Selling Potions

Luo Lin cleaned up the tools, then sat cross-legged on the bed and began meditating to restore his depleted mental power and mana.

This time, he could clearly feel that after the intense concentration required for brewing the potion just now, his control over his mental power seemed to have improved slightly.

His control over his mental power seemed to have improved slightly.

Although the progress of [Basic Meditation Method] on the panel had not immediately changed, he believed that the training effect brought by such practice would subtly accelerate his progress.

After one meditation cycle, his condition had recovered considerably.

Luo Lin looked at the azure potion and considered how to deal with it.

Use it himself?

What he needed most right now was to steadily improve his basic strength. This kind of temporary enhancement potion with side effects was not the best choice.

Besides, he needed resources—more contribution points to buy food, a better meditation environment, and even spell models.

Selling it was the wiser choice!

But he could not take it directly to the academy's official store or mission hall.

For a First-Rank Wizard Apprentice to produce a good-quality [Lesser Mental Boiling Potion] would draw too much attention.

He needed a more discreet channel, one that required less explanation.

In the original owner's memories, there were small circles where apprentices traded privately, usually in areas with relatively lax supervision.

For example, in the corner behind the cafeteria or near an abandoned warehouse.

The origins of the goods traded there varied widely. Prices might be lower than official rates, but it was more discreet, and no one asked where things came from.

Luo Lin decided to try his luck.

He hid the potion in an inner pocket and left the wooden cabin.

He headed toward the area behind the cafeteria where miscellaneous items were piled up.

Sure enough, it was more "lively" than other places. A few scattered apprentices squatted on the ground with various items laid out before them.

Some were materials, while others were shabby-looking enchanted items that might still be useful.

All transactions were conducted in low voices, with wary glances all around.

Luo Lin found an empty spot and squatted down as well.

However, unlike the others, he did not lay anything out. He simply waited quietly.

After a while, a tall, skinny apprentice in a gray robe with sharp, lively eyes strolled over and asked in a low voice:

"What do you have?"

Luo Lin raised his head and sized him up, lowering his own voice as well.

"A good-quality [Lesser Mental Boiling Potion]."

A flicker of surprise flashed through the apprentice's eyes, but he quickly concealed it.

"Good quality? From a First-Rank Wizard Apprentice?"

His tone was skeptical.

Luo Lin offered no explanation. He merely revealed a corner of the potion bottle from within his robe. The deep azure color and starlike motes of light drifting within could not be faked.

The tall apprentice's gaze sharpened. He crouched down and lowered his voice even further. "How much? The official price is fifty contribution points per bottle."

"Forty points!"

Luo Lin named his price.

It was lower than the official price, but the material costs were much higher. He would still profit, and the other party would have room to make a profit as well.

The tall apprentice pondered for a moment.

Good-quality [Lesser Mental Boiling Potions] were not common. They were ten or twenty percent more effective than ordinary ones, and their side effects might be slightly weaker as well, making them easier to resell.

"Thirty points! I'm taking the risk here, and who knows whether your potion is clean."

"Thirty-eight points. Take it or leave it." Luo Lin's tone remained calm as he made to stand.

He knew exactly what his potion was worth.

"Wait!"

The tall apprentice grabbed him.

"Thirty-five points! Let's make friends. If you have goods in the future, you can come to me."

"My name is Black Rat. A lot of people around here know me."

Luo Lin looked into his shrewd eyes and knew this was probably the highest price he could negotiate.

In the end, he nodded. "Fine."

The two quickly completed the transfer of contribution points using their identity badges.

The number on Luo Lin's badge changed from 8 to 43.

Black Rat took the potion and inspected it carefully. A satisfied expression appeared on his face, and his figure soon vanished into the shadows among the piles of junk.

Luo Lin did not linger and immediately left the area.

With 43 contribution points in hand, he felt much more secure.

This proved that his path was viable.

Process materials, obtain hidden resources, brew potions, exchange them for contribution points, and form a positive cycle.

He did not splurge. Instead, he went to the cafeteria for another hearty meal, spending 3 points.

Afterward, he went to the supply office and spent 10 contribution points on several packets of ordinary herbal tea that could slowly nourish the body and relieve fatigue.

This would help him recover more effectively and maintain his intense pace of studying and brewing.

He temporarily saved the remaining contribution points.

He needed to plan for the next step.

Should he continue brewing large quantities of [Lesser Mental Boiling Potion] to earn contribution points, or begin trying to learn his first offensive or defensive spell?

After returning to the wooden cabin, Luo Lin sipped warm herbal tea while making plans.

Continuing to sell the same potion carried risks, even through the black market.

Moreover, the main ingredient of [Lesser Mental Boiling Potion], Shadow Fungus, depended on Moonlight Moss processing missions, making his source far too limited.

He needed to develop new ways of acquiring resources or improve his own combat strength.

Learning his first spell was urgent.

At the very least, it would give him the basic ability to protect himself in an emergency.

Luo Lin recalled several basic zero-circle spells that First-Rank Wizard Apprentices could access from the original owner's memories:

[Mage Hand], [Acid Splash], [Cleaning Spell], [Phantom Sound Spell]...

Among them, [Mage Hand] was the most versatile. It had some use in both everyday assistance and combat.

But obtaining a spell model required contribution points, and not a small amount.

In the academy library's spell section, borrowing a zero-circle spell model usually cost more than 30 contribution points, and it carried a strict mental imprint that prevented private teaching.

He still did not have enough contribution points.

"Looks like I'll need to brew a few more potions."

Luo Lin made his decision.

Before learning and mastering his first spell, he needed more capital.

Over the next two days, Luo Lin's life settled into a fixed rhythm.

Meditate to recover, accept Moonlight Moss missions, refine Shadow Fungus, brew [Lesser Mental Boiling Potion], sell it through Black Rat, buy food and basic supplies, then continue meditating.

His contribution points steadily accumulated to 172.

The progress of [Basic Meditation Method] also increased steadily, reaching 49% of the beginner stage.

Both his mental power and mana had grown.

Once he felt he had accumulated enough contribution points, Luo Lin returned to the library and headed straight for the spell section.

"I need to borrow the spell model for [Mage Hand]."

He spoke to the deacon managing the spell section.

The man merely glanced at Luo Lin, confirmed that he was a First-Rank Wizard Apprentice, and said indifferently, "Forty contribution points. Borrowing time: one hour."

"No recording. No passing it on. Violators will be severely punished."

Luo Lin paid the contribution points.

The number on his identity badge immediately changed from 172 to 132.

The deacon then handed him a cold crystal chip.

"Send your mental power into it. Once the time is up, the memory will be automatically erased."

Luo Lin accepted the crystal chip and walked to a nearby reading seat.

He took a deep breath and slowly poured his mental power into the crystal chip.

In an instant, an immense and incomparably complex stream of information flooded into his mind.

It was a three-dimensional structural diagram formed from countless fine mental-power lines, nodes, and energy-flow pathways.

It was the spell model of [Mage Hand]!

This model was far more complex than he had imagined, like a precise three-dimensional geometric figure. Every node and every energy channel had to be constructed with exact mental power.

There could not be the slightest mistake. Otherwise, the spell would fail and might even cause mental-power backlash.

Ordinary apprentices would likely feel dizzy upon seeing such a complex structure, requiring long periods of repeated memorization and study.

But Luo Lin was different. The [Efficient Scholar] talent once again played a crucial role!

After the massive stream of information entered his mind, it seemed to be automatically sorted, organized, and understood.

The model's overall structure, key nodes, and the core principles governing its energy flow were all absorbed and comprehended at an astonishing speed.

Although he could not master it immediately, his speed of memorization and comprehension far surpassed that of ordinary people!