After a minute, three young people looking in their twenties entered the carriage. They were surprised to see Arkhen and questioned, "I told you we booked this carriage."
"Hah, there's plenty of space even if there are double of you. And you've already been late. Do you want to go or not?"
The sound of the carriage driver speaking entered the carriage, making Arkhen internally smile.
"Fine. Let us hurry."
The carriage started moving towards the Royal Academy, which was twenty kilometers away.
"Where are you from?" a girl with twin braids asked Arkhen as she adjusted her glasses.
"Cherry Blossom Mountain sect," Arkhen replied with a smile.
"Are you also heading to the Royal Academy?" asked the man with long black hair and wearing a dirty green robe.
"Yep. I am planning to participate in the Alchemy Competition," Arkhen answered with a grin.
"Oh, what a coincidence! We three are also majoring in alchemy students. What is the top-notch class-9 potion that you crafted to date?"
"Eh? I actually don't know anything about Alchemy yet," Arkhen said with a wry smile. "But I should be able to learn fast and participate in the competition."
Hearing that, the three students in the carriage were dumbfounded.
"You are joking, right?"
"Must be. Hahaha, you can't just start learning alchemy now and participate in the competition ten days later. You will be eliminated in the 1st round."
"Nah, I am not joking," Arkhen said as he lightly laughed, "I am a fast learner."
The three students felt ridiculous and didn't talk to Arkhen after that. All three of them were 6th-class powerhouses and could craft class-9 potions.
They didn't hope to win, but they at least wanted to be in the top 10 to get those juicy rewards.
Arkhen appreciated the silence because he also knew that what he said was a very ridiculous thing.
However, he intended to win!
'Velshi, you said Immortal Idol Alchemist can teach me fast. Haha, Let's see how fast it will be.'
[You will be pleasantly surprised. After registering for the competition, you should attend the alchemy classes in the academy. During the classes, you can activate the Immortal Idol Alchemist's power to learn quickly].
...
Arkhen was taken aback when he arrived at the magnificent Royal Academy. It was a huge academy. People were excited because there was going to be a grand alchemist competition, and the academy was busy getting ready for it.
He didn't know why people were excited about some Alchemy competition where a bunch of people would just sit and craft potions.
Alas... Arkhen didn't know that the Alchemy competition was much more exciting than that because it doesn't just involve sitting and crafting potions!
As Arkhen walked through the giant gates of the academy, he saw a girl and a boy quickly approaching him.
"Hello, are you here to participate in the competition or simple classes?" the girl with long pink hair and a white skin tone asked.
"Obviously, he is here for an alchemy competition, haha. Right, brother?" the boy said with a laugh.
"Indeed. I want to participate in the competition."
"Then follow us. We'll take you to the registration. After that, if you want to join some training classes to clash against other alchemists to hone your craft, then you can temporarily join our Skyflare Alchemist Club," the girl said with a cute grin.
"Yep. We are one of the cheapest but biggest clubs here. Just 100 high-grade essence to join until the competition is over."
'They can be good salesmen,' Arkhen thought before he smiled and nodded. "Alright, let's go."
Since they approached him, he decided to save trouble and time by going along with them.
After registering his name inside a big building with multiple desks, Arkhen got a badge. The badge was proof that he was a participant, and he would need it to participate in the competition after ten days.
Afterward, Arkhen was taken to another building, a mini-manor of a sort with a big backyard.
"This is our clubhouse. Please enjoy your stay here, haha. We are going back to bring in more people," the girl said with a chuckle before she and her partner left.
After they left, a woman looking in her early thirties approached Arkhen. She had a slightly dark skin tone and a sexy body covered by a V-neck black dress, showing a tempting cleavage.
"Hello~ My name is Shasha. Let's get you assessed first," Sasha said with a smile as her elf ears moved. She was a dark elf with long darker purple hair!
"There's no need for assessment. I don't know anything about Alchemy," Arkhen said with a smile.
"Hmm?" Sasha was surprised and felt that she misheard, "did you say that you don't know anything about Alchemy?"
"Correct."
"Haha, stop joking. Anyway, let's go to a workshop. I'll provide you with the ingredients of a class-2 potion, Red Fury. Let's see what grade of Red Fury you create," saying that, Shasha turned around and walked towards a corridor.
Arkhen shrugged and followed her. He had to start at one point anyway.
They soon entered a room where many people were concocting a potion in front of a rectangular table with a cauldron and a slew of ingredients on top.
"I succeeded!! I created a Perfect-grade Class-2 Gale Force Potion!" a man with two red antennas and red skin shouted as his cauldron burst with a unique aura and some colorful sparks.
"Congrats. You may join the elite section and compete with alchemists there. Also, what was your original Alchemist star?"
"Eight Star. I am able to craft Class-8 potions with no trouble."
Arkhen saw a man with two antennas leaving with a club member and raised his eyebrows. He knew that there were four grades in each class of potions. Basically, a higher grade of a certain potion means that the effects of that potion would be higher. The perfect grade was the highest grade.
"Here is your table. The ingredients are ready as well. Come on, craft it," Sasha said with a smile as she gestured to Arkhen.
[No worries, my lord. I am activating the Immortal Idol Alchemist. It will aid you greatly]
Arkhen heard Velshi's voice, followed by a monotone female voice that was slightly magnetic.
[Red Fury Potion recipe detected. Do you want to learn it?]
[Gate Force potion recipe detected. Do you want to learn it?]
[Rock-Star Coat Pill recipe detected. Do you want to learn it?]