Rebirth as a Wind Cultivator-Chapter 93: Classroom Connections

Xiulan trudged down the corridor toward Elder Wang’s alchemy classroom, her mind spinning with calculations. There were over a dozen different ingredients needed for the qi refining stage elemental pills she needed to make for herself and her friends.

She sighed. This little food cart business barely covered its ingredients, let alone make a profit. And after those jerks got face-fulls of burning eye root...

A small smile crept across her lips at the memory. Su Yin’s unexpected intervention had scattered Lei Shan’s friends like startled chickens. Still, the incident highlighted her isolation.

Gathering ingredients myself would be ideal, but when? Xiulan rounded a corner, nearly colliding with a hurrying disciple. I can’t just wander into the forest between classes. And missions with Ming aren’t focused on herb-gathering.

The trip to Themis and back had shown there wasn’t a lot of time for foraging for spiritual herbs and plants. Although they had collected the spirit stones from the fox’s lair.

Xiulan paused outside the classroom door. Master Qingfeng or Ming would help if I asked, but they think in decades, not months. She touched the small pouch containing her spirit beast egg, feeling its gentle warmth against her fingers. We don’t have that luxury.

She needed a breakthrough—not just for herself but for Feng Yu, Mei Chen, and Ren Chun too. Her allies. The people she trusted.

Five years seemed like plenty of time when I first arrived, but now... Xiulan pushed open the classroom door. Now it feels like sand slipping through my fingers.

Elder Wang stood at the front of the room, arranging materials on her demonstration table. The silver-haired woman looked up as Xiulan entered.

The elder’s smile pierced through Xiulan like a spotlight on stage. Emerald eyes sparkled with something that looked suspiciously like amusement. Xiulan straightened her posture and headed to her usual spot.

Tao Jun already occupied the bench, his slender frame hunched over a worn notebook filled with meticulously drawn herb diagrams. He glanced up and acknowledged Xiulan with a quick nod.

“Morning,” he murmured, sliding his materials to make room.

Xiulan pulled out her own notebook and furnace tools. “Thanks for saving the spot.”

Before Tao Jun could respond, a flurry of movement erupted behind them. Su Yin materialized, practically bouncing on her toes, brown eyes wide with excitement.

“Move over!” Su Yin nudged Tao Jun’s shoulder. “I’m sitting here today.”

Tao Jun blinked rapidly, mouth opening slightly. He shot a questioning look at Xiulan.

Xiulan studied Su Yin’s face, searching for any trace of hostility or mischief. Finding none, she shrugged to Tao Jun.

Tao Jun scooted further down the bench, creating space between himself and Xiulan. “Uh... sure.”

Su Yin dropped onto the bench between them, unpacking her supplies with unusual enthusiasm.

Xiulan frowned. What was going on?

“What?” Su Yin caught Xiulan staring and grinned. “Is there something on my face?”

Elder Wang tapped her jade ruler against the demonstration table. The sharp sound cut through the classroom chatter.

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“Today,” Elder Wang announced, “we discuss elemental ingredients essential for cultivation breakthroughs.”

Xiulan straightened. This was exactly what she wanted to learn.

Elder Wang gestured to a row of labeled jars. “The five elements—metal, wood, water, fire, and earth—each require specific catalysts to facilitate advancement through cultivation stages.”

Xiulan grabbed her brush, ink flowing across the page as she captured every word. Su Yin leaned slightly toward her, spying on her notes.

“Fire-natured breakthroughs,” Elder Wang continued, lifting a crimson root, “require heat-absorbing ingredients that stabilize the cultivator’s internal temperature during expansion of meridians. Without proper stabilization, the cultivator risks meridian collapse or qi deviation.”

Xiulan’s brush paused. This could help Feng Yu with her fire abilities.

“Earth-natured ingredients,” Elder Wang held up a dark, soil-encrusted tuber, “ground the cultivator, preventing qi from dispersing during foundation strengthening.”

Xiulan scribbled additional notes in the margins.

Su Yin nudged her. “Isn’t this too basic to take notes?” she whispered.

Xiulan shrugged without looking up. “It’s important.”

“For our next class,” Elder Wang said, “we’ll create basic Fire Essence and Earth Foundation pills. These formulations support progression through early to mid-Qi Gathering stage.”

Xiulan flipped through her schedule book, checking dates against the mission timeline Ming had mentioned. If they departed after tomorrow’s morning classes and returned within three days, she’d make it back for the practical session.

“The Fire Essence pill requires three key components,” Elder Wang listed. “Cinnabar grass for heat regulation, sun-dried spirit moss for energy conversion, and—most importantly—flame crystal powder as the catalyst.”

Xiulan’s hand cramped from writing so quickly. The recipe, she already knew, actually. But the specifics?

“Earth Foundation pills,” Elder Wang continued, “utilize stone marrow, ground beetle shells, and amber sap. The proportions must be precise—two parts marrow to one part shell to half part sap.”

When Elder Wang concluded her lecture, Xiulan had filled seven pages with detailed notes. Her fingers ached, but satisfaction warmed her chest. This was one of the missing pieces from her lopsided knowledge.

“Remember,” Elder Wang said as disciples began packing their materials, “study these formulations thoroughly. Next class, we begin practical application.”

“Hey,” Su Yin said. “Want to study together for the practical lesson? I’ve got access to all the samples needed.”

Xiulan blinked, surprised by the offer. “Why would you want to help me?”

Su Yin’s expression shifted, something unreadable flickering across her face. “Let’s just say I’m interested in how you knew all those herbs last time.”

Xiulan’s eyebrows pinched together as she studied Su Yin’s eager face. The sudden friendliness felt like a trap.

“I can’t help with that,” Xiulan said flatly.

Su Yin’s enthusiasm deflated and her shoulders dropped. The hurt in her eyes made Xiulan’s stomach twist uncomfortably.

Maybe that was too harsh. Xiulan sighed and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. She couldn’t exactly explain that her knowledge came from playing “Phoenix Kingdom Chronicles” in another life. That would end with her locked in a madhouse—or worse.

“Look,” Xiulan softened her tone. “If you want to know how I recognized those herbs, you’ll need to ask Senior Ming or Master Qingfeng.” She met Su Yin’s gaze directly. “It’s not something I can explain myself. Please understand.”

Su Yin studied Xiulan’s face for several heartbeats before nodding slowly. “Fine. Keep your secrets.” The words sounded accusatory, but her expression had shifted from hurt to something more like respect. “My offer to study together still stands, though.”

Xiulan allowed a small smile to form. “I’d like that.”

Tao Jun cleared his throat loudly. “What about me?” He gestured at the three of them crowded onto the bench. “Am I just decorative furniture now?”

Su Yin rolled her eyes. “You can join too—if Xiulan doesn’t mind?”

She considered Tao Jun. During Wang’s first class and the sessions since, he’d been quietly competent, never antagonistic like Lei Shan or dismissive like some other disciples.

“Three is better than two,” Xiulan agreed. “When should we meet?”

Su Yin bounced excitedly on the bench. “Tomorrow morning? Really early. I can get us into the small herb garden behind the alchemy hall.”

“You have access to that?” Tao Jun asked, eyebrows rising.

Su Yin smirked. “I have my ways.”

“Tomorrow morning works for me,” Xiulan said, mentally calculating how this would fit with her other commitments. “But I might need to leave early. I have... arrangements.”

“Ooh, mysterious,” Su Yin teased. “Don’t worry, I’ll make sure you’re prepared for the practical, even if you have to rush off.”

Xiulan rolled her eyes. This girl was going to be a handful.

As they packed up their supplies, Xiulan felt a strange lightness. She hadn’t expected to find allies among her classmates, especially not after the incident with Lei Shan.

Just be careful, she reminded herself. Trust is earned, not given.