Changes in a Distant Place

After confirming that his proficiency in drawing the Golden Light Talisman was basically up to par, Kraun fetched the talisman paper and poured out half a bowl of Sunfire Liquid from the crystal ball in his sea of consciousness.

Just like Moon Dew, Sunfire Liquid requires a jade bottle for storage—preferably warm jade—to ensure its efficacy is not lost.

He had no such thing; the people here had no particular appreciation for jade, viewing it merely as a pretty mineral, and even if he wanted to buy some, he wouldn't know where to look.

He planned to ask the next Gisai merchant caravan he encountered if they could help him procure some.

Thanks to his thorough preparation and the foundation he had built, his speed in drawing the talismans increased significantly; in less than two hours, he had used up all the talisman paper in his hands.

He obtained a total of forty-two Golden Light Talismans, a success rate slightly lower than that of the Heart-Clearing Talisman, though still at 50%.

Kraun unbuttoned his collar and pressed a Golden Light Talisman against his chest.

He pressed down on the paper gently, and a faint suction seemed to emanate from it, causing the talisman to adhere to his skin.

Two or three seconds later, a wave of warmth radiated from his chest, spreading throughout his limbs and bones.

At the same time, golden light flickered faintly within the "ink marks" on the talisman.

He felt as if he were basking in the warm sun, yet he didn't feel hot; it was quite comfortable.

He tested other methods, such as sticking it to his forehead or arm, to observe the effects.

Ultimately, he reached a conclusion: as long as the Golden Light Talisman made direct contact with human skin, it would take effect. A single Golden Light Talisman lasted for approximately two hours.

As for the so-called repelling of external evils, he had no test subjects for the time being, so he would leave that for future verification.

Kraun sat cross-legged on the edge of his bed, visualizing the Golden Light Incantation to restore his energy.

After five or six cycles, he exited the meditative state.

He threw a few punches and kicks, loosening his muscles and bones.

At the same time, he pondered how the talismans should be utilized.

There must be other ways to activate them, right?

Kraun muttered to himself; the Golden Light Talisman was fine, as it could just be stuck onto the skin, but for something like the Heart-Clearing Talisman, if one wanted to use it in the heat of battle, where would there be an opportunity to prepare clear water, ignite it, and drink it?

Thinking of this, he took out a Heart-Clearing Talisman and tried sticking it to his forehead.

The Heart-Clearing Talisman emitted a faint suction, adhering firmly to his brow.

Two or three seconds later, a cooling sensation began at his forehead and spread throughout his entire body.

It worked; it seemed the skill description wasn't entirely comprehensive. Then again, a summary is not a detailed instruction manual.

Kraun gave his own spirit of exploration a big thumbs up.

With the talisman paper exhausted, he finally had time to take out the potion recipes given by the Witcher and study them slowly.

Geralt had provided two potion recipes: one was a Stamina Potion, which could rapidly replenish a large amount of the user's stamina, containing ingredients that were all highly nourishing herbs; the other was called a Strength Potion, which could temporarily stimulate a person's potential to increase muscle strength, with the side effect of a period of exhaustion afterward.

The duration of this side effect was not fixed; it varied depending on individual constitution, lasting roughly one to three hours, perhaps shorter, or perhaps longer.

After carefully reviewing the required herbs and the complexity of the brewing process, Kraun decided to practice the Strength Potion first.

Visualizing the Golden Light Incantation gave him abundant energy and excellent endurance, so his need for the Stamina Potion wasn't that urgent, but the Strength Potion was different—it could provide an immediate boost to combat power, and having a few vials on hand might prove useful.

With sufficient food, the Golden Light Incantation could rapidly replenish his energy and stamina; if he used the Strength Potion, the duration of the side effect would likely drop to a very low value.

Looking at the various materials recorded for the Strength Potion, images of how to process these materials quickly formed in Kraun's mind. He simulated the brewing steps in his head, estimating where problems might arise and how to respond to them.

When he felt he had a firm grasp on the process, he went to the alchemy room.

He hadn't brewed any potions since completing his trade with the Gisai.

A layer of dust had settled on the alchemy bench.

Kraun fetched a damp rag and quickly cleaned it up.

Then, he rummaged through his herb box to find the necessary ingredients.

In the end, he only had enough for one batch of materials. One batch could produce a set of potions, totaling three vials.

There was an ingredient called the Blood-Drop Star Fern Leaf, a mutated variety of the Star Fern Leaf characterized by red, blood-drop-shaped spots. This herb was very rare, and he only had one leaf in his possession.

He ground the herbs and placed them into a container for extraction, then divided the resulting base liquid into three small portions.

This way, he could brew three times and accumulate more experience. If he were lucky enough to succeed once, he would not only recoup the cost of the materials but also make a small profit.

Judging by the brewing steps and the difficulty of handling the herbs, the Strength Potion was more difficult than the Blood-Boiling Potion, but Kraun remained confident he could succeed at least once.

The properties of the Gold Wall gave him a level of confidence that set him apart from the average Alchemist; his performance didn't fluctuate, and while he might rarely have a stroke of genius, he was absolutely guaranteed to stay above a relatively high baseline.

Half an hour later, Kraun pulled away the alcohol lamp and, with quick eyes and nimble hands, poured the earth-yellow potion from the crucible into a test tube and placed it on the cooling rack.

After waiting a short while for the potion to cool, he picked up the test tube with tongs and gave it a gentle shake.

The color of the potion remained bright, with no sediment, and a faint, spicy scent wafted out.

"Snap," he clicked his fingers in satisfaction and muttered, "A flying start."

He cleaned his tools and continued brewing, succeeding once more.

Summoning the Gold Wall, his Herbalism skill proficiency increased by about twenty points.

[Herbalism: 1294/5000; Tier 3]

No pain, no gain; this feeling is just so damn satisfying.

Kraun put away the potion, practiced the Golden Light Incantation for two cycles, and drifted off to sleep with peace of mind.

Karim Village is one of the most remote villages in the Faruk Kingdom, nestled deep within the Andes Mountains.

The people here have limited contact with the outside world, and the villagers still lead a relatively primitive life.

The nearest town to the village is Zack Town, which requires seven or eight days of travel along mountain paths to reach.

They rely on hunting and gathering for a living. The bountiful Andes Mountains are a paradise for wild beasts, and the wide variety of animals ensures the villagers have plenty of meat, making the men, women, and children alike grow up robust and tall.

A few days ago, a gray mist began to permeate the mountains, carrying a faint, fishy stench.

This mist is extremely strange; after the sun rises, it retreats into dark corners, forming a dense, black mass there.

Once the sun sets, it spreads rapidly once again.

Old Hamilton is the village chief here, and he feels deeply worried about the current situation.

Ever since the village was surrounded by the gray mist, the villagers' tempers have inexplicably flared, often leading to physical altercations over minor disputes.

Such incidents occur not only between neighbors but even among close family members, who quarrel or even fight over the smallest trifles.

The night is deep, and he lies in bed, tossing and turning, unable to sleep as he plans to gather the villagers tomorrow to discuss a countermeasure.

"Waaah!"

The sound of a child crying comes from the next room, where his two granddaughters live. The older one is nine, the younger one is five. The two sisters often bicker, and the older one occasionally beats the younger one quite harshly.

Both sisters are fond of their grandfather and often come to sleep in his courtyard at night.

Old Hamilton suddenly feels irritable; it's already this late and they still aren't asleep!

He sits up, preparing to put on his shoes and give the two sisters a good scolding.

"Ah!" A shrill, miserable scream rings out, then suddenly cuts off abruptly.

Old Hamilton's heart sinks. Not bothering to put on his shoes, he rushes to the next room.

The lamp in the room is still lit, and the furnishings are simple, leaving the entire space visible at a glance.

He sees only his younger granddaughter standing by the bed with her hair disheveled; the figure of his older granddaughter has vanished without a trace.

"Where is your sister?"

Old Hamilton looks around blankly, unable to comprehend what has happened.

"Heh heh," the younger granddaughter lets out a sinister, eerie laugh. She points to her own mouth: "I ate her."

"Be good, don't mess around," the old man crouches down and grabs the little girl's shoulders.

He brushes aside his granddaughter's disheveled hair and sees her eyes are bloodshot, faintly glowing with a red light.

Thinking his granddaughter has been frightened, he comforts her softly: "There, there, don't be afraid. Tell Grandpa what happened."

"I ate her," the little girl stares straight at him, repeating the words.

A surge of anger rises in Old Hamilton's heart, and his voice becomes stern without him realizing it: "Eat? How could you eat her? Your mouth is so small!"

"My mouth is small, but it can open very wide," the little girl's mouth slowly stretches open, and her face becomes twisted and deformed.

Her mouth opens into a bloody maw—a truly bloody, gaping maw.

The night grows deeper, and in the dark village, the sounds of wailing and chewing echo from time to time.

For those who have the time, please consider investing; it is said that if the book reaches 100 investors, it can get a small promotional boost.