Mobile Alchemy Table II

The importance of an Alchemy Table to spellcasters was self-evident. Spell experiments, the crafting of various items, and even magical items were all carried out on an Alchemy Table.

A complete Alchemy Table was not only equipped with various experimental apparatuses, but also supported by an array of magic circles.

Of course, an Alchemy Table's most important function was protecting the experimenter!

The successful casting of a spell was often accompanied by hundreds or thousands of experimental accidents, and failed experiments often produced violent elemental collisions.

Simply put, explosions!

The protective measures on an Alchemy Table could safeguard a spellcaster's life.

It was the same principle as wearing a float ring when swimming in the sea or a helmet when riding a bike.

Of course, there were plenty of people who were not afraid of death.

Besides spell experiments, an Alchemy Table could also purify spellcasting materials. In the beginning, it was used to purify gold, hence the joking name "Alchemy Table," which had naturally endured.

It was also because Alchemy Tables were such a tremendous help to spellcasters, yet so troublesome to make.

The auxiliary magic circles on an Alchemy Table numbered at least a hundred. They generally had to be fixed in one place, or the magic circles on the table would be affected. As research into Alchemy Tables continued, people began developing Mobile Alchemy Tables. Unfortunately, they were enormous and cumbersome, so they were only widely used in the military. Their size was also extremely limited, and they could only be used for experiments with low-level magic. Anything more advanced would damage the Alchemy Table.

Belon had only been fortunate enough to see a mobile military Alchemy Table by chance.

But now, as he watched Borne nearly finish assembling it, he realized it looked very similar to the Alchemy Table he had seen. Still, he did not dare be certain.

It was not until Borne finished assembling it and began purifying the Drunk-Fish Grass that he confirmed it really was an Alchemy Table. The others were equally astonished.

They were not clueless novices. They immediately understood.

Everyone's eyes began to shine.

This was a Mobile Alchemy Table. Though simple, it was still better than squeezing into a laboratory, wasn't it?

The members of the Arcane Society were all children of nobility, but a wealthy family did not mean they themselves had money. They could only receive a fixed amount of funds and resources from their families every month. Seeing that Borne even possessed a Mobile Alchemy Table, they could not help feeling envious.

Of course, they would never have imagined that Borne had actually made this Alchemy Table himself.

Wealth did not refer only to gold coins.

Intangible things such as status, power, social influence, and strength were all part of a family's foundation.

Many magical materials had time limits. If they were not used within a certain period, they would lose their activity or even become useless.

Only by processing them quickly could their original properties be preserved, preventing their quality from declining and allowing them to be stored longer.

One reason noble houses attracted commoner spellcasters into their service was their rare magical materials.

As they watched Borne purify the Drunk-Fish Grass, the others understood.

"A purification potion to enhance its anesthetic effect."

They knew that much, but purification also meant reducing the quantity. How could such a tiny amount be enough?

Since they understood that, Borne surely did as well. Yet none of them asked. They simply watched him work in silence.

Compared to the others, the Ranger looked far more serious as he carefully watched Borne's every step.

As a half-baked Druid, he could barely be considered a spellcaster himself. To him, Borne's operating methods were practically textbook-perfect.

With the Alchemy Table's assistance, purification went swiftly. Nearly two cubic meters of Drunk-Fish Grass were purified in less than two minutes.

Borne then took out several fruits and leaves for purification.

Cook, with his sharp eyes, noticed that the red fruits looked familiar.

"Red Phosphorus Fruit?"

Cook was not quite certain.

The Ranger was deeply shaken, because those leaves and red fruits had all been encountered along the way here.

"Could it be...?"

He did not understand Alchemy Tables, but he knew better than anyone how difficult it was to balance and blend potions.

His Enlightenment teacher had been a Children of the Forest Druid, as well as a potion maker.

Every additional unit of material, or every extra ingredient added during the process, could completely alter a potion.

The proportions of every potion were determined only after countless experiments, yet Borne's series of actions completely overturned his understanding.

He could be certain that Borne had never encountered these plants before, nor had he conducted any potion experiments along the way.

"Could he be mixing them at random?"

Although they had not known each other long, Borne had seemed exceptionally steady and dependable throughout the journey.

Although she already knew Borne possessed remarkable talent in potion-making, this was still the first time Lisper had seen him formulate one on the spot.

President Lisper widened her eyes and watched Borne intently.

Borne did not notice the changes in the people around him. He was focused on adjusting the final proportions of the potion.

Apart from its normal vigilance functions, the Chip's entire computational capacity had been mobilized by Borne.

The Chip ran at full power, constantly performing simulated calculations. The Ioun Stone Chip behind his neck even began to turn red and heat up!

Through his bodily senses, feedback was sent to the Chip. Nearly every second, it performed hundreds or thousands of deductions and calculations, maximizing the medicinal effects of the several plants.

When the last drop of solution fell into the glass, the originally clear liquid instantly became as dreamlike as the stars.

"Done!"

Everyone was delighted, but then puzzled looks appeared in their eyes.

There was simply too little potion inside.

Even if it was poison, could this single tiny bottle really make an entire Lizardfolk tribe submit?

Even if it truly was poison, and one drop could kill hundreds of Lizardfolk, it still could not possibly poison all the Lizardfolk at once...

Borne offered no further explanation. He poured the potion into a homemade syringe, then took out an egg.

A faint, pungent smell spread through the air.

Jennifer lightly covered her nose and mouth with her delicate fingers. "This egg has gone bad. It already stinks."

Borne smiled faintly without explaining. He made a small hole in the eggshell and poured out some of the rotten egg white.

He then injected all the potion from the syringe into the eggshell.

"Do you know the meaning of magic?"

The sudden question left everyone unable to react.

The abrupt change in direction stunned them all.

Borne smiled, murmured a few words, and a flash of spiritual light passed over his hand. The eggshell's surface instantly returned to its intact state.

"I have an idea that needs testing. It may get foggy later, so stay farther away. Be careful not to inhale it, or you'll suffer for it."

After saying that, he murmured a few more words, and Borne's figure slowly began to fade.

[Invisibility]

"There is no useless magic, only useless spellcasters."

After leaving those words in the air, Borne vanished completely.

They were all spellcasters, and spiritual power could sometimes serve as another kind of eye. After sweeping the area with their spiritual power, they confirmed that Borne had left.

Though they did not know what he intended to do, they returned to the edge of the marsh forest, found a large tree to hide behind, and waited quietly.

Meanwhile, Borne used Invisibility to fly into the center of the Lizardfolk tribe.

The Lizardfolk tribe was filled with muddy marshland. Most creatures and humans could not survive in such an environment; walking across it, one could sink into the swamp at any moment.

Clearly, the ecology of this swamp had been ruined. Weeds grew everywhere amid withered tree trunks, while small nests were built from unknown animal hides and enormous leaves.

The largest house-like structure in the central area was likely the residence of the tribe's highest-ranking chief.

Borne landed atop a massive boulder. It had been carved into an unknown shape, its surface covered in countless rough chisel marks.

Clearly, this was the idol worshiped by the Lizardfolk tribe. If it had been an idol that had long received the worship of living beings, Borne would not have dared stand directly on it. He would have even turned around and left before entering the tribe.

But this stone idol had only been erected recently. It might have undergone only a few rituals, and merely a faint layer of spiritual light instinctively repelled him.

"Ding! Unknown energy fluctuation detected. Absorb it?"

The Chip's voice rang in his mind.

"No." Borne immediately refused.

What a joke...

This was the power of faith.

Borne knew better than anyone that faith was poisonous.

Being worshiped by countless beings would greatly increase one's strength, but it would also bind one to those beings. Prolonged prayers and offerings from believers would gradually influence one's will!

But now was not the time to study the stone idol. Some Lizardfolk had already discovered their dead kin, and the Lizardfolk were gathering.

Borne's thoughts stirred as he silently said, "System, begin analytical simulation. Record the data."

"Ding! Energy fluctuation detected. Beginning simulated analysis."

As the Chip adjusted its frequency and began resonating with the stone idol, the entire idol started glowing white, drawing the attention of the surrounding Lizardfolk.

"Invisibility won't last much longer. Maintaining two spells at once still seems a little too much..."

Borne took the rotten egg from his robes.