Teacher by day, Farmer by passion

"Class rule number one," Ace said calmly, brushing dust from his robe.

"Greet your instructor. If you can't manage that much, you're not qualified to be here."

Silence fell.

Even the wind outside seemed to have gotten quieter.

Those who remained sat a little straighter, eyes wide and alert.

Ace turned to the blackboard, utterly unfazed.

"Now then… let's begin with the basic theory behind spiritual fire resonance."

Just as Ace began to turn toward the board, a voice full of indignation rang out from the hallway.

"You dare throw me out?!"

Lin Zhaoyu stormed back into the classroom, his face red with fury, spiritual energy lightly flaring around him.

His robes bore the emblem of the Wood Clan, an ancient family.

"I am Lin Zhaoyu! Do you have any idea who I am?! I could end your entire career with a single word!" he shouted, pointing a trembling finger at Ace, clearly unable to stomach the humiliation.

The classroom froze again, tension climbing like storm clouds before a lightning strike.

Ace didn't turn right away. He calmly drew a simple rune on the board, finishing his line of thought before turning around with measured grace.

"You think I'm care?" Ace said, his voice quiet but cutting like a blade wrapped in silk. "Why do you think I'm even standing in front of this class?"

He stepped forward, eyes cold but his voice remained collected and calm.

"I'm not teaching because I need to. I'm teaching because I want to. You hear me?"

The words echoed in the stunned silence.

"You want to threaten me?" Ace tilted his head mockingly, giving Lin Zhaoyu a slow once-over. "You, the little boy clinging to his family name like it's a lifeline, think you can 'end' me?"

A few students gasped.

Lin Zhaoyu's face twitched, caught between shame and rage.

Ace's smile thinned. "Let me be clear. In this room, your surname means nothing. Manners, discipline, and humility, that's what matters. If that's too hard for you, then the door is still open."

He gestured toward it.

"But don't come back until you learn how to walk through it properly."

* * *

After sending Lin Zhaoyu out of the class again, he turned his attention back to class.

The classroom was half empty, with only a handful of students remained, their expressions tense and upright in their seats, whether from fear or respect, it was hard to say.

Ace stood at the front, arms crossed, gaze sweeping across the few who had stayed behind. He saw no arrogance, no lingering defiance. Just silence.

"Emilia," he said suddenly, his tone even and clear, "recite the theory behind spiritual fire resonance."

The girl blinked, startled at first, then quickly stood up. Her back straightened, hands folded in front of her robes.

"Yes, Professor," she said, her voice slightly nervous but steady.

She took a breath, then began:

"Spiritual fire resonance refers to the phenomenon where a cultivator's internal fire harmonizes with an external flame source, such as a cauldron flame or ambient spiritual fire. When resonance occurs, the two flames no longer resist each other but instead amplify, allowing for finer control during alchemical refinement. This effect is often described as the flame becoming an extension of the cultivator's will."

Ace gave a slight nod, neither praising nor critiquing yet.

"And what's the danger if the resonance fails?" he asked.

"If the resonance is unstable," Emilia continued quickly, "the external flame can react violently with the internal spiritual fire. This often leads to backfire, spiritual burns, or loss of control over the alchemical process."

She paused, then added, "It can also cause cauldron explosions if the alchemist doesn't sever the link in time."

Ace raised an eyebrow at that last part, a faint smirk playing at the edge of his lips.

"Very good, next, Anna, do you have anything to add?" he asked.

Anna straightened in her seat, eyes wide as Ace called her name.

"Yes, Professor," she said, her voice soft but clear.

She glanced briefly at Emilia, then added, "I believe resonance isn't just about harmonizing spiritual fires, it's also about emotional stability. A cultivator with unstable emotions might force their fire to obey, but it won't resonate. True resonance happens when the flame reflects your intent, not just your command."

She paused, then continued, "That's why many say alchemy is as much a battle of the heart as it is of technique."

Ace tilted his head slightly, considering her words. His gaze sharpened, not with criticism, but with a spark of interest.

"Interesting," he murmured. "And very true. Remember that alchemy doesn't forgive pride, fear, or hesitation. Your fire will expose you before your cauldron ever does."

He let the silence settle for a moment before turning toward the rest of the class.

"Any other thoughts?" he asked, voice cool yet inviting.

Ace let the question hang a few seconds longer before stepping toward the front of the class.

He raised a hand, and with a flick of his fingers, summoned a small jade cauldron from his storage ring. It landed with a soft thud atop the platform.

Without a word, he placed three spirit herbs on the table beside it, each one volatile on its own.

"Watch closely," he said, his voice calm, yet edged with quiet intensity. "No chants. No seals. Just control."

He ignited a pale blue spiritual flame beneath the cauldron, letting it burn steady for a moment.

Then, without touching the herbs, he slowly lifted one with a controlled stream of spiritual energy and dropped it in.

The cauldron hissed.

A beat passed and then the flame shifted color to match the herb's nature.

Blue deepened into violet. The air vibrated gently.

"Resonance," Ace said simply. "Not just harmony of fire and herb but of spirit and will."

He added the second herb, and the flame flared dangerously until Ace narrowed his eyes. The flame calmed.

"Force won't work here. You must listen to the flame's rhythm… and make it dance with yours."

The third herb dropped in.

A faint hum filled the room. The cauldron glowed softly, the concoction forming inside without a single explosion or puff of smoke.

Taking out a set of high grade body strnghthing pills. He turned back to the stunned students.

"This is what you aim for. Not imitation. Not obedience. Unity. Until you understand that, every pill you make will just be cooked medicine."

He let the cauldron fade back into his ring.

"Now. Who's ready to try?"