Glug glug!*
The sound of the liquid boiling gradually subsided and eventually disappeared completely.
Su Nan picked up the beaker, poured the viscous liquid into the potion bottle, plugged it with a cork, and placed it on the table behind him.
On the solid wood tabletop, fifteen potions were lined up, gleaming alluringly under the bright yellow light.
Looking at the potions in front of him, a smile appeared on Su Nan's face.
These fifteen potions were the result of his efforts over the past few days.
The materials used cost over 150 gold coins.
However, it was all worthwhile.
Composing himself, Su Nan placed the potions one by one into the synthesis cube.
As the number of potions added increased, the information displayed on the synthesis interface on the right changed continuously.
When the number increased to three, the synthesized secondary active potion changed from 'Tier 0/Low Grade' to 'Tier 0/Mid Grade.'
When the number increased to seven, it changed back to 'Tier 0/High Grade.'
Su Nan didn't stop, continuing to add secondary active potions.
When the twelfth potion was added, the synthesis interface flashed, and the potion finally changed its appearance.
[Activation Potion (Tier 1/Low Grade): Greatly increases mental activity and extends meditation time for 30 days and 12 hours. Stacking has no effect. The user's mental strength must be at least 5.]
Compared to the Lesser Activity Potion, the Activity Potion added the word 'greatly' to the description of increasing mental activity.
It also added 'extends meditation time,' which is essentially a disguised increase in meditation efficiency.
However, what made Su Nan frown was that the duration only doubled?
The subsequent usage restrictions were not unexpected.
Most potions of a higher tier have usage restrictions.
And the higher the tier, the stricter the restrictions.
These restrictions are generally related to mental strength.
Forcing someone with insufficient mental strength to take the potion can result in anything from mental derangement and soul damage to becoming some strange creature or even exploding and dying.
After a moment's thought, Su Nan placed the remaining three Lesser Activity Potions into the cube.
Perhaps due to the small quantity, the quality of the synthesis remained unchanged this time.
Seeing this, Su Nan took out the three bottles of potion again and selected to synthesize.
In an instant, a bottle of activating potion appeared in his palm.
Without hesitation, Su Nan consumed it on the spot.
The effect description alone didn't reveal much, so he decided to personally experience the effects of the next-tier potion.
As the potion entered his stomach, Su Nan felt a sudden surge of energy; the entire world seemed to become much clearer in an instant, as if it had gone from low resolution to high resolution.
Without delay, Su Nan immediately sat down and began meditating.
After an unknown amount of time, he suddenly opened his eyes and immediately looked at the wall clock, surprised to find that nearly four hours had passed and it was already dark outside.
"Meditation time has doubled."
Su Nan opened the panel and was pleasantly surprised to find that his mental strength had increased by 0.09.
His Star Ring Meditation Technique had also increased by 68 points of proficiency.
"The increase in mental strength is less than expected, but the efficiency of proficiency increase is almost six times that of before."
Su Nan quickly calculated in his mind.
The results of meditating for a month using activating potions are roughly the same as those of meditating for six months using twelve bottles of secondary activating potions, though the difference isn't particularly significant.
However, the time taken is vastly different.
a wizard apprentice with a limited lifespan, the advantage is self-evident.
"This is the irreplaceable advantage of precious resources—it allows for faster growth of mental strength and faster breakthroughs in rank."
"If I can keep using activating potions, I can construct my second star ring in just over forty days. In less than a year, I'll definitely be promoted to a second-rank wizard apprentice!"
Su Nan was overjoyed.
After being promoted to a second-rank wizard apprentice, many previously restricted methods would become available, and his combat power would be greatly enhanced, truly giving him the strength to establish himself in this world.
"Should I continue synthesizing to improve the quality of activating potions?"
After hesitating for a moment, Su Nan ultimately rejected the idea.
Synthesizing would certainly be profitable, but higher-quality activating potions would definitely require even more mental strength.
It would be such a waste if he accidentally created a potion that couldn't be taken at this stage.
Although Blackrock City's economic pressure had been greatly relieved, he didn't have much money to squander.
"A first-tier low-grade vitality potion should be enough until I advance to a second-class wizard apprentice."
It was the month of Thunder (April), and the weather was still hot.
The serfs in the villages surrounding Blackrock City had gradually finished cultivating the land, and the farming was nearing its end.
More manpower was being transferred to the reconstruction of the Blackrock Mine.
It was expected that the Blackrock Mine would be fully rebuilt by the end of the month.
However, in order not to waste time, Kei had decided to recruit miners at the beginning of the month and start mining ahead of schedule.
So the Blackrock Mine immediately started operating at full capacity, with ore being transported from the underground mine to the surface every day and then put into the furnace to become square blackrock ingots.
The entire Black Rock City was enveloped in a bustling atmosphere.
Only the courtyard where Su Nan was located was an exception, remaining as quiet and peaceful as ever.
In the meditation room.
Su Nan, who was sitting cross-legged on the ground, suddenly trembled slightly, then opened his eyes, revealing a joyful smile.
"Finally, I've constructed the second star ring!"
Deep within his sea of consciousness, the two star rings intertwined and linked together, forming a chain-like shape, radiating a profound and mysterious aura.
Su Nan felt invigorated and happily opened the panel to look at it.
[Su Nan·Anest, Human Male, 16 years old]
[Spirit 10.85/Constitution 5.04]
[Skills]
Star Ring Meditation Lv3 (28/10000)
Potion Making Lv2 (629/3000)
Biological Modification Lv1 (3/1000) "My
My spirit has increased by 1.21."
Su Nan nodded secretly. Originally,
His spirit was only 9.64, but with the successful construction of the star ring, it instantly broke through the 10-point mark.
At this rate, once he constructs the third star ring, his spirit will definitely exceed 12 points, thus advancing to a second-class wizard apprentice.
At Physique, it has also broken through 5 points."
Su Nan clenched his fist.
He hadn't deliberately strengthened his physique, but with prolonged meditation and improved mental strength, it had subtly improved.
He estimated that by the time he advanced to a second-class wizard apprentice, his physique, even if not quite at the level of a full-fledged knight, would be close enough.
"My proficiency in the Level 3 Star Ring Meditation Technique has more than doubled. 10,000 proficiency points, I can max it out in half a year if I'm quick."
Su Nan's gaze swept across the skill bar, landing on the bottom skill, Biological Modification.
This was a skill he had only mastered yesterday.
Since acquiring potion-making and puppet-crafting skills, Su Nan had spent most of his time on those two, only occasionally taking time to improve his biological modification learning progress.
However, this skill was already more than halfway through, and after several months of intermittent practice, it finally reached 100% yesterday, appearing on his skill bar.
"As long as I continue on the path of a wizard, I'll eventually come into contact with the field of biological modification, and then this skill will come in handy."
On the other hand, his spell learning was also progressing very smoothly.
He subsequently mastered lockpicking, poison detection, and the Touch of Fatigue.
The first two are self-explanatory; their effects are obvious from their names.
The Touch of Fatigue, however, is an offensive spell.
It infuses the target with negative energy through contact, causing them to become fatigued.
Its practicality is only so-so.
He only learned this spell because he had no other options.
"I asked my older brother to collect wizarding books and magical items; I wonder how that's going?"