SSS Grade Saint Knight - Chapter 144

Chapter 144: Extreme Cold Pill! Dragon Condensing Pill! Two S-Rank Pills!

TL: Etude Translations

“Alright, back to the main topic.”

After a brief mention, Wang Hui returned to the central subject.

“The otherworldly creatures appearing within Zhongxia Country this time are not of high level, but they have still garnered the nation’s full attention.”

“The various major legions of Zhongxia have already entered level-3 Preparedness.”

“Even the top-tier legion guilds have temporarily ceased their activities in other worlds to return and defend the homeland.”

Preparedness level!

This was a wartime readiness classification set by Zhongxia Country for an impending large-scale war, naturally simulating an invasion from another world.

There were three levels of Preparedness.

Level-1 Preparedness was the most severe, simulating a scenario where an imminent large-scale invasion by otherworldly creatures was confirmed. Once enacted, all of Zhongxia’s resources would be unified under national management!

Companies related to professionals—such as magical pet breeding companies, potion companies, and pill companies—would ramp up their operations to full capacity, producing potions, equipment, and pills with maximum efficiency.

Level-2 Preparedness involved slightly less stringent measures, only requiring companies and enterprises under national jurisdiction to produce at full capacity.

In comparison to Levels 1 and 2, Level-3 Preparedness did not enforce large-scale forced allocation of resources. Instead, it prioritized caution, instructing legions and guilds to act carefully and reduce their activities in other worlds.

Of course, entering Level-3 Preparedness also meant changes beyond military strategies. Zhongxia’s universities would also be impacted.

“Starting the day after tomorrow, the nation will double the resources allocated to all 3,000 professional universities within the country!”

“Naturally…”

“This includes our Suhang University, Qingjing University, and Modu University!”

Wang Hui’s voice reverberated through the vast conference hall, instantly causing a significant stir.

“Level-3 Preparedness! Doubling resource allocation to universities! It seems the nation is taking this seriously!”

One had to understand that Suhang University’s annual resource expenditure was astronomical! Part of these resources came from the university’s industries, but a significant portion was provided by the government!

Doubling the resource allocation meant that all students would gain access to more natural treasures and rare equipment!

The immediate consequence would be a rapid increase in their strength!

Even the instructors would benefit from this!

“The doubling of national resources means that our university’s resource distribution efforts must also intensify.”

“First, the rewards from the task system will uniformly increase.”

“Second, all university dungeons will open Abyss Mode. Abyssal magic stones will be provided by the school, but students must purchase them with credits. The conversion rates between abyssal magic stones and credits will be discussed later.”

“Additionally, the monthly resources distributed to students according to their sequence ranking will also increase accordingly. The increase will be controlled within…”

As Principal Wang Hui’s voice carried on, the meeting quickly progressed.

The seated instructors all understood that once this meeting ended, Suhang University would undergo a monumental transformation!

…

…

Meanwhile, on another side, Zhou Yi, holding his number token, had just stepped onto the 10th floor of the Alchemy Department when a uniformed staff member greeted him.

Upon glancing at Zhou Yi’s number token, the staff member smiled and asked:

“Hello, student. Are you here to refine an advanced pill?”

Like the service staff at the first-floor reception, this was a young woman in her twenties with a pleasant appearance. Her smiling face exuded comfort.

“Yes.”

Zhou Yi nodded.

“Alright, please follow me.”

Guided by the young woman, Zhou Yi walked further into the 10th floor.

“May I ask what grade of pill you’re looking to refine?”

On the way, the woman inquired.

“S-Rank.”

“S-Rank?”

The woman looked slightly surprised. Typically, only university instructors requested the refinement of S-Rank pills. Students possessing enough credits to refine such pills were extremely rare.

Although momentarily astonished, the woman quickly regained her composure and explained:

“There are three instructors in the Alchemy Department capable of refining S-Rank pills.”

“First, Instructor Lu Yun, who specializes in restorative and healing pills.”

“Second, Instructor Li Pinghua, who excels in refining pills that enhance the four-dimensional attributes.”

“Finally, Instructor He Tian, who has expertise across various fields.”

“May I know which alchemist you would like to choose?”

To refine S-Rank pills, the alchemist had to be at least a third-transfer professional.

At an ordinary university, having just one third-transfer alchemist would be a remarkable feat.

But at Suhang University, there were three!

“Teacher He Tian.”

Zhou Yi, having already prepared, answered without hesitation. This alchemist had been personally recommended by Teacher Wang Hui.

“Alright.”

“Teacher He Tian is in Pill Room No. 9. Let me take you there…”

The two walked deeper into the corridor.

The layout of the 10th floor resembled a hotel, with rooms lined side by side. Each door bore a corresponding room number.

However, unlike a hotel, each room here was exceptionally spacious—at least seventy to eighty square meters.

As they passed by each room, faint wafts of medicinal fragrances floated through the air.

Of course…

There were also traces of burnt odors from failed pill refining.

After all, though alchemists used their skills to refine pills, the success rate heavily depended on their skill level and intelligence attributes.

Under such circumstances, failed refining attempts were not uncommon.

“We’re here…”

“This is Teacher He Tian’s Pill Room. You can head right in.”

Guided by the staff member, Zhou Yi carried his password box and entered a room labeled with the number “9.”

A quick glance revealed the entire layout of the room.

The most striking feature was the ancient and rustic cauldron positioned prominently in the center.

Next were the numerous modern glass bottles, arranged like those in a chemistry lab, scattered throughout the room.

The juxtaposition of the modern glass bottles with the antique cauldron created an oddly contrasting visual.

However, Zhou Yi wasn’t surprised.

After all, the cauldron was an essential piece of equipment for alchemists, equivalent to weapons for combat professions.

At that moment, a young woman was at the workbench, shaking one of the glass bottles.

The woman, dressed in an alchemist’s uniform, appeared to be around twenty-four or twenty-five years old. Her expression was intensely focused.

Unlike ordinary people shaking bottles, she seemed to be channeling a skill during the process, causing the glass bottle to emit a faint glow.

Seeing this, Zhou Yi chose not to interrupt.

After some time, when the woman set down the glass bottle, Zhou Yi stepped forward and said:

“Hello, I’m here to find Teacher He Tian to refine pills.”

“Teacher He is at a meeting. I’m his student, Lin Yi. What pill do you need refined?”

Lin Yi asked.

“An S-Rank pill, the Extreme Cold Pill.”

Zhou Yi placed his password box on the table, entered the code, and with a click, the box unlocked.

Immediately, several herbs of various shapes came into view.

As an alchemist, Lin Yi instantly recognized the materials.

“An S-Rank natural treasure, the Extreme Cold Ice Lotus; another S-Rank natural treasure, the Dragon Condensing Fruit; and an A-Rank Ice Crystal Grass?”

She was slightly astonished.

For a regular student, producing even a single S-Rank natural treasure was impressive.

But this student had brought out two at once!

After recalling the required ingredients for refining the Extreme Cold Pill, Lin Yi remarked:

“The Extreme Cold Ice Lotus and Ice Crystal Grass are both necessary materials for refining the Extreme Cold Pill, but the Dragon Condensing Fruit isn’t required for it.”

“In that case, Senior, could you tell me which pills can be refined using this Dragon Condensing Fruit?”

Zhou Yi inquired.

“The Dragon Condensing Fruit is considered a relatively common S-Rank natural treasure, and it’s used to refine many kinds of pills.”

“But the most common one would be the S-Rank pill, the Dragon Condensing Pill…”