Locke carefully weighed the pros and cons before tentatively speaking: "Wizard Urien Rich, I could tutor your grandson."
"Though I can't guarantee I'll be able to guide him into the field of Potionology."
"But I'll teach him diligently."
Wizard Urien Rich smiled approvingly. "Of course, no one can guarantee another will definitely become a Potionology Assistant. Otherwise, there wouldn't be so many First Class Wizard Apprentices spending decades just to obtain that certification."
"That's only natural."
Wizard Urien Rich stood up and nodded slightly at Locke. "I owe you a favor for this. As for how you'll redeem it, I suggest you wait until you're about to break through to Formal Wizard status before cashing it in."
"During breakthroughs, one often requires multiple Advancement Potions. But these potions are extremely precious—the White Wizard Association strictly regulates them. Through official channels, a wizard can typically only obtain one or two."
"I happen to have one... an Advancement Potion meant for breakthroughs. Originally prepared for my grandson." Urien Rich sighed. "Now it seems it won't be needed."
"I'll be content if he can live well."
"Due to confidentiality agreements, I cannot disclose that potion's name."
Noticing Urien Rich standing, Locke rose as well—it would be foolish to maintain airs before a Formal Wizard, even if they happened to need your assistance in certain matters.
Conversely, by becoming his grandson's tutor, Locke could gain this Formal Wizard's friendship.
After bidding farewell to Urien Rich and seeing him and his grandson out, Locke closed the door. "This is an unexpected windfall."
"Soon I'll obtain the Advanced Meditation Technique, and possibly even an Advancement Potion." Locke pondered: "But why couldn't he even reveal the potion's name?"
"If it were merely about the potion's rarity, such secrecy wouldn't be necessary. As a Potionology Assistant, I've learned from Mentor Sophia about numerous potion names unknown to ordinary First Class Wizard Apprentices—all exceptionally precious."
"So the information blackout must have another reason."
Locke stopped overthinking. "Never mind—some knowledge naturally becomes accessible when I reach certain levels. Mentor Sophia will tell me when the time comes."
"My current ignorance simply means I'm not yet qualified for that knowledge."
Settling on the sofa, Locke enthusiastically resumed synthesizing Contemplation Balm.
...
After leaving Locke's residence, Wizard Urien Rich asked his grandson cheerfully during their walk: "What did you think of your new tutor? Did you like him?"
Kavin looked up. "Yes, Teacher Locke has a unique presence. It's rare to see a First Class Wizard Apprentice remain so composed around you, Grandfather."
"I really like him."
"But I'm worried... that I won't be able to learn. My aptitude is too poor, and my health isn't good either."
A trace of heartache flashed in Wizard Urien's eyes as he gently patted the boy's forehead and comforted him in a low voice: "It's alright if you can't learn. I'm just bringing him here to try."
"But even just attending his tutoring sessions will be very beneficial for you." Wizard Urien smiled: "I have high hopes for his future, though most people probably aren't as perceptive as I am right now. You should truly regard him as your teacher—perhaps in the future, he can also protect you."
"This is one of the safeguards your grandfather has arranged for you." Urien chuckled: "Consider it a kind of exchange of benefits."
"I mentor promising young talents, and in return, these young talents form positive connections with you."
Kaven nodded. "Yes, Grandfather. I'll listen carefully to Teacher Locke."
...
Half a month later, during this period, Locke successfully synthesized a Grade 7 Contemplation Balm. The synthesis formula involved combining three Grade 6 Contemplation Balms to produce a single Grade 7 item.
However, this wasn't a special synthesis formula, so apart from a slight increase in efficacy, the other effects weren't particularly noticeable.
But during this time, Locke experimented by combining two Grade 6 Contemplation Balms with a bottle of the cheapest Grade 6 Mind-Calming Aroma purchased from the Chimera Shop. Surprisingly, this resulted in a special synthesis formula.
In his room, Locke stared at the balm before him, deep in thought. The Contemplation Balm originally had a blue-white hue, but now the ointment had turned a silvery-blue.
The color difference was subtle, but as a Potionology Assistant, Locke keenly noticed the change.
Mind-Calming Aroma was the simplest among the Simple Potions that boosted mental energy. Yet after Locke enhanced it to Grade 6 and combined it with two portions of Contemplation Balm, the result was the [Memory Ointment] now before him—
Building on the Contemplation Balm formula, he added 5 grams of amber and 30 grams of Adiantum Spores, then used the 'Low-Temperature Cold Extraction' method with Water Element Magical Flame for thirty minutes. This process isolated the heat-sensitive magical structural components from the Adiantum Spores and incorporated them into the original Contemplation Balm, creating a new ointment.
This ointment retained all the effects of the Contemplation Balm while also increasing focus and memory by 50% for four hours when applied to the temples.
Note: Since Adiantum Spores contain moderate toxicity, the Potion Master used Earth Element Magical Flame for twenty minutes at the end of the refining process to neutralize the poison, reducing it to a minimal level. This ointment is for external use only and must not be ingested.
Locke's expression shifted slightly. This special synthesis formula had unexpectedly created an entirely new potion recipe—one that clearly detailed the use of Magical Flame, the required heat, timing, and all the ingredients.
As a Potionology Assistant, he could now independently prepare Memory Ointment using this formula alone.
Locke quickly reviewed various potion recipes in his mind, confirming that Memory Ointment was indeed a novel formula. Moreover, Lilith's Cottage likely had no similar short-term memory-enhancing potions—at least not among the non-Magic Potion tier of remedies.
Locke's heart skipped a beat—this meant that if he opened a Pharmaceutical Room, merely selling Memory Ointment would be enough to sustain himself.
Among wizard apprentices, those with higher innate talent levels naturally learned faster.
Most potions rarely directly enhanced memory, so even if one could catch up to high-talent apprentices in meditation speed by piling on resources, there wasn't much that could be done to significantly improve learning speed.
Learning speed was closely tied to memory.
If Locke had possessed Memory Ointment earlier—boosting his memory by 50%—passing the exams for Potionology Assistant and Breeder Assistant would have been even easier, and his theoretical foundation would have been more solid.
That was why Locke concluded that there would surely be a high demand for Memory Ointment among wizard apprentices in Lilith's Cottage and other wizard organizations.
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