In the past, she was only slightly better than a passerby at the academy.
But ever since their last trip back to Wu Tan City and their return, their treatment at the academy had gradually changed. Tutor Ruolin took great care of them, and there was even an Elder who wanted to take them as disciples.
She knew that all of this was brought to them by Xu Ran.
It was because the academy valued Xu Ran that they treated them so well.
"By the way, I've concocted some elixirs suitable for you that can help you improve your strength. There are also some cultivation techniques and Dou Techniques. Starting today, you'll be cultivating with me. I guarantee that you all will be able to enter the Inner Court," Xu Ran said with a chuckle.
"Really? Brother Xu Ran, you're so kind. Boo hoo, Mei'er's cultivation has been progressing so slowly ever since we left you," Xiao Mei said as she joyfully jumped up.
When she was in Wu Tan City, Xu Ran helped her, and she casually reached the Dou Shi level, making rapid progress.
But upon entering Canaan Academy, with her own cultivation, her pace had slowed down again.
However, Xu Ran had helped improve her aptitude so even without Xu Ran's assistance, her current cultivation speed could match anyone in the Inner Court of Canaan Academy.
"You girl, you can't rely on me alone. You have to work hard on your own cultivation too. Otherwise, what will you do if one day I can't help you?" Xu Ran poked Xiao Mei's forehead.
"Boo hoo, Mei'er doesn't care. Brother Xu Ran is the best. Anyway, I don't need to become very strong. Mei'er never wanted to become an unmatched powerhouse," Xiao Mei pouted.
She was wearing a loose blouse and a pair of blue shorts, sitting on Xu Ran's lap, her round legs swinging carefreely.
"That's true."
Xu Ran paused.
Xiao Mei and Xun Er were different; Xiao Mei didn't have much of a desire to become a strong fighter, and truly, without her own cultivation, she didn't have much of a future.
On the other hand, Xun Er and the others were different; their innate talents were extremely high, and in the future, they could break through this plane on their own and become formidable fighters.
Xu Ran did not expect all of them to become capable of standing on their own. Even without cultivating, he could help them grow, ensuring their self-protection was no issue at all.
"Xu Ran, you're playing favorites, only doting on Xun Er and Mei'er," Xiao Yu said, watching Xiao Mei having monopolized Xu Ran again, she pouted, feeling a bit jealous.
"Then let's do it together..."
Xu Ran pulled Xiao Yu into his arms...
After the indescribable, Xu Ran started guiding Xun Er and the others in their cultivation.
Xun Er was a member of the Gu Clan with a profound foundation. Xu Ran modified some of the Gu Clan's Dou Techniques and concocted some side-effect-free elixirs that were suitable for her to take.
Xun Er's talent was much higher than Xiao Yu's and Xiao Mei's, and she had the potential to become a great support to him in the future, so naturally, Xu Ran put more effort into cultivating Xun Er.
As for Xiao Yu and Xiao Mei, Xu Ran simply helped them level up directly.
They didn't have the deep desire to become powerful like Xun Er did, and relying on their own cultivation, it would still be hard for them to cross those insurmountable levels in the future. It was more practical to help them enhance their strength.
After all, with his alchemy skills, helping his girls to reach the Dou Sheng level was not a problem.
In just half a day, Xun Er and the others had all reached the Great Fighter level and began to assault the Dou Spirit level.
In the Outer Court of Canaan Academy, the strongest were only high-level Great Fighters.
If Xiao Yu and Xiao Mei could become Dou Spirits, even if their combat experience was lacking, with their cultivation level alone, they could pummel Wu Hao and the others into submission.
Elevating a rank every hour, Xiao Yu and her friends' breakthrough speed was downright embarrassing for others.
For the pharmacists of the Fighting Spirit Continent, the elixirs they crafted all had various side effects and couldn't be consumed in excess. Overdoing it would instead turn someone into a medicine jar, affecting their future potential. However, the elixirs Xu Ran created required virtually no worrying about such issues.
Three women made rapid breakthroughs together, and the Dou Qi of the entire outer court faintly converged toward this courtyard, creating a strange and unusual phenomenon.
"Xu Ran is at it again. Across the entire Continent, no pharmacist has ever been heard of who could endlessly elevate others' 'Cultivation Level' like him."
"He truly is a monstrous pharmacist."
Within the Inner Court of Canaan Academy, the Elders were all stirred.
Watching Xun Er and the others charge through Cultivation realms at a pace visible to the naked eye, they too felt some envy.
Initially, they hadn't had such treatment at their disposal; wanting to improve their strength had relied solely on their own gradual and steady growth. Having a powerful pharmacist by one's side would undoubtedly make Cultivation much easier and faster.
And with a pharmacist like Xu Ran to follow..., essentially, one could all but give up on Cultivation altogether.
"This guy is indeed a monster, just having arrived in the Black Corner Region and already stirred up such a storm. In the future, Xu Ran could possibly become the king of the Black Corner Region," the two Guardians of the Canaan Academy said.
"The Black Corner Region... I'm afraid it won't be able to keep him. Such a person is bound to enter Zhongzhou sooner or later. And he has also offended Soul Hall; the conflict between him and Soul Hall is inevitable. I'm quite looking forward to it and to see if he can withstand the Soul Hall when the time comes," muttered Elder Su Qian.
Having decided to stand with Xu Ran, they had to face Soul Hall head-on.
Even now, no one knew Xu Ran's true strength.
They could only guess a thing or two, but Xu Ran's true level was known only to Xu Ran himself.
Every time Xu Ran made a move, he did so with ease, never having truly fought with all his might.
Faced with Soul Hall, Xu Ran was disdainful, which at its core came from his own confidence.
...
Hu Jia walked outside irritably, her head lowered as she kicked pebbles on the road.
She didn't understand why there was such a huge gap between people. Why could Xu Ran surpass her so much that even her grandfather and the Great Elder of the Inner Court of Canaan Academy had to treat Xu Ran with great deference?
Is there really such a perfect genius in this world?
Seventh Rank Alchemist, Eighth-grade Pharmacist...
A casual elixir could send someone skyrocketing...
Thinking of the stories her grandfather had told her about Xu Ran, Hu Jia was gradually becoming fascinated by him too.
She had never thought that such monstrous beings existed in this world.
Her own talent was simply insignificant in their eyes.
"Hu Jia, oh Hu Jia, are you stupid? You even managed to let such an opportunity slip through your fingers, how foolish can you be?" she wished she could bite herself in frustration.
If Xu Ran could help her with her Cultivation, then she too might have a chance to quickly become a Douhuang. Whatever Alchemy materials Xu Ran needed, she could find for him, then all Xu Ran would need to do is help her craft an elixir.
But now, it seemed like she had thoroughly offended Xu Ran.
To go and find Xu Ran now would only result in being laughed at to death.
Feeling a bit downcast, Hu Jia sat on the edge of a garden seat, sulking.