Mana Source Potion

Morning dawned, vibrant with life.

With a backpack full of food like bread and milk on his back, Xia Ming once more arrived at Green Caterpillar Forest.

Since he still had to wait three days to obtain the other four herbs needed to prepare the [Mana Source Potion], he could not afford to idle away those three days. Xia Ming simply took on quite a few adventure quests and ventured into Green Caterpillar Forest alone once again.

His previous adventure had given Xia Ming a great deal to think about. In this world, fists did the talking; strength was the only hard truth. Among those his age, Tang Ge and Su Weiwei were already level-five and level-six professionals. There was no reason for Xia Ming to fall behind them. Of course, Xia Ming himself had only practiced magic for a little over a month.

Yet Xia Ming possessed none of that awareness at all. Having only just shed his rookie status, he had no idea how terrifying his cultivation speed truly was.

Xia Ming was not satisfied with his own cultivation speed. The pressure between life and death was what best drew out one's potential, so he returned to Green Caterpillar Forest. But with only himself to rely on, Xia Ming could only adventure around its outskirts.

Holding the Earthflame Staff, Xia Ming entered the forest and surveyed the terrain in every direction.

At last, Xia Ming found an area where Magic Beasts were sparsely distributed and cautiously began a new adventure.

The creatures active in this region were mainly level-three Magic Beasts known as [Manticore Scorpions], which Xia Ming could handle on his own.

A [Manticore Scorpion] darted out from the forest. This Magic Beast carried deadly poison, and its two- to three-meter body was enough to terrify anyone, but Xia Ming's gaze remained calm. He raised the Earthflame Staff, and a string of notes flowed smoothly from his lips.

"Water Prison!"

This was also a first-level trap spell recorded in the Book of Eternity. A pale blue glow suddenly emerged beneath the [Manticore Scorpion], and its movements immediately became extraordinarily sluggish, as though it had been bound.

[Fire God's Roar]!

A radiance rose from the tip of the Earthflame Staff as a fire elemental spirit flashed into existence. This terrifying level-three fire spell appeared once more, like a flaming behemoth opening its jaws and swallowing the Manticore Scorpion amid a savage roar...

Watching the Manticore Scorpion struggle in the flames, Xia Ming's eyes grew ever more tranquil. Immediately afterward, he unleashed another Gale Frenzy...

For the next three days, Xia Ming spent all his time in Green Caterpillar Forest. During those three days, he practically slaughtered every Magic Beast along the forest's outskirts—venomous snakes and scorpions, Storm Mad Wolves, demonized wild boars... Xia Ming even killed an immature level-four [Earth Raging Bear].

Naturally, he paid a painful price for it. His Starry Robe had been torn with several large holes and could no longer be worn, while his body was covered in wounds. There had even been several times when Magic Beasts ambushed him and nearly left him seriously injured.

Still, all of it had been worth it. Xia Ming could feel that his mana had grown substantially once more. He seemed to have touched the bottleneck of a level-four mage and could advance at any time; all he needed was one final kick at the gate.

After three days of life-and-death fighting, Xia Ming's bearing had also changed greatly. He had become steadier, calmer, and far more mature than before.

Stretching his body, Xia Ming's face broke into an excited smile. Though it had only been three short days, calling the change in his strength earth-shattering would not have been an exaggeration. He had thoroughly mastered nearly every spell below level three, without the slightest obstacle.

What delighted Xia Ming most was that today was the day Myriad Phenomena Trading House was to deliver the four herbs.

After returning to town and changing into a cloak and black robe, Xia Ming appeared before Myriad Phenomena Trading House once again.

The trading house was as bustling as ever. The moment Xia Ming entered, the receptionist who had attended him last time lit up and immediately came forward.

"Honored sir, you truly are a man who keeps his word." After offering just the right amount of flattery, the receptionist continued, "Our manager has already prepared all your materials. Please follow me."

Xia Ming nodded and followed the receptionist through several turns until they reached a secluded spot.

"Please wait a moment. I'll retrieve the herbs from the storeroom for you." The receptionist left briefly and soon returned, a faint smile on her face and a black bag in her hand. "Sir, here are your herbs."

Xia Ming took the black bag and opened it. A strong herbal scent rushed into his nose. Inside the black cloth bag were precisely the four herbs: Jade Blood Flower, Elemental Liquid, Sacred Spirit Tree Leaf, and Thousand Gold Herb. The quantity of each was plentiful as well. Xia Ming estimated that it would be more than enough to brew at least two portions of [Mana Source Potion].

Xia Ming nodded in satisfaction. "Not bad. Thank you." Xia Ming knew that he had indeed accepted the favor of that beautiful woman, Yuna, this time. But it did not matter—once he brewed the potions in the future, he could simply bring them to Myriad Phenomena Trading House for auction.

With a casual nod to the receptionist, Xia Ming left Myriad Phenomena Trading House.

Xia Ming rented an underground alchemy room in the city-state. Its previous owner had been a potion-crazed man utterly obsessed with potionology, so the alchemy room was fully equipped with every necessary tool. Xia Ming rented it without hesitation, though it cost him five hundred gold coins.

The money Anthony had left him was dwindling by the day, and Xia Ming could not help sighing at how ruinously expensive the profession of a mage was.

Looking over the instruments filling the alchemy room, Xia Ming revealed a satisfied expression. The beakers and test tubes gleamed with crystalline light beneath the lamps. Xia Ming looked at them the way a soldier on the battlefield would look at his weapons.

Xia Ming took out the Elemental Crystal and all the other herbs. The crystalline Elemental Crystal gave off a brilliant luster, its icy blue glow reflecting Xia Ming's refined features.

Xia Ming's expression turned solemn. Staring at the instruments on the table, he straightened his body and adjusted himself to his peak condition.

In the [Book of Eternity], the Mana Source Potion was a level-five potion. And so long as it was knowledge he could access in the Book of Eternity, it was as though he had been born with it. It had all been deeply imprinted into his mind, merging with his original memories, and he could use it with ease.

Thus, Xia Ming seemed unconcerned. His movements were practiced and nimble, as though he had performed the experiment hundreds or thousands of times. With a flick and slight motion of his fingers, a small flame sprang forth amid his chant. The flame was tiny, yet its temperature was astonishingly high—an essential technique every potionmaster needed.

Next, Xia Ming poured the Elemental Liquid into a test tube first.

The green Elemental Liquid emitted a rich aura as it flowed into the test tube.

The air filled with the Elemental Liquid's distinctive scent. Elemental Liquid was the finest carrier, capable of fully absorbing the medicinal properties of other herbs. Xia Ming's fingers moved slightly as he gently shook and rotated the test tube, allowing the Elemental Liquid's potency to awaken more effectively.

"Next is the Jade Blood Flower!"

Xia Ming focused completely, devoting himself wholly to brewing the potion, mind and spirit united. One hand swiftly reached out and picked up the Jade Blood Flower!