Green Liquid

"This liquid not only accelerates growth but also improves the quality of medicinal herbs..." Jialan quickly wrote in his experimental notes, "Moreover, the effect remains significant even after dilution, meaning the liquid's efficiency is extremely high. Most importantly, the herbs it cultivates have no side effects..."

By this point in the experiment, Jialan realized the value of the little green bottle. In the current world, high-year medicinal herbs are extremely rare. Many precious medicinal herbs either grow in dangerous places or require a long time to mature. This liquid in the green bottle could perfectly solve these problems.

"If it's used to cultivate advanced medicinal herbs..." Jialan's mind was already planning for the future...

However, Jialan quickly calmed down. He realized that the existence of the little green bottle must be kept strictly secret. If the news leaked, he couldn't help but shiver...

For the next period, Jialan was completely immersed in experiments. He discovered that this liquid had a similar effect on all plants. He also tried treating some precious barks used for making scrolls with the diluted liquid, and the results showed that the treated barks were excellent.

"This way, we won't have to rely entirely on Magical Beast Hide..." Jialan thought excitedly. Although Magical Beast Hide is effective, it's difficult to obtain and expensive. This treated plant bark, however, is low-cost and equally effective.

As the experiments deepened, Jialan also discovered an astonishing phenomenon: plants treated with the liquid, even after stopping its use, could maintain their high-year characteristics and continue to grow.

He only stopped experimenting when he ran out of the liquid in the little green bottle.

Jialan sat cross-legged on the small bed in his wooden cabin, closing his eyes and concentrating. In his mental vision, countless tiny points of light were moving along specific trajectories, forming a complex pattern. This was the meditation pattern he obtained from a Necromancer, far more intricate than ordinary meditation methods.

Each point of light represented a wisp of Mental Power. They flowed within the pattern, forming a meticulously woven net that captured the free-floating ice elements in the air. Jialan could clearly feel these ice elements, like mischievous little sprites, reluctantly moving towards his Mana pool under the guidance of his Mental Power.

"Another one escaped..." Jialan helplessly watched an ice element break free from the Mental Power's restraint and re-integrate into the air. This was the most common situation during meditation; most elemental particles would be lost during the capture and import process.

According to Jialan's estimation, he could successfully import less than one percent of the captured ice elements into his Mana pool each time he meditated. This efficiency might sound low, but it was much better than ordinary meditation methods.

As meditation progressed, the ice elements in his Mana pool gradually increased. Jialan could feel his Mana pool like a vast container filled with tiny ice crystals. These ice crystals collided with each other, making crisp sounds.

"It's time to start compressing," Jialan took a deep breath and began to mobilize his Mental Power.

Compressing elemental particles was a crucial step in advancing to an intermediate Spellcaster. This process required extremely fine control; any slight mistake could lead to the elemental particles going out of control and damaging the Mana pool.

Jialan carefully wrapped a small cluster of ice elements with his Mental Power and began to apply pressure. He could feel the ice elements resisting, like a squeezed sponge.

"Hold on..." fine sweat beaded on Jialan's forehead. Compressing elemental particles not only consumed Mana but also placed a heavy burden on Mental Power.

As time passed, the cluster of ice elements gradually became denser. The originally loose structure began to arrange itself tightly, and its volume slowly decreased.

Suddenly, a sharp pain shot through him. Jialan knew this was the signal that the limit had been reached. He quickly stopped compressing and slowly relaxed his Mental Power.

Opening his eyes, Jialan let out a sigh of relief. Although there was still a long way to go before compressing the entire Mana pool into a single drop of liquid, he could feel a noticeable improvement.

"Hoo..." Jialan exhaled, wiping the sweat from his forehead. He checked his Mana pool and found that the cluster of ice elements had only shrunk a tiny bit; it would be unnoticeable if not observed carefully.

"At this rate," Jialan calculated, "without external help, it would take about seven or eight years to compress all the elemental particles in my Mana pool into a single drop of liquid. This Meditation Method is truly different. If I continued to use the meditation method provided by the military before, it might take fifteen years to advance to intermediate."

The process of advancing to an intermediate Spellcaster. It sounds simple, but it is actually full of danger and challenges. Every compression requires complete concentration; any slight carelessness could lead to the loss of all previous efforts. Spellcasters are known as the most difficult profession to advance in on the entire continent, and it's not an undeserved reputation.

Jialan stood up, stretching his stiff body. He knew he couldn't rush this process. Now, what he needed was patience and perseverance, as well as... some external help.

Looking at the empty little green bottle, a flicker of anticipation flashed in Jialan's eyes.

"Strange," Jialan frowned in thought, "today should be my patrol day. Why haven't I received any notification?"

He decided to go to the border camp to check the situation. Along the way, he noticed that the soldiers' expressions were very serious, lacking their usual ease. The sounds of drills on the training grounds were also more urgent than usual.

Entering the camp, Jialan found the atmosphere even more tense. Soldiers were busily transporting supplies, and officers were gathered, discussing something in low voices.

"Mage Jialan!" a familiar voice called out. Jialan turned and saw the Squad Leader of the border camp, John Marcus, approaching him. This young officer, who usually had a roguish smile and boasted about returning home early to become a noble lord, now had a furrowed brow.

"John," Jialan greeted him, "what's going on? Why is the atmosphere so tense?"

John glanced around and lowered his voice, saying, "We might be going to war."

"War?" Jialan was startled, "Could it be that the Magic Beasts have rioted again? Or is it from the Aus Empire..."

John shook his head, "I don't know the specifics. We've only been told to prepare and be ready to move at any time."

A vision of the White Dragon Horse suddenly flashed in Jialan's mind. He hesitated for a moment before asking, "Is it related to the Holy See?"

John looked surprised, "How did you know... No, I'm not sure either. The Captain has been summoned to a meeting. We might have more information when he returns."

Jialan nodded, but a storm raged in his heart. He recalled his encounter in the Misty Forest, the military's mysterious actions, and that suffering White Dragon Horse...

"Oh, right," John suddenly said, "your patrol mission is temporarily canceled. The superiors want all Spellcasters to remain at their posts and be ready at any time."

Jialan nodded thoughtfully. He knew this meant the situation might be more serious than he imagined. After leaving the camp, he returned to his small wooden cabin and began to organize his magical items. The recent anomalies kept replaying in his mind.