[Lesser Mental Boiling Potion]

The library was a towering structure, with faint energy fluctuations at its entrance.

Only after Luo Lin presented his identity plaque was he permitted to enter.

The interior was vast. Rows upon rows of tall bookshelves stretched up to the vaulted ceiling, filled with countless books and scrolls made of leather, wood, and even metal.

The air carried the mingled scent of old paper, ink, and some special preservative.

Knowledge here was not free.

Depending on the section and the rarity of the books, different amounts of contribution points were required to read or borrow them.

Luo Lin headed straight for the section marked [Potion Studies]—more precisely, the [Basic Theory and Common Formulas] section.

The borrowing fees for the books here were relatively low.

He rapidly flipped through them, searching for snippets related to "mental stimulation," "catalysts," and "Shadow Fungus."

The effect of [Efficient Scholar] activated once again. His reading and comprehension speed far surpassed that of an ordinary person; his eyes could swiftly catch and memorize key information as they swept across the pages.

At last, after going through an unknown number of books, Luo Lin found what he wanted in an obscure volume with a hide cover titled <Research on Substitutes for Low-Tier Potion Materials>.

Shadow Fungus was often regarded as a contamination of Moonlight Moss. However, its mycelial core contained weak activity that could mildly stimulate mental channels, though the dosage needed to be handled with extreme caution.

Excessive use could cause mental stabbing pain and even injury.

It was often used as a substitute catalyst in the [Lesser Mental Boiling Potion], replacing the Illusory Light Dust and reducing costs by roughly seventy percent.

However, it was extremely difficult to extract, with a success rate of less than one in ten...

[Lesser Mental Boiling Potion]!

This was a potion used during the apprentice stage to temporarily enhance mental perception and mana activity.

Though it had certain side effects, it was extremely useful when breaking through bottlenecks or conducting complex experiments.

Its market price was considerable!

The book also included a brief extraction method and the potion's basic formula.

Luo Lin's heart raced, but he quickly suppressed his excitement.

He checked the borrowing fee. It cost 5 contribution points per hour.

Without any hesitation, he paid the fee at once, brought the book to the reading area, and began committing its contents to memory and understanding them with all his focus.

[Efficient Scholar] made his memory seem like an imprint, while also deepening his comprehension.

In less than half an hour, he had firmly engraved the key extraction steps, precautions, and complete formula for the [Lesser Mental Boiling Potion] into his mind.

When he left the library, Luo Lin had only 13 contribution points left in his pocket, yet he felt as though he possessed a fortune.

The direction was clear. The road now lay beneath his feet.

He hurried back to the materials processing room and accepted another five Moonlight Moss processing tasks.

This time, he was more proficient and faster. While perfectly processing the Moonlight Moss, he harvested another five portions of Shadow Fungus.

He turned in the tasks and received 10 contribution points.

Seeing that his contribution points had risen to 23, Luo Lin did not take on another task himself. Instead, he went to the academy's supply exchange and purchased the other basic supplementary materials needed for the [Lesser Mental Boiling Potion].

Calm Mind Flower powder, Clearwater Lotus roots, and a small bottle of inert solvent.

These materials were relatively common and cost him 15 contribution points.

Carrying all the materials and a heart full of anticipation, Luo Lin returned to his cold wooden cabin.

He shut the door, keeping the frigid wind outside.

He carefully took out the materials he had purchased along with the ten portions of Shadow Fungus and placed them on the table.

What came next would be his first true attempt at potion brewing since transmigrating.

If he succeeded, the world would open before him!

If he failed, he would once again fall into the desperate predicament of depleted resources.

Luo Lin took a deep breath, his gaze focused and calm.

Picking up his tools, he began his first Shadow Fungus extraction according to the steps in his memory.

Luo Lin placed a small pinch of Shadow Fungus into a stone mortar.

According to the knowledge in his mind, he needed to extract its core substance.

This was an extremely delicate process. Too much force could damage the fragile activity, while too little would fail to separate the impurities.

He picked up the pestle and concentrated intensely.

The [Efficient Scholar] specialty allowed his perception to cling to the pestle, as though he could sense the structure within the mycelium.

His wrist moved with gentle steadiness as he began grinding. Rather than brutally crushing it, he kneaded it with a particular rhythm and curve.

Time passed second by second.

With the specialty's assistance, his control over the force reached a subtle level.

Under the continuous grinding, the gray-black mycelium gradually seeped a few drops of nearly transparent, viscous liquid, within which wisps of gray light seemed to flow.

This was the active extract he needed.

Luo Lin carefully scraped the minute amount of liquid into a prepared small crystal vial with a bone knife.

For his first extraction, he took less than ten minutes. The success rate was one hundred percent, and the extract appeared to be quite pure.

But this was only the first step.

Next came the preparation of the potion's base liquid.

He placed Calm Mind Flower powder and sliced Clearwater Lotus roots into another, slightly larger crucible, added the inert solvent, then began heating it with the weakest flame from the Flame Stone.

This process required continuous stirring until the liquid turned pale blue and all solid materials had completely dissolved.

Luo Lin controlled the Flame Stone's energy output with one hand while stirring evenly with a glass rod in the other.

His movements were impeccable. The stirring speed and direction strictly matched the formula's description, without the slightest deviation.

The reduced crafting time and improved precision brought by [Efficient Scholar] were displayed to their fullest at this moment.

A dissolving process that should have taken half an hour was completed in just over twenty minutes, and the solution's color was pure, without any sign of clumping or scorching.

Now came the most critical moment.

The mixing—dripping the Shadow Fungus extract into the base liquid!

The formula emphasized that it had to be added slowly, one drop at a time. After every drop, he had to quickly stir ten times to ensure the active substance dispersed evenly.

Otherwise, it would be extremely easy for local concentrations to become too high, causing medicinal conflicts or even an explosion.

Luo Lin took a deep breath and picked up the small crystal vial containing the extract.

Holding his breath, he suspended his wrist over the crucible and tilted the vial at an extremely slow pace.

A drop of nearly transparent liquid merged with the pale-blue base liquid.

Sizzle!!!

With a faint sound, the liquid in the crucible instantly churned, its color shifting slightly toward deep blue.

Luo Lin immediately picked up the glass rod. Counting silently, he stirred ten times quickly and evenly.

The liquid gradually calmed.

After pausing for several seconds, Luo Lin observed the liquid's condition. Once he confirmed there was nothing unusual, he added the second drop.

The same process repeated itself.

Every drop and every stir demanded his complete concentration. He could not afford the slightest distraction.

The drain on his mental strength began to intensify, and fine beads of sweat formed on Luo Lin's forehead.

Yet the hand holding the vial and the hand stirring remained as steady as stone.

At last, all ten portions of Shadow Fungus extract had been added to the base liquid.

By now, the liquid in the crucible had turned a profound azure. Countless tiny points of starlight seemed to drift slowly within it, releasing a strange energy fluctuation that slightly invigorated the mind.

Success!

Luo Lin carefully removed the flame and took the crucible off the heating stand.

He found a prepared potion bottle and slowly poured the still-warm azure liquid into it.

When the final drop flowed into the bottle, Luo Lin firmly inserted the cork and raised it before his eyes.

The potion sloshed within the bottle, its drifting starlight appearing especially mysterious in the dim wooden cabin.

[Item: Lesser Mental Boiling Potion (Improved)]

[Quality: Good]

[Effect: After consumption, slightly increases mental perception intensity and mana activity for one hour.]

[Side Effect: When the effect ends, it is accompanied by approximately two hours of mental fatigue.]

[Note: Shadow Fungus extract replaces Illusory Light Dust. The medicinal properties are more active; dosage should be monitored.]

The panel promptly provided its appraisal information.

"Good quality!"

Excitement surged through Luo Lin's heart.

His first attempt had not only succeeded, but its quality had also reached Good.

This was undoubtedly the combined result of the [Efficient Scholar] specialty and his exceptionally precise control during extraction and brewing.

He did not drink it immediately.

Instead, he carefully put away the precious potion.

He looked at the remaining materials. Setting aside the Shadow Fungus extract he was temporarily lacking, he could still brew another nine bottles.

But he did not continue.

Continuous high-precision work consumed a great deal of mental strength, and he needed to recover.

Moreover, his first success contained an element of luck and being in the right state. He needed to summarize and consolidate the experience.