Forge Camp, Another Limit Break

At the camp entrance, a stern middle-aged man in black robes stood silently.

A silver Star-Moon Badge was pinned to his chest, and his aura ran deep.

He was clearly a Formal Wizard!

"Hank's squad, reporting in." Hank stepped forward and bowed respectfully.

"I am the camp supervisor, Sterling Vance, a First-Level Wizard. I am both the commander here and the chief Potion Master." The middle-aged wizard's voice was steady.

His gaze swept over the group before lingering briefly on Ian.

"Welcome to the Forge. For some time to come, this will be your home—and your battlefield."

Wizard Sterling wasted no words and immediately began assigning tasks.

"Hank, I appoint you camp leader. Lina, you will join the patrol team. Every day, you will be responsible for guarding and clearing the area within three kilometers of the camp.

Big Guy, go to the eastern wall and assist with the defenses there.

Old Tobacco Pipe, the camp's Warning Rune and the two Water-Purifying Rune arrays are yours to repair. Collect the materials from the warehouse.

Poison Fang... assist with treating the injured apprentices, especially poisoning and curse-related injuries. The warehouse has what you need."

Finally, he looked at Ian. "Ian Marcus, the Potion Master recommended by Starleaf."

Ian lowered his head and nodded. This was his first time dealing with an unfamiliar First-Level Wizard, so he was especially cautious.

"What the camp lacks most right now are Lesser Healing Potions and Basic Antidote Potions. The alchemy room is over there."

Sterling pointed at a smoking stone house inside the camp.

"There is basic equipment inside, as well as some notes I left behind. Materials will be delivered every day. Your task is to produce no fewer than thirty potions daily. Their quality cannot fall below standard. Exceed the quota, and you will receive extra Contribution Points. Any questions?"

Thirty potions a day was enormous pressure for an ordinary Intermediate Apprentice Potion Master.

Instead, Ian felt relieved. This was well within the range where he could reasonably display his abilities.

"No problem, Wizard Sterling," Ian replied steadily.

"Good." Sterling nodded. "Remember, efficiency is life here. Every potion you brew may save a life. Go familiarize yourselves with the camp first. In an hour, Hank will take you to the alchemy room for the handover."

After Sterling left, Hank patted Ian on the shoulder.

"Wizard Sterling is famous for being strict, but he's fair. Work hard. Here, useful Potion Masters are more respected than fighters."

Ian looked toward the smoking stone house, then at the crimson canyon in the distance.

Scorching Canyon, Forge Camp—this was the starting point of his wartime career.

He weighed the wooden box in his hands, which contained all his belongings, and followed Hank into the camp.

As Ian stepped inside, the first thing he felt was the dry heat in the air, mixed with the stench of sulfur and scorched earth.

The camp had been built against a natural stone wall. Its crude wooden and stone structures were coated in a thick layer of fireproof material.

Faint rune light flickered atop several watchtowers.

Far away, dark red lava could vaguely be seen flowing deep within the canyon. That was an area where the Crimson Court was especially active.

"This is Forge Camp." Hank, the new camp leader, still spoke in his rough voice as he pointed at a relatively intact stone house in the camp.

"Your alchemy room is there. The materials will be delivered shortly. Wizard Sterling said that as long as you brew thirty of either potion, the task will be considered complete. Good luck."

Ian nodded and carried his wooden box toward the stone house.

The entire camp was not large. Along the way, most of the apprentices hurried past with exhaustion and wariness on their faces. The air was filled with tension.

His gray robe did not stand out here, but his identity as a Potion Master still drew some covert scrutiny.

The alchemy room was far more rudimentary than Starleaf Apothecary, though it had all the basic equipment.

There was an old thermostat box, a set of basic grinding and extraction tools, and several common materials piled in the corner.

Most noticeable was a small vent in the center of the room, inscribed with simple purification runes to remove any trace toxins produced during brewing.

"First, familiarize myself with the place. Then finish today's task."

Ian set down the wooden box. Rather than starting immediately, he carefully checked every corner of the room to ensure there were no hidden dangers.

He took out a set of finer silver utensils and several specially made glass bottles from his wooden box.

He had purchased them from the High Tower with magic stones. They were much easier to use.

He summoned the Status Panel and took a look.

"Huh!"

[Realm: Intermediate Wizard Apprentice (74%)]

[Talent: Medium Light Attribute Affinity]

[Skills: Star-Moon Lower Meditation Method: Mastery (378/800)

Wizard's Hand: Mastery (399/400)

Frost Ray: Limit Break 1 time (286/800) (Limit Break Effect: 1. Twin)

Scorching Ray: Proficient (357/400)

Eye of Vigilance: Mastery (252/800)

Crystal Energy Barrier: Mastery (608/800)

Bloodline Purification Art: Proficient (163/400)

Rock Bear Potion: Beginner (175/400)

[Spirit-Awakening Potion: Proficient (216/400)]

Awakening Potion: Limit Break 1 time (101/800) (Limit Break Effect: 1. potent)

Basic Potion Identification: Limit Break 1 time (3/800) (Limit Break Effect: 1. Insight)

Lesser Healing Potion...]

The proficiency of Wizard's Hand had somehow quietly reached the limit of Mastery. It was only one final step away from another Limit Break.

This little skill, initially meant only to assist with potion brewing, had accompanied him through his hardest years.

"Perfect. I'll complete the breakthrough before I start brewing."

With a thought from Ian, the silver knife on the table rose into the air.

It precisely separated the roots of a Silverleaf plant, while the pestle automatically dropped down and ground the dried Hemostatic Moss into an even powder.

Several glass bottles were lifted by invisible palms and arranged in the most convenient spots on the worktable.

He had performed these actions thousands upon thousands of times.

Now, they flowed as smoothly as water, consuming barely any Mental Power.

Just as he placed a portion of Hemostatic Moss into the cauldron, the familiar tremor echoed through his mind.

[Wizard's Hand Proficiency +1]

[Wizard's Hand: Limit Break 1 time (0/800) (Limit Break Effect: 1. Spirit Infusion)]

A flood of insights regarding fine control, force transmission, Mental Power attachment, and granting temporary spirituality surged into his mind.

At the same time, Ian sensed that his Mental Power had been refined once again, roughly to the same extent as during his previous class.

Within his mind, a slightly blurred gray rune appeared beside the blue Frost Rune.

After digesting the information, delight appeared in his eyes.

With a thought, the stirring rod on the worktable stood upright, bounced lightly, then began grinding another portion of Hemostatic Moss with gentler force and more intricate movements.

Ian did not deliberately control it. He merely maintained it with a thread of extremely fine Mental Power, then sent it a vague command.

"Spirit Infusion... just as I thought!"

Ian tested it. After the Limit Break, the control range of Wizard's Hand had extended to around thirty meters, while its maximum carrying capacity had increased to roughly one hundred kilograms.

More importantly, its flexibility and degree of "human-like" operation had greatly improved, while the consumption had decreased even further.

During potion brewing, it could simultaneously perform two or three simple preprocessing tasks, greatly increasing efficiency.

"Perfect for dealing with these bulk assignments."