Preparing to Go to Dalaran

After returning from the embassy, Karen began to familiarize himself with his own body.

Karen's room was filled with intermittent fluctuations of magic power; most of the time, he would be in the cultivation room consolidating his progress or practicing magic on the targets in the training grounds.

President Pierre watched this with a sense of regret, feeling that yet another master focused on alchemy had been lost.

However, he was still happy for Karen, as, after all, strength was the foundation of everything in this world.

Karen had found a better path, and he should be happy for him.

"Master Drew, there is a result regarding the matter I mentioned to you last time.

The Alchemist Association has approved you to lead the team for this Alchemist Exchange Competition. You can simply hand over the administrative tasks to your assistant when the time comes.

You are free to make your own arrangements.

Do you need me to introduce you to a few master-level mages?"

"Thank you for your help.

I have my own plans, so I won't trouble you with that. Regarding this trip to Dalaran, does the President have any tasks he needs me to handle?" Karen felt very good about President Pierre; from what he learned from Drew, the man was kind-hearted and treated him with complete sincerity.

He had tried his best to satisfy any request Karen had, yet up until now, aside from producing the True Perfect Potion and boosting the reputation of the Alchemist Association, Karen had done nothing for him.

Moreover, that had only benefited the Alchemist Association, while the man himself had gained nothing.

Karen genuinely wanted to repay President Pierre.

"No, no." President Pierre waved his hands in refusal.

Then, so as not to disturb Karen's practice, President Pierre took his leave.

Karen really couldn't do anything about him, so he could only strive to bring glory to the Alchemist Association to make him happy.

Thinking of this, Karen ended his magic practice and obtained the list of participants for the upcoming Alchemist Association headquarters alchemy competition.

This competition was divided into three levels, corresponding to those under thirty, thirty-one to forty, and over forty.

All participants were required to have an intermediate or advanced level in their sub-profession.

Each association branch was to send ten contestants for each level.

Scanning the list, he found Nelson's name. After some thought, Karen decided to hold an intensive training session for all the contestants to see if he could help them improve, earn some prestige for the Stormwind City branch, and make the President happy.

Karen found Nelson and told him to notify all the contestants that training would begin tomorrow.

The next day, all the contestants had arrived, even those from out of town.

Hearing that a master-level alchemist would be imparting knowledge, they all came running eagerly.

The training began, and Karen took the stage to speak.

"The alchemy competition held at headquarters is almost here.

The fact that you were selected proves that you are all very outstanding.

However, there is still a gap between you and the contestants from headquarters. I don't need to say this; you know it in your hearts, as the resources at headquarters are better than ours.

But why are you still at the branch instead of at headquarters?

It shows that you aren't yet outstanding enough for the people at headquarters to look at you differently." Karen looked at them as he said this.

When he first mentioned they were outstanding, they had all held their heads high, but as soon as he mentioned headquarters, they wilted.

"Our past results haven't been very ideal.

I am leading the team this time, and I don't want to bring back poor results, so I am going to put you through an intensive training session.

I will test the results of this training. I will share some real expertise with those who pass.

The time for this training is short, so it is unrealistic to expect you to raise your levels. The main goal of this training is to improve the quality of the potions you produce." All the contestants were well-informed and knew that Master Drew's greatest strength was his control over potion quality.

If they could learn this skill, it would be a massive gain.

They all rolled up their sleeves, determined to study hard and ensure they passed.

"Alright, I will leave the rest of the time to you, Nelson.

Teach them the method of sorting material quantities that I gave you.

Those who have mastered it in three days should organize to come to me." After handing the training matters over to Nelson, Karen returned to the training grounds to continue his own practice.

He had just advanced to the advanced level and there were still many things he wasn't familiar with.

He needed to preview his lessons first, noting down any questions or areas of confusion so he could ask his brother everything at once when he reached Dalaran. Now, it was time for everyone to find faults.

Three days later, when Nelson brought the five people who had successfully mastered the method, Karen tossed them various improved formulas for different levels and left them to practice diligently without further interference.

This left the five overjoyed individuals very disappointed, as they had expected personal instruction from Master Drew.

In the end, they were just given a few formulas to practice with.

If it was just practice, what was the point of the technique they had learned over the past few days?

However, once they received the improved formulas, they realized why they had to learn the method of material quantities.

Because the ratios of the various formulas were extremely precise; without having learned the method of material quantities, it would be impossible to prepare the materials according to the formulas.

With a mix of skepticism and curiosity, the alchemists returned to conduct their experimental practice.

Although the procedures were incredibly cumbersome at first, the time spent preparing materials nearly rivaled the time required to brew the potions.

However, after practicing a few more times, they discovered that not only had their success rate improved, but the quality of the potions produced had also increased significantly.

They were overjoyed; this was clearly the "solid goods" Master Drew had spoken of.

They could finally become high-quality alchemists themselves, and there was finally hope of achieving good results in this Alchemist Tournament.

When the appointed day arrived, the group assembled and headed toward the teleportation station in Stormwind City.

The atmosphere within the team was somewhat heavy; most of them had failed Karen's intensive training assessment and felt they truly weren't up to the task, leaving them feeling uneasy and uncertain about the upcoming competition.

As for the five who had mastered the improved formulas, they were full of confidence and vigor, yearning to perform exceptionally well and make a name for themselves in this competition.

Holding their trump cards, they were all optimistic about the tournament.

Karen arrived at the teleportation station with the warrant issued by the Kingdom of Stormwind and handed it to the guarding Stormwind City soldiers for inspection and verification.

This was a vital area of Stormwind City; the guarding soldiers were all high-level professionals, and the person in charge here was also a Master-level figure.

The few who had been strutting about just moments ago now shrank back in intimidation.

After the warrant was verified, Karen noticed that others were standing by the station waiting.

"Vereesa, why are you here?"

"Greetings, Master Drew. I am on my way to report to our Prince Kael'thas."

As if I'd believe that. Your mission is just to keep an eye on me, isn't it? Waiting specifically to travel to Dalaran with me—are you afraid I'll have another teleportation mishap? Karen rolled his eyes, thinking to himself.

"That works out perfectly, let's go together." I'm not running away anyway, so watch if you want. Having a beauty by my side is easy on the eyes.