Blood Persimmon Potion

After that, Renion, Andov, and the others asked around and gradually heard a few rumors.

When they gathered again over a meal, they told Roy the full cause and effect behind the previous incident.

It turned out it was not simply robbery and murder. It was also connected to certain businesses within the Witch Tower.

"Business?"

Roy frowned deeply when he heard that.

Inside this Witch Tower, quite a few apprentices had their own alchemical products, which they sold externally in their spare time between research and study.

He had not expected that earning such a little bit of hard-earned money could still get in someone else's way.

"There's no helping it, Roy. The Witch Tower has rules."

Renion sighed as he ate.

"Status must be respected, and ranks are clearly divided. That is the greatest rule."

Andov agreed. "That's true. No matter what benefits there are, the seniors get priority. Only what the seniors do not want will reach us.

Then, whatever we do not want gets tossed down to the low-level apprentices.

Eating meat, drinking soup, then licking bones—that's about how it works."

The others said, "Sigh, just endure it slowly. Once we become Advanced Apprentices too, things will be better."

Roy had no interest in listening to them. He merely kept his head down and ate.

His thoughts were a complete mess as well.

He had recently been selling Calming Incense Perfume too, so he had to be more careful.

The Witch Tower had never been a place for doing business. If someone truly set their sights on him, no matter how good he was at business, he would only be a piece of fat meat!

After that, more news spread, and they even found out the names of those responsible.

It turned out the mastermind was named Potterning.

He was not an Advanced Apprentice, merely a Senior Intermediate Apprentice.

Though he was not particularly powerful overall, he had advanced one or two years earlier and had accumulated quite a bit.

That accumulation included, but was not limited to, learning progress and personal strength...

There was also wealth, connections, and familiarity with the rules.

This made old apprentices like them clearly superior to Roy's group within the apprentice food chain of the Witch Tower.

Moreover, Potterning had not acted alone. There were also old apprentices from his own cohort.

United, they were more than any New Apprentice could contend with.

If they truly harbored ill intentions one day and set their sights on juniors like them...

The consequences would be unthinkable!

At this point, Renion mentioned something else. Among their cohort, there were probably people acting as the seniors' dogs and feeding them information.

If it weren't for that, how would Potterning and the others know which apprentices were soft persimmons that could be easily bullied?

Nia comforted them. "There's no need for everyone to worry too much...

After the Archmages stepped beyond the sea of stars and realized how vast the universe was, with the Myriad Races standing side by side, they made a joint oath and engraved 'Witch Tower Order is Sacred and Inviolable' into the World Will.

This is the Sacred Law of the Lawful Ones, far more serious than any worldly morality or national law.

Even those people would not dare do much within the Witch Tower."

Roy nodded slightly.

Indeed, as long as he hid inside the tower, even the most vicious Senior Student would not be much of a threat.

But he could not hide inside the tower forever.

Nor would the Witch Tower allow ordinary apprentices to live so comfortably and freely.

Those people before had gone out because of Mandatory Tasks, only to be targeted.

"Just trying to earn a little money is already this troublesome...

But Alchemy Witchcraft originally values practice and improvement. It is time to spend my magic stones on myself. Otherwise, I'll keep saving and saving, only to become someone else's wallet."

Roy had originally earned money to improve himself, and now that desire had become even stronger.

"But what exactly should I do to achieve this goal?

With my current Spiritual Power, financial resources, and materials, the choices available to me are extremely limited.

I need to choose a good formula within my reach."

Roy began searching through all kinds of materials and discussing them with Renion and the others. He discovered a relatively viable option—the Blood Persimmon Potion.

It belonged to the Physique Strengthening Potion category. It was rather niche, had a low upper limit, and was not very easy to refine.

But it had one major advantage that exceeded all its shortcomings: the raw materials were cheap!

Blood Persimmon Fruit was a magical fruit that looked somewhat like an overripe tomato at first glance. It could strengthen the body and increase one's strength, but excessive consumption could easily cause a deficiency of vital energy and blood, so it did have some side effects.

One could be bought for fewer than ten magic stones. With Roy's current finances, he could fully afford it.

More Important, it fell within the scope of Apprentice-level Alchemy.

The Skilled Worker could directly and brutally raise the Refinement Success Rate, allowing him to experiment without worry.

After choosing his direction, Roy began exploring and experimenting on his own. During that time, he failed several attempts and wasted a few fruits.

If this had been another formula, it might have drained all his previous savings and brought everything to a halt.

However, he could continue trying, turning the experience of failure into capital for success.

A few days later, things changed.

"I've finally mastered it!"

Delight filled Roy's face. He felt that he had completely grasped the formula.

He then decisively began the formal refinement.

As expected, with the help of the Skilled Worker Black Iron Rank Talent, he was already able to handle it with ease the moment he formally mastered the formula.

Before long, he successfully completed it.

Roy raised the beaker and looked at the clear liquid, which resembled diluted pale-red blood. He could faintly smell the bloody scent wafting from it.

It was the smell of rust.

Roy tilted his head back and drank it all in one gulp without hesitation, leaving not even half a drop behind.

The Blood Persimmon Potion was sweet and sour, with a hint of mint water's coolness and spiciness. It poured down his esophagus as though it had ignited a fire inside his body.

Moments later, it felt as though he had drunk strong liquor, and every cell in his body began to heat up.

Roy's cheeks gradually flushed red, and fine beads of sweat seeped from his forehead. Heat spread outward from within, as though even his skin were about to swell.

"It's taking effect!"

He clenched his fists, feeling his muscles swell and strength accumulate.

"It really works! My potential has been activated!"

But what followed was hunger.

A sensation of darkness closing in surged over him, and his vision began to blur.

"My cells are consuming energy..."

He quickly took out the sugar cubes he had prepared in advance and stuffed a handful into his mouth.

The effect was immediate. That inexplicable, restless hunger rapidly subsided.

His head no longer spun, and his vision cleared.

Roy Straightened His Body, feeling stronger and more powerful than ever before. He trembled slightly with excitement.

This was an unprecedented transformation!

"Let's test it out!"

Not long after, Roy arrived at the Training Ground in the tower, found a large iron bar for exercise, and shakily lifted it.

"As expected, there's already been a noticeable improvement!"

This body had barely undergone any training. It had relied entirely on natural growth and development.

But now, it seemed to have been activated by the potion and gained strength that far exceeded its previous level.