[Lesser Mental Boiling Potion]

The library was a towering structure, with faint energy ripples emanating from its entrance.

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

The interior was vast. Rows of towering bookshelves stretched all the way to the dome, 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 value of the books, different amounts of contribution points were required to read or borrow them.

Luo Lin headed straight for the section marked [Potionology], or more precisely, the [Basic Theory and Common Formulas] section.

The borrowing fees for books here were relatively low.

He quickly flipped through the pages, searching for fragments related to "mental stimulation," "catalysts," and "Shadow Fungus."

The effect of [Efficient Scholar] activated once more. His reading and comprehension speed far surpassed that of ordinary people; his eyes swept over key information and rapidly captured and memorized it.

At last, after who knew how many books he had gone through, Luo Lin found what he wanted in an obscure book with a beast-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 faint activity that could mildly stimulate mental channels, though the dosage had to be handled with extreme caution.

Excessive amounts could cause mental stabbing pain or even injury.

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

However, the extraction process was extremely difficult, with a success rate of less than ten percent...

Lesser Mental Boiling Potion!

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

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

Its market price was far from cheap!

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

Luo Lin's heart pounded wildly, 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 memorizing and comprehending its contents with all his focus.

[Efficient Scholar] made his memory as clear as an imprint, while also deepening his understanding.

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

When Luo Lin left the library, only 13 contribution points remained in his pocket, but he felt as though he was carrying a fortune.

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

He hurried back to the material processing room and accepted five more Moonlight Moss processing tasks.

This time, he was even more skilled and faster. While perfectly processing the Moonlight Moss, he obtained 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 any more tasks. Instead, he went to the academy's supply exchange office and purchased several other basic supplementary materials needed for 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 purchased materials and the ten portions of Shadow Fungus, placing them on the table.

What came next would be his first true potion-making attempt since transmigrating.

If he succeeded, the world would open before him!

If he failed, he would once again fall into the desperate straits of resource exhaustion.

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

He picked up his tools and began his first Shadow Fungus extraction according to the steps he remembered.

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. Applying too much force could destroy the fragile activity, while too little force would fail to separate the impurities.

He picked up the pestle, his mind utterly focused.

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

His wrist moved gently and steadily as he began grinding. Rather than brutally crushing it, he kneaded it with a specific rhythm and arc.

Time passed second by second.

With the specialty's assistance, his control over his strength reached an exquisite level.

Under the continuous grinding, the gray-black mycelium gradually seeped several drops of nearly transparent, viscous liquid, with what seemed like gray motes of light drifting within.

This was the active extract he needed.

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

For his first extraction, he used 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 solution.

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

This process required continuous stirring until the liquid turned light blue and all solid materials had fully 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 flawless. Both the stirring speed and direction strictly matched the formula's description, without the slightest deviation.

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

A dissolving process that should originally have taken half an hour was completed in just over twenty minutes, and the solution's color was pure, showing no signs of clumping or scorching.

Now came the most critical moment.

Mixing—dripping the Shadow Fungus extract into the base solution!

The formula emphasized that it had to be added slowly, one drop at a time. After each drop, the mixture had to be stirred rapidly ten times to spread the active substance evenly.

Otherwise, it would be all too easy for localized concentrations to become too high, causing conflicting medicinal properties 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 above the crucible and tilted the vial at an extremely slow pace.

A drop of nearly transparent liquid merged into the pale blue base solution.

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, silently counted, and stirred ten times rapidly and evenly.

The liquid gradually settled.

After waiting 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, every stir, required his complete concentration. He could not afford the slightest distraction.

The consumption of his mental energy began to intensify, and fine beads of sweat appeared on Luo Lin's forehead.

Yet the hands holding the vial and stirring rod remained as steady as stone.

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

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

Success!

Luo Lin carefully withdrew the flame and removed the crucible from the heating stand.

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

When the final drop flowed into the bottle, Luo Lin sealed it tightly with a cork and raised it before his eyes.

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

[Item: Lesser Mental Boiling Potion (Improved)]

[Quality: Good]

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

[Side Effect: When the effect ends, it will be accompanied by roughly two hours of mental fatigue.]

[Note: Shadow Fungus extract replaces Illusory Light Dust. The medicinal properties are more active, so dosage must be watched.]

The panel promptly provided its appraisal information.

"Good quality!"

Excitement surged through Luo Lin's heart.

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

This was undoubtedly the combined result of the [Efficient Scholar] specialty and his utmost precision throughout the extraction and preparation process.

He did not drink it immediately.

Instead, he carefully stored away this precious potion.

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

But he did not continue.

The consecutive high-precision operations had greatly drained his mental energy, and he needed to recover.

Moreover, his first success had involved a certain amount of luck and favorable condition. He needed to review and consolidate the experience.