From Prisoner to Si Chen

"This is an 'ovum-laying butterfly'."

Gillan pointed to a blue "caterpillar" in Mrs. McCullar's palm and said calmly.

"To be precise, it's a useless corpse... because when the 'ovum-laying butterfly' was alive, it had a pair of fiery red wings. After death, the wings fall off, and the body quickly turns blue and releases poison."

"This mysterious creature often appears in dense forests at higher altitudes. Its life cycle is only two days, and only living creatures have value. It can be used as a mild material to add to the refining of alchemical medicines, and can also be used to treat hysteria."

After hearing his detailed description, Mrs. McCarrah raised her eyebrows and looked surprised.

The female ministers and others on the side, and even Le May and Galken, who had passed the examination, all looked surprised.

How could this commoner young man be so knowledgeable? !

"Interesting young man," Mrs. McCullagh smiled. “It was very detailed and there were no omissions.”

"Well... what about these two materials? Do you recognize them too?"

Although the blond young man had passed the test, she was still curious, so she asked tentatively.

"Madam, these two ingredients are called 'Battleweed' and 'Poisonous Ginseng'."

Jilan glanced at the other two materials in the silver-robed lady's hand, a black apple only the size of an egg, and a brown plant that looked like ginseng.

On these two materials, slanted colorful entries appeared, indicating their information in extremely detailed ways.

"'Battleweed' is relatively rare. It usually only grows in cemeteries. In the form of a parasitic oak tree, it entangles itself on the apple tree, absorbs its nutrients, and produces this small black fruit."

"It has strong medicinal properties and an extremely bitter taste. Taking it directly will cause harm to the human body, causing symptoms such as diarrhea, vomiting and syncope, but it can make people see spiritual bodies for a certain period of time."

Gilan spoke very quickly, without pause or sloppiness. It was as if he had already memorized the information in these materials by heart.

“‘The Poisonous Ginseng’ is also known as the ‘Devil’s Candle’ because at night, its leaves emit a green fire-like light...actually because the small bell-shaped flowers growing on its top release a special smell, thus Attract fireflies to cling to.”

"This material, which often grows in swamps, woodlands and shady hillsides, has toxic and hallucinogenic effects. When uprooted, it emits violent, piercing screams and curses, and those who hear the sound are deafened. Decrease until deafness, mental disorder or even death.”

"But the concoction of 'Poisonous Ginseng and Solanum' has excellent effects on both internal and external injuries, and is a common main ingredient in healing alchemical medicines..."

The more Mrs. McCullagh listened, the more surprised she became, and the smile on her face became stronger.

As for the female minister and others, their mouths were opened wide and they were too shocked to speak.

Everyone's eyes were focused on the blond young man, and the scene fell into silence for a while.

"Very good." Mrs. McCullagh nodded, expressing her appreciation unabashedly. "It seems like your foundation is very solid."

Uh-huh.

She waved her hand and changed two things again.

It was the material that Galken had not been able to identify before.

"Let's talk about these two things?" McCalla asked with a smile.

Everyone was shocked.

Is Mrs. McCullagh planning to test this young man's limits?

But this is far beyond the scope of assessment, right?

"Okay, madam." Gillan nodded and said calmly: "These two materials are 'curved bark' and 'parrot spores'..."

He spoke at the same speed as before, describing in detail the origin, effects and some details of these two materials.

Everyone took a deep breath and felt even more incredible.

This commoner young man knows too much!

After Gillan finished speaking, Mrs. McCullagh put away the materials in her hand and praised:

"very good."

But then, she actually spread her hands again and asked in a gentle tone:

"Finally, do you recognize this?"

Everyone turned their attention to the silver-robed lady's palm, but without exception, they were all stunned and looked puzzled.

Because they found that the lady’s hands were empty!

Nothing at all!

Master McCalla, what does this mean...

Everyone was full of doubts and turned their attention to the blond young man.

Jilan remained calm on the surface, using his "player" nature to forcibly control his facial expressions, suppressing his inner shock and preventing it from being revealed.

Because under his spiritual vision, he clearly saw a piece of "grass" quietly placed in Mrs. McCalla's hand.

The "grass" was not green, but a strange scarlet color.

As crystal clear as blood jade.

The beautiful entries are reflected in Jilan’s eyes:

“Pilgrimage to Witness.”

"A common plant that grows deep in the 'corridor' of the Home of Gods, but it is stained with the blood of those who failed to ascend, thus changing its appearance."

"Countless mystics tried to ascend, trudged in the cloisters, and made pilgrimages to the top of the mountain. However, they fell down halfway, spilling their blood, announcing that their fate was on the precipice, and they were defeated on the steps."

‘Is this a material that Mrs. McCalla picked deep in the “corridor” of God’s Country? ’

Ji Lan guessed in his mind.

‘Don’t she even know what this is? Or are you trying to test me...'

"How is it? Do you recognize it?"

The silver-robed lady asked again with a smile on her face.

Ji Lan frowned slightly, showing doubts, and said hesitantly:

"Madam, you seem to have nothing in your hands."

"Really? Why don't you take a closer look?"

Mrs. McCullar carefully looked at the young man's expression, but could not find any clues.

"Sorry, ma'am."

Gilan was a little frustrated, shook his head and said in a deep voice.

A trace of thought flashed in McCullar's eyes, and then he smiled and took his hand back. For some reason, she was a little disappointed.

"What's your name?" she asked.

"Gilan Iros."

"Well... Mr. Gilan, you performed very well, and you will be my apprentice from now on."

Mrs. McCullar smiled.

Then she turned around and said to the two young men and women:

"And you two, Miss Lemay, and Mr. Galken."

Hearing this, the man and woman looked excited.

The female ministers and others on the side clapped their hands with a forced smile and said congratulations against their will.

The reason was simple, because among the three apprentices recruited by Master McCara, two of them were civilians, and both were male...

The nobles looked at Flamel with envy, and were even more unwilling and jealous of Gillan and Galken, two civilian men.

"You three go back and prepare, say goodbye to your family, and pack your luggage... From now on, you will follow me to study and live, and you won't see your relatives and friends for a long time."

Mrs. McCara explained to Gillan and the other two.

Her tone was gentle and friendly, making people feel like spring breeze.

"I know, teacher."

Flame smiled and was the first to answer.

She turned her head again and looked at Gillan and Galken.

Maybe it was because she was a noble that she felt superior to these two men of the same age who were of humble origins, so she put her hands on her hips and said with a squinting look:

"I am the first one to pass the test, so I should be your senior sister... You must be respectful and polite to me in the future, understand?"

"I understand, Senior Sister Lemay."

Galken hurriedly bowed to her and bowed his head respectfully.

But Gillan had no intention of paying attention to the noble girl at all. She walked towards Mrs. McCara and explained to her that she was an orphan and did not need to say goodbye or prepare.

Seeing that the blond youth ignored him, Lemay Nicola's face changed slightly and he gritted his teeth.

Finally, he snorted coldly and kicked Galken lightly, as if he was taking out his anger on him.

After being kicked by the "senior sister", Galken did not dare to say anything, but was trembling with fear.

…

…

Soon after the examination for recruiting apprentices ended, Gillan followed Mrs. McCara and left Queen's Square.

The lady originally lived in seclusion in Andea, the capital of the Kingdom of Sakya, in the suburbs north of the town.

The environment there is quiet and peaceful. After passing a wheat field, there are woods and streams.

There are several wooden houses in the woods.

"Gilan, find a room to stay in first, adapt to the surrounding environment, and tell me if you need anything."

The lady in a silver robe took him to the wooden house and smiled gently.

"Wait for Lemay and Galken to come, and I will teach you knowledge together."

"Yes, madam." Gilan nodded and said.

After the instructions, Mrs. McCara went into the wooden house in the middle by herself, leaving Gilan standing alone in the yard.

He looked at the wooden houses on both sides and finally chose the one on the left, because the morning sun would shine into the window, and he preferred the feeling of warmth when the morning light filled the room and sprinkled on his body.

It was approaching dusk.

Galken and Lemay arrived at the wooden house one after another.

The former came on foot, carrying a large sack on his back and carrying large and small bags in his hands. The latter was picked up by a carriage, and there were four strong female guards accompanying the noble girl, who helped the noble girl carry the luggage down.

Because Flamel was the only female among the three apprentices, she lived alone in the wooden house on the right, while Galken lived with Gillan.

Dinner was made by Mrs. McCullagh herself.

Each person had a white bread, a bowl of mushroom and vegetable soup, and a piece of roasted wild boar.

The food was simple, but the taste was excellent.

The four sat at the wooden table in the yard, enjoying the cool evening breeze and sunset.

"Thank you, Mrs. McCullagh, the food is delicious."

Flamel took a bite of the bread and meat, stood up politely, and bowed to the silver-robed lady with a lovely smile on his face.

"Sit down, don't be so polite."

Mrs. McCullagh smiled.

"Yes, ma'am." Flamel sat down again with an elegant gesture.

The silver-robed lady took the mushroom soup and took a sip.

Then he took out a piece of unprocessed white limestone from his body, drew a circular pattern on the table, and asked the three people with a smile:

"Do you know what this is?"

"Alchemical array." Jilan glanced at the pattern on the table and said softly.

It was a circle inlaid with equilateral triangles.

"Yes, this is a basic alchemical array."

Mrs. McCullagh smiled.

"It actually represents the cycle of energy and matter."

"The principle of alchemy is the law of nature. Alchemists explore, discover, summarize and use this law to realize some unimaginable ideas."

"Everything will end, but it will leave traces. Such traces can be dust or nutrients, and will give birth to new things."

"This is a cycle of energy and matter."

Mrs. McCullagh pointed to the white alchemical array on the table and said to the three apprentices.

"And such a basic alchemical array is a simplification of the law of nature."

"Alchemy is a kind of mystical knowledge that understands, decomposes and reconstructs everything in the world. Through it, the time and process of the cycle can be shortened."

Mrs. McCullagh smiled and paused.

"For example, this is how it is."

As she said this, she gently placed the white limestone in her hand on the alchemy array on the table.

Accompanied by a flash of golden light.

Buzz——

The pupils of Flamel and Galken present shrank, and an incredible look appeared on their faces.

I saw that the limestone was dyed with golden color at a speed visible to the naked eye, and then turned into a gold!

"Turning stone into gold!" Flamel exclaimed.

Immediately, she showed excitement and expectation, and said to the silver-robed lady:

"Teacher, I want to learn this! If I master the knowledge of 'turning stone into gold', I will not be short of money in the future!"

Galken on the side opened his mouth, but he did not have the courage to ask for study, but the eagerness and excitement in his eyes could not be concealed.

Gillan stared at the golden stone on the table.

He was sure that it was a gold.

A gold turned from ordinary limestone!

But at the same time, Gillan did not believe that this world could turn stone into gold for no reason.

"Madam, this needs to be paid for, right?"

He suddenly asked in a deep voice.

McCara looked at the blond young man in surprise, as if he was surprised that this young man was not blinded by greed and could think calmly.

"Yes." The silver-robed lady nodded and smiled. "Alchemy is not omnipotent, nor can it create something out of nothing."

"If you want to obtain a substance, you must pay the corresponding price. This is one of the law truths of the world, 'equivalent exchange', which is governed by 'Ms. Snow' of September Sichen."

"In short, to gain, you must first lose."

As she spoke, the lady raised her other hand, and saw a small glass bottle in her palm, but the inside was empty.

"The 'alchemy potion' that I just used up was actually because I quietly consumed this bottle of 'alchemy potion', not because I turned limestone into gold out of thin air."

"As for the value of this bottle of 'alchemy potion', it is more valuable than gold."

Mrs. McCara smiled at the three apprentices, her tone implying a hint of admonition and instruction:

"So, don't try to get something for nothing through alchemy. This is against the laws of the world and is impossible to achieve."

"Yes, ma'am."

The three apprentices said respectfully.

Mrs. McCara nodded with satisfaction, took out three more limestones and handed them to them.

"Next, I will first teach you how to draw the nine basic alchemy arrays, as well as their respective effects and uses."

"And remember them carefully and practice diligently."

"Yes, ma'am."