Refining Intermediate Potions

This time, Chiard didn't inspect the potions, but directly priced them according to the names Roland had written on the crystal bottles.

After all, this was already the fourth transaction. Every time, the quality of the potions Roland brought out was excellent. To retain Roland as a regular customer, Chiard naturally wanted to do better on such details.

"Eight bottles of Tier 3 Spirit Agility Potion, four bottles of Tier 3 Fire Element Resonance Potion, totaling 208 gold coins," Chiard said quickly.

"Deal."

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

"Mhm." Roland was here today specifically to purchase materials for refining Intermediate Potions, so he naturally wouldn't refuse.

"Please follow me." Hearing this, Chiard's face lit up with joy, and he quickly led Roland towards the underground warehouse.

As usual, Chiard prepared to take Roland to the storage areas for Moonstone, Dream Grass, and so on.

However, at this moment, Roland stopped him.

"Today, I want to purchase some three-year-old Dream Grass, Fire Flower, and Tier 4 Elemental Water."

"You want to refine Intermediate Potions?"

Roland nodded upon hearing this, tacitly admitting it.

"Your progress in Alchemy is truly astonishing," Chiard said in shock.

After all, Roland looked to be only in his early twenties, and he was already starting to refine Intermediate Potions. If he could succeed, Roland's status would rival that of an Archmage, making him a prodigy of the younger generation.

"Whether I can succeed is still uncertain," Roland said with a smile.

"Then your courage is worthy of praise from the world." Chiard's attitude became even more respectful.

"You flatter me," Roland waved his hand.

After his shock, Chiard immediately led Roland to the shelves deeper within.

Tier 4 potions, although only one level higher than Tier 3 potions, required three additional refining materials.

For example, Tier 3 Spirit Agility Potion only needed Dream Grass, Moonstone, and Elemental Water.

But Tier 4 Spirit Agility Potion, in addition to these three, also required Bay Leaf, Mandrake Grass, and White Crystal Tree Sap.

Moreover, not only that, but the growth age and the magical energy contained within the six materials also had further standards.

The most crucial point was the price. The materials for refining Tier 4 Spirit Agility Potion were three times higher than Tier 3, with the cost of one set of materials being around 11 gold coins, making the cost extremely high.

This was also why Roland had not refined Intermediate Potions. With such expensive materials, if he couldn't refine them successfully for a long time, let alone make a profit, it would be good enough not to go bankrupt.

However, Roland, who had already made up his mind, had no qualms about the consequences of failure.

He directly purchased twenty sets of materials for Tier 4 potions from Chiard, costing 240 gold coins.

"Mage Chiard, I've bought so many Magic Materials from you, aren't there any discounts?" Roland couldn't help but feel pained as he looked at the settlement price, which was 10% higher.

Hearing this, Chiard couldn't help but feel a bit awkward.

"Apothecary Roland, I'm truly sorry, but I don't have that authority."

Hearing Chiard's explanation, Roland had no choice but to drop the matter. In fact, Roland was just making a casual remark.

Chiard was merely a Tier 3 Mage, so it was reasonable that he didn't have the authority to change prices.

As for who had the authority to change prices, Roland, at his current status, shouldn't be able to interact with them yet.

Afterward, Roland paid another 32 gold coins and left the Apothecary Guild directly.

Time was tight, and he needed to hurry to make money.

Meanwhile, as he watched Roland's retreating figure, Chiard's face showed a pensive expression. After a long period of thought, he handed over his current work to another Mage and left in a hurry.

He walked out of the Apothecary Guild, got into a carriage, and quickly headed north of Highland City.

The northern area of Highland City.

This area was clearly different from the other three major districts. Elegant residences were neatly arranged, each exuding a unique temperament and majesty. The wide streets were clean and tidy, lined with lush trees on both sides. Every scene spoke of the extraordinary status and considerable wealth of the residents living there.

Because this was the area where Highland City's wealthy and Nobles resided, it not only had tighter security but also exuded luxury and prestige everywhere.

At this moment, Chiard drove his carriage through layers of streets and arrived at the entrance of a lavishly decorated manor.

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

If Roland were here, he would definitely recognize this young man as Leslie Oroko, who had caused a scene at City Hall a month ago. He was the second son of Patriarch Oroko and currently the second in line to inherit the Oroko Family.

When facing Leslie, Chiard's nervousness became visibly apparent.

After all, the person before him did not have a very good reputation in the outside world, even being considered notorious.

"Mage Chiard, what brings you here today?" Leslie asked, gently twirling an ancient ring in his hand.

"Young Master Leslie, today I am here to introduce a genius Apothecary to you," Chiard replied quickly.

"A genius Apothecary? Who?" Leslie's interest was immediately piqued.

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

"A Junior Apothecary?" Leslie's interest waned significantly.

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

Chiard naturally sensed the change in Leslie's attitude, so he quickly said, "Young Master Leslie, although Roland is currently only a junior apothecary, his success rate in refining junior potions is as high as forty percent. Furthermore, he purchased materials for intermediate potions from me today and is preparing to refine a Tier 4 Spirit Agility Potion."

"A Tier 4 Spirit Agility Potion? He's starting with such a difficult potion right away?" Leslie's interest was immediately reignited upon hearing this.

He truly wasn't very interested in junior apothecaries, as the profit margins for junior potions were too low.

However, intermediate potions were a different story. Setting aside the profit, intermediate potions themselves offered a great deal of room for maneuver. Especially the Tier 4 Spirit Agility Potion, which could essentially be considered a strategic resource. It could open trade routes with any country, and even tax-free.

It was a typical commodity where the added value far exceeded the profit.

Moreover, according to Chiard, Roland was clearly a genius apothecary. If he could reach the level of a senior apothecary in the future, he would be a walking money tree.

"Yes, Young Master Leslie. Judging by his success rate in refining Tier 3 Spirit Agility Potions, a Tier 4 Agility Potion might not be difficult for Roland." To gain Leslie's attention, Chiard desperately praised Roland.

Although he was an employee of the Highland Apothecary Guild directly assigned by the Kingdom, he had no intention of recommending Roland to the Kingdom. Firstly, a junior apothecary might not attract the Kingdom's attention. Secondly, even if it did, it wouldn't benefit him much; this was part of his job anyway.

However, if Roland could gain Leslie's attention, then as the recommender, the benefits he would receive would certainly not be small.

This was why he hadn't introduced Roland to the Kingdom but instead recommended him to Leslie.

But Leslie was clearly not someone who was easily convinced. After hearing Chiard's introduction, the interest in his eyes suddenly vanished, and he replied indifferently, "Let's talk about it after he successfully refines an intermediate potion."

Upon hearing this, Chiard became anxious and wanted to say something more. However, an old man in butler's attire beside Leslie suddenly stepped forward and stopped him.

"Master Chiard, let's stop here for today. Come back after Roland becomes an intermediate apothecary. Young Master Leslie will definitely not shortchange you then."

Hearing this, Chiard, though somewhat unwilling, was still escorted out of the manor by the butler.

Meanwhile, in the house Roland rented.

Upon returning, Roland went directly to the basement.

After categorizing the materials he had just purchased, he immediately began to diligently study the information compiled for him by Nuwa.

It contained experience, techniques, and precautions for refining intermediate potions.

Roland studied for two hours. When he felt full of confidence, he began his first experiment in refining an intermediate potion.

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

"Received, Master."

Three minutes later.

"Bang."

"No, the mental energy contained within the Tier 4 Dream Grass is too much."

The failure was as expected, but it didn't dampen Roland's fighting spirit at all.

He immediately plunged back into the data, searching for the cause.

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

"Received, Master."

Four minutes later.

"Bang."

"Why is there a surge of ice element in the middle of this Bay Leaf?"

"According to records, Bay Leaf will spontaneously generate an ice element to resist damage to itself when it encounters Magic Flame."

"Is that so?"

After saying this, Roland dove back into the data.

"Nuwa, record... the third time..."

"Received, Master."

Five minutes later.

"Bang."

"I was very careful, Nuwa. What's the reason this time?"

"The fusion time between the Mandrake Grass and the White Crystal Tree Sap was incorrect, resulting in a dispersed magic state, thus causing the refining to fail."

"I..." Roland scratched his head in frustration, his face filled with unwillingness.

"Master, whether in past scientific experiments or current magical experiments, patience is a most important condition."

"And I remember you were quite good at this in the past."

Nuwa's praise seemed to calm Roland down gradually.

"In the past? There was no threat of death in the past," Roland said with a bitter smile.

"Master, Nuwa believes you can do it."

There were no lengthy speeches, no profound truths, just this simple sentence of trust.

But it made Roland feel a warmth in his heart, so he tidied the messy wooden table and once again devoted himself to potion refining.

Constant starts, constant failures.

Roland's nerves were kept on edge for almost half a month.

This state lasted for a full half month, until Roland had only one ingredient left.

In the basement.

In half a month, the once handsome and dashing youth was long gone. His messy hair hung down haphazardly, as if he hadn't bothered to tend to it in ages. His originally clear and gentle eyes were now bloodshot, crisscrossed with spiderweb-like veins, revealing untold fatigue.

His mage robe was stained with the remnants of countless failures, bearing splotches of potion spills and scorch marks from magical impacts.

At this moment, Roland, with chapped lips and a haggard expression, paid no mind to anything else. He simply stared intently with his bloodshot eyes at a potion on the table that emanated a seven-colored glow.