In today's anatomy class, Madam Morton aimed for the gradual acclimation of everyone to the impact of flesh and organs. She only asked the students to dissect white mice, refraining from introducing new dissection subjects.
Encouraged by Xia Zuo, Anju attempted to operate.
After independently dissecting the first one, this lass unexpectedly proposed dissecting another.
Xia Zuo once doubted if he'd unlocked some wondrous mind connection, awakening her deeper persona.
At noon, the two dined in the cafeteria, each with a steak, pasta, and vegetable soup—no traces of the anatomy class burden.
Twirling pasta on his fork, Xia Zuo asked, "Is the study of oil elixir alchemy challenging?"
"My mentor says, as long as your sense of smell is normal and you possess air resistance, this branch of alchemy is quite easy to master. It should be the easiest among the four branches. It might pose some difficulty without air resistance."
Anju wiped her mouth with a napkin, glancing at the central dessert display. "I'll get some dessert. Do you want anything?"
Xia Zuo declined, then, upon her return, delicately inquired, "Have you always lived on your own?"
Anju's eyes wandered to the clouds, reminiscing. "When I was nine, my parents sent me to the girls' school in Rosac City. In the second week, messengers brought news of their demise. Thankfully, I survived on their legacy at the school. At twelve, I began painting; my teacher praised my talent. After a few years of learning, I could sustain myself by selling paintings."
Xia Zuo lowered his gaze, nodding solemnly, raising his glass. "To our parents, for granting us life."
Anju raised hers. "To our parents."
Glasses clinked; they finished their drinks.
Standing up with his empty glass, Xia Zuo asked, "What juice would you like?"
"Any fruit juice will do," Anju smiled, passing her empty glass.
Chatting over lunch, they returned to their dorms by 12:30.
Xia Zuo lay on his bed for ten minutes before shouldering his bag for the Poisonous Alchemy room.
At 12:50, he was the first student at the class location.
Professor Kurov arranged various toxin bottles meticulously on a large table. "Xia Zuo, you're here."
"Good afternoon, Professor Kurov." Xia Zuo bowed.
"Have you read 'Toxin Separation'?"
"I've memorized it."
"Memorized?"
Kurov glanced, gesturing to the unlabelled bottles. "Tell me what's in the third row, seventh column."
For the initial minute, Xia Zuo cross-referenced his knowledge. Suppressing the urge to slap his forehead at identifying the third bottle, he complained internally, why not just use detection magic!
Detection magic was a stellar skill in identification!
Given adequate knowledge and perception, it gave accurate results, bypassing the need for thought.
Xia Zuo rubbed his chin, feigning a gradual entry into focus, accelerating his identification pace.
These sixty bottles were basic toxins in four major toxin domains, combining to create various compound toxins.
Mixing compound toxins with specific solvents produced poisons.
The challenge in Poisonous Alchemy lay in exploring compound toxins.
Mathematically, with sixty different symbols, pairing two created 1770 unique combinations.
Three symbols made 1711 unique combinations.
This way, sixty bottles could form over ten thousand different compound toxins.
'Toxin Separation' documented sixty basic toxins without compound toxin details.
Alchemy branches typically found paths after setting goals.
Poisonous Alchemy already had paths, exploring their ends—its charm.
"Professor Kurov, you've set out sixty basic toxins." Xia Zuo confidently spoke.
"Oh? What's in the third row, seventh column?" Kurov pointed.
Xia Zuo used detection magic toward the target and calmly replied, "Vinegreen, from the fresh shoots of green vines, it induces potent paralysis in humanoid beings."
"And that bottle? Sixth row, second column."
"Sunflower, from deep-sea anemones, induces strong dizziness in humanoid beings."
Xia Zuo answered the mentor's questions composedly, pausing a few seconds before each response, pretending to discern and ponder.
Kurov quizzed on a few more toxins.
With flawless responses, he picked two toxins, placing them on the alchemy table. "Mix these two at a 3:7 ratio, steam them; what do you get? Grind them, then dry; what do you get? Brew them in clear water; what results? What are the products of these three alchemical operations?"
"Professor, that's beyond the scope. 'Toxin Separation' covers only isolation and basic toxins."
Kurov chuckled, encouraging, "Alchemy operation applications are in 'Alchemy Linguistics.' Headmistress mentioned you've self-studied it. You can probably imagine the effects of the operations I mentioned. Use your imagination."
The academy professors seemed well-informed; earlier inspected by Beryl, Kurov already knew by the afternoon class...
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