The Experiment Site, A Shocked Victor

In the blink of an eye, three days passed.

Potions Department.

Before the workbench.

Ian skillfully carried out the initial processing of the materials.

His proficiency increased bit by bit.

"If I could keep up this pace every day, I'd probably reach Master Level before long."

Ian clicked his tongue.

Of course, he was joking. He had gradually discovered that the rate at which his proficiency increased was slowing.

He estimated that once he reached proficiency—or perhaps even the later stages of familiarity—it would become very slow.

There was a limit to processing materials alone.

"It really is much better than three days ago."

On the other side, Victor looked at the materials in his hands and nodded.

Three days ago, the materials Ian processed had still been rough and sloppy, with low integrity.

But three days later, Ian was the fastest at processing materials, and his completion rate was the highest.

Better than both Kevin and Martin.

"Ian, are you making potions today?"

Victor decided to let Ian try making potions.

In the distance, Ian's eyes lit up.

After processing materials for three days, he finally had a chance to get his hands on the real thing.

There were several sets of potion-making equipment in the laboratory. Ian walked over to one, and Kevin handed him the materials.

He began brewing.

His movements were fairly practiced.

But the process was not precise enough.

His grasp of heat and rhythm was lacking.

After only a few glances, Victor knew Ian would fail this time.

And that was indeed the result.

Victor's brows rose once more.

His material processing was excellent. As for his brewing proficiency, it was passable at best—far from the standard of a genius.

Back when Victor had brewed this potion, he had practically learned it after watching it once. After a dozen attempts, he could brew it skillfully, and his success rate could even exceed half.

"But..."

Victor pursed his lips, recalling what had happened when Ian processed the materials.

He had started out unremarkable too, but the further he went, the higher his proficiency became.

He had been improving all along.

So Victor decided to give Ian a few more chances and said, "Ian, starting today, you may use enough materials to make ten batches a day. But you must produce at least three finished potions. For every one you fall short, you'll need to compensate for one batch of materials with a Magic Stone."

"Alright."

Ian had no idea what Victor was thinking, and he was delighted.

Unlike practicing wizardry, once wizardry reached proficiency, one could basically use it. What came afterward was merely a difference in power and casting. Potion-making, however, came down to success rate and quality.

At the beginner level, the success rate should be around ten to twenty percent. At proficiency, it could reach thirty to forty percent. Only at mastery would it likely rise higher.

One generally had to reach mastery to achieve a fifty-percent success rate.

And factoring in the time and energy spent, one might not even break even.

That was why potion makers were so rare—and so immensely profitable.

Every potion maker had been forged with money.

Of course, there were also geniuses like Victor, who might grasp the core after only a few attempts and reach proficiency, or even expert level.

But Ian was clearly not one of them. What he needed was to brew again and again, steadily raising his proficiency.

Afternoon.

With the last potion failing, Ian's luck was poor. He had 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.

"It only takes three days to become proficient."

Ian was stunned.

It really burned through money, but for him, as long as he had enough money, this kind of knowledge could truly be improved at breakneck speed.

"Money!"

Ian sighed.

In the distance, Victor's eyes flickered.

Although the success rate was still low, his technique seemed to be improving.

Was it an illusion?

Victor pondered.

That day, Ian left the Potions Department and arrived at the training ground.

This was a true training ground, completely different from the one used for regular classes.

At the entrance, Ian took out his badge and exchanged it for time.

"You have ten days' worth of access to the Primary Training Ground. Each session lasts six hours. Once you leave, it still counts as a full day. But it seems you also have ten sparring sessions remaining. Would you like to use one?"

The apprentice with tattoos on his hands returned the badge and asked.

Ian nodded.

After learning where the slaves went, he realized that most of the service staff in the Academy were them.

Even being able to remain at the Academy meant they were among the luckiest.

Of course, some were unlucky.

For example...

"Sir, for one hour, during the time you've rented, you may fight me as you wish. I will also follow your requirements."

Seeing that Ian was a new wizard, the wizard in thick alchemical gear breathed a sigh of relief.

That way, his injuries probably would not be too severe.

Ian's eyes, meanwhile, were full of mixed feelings.

He had long known that the training ground offered sparring partners, and had wondered who they might be. In the end, they were still this group of slave apprentices.

Without a doubt, the death rate here was high.

But it had nothing to do with Ian. He had come here only to practice wizardry and raise his proficiency.

"You'll fight me."

Ian merely said calmly.

He wanted to see whether having a sparring partner was much more efficient than not having 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 close in either. Instead, he fought properly using wizardry.

Ian cast all kinds of wizardry in which he had low proficiency, and quickly discovered the difference.

"In a combat state, the rate at which wizardry improves is nearly three or four times faster."

Ian's eyes widened.

Didn't that mean wizardry that normally took a month to reach Master Level could be shortened to a week here, or even less?

"Wind Blade Spell!"

This time, as the sparring apprentice watched the wind blade form before him, only thirty centimeters long, he could not help but laugh inwardly.

He really was a newcomer.

Today would be fairly 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 environments of various elements.

The efficiency was twice what it had been before.

"This feels amazing!"

Ian instantly felt incomparably exhilarated.

Ian threw a heavy punch inside the Training Ground.

In Victor's laboratory, Ian was much more low-key.

The next day.

He still honestly went about processing materials, then began brewing potions after working for a while.

Victor merely watched in silence.

That day, Ian successfully made three bottles.

He did not have to compensate any Magic Stones.

Another day.

Ian successfully made four bottles.

Victor nodded.

On the fourth day.

Ian successfully made five bottles.

Victor stared blankly at the five bottles of potion Ian had brought over, then looked at Ian with an expression as though his entire worldview had been shattered.

"Ah? You made these?"

"Mm." Ian nodded.

"I remember you weren't like this a few days ago."

"Mm, I improved."

"You improved?"

Victor's lips twitched, and he felt a little numb.

He had finally confirmed it—Ian was absolutely a genius.

But not a genius in the traditional sense.

Geniuses usually learned things at lightning speed, then reached an extremely high level of proficiency.

Ian, however, advanced bit by bit as though walking. He was not that fast, but he kept moving forward.

They were completely different.

After all, even geniuses could not keep improving forever.

He had never heard of anything like this.

This was truly ghostly!