My health recovery is incredibly fast.

Good morning, Your Excellency Dim.

Dim tucked the brush into the buckle of his belt, patted the packhorse's neck, scratched his long beard, and looked at the academy students in front of him, saying:

"Wow, the anti-detection barrier set up by the head of the academy is really powerful. I didn't even notice your arrival."

He stepped forward, extended his right hand, and shook the other person's hand vigorously. "There's no need to be so polite outside the academy. Just call me Tim. I'm actually very easygoing."

Xia Zuo was almost shaken apart by the opponent's immense strength. His current strength was like a small boat facing a raging storm in front of Dim, helpless.

"Alright, alright, Dim." Shazo shook his slightly numb right hand.

Dim patted the other man on the shoulder. "Shazo, you're a great lad. You'd better train your body more. Sometimes, magic isn't everything."

"Get in the car first and sit in the driver's seat." Tim waved his hand, then walked to the wheel, picked up the water bucket, and put it in the truck bed.

Xia Zuo lifted the hem of his cloak and stepped into the exceptionally spacious driver's seat, a large chair large enough to seat three adults.

When Dim got into the driver's seat, the whole carriage shook noticeably.

He picked up the reins, gave them a gentle shake, and with a "thu," the packhorse began to trot along.

Dim steered the carriage onto the road, put the reins on the pole in front of the driver's seat, and let the packhorses pull the carriage on their own.

He took the long sword off his back, hung it on the wall panel to his side, and leisurely shifted his position, comfortably half-lying back in the driver's seat.

Shazo asked with considerable surprise, "Dim, are we going to the province of Sbreil by carriage? I mean, won't that be a bit slow?"

He assumed they were using magic to travel, and he cast Wind Walk while Dim used a similar spell.

"Yes, that's right. We don't need to rush. Let's go in my carriage."

Dim patted his belly, took two carrots out of his pocket, handed one to Shazo, and said:

“This horse has been with me for many years and has accompanied me to every part of the kingdom. It knows the way to the province of Sbril and can keep going day and night without stopping. It loves doing that the most. In a month at most, we will reach the border of Sbril.”

Xia Zuo felt increasingly uneasy. He frowned slightly and took a bite of the tender carrot. The sweet juice flowed between his teeth, and the carrot was crisp and fragrant. He couldn't help but take a few more bites and asked:

"Why do I have this feeling that you've been wandering for a long time? Or is it just my imagination..."

"Hmm? Didn't the dean mention it to you?" Dim crunched off half a carrot, chewing it with a satisfying crunch. "I'm not at the academy most of the time. I only show up briefly during freshman registration each year."

Xia Zuo was taken aback, and asked in surprise, "Then who is that person in the academy?"

"Ha ha!"

Tim laughed heartily, startling the birds in the woods.

"That was Professor Bethel's masterpiece. The professors felt that my image, my physique, and my stern demeanor were particularly suitable for intimidating students. So the head of the department had Professor Bethel, the professor of elemental representation, create a special elemental servant. Whenever a student makes a mistake, that elemental servant will appear."

"I see..." Xia Zuo shook his head with a sigh, took a small bite of carrot, and then asked, "So what are you doing?"

"I'll travel everywhere and see everything. Wherever there's a problem related to mages, I'll be there. Professor Bethel will take care of the elemental servants I left at the academy."

After finishing one carrot, Tim took out another.

Chapter 30 First Encounter with Biological Alchemy

"Don't you need to meditate? You're always on the road..." Xia Zuo touched the carriage floor. "This carriage runs very smoothly, but it's hardly a good place for meditation, is it?"

“Hmm~” Dim let out a meaningful hum, “You may have some misunderstandings about meditation places.”

He sat up straight, bent his right arm, the muscles on his upper arm bulging, and slapped the muscles hard with his left hand. "This is my meditation space. Do you understand, Xia Zuo? No meditation space can compare to your own solid body."

"Wh...what do you mean?" Xia Zuo frowned, puzzled.

"Meditation requires a safe environment, right?" Dim asked calmly, without any sign of agitation.

“Yes, that’s right,” Xia Zuo said.

Dim patted the other person on the shoulder. "When your body is strong enough, your senses are sharp enough, and you have many emergency response methods, most environments are safe for you. Do you understand?"

Xia Zuo nodded slowly, as if he had understood something.

Dim further explained, "Think about it, if you had those three things I just mentioned..."

He pointed to the packhorses, "And with reliable companions to guide you, you can meditate wherever you go, right?"

“That makes sense.” Xia Zuo realized he had missed a crucial point in his knowledge. “So, Dim, what are some good ways to exercise?”

"Practice breathing techniques." Dim finished the last bite of carrot.

"But I've already practiced meditation..."

“These two cultivation methods do not conflict,” Dim said, shaking his head.

Xia Zuo picked up the thread, "So, does that mean I can still practice breathing techniques even if I've already practiced meditation?"

"Yes. However, very few mage apprentices choose this path; most do not want to take the breathing technique elixir."

Tim nodded, then, as if remembering something, asked:

"This time we're going to investigate researchers from the Eastern Continent. Do you have any ideas? The head of the institute said you're very clever and cautious, a promising talent, and asked me to guide you more before the official operation."

Xia Zuo scratched the back of his head, quickly searching his mind for known information. "Dim, do you have a list of these researchers? Or could you tell me about them? I've been making poisons at the academy, so I'm somewhat unfamiliar with people and things outside of it."

"I have what you need."

Dim reached into the pocket beneath the leather armor, pulled out a parchment scroll, and handed it over. "There are six researchers permanently stationed in the province of Sbriel, and they won't leave. There are also three other researchers who travel between Sbriel and Starry Night Provinces. We need to investigate these three researchers first, and it's convenient to go there on the way."

The parchment scroll is about the thickness of a forearm and, when fully unfolded, is a meter and a half long.

Xia Zuo held the scrolls on both sides with his left and right hands, turning them little by little to read the text on the scrolls.

The nine researchers who will be investigated come from three different alchemist guilds.

Two members from the Herbal Alchemists Association, two from the Mineral Alchemists Association, and five from the Bio Alchemists Association headquarters.

Xia Zuo was more familiar with the first two associations: the Golden Vitex Sisterhood and the Obsidian Alchemist Association, which were sub-associations of the Herbalist Association and the Mineral Alchemist Association, respectively.

But the third association was almost never heard of.

Fortunately, the parchment scrolls recorded the daily work of bio-alchemists, which gave us a general understanding of what this field of alchemy entailed.

Like herbal alchemy and mineral alchemy, bioalchemy is named after its raw materials.

Living things include both plants and animals. These two are the raw materials of bioalchemy.

The main products of this alchemy are tools for improving physical attributes.

The secret medicine needed for practicing the breathing technique was developed and iterated by bio-alchemy in conjunction with other alchemy disciplines—if Xia Zuo hadn't seen these words on the scroll, he would have thought that the secret medicine was something the Warrior Guild had concocted themselves.

The three researchers traveling between the two provinces belong to three different alchemist guilds. They are responsible for guarding the raw materials transported from the Eastern Continent in Starry Night Province and escorting them to Sprill Province. Normally, these three conduct their research at their respective bases.

The scroll had reached the bottom, and there was no more content on the parchment.

Xia Zuo rubbed the scroll, returned to the first paragraph to read it again, intending to memorize the information of each researcher.

Dim sat to the side, glanced at Xia Zuo's expression, then leaned back on his chair, rested his head on the back of the chair, closed his eyes, and entered into deep meditation.

The carriage traveled on the bumpy, muddy ground without any noticeable shaking.

Dim's packhorses were extraordinary. They were strong and had great stamina, and they would actively avoid potholes and rocks. They wouldn't detour around low slopes, but would pant heavily as they climbed to the top, let out a triumphant snort, and then smoothly pull the cart down the hillside.

After Xia Zuo finished memorizing the parchment scroll, he stared at the packhorse with curiosity for a long time before gently patting Dim to wake him up.

Dim finished his meditation looking as if he had just dozed off. He stroked his beard a few times, took out his water pouch, and took a few sips of water. "Got an idea? If there really is a traitor among these nine researchers, just based on your intuition, which one do you think it would be?"

“Hmm…” Shazo rubbed his chin. “It’s hard to say, Dim. I think there might be more than one traitor.”

"Oh? Why?" Dim's eyes flickered.

Xia Zuo handed the parchment back, spreading his hands and saying, "Alchemists keep alchemical diaries, and so do I; it's a basic requirement. If you want to know what I've done and what I'm doing, just take my alchemical diary to the alchemy lab and check the inventory of products and raw materials."

He felt this deeply. He made many preparations to conceal the elemental toxin that was used for testing.

Beatrice trusted him implicitly. After her student took over the poison orders, she never stepped into the Grand Alchemy Lab. Even the stock of basic toxins was handed over to the transport team outside the castle by Shazo himself. Thanks to this, many of his planned backup plans were rendered useless.

Well… of course, there’s another possibility. Beatrice never imagined that her student could still be alive and kicking after ingesting elemental toxins…

After hearing what Xia Zuo said, Dim nodded repeatedly, "Yes, yes, yes, continue."

"The researchers' alchemy work uses monsters, magical herbs, and magical ores transported from the Eastern Continent. Their alchemy diaries are more standardized and detailed than mine. Hmm... I'm very interested in seeing the strange things of the Eastern Continent."

Xia Zuo paused for a moment, then continued:

"The parchment says that the researchers have a close working relationship. If their alchemical journals and inventory, after being reviewed in a coordinated manner, do not show any abnormalities... then there are only two possible outcomes—either they remain loyal to the alchemical school, or they are a premeditated gang, covering for each other."

Dimmoso touched his hairy chin. "What are you planning to do?"

“I…” Xia Zuo scratched his head, “I plan to carefully examine the alchemy logs and inventory to deduce whether these researchers have taken any unusual actions… This is the only idea I can think of for now.”

"I remember you got full marks on all your general education exams, right?" Tim asked, recalling the events.

After seeing the other person nod, he clapped his hands and said, "Then I'll leave the checking of the alchemy logs and inventory to you. I'll be in charge of questioning the researchers."

"Okay, no problem." Xia Zuo rubbed his hands together excitedly, looking forward to seeing the monster with his own eyes.

Dim took out a map of the kingdom from his pocket and gestured on it with his finger. "We will arrive at Starlight City in about six days. There are three researchers living there."

He put away the map and pointed to the carriage behind him, "If you want to meditate, go to the back."

Xia Zuo pondered for a moment and said, "I want to practice the Wind Walk technique, so I'll stay next to the carriage."

"Speaking of practicing spells, I do have a suggestion."

Dim reached into his pocket. "Let me see where those little gadgets are... I haven't used them in ages."

His forearm went into his pocket, as if he were groping deep inside.

“Found them.” Tim withdrew his right hand, opened his palm, and three bouncy balls appeared in his hand. “You used to work in a circus, so you must be very familiar with acrobatics. Have you ever tried to throw and catch balls with your hands of wind?”

"You can do it like that?" Xia Zuo became interested.

"Here you go, these are for you. I don't need these three bouncy balls. But you'll have to practice in the carriage, otherwise it'll be a hassle to pick them up."

Dim passed the ball over, pressed down on the opponent's shoulder, and said:

“Some spells are extensions of the body, Xia Zuo. The Wind Hand trick has a mysterious and special aspect. Try to understand it carefully, and you will discover new inspiration for casting spells.”

Xia Zuo grasped the bouncy ball and said sincerely, "Thank you, Dim. I'll remember that."

"Go ahead. I'll call you if anything comes up." Dim waved his hand behind him, adjusted his posture, and half-reclined in the chair.

Xia Zuo pushed aside the partition behind him and squeezed into the carriage.