Potion Studies and Debt (Please Follow, Bookmark, Recommend!)

Chapter Twenty-Three

The horns of war echoed through the sky as The Furnace's army launched fierce attacks against multiple supernatural factions.

This war followed The Furnace's usual method of training troops: forging the most powerful Dark Wizards through blood and death.

Once every ten years, the mortality rate was extremely high. Only the finest of the elite could survive the battlefield and return to The Furnace.

The Furnace's Dark Wizards had long grown accustomed to such bloody hunts, and this hunt was also part of The Furnace's tradition.

However, this hunt was somewhat different from the usual.

High in the azure sky, an elegant Black Dragon soared through the clouds.

Its massive wings stirred up violent gusts, like a streak of black lightning cutting across the heavens.

A witch sat atop the Black Dragon's back.

Her face was fair and lovely, while her violet eyes were deep and captivating, glimmering with an irresistible allure.

Yet at this moment, her eyes held a trace of confusion and contemplation.

"Our battle lines have been stretched a little too far."

Astrid spoke softly, her voice as crisp and pleasant as silver bells, echoing across the Black Dragon's back.

"We overran the three nearest supernatural factions almost immediately. Now, the army has already pushed deep into enemy territory... Something seems wrong, especially with the Bitter Heart Sect. As a Level 3 Faction, they were breached by us in just two days. Could it be..."

She paused, concern flashing through her eyes. "Perhaps something is quietly happening..."

The Black Dragon flapped its wings powerfully again. A deep voice drifted along with the wind, carrying a hint of reassurance:

"Ha ha ha, Astrid, don't worry. Your teacher wouldn't care about such a trivial matter. Do you know what hunting is truly for?"

The Black Dragon abruptly turned, streaking across the sky as its voice grew steadier.

"If someone really dares to target us, that would suit the old man perfectly. Believe me, if that is truly the case, he would be delighted and drink a cup of Blood Elf wine..."

Astrid frowned and still muttered softly, "But it still makes me uncomfortable. It's fine if these apprentices die for The Furnace's affairs, but if they are hunted down like birds for nothing by others, that would be a waste of The Furnace's resources..."

"Ha ha ha, you little girl..."

The Black Dragon vanished into the clouds, but its laughter continued without end.

Her identity was obvious—Astrid, the genius female student personally recruited by the Lord of the Furnace five years ago.

Time passed, and the Furnace War raged on. The Potion Garden remained as busy as ever.

The war had already lasted three months.

During this period, Lynn had remained in the Potion Garden. As the war continued, the Potion Garden's work grew increasingly demanding.

At first, Lynn and Remy, the two newcomers, had only been responsible for processing potions and packing resources. The work had been simple, but as their abilities improved, the difficulty of their tasks gradually increased.

Now, they had been taught more advanced knowledge—Introduction to Potion Processing.

This was a valuable course in potion studies. At those wizard academies, learning it often required paying a considerable sum of Magic Stones.

In The Furnace, this course was not free either.

Introduction to Potion Processing required one thousand points to exchange for.

Based on Lynn and Remy's current wages, they would probably need three years of hard work just to barely meet the exchange requirements.

Of course, if they could not pay all at once, The Furnace also offered considerate loan services.

But that meant they would have to shoulder heavy debt.

Both Lynn and Remy had no choice but to bear this pressure. After all, learning this course was tied to their future work.

"Paying to go to work! Knowledge really is expensive!"

Lynn sighed, smiling helplessly.

As his work steadily progressed, Lynn's working environment also quietly changed.

He was no longer in a crude greenhouse. Instead, he had been transferred to another area, where the varieties of potions and magical herbs under his care were vastly different.

Lynn vaguely felt that if he wanted to enter the Potion Garden's Core Area, he would probably need to thoroughly understand every potion and magical herb grown in the Potion Garden, as well as master the knowledge in Introduction to Potion Processing.

Yes, it had been nearly half a year since Lynn entered the Potion Garden. He had always worked in the outer greenhouses, responsible for maintaining potions.

During that time, he noticed that he and Remy were not the only new apprentices in the Potion Garden.

There were many unfamiliar faces as well. They had likely joined The Furnace earlier and entered the Potion Garden as apprentices.

But because their potion studies knowledge was inadequate, they had failed to enter the Potion Garden's Core Area for work.

"Three-Tailed Butterfly Flower. It loves sunlight and often disguises itself as a butterfly to lure real butterflies close before devouring them. It is almost entirely harmless. Its main use is healing, and it is especially effective at restoring mental strength..."

Lynn walked through the greenhouse, his gaze settling on an unusually shaped flower.

Its petals resembled three butterflies intertwined together, as though they might flutter into dance at any moment.

Lynn immediately recited the flower's effects and uses.

All of this had been recorded in detail in the Potion Maintenance Manual distributed by the Potion Garden.

Lynn had already memorized the book thoroughly. Now, he closed his eyes and silently recalled the key points from Introduction to Potion Processing.

"Three-Tailed Butterfly Flower, when combined with the Black Forest's Killer Painted Butterfly, Windless Grass, and half a Queen Bee Stinger, can be brewed into the precious potion 'Kiss of the Seventh Night.' This potion can greatly increase mental strength within ten minutes and continuously enhance mental recovery. It is one of the most expensive medicines..."

Lynn opened his eyes, a faint smile curling his lips.

This had become one of his ways to amuse himself.

On one hand, he used it to test how well he had grasped what he had learned. On the other, he constantly reviewed the material to prevent himself from forgetting it.

Besides that, Lynn often complained about the names of these potions.

He sincerely felt that many of their names were far too vague. One could not guess their actual effects from the names at all.

"Eight out of ten of these potions are just being deliberately mysterious. Were they all invented by people who speak in riddles..." Lynn could not help muttering under his breath.

Just as he was preparing to continue his daily work, someone suddenly called out from the distance.

Lynn looked up and saw that it was Colin.

Ever since the Furnace War broke out, Colin had been taking refuge in the Potion Garden.

Three months had passed, yet Colin had actually come to find him today.

"Teacher finally finished dealing with what he had on hand and sent me to find you."

Colin approached with a smile.

At those words, Lynn's pupils suddenly contracted.

Ever since he joined The Furnace half a year ago, that bargain-bin teacher of his had never sent any news after leaving to deal with something.

Lynn still remembered that when the other man had accepted him as a student, there had supposedly been another step in the process. However, an unexpected message had interrupted everything, and he had left after taking only three books.

After that, Lynn had been waiting for his bargain-bin teacher to find him and continue what had been left unfinished.

Now, at last, there was finally some news!