Reborn as the General's Useless Daughter-Chapter 339: The Tri-Academy Exchange Arc (Part-31)

Indeed, Zora was also an Alchemist. And not just any Alchemist, but one whose alchemy level was anything but ordinary.

"Zora," Sebastian said with concern, "you were injured yesterday. Alchemy consumes a great deal of mental energy."

Zora smiled lightly and waved it off. "It’s nothing. Just superficial injuries. They won’t affect my mental strength."

Sebastian studied her composed expression, a thoughtful glimmer appearing in his eyes.

Zora had already done more than enough for this Academy exchange. Even he, as a mentor, felt indebted to her. If she were to overexert herself again in the alchemy trial, it would truly weigh on his conscience.

Yet before his hesitation could turn into words, Zora had already stepped forward and ascended the alchemy platform without the slightest pause.

Since she had chosen to stand here, she would naturally go all out. Victory in this Academy exchange was something she intended to secure with her own hands.

Alchemy was never a burden to her. Her mental strength remained intact, unscathed by yesterday’s battle. There was no reason for her to falter now.

Zora had always acted with purpose. If she stepped forward, it meant she was confident.

And that confidence was not arrogance, but something forged from real ability.

Back when he and Miel had insisted on recruiting Zora into the academy, he had only known that her talent was exceptional and that rare persistence and unyielding resolve shone from her bones.

He never expected her growth to be this astonishing.

17 years old.

Yet the calm, the precision, the quiet authority she displayed in every action were things even seasoned Spirit Warriors struggled to achieve.

Perhaps there truly were people in this world favored by the heavens.

And Zora was one of them.

Sebastian couldn’t help but let out a long sigh in silence.

Meanwhile, on the alchemy platform, Sylvandria’s heart had been tight with worry. This situation was far from what she had imagined.

But the moment she saw Zora walking toward her, the unease in her chest quietly melted away.

There was something about Zora. As long as she was there, even the most troublesome situations seemed... manageable.

At the same time, murmurs spread through the crowd.

"Isn’t that the girl who defeated Ragnor Blackstar yesterday? What’s she doing on the alchemy platform?"

"I have no idea. Don’t tell me she’s participating in the alchemy trial?"

"That’s impossible, right? She’s a pure combat Spirit Warrior. Are you saying she’s also an Alchemist?"

The suggestion drew laughter and headshakes from all around.

Everyone knew how demanding alchemy was. To reach any level of accomplishment required immense time and focus. Given Zora’s age and her terrifying combat strength, it was only natural to assume all her energy had gone into cultivation.

Alchemy on top of that?

Unthinkable.

Reesa and the others merely exchanged knowing smiles. They had once thought the same.

But Zora had long since proven that common sense did not apply to her.

Stepping to Sylvandria’s side, Zora offered her a calm, confident smile.

Sylvandria returned the nod, her last trace of tension vanishing completely.

Meanwhile, seeing Zora step onto the alchemy platform, Cindral and Malrick couldn’t help but exchange a glance, confusion flashing in both their eyes.

They truly could not understand what Zora was trying to do.

Ever since the academy had completely seized the limelight in yesterday’s promotion battles, Cindral and Malrick had already reached a tacit agreement in private. No matter what, today’s alchemy test could not allow the Imperial Academy to continue stealing the spotlight.

Sylvandria was Gerrad’s prized disciple. Everyone present knew that her alchemy skills were outstanding.

Precisely because of this, Thunderclap Academy and Lunar Academy had each arranged for two Alchemists to take part, hoping to secure an advantage in numbers and suppress the academy.

But now, Zora suddenly stood out.

What was she trying to do?

The two academy heads looked at each other again, still unable to make sense of it. Cindral finally turned his gaze toward Gerrad and asked coolly, "What is she doing up there?"

When Gerrad saw Zora standing on the alchemy platform, he already understood her intention. The worry in his heart quietly dissolved, replaced by an even deeper sense of appreciation.

Being able to recruit a student like Zora was truly a blessing for the academy.

Since entering the academy, the school had not particularly favored her, yet she had repeatedly stepped forward at critical moments, fighting for the academy’s honor with everything she had.

What principal would not like such a student?

Hearing Cindral’s question, Gerrad smiled faintly. "What else? To participate. Our Zora is also a certified Alchemist."

The moment those words fell, both Cindral and Malrick froze.

For an instant, disbelief flashed through their eyes.

A Certified Alchemist?

How was that possible?

Yet when they saw the calm confidence on Gerrad’s face, they knew he was not joking.

After a brief moment of reflection, both of them relaxed slightly. In their view, the academy had probably sent Zora up merely to make up the numbers, seeing that the other two academies each had two Alchemists.

After all, given Zora’s terrifying cultivation achievements, how much time could she possibly have devoted to alchemy?

At best, she would only be a rank-1 Alchemist with some basic knowledge.

Cindral shook his head inwardly, feeling that Gerrad’s decision was utterly misguided. Zora’s performance yesterday had indeed been dazzling. Letting her step onto the alchemy stage today, only to be mocked, would be nothing but self-inflicted embarrassment.

That said, this was exactly the outcome he was happy to see.

"Next, the alchemy assessment will be overseen by three Alchemists from the Leon Empire’s Alchemist Association," Cindral announced.

As his voice fell, the entire venue instantly quieted.

Alchemists stood above ordinary Spirit Warriors in status. To invite them as judges was no small matter. The three people Cindral had invited were clearly not ordinary figures.

From the side of the high platform, three elderly men slowly walked out.

Zora’s gaze naturally fell upon them.

All three were around fifty to sixty years old, their expressions calm and dignified. Though their demeanor was gentle, a faint pride lingered between their brows, unique to Alchemists.

That pride was almost innate.

From the moment one became an Alchemist, they were already set apart from the masses.

Seeing this, Sylvandria quietly introduced the three judges to Zora. As she listened, Zora quickly grasped their identities and standing within the Leon Empire’s refining world.

Among the three Alchemists, two were men, and one was a woman.

Female Alchemists were already rare among all alchemists, and women who truly devoted themselves to alchemy were even rarer. As one’s rank increased, the demand for spiritual power grew harsher, and this alone filtered out countless candidates.

Moreover, women tended to be more emotionally sensitive than men, and once they married and had children, their focus often shifted. Because of this, a woman who could reach a high level in alchemy was almost always someone with extraordinary resolve.

From Sylvandria’s introduction, Zora learned that the only female refiner was named Mariette, a fourth-rank Alchemist with extremely solid foundations in alchemy.

Not only that, Mariette had never married, dedicating her entire life to the study of alchemy.

One of the two male refiners was a slightly plump old man named Lionel. His appearance was gentle and kind, and his temperament made him seem very easy to get along with.

The other was a tall and thin elder named Tancred, also a fourth-rank Alchemist. On ordinary days, he and Lionel were always compared against each other, a rivalry well known throughout the entire Alchemist Association.

Gerrad and these three Alchemists were old acquaintances, sharing a deep friendship. When he previously mentioned visiting old friends, he had been referring to them.

Zora smiled and nodded in understanding. As a fourth-rank Alchemist himself and the president of the Yucheng branch of the association, it was only natural that Gerrad had many such connections.

However, Sylvandria’s next words genuinely surprised her.

"Zora, do you know why Master Lionel and Master Tancred have always been at odds?" Sylvandria asked with a teasing smile.

Zora raised her brows slightly. "Is there some reason behind it?"

The smile on Sylvandria’s lips deepened. "Because both Master Lionel and Master Tancred admired Master Mariette. Over the years, they’ve constantly competed in alchemy because of it. This is practically an open secret."

Hearing this, Zora was momentarily stunned. She truly hadn’t expected two elders of such age to still be so... spirited. It was unexpectedly amusing.

Looking more closely, she indeed noticed the subtle hints. Lionel and Tancred were standing on either side of Mariette, sandwiching her neatly in the middle. Their gazes toward her carried unmistakable fondness.

Seeing this, the curve of Zora’s lips lifted slightly. The lives of these three seniors were truly... legendary.

After Cindral finished introducing the identities of the three Alchemists, the alchemy competition officially began.

"Now we begin drawing the questions. The first question will be drawn by Vice Principal Gerrad of the Imperial Academy," Cindral announced with a smile.

Gerrad slowly stood up. In front of him was a cylindrical container holding several prepared paper scrolls. He reached in, randomly drew one out, untied the string, and read aloud the contents.

"The first question: classification of medicinal materials. Two different potion formulas’ medicinal ingredients will be mixed together. Each academy’s participants must correctly classify the ingredients belonging to each formula and remove the unnecessary ones. The fastest team scores three points, the second scores two points, and the last scores one point."

As soon as the rules were announced, everyone instantly understood why both Thunderclap Academy and Lunar Academy had sent two Alchemists each.

If it were only Sylvandria alone, she would undoubtedly be at a disadvantage.

Fortunately, the academy still had Zora.