Alex's Potion Cottage

Chen Chuan continued to sense the reactions of the plants around him without betraying anything, making the vines respond only faintly, as though he were still struggling to figure it out.

Lili turned her head and spoke to Chen Chuan in a voice that was barely audible. "You're much faster than I imagined."

"Time's up. Everyone, open your eyes." Hailey's voice broke Chen Chuan's concentration. "That's all for today's class."

The soft sounds of people packing up rose in the classroom. Chen Chuan opened his eyes, and a nearly imperceptible green light flashed in his pupils before they returned to normal. He took his time gathering his books, deliberately making sure he was the last to leave.

But Lili was already standing in the aisle, apparently waiting for him.

Lili lowered her voice. "Your performance just now was unusual. I could sense that your connection with the plants was deeper than anyone else's."

Chen Chuan calmly closed his textbook. "I was just lucky." He stood up, deliberately keeping his distance from Lili.

"The professor said to establish an initial connection, but you made it too obvious." Lili lowered her voice even further, almost to a whisper. "I noticed the way you controlled the vines. It was too precise, not like someone new to meditation."

Alarm bells rang in Chen Chuan's mind, but he kept his expression calm. "What are you talking about? I was just following the professor's instructions." He packed his bag, ready to leave the classroom.

Lili reached out and gently caught his sleeve. "Don't rush off. I know you dreamed of the Mother Tree of Life too, didn't you?"

Chen Chuan spun around, a cold glint flashing in his eyes. "Have you been watching me?"

"No, I'm just... looking for answers too." Lili's gaze turned sincere. "Perhaps we can help each other. Some things at the academy aren't as simple as they seem."

Chen Chuan shook off her hand. "If it's just about classes, I'd be happy to be your classmate.

But as for anything else, count me out." With that, he walked straight toward the classroom door, leaving Lili standing where she was, a complicated expression on her face.

After leaving the classroom building, Chen Chuan looked up at the giant tree standing in the center of the academy in the distance.

The golden light of the setting sun fell across the Mother Tree of Life's canopy, a faint green glow flowing among its leaves.

After eating and returning to the dormitory, it was already almost one in the afternoon.

There were no other classes that afternoon, so Chen Chuan planned to check out the magic shops here.

After all, he had no magic stones, only some resources in his ring. He wanted to see whether he could exchange them for magic stones while he was at it.

[Alex's Potion Cottage]

[Bookworm's Bookshop]

[Omomo's Magic Equipment Shop]

Chen Chuan stood on a commercial street within the academy.

He immediately spotted all kinds of magic shops.

Chen Chuan stood outside Alex's Potion Cottage. A wooden sign by the entrance listed the potions sold inside and some information about what the shop bought.

Chen Chuan pushed open the door, and a scent mixed with the fragrance of herbs greeted him.

The shop was dimly lit. Glass bottles filled with potions of various colors were neatly arranged on wooden shelves along the walls. Behind the counter, a middle-aged apprentice in blue robes and round glasses was wiping a crystal ball.

"Need anything?" the blue-robed apprentice behind the counter asked automatically. He looked up, and when he saw Chen Chuan dressed in gray robes, a trace of disappointment flashed in his eyes.

"Just looking," Chen Chuan replied calmly and began strolling slowly around the shop.

The blue-robed apprentice said nothing and lowered his head to resume his work.

Chen Chuan looked around the shop, his gaze sweeping over the glass bottles filled with potions of various colors.

He noticed that some of the potion bottles bore labels reading "Elementary Life Potion," "spiritual recovery potion," and the like.

His fingers brushed lightly over the glass bottles as he sensed the different fluctuations emanating from the potions inside. Some gave off a warm aura of life, while others contained pure spiritual energy.

"How much are these potions...?" Chen Chuan asked, pointing to several labeled bottles.

The blue-robed apprentice pushed up his glasses. "Five magic stones a bottle for Elementary Life Potions, ten for spiritual recovery potions. Prices are fixed."

Chen Chuan raised an eyebrow slightly. Those prices were somewhat expensive for him.

He noticed an open booklet in the corner of the counter, listing the prices paid for various materials.

"Do you buy materials here?" Chen Chuan asked, pointing at the booklet.

"Of course." The blue-robed apprentice nodded. "We need all kinds of herbs, ores, and essences from magical creatures. Do you have something to sell?"

Chen Chuan took a small piece of purple ore from his ring and placed it on the counter. "How many magic stones is this worth?"

The blue-robed apprentice took the ore and examined it closely. A trace of surprise flashed in his eyes. "This is amethyst ore, and it's very pure. I can give you twenty basic magic stones for it."

"Thirty," Chen Chuan said bluntly.

The blue-robed apprentice thought for a moment. "Twenty-five. I can't go any higher."

"Deal." Chen Chuan nodded in agreement.

The blue-robed apprentice took a small cloth bag from beneath the counter. It contained twenty-five basic magic stones.

Chen Chuan took the bag, sensing the faint energy contained in the basic magic stones.

"Absorbable source of magic power detected. Absorb it?"

"No."

Chen Chuan promptly declined the prompt to absorb the source of magic power now.

There were too many people around, and he still had a use for the basic magic stones. He would study them after returning to the dormitory later.

"Are there any other materials you're looking to buy?" Chen Chuan asked.

The blue-robed apprentice handed him a list. "These are materials we urgently need. If you can find them, the price is negotiable."

Chen Chuan took the list and found that it included plants and ores he had never seen before. He was about to examine it more closely when a familiar voice suddenly came from behind him.

"Chen Chuan? What a coincidence."

Chen Chuan turned and saw Professor Hailey standing at the door, looking at him with interest.

"Professor Hailey." Chen Chuan inclined his head slightly, maintaining a polite distance.

"I didn't expect to see you here." Hailey walked into the shop, her gaze sweeping over the list of materials in Chen Chuan's hand. "Are you collecting these things?"

"Just looking." Chen Chuan put away the list without betraying anything.

Hailey's gaze fell on the piece of amethyst ore left on the counter. "You sold amethyst ore? It's very popular at the academy."

"I happened to come across it," Chen Chuan replied briefly, unwilling to explain further.

"It seems your talent isn't limited to meditation class." A faint smile curved Hailey's lips. "By the way, the academy is about to hold a small materials exchange. Interested in attending?"

"An exchange?" Chen Chuan raised an eyebrow.

"Yes. Apprentices trade or sell materials to one another. Sometimes you can find rare items that are hard to come by otherwise," Hailey explained. "It's being held in the academy hall the day after tomorrow."

"Thank you for letting me know. I'll consider it," Chen Chuan replied, though he was already giving it some thought.

Hailey nodded and turned to the blue-robed apprentice. "Old Ai, set aside three bottles of Elementary Life Potion for me."

"Of course, Professor." The blue-robed apprentice hurriedly agreed and took three small glass bottles from beneath the counter.

Chen Chuan noticed that Hailey paid with some kind of magic mark rather than magic stones. Apparently, people at the professor's level had other privileges.

"I'll take my leave, then." Chen Chuan prepared to leave the shop.

"Wait," Hailey called after him. "If you have more amethyst ore, you can come directly to me.

The academy's research department has been buying this material."

"Understood." Chen Chuan nodded and turned to leave the potion cottage, quietly committing the information to memory.

As he walked along the commercial street, Chen Chuan began considering his next steps.

Twenty-five basic magic stones weren't many, but they were enough to buy some basic materials.

More importantly, the materials exchange Hailey had mentioned might be an opportunity for him to learn more about the academy.

Chen Chuan looked toward Omomo's Magic Equipment Shop not far away and decided to check out its equipment. After all, all he had now was a gray robe; he didn't even have a decent staff.