Dark Orchard

"Dark Orchard? You actually refined it?

I thought you were just saying it casually. I never expected you could really do it.

And so quickly."

At noon, Roy went to the third floor to find Sophia.

Sophia was somewhat surprised when she learned of it.

For a mere Intermediate Apprentice to achieve this much, he could definitely be called talented.

"Alright, I'll have Sailen give it a try.

This might be useful for preserving brain cell activity and increasing the Success Rate of Brain Transplants."

She then gave Roy some guidance on the general direction.

As well as...

An order for Dark Orchard magic stones and materials!

She told Roy, "This is only the first batch. If this potion really helps me, I'll be purchasing more later."

Roy had calculated the costs long ago and immediately agreed.

Ordinary people could not take on such an investment, because refining these relatively obscure things was normally rather difficult, with no guarantee of success.

The wasted materials, containers, time, and effort would all be losses.

Those had to be included in the costs as well.

He couldn't possibly work for his senior student at a loss, could he?

But with the Skilled Worker Black Iron Rank Talent boosting him, his Refinement Success Rate had greatly increased, and so had his profit margin.

If he could secure steady orders, his turnover would also surpass what he had earned from refining magic stones before.

A few days later.

"Yela..."

In the void, silver light traced the outline of a Will Rune, gradually solidifying as his meditation continued.

"The twelfth Will Rune...

has successfully appeared!"

After confirming this, Roy revealed a satisfied expression.

"The Nightmare Potion's effect in tempering the spirit isn't particularly strong.

But its Cost-effectiveness is extremely high, far superior to the previous Shriek Potion, Meditation Potion, and Spirit Strengthening Potion.

More Important, after increasing income and reducing expenses, several potions can be used in rotation, or even improve together!

I can spend very little to keep my cultivation progress at around one Will Rune every one or two months!"

Combining different potions and using them in rotation was an art of overall planning.

Potions or enhancement methods with different principles could complement one another.

Some could Weakened Side Effects, giving the body enough time to recover.

Over time, that became the enormous difference between steady development and deep-rooted ailments that were difficult to cure.

"Besides that, related byproducts have also emerged..."

Not long afterward, Roy's gaze fell on the Alchemy Platform, where a row of colorful potions Emitted a faint glow.

They were byproducts of his research into "Dark Orchard." He had Named them "Orchard's Bane," a highly volatile and potent potion.

"If this test tube is smashed, the liquid inside will rapidly evaporate and spread, producing a Mental Illusion like rotten, fermented Nightmare Serpent Fruit.

Of course, it can't compare to a Large-scale illusion empowered by earth veins, but it can still have a certain hallucinatory effect even on Advanced Apprentices.

If someone inhales it suddenly without being prepared, they could very well fall for it!"

This was the Strongest method he could refine at present.

If he could successfully knock an enemy unconscious with hallucinations, even an Advanced Apprentice could be killed with An Arrow!

Of course, that was the ideal scenario.

How it would actually be used still depended on his own judgment.

"My next goal is to disguise it as a corrosive liquid or some other venom, misleading their precautions..."

After thinking it over, Roy began experimenting again.

After daybreak, Roy got up, washed, went to the dining hall for a meal, and then attended his elective general studies class.

He had now focused most of his energy on alchemy courses, but some necessary common knowledge was still indispensable.

At the classroom, the team members gathered together again, and Nia complained resentfully.

"Renion, you hit way too hard!"

Her meager income was not enough to buy high-quality Healing Potions. She could only drink diluted mixtures, and she still Haven't yet fully recovered.

Andov's gaze was also dark and profound, making Roy feel a burst of Guilty Conscience.

He had successfully replaced his eye with a cheap one, but to care for it, he still wore an eyepatch and temporarily acted as a one-eyed man.

These were all "gifts from his companions"!

Fortunately, neither of them kept dwelling on the matter. Before long, they began talking about something else.

For example, Potterning's extortion.

They had seen and heard everything before the trip to the Apple Garden.

Roy said, "Don't worry. I know what I'm doing."

He had gradually learned Potterning's true nature and was no longer awed by him.

He even vaguely had a certain idea...

"A mediocre Old Apprentice, relying on having cultivated a few more years to bully the weak.

If he really had great talent or powerful strength, he wouldn't need to personally fight over such petty profits!"

Unaware of his thoughts, Andov warned, "When leaving the tower in the future, avoid him as much as possible. If you're extorted, endure it first. Don't easily clash with him head-on."

"Even the most mediocre Old Apprentice has more accumulated experience than us."

"Who told us we're just as mediocre?"

Renion and Nia said with similar apprehension.

"Having just completed an advanced mission, I might be able to rest for a while and won't need to leave the tower...

I need to seize this chance to grow stronger!"

Roy did not echo them. He merely thought to himself.

"Besides that, I need to make good use of the resources in my hands!"

Refining Orchard's Bane had given him some confidence.

If used well, this thing could produce a Miraculous Effect.

That gave him a chance to fight!

Combined with the earlier Knight level enhancement...

While they were chatting, Trides also entered the classroom.

Seeing that class had not begun, he walked over and said, "Roy, I wanted to find you last time..."

"What is it?"

Roy asked, though he already knew.

"Senior Student Potterning asked me to pass along a message. Remember to pay your tribute on time.

You do business on the second floor of the tower too, right? Everyone else has already paid. Only you few are left...

Let me think. This month of yours...

And what you still owe from last month...

You should pay 42 magic stones."

Upon hearing that, Roy said nothing and Took Out the magic stones.

"Here."

"Hm?"

Trides was somewhat surprised that he had received the money so easily, then smiled in satisfaction.

"Pretty straightforward...

If everyone were as cooperative as you, that'd be great."

Trides tossed the small cloth bag in his hand. He failed to notice that the instant he turned around, Roy's expression changed.

"Taking my money!

I'm afraid you'll have the life to take it, but not the life to spend it!"

Ever since hearing of those senior students' "deeds," he had been considering how to deal with them, weighing the pros and cons, and quietly making up his mind.

Get him!

Roy now understood things completely. In a place like a wizard tower, one either became a "wolf" or a "sheep."

Since that was the case, what other choice was there when facing extortion?

But resistance also required proper methods, as well as choosing the right target.

He planned to start with Trides, Potterning's accomplice.