993: Self-Created Potion: Nero Potion and Intercepting the Inheritance of the Tower of the Black Sun!
Mountain Traveler stood on the podium, continuously retreating as a magic glow transformed into a solid crimson magic sphere, which began to rotate around him.
As the Ancestral God of the Sea King World, Mountain Traveler sensed his spirit macro being pulled away by that light sphere. Countless spirit macros transformed into azure light shadows, passing him like a fleeting flash. Mountain Traveler burst into laughter, feeling incredibly relaxed as if his entire being had been washed clean.
Mountain Traveler threw his head back and laughed heartily.
"Refreshing, truly refreshing. Potion Master Locke Augustine, I must reward you well. Helen, he is indeed an excellent Potion Master."
"Wait—"
Mountain Traveler looked at his white radish whiskers in confusion, his eyes filled with doubt. "Why hasn't it stopped yet? Isn't this too much? My power is being pulled away."
At this moment, with that magic light sphere as the core, the gathered spirit macro formed another Mountain Traveler.
The Magic Pressure of this Mountain Traveler was approximately at the ordinary Second Ring level, just over ten thousand.
This Mountain Traveler stared wide-eyed at the original Mountain Traveler. Simultaneously, this clone was actually still seizing the original Mountain Traveler's spirit macro, with an azure spirit macro torrent connecting the two, within which countless azure light shadows flowed.
The original Mountain Traveler glared at the clone created by the Avatar Potion Locke had refined.
"What's wrong with you? You are my clone; you should be under my control. You only need to absorb the stubborn ailments from my body. How can you fight me for power?"
That Mountain Traveler clone, however, revealed a deep malice in its eyes.
"Who said you are the original? If you die, won't I be the original? After absorbing all the spirit macro from your body, is it possible that I can't become the original?"
Incredible disbelief appeared in the original Mountain Traveler's small eyes as he turned to look at Locke.
"Potion Master Augustine, what on earth is going on? Why is he snatching away the normal power from my body?
"
"He wants to replace me?"
"Didn't you refine this potion to help me?"
In the next moment, the original Mountain Traveler was struck by a ginseng whisker swung by the Mountain Traveler clone. Then, the original Mountain Traveler let out a miserable scream and was sent flying, crashing into the magic blackboard and creating a large hole in it.
The original Mountain Traveler was both shocked and furious.
"Potion Master Augustine, I take back my previous evaluation of you. What on earth is this thing? Why can't I control this clone?"
"Helen!"
In the next instant, the original Mountain Traveler was whipped into the air once again by the clone's ginseng whisker.
The original Mountain Traveler tried desperately to control the clone, but to his bewilderment, he actually had no control over it whatsoever.
Seeing the clone attack him again, with power continuously flowing toward the opponent, Mountain Traveler became anxious.
"Wait, wait! Your power comes from me; why are you treating me as an enemy? Helen, what on earth is going on?
"
After observing, Witch Helen explained, "There are very few things in this world whose spirit macros are completely identical. Things with identical spirit macros naturally tend to gather and aggregate together. From something as small as sand to as large as a river—"
"So, if your clone's spirit macro is identical to yours, it will naturally want to move toward you and everything about you."
"But right now, under the effect of Locke's Avatar Potion, this is precisely what cannot be achieved."
"Mountain Traveler, for your clone to avoid recombining with you, it has only one option: to devour you. Of course, you should be glad Locke isn't a Sun Ring Potion Master and that wasn't a Sun Ring-level potion; otherwise, you would have split in half in an instant, and then this clone would have become even more frenzied and tried to perish together with you. Then you would truly be in danger."
A look of terror appeared in Mountain Traveler's small eyes.
He hadn't expected the potion Locke refined to be so dangerous, creating something that wanted to replace the original. Who could withstand that!
Locke and the many wizards present looked toward the Sea Queen Throne, and Locke inquired, "Lady Helen, why would a clone created by a Sun Ring-level Avatar Potion possibly perish together with Lord Mountain Traveler?"
The Sea Queen Throne smiled and said, "Identical spirit macros will find ways to aggregate together, and to resist this aggregation, guess what happens? The two must produce differences. If the spirit macros are exactly the same but the magic levels are different, they are actually not completely identical. This is currently the case with Mountain Traveler's clone."
"Right now, one is at the Second Ring level and the other is at the Sun Ring level, so the two haven't been forced to merge yet. But if the effect of your potion were a bit stronger, it would be hard to say."
"Of course, you are still far from truly achieving the effect I mentioned. But Locke, this potion you refined this time is absolutely one of the most aggressive variants among Avatar Potions."
The Sea Queen Throne looked at Locke and said, "You indeed have quite a talent for refining aggressive Potions. Even an enhancement-type potion like the Avatar Potion, which leans toward auxiliary use, can actually exert such an effect."
While Locke and the Sea Queen Throne were talking, Mountain Traveler was already being batted from one side to the other by his clone like a ball.
Bang~"
Mountain Traveler stood up from the magic blackboard. "I'm angry."
In an instant, Sun Ring-level Magic Pressure descended.
A ginseng whisker reached out and directly grabbed his clone, instantly destroying the clone's body.
He blew out a breath, and as that air blew onto his clone, all the clone's tissues were immediately assimilated into a breath of air. Then, Mountain Traveler opened his mouth and took a sudden, powerful breath, instantly churning countless air currents, and all the air the clone had turned into was sucked inside.
Mountain Traveler chewed a couple of times, and his stomach suddenly grew large, then actually began to roll. His stomach quickly shrank, but his right hand began to swell, and then his right hand shrank while his left hand began to swell.
However, the degree of swelling became slightly smaller each time.
After a while, Mountain Traveler finally completely reabsorbed that clone.
Mountain Traveler exhaled a breath of turbid air, appearing somewhat fearful, as this was the first time he had been his own enemy.
The Sea Queen Throne looked at Locke and said, "An Avatar Potion originally cannot create a spirit macro clone that is exactly the same as the original, but you seem to have over-strengthened the mana of the Two-Singing Cicada's spirit macro, leading to this phenomenon. And once a clone's spirit macro is exactly the same as the original's, it triggers the problem of two identical spirit macros having to aggregate. Therefore, a conflict will inevitably arise."
Locke gave a bitter smile. "Teacher, this was also a fluke. My original intention was just to use the spirit macro of the crimson blood-sucking stone to enhance the mana of the Two-Singing Cicada's spirit macro."
"But I didn't expect it to turn out like this. Next time, I should try to improve the precision of the Avatar Potion's spirit macro extraction; perhaps that can solve this problem."
The Sea Queen Throne said to Locke, "Although none of you truly alleviated Mountain Traveler's problem, considering you innovated a variant potion formula for the Avatar Potion, the first place this time goes to you."
"Although it isn't truly perfected yet, you can give this potion a name."
Many wizards present nodded continuously. After all, only Locke and Witch Alba had refined Potions within three hours, and judging from the effects of consumption—setting aside Mountain Traveler's actual state—the spectacle just now made them feel that Locke's potion was superior.
Witch Alba bowed to Locke. "Lord Augustine, congratulations on obtaining the Blue Sky Brocade Potion."
"I didn't expect the Avatar Potion to have such variations; it has truly opened my eyes and even inspired me."
Witch Alba's eyes were sparkling; she seemed to truly love Potions. The Avatar Potion variant Locke refined this time was an eye-opener for her, so she was extremely enthusiastic toward Locke and felt a sense of closeness.
The other wizards also nodded one after another, completely convinced.
Mountain Traveler, however, was extremely annoyed.
"Is no one going to ask for my opinion as the consumer? I think my consumption experience just now was simply too terrible—"
"I think Witch Alba's potion was more comfortable to drink. Helen?"
Witch Helen completely ignored Mountain Traveler and said to Locke, "Locke, have you thought of a name?"
Locke nodded and said, "Lady Helen, I think it can be called the Nero Potion."
Witch Helen nodded.
"Nero... fine, let's call it the Nero Potion then. This potion was just something you created on the fly; although you completed the core work, many details are actually not perfect. The reason it could work on Mountain Traveler is still because he is quite special."
Mountain Traveler ran up to Witch Helen and said, "Helen, I've thought about it and still think Witch Alba's potion was better. Drinking this Potion Master's potion is simply too dangerous."
Witch Helen turned a deaf ear and continued to Locke, "But the effects of your Nero Potion on other magical creatures and wizards are still uncertain and require more experiments to determine the efficacy. Furthermore, the related side effects are completely unknown. Of course, this belongs to a type of poison, so there's no need to do too many experiments on the side effects. However, you still need to complete Phase III trials. Then, you can use this potion to publish in a Second Ring, Zone 2 journal. Of course, you could publish now, but I think it would be a bit hard to reach Zone 2; at most, it would be Zone 3."
Locke bowed to the Sea Queen Throne.
"Thank you for your guidance, Lady Helen."
He hadn't expected that by attending the Sea Queen Throne's class, he could come up with a potion of the Nero Potion's level and gain the opportunity to publish an article.
Thinking about it now, choosing to study under the Sea Queen Throne through the Feathered Serpent Ancient Pavilion was indeed a very correct choice; by following her in class, he could even get the chance to publish articles.
The Sea Queen Throne said, "However, my suggestion to you is that you can continue to work hard on the Nero Potion. I see a certain unfinished meaning in this potion of yours."
Locke looked at the Sea Queen Throne in surprise, because while thinking about the Nero Potion just now, he had already done his utmost, trying to make it the best he could, believing he hadn't held anything back.
But the Sea Queen Throne actually saw an unfinished meaning in this variant formula of his Avatar Potion, which meant that she saw a certain possibility in him that even he himself wasn't currently aware of.
Her attainment in Potions—
Locke fell into deep thought. "The unfinished meaning of the Nero Potion?"
"How else can the Nero Potion develop? By studying the Nero Potion, I can indeed quickly improve my understanding of the Avatar Potion and rapidly enhance my level in Potions."
Seeing that the Sea Queen Throne was ignoring him, Mountain Traveler hurriedly took a few steps forward and leaned closer to her.
"Helen, I still think you gave the first place to the wrong person."
"Regardless, you should at least ask for the opinion of the consumer, right? I think Witch Alba's potion was better."
""
Witch Alba, standing to the side, covered her face.
"Lord Throne... this—"
Sea Queen Throne glanced sideways at Mountain Traveler.
"Can you make this pet of yours shut up? He's been very noisy since just now."
Mocked by Sea Queen Throne, Mountain Traveler immediately wilted like a deflated balloon. His eyes darted around as he thought about something, but he indeed stopped making any noise.
Sea Queen Throne handed over the Star Ring resource, the Blue Sky Brocade Potion, to Locke.
Then, she spoke: "The next class will be at one o'clock in the afternoon a week from now. Learning without thought is labor lost; thought without learning is perilous. You can use this week to look up information related to Avatar Potions, then continue entering my Spirit Macro Hundred Solutions in the next class to think of solutions and refine the Avatar Potion once more."
"Class dismissed."
Sea Queen Throne turned and left directly.
After Sea Queen Throne left, Mountain Traveler took the initiative to approach Locke.
"Mr. Augustine, I have something I'd like to discuss with you. Based on my personal experience consuming it, I truly feel that your Nero Potion doesn't offer many benefits. I believe if you continue to work in this direction, you'll be overtaken by others."
"Mr. Augustine, young man, you should change your way of thinking."
"Next time, why don't you try a different approach? I believe an excellent Potion Master like yourself will surely have better ideas."
Locke blinked and nodded to Mountain Traveler, saying, "Alright, Lord Mountain Traveler. However, as a Potion Master, I have my own judgment. Of course, your feedback as a consumer is also very important, and I will take it into account."
Locke turned and left; his avatar indeed needed to go to the library on Golden Crown Mountain to look up information regarding Avatar Potions.
As for whether to continue developing in the direction of the Nero Potion next time?
That would mainly depend on his own thoughts.
Of course, for now, even Sea Queen Throne seemed to support his continued efforts on the Nero Potion; perhaps he could directly publish a Second Ring, Zone One article in the future.
Primarily, Mountain Traveler knew nothing about Potions. Moreover, as the Ancestral God of the Sea King World, it was basically impossible for him to suffer any significant damage from a Star Ring potion. Although the effects of the Nero Potion had startled him earlier and caused his avatar some trouble, it was essentially no threat to him.
Because the gap between an ordinary Second Ring and a Sun Ring was absolute.
It was insurmountable.
Therefore, he was never in any life-threatening danger from start to finish.
Thus, judging as a Potion Master, there was absolutely no problem with giving the Nero Potion to Mountain Traveler.
Locke turned and left the Potions room.
Seeing the wizards gradually leave the Potions room, Mountain Traveler frowned. "This is bad. I don't know if Augustine will make me take that damned Nero Potion again next time. The pressure these wizards are putting on him isn't enough. Although that Witch Alba is talented enough, she's at a disadvantage regarding her magic level. I wonder if Helen will let her advance quickly to the Second Ring. If she becomes a Second-Ring Wizard, at the same level as Locke Augustine, then it might be alright; she would definitely be able to put pressure on Locke."
"As for the other wizards, none seem decent. That Alex Walker, he seems to have some ideas."
Mountain Traveler fell into deep thought, beginning to ponder how to prevent Locke from continuing his efforts on the Nero Potion.
Meanwhile, Sea Queen Throne led Witch Alba out of the main castle of the Root-Crown Court, heading toward their living quarters.
Witch Alba apologized to Sea Queen Throne, saying, "Teacher, although you required me to strive for first place in every class, I still disappointed you today. I'm sorry."
Sea Queen Throne shook her head and said, "It's fine, there will be a next class. Besides, you aren't a Second-Ring Wizard yet, so you can't stand on the same starting line as Locke; I don't blame you. But it won't be difficult for you to become a Second-Ring Wizard. Your past life left behind quite a bit of wealth—Alba, what's with that expression? You were a Third-Ring Wizard in your previous life; you truly underestimate your own accumulation."
"You left behind resources sufficient to quickly become a Second-Ring Wizard. Moreover, you reincarnated precisely because you felt your talent in your previous life was insufficient, so you consumed a special Potion of Immortality, a Fourth Ring potion, before calmly reincarnating."
"In this life, your talent in Potions will only be stronger than your previous life, not weaker."
"I wanted you to join the fast-track improvement class to build your confidence."
Sea Queen Throne said, "Confidence is built through success. By taking first place time and again, you will recognize yourself more and more. Through this process, you will become an excellent Potion Master. This is the path that I, you, and your past self have all walked."
Witch Alba bowed to Sea Queen Throne.
"Teacher, I won't disappoint you again."
"It's just that the Nero Potion is truly interesting; I really wish I could consult Senior Augustine about it again."
Sea Queen Throne nodded, then glanced at Witch Alba from the corner of her eye.
"Alba possesses the most powerful talent for Potions I have ever seen, yet Locke exceeds my expectations every time. This Nero Potion has made me sense a certain potential in him. I'm just not sure yet. This possibility—"
"Honestly. I originally just wanted to find a tool to help me decline the favor owed to Wizard John and make the other wizards back off. Who knew the wizards of the Root-Crown Court would be more troublesome than I thought, and Locke Augustine's talent would actually make me take things a bit more seriously."
It seems this fast-track improvement class won't be ending anytime soon.
Sea Queen Throne recalled what Lord Throne Lucas had said before, and her pupils suddenly constricted.
"Lucas, genius doesn't require a background. And you, not being a genius, wouldn't know that."
"Among the students in my fast-track improvement class, there might truly be someone who exceeds our expectations."
Sea Queen Throne thought: "Locke Augustine's absolute talent in Potions cannot surpass Alba's, but he indeed possesses an unpredictable possibility."
"Was it truly just a coincidence that fate brought us together?"
On Golden Crown Mountain, within the Key Laboratory at White Cardamom Farm.
Locke and Witch Planknia stood within a parallel small world. At the same time, before them was a three-story azure nursery where azure spiritual breath was layered piece by piece. This was the Spirit Breath Cultivation Method Locke had used in the Three Caves World, and the core of this Garden Grotto-Heaven was an iron tree seed.
That was the sub-project of the key individual project that Witch Yekaterina had entrusted to him.
As the Garden Grotto-Heaven shattered, piece after piece of the grotto-heaven world fell from the sky, and the iron tree seed also drifted down from above.
Witch Planknia looked up at the iron tree seed, slightly stunned.
"Teacher, your Magic Pressure is so powerful, and your Spirit Breath Cultivation Method is eye-opening. Why hasn't this iron tree seed sprouted yet?"
Locke's expression was calm as he extended his palm, and the iron tree seed landed in his hand.
The three-story azure nursery created via the Spirit Breath Cultivation Method within the Garden Grotto-Heaven just now had cost him five million magic stones, yet it hadn't left a single trace of growth on the iron ball-like seed. Locke couldn't even capture a hint of vitality from the seed.
Witch Planknia hadn't noticed anything unusual about the seed; in her eyes, it was a high-ring Magic Plant seed, so it was normal for her not to understand it.
Wizard Moromota was also confused. Being a Second-Ring Wizard, he knew that this iron ball, at least in his eyes, truly was just an iron ball.
No spirit breath, no spirituality, no origin force—it resembled an iron ball in every aspect.
Wizard Moromota looked at Locke and asked tentatively, "Lord, I have a thought. If this iron ball—no, seed—had been swapped by someone... if they replaced our seed with an iron ball that looks identical and is just as hard, could we really tell the difference?"
Witch Planknia pondered for a moment, her thoughts also getting stuck.
Indeed, could they really tell?
Was this truly a seed?
Could they have taken the wrong one—
Witch Planknia looked up at Locke, and the next moment, she was startled. "Teacher, what are you doing?"
Locke had summoned a ball of magical fire and tossed the seed directly into it. As the magical fire blazed, Planknia looked on in horror.
"Teacher, isn't this your sub-project?"
Locke said, "It is indeed my sub-project. Proving it is very simple: an iron ball cannot remain unmelted within my Primal Fire."
"Even if an iron ball looks identical to an iron tree seed, there's a fundamental difference. And this difference is immediately apparent within my potion fire."
Locke reached into the fire and, a moment later, pulled the seed out.
The iron tree seed was still perfectly intact.
Witch Planknia finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Wizard Moromota smiled and said, "Lord Locke, this seed is practically the hardest substance in the world. I wonder how to make it sprout and grow; we've tried every method during this time."
Locke said, "Let's check the records again. We will definitely be able to plant it."
Wizard Moromota said, "Yes. We can look up more information and think of another way."
Locke looked at the seed in his hand.
"I can't capture its spirit breath. But all things should have a hidden spirit breath. Since I can't capture the spirit breath of this seed, it means I still don't understand it. This is due to my insufficient level in spirit breath studies and my average breeding techniques. Since my teacher entrusted this iron tree seed to me, I must make it sprout."
"This is my pride as a Breeder."
"Besides that, my Spirit Breath Cultivation Method also needs to be improved. The most basic Spirit Breath Cultivation Method clearly cannot grow this iron tree."
Locke placed the iron tree seed into the soil. Planknia squatted beside the seed and sighed.
"Teacher, it's really hard to make this iron tree seed sprout."
Wizard Moromota teased her, "This is a sub-project of a key individual project, after all. How could it be simple?"
"If we can complete this sub-project with the Lord, our level in Breeding Science will surely advance by leaps and bounds."
"Getting an iron tree to bloom is very difficult, but making an iron tree seed sprout is even harder."
Noticing the wedding rings they were wearing, which he had gifted them, Locke suddenly said, "You two have been working hard lately. Do you need me to give you a few days off?"
Witch Planknia and Wizard Moromota looked at each other.
Witch Planknia's face turned red with embarrassment.
"No, I think Teacher's experiments are more important. Love is not as important as experiments. We should focus on our duties first."
Locke raised an eyebrow.
"I don't mind if you miss a few days of work. But do as you wish."
Wizard Moromota also smiled and said: "Actually, it's the same for Planknia and me no matter where we go. It's better to stay in the laboratory and be happy. Lord Locke, I also really want to see this iron tree seed sprout; I am a Breeder after all."
"It's just, Boss Locke, do you have any ideas?"
Wizard Moromota looked at the iron tree seed with a helpless expression.
"I'm really at my wit's end here. I've tried every method, but this seed hasn't changed in the slightest."
Locke said: "I don't have any ideas yet either. Let's consult the records first. We'll have a discussion every three days to exchange our thoughts."
Locke glanced at them and then left this parallel world.
Actually, he did have an idea—no, rather than an idea, it was more of an intuition.
That was, perhaps for the iron tree seed to sprout, it needed a special environment. Maybe the environment of that parallel world wasn't adjusted correctly, but it could also be that this White Cardamom Farm—this environment simply couldn't let the iron tree seed grow.
Locke walked along the star track, lost in thought.
But if it were the latter, that wouldn't be right.
Because his teacher had given him this iron tree seed as a sub-project of a key individual project.
She knew he would definitely be planting it within the White Cardamom Farm, and if this iron tree seed couldn't sprout in the White Cardamom Farm—
Then what did she mean by this?
Locke tapped his forehead.
"No, I'm overthinking it. The White Cardamom Farm is a Key Laboratory. Teacher shouldn't mean that. It's probably just my imagination. I should focus on improving my spirit breath studies and Spirit Breath Cultivation Method first. It's also possible that my magic in these two fields is still insufficient, which is why I can't make the iron tree seed sprout."
Locke went to another small world, which simulated the Cold Mountain Ruins of the Hui-Ming Boundary. He collected many solar trajectories of the Cold Mountain Ruins there, and then he placed these solar trajectories into the Historical Parallel Incantation given to him by the Grandmaster.
The complex spell model of the Historical Parallel Incantation emerged on the back of his hand. This wizard formation model absorbed the solar trajectories and the information about the Cold Mountain Ruins Locke had collected, but the Historical Parallel Incantation did not activate; instead, the spell model immediately vanished.
Locke said: "As expected, the information obtained here in the White Cardamom Farm doesn't meet the conditions to run the Historical Parallel Incantation. No matter how real this small world looks, it isn't the Cold Mountain Ruins. It seems there's no way to take a shortcut."
"I must go to the Cold Mountain Ruins personally."
"In addition, Planknia has been getting closer and closer to that wizard from the Senate. I have already given them the rings as Teacher requested."
"It seems that in this Key Laboratory, my primary goal is to figure out how to make the iron tree seed sprout."
Locke stood with his hands behind his back, musing: "My intuition tells me that the moment the iron tree seed sprouts, something very, very big will happen."
He just didn't know what it would be.
This sub-project of a key individual project from his teacher was indeed not simple; it was full of mystery.
Now it seemed that his teacher sending Planknia and Wizard Moromota to his side was likely a part of this sub-project of a key individual project itself.
He just didn't know what kind of connection there was between the two of them.
At Golden Crown Mountain, Locke's avatar returned to the dormitory, and at the same time, he contacted Alaric through the grey mist slate.
In the video call.
Alaric, whom he hadn't seen for a long time, did not appear as the Golden Dynasty noble with a beauty on each arm this time. He seemed to have perked up, and he had even entered his soul decline period. However, he was wearing a massive cloak with a large bulge on his back, hiding whatever was underneath.
Locke looked at Alaric and said: "Congratulations, Alaric, you've entered your soul decline period. I'm truly happy for you to see you pulling yourself together."
Wizard Alaric gave a bitter smile. "Locke—Lord Locke, compared to you, I'm really nothing. During the Yunze Cup, we were both First-Ring Wizards, and now you're already a Star Ring Great Wizard."
"But there's no need to compare myself to a genius like you. After all, I've felt that everything has been going very smoothly lately."
—
Locke looked at his back.
Wizard Alaric smiled and said: "Everything has a price. I recently had a fortuitous encounter. I obtained power from the ancient past, which improved my aptitude."
"The Cold Mountain Ruins, right? I'm willing to help you scout the way."
Locke said: "Alaric, I remember when I first invited you, you were terrified and very resistant to it."
Wizard Alaric said: "For certain reasons, I recently need a very high-grade Ancient Golden Magic creature bloodline. Therefore, I indeed need to enter the Cold Mountain Ruins. If I don't enter the Cold Mountain Ruins, then I would need to enter the Golden City Heavenly Palace. In short, the Old Ruins City and Meili Ruins don't have the specific Ancient Golden Magic creature bloodline I need. And for someone who isn't royalty, the difficulty of entering the Golden City Heavenly Palace is simply too high. So—Lord Locke, I want to obtain your help."
"If you can help me, I have a certain degree of confidence that I can enter the Cold Mountain Ruins, prepare the preliminary exploration data for you, and create the most important exploration map. That way, when you enter the Cold Mountain Ruins again, no matter what you want to do, your chances of success will be higher."
Locke's gaze fell on his back.
"I know. What do you need?"
Wizard Alaric said: "Since this is an equivalent exchange, I don't need any reward in magic stones. I will be your vanguard for exploring the Cold Mountain Ruins, and in return, you need to give me some equipment."
"I need a pair of Golden Dragon Claw Air Pineapple Wizard Shoes, and I need a type of potion."
Locke had no objection to the first request, as it was something he could easily provide.
To explore the Cold Mountain Ruins, which posed a serious risk of death even for a Star Ring Wizard, sending a vanguard to obtain an exploration route map was a very necessary thing and could improve the success rate.
Originally, he had wanted to invite other wizards to the Cold Mountain Ruins through Alaric, but since Alaric was so confident now, it was fine to choose him.
Wizard Alaric sent the complete recipe for a potion to Locke.
Locke saw that this potion had all the ingredient names, but not the specific dosages. The order of these ingredients was also clearly scrambled, making it impossible to distinguish which were auxiliary materials and which were core materials.
Despite this, Locke still recognized it as a Second Ring level bloodline harmonization type potion.
Moreover, the recipe was full of ancient charm, clearly not a potion recipe from the modern magic era.
Locke said: "It seems you really have had some fortuitous encounters lately, Alaric. Congratulations."
"Very well, I can refine this potion."
There was uncontrollable wild joy in Alaric's eyes.
"Really? Then I'll leave it to you. As long as you help me refine this bottle of potion, I can get you a safe private map for exploring the Cold Mountain Ruins, with target points designated by you. This is the complete recipe."
Locke said: "Alright, Alaric, we are friends. I look forward to our cooperation."
"I will arrange for someone to deliver the Wizard Shoes to you as soon as possible."
He hung up the video call, while his mind continuously and forcibly recalled the names of those medicinal ingredients.
"With my recently improved Potions level, plus the fact that this potion is clearly a Golden Potion, I indeed have the ability to refine this Second Ring potion."
"Wait—these ingredients."
Locke closed his eyes, and the names of the medicinal ingredients he had just memorized immediately reappeared forcibly in his mind.
The names of those ingredients began to combine randomly in his head, and a spell model appeared in his mind.
"Alfonso's Golden Sword?"
Locke involuntarily muttered the name of this spell model.
"Someone used Alaric to deliver this spell model to me. The person using him must be someone who knows and is familiar with my Golden Magic talent. Who exactly is it?"
Locke's expression changed slightly.
Because there was only one wizard power that could be so familiar with his Golden Magic talent—the Tower of the Black Sun.
Has the Tower of the Black Sun locked onto me again?
No.
Locke quickly realized that if the Tower of the Black Sun had locked onto him, it would be meaningless to send him a Golden Magic spell model from afar.
That would be startling the snake.
The materials for the potion Alaric wanted to concoct essentially had to be refined by someone who simultaneously possessed a powerful Golden Magic talent and was a Second Ring Potion Master. It was a potion recipe for a Potion Master with specific talents.
Locke came to his senses.
This spell model wasn't specifically sent to me using Alaric. Instead, some wizard power wanted to use Alaric's hand to send this spell model to certain wizards who possessed specific Golden Magic talents.
Locke thought of the twelve fake flowers that had flown out of the Magic Dragon Wizard's Great Magic when he died.
This spell model was very likely meant to be given to the wizards who had obtained one of those twelve fake flowers.
Locke realized that it probably wasn't the Tower of the Black Sun locking onto him again, but quite the opposite. The Tower of the Black Sun's plan had a flaw because they didn't know of his existence, and he had intercepted the special magic they were trying to pass to an inheritor.
He didn't need to panic too much over this.
Locke examined the spell model he had comprehended from the potion recipe again—Alfonso's Golden Sword.
"This seems to be an attack-type Golden Magic specifically targeting undead magic."
"As long as it hits an undead, it can produce a special attack effect, completely counteracting the undead power of the undead and destroying it entirely."
Locke pondered: "If the Tower of the Black Sun is indeed behind Alaric—why would the Tower of the Black Sun pass such magic to the inheritors of this era?"
Relying on his incredible Golden Magic talent, Locke forcibly learned this ordinary Second Ring level spell model. Soon, his mana transformed into a golden sword. A golden greatsword appeared in his hand, shining brilliantly in the sunlight, striking even through the glass window.
"Does the Tower of the Black Sun want to target the undead?"
: