In the blink of an eye, three days had passed.
Potions Department.
Before the experimental bench.
Ian skillfully carried out the initial processing of the materials.
His proficiency rose bit by bit.
"If it could keep up this pace every day, I'd probably reach Master Level before long."
Ian clicked his tongue in amazement.
Of course, he was only joking, because he gradually discovered that the rate at which his proficiency increased was slowing down.
It was estimated that once he reached Proficient Level, or even the later stages of proficiency, progress would become very slow.
There was a limit to merely processing materials.
"It really is much better than three days ago."
On the other side, Victor nodded as he looked at the materials in his hands.
Three days ago, the materials Ian processed had still been rough and careless, with low integrity.
But three days later, Ian was the fastest at processing materials and had the highest integrity rate.
He was better than both Kevin and Martin.
"Ian, are you here to brew potions today?"
Victor decided to let Ian try brewing potions.
In the distance, Ian's eyes lit up.
After processing materials for three days, he finally had the chance to get his hands on the real thing.
There were several sets of brewing equipment in the laboratory. Ian walked up to one, and Kevin handed him the materials.
He began brewing.
His movements were fairly practiced.
But the brewing process was not meticulous enough.
His grasp of heat and rhythm was poor.
After only a few glances, Victor knew Ian would fail this attempt.
And that was indeed the result.
Victor's brow rose again.
His material processing was excellent. His brewing proficiency could only be called passable, far from the standard of a genius.
When Victor had first brewed this potion, he had practically learned it after watching it once. After a dozen attempts, he could brew it proficiently, and his success rate had even exceeded half.
"However..."
Victor pursed his lips, recalling Ian's material processing.
He had started out ordinary as well, but the further he went, the higher his proficiency became.
He had been improving all along.
So Victor decided to give Ian more chances and said:
"Ian, starting today, you may use enough materials to brew ten portions a day. However, you must produce at least three finished potions. For every bottle short, you'll need to compensate for one portion of materials with Magic Stones."
"Alright."
Ian did not know what Victor was thinking, and he was delighted.
Unlike practicing Wizardry, where one could basically use a spell once it reached proficiency, with later improvements only affecting power and casting, potion brewing was all about success rate and quality.
At the beginner stage, the success rate should be around ten to twenty percent. At proficiency, it could reach thirty to forty percent. Only at Proficient Level would it become higher.
One generally needed to reach Proficient Level before attaining a fifty percent success rate.
If the expenditure of time and energy was factored in, one might not even break even.
That was why potion masters were so rare, and why they were so profitable.
Every potion master had been built by piling up money.
Naturally, there were also geniuses like Victor, who might grasp the core after brewing a few times and reach proficiency or even expert level.
But Ian was clearly not one of them. What he needed was one brewing attempt after another, steadily raising his proficiency.
That afternoon.
With the failure of the final potion, Ian had bad luck and only succeeded twice.
He needed to compensate half a Magic Stone.
Yet his proficiency had increased by a full 40 points.
It had reached 60/200.
"I'll reach proficiency in three days."
Ian was stunned.
Burning money truly meant burning money, but for him, as long as he had enough money, this kind of knowledge could truly improve at breakneck speed.
"Money..."
Ian sighed.
In the distance, Victor's gaze flickered.
Though the success rate was low, his technique seemed to be improving.
Was it an illusion?
Victor pondered.
That day.
Ian left the Potions Department and went to the Training Ground.
This Training Ground was a real Training Ground, completely different from the one they usually used during class.
At the entrance, Ian took out his badge and exchanged it for time.
"You have ten chances to use the Primary Training Ground. Each session lasts six hours. Once you leave, it still counts as one day. However, it seems you also have ten sparring sessions available. Would you like to use one?"
The tattooed apprentice handed the badge back and asked.
Ian nodded.
After learning where the slaves went, he discovered that most of the people serving within the Academy were them.
Even being able to remain in the Academy meant they were among the luckiest ones.
Of course, there were also those who were unlucky.
For example...
"My lord, for one hour, during the time you have rented, you may fight me as you please. I will also accommodate your requirements."
The wizard dressed in a thick layer of alchemical protective clothing relaxed when he saw that Ian was a new wizard.
That way, his injuries should not be too severe.
Ian, meanwhile, was filled with emotion.
He had long known that the Training Ground offered sparring partners, and had wondered who they were. In the end, they were still these slave apprentices.
Without question, the death rate here was high.
But that had nothing to do with Ian. He had come here only to practice Wizardry and improve his proficiency.
"You will fight me."
Ian merely spoke calmly.
He wanted to see whether training with a sparring partner was more efficient than training without one.
"Alright!"
The sparring wizard nodded.
The battle began!
Ian had also put on a thick Alchemy Witch Robe, which could block magical attacks to a certain extent.
This time, Ian did not engage in close combat either. Instead, he honestly used Wizardry to fight.
As Ian cast various spells with low proficiency, he quickly discovered the difference.
"In a combat state, Wizardry improves nearly three to four times faster."
Ian's eyes widened.
Didn't that mean a spell that would normally take a month to reach Master Level could be shortened to a week here, or even less?
"Wind Blade Spell!"
This time, when the sparring apprentice saw the Wind Blade forming before him, only thirty centimeters in size, he could not help laughing inwardly.
He really was a newbie.
Today would be easy.
Before long, the apprentice left, while Ian began practicing by himself in the Training Ground.
The Training Ground also had Alchemy Puppets, all kinds of automated equipment, and could even provide various elemental environments.
Its efficiency was also twice that of before.
"This feels amazing!"
Ian immediately felt incomparably refreshed.
Ian threw heavy punches in the Training Ground.
In Victor's laboratory, however, Ian was much more low-key.
The next day.
He still honestly went to process materials, then began brewing potions after working for a while.
Victor merely watched in silence.
That day, Ian successfully brewed three bottles.
He did not need to compensate any Magic Stones.
Another day.
Ian successfully brewed four bottles.
Victor nodded.
On the fourth day.
Ian successfully brewed five bottles.
Victor stared blankly at the five bottles of potion Ian handed over, looking at him as if his entire worldview had collapsed.
"Ah? You brewed these?"
"Mm." Ian nodded.
"I remember you weren't like this a few days ago."
"Mm, I improved."
"Improved?"
Victor's mouth twitched, and he felt somewhat numb.
He finally confirmed it. Ian was definitely a genius.
But not a genius in the traditional sense.
Geniuses often learned at lightning speed, then reached an extremely high level of proficiency.
Ian, however, advanced bit by bit as though walking. Though he was not that fast, he kept moving forward without fail.
They were completely different.
After all, even geniuses could not keep improving endlessly.
He had never heard of such a thing.
This was truly damned bizarre!
Before you continue