Allen seemed to sense someone watching him and turned his head to look over.
"You're... Ian?"
Allen was a little uncertain. Although Ian's appearance hadn't changed much, the look in his eyes and his overall demeanor were completely unfamiliar. He had completely lost his former dandy-like air.
"Hello, Allen. I remember you didn't choose Magic Potion Science before."
"That's right. Master Sean saw I had some talent for Magic Potion Science and suggested I take it as an elective."
Ian was a little speechless. 'He's just showing off, isn't he?'
Allen's talent was considerable; an Official Wizard took him in as a disciple as soon as he enrolled. Although he also spent most of his time studying on his own, he was far better off than a neglected Apprentice like Ian.
The two exchanged a few pleasantries before going their separate ways.
"Allen, who was that just now?" a High Level Apprentice next to him asked.
"Just an old acquaintance. Senior Brother Edgar, about the finer points of handling the Devil Flower..."
Ian walked out of the classroom, extremely satisfied with the lesson. He also understood just how reckless he had been to take the Rock Bear Potion yesterday.
For a Bloodline Potion like that one, preparations had to be made in advance. A Neutralizing Potion should be taken to balance the impact of the foreign bloodline within the potion.
He had only managed to survive thanks to the powerful restorative abilities of the Life Potion. It was lucky he hadn't undergone a monstrous transformation or Demonization on the spot.
Although it was reckless, the benefits were also immense.
He still didn't know what level his strength had reached, but just now in the classroom, he no longer felt that needle-prick sense of danger from the High Level Apprentices.
He could still take two more Rock Bear Potions before the strengthening effect would diminish to nothing, but he didn't plan to take them consecutively.
His current Physique had perfectly solved his Meditation dilemma. He wanted to wait until his Bloodline Purification Technique realm achieved a Limit-Break, then use the resulting refined Blood Essence to craft an even better Magic Potion...
[Name: Ian Marcus]
[Age: 17]
[Realm: Middle Level Wizard Apprentice (11%)]
[Talent: Moderate Light Attribute Affinity]
[Skills:
Star Moon Low Level Meditation Method: Skilled (258/400)
Wizard's Hand: Mastery (265/400)
Frost Freeze Ray: Limit-Broken 1 time (29/800) (Limit-Breaking Effect: 1. Twin)
Eye of Vigilance: Skilled (186/400)
Bloodline Purification Technique: Beginner (47/200)
Awakening Potion: Mastery (372/400)
Rock Bear Potion: Beginner (0/400)
Basic Magic Potion Recognition: Mastery (86/400)]
'If I attend one class a week, I'll be able to quickly make up for my previous lack of knowledge.'
It was just a bit of a shame that he couldn't get in touch with Teacher Alevia. She left immediately after class, not even leaving time for the students to ask questions.
Ian didn't linger at the High Tower and took a carriage back to Nightfall Town.
Halfway there, a loud BANG suddenly echoed from up ahead, followed by a constant stream of urgent shouts and curses.
The carriage slowly came to a halt.
"It sounds like people are fighting up ahead. What's going on?"
"I see people from the Shadow Society, and the White Bear Order."
"It's still about what happened in the ruins. Let's just watch the show. Whatever you do, don't get out."
...
The people in the carriage all poked their heads out to look ahead, but no one dared to step outside to get a better view.
Ian also moved closer to the window. He saw more than a dozen gray-robed Apprentices on the roadside ahead, chasing and relentlessly attacking three ragged figures.
The sounds of various spell incantations were incessant as attacks rained down on the trio. The three were covered in Shields, desperately trying to duck into the nearby forest.
"You bastards from the White Bear Order! You're shameless, ganging up on us! Just you wait!"
"Haha! In a few more days, who knows if the Shadow Society will even exist anymore! Brothers, after them! Kill these sewer rats!"
One after another, the two groups rushed into the forest, and soon their voices faded into the distance.
Ian only glanced a few times, a strange look appearing in his eyes.
'This is how these people fight? They can't cast Witchcraft while running, or their casting speed is extremely slow.'
He thought about it and found it reasonable. None of the people in that group wore red robes; it seemed this was the norm for Mid-Low Level Apprentices.
The carriage started moving again. From the conversations of the other passengers, Ian learned why the White Bear Order, the Golden Royal Court, and other organizations were hunting down the Shadow Society.
It turned out that the Shadow Society, being fully prepared beforehand, had gained a huge advantage in the ruins and was the first to seize the Inheritance of an ancient Wizard.
Furthermore, Nolan had been the first to find the Magic Potion Garden and had taken the most precious Magic Potion inside: the Silent Flower!
Its effect was to significantly strengthen and condense one's Spiritual Power, increasing a High Level Apprentice's chance of breaking through to become an Official Wizard by twenty percent!
The Wizard's Inheritance was indeed precious, but the main reason the Shadow Society was being hunted was the Silent Flower!
Even for those with high-grade talent, there was still a significant risk in breaking through to the Official Wizard realm.
Ian didn't think much of it. In a resource conflict of this level, the main force was still the numerous High Level Apprentices.
The fight on the roadside just now was merely other organizations venting their anger and retaliating against the Shadow Society.
Upon returning to Nightfall Town, Ian, now much stronger but once again short on Magic Stones, decided to partner with the Magic Pharmacy again.
He believed in the potential of the Rock Bear Potion. With the help of the Magic Pharmacy's channels, it was sure to sell well.
"Steward Malena, it seems our shop doesn't sell any potions that permanently enhance one's Physique. Why is that?"
Malena shot Ian a look but still explained it to him clearly.
"Constitutional Potions are rare mainly because Wizards focus their energy on developing Meditation Potions. After all, this is a Wizard's world; condensing Spiritual Power is what's most important."
Ian had a similar guess. Wizards had many ways to enhance their Physique and wouldn't necessarily choose to do so with a Potion.
"So you're saying Constitutional Potions are unpopular among Wizard Apprentices because they're rare and expensive?"
Malena nodded. "That's right. The main demand from Apprentices is for Meditation Potions. A Potion like the Life Potion is precious because it can replenish a large amount of Life Energy and also enhance one's Physique."
Ian knew his Rock Bear Potion didn't just enhance Physique; it also significantly strengthened Power and boosted defense.
If one was lucky, it might even activate some of the Rock Bear's latent talents.
Moreover, if his Bloodline Purification Technique and Rock Bear Potion reached a high enough level, the synergy between the two would surely allow the user to inherit the Rock Bear's bloodline talents.
This held a huge allure for low-aptitude individuals who couldn't break through to the High Level Apprentice realm.
"If there was a Potion that could not only permanently enhance Physique and Power but also grant certain special abilities, how do you think it would sell?"
Malena's expression froze for a moment. Then she shot to her feet and stared directly at Ian.
"You have a Potion like that? But... just a few days ago, you bought a Life Potion to enhance your own Physique."
Ian smiled. "Indeed. I hadn't fully figured it out back then, but I have now grasped the key."
He took out a Rock Bear Potion he had refined yesterday and handed it to Malena.
Malena took it and held it up to her eyes. Her gaze was filled with shock as she watched the golden threads constantly swimming within the Potion.
She was also an experienced Magic Potion Alchemist. Even if she had never seen a particular Potion before, she could still gauge its general value.
The constantly flashing golden threads within this crimson Potion strongly resembled the fragments of an Extraordinary Bloodline from her memories.
"You... you really refined this yourself?"
Malena's expression was complicated. This was a masterpiece that, at the very least, should require a senior Magic Potion Alchemist to create, yet Ian, a mere Middle Level Apprentice, had done it.
She didn't care how Ian obtained the formula. Every year, plenty of Apprentices stumbled upon opportunities, but very few managed to go far with them.
Even if one chanced upon a formula, trying to research and successfully refine it without extraordinary talent would be futile.
Malena really wanted to know how long he had researched it before succeeding, but that was a very private matter and not something she could ask directly.
Regardless of how long Ian had been secretly studying it, this proved he was a true Magic Potion Genius!
"You brought out this Potion because you want to partner with us?"
Ian nodded and explained the Potion's effects once more.
"Steward Malena, how many Magic Stones do you think a Potion like this could sell for on the market?"
Malena thought for a moment, a bright and charming smile appearing on her face.
"Although the cost is a bit high—a standard set of ingredients is about 50 Magic Stones—a Potion this powerful could sell for at least 500 Magic Stones."
This sale price already factored in the cost of the bloodline purification step, for which Ian would be paid an additional 10 Magic Stones per portion.
"Compared to other similar potions, this price could actually be higher, but it's not good to start too high. Besides, Bloodline Potions need to be used with a Neutralizing Potion, so most Middle Level Apprentices can't afford them anyway."
Ian wasn't very familiar with market prices, so he was thrilled to hear this.
"Then what kind of partnership do you think would be appropriate?"
"We'll sell the Magic Potion, and we'll provide the ingredients as well. For every Potion sold, you will receive 300 Magic Stones."
Malena's offer was very generous, but it came with one condition.
"I want exclusive rights to sell the Potion!"