17. Advancing to the Advanced Academy

Chen Nan was gently persuaded by Teacher Qu to leave the classroom. He then strode toward the teaching building where the Alchemy Department was located. His tall figure lingered in front of the building for a long time, but in the end, he did not enter.

Before arriving at D-level Star, he had already contemplated the idea: if he were to take a low-ranking female Spirit Controller from a D-level star as his contract holder—someone without any background—could he then escape the fate of being controlled by others?

Low-ranking female Spirit Controllers could not pacify high-ranking male Spirit Controllers. Their value to society and the public lay more in their reproductive contributions—they bore children while their contract holders provided for them.

If their contract holders suffered mental breakdowns or died from excessive alienation, these women could be matched with other contract holders. Thus, entering into a contract with a low-ranking female Spirit Controller granted the contract holder a high degree of freedom. Usually, as long as the living expenses were paid on time, no further responsibilities were required.

Therefore, when the central system matched him with a low-ranking female contract holder from a lower-tier star, Chen Nan felt a momentary sense of relief.

However, for some reason, upon meeting Ning Xuan, he involuntarily felt an urge to submit to her. The etiquette he had been taught since childhood about how to behave before a contract holder automatically governed his actions.

Now, having failed to meet the contract holder’s demands, he felt uneasy inside.

Hesitant and indecisive, he opened his lightbrain’s contact list and found Cui Mingche’s information among his friends. Remembering that among all his friends, only Cui Mingche was somewhat skilled in cooking, he decided to ask for advice.

“Hey, Nan, is your injury better? I heard you’re about to get a contract holder. Busy learning her family’s rules? How do you have time to message me?” Cui Mingche’s voice was full of concern, clearly knowing something.

“I’m already with the contract holder. Now I need to learn cooking. Mingche, any secrets, hurry and teach me!” Chen Nan paused briefly before speaking.

“What? Already with the contract holder? Wait, aren’t you holding the contract ceremony? Or didn’t you tell me who she is? Didn’t you say your family planned to match you with the Bai family’s second daughter? So soon?” Cui Mingche’s voice was rapid and anxious. He worried about his friend, as the Bai family was powerful, and that second daughter’s reputation was less than stellar.

“Don’t make such a big deal out of it. My contract holder is from a lower-tier star. I secretly contracted with her without telling my family. Don’t tell anyone. Now hurry up and teach me some cooking secrets—I have to cook for her!” Chen Nan urged.

“Lower-tier star? Nan, does your mother and family approve?” Cui Mingche lowered his voice. He had already guessed that his friend was hiding this from his family.

“Exactly why I need you to keep it a secret!” Chen Nan gave a look as if Cui Mingche was asking what he already knew.

“Contracting with those little lambs from lower-tier stars—if your family doesn’t agree, those little lambs get assassinated. Even if she links with you mentally, her rank is too low. If she dies, it won’t affect you at all! How long do you think you can keep this secret?” Cui Mingche analyzed for him.

“I will protect her!” Chen Nan’s eyes darkened. Cui Mingche was right; for Ning Xuan, bonding with him was not a blessing.

“Don’t change the subject. Just teach me what you’ve learned about cooking!” Chen Nan pressed.

“You chose a contract holder from a lower-tier star, and she dares to boss you around? What’s the point then? Alright, alright, I recorded some cooking videos before. I’ll send them to you now.” Sensing Chen Nan’s impatience, Cui Mingche quickly ended the topic.

Still, inwardly, he worried for his friend. It seemed Chen Nan had deliberately chosen a lower-tier star contract holder to resist family arrangements. He also felt that this temporary shield might bring trouble, so before the family found out, Chen Nan was doing everything to satisfy her requests and make it up to her.

Meanwhile, Chen Nan watched the videos while using his Major officer privileges on the interstellar express network to order some premium ingredients from higher-tier stars.

That evening, Ning Xuan ate meat resembling beef from a high-level exotic beast. Though roughly cooked, the meat was tender, neither tough nor dry, with no unpleasant odor, and tasted quite good.

Especially afterward, a warm sensation spread through her abdomen—this meat was beneficial for improving one’s constitution.

Seeing a hint of satisfaction finally appear on Ning Xuan’s face, Chen Nan’s anxiety eased.

“What kind of exotic beast is this meat from? The quality is good. Buy more. I want to use it for tomorrow’s dinner!” Ning Xuan, having browsed many types of meat on the star network, had never seen this kind before and wondered where Chen Nan had purchased it.

“Contract holder, this is meat from the back of the Earth Deer, a unique beast native to A104 Star. If you like it, I’ll cook it for you again tomorrow!” Chen Nan calculated the balance on his star network account. If the contract holder only ate food of this quality, the military’s monthly allowance wouldn’t suffice. Fortunately, he had saved a fair amount of money to sustain this for a while.

Ning Xuan felt a bit embarrassed. Although this man had appeared suddenly with ulterior motives and was not entirely trustworthy, she genuinely received his care and benefits. Being a specialty from an A-level star, it was undoubtedly expensive and not something money alone could buy.

“I’ll cook for you tomorrow!” During her study of exotic plants, Ning Xuan discovered a plant with a flavor similar to Sichuan peppercorn, a fruit resembling lemon, and a lantern fruit akin to chili, which could be used to season grilled meat simply.

In the days that followed, Ning Xuan rapidly absorbed knowledge from the Alchemy Department, thoroughly understanding various exotic plants and beasts, comparing them with familiar animals and spirit plants she knew before. At the same time, she diligently cultivated the “Soul Accumulation Classic,” which even operated automatically while she slept at night.

After more than twenty days of awakening her spiritual power, Ning Xuan passed the intermediate-level graduation exam in the Alchemy Department and advanced to the Advanced Academy.

The Advanced Academy comprised three grades. Ning Xuan was currently studying the first-year curriculum. The assessments here were more rigorous than in the intermediate academy, where only a graduation exam was required. Each grade in the Advanced Academy had its own graduation exam, and only by passing the first-year exam could one advance to the second year.

Ning Xuan opened her academic record to check. The information had already been updated:

School: Xingluo Bay Advanced Joint Academy
Department: Advanced Academy
Duration: Three years
Grade: First Year
Major: Alchemy
Career Directions: Pharmaceutical Research Institute, Various Pharmaceutical Companies
Grades:
Herb Identification: A
Herb Processing: A
Potion Trial: A
Comments: Excellent performance, eligible for further study.