First Potioncraft Assessment

Karin's words were like a stone cast into a still lake, sending ripples through the crowd and stirring a commotion below the platform.

Most of the reserve apprentices had gone pale, their eyes full of unease. The punishment for their previous failure was still fresh in their minds.

That punishment had left most of them unable to accept other commissions for several days. Afterwards, they either had to work twice as hard to earn it back, or go hungry for a few meals.

Those like Rufus, who came from wizard lineages or considered themselves rather gifted, had their eyes light up. They saw it as an excellent chance to be taken on as a mentor's personal disciple.

To be accepted as a mentor's personal disciple meant that, like Li Ang, they could eat premium meals every day—not only themselves, but even treat their little follower, Lottie, to them.

Li Ang's every move had long been watched by the reserve apprentices. Unknowingly, he had become their benchmark for a good life.

Yet Li Ang himself was perfectly calm. The Cold-Repelling Potion was recorded in Fundamentals of Potioncraft and was a moderately difficult beginner potion.

For Li Ang, who had already begun developing potions on his own, brewing it was easier than drinking water.

Ellie and several other wizard attendants began distributing the ingredients: several Firefeather Grass plants with fiery red leaves, a small piece of Warm Ginger Root, and the now-familiar Stone Root Grass powder and Crystal Sand.

Beginner potions usually required one main ingredient, one auxiliary ingredient, plus a stabilizer and a purifier.

Li Ang's envisioned Muscle-Building Potion, however, required two main ingredients paired with four auxiliary ingredients. Its difficulty was self-evident.

After receiving their ingredients, the apprentices took out their brewing equipment as well.

Seeing Li Ang produce the practice cauldron issued when he joined the school, Rufus's lips curled slightly, carrying a trace of disdain.

What a foolish idiot, wasting all his money on food and drink. Did Li Ang not know that, for a wizard of the Potion School, a good cauldron was the most important thing?

Rufus took out a crystal cauldron made entirely from white crystal. Brewing potions in such a cauldron could raise their purity considerably.

Its matching stirring rod was also crafted from pure silver. In order to crush Li Ang in this assessment, he had clearly spared no expense.

How had the surrounding apprentices ever seen such high-end goods? Astonished, envious whispers instantly rose all around.

Hearing the discussions around him, Rufus lifted his chin slightly, confidence curving his lips as he shot Li Ang a provocative glance.

Yet Li Ang had not noticed Rufus's provocation at all, making it as useless as winking at a blind man.

"The assessment begins. Time limit: one hour." As Mentor Edwin's voice fell, the entire classroom instantly quieted, leaving only the faint sounds of fuel being lit and ingredients being dropped into cauldrons.

Li Ang remained unhurried. With a slight movement of his mind, Water Creation Spell activated silently, and the purest magical water flowed into his cauldron.

His mental connection with the Standard Practice Cauldron Lv2 gave him a clear grasp of everything inside.

He added the ingredients skillfully, guiding the fusion of their properties with fine control through the wooden stirring rod. The entire process flowed like drifting clouds and running water, carrying an almost artistic composure.

On Rufus's side, he displayed the distinctive elegance and unruffled poise of an old wizard lineage member. Every step was as precise as a textbook demonstration.

Lottie, meanwhile, made use of her own strengths. She extended her index finger, and a weak yet steady orange-red flame leaped from her fingertip into the fuel chamber beneath the cauldron.

She continuously supplied the flame with mental power. Though this method consumed an enormous amount of mental power, it allowed more precise temperature control and could enhance the potency of a potion that was likewise fire-attributed.

Second by second, the potion liquid in Li Ang's cauldron gradually turned a clear pale red, while a magical vortex slowly rotated within. This was the mark of success—and excellence.

He poured the potion into a crystal bottle, becoming the first to finish the assessment.

Immediately afterward, Rufus completed his brew as well. He glanced at Li Ang, his eyes filled with disbelief.

Lottie was the third to finish. She let out a long breath, her face somewhat pale from the expenditure of mental power.

In the end, three more reserve apprentices narrowly managed to complete their brews before time ran out.

"Time is up. Everyone, stop brewing." One of the attendants responsible for timing called out loudly.

The two mentors then began inspecting the results one by one.

They first picked up Li Ang's potion, examining it carefully against the light before gently sniffing it. Then they exchanged surprised looks.

Mentor Edwin rarely spoke praise:

"High purity, perfect fusion of properties, heat contained within and stable. Excellent quality, and the fastest completion as well."

Next came Rufus's potion. Mentor Karin nodded.

"Though you relied on the advantages of your tools, your handling itself was flawless, and the potion's effect is not bad. Good quality."

Lottie's was examined third. Edwin looked at her with satisfaction.

"Not bad. You know how to make use of your own strengths. You understand that brewing potions with magical fire can achieve twice the result with half the effort. You have not disgraced the name of the Polk Lineage."

Mentor Edwin paused slightly, then continued.

"Though the potion contains a slight impurity, under the resonance of fire elements, the magical vortex within is even more stable. Good quality."

The potions brewed by the other three successful apprentices were all passable.

There was no suspense in the results. Li Ang took first place, Rufus second, and Lottie third.

The assessment ended. Mentor Edwin's gaze swept over Rufus, and he nodded slightly.

"Boy of the Field Lineage, your foundation is solid. Follow me from now on."

Excitement immediately appeared on Rufus's face, but he still maintained his elegance as he bowed.

"Understood, Mentor Edwin."

The other three reserve apprentices, who had only just barely passed, were snapped up by Mentor Karin and became her personal disciples.

After the assessment, Li Ang returned to his dormitory. He stacked the three thick books he had borrowed, ready to return them.

He had already copied down all the key information from the books. What he lacked now was a method for fusing potion properties.

For that reason, he wanted to find more theoretical books on the fusion of different potion properties, hoping to draw inspiration for fusion from them.

After selecting for quite some time at the crystal panel in the library, he finally settled on a book titled Theory of Potion Property Conflicts and Fusion Balance.

After finding it and flipping through a few pages, he felt it seemed helpful, so he completed the borrowing procedure.

Holding the newly borrowed book, Li Ang prepared to return to his dormitory. As he passed a corridor corner on the fourth floor—

A staggering figure nearly crashed straight into him.

The man was tall and wore a somewhat dirty attendant's uniform, struggling beneath a huge burlap sack.

Both raised their heads at the same time and froze.

"Kavi?" Li Ang frowned slightly.