Cooperation

Allen seemed to sense someone watching him and turned his head.

"Are you... Ian?"

Allen sounded uncertain. Although Ian's appearance had not changed much, his gaze and temperament felt entirely foreign, completely devoid of his former playboy demeanor.

"Hello, Allen. I recall that you didn't choose Potion Studies before."

"That is true. It was Mentor Sean who noticed I had some talent in potion-making and suggested I audit the course."

Ian was speechless. Was this guy showing off to him?

Allen had decent talent and had been taken under the wing of a Formal Wizard upon enrollment. Although he was mostly self-taught, he was still far better off than a stray apprentice like Ian.

The two exchanged a few brief pleasantries before parting ways.

"Allen, who was that just now?" an Advanced Apprentice beside him asked.

"Just an old acquaintance, Senior Brother Edgar. Regarding the processing details of the Devil Flower, I still..."

Ian walked out of the classroom, feeling very satisfied with the lesson. He also realized just how reckless he had been to consume the Rock Bear Potion yesterday.

For bloodline-type potions like this, one had to prepare in advance by taking a Neutralizing Potion to balance the impact of the foreign bloodline within the mixture.

That he had survived was due entirely to the powerful restorative properties of the Life Potion; it was fortunate he hadn't mutated or become demonized on the spot.

Though reckless, the benefits were immense.

He still did not know what level his strength had reached, but just now in the classroom, the needle-like sense of danger he usually felt from those Advanced Apprentices was gone.

He could still take two more Rock Bear Potions before the strengthening effect diminished to nothing, but he did not intend to take them consecutively.

His current physique had perfectly resolved his meditation dilemma. He wanted to wait until his Bloodline Purification Art reached a Limit Break, then use the refined Blood Essence to brew potions...

[Name: Ian Marcus]
[Age: 17]
[Realm: Intermediate Wizard Apprentice (11%)]
[Talent: Medium Light Attribute Affinity]
[Skills: Star-Moon Lower Meditation Method: Proficient (258/400)
Wizard's Hand: Mastered (265/400)
Frost Ray: Limit Break 1 (29/800) (Limit Break Effect: 1. Twin)
Eye of Vigilance: Proficient (186/400)
Bloodline Purification Art: Novice (47/200)
Awakening Potion: Mastered (272/400)
Rock Bear Potion: Novice (0/400)
Basic Potion Identification: Mastered (86/400)]

"If I attend one class a week, I will be able to fill in my lack of knowledge very quickly."

It was just a pity that he hadn't been able to approach Mentor Alivia. She had left immediately after the lecture, not even leaving time for students to ask questions.

Ian did not stay at the High Tower and instead took a carriage back to Nightfall Town.

Halfway there, a loud bang suddenly erupted from ahead, followed by a series of urgent shouts and curses.

The carriage slowed to a stop.

"It sounds like people are fighting up ahead. What happened?"

"I see people from the Shadow Society, and the White Bear Order."

"It must be about the ruins again. Let's just watch from afar; whatever you do, don't get out."

The passengers in the carriage poked their heads out to look ahead, but no one dared to step out to investigate.

Ian leaned toward the window and saw over a dozen gray-robed apprentices on the side of the road ahead, chasing and attacking three bedraggled figures.

Various incantations rang out as spells were hurled at the trio, who were covered in protective shields and scrambling desperately into the nearby woods.

"You White Bear brats, despicable and shameless for ganging up on us! Just you wait."

"Haha, in a few days, the Shadow Society might not even exist anymore. Brothers, chase them down and kill these rats from the gutter!"

The two groups dashed into the woods one after another, their voices quickly fading into the distance.

Ian only glanced at them a few times, a strange look appearing in his eyes.

"Is this how these people fight? They can't even cast spells while running, or their casting speed is incredibly slow."

He thought about it and decided it made sense. None of the people he saw were wearing red robes, so he assumed this was the norm for low-to-intermediate apprentices.

The carriage continued on its way, and from the conversations of the passengers, Ian learned why organizations like the White Bear Order and the Golden Court were hunting down the Shadow Society.

It turned out that because the Shadow Society had made thorough preparations beforehand, they had taken full advantage of the situation in the ruins and were the first to seize the inheritance of the ancient wizards.

Nolan was the first to locate the magic potion garden and seize its most precious treasure: the Tranquil Flower.

Its effect was to significantly strengthen and condense mental power, increasing an Advanced Apprentice's chance of breaking through to a Formal Wizard by twenty percent.

Wizard legacies were indeed precious, but the primary reason the Shadow Society was being hunted down was the Tranquil Flower.

Even for those with superior aptitude, there was still significant risk in breaking through to become a Formal Wizard.

Ian didn't have much interest in the matter; in resource struggles of this scale, the main force remained the numerous Advanced Apprentices.

The battle on the roadside earlier was merely other organizations venting their anger and seeking revenge against the Shadow Society.

Returning to Nightfall Town, Ian found his strength had increased quite a bit, but he was short on magic stones, so he decided to cooperate with the magic potion shop once again.

He believed in the potential of the Rock Bear Potion and was certain it would sell well through the shop's channels.

"Manager Malena, it seems our shop doesn't sell potions that permanently enhance constitution. Why is that?"

Malena shot Ian a look, but she still explained it clearly for him.

"Constitution Potions are rare, mainly because wizards focus their energy on the development of Meditation Potions. After all, this is a world of wizards; condensing mental power is what matters most."

Ian had the same suspicion; wizards had many ways to enhance their constitution, so they wouldn't necessarily choose potions for improvement.

"So, because Constitution Potions are rare and expensive, they aren't very popular among wizard apprentices, is that right?"

Malena nodded. "That is indeed the case. The main demand from apprentices is for Meditation Potions. The reason a potion like the Life Potion is precious is that it can replenish a large amount of Life Energy while also enhancing constitution."

Ian knew his Rock Bear Potion wasn't just a simple constitution enhancer; it could also significantly strengthen physical power and boost defensive capabilities.

If one were lucky, it might even trigger some of the Rock Bear's innate talents.

Furthermore, once his Bloodline Purification Art and the Rock Bear Potion reached a profound level, the synergy between the two would surely allow the user to inherit the Rock Bear's bloodline talent.

This held great temptation for those with low aptitude who were unable to break through to the level of an Advanced Apprentice.

"If there were a potion that could not only permanently enhance constitution and strength but also grant certain special abilities, how do you think it would sell?"

Malena was stunned for a moment, then she stood up abruptly and looked straight at Ian.

"You have such a potion in your possession? But you bought a Life Potion just a few days ago to enhance your constitution."

Ian smiled. "True, I hadn't fully researched it at the time, but I have since grasped the key points."

He took out a Rock Bear Potion he had brewed yesterday and handed it to Malena.

After taking it, Malena held it up to her eyes, her expression shocked as she watched the golden threads swimming within the liquid.

She was also an experienced Potion Master, and even if she had never seen a particular potion before, she could generally gauge its value.

The golden threads flickering within this bright red potion looked very much like the fragments of extraordinary bloodlines she remembered.

"This... did you really brew this yourself?"

Malena's expression was complex. This was a masterpiece that at least a senior Potion Master could complete, yet it had been finished by Ian, an Intermediate Apprentice.

She didn't care how Ian had obtained the formula; every year, many apprentices stumbled upon opportunities, but very few went far.

Even if one happened to obtain a formula, it was futile to try and research how to brew it without exceptional talent.

Malena really wanted to know how long he had spent researching it to succeed, but that was a private matter, and it wasn't easy to ask directly.

Regardless of how long Ian had been secretly researching it, it proved he was a true potion genius.

"You brought this potion out—are you looking to cooperate with us?"

Ian nodded and once again explained the potion's effects.

"Manager Malena, how many magic stones do you think a potion like this could sell for on the market?"

Malena pondered for a moment, a bright and charming smile appearing on her face.

"Although the cost is somewhat high—about 50 magic stones for a standard set of materials—such a powerful potion could sell for at least 500 magic stones."

This accounted for the cost of the bloodline purification steps, with an additional 10 magic stones as payment for Ian per unit.

"Compared to other similar potions, this price could actually be higher, but it's best not to start too high. Besides, bloodline potions need to be used in conjunction with a Neutralizing Potion, which most Intermediate Apprentices can't afford."

Ian wasn't very clear on market prices, so he was quite excited after hearing this.

"Then how do you think we should cooperate?"

"We will sell the potions, and we will provide the materials. For every potion sold, you will receive 300 magic stones."

The terms Malena offered were very generous, but there was one condition.

"I require the exclusive rights to sell this potion!"