Savage Bull's Might

Wu Xiaoyan wanting to marry into money had nothing to do with Bai Xiaowen.

Bai Xiaowen merely felt that Wu Xiaoyan was either pitiful, hateful, or both. In short, they simply weren't the same kind of people.

Setting aside whether Wu Xiaoyan could marry into the Zhou Family, even if she got her wish and became the Zhou Family's "young mistress," could she really keep a playboy like Zhou Yi tied down?

To Zhou Yi, Wu Xiaoyan was probably just a plaything.

But what about Wu Xiaoyan? In Bai Xiaowen's impression, she was no simple girl. Could she truly fail to see that?

One was willing to play, and the other was willing to take it. Bai Xiaowen could not be bothered with it. As for joining Botong Pharmaceuticals, that charity-like offer of help looked strange no matter how he viewed it.

"Forget it. No point thinking about it. Three days from now, there'll be a week-long field combat training exercise. The entire Class 17 has to go to the Buffer Zone and fight real mutant beasts. Over these next three days, I need to make the most of my time. Besides brewing Enhancement Potions to raise my attributes, I also need to improve my Battle Specialty."

That afternoon.

Bai Xiaowen entered the training room.

"Hah!"

"Ha!"

Bai Xiaowen performed one Basic Combat move after another. Every punch and kick stirred the air with a whistle, full of force, though his movements were somewhat stiff.

As Bai Xiaowen moved, the Psionic Particles contained within the B-Rank Enhancement Recipe he had eaten at noon spread through his body, gradually strengthening his physique.

After completing one set of Basic Combat moves, Bai Xiaowen broke into a light sweat.

"After just one set of 'Basic Combat Moves Set 1,' I'm sweating all over, and I've used up at least a quarter of my stamina. My Constitution is still too low!"

Bai Xiaowen's Constitution had risen from 1.7 when he had first transmigrated to 2.1, but it was still one of his weak points.

A notification entered his mind:

"Basic Combat moves completed. Power: 4. Precision: 2. Fluidity: 2. Evaluation: Good."

"Basic Combat proficiency increased."

"Basic Combat has reached Level 2!"

Bai Xiaowen let out a breath. At last, he had raised Basic Combat to Level 2.

"My Strength is 4.5, so my striking power is strong! But my precision and Fluidity are much worse, held back by my Agility! Otherwise, with my Level 2 Basic Combat Specialty, a combat move with 'Power 4' should at least be rated Excellent, and the proficiency I gained would double again!"

Battle Specialties could only be raised through accumulated proficiency. The higher the evaluation for each training session, the more proficiency one gained and the faster one improved.

And training evaluations were determined entirely by one's personal attributes. Therefore, the higher one's attributes, the faster one's Battle Specialty improved. That was an indisputable fact.

Previously, Bai Xiaowen had only possessed 1.8 Strength and 2.1 Agility. Whether it was Power, precision, or Fluidity, his combat moves rarely reached 2. His evaluations were often failing grades, yielding no proficiency at all.

His Constitution had originally been just 1.7. With such terrible stamina, he could not practice for long periods, which further hindered the advancement of his Battle Specialty. After three years in the high school combat class, his Basic Combat had remained stuck at Level 1.

But now, after only a few days of practice, his Basic Combat had already reached Level 2. All of it was thanks to the Enhancement Potion, Ruby's Might, which had greatly increased his Strength.

"Master Sun makes simple combat potions during the day and leaves complicated Enhancement Potions for the evening. That has both benefits and drawbacks for me. On one hand, I need to learn Enhancement Potion formulas to improve my attributes. On the other, with field training approaching, I also need some combat potions to increase my immediate combat power!"

Potions were divided into two types: Enhancement Potions and combat potions.

Enhancement Potions were generally of high rank, complicated to make, and expensive. For example, Gargoyle's Might and Ruby's Might were both Enhancement Potions. They could permanently increase a person's strength, but their side effects were severe and their failure rates were high.

Combat potions were relatively cheap and easy to brew. For instance, the Stone Skin Potion Bai Xiaowen had seen before was a combat potion. It increased defense and reduced bleeding effects, but only lasted 120 seconds.

As long as one did not use combat potions of excessively high rank that far exceeded one's own strength, there was generally no chance of failure, unless one had bought counterfeit medicine.

Bai Xiaowen made several preparatory motions and took a deep breath. "Next, I'll try 'Basic Combat Moves Set 2'! Although it consumes twice the stamina of 'Basic Combat Moves Set 1,' as long as the evaluation passes, the proficiency will multiply."

Nine that night.

The Alchemy Department of Super God Potion Shop, Sun Hecheng's private workshop.

"Today's efficiency was high. We finished the task ahead of schedule."

Sun Hecheng said with a grin, "With you here, my success rate in brewing Advanced Alchemist potions has increased by at least 10%! At yesterday's Alchemy Department meeting, I even received praise from the shop manager. Tell me, how should I reward you?"

A 10% increase in success rate meant far more than a 10% increase in output. It also prevented 10% material loss. Taken together, it meant that Bai Xiaowen, as an assistant, had increased the profit output of an Advanced Alchemist like Sun Hecheng by 20%.

It was only natural for Sun Hecheng to reward Bai Xiaowen.

Bai Xiaowen shook his head. "Master Sun, let's not talk about rewards yet. I have something to tell you. I just hope you won't get angry after hearing it."

"What is it? Go ahead."

"You know I'm in the combat class. Recently, our homeroom teacher organized a week-long field combat training exercise, and combat class students are required to attend. So, I need to take a week of leave..."

He had only just become an assistant and gotten familiar with the work, yet he was already asking for a week off. It really was not easy to bring up.

However, Bai Xiaowen did not want to be kicked out of the combat class. Only combat class students were eligible to apply to the Combat Department of key universities, and Bai Xiaowen did not want to lose that qualification.

Sun Hecheng's brows furrowed into a deep crease as he pondered. "You really have given me a difficult problem."

Bai Xiaowen sighed. "How about you choose another assistant to replace me?"

Bai Xiaowen meant it sincerely. After getting into university, whether he would continue working at Super God Potion Shop was hard to say. Leaving his assistant position in the Alchemy Department was only a matter of time.

After some thought, Sun Hecheng shook his head. "Forget it. When I chose you as my assistant, I had already considered that this day might come. Go without worry. I can brew simple potions by myself. For complicated potions, I can drag Zheng Li over to fill in for a while. Once your field combat training ends, come back and continue working."

Although Sun Hecheng had only worked with Bai Xiaowen for a week, he had already deeply experienced their incredibly seamless cooperation. If Bai Xiaowen had been merely average, replacing him would have been no big deal. But Bai Xiaowen was simply too outstanding for Sun Hecheng to give up on him.

"Thank you so much." Bai Xiaowen hurriedly expressed his gratitude.

"No need to thank me. And you still deserve a reward," Sun Hecheng said. Having finished the day's work early, he was in high spirits. "These past few days, you've only assisted me with complicated potion brewing. I imagine you haven't understood much of what you've seen. Since we have time today, I'll brew some simple potions and teach you a thing or two along the way. How does that reward sound?"

Bai Xiaowen was naturally delighted and thanked him again.

Although Bai Xiaowen could use his abnormal memory to "replicate" Sun Hecheng's brewing process, even using it to create high-rank Enhancement Potions, he understood the result of most steps without understanding the reason behind them.

For example, fifteen milliliters of distilled water had to be added halfway through a brew. The step looked ordinary, but why add water? Why fifteen milliliters? What complicated proportional formula lay behind it? Bai Xiaowen had no idea.

But Sun Hecheng's guidance was active instruction, allowing Bai Xiaowen to begin touching upon the mysteries of potion brewing. Alchemy was vast and profound; it was impossible to master it after merely watching a few times.

The lesson began.

During the brewing process, Sun Hecheng carefully broke down and explained the principle behind every step to Bai Xiaowen.

"Look, the beaker has begun to boil. Under the influence of the Kairila Vine powder, the Savage Bull blood inside has already turned a deep blue. Now, we can add kumquat flower pollen. Pay attention to the amount. There's a formula involved here. The proportion of kumquat flower pollen is related to the quantities of Savage Bull blood crystals and Kairila Vine powder. It cannot be too much or too little..."

Sun Hecheng carefully shook the pre-measured kumquat flower pollen into the beaker.

In merely two seconds, the liquid in the beaker changed from deep blue to golden yellow.

Sun Hecheng added distilled water twice more according to the situation, then slowly lowered the temperature. He carefully examined the liquid's concentration and clarity, then nodded. "Good. A bottle of Savage Bull's Might combat potion has been successfully brewed. Its purity won't be below 85%. A quality product."

With his Insight Talent, Bai Xiaowen naturally saw things even more clearly.

[Savage Bull's Might]

[Rank: Tier 1, Level 3]

[Purity: 87% (Excellent)]

[Ingredients: Savage Bull Blood 13.84%, Kairila Vine Powder 1.77%, Kumquat Flower Pollen Powder 4.74%, Water 79.65%]

[Effect: Increases Strength by 6 points for 120 seconds.]

Bai Xiaowen secretly admired him. Sun Hecheng could judge a potion's purity through experience alone. That was absolutely the sharp eye developed from brewing countless potions, nearly comparable to his own Insight Talent.

Combat potions only provided temporary enhancement effects and were mainly used to unleash sudden bursts of strength in battle or survive desperate situations. Although they could not permanently increase one's power like Enhancement Potions, combat potions offered extremely large boosts and were often favored by Awakened ones.

Of course, combat potions had restrictions as well. Only one could be consumed in a single battle. That was also why combat potions were relatively cheap. Aside from procurement officers from large guilds, no one bought combat potions in bulk. Even Awakened ones who frequently ventured through the Wilderness Zone would not do so.

"How much did you learn just now?" Sun Hecheng asked.

"Can I give it a try?" Bai Xiaowen asked cautiously.

"Ha ha, of course you can. The materials for one bottle of Savage Bull's Might aren't worth much," Sun Hecheng said with a smile. "However, if you want to practice with more and more expensive materials, you'll need to sign a stricter commercial contract with the shop."

Every assistant who became an Alchemist had consumed a large amount of medicinal materials in practice. If they became Alchemists only to be poached away, would the shop not suffer enormous losses? Therefore, assistants who wanted training had to sign contracts. If they left before the stipulated term, they had to pay a considerable penalty.

Bai Xiaowen nodded. For him, one set of materials was already enough.