Chapter 168: Chapter 166: The Sensational Starlight Potion
Herman held a vial of azure potion.
On the Rune Crystal Disc, silver characters were still flowing. He had read the numbers three times.
"The test results are correct." He looked up, his brow furrowed with wrinkles.
"Eighty-six percent increase in condensation efficiency... and it’s holding steady."
The old man’s voice was very low.
He looked at Ian, who was standing on the other side of the laboratory bench, as if sizing up a monster that had just burst from a stone.
’How has it only been this long, and he can already achieve stable refining?’
Alevia stood beside Herman.
Her finger traced the edge of the crystal disc. She didn’t speak, simply staring at the potion for a long time.
"You... how did you do it?" Alevia’s voice was half a beat slower than usual.
"The Rule echo from the Wailing Banshee Tear Crystals... could actually be purified and guided in this direction?"
She had worked with that material before.
Three years ago, she had tried to use it as an auxiliary material for a High Tier Potion. It took her three months to barely stabilize the energy of a tiny pinch of the powder.
And that tiny pinch nearly contaminated her Sea of Spirit.
Ian stood there, his expression as calm as ever.
"During the war, I found some fragments near the Abyssal Rift."
"I experimented for a long time," he said, "and found a way to neutralize it.
Once the sorrowful emotions within the Tear Crystal are stripped away, the remaining resonant properties are very pure, perfect for acting as a bridge."
He said it so casually, as if he were merely saying, ’I peeled a potato.’
Herman and Alevia exchanged a look.
Both were top-tier Level One Magic Potion Alchemists who had been in the High Tower for hundreds of years.
They knew what lay behind that casual statement.
It was an operation on the level of Rules, a fundamental understanding of an alien energy.
It was wild, unbridled imagination and... a madness that bordered on a gamble.
"Do you know what this means?" Herman set down the potion.
"In Shadow Moon Tower—no, in the entire Eastern War Zone—there are only three Tier One Meditation Potions that can be consistently produced.
The most effective ones, Moonlight Condensed Dew and Pure Soul Crystal Fragments, aren’t even technically potions.
Furthermore, they only increase spiritual condensation by fifty percent, and a single dose sells for a hundred High Level Magic Stones—and they’re frequently out of stock."
He stared into Ian’s eyes. "This vial of yours has an efficiency increase of over eighty percent and even comes with an innate activation effect... Have you calculated what it’s worth?"
"Eighty High Level Magic Stones," Ian said.
The laboratory fell silent.
"Eighty stones?" Herman’s voice rose.
"Wizard Marcus, are you serious? What’s the success rate?"
Ian walked over to the laboratory bench, took a small box out of his Dimension Ring, and opened it.
Inside were over a dozen vials of Starlight Potion, all shimmering with a deep, azure starlight.
"Time was a bit tight, so the success rate is still somewhat unstable. It’s around thirty percent."
Herman picked up a vial and examined it closely under the Cold Light Stone on the laboratory ceiling.
The starlight within the liquid slowly swirled, as if the night sky itself had been bottled in the test tube. He was silent for a full ten seconds.
"Thirty percent?" Alevia had regained her usual cool composure, but the shock in her eyes had yet to completely fade.
Herman closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
He remembered when he had just been promoted to Level One. It had taken him three years to improve a Tier Zero High Level Healing Potion, and even then, he had only managed to raise the success rate to a mere forty percent.
’Back then, he had considered himself something of a genius.’
Now, he looked at the young man before him. He had been a Middle Level Apprentice when he left the tower, and had returned as an Official Wizard.
He had been in the Magic Potion Department for less than a month, and now he had produced a Tier One Potion that could upend the market, even commenting that ’the costs are well-controlled’.
The old man’s throat bobbed. He wanted to say something, but in the end, he only managed a single word: "Monster."
Alevia smiled. She rarely did, but this time, the curve of her lips was genuine.
She walked up to Ian and patted him on the shoulder.
The gesture was light, but every other Magic Potion Alchemist present saw it.
"When are you planning to make it public?" she asked.
"Three days from now," Ian said.
"We’ll release a batch internally to the Magic Potion Department first. One per person, priced at seventy-five High Level Magic Stones. They can pay with Contribution Points as well."
"Done," Herman decided on the spot.
"We’ll do the first batch just as you said: an internal supply for the Magic Potion Department, limited to one per person. I’ll coordinate the details. What support do you need?"
"Mainly, I need stable procurement channels for a few specific materials. It might involve Abyssal Material Merchants or Rune Masters."
Ian seized the opportunity. "Also, I’d like to request a moderate increase to the laboratory’s standard consumable supply quota."
"No problem. Just write me a list," Herman agreed without hesitation.
’A Magic Potion Alchemist who can consistently produce Tier One Meditation Potions is worth the investment.’
The news was not announced with great fanfare.
Two days later, at the Magic Potion Department’s monthly exchange meeting.
Herman casually mentioned it as part of a project progress report.
"The Meditation Potion improvement project, led by Wizard Marcus, has achieved a milestone.
The new potion, the Starlight Potion, has a significant supplemental effect on the Spiritual Power condensation of Level One Wizards.
Any department members who require it may register at my office. Supply is limited, and the price is seventy-five High Level Magic Stones."
It was just one sentence.
But the dozen or so Level One Wizards present, along with one or two Level Two Alchemists, fell instantly silent.
Blake, who had been scribbling in his notebook, froze.
He snapped his head up to look at the placid Ian, his own face burning with shame.
’He remembered his own taunts in the records room, and Ian’s retort in the hallway.’
’A newly promoted Level One Wizard who doesn’t understand energy conflicts?’
’And now that man had produced something he couldn’t achieve even in his wildest dreams!’
The other Level One Alchemists exchanged shocked glances.
Most of them were still struggling just to refine standard Tier One Potions.
And yet Ian was not only producing them consistently, but had even improved and upgraded the formula?
’An efficiency increase of over eighty percent? The gap was so vast... they couldn’t even muster jealousy.’
All that remained was genuine admiration and a hint of bewilderment.
’The Magic Potion Science they found so difficult was as simple as eating and drinking to a true genius!’
The few Level Two Wizards were much more composed, but the interest and scrutiny in their eyes had intensified.
One of them, an Elder Wizard specializing in Spirit Potions, questioned Herman directly.
"Herman, is the data reliable? Has the sample been tested?"
"I tested it myself with the Rune Crystal Disc. The data is in my office; feel free to take a look after the meeting if you’re interested."
Herman’s tone held a hint of imperceptible pride. "Director Alevia confirmed it as well."
Alevia gave a slight nod, a silent confirmation.
That gesture carried more weight than any words could.
The rest of the topics at the exchange meeting seemed to become rather dull in comparison.
’Many of them couldn’t stop thinking about the Starlight Potion.’
The moment the meeting ended, several Level One Wizards swarmed around Herman.
"Instructor Herman, I’ll register right now! Save one for me!"
"Me too! Can I pay with Contribution Points?"
"Herman, about our Shadow Element’s current collaborative project... do you think you could allocate a few vials to us as a priority? The price is negotiable."
The few Level Two Wizards, mindful of their status, did not crowd around.
However, they privately expressed their interest and needs to Herman or Alevia.
The value of a Meditation Potion that even Level Two Wizards found ’somewhat useful’ was self-evident.
Ian took no part in the small commotion. He sat quietly in his seat, organizing his notes.
He could feel many furtive gazes upon him.
Probing, envious, complex... but he was long used to it.
Kevin, the Level One Wizard from the Rune System, sidled up to him at some point.
His face was wreathed in a familiar smile. "Wizard Marcus, congratulations! I knew you were no ordinary man.
So... about that materials collaboration we mentioned last time, when might be a good time to discuss the details?
The Rune System warehouse just received a new shipment of high-quality Abyssal Rune Stones. I’m sure you could use them!"
Ian’s heart skipped a beat, but his expression remained unchanged as a perfectly pleasant smile appeared on his face.
"Kevin Wizard, perfect timing. I may need a batch of basic Abyssal Rune Stones and some Erosion Demon Iron Powder for stability testing. Shall we discuss it in detail shortly?"
"No problem! You can count on me!"
Kevin puffed out his chest. He’d just secured priority purchasing rights for the Starlight Potion.
Watching Kevin’s eager display, Ian knew the Starlight Potion brought more than just Magic Stones and Contribution Points.
It was a calling card and a key.
It was opening many doors within Shadow Moon that had previously been closed to him.
It was connecting him to the network of contacts and resources he needed.
And all of this was just the beginning.
