C2 A Hundred Years ago He Was Thirteen Years Old!

Feng Zhentian stood frozen, his eyes quivering as he absorbed his surroundings, his body trembling ever so slightly.

"Hmph, Ms. Wang, is this the caliber of student you produce? No respect for elders, no sense of discipline. To think you would allow shouting and screaming during such a critical assessment. It appears you're not fit to teach. As the Vice Dean, I'm notifying you that you're terminated!" At the back of the classroom stood an elder in a blue robe, his square face framed by large ears, his narrow eyes giving him a look of meanness and slyness.

Upon hearing these words, the stunning Ms. Wang turned deathly pale, her face devoid of color, lips quivering, her whole frame shaking with a mix of indignation and helplessness.

The rest of the students exchanged anxious glances. Ms. Wang, a rare beauty among the faculty with her deep knowledge of alchemy, was adored by everyone in the West Branch. The Vice Dean's decision to dismiss her sent waves of unease through the classroom, and resentful eyes turned toward Feng Zhentian.

Memories buried deep within Feng Zhentian's mind began to flood his consciousness. Surrounded by familiar faces, his heart was stirred by a tumultuous wave of emotion.

Incredibly, he had returned to his youth, to his thirteen-year-old self, a year before the impending disaster. That year, his family had not yet faced ruin, he had not yet met the love of his life, and all his loved ones were still alive.

He inhaled deeply, struggling to accept this unbelievable truth. It wasn't until he pinched his thigh hard enough to feel a sharp pain that Feng Zhentian confirmed his rebirth.

Feng Zhentian couldn't fathom why he had been given a second chance at life, but he was determined not to let history repeat its tragic course. A surge of joy overwhelmed him, and he could hardly contain his excitement. If life could indeed be relived, then he, Feng Zhentian, would alter the course of history.

"Vice Dean, I implore you, please don't dismiss Ms. Wang."

"Please, Vice Dean, I implore you!"

At that moment, a multitude of students were pleading with the Vice Dean, yet he remained resolute. Rising to his feet, he declared, "Hmph, Ms. Wang, as of today, you will no longer serve as a teacher at our Holy and Virtous Education Academy..."

"Hold on, Vice Dean." Feng Zhentian interjected just as the Vice Dean was turning to leave. Lacking the aura of vitality, his voice carried an undeniable self-assurance, "The one who lacks respect for elders and discipline is me, Feng Zhentian, not Ms. Wang. She is the teacher I hold in the highest regard, as do we all. By what authority do you dismiss her?"

"Hmm? Feng Zhentian?" The Vice Dean gave him a cold, piercing look, his voice laced with subtle mockery, "Oh, because you, at thirteen, have learned nothing. After three years, you still haven't grasped the basics of alchemy. A teacher bears responsibility for that."

Feng Zhentian had once been considered dull-witted, unable to retain any knowledge. His body was deemed useless, his intellect lacking. He was nothing more than a fool.

"Heh, Vice Principal, there's truth to the adage 'seeing is believing, hearing is not.' How can you be so sure about the veracity of rumors?" Feng Zhentian allowed a slight smile to play upon his lips. Ridiculous. In his past life, he was the preeminent Alchemy Emperor of the Divine Martial Continent. His experience was unparalleled. Though now stripped of his powers, his past life's memories remained intact. Knowledge of alchemy? In the vast expanse of the Divine Martial Continent, few could match his expertise. Mastering the basics of alchemy was hardly a challenge for him.