daoists until their teeth fell out.

If he were also paired with muscles and lightning effects, he would truly become a Super Saiyan!