Professor Olde was as cold as a machine. "Actually, under ideal conditions, we should extract the blood from a live specimen. Using cryogenic negative pressure methods would allow better extraction of the Stone Crab's blood."
He used specialized dissection tools to extract pure blood from the Stone Crab's blood storage organs, then divided the blood into three portions, drawing each into separate syringes.
Next, Professor Olde injected one syringe of Stone Crab blood and one Bloodline Separation Essence Injection Potion into a small glass vial, which he then handed to Locke.
"Locke, I'll now teach you the Mana Centrifugal Extraction technique. This is apothecary knowledge—in the Wizard World, you wouldn't be able to learn this for less than a hundred Magic Stones."
"Now follow my instructions precisely: use your Mana to guide the mixed liquid, creating a Mana vortex within it. Only this way can the Bloodline Separation Essence Injection Potion combine with the Stone Crab Bloodline and gradually extract the bloodline essence we need."
Olde continued: "The precision and proficiency of your Mana control will directly determine the purity of the extracted Bloodline Essence."
"This is precisely what I can no longer accomplish."
Olde lamented: "The earlier dissection work—when it comes down to it—any ordinary person could master with enough practice."
"Those were merely minor techniques."
"But the Mana Centrifugal Extraction Method can only be mastered by wizard apprentices specializing in Potionology. This is the true challenge."
"We only have three attempts."
"But I believe in you. If we fail completely, I won't blame you. After all, there isn't a single Potionology-specialized wizard apprentice on Corfu Island."
Olde spoke calmly. For some reason, before this young wizard apprentice Locke, he no longer displayed the madness and recklessness he typically showed toward ordinary students.
Instead, he resembled a wise old man calmly watching death approach.
Olde even comforted Locke: "Even if I sought Tungus's help—and assuming he'd agree—as a Second-Class Wizard Apprentice specializing in fire magic from the Shaping School, he likely wouldn't perform better than you."
Turning to Locke, Olde added: "Conversely, you're a Third-Class Wizard Apprentice specializing in plant magic from the Life School. You're naturally suited for Potionology development. Moreover, your Mana is inexplicably calmer than ordinary wizard apprentices—even calmer than mine. I believe you possess genuine talent for Potionology."
"It's just that old fool Tungus failed to recognize this."
"That's his professional failing."
Locke glanced at Olde. "The professor has three students to teach. He's busy—it's understandable he might overlook things sometimes."
Olde smiled at Locke's defense of Tungus.
"My loss for not recognizing your Wizard Talent sooner."
Locke looked at Olde, surprised by how differently the man behaved when facing another wizard like himself.
There was no trace of that crazed History class professor to be seen.
On the contrary, Olde appeared witty, optimistic, and composed, embodying the demeanor of a true wizard.
Perhaps in Professor Olde's mind, he never considered the ordinary people of Corfu as his equals.
Or perhaps Olde simply didn't want to lose face in front of his newly apprenticed wizard.
He didn't want to completely lose his dignity before another wizard apprentice like himself.
Following Professor Olde's instructions, Locke grasped the glass vial while channeling his Mana into the mixed liquid. He then rotated his Mana, causing the mixture to swirl into a vortex.
Within this vortex, his Mana guided and vibrated, accelerating the Bloodline Separation Potion's process of isolating the useful Stone Crab Bloodline components.
Which specific Bloodline components to extract were determined by the Bloodline Separation Essence Extraction Potion—in other words, by the design of that official wizard.
But whether the extraction would truly succeed, how much could be extracted, and the purity of the extracted components—these depended entirely on Locke, who was currently employing the Mana Centrifugal Extraction Method.
Professor Olde stared intently at the vial in Locke's hand. "Much better than I expected."
"Locke, pay attention. What you're doing now is the primary work of Potionology wizard assistants."
"Master this, and when you enter the Wizard World, you could even find work in a wizard's shop with this skill."
"Damn it, it failed. Your Mana rotation was too fast—the active ingredients of the two potions didn't have enough time to interact deeply, reducing the purity instead."
"No matter, we still have two more sets of materials."
"Quick, begin again."
Yet Locke remained motionless, frowning at the vial in his hand. By his estimation, given his current mastery of the Mana Centrifugal Extraction Method, even two more attempts might not guarantee success.
His approach was this: once he decided to do something, he would do it properly—no half-hearted efforts, only thorough completion.
Moreover, magical resources on Corfu were limited, and opportunities to freely acquire knowledge were scarce. If he had a chance to master the Mana Centrifugal Extraction Method, he should seize it fully.
'If I just follow Olde's advice and repeat the process, I'll definitely fail again—the result won't be much different from the last attempt,' Locke thought. Then, inspiration struck. 'Wait—the core of the Mana Centrifugal Extraction Method lies in the speed of my Mana rotation and the precision of my Mana control.'
'So even if I practice with ordinary water, it should be somewhat feasible.'
'Desperate times call for desperate measures—better than wasting the second set of materials outright.'
Locke remained silent.
Olde grew nervous and asked, "What's wrong? I believe in you—you can do this. Don't lose heart."
Locke shook his head and explained his thoughts.
Only then did Olde realize belatedly, "Ah, you're right. That is indeed a last-resort solution."
"This should improve the success rate."
"Locke... thank you."
Locke shook his head again. "It's nothing. Ours is merely a transactional relationship."
"I just don't like failure."
"Since I agreed to help you, I'll see it through."
Locke took an empty glass bottle from the crate and walked out the door, while Olde stared blankly at the young wizard apprentice's retreating figure.
Olde sighed. "The young are just different from me."
"It seems no matter the outcome this time, I must properly teach him Skull Explosion."
(End of Chapter)