Inside Locke's residence.
Locke stared thoughtfully at the two gems before him. On the table lay a precious stone—a deep blue diamond—that he had synthesized using two grade-6 Deep Blue Gems and one grade-6 quality diamond.
Locke examined its description:
[Deep Blue Treasure Diamond: A rare variant of Deep Blue Gem found only in the deepest underground veins. Formed when a Deep Blue Gem consumes raw diamond ore, this mutated version boasts filtration capabilities over ten times superior to ordinary Deep Blue Gems, with far greater durability. A single Deep Blue Treasure Diamond can stabilize its owner's Mana while producing filtering effects that reduce the user's Mana fluctuations to unimaginable levels.]
Locke concealed this special gem within a diamond necklace, placing it inside the pendant's hidden compartment.
Unless actively infused with Mana, this treasure diamond appeared completely ordinary—functioning essentially as a Mana filtration vessel. Thus, Locke didn't worry about anyone discovering its true nature.
Testing his Mana circulation, Locke's expression shifted slightly. "Wearing this Deep Blue Treasure Diamond, my Mana stability has improved severalfold compared to before. I can practically command my Mana with absolute precision."
He then practiced his Magical Flame techniques—the most challenging aspect of Potionology Assistant examinations lay in mastering Magical Flames and seamlessly switching between elemental fire sources during concoctions. Proficiency in at least five types of Magic Flames was required to competently brew Potionology Assistant-level potions.
Throughout this process, Mana stability and precision were paramount.
With a snap of his fingers, Locke first conjured 1,400-degree Wood Element Magic Flame—a cyan fire dancing at his fingertips.
Wood Element Flame, being the gentlest, was the most commonly used by Potion Masters. Failure to master this basic flame would disqualify anyone claiming to study Potionology.
Next, his fingertips transformed into 1,000-degree Fire Element Magic Flame, the cyan fire shifting to crimson.
Fire Element Flame possessed explosive properties, frequently employed for extracting medicinal components.
Despite its lower temperature, Fire Element Flame better preserved special ingredients that higher heat might damage.
Without changing expression, Locke successively transformed his fingertip flames: Water Element Flame (blue magical fire), Wind Element Flame (pale magical fire), and Earth Element Flame (ochre magical fire).
Wood, Earth, Fire, Wind, and Water Element Flames—all magical fires impervious to ordinary water—each possessed unique characteristics:
Water Element Flame, with the lowest temperature, excelled at low-temperature extraction.
Wind Element Flame, the hottest, enabled aggressive component acquisition.
The Earth Element Flame has a temperature of only 800 degrees, with gentle properties suitable for neutralizing polar Magical Flames. It accommodates extreme components within medicinal ingredients, eliminates drug toxicity, and reduces the toxicity of the final brewed potions.
These five types of magical flames are the foundational flames that every Potionology Assistant should master first. Originally, Locke learned them very slowly—it would likely have taken him five to ten years to fully master their application.
But now, with the enhancement of the Deep Blue Treasure Diamond, the stability of his Mana has improved significantly.
The speed at which he switches Magical Flames at his fingertips grows increasingly faster.
Locke gazed at the Magical Flame, lost in thought. "With the Deep Blue Treasure Diamond, I can accelerate my progress toward becoming a Potionology Assistant."
"At the Potionology Assistant stage, the most crucial talent is still Mana stability, because at this level, a potion maker only needs to follow recipes step by step to brew potions."
"The need for discerning medicinal properties or developing new formulas is minimal."
Locke mused, "As long as I can reduce the switching time between all five Magical Flames to under three seconds, I can start officially brewing moderately difficult potions."
Moderately difficult potions—those at the Potionology Assistant level—typically have fairly complex medicinal properties and may require proficient switching between three or more Magical Flames.
Of course, during examinations, the switching speed and mastery of the five common Magical Flames are still tested.
These are the fundamentals.
Confidence gleamed in Locke's eyes. "Once I become a Potionology Assistant as soon as possible, I can brew my own Advanced Growth Serum Gel, Advanced Nutrient Soil, and Nutrient Solution—saving a good amount of money."
"Becoming a Potionology Assistant might also open up a new way for me to earn Magic Stones. The potions I brew myself can be further synthesized to enhance their effects, which should quickly boost my mental growth progress—maybe even benefit my studies in the Breeder field."
"In the later stages of the breeding field, a large number of advanced potions are required, and many Breeders have no choice but to purchase them from Potion Masters using Magic Stones."
His current monthly expenses already amounted to nearly three thousand, so he needed to actively expand his income sources.
Additionally, both meditation and the breeding field required a significant amount of advanced potions. If he could brew them himself, he could cut a huge portion of costs and even improve synthesis efficiency.
Locke had also been very curious about the so-called "essential potion" Sophia the Witch mentioned—the one required for advancing to a Formal Wizard.
Perhaps becoming a Potionology Assistant would allow him to access that field sooner.
Locke steadied his mind and prepared to visit the Chimera Market to purchase practice materials for brewing Contemplation Balm.
...
Two months later, at the Potionology Assistant certification exam in Lilith's Cottage.
Locke swiftly filled out the Potionology-related questions and handed them to the Formal Wizard before him—Mr. Derrick Jones.
Mr. Derrick Jones was a first-circle Potion Master, renowned for his first-circle Thousand Faces Potion.
The Thousand Faces Potion had even made it into Sassari's All Things Class textbook—a Magic Potion that, once consumed, could permanently alter one's soul aura and physical appearance.
This type of auxiliary magic potion has many uses. Even many reclusive wizards require them to completely sever ties with their past.
This certification certainly wouldn't involve just me alone. I had applied for the Potionology Assistant examination and waited for some time until the number of applicants reached three before finally getting the chance to take the assessment.
Moreover, the application fee for the exam was five hundred Magic Stones.
Aside from myself, one of the other participants was a long-standing First Class Wizard Apprentice from Lilith's Cottage, while the last was a First Class Wizard Apprentice from a small nearby wizard organization.
Those small wizard organizations lacked the qualifications to conduct their own examinations, and the outside world wouldn't recognize their assessment results.
If they wanted to take the Potionology Assistant certification exam, they had no choice but to come to a larger wizard organization like Lilith's Cottage.
Before them, aside from Formal Wizard Derrick Jones, there were two other wizards present.
The Potionology Assistant examination was already quite strict, so the examiners had to consist of three Formal Wizards, one of whom must possess a Potion Master badge.
This was also why many small wizard organizations lacked the qualifications to conduct such assessments.
Formal Wizard Derrick Jones briefly scanned the three examinees' answer sheets and snorted. "The foundations of all three of you are somewhat shaky. Well, barely passable."
"Next is the Magical Flame transformation test."
The two beside Locke appeared extremely nervous. The passing rate for the Potionology Assistant exam had never been particularly high.
Many privately possessed skills close to the passing standard, but once in the examination hall, under the scrutinizing gazes of three Formal Wizards, some couldn't calm their nerves and failed to perform to their true ability.
And thus, they failed.
Locke wasn't too nervous. Of course, his score on the written portion wouldn't be very high—after all, his study time had been short.
Generally, First Class Wizard Apprentices taking this exam had already studied Potionology for several years, whereas he had only studied for just over two.
However, the next two segments were his strong suits. As long as he passed this first round, the subsequent Magical Flame assessment and the practical potion-brewing test wouldn't be a problem.
Formal Wizard Derrick Jones and the other two Formal Wizards turned their attention to the First Class Wizard Apprentice from Lilith's Cottage, who was the first to undergo the Magical Flame assessment.
After observing his Magical Flame transitions, Formal Wizard Derrick Jones frowned, recorded his score, and reprimanded, "Bate, you're a student of our Lilith's Cottage, after all."
"Is this the level you bring to the exam? Are you wasting your Magic Stones, or our time…?"
"Your Magical Flame transition speed is around 5.5 seconds. With skills like this, you still dare to take the exam? Aren't you afraid your cauldron will explode from your Magical Flame?"
Bate turned pale and bowed deeply to the three Formal Wizards. "I'm sorry, I can usually do better. I was just too nervous…"
"My latest job urgently requires a Potionology Assistant certificate, and I really need that position, so…"
Formal Wizard Derrick Jones scoffed. "That's no excuse."
"Truly an embarrassment to Lilith's Cottage in front of outsiders."
(End of Chapter)