Brewing Intermediate Potions

This time, Chiard did not inspect the potions. Instead, he priced them directly according to the names Roland had marked on the Crystal Vials.

After all, this was already their fourth transaction. The potions Roland brought out each time had been of excellent quality, and to retain such a regular customer, Chiard naturally wanted to handle even these small details better.

"Eight bottles of Level 3 Spirit Agility Potion and four bottles of Tier 3 Fire Element Resonance Potion, for a total of 208 gold coins," Chiard said swiftly.

"Fine."

"Do you need to purchase Magic Materials today as well?" Chiard asked expectantly.

"Yes." Roland had come today specifically to procure materials for brewing intermediate potions, so naturally, he would not refuse.

"Please follow me." Delighted, Chiard hurriedly took the lead and guided Roland toward the underground warehouse.

As usual, Chiard was preparing to take Roland to the storage areas for Moonstone, Dream Grass, and the like.

However, Roland stopped him at that moment.

"Today, I would like to purchase some three-year-old Dream Flowers, Fire Flowers, and Level 4 Elemental Water."

"You wish to brew intermediate potions?"

Roland nodded, silently confirming it.

"Your progress in potion-making is truly astonishing," Chiard said in shock.

After all, Roland looked barely over twenty, yet he was already beginning to brew intermediate potions. If he succeeded, his status would rival that of a Great Mage. He could truly be called a genius among the younger generation.

"Whether I can succeed is still uncertain." Roland smiled.

"Even so, your courage deserves the world's praise." Chiard's attitude became even more respectful.

"You flatter me." Roland waved a hand.

After recovering from his shock, Chiard immediately led Roland to the shelves farther inside.

Although Level 4 Potions were only one level above Tier 3 Potions, they required three additional brewing materials.

For example, a Level 3 Spirit Agility Potion required only Dream Grass, Moonstone, and Elemental Water.

However, a Tier 4 Spirit Agility Potion required Bay Leaf, Mandrake Grass, and White Crystal Tree Sap in addition to those three ingredients.

Not only that, but the growth period of all six ingredients and the amount of magical power contained within them had stricter standards.

Most importantly, there was the price. The materials for brewing a Tier 4 Spirit Agility Potion cost three times as much as those for a Tier 3 Potion. One set of materials cost around eleven gold coins, making the expense extremely high.

That was also why Roland had not brewed intermediate potions before. With materials so expensive, if he failed repeatedly, he would not merely fail to earn gold coins—he would be lucky not to go bankrupt.

But having already made up his mind, Roland did not concern himself with the consequences of failure.

He directly purchased twenty sets of Level 4 Potion materials from Chiard, spending 240 gold coins.

"Mage Chiard, I've bought so many Magic Materials from you. Is there really no discount at all?" Roland could not help but feel pained as he looked at the final price, which was another ten percent higher.

Chiard could not help looking somewhat embarrassed.

"Apothecary Roland, I'm truly sorry, but I do not have that authority."

Hearing Chiard's explanation, Roland could only let it go. In truth, he had merely complained casually.

Chiard was only a Level 3 Mage. It was only natural that he did not have the authority to alter prices.

And those with the authority to change prices were likely people Roland could not yet come into contact with, given his current status.

After paying another thirty-two gold coins, Roland left the Apothecary Guild directly.

Time was pressing. He needed to make money as quickly as possible.

Meanwhile, as Chiard watched Roland's departing back, a thoughtful look appeared on his face. After pondering for a long while, he handed his work over to another mage and hurried away.

After leaving the Apothecary Guild, he immediately boarded a carriage and headed swiftly toward the northern part of Highland City.

The northern district of Highland City.

This place was clearly different from the other three major districts. Elegant estates stood in neat rows, each radiating its own distinctive bearing and majesty. The broad streets were spotless, with verdant trees lining both sides. Every scene spoke of the extraordinary status and abundant wealth of the residents.

This was where Highland City's wealthy and nobles lived. Not only was security tighter here, but luxury and prestige were displayed everywhere.

At that moment, Chiard drove his carriage through layer upon layer of streets until he arrived at the entrance of a lavishly decorated manor.

After passing several inspections, Chiard was brought before a young man.

Had Roland been here, he would certainly have recognized him. This young man was Leslie Oroko, who had caused a scene at City Hall a month earlier. He was Patriarch Oroko's second son and the Oroko Family's current second-in-line heir.

Facing Leslie, Chiard's nervousness was visibly apparent.

After all, the man before him did not have a particularly good reputation outside. He could even be called notorious.

"Mage Chiard, what brings you here today?" Leslie asked Chiard as he gently turned an ancient ring on his finger.

"Young Master Leslie, I have come today to introduce a genius apothecary to you," Chiard quickly replied.

"A genius apothecary? Who?" Leslie was immediately intrigued.

"His name is Roland, and he is a Beginner Apothecary."

"A Beginner Apothecary?" The interest in Leslie's eyes greatly diminished.

Given his status, there was indeed no need for him to favor a Beginner Apothecary.

Chiard naturally sensed the change in Leslie's attitude and hurriedly said, "Young Master Leslie, although Roland is currently only a Beginner Apothecary, his success rate in brewing beginner potions is as high as forty percent. Moreover, he purchased materials for intermediate potions from me today and plans to brew a Tier 4 Spirit Agility Potion."

"A Tier 4 Spirit Agility Potion? He is attempting such a difficult potion from the start?" Leslie's interest immediately returned.

He truly had little interest in Beginner Apothecaries, because the profits from beginner potions were too low.

Intermediate potions, however, were another matter. Leaving profits aside, intermediate potions themselves offered far too much room for maneuvering. A Tier 4 Spirit Agility Potion in particular could practically be called a strategic resource. It could open trade routes with any nation, and it was even tax-exempt.

It was a typical product whose added value exceeded its profit.

Moreover, according to Chiard, Roland was clearly a genius apothecary. If he could one day reach the rank of Advanced Apothecary, he would become a humanoid money tree.

"Yes, Young Master Leslie. Judging by his success rate in brewing Level 3 Spirit Agility Potions, a Tier 4 Spirit Agility Potion may not be difficult for Roland at all." To gain Leslie's attention, Chiard praised Roland to the skies.

Although he was an employee dispatched directly by the kingdom to the Highland Apothecary Guild, he had no intention of recommending Roland to the kingdom. First, a Beginner Apothecary might not attract the kingdom's attention at all. And even if Roland did, it would not benefit Chiard much, since this was simply part of his job.

But if Roland gained Leslie's attention, then as the person who had recommended him, Chiard would certainly receive no small benefits.

That was why he had not introduced Roland to the kingdom, choosing Leslie instead.

However, Leslie was clearly not someone easily convinced. After listening to Chiard's introduction, the interest in his eyes suddenly vanished, and he replied blandly, "Then we can talk after he successfully brews an intermediate potion."

Hearing this, Chiard immediately grew anxious and wanted to say more, but an elderly man in a butler's uniform beside Leslie suddenly stepped forward and stopped him.

"Mage Chiard, let us end things here for today. Come back once Roland becomes an Intermediate Apothecary. At that time, Young Master Leslie will certainly not shortchange you."

Though somewhat unwilling, Chiard still left the manor under the butler's escort.

Elsewhere, in the house Roland rented.

The moment Roland returned, he went straight to the basement.

After sorting the materials he had just purchased, he began carefully studying the information Nuwa had compiled for him.

It contained experience, techniques, and precautions related to brewing intermediate potions.

Roland studied for two hours. Once he felt brimming with confidence, he began his first experiment brewing an intermediate potion.

"Nuwa, record the brewing process for the Tier 4 Spirit Agility Potion."

"Understood, Master."

Three minutes later.

"Bang."

"No. The Level 4 Dream Grass contains too much spiritual energy."

As expected, he had failed, but it did nothing to dampen Roland's fighting spirit.

He immediately buried himself in the materials again, searching for the cause.

"Nuwa, record the second brewing process for the Tier 4 Spirit Agility Potion."

"Understood, Master."

Four minutes later.

"Bang."

"Why did an ice element appear in the middle of this Bay Leaf?"

"According to the records, when Bay Leaf encounters Magic Flame, it will spontaneously produce an ice element to protect itself from harm."

"Is that so?"

After speaking, Roland plunged back into the materials once more.

"Nuwa, record... the third attempt..."

"Understood, Master."

Five minutes later.

"Bang."

"I was already being extremely careful. Nuwa, what was the reason this time?"

"The fusion timing of the Mandrake Grass and White Crystal Tree Sap was incorrect. This created a magic-dispersing state, resulting in brewing failure."

"I..." Roland clawed at his hair in frustration, his face full of unwillingness.

"Master, whether in past scientific experiments or current magical experiments, patience is one of the most important conditions."

"And I remember that you used to be very good at this."

Nuwa's praise seemed to gradually calm Roland down.

"Back then? Back then, there was no threat of death." Roland gave a bitter smile.

"Master, Nuwa believes you can do it."

There were no long speeches and no grand words of wisdom, only this simple expression of trust.

Yet it brought a trace of warmth to Roland's heart. He rearranged the cluttered wooden table and threw himself back into brewing potions.

Starting over again and again, failing again and again.

It kept Roland's nerves in a constant state of tension.

This state continued for half a month, until Roland had only one set of materials left.

In the basement.

After half a month, the handsome, spirited youth from before had long vanished. His disheveled hair hung loosely, as if it had not been tended to in a long time. His once clear and gentle eyes were now bloodshot, veins spreading through them like spiderwebs and revealing endless exhaustion.

His mage robes were stained with every kind of mark left behind by failure: potion spills and scorch marks from magical backlash.

Yet Roland, his lips cracked and his expression haggard, cared about none of that. His bloodshot eyes were fixed tightly on a bottle of potion on the table, one that glowed with seven-colored light.