Blood Mercury Crafting

"It's an Earth Elemental Puppet!"

Everyone recognized its origin.

It was a temporary servant created using "Elemental Summoning" and "Puppetry" as a base, controlled remotely with "Secret Runes." Essentially, it was a mass of witchcraft energy manipulating dirt and stones, but to mortals, it was a terrifying monster. Just one was enough to easily take down a squad of poorly armed militia.

Its physique and strength were comparable to a Low-level Knight, and if its witchcraft energy was increased beyond the standard model, it could receive corresponding enhancements. For instance, Reinforced Puppets or Large Puppets, whose strength could rival Intermediate to Advanced Knights.

"Good thing this thing isn't strong!" Renion, seeing that the puppet wasn't large and didn't appear particularly powerful, breathed a sigh of relief and volunteered to deal with it.

However, the puppet was ferociously aggressive. After parrying a few blows with his sword, he quickly retreated, unwilling to press his luck.

"It's a Reinforced Puppet, how insidious!"

"Fall back while fighting, head for where we hid the Necromancer Warhorses!" Roy said, helping to fend off the puppet's attacks. He wasn't actually incapable of dealing with the puppet, but he feared being bogged down. Fortunately, he had equipped Swift Boots. After activating the witchcraft energy within, he was as light as a swallow, making dodging, maneuvering, and engaging in a skirmish much easier.

After a period of engagement, everyone successfully mounted the hidden warhorses and gradually pulled away.

More than half the night later.

The group had distanced themselves from the danger and finally let out a long sigh of relief, their taut nerves relaxing slightly.

"Where did he go? He didn't chase us?"

"Looks like he let us off the hook. After all, his original target is more important."

"But, it's still a bit strange... Why did they provoke Senior Oren? He's an Elite Apprentice!"

This matter was highly suspicious. While lamenting their bad luck, everyone couldn't help but speculate.

"Perhaps it was some treasure or secret information. I've heard before that some apprentices like to abuse their strength and kill innocent people. Out in the wild, the Wizard Towers don't interfere; they let everyone fend for themselves..."

Roy said, "Forget it, let's not dwell on it. Getting back is the priority. To prevent Oren from ambushing us on the main path, I suggest we travel day and night, hurrying back to the Wizard Tower as fast as possible. There's no need for rest; only within the Wizard Tower can we guarantee safety."

"Do you have to be so tense?" Renion couldn't help but laugh. "You're always overly cautious!"

But after his laughter, his body suddenly swayed, and he almost fell off his horse: "Oh no, I... I feel a bit dizzy..."

"How could this happen out of the blue?" everyone asked in surprise.

"I think I've been poisoned!" Renion's laughter died out.

Sailen exclaimed, "Is it Oren's witchcraft?"

Hearing this, everyone stopped, their concern mixed with a hint of fear, unsure if they should approach to check.

"Oren's specialty was precisely in the 'Poison Crafting' type of spells..."

"When exactly did he poison us?"

Roy's face also changed slightly: "I'm feeling a bit unwell too! It might be a volatile toxin hidden on the puppet. Its effect isn't strong, but it's colorless and odorless..." His physique was superior to Renion's, and he had witchcraft energy actively circulating within him, giving him some resistance. He only felt a slight nausea. However, it was clear that Renion's condition was much worse.

Sailen helped check him and said, "These are indeed symptoms of poisoning, but we don't know the specific toxin yet. We can only deal with it using witchcraft energy, or tough it out with sheer physique."

"I... I won't die!" Renion panicked. Soon, his breathing visibly became difficult. "But I can't move!"

Roy stepped forward, drew some of his blood with a small portable syringe, and sensed it with his mental strength. "It seems to be the type that affects blood circulation. His blood oxygen content is very low..."

Renion asked frantically, "Then what should we do?"

Sailen suggested, "How about we stop and rest for a while?"

Renion might not be deeply poisoned; he should be able to recover through deep breaths."

Tigro, however, said, "That's not a good idea. We can't stop. We should run as fast as we can.

Renion, hang in there! How about I tie you to my horse?"

Sailen said, "If only we had an antidote potion."

Roy replied, "I only have a vague understanding of antidote potions; I've never actually made one...

And I don't have the necessary materials on hand."

"We don't either, and we don't know how to make it!" Andov and Tigro exchanged a wide-eyed look, completely at a loss.

"Wait, does anyone have mercury on them!"

Suddenly, Roy thought of something and quickly asked.

"I happen to have a small jar. I was originally using it for preserving materials..." Sailen quickly said.

Mercury, commonly known as quicksilver, is a natural liquid metal that exists in a liquid state at normal temperature and pressure.

It can dissolve in nitric acid and hot concentrated sulfuric acid, and it can dissolve many metals, such as gold and silver, to form amalgams. It can be used for preservation and pharmaceuticals, and its vapor is highly toxic. It can also be used in certain witchcraft for combat.

Its uses are extensive, and therefore, it holds extraordinary significance in alchemy.

Directly using mercury to make medicine is dangerous for ordinary people because it is a heavy metal and highly toxic to the human body.

However, in the Wizarding World, there are extraordinary powers that can utilize it!

"Give it to me!" Roy quickly built a rudimentary small alchemy station on the nearby rocks and then got busy.

The attempt he was undertaking now was to fully utilize his newly acquired Bronze-tier Talent, [Sulfur-Mercury Theory], to refine a special substance called "Blood Mercury."

[Mastery of knowledge regarding the generation of Zabir Magic Gold from sulfur and mercury; corresponding ability level +1 when performing related operations.]

As an ordinary apprentice, it was rare to master this recipe unless one happened to specialize in this particular field.

But after acquiring the [Sulfur-Mercury Theory] Alchemy Talent, he had already learned it without a teacher.

And the talent effect of "+1 to corresponding ability level" made him feel as if he had undergone thousands of refinements, with insights from countless attempts and in-depth research surging forth instinctively.

A moment later, Roy successfully produced a small jar of blood-red Demonic Mercury Paste.

This substance had the unique metallic texture of mercury, but due to the influence of witchcraft energy and transmutation effects, it did not appear silver, but a deep crimson.

Upon closer inspection, it also emitted a faint fluorescence within the glass bottle.

He simultaneously drew blood from Renion for treatment and infused the corresponding amount.

After a while, to everyone's astonishment, Renion groggily woke up.

"It's amazing, I feel so much better!"