The next morning, I went straight to Professor Miguel’s laboratory. The idea of obtaining a formula for ultra-refined tonics wouldn’t leave my mind. If I couldn’t improve my spiritual strength faster, I would be stuck for years without progress.
I knocked on the reinforced door and waited. Within seconds, the professor’s voice echoed from the other side.
"Come in."
I opened the door and found Miguel, who, unlike most ordinary days, was sitting behind a table filled with vials. The scent of herbs mixed with the faint aroma of chemicals lingered in the air. He looked tired, as if he had been drinking to forget something, drowning himself in alcohol, yet he still maintained that curious and piercing gaze as he saw me enter.
"An ultra-refined tonic formula that can enhance spiritual strength?"
Miguel furrowed his brows, slightly surprised by my request.
"The success rate of producing such tonics is very low, and the required resources are extremely expensive. Many engineering masters and some alchemy masters have lost their entire fortunes trying to refine them. Only those with strong family backing can reap the benefits…"
I had expected this response. Miguel was always direct and pragmatic, so I knew he wouldn’t give me false hope. Even so, I couldn’t back down.
"Sir, you also know. My aptitude is only that of a 3-star acolyte. For a 3-star acolyte to advance to a Mage, the bottleneck is even greater. Breaking through to Mage is much easier when done at a young age, so I want to bet on this."
My voice was calm but firm.
Miguel let out a heavy sigh and leaned back in his chair, taking another sip from a potion. Somehow, this scene reminded me of my father from my old world. I recalled the times I would ask him for money, only to find him drinking beer and watching football.
"Oh… you!"
He looked at me for a moment, seeming to evaluate my determination, before scratching his graying beard and taking a deep breath.
"I have some basic formulas for ultra-refined tonics to increase spiritual strength, but I signed a contract preventing me from reselling the formulas I acquired from third parties. As for my own formulas… you definitely wouldn’t be able to afford them."
My heart sank a little. But still, I asked:
"How many magic crystals are they worth?"
Miguel let out a short laugh, shaking his head.
"Haha! I knew you wouldn’t give up. 10,000 magic crystals. And that’s only because you’re my apprentice!"
I was completely stunned.
"Damn it!"
I let out a heavy sigh, feeling a chill run down my spine. Ten thousand magic crystals? I already knew it wouldn’t be cheap, but that amount was completely out of my reach.
"It seems like I have no hope!"
"Developing an ultra-refined tonic formula to enhance spiritual strength requires an Engineering Master to spend a dozen, or even several dozen, years in continuous experimentation. The cost is immense. Furthermore, owning an exclusive formula generally accelerates the development of a Master of Ultra-Refined Tonics’ family. That’s why these formulas are so expensive."
Miguel’s words echoed in my mind.
It made sense. Having a monopoly was the key to maximizing profits. If someone could develop an exclusive and safe formula, they would have a goldmine in their hands.
Slowly shaking my head, I reflected on the matter. However, everything depended on who owned the formula.
If it were a mere acolyte, even I would consider taking the formula by force. But Miguel was an official Mage and had the Sun Mountain Tower as his patron. He also had strong connections. No one would dare try anything against him.
I sighed internally. Even though I desperately wanted one of these formulas, there was no way I could afford 10,000 magic crystals.
I was about to take my leave when Miguel said something that made my heart race.
"However, if you truly have this goal, you might not be completely hopeless!"
My mind raced.
"It seems like I have a chance!"
I straightened my posture and bowed respectfully.
Miguel observed my reaction for a moment before continuing, a slight smile on his face.
"Although I cannot give you my personally developed formulas, I still have some formulas from ancient Mages. I obtained them while exploring old ruins. If you want, you can use and experiment with them."
My expression turned intrigued.
"Formulas from ancient Mages?"
Miguel slowly nodded.
"Yes. Mages were much more prosperous in ancient times. They built the Lucarian Empire, which spanned multiple continents and even conquered other worlds! But for unknown reasons, the empire collapsed in a single night. Since then, their legacies have been lost. We modern Mages have only been able to rise to power thanks to the fragments of knowledge that remained."
Miguel’s face turned slightly flushed as he spoke. It was evident that he had a deep fascination with the ancient Mages.
The history he told wasn’t in the academy’s books. It was something only those who explored the past with their own hands knew.
My eyes sparkled with curiosity.
"I wonder how powerful those ancient Mages really were…"
Miguel chuckled lightly.
"They were gods walking among mortals, Tyler. But their secrets have been lost to time."
Then, I remembered something crucial.
"Are all these formulas defective?"
Miguel looked at me with approval.
"Indeed! You’re very sharp. Although the effects of these formulas are excellent, many of the ingredients no longer exist. At least, I have never come across them in my 200 years of life…"
Miguel spoke unhurriedly. "However, many Masters of Ultra-Refined Tonics still hold some fondness for these ancient formulas because they all desire to find a substitute for the lost ingredients. Even if they only have a fraction of the original models, their effects are still extremely useful!"
My eyes gleamed with anticipation.
If I could study these formulas and find viable substitutes, I could develop something new! With the help of the virtual laboratory, my research time would be drastically reduced. This was a valuable opportunity.
But to avoid showing too much enthusiasm, I kept my expression tense as if I were evaluating the risks.
"So… you want me to find substitute ingredients?"
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Miguel slowly nodded.
"Exactly! Masters of Engineering often rely on flashes of inspiration for their successes. Many new types of tonics are developed in this tower. If you really want to, you can try your luck! However, the success rate will be extremely low!"
As he said this, his face darkened. He seemed to be recalling past failures, perhaps experiments that cost years of research without yielding concrete results.
I took a deep breath.
"Sir! I still want to give it a try. Even if I’m not able to develop a new formula, I can still improve my skills!"
Miguel remained silent for a moment, observing me carefully. Then, a slight smile appeared on his lips.
"I expected that response!"
He shook his head and turned to the dusty shelves behind him. After rummaging for a few moments, he pulled out a handful of old, worn scrolls.
"These are the formulas of the ancient Mages."
I received the scrolls with trembling hands. The material they were made of felt unfamiliar, with an abnormally high density.
My heart pounded as I unrolled one of the scrolls, revealing a greenish-toned sheet covered in scribbles and detailed inscriptions.
My eyes quickly scanned the list of required ingredients.
"Pure Heart Essence, White Diamond Leaf, Tears of an Enchanted Fairy, Blood of an Elemental…"
My expression twisted. I had never heard of more than half of these ingredients. As for the rest, I knew they were considered treasures even for Official Mages.
Just seeing some of these materials listed sent a slight shiver down my spine. Obtaining any of them would be a herculean task.
Miguel laughed as he noticed my reaction. "What’s wrong? Shocked, right? I had the same expression as you when I first saw these formulas! However, if you manage to prepare an Ultra-Refined Tonic according to these ingredients, I dare say even an Official Mage would feel its effects!"
My eyes darted over each formula, trying to find something suitable for my situation. Many required rare ingredients or were designed for Official Mages, making them impossible to craft with my current resources.
After half an hour of careful examination, I finally found two formulas that seemed more accessible.
"I’ll take these two: the Ultra-Refined Tonic ’Blood of the Plants’ and ’Tears of the Forest!’"
These two formulas seemed more suited to my current level.
Miguel nodded approvingly.
"Good choice! These two Ultra-Refined Tonic formulas complement you well!"
But then, he added with a smirk:
"Each one costs 400 magic crystals, so the total would be 800 magic crystals!"
I felt a tightness in my chest.
Although it was a fraction of the cost of a formula for enhancing spiritual strength, it was still an immense sum for me. I took a deep breath, feeling the pain in my heart, and then started pulling out all the magic crystals I carried.
Before Miguel, a small pile began to form. Among them, some stones emanated a stronger energy—half-grade magic crystals, each worth 100 standard magic crystals.
"Here’s 750 magic crystals… and I’ll add these healing vials!"
My voice carried a hint of reluctance as I pulled a small cloth pouch from my robes. Opening it, a few shimmering vials were revealed, containing a reddish liquid.
Miguel chuckled lightly.
"The deal is made! These two formulas are now yours."
With a wave, he passed the scrolls to me. The moment I touched them, I felt not only the weight of the material but the knowledge they carried.
Bowing slightly, I carefully stored them and took my leave.
As I exited the room, a long sigh escaped my lips.
"800 magic crystals… my entire year’s earnings from selling vials. Of course, that was only a fraction of what I had hidden in my laboratory."
Even as a fraction, that money represented countless hours of work, crafting, and negotiations.
"There’s only one way… I need to sell more vials outside the tower to recover the magic crystals before I start experimenting."
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1707 Words