Grey Tower General Store, [Stamina Recovery Potion]

Luo Lin first followed the original formula exactly and brewed a batch of [Minor Stamina Potion].

The finished product was a pale green, cloudy liquid.

[Item: Minor Stamina Potion (Inferior)]

[Effect: After drinking, slightly reduces the sensation of muscle fatigue for half an hour.]

Sure enough, the effect was weak, and because his technique was still inexperienced, its quality was only inferior.

But it still gave him a foundation.

Next came substitution and optimization.

He tried replacing part of the Vitality Root powder with a carefully processed Ironthread Grass extract.

Ironthread Grass was troublesome to process. Its fibers were tough and required repeated pounding and filtering before its effective juice could be extracted.

But for Luo Lin, who possessed [Efficient Scholar] and [Basic Potion Material Processing (Professional)], this was no difficult task. It merely took more time.

On his first attempt, a slight precipitate formed as soon as the potion was mixed. It had failed.

Luo Lin cleaned the crucible and analyzed the cause. He concluded that fibrous impurities in the Ironthread Grass juice had not been filtered out completely and had conflicted with the Vitality Root ingredients.

For the second attempt, he improved the filtering process, using several layers of fine cloth to obtain a purer Ironthread Grass solution.

This mixture did not fail immediately, but after heating, its color dulled, and tests showed that its medicinal effect had almost vanished.

Luo Lin was not discouraged. He realized that the solution's potency might have dissipated during processing, or that the heating temperature and duration were wrong.

He adjusted the heating process, using a lower temperature and a longer, slower simmer.

Third attempt, fourth attempt... He constantly adjusted the ingredient ratios, processing methods, heating temperatures, and stirring techniques.

[Efficient Scholar] allowed him to quickly draw experience from every failure and accurately pinpoint the problem.

The mental energy consumption was immense, but he supported himself with meditation and herbal tea.

Finally, after using up most of his materials and suffering through more than a dozen failures, he obtained a bottle of clear grass-green potion that carried a faint scent of fresh grass.

[Item: Improved Minor Stamina Potion]

[Quality: Ordinary]

[Effect: After drinking, significantly relieves muscle fatigue for one hour and slightly increases stamina recovery speed.]

[Note: Partially replaces Vitality Root with Ironthread Grass solution, reducing costs by roughly sixty percent while producing about three times the original effect.]

It worked!

Luo Lin looked at the description on the panel and finally let out a sigh of relief.

The effect was roughly three times that of the original!

Although it still could not compare to [Greater Stamina Potion], its cost was extremely low, and its effect had already reached a practical level.

For the vast number of first-rank and even second-rank apprentices struggling at the bottom, who needed to complete all kinds of physically demanding tasks, this was undoubtedly an extremely cost-effective choice.

He named the potion [Stamina Recovery Potion] to distinguish it from the failed minor original.

The problem now was the sales channel.

He could not sell this new potion in large quantities through Black Rat. That would draw too much suspicion.

He needed a more official, more discreet method that could provide a stable income.

Luo Lin thought of the task hall counters.

The academy encouraged apprentices to innovate. If they had an improved, practical potion formula, they could apply to the academy for a "patent" or sell the formula directly in exchange for a large one-time sum of contribution points or a share of the profits.

But that would require revealing the formula, which did not suit his need to keep himself hidden.

Another option was finding a shop to cooperate with.

There were several shops within the academy run by forces under official wizards or by third-rank apprentices themselves.

They collected all kinds of potions and materials.

If this low-cost potion could be mass-produced, the profit margin would be substantial.

Luo Lin chose the latter.

He needed to find a shop that was small, inconspicuous, but reasonably reputable.

After several days of covert observation and inquiries, he settled on a small shop called Grey Tower General Store.

The owner was a somewhat disheveled and dejected-looking third-rank apprentice named Mason.

It was said that after Mason failed in his attempt to advance to an official wizard, he opened this shop to make a living. He was rather lazy, but his business dealings were fair, and he never asked about the origins of goods.

That afternoon, Luo Lin entered Grey Tower General Store carrying a bottle of [Stamina Recovery Potion].

The store was deserted. Mason was dozing with his head on the counter.

Hearing footsteps, he lazily raised his head.

"What do you need? Materials and potions are over there. The prices are clearly marked."

Mason yawned.

Luo Lin walked up to the counter and placed the grass-green potion on its surface.

"Boss, do you buy potions?"

Mason glanced at the potion. Its color and scent were both unfamiliar; it was not one of the common varieties.

"What kind of potion? Did you make it yourself? How effective is it?"

His tone remained lazy.

"Stamina Recovery Potion. It significantly relieves muscle fatigue and accelerates stamina recovery for one hour."

"The cost is very low."

Luo Lin was concise.

"Oh?"

Mason showed a little interest. He picked up the potion, removed the stopper, sniffed it, then held it up to the light to examine its quality.

"Never heard that name before."

"Is the effect really as good as you claim?"

"And how low is this cost?"

Luo Lin answered calmly, "The effect can be verified."

"As for the cost... it is probably only one-third to one-quarter of potions on the market with similar effects."

The potion with a similar effect on the market was [Greater Stamina Potion], which was somewhat more effective but expensive, with an official price usually around eighty contribution points.

Mason sat upright, his gaze becoming sharper. "Kid, don't talk nonsense. How are you going to prove it?"

"I can leave this sample with you. You can have someone you trust test it."

"As for the cost, if we cooperate, I can provide finished products steadily. You can set the price, and my supply price will be very low."

Luo Lin spoke.

He did not intend to reveal the formula, only provide the finished product.

Mason stared at Luo Lin for several seconds, as though judging how much of his words were credible.

Could a first-rank apprentice really create a potion with such value for money?

Yet judging from Luo Lin's steady demeanor, he did not seem to be making empty claims.

"What's your supply price? How much can you provide?"

Mason asked.

"Twenty-five contribution points per bottle."

"I can provide at least twenty bottles per week."

Luo Lin named his price.

This price was far below the market price of [Greater Stamina Potion], but considering that the material cost for each bottle was only about five contribution points, he would still make a profit of twenty contribution points.

And twenty bottles per week demonstrated a certain supply capacity without being too shocking.

Mason calculated quickly.

If the effect was truly as the other party claimed, even if he priced it at fifty contribution points per bottle, it would still be nearly half the price of [Greater Stamina Potion]. There would definitely be a market for it, and he could earn twenty-five contribution points per bottle.

Twenty bottles a week meant a stable gross profit of five hundred contribution points.

"I'll keep the sample for testing."

"If the effect is as claimed, I can accept that price and quantity."

"What should I call you? How will we handle future deliveries?"

Mason made his decision.

"Just call me Lin. I'll come again at this time three days from now."

"If we reach an agreement, I'll bring the first batch of ten bottles then."

Luo Lin chose to use an alias.

"Fine."

Mason nodded without asking further questions.

After leaving Grey Tower General Store, Luo Lin felt settled.

If this channel opened up, he would have a stable and relatively safe source of income. He would no longer need to rely entirely on Moonlight Moss and the black market.

At a supply price of twenty-five contribution points per bottle and twenty bottles per week, that meant a gross weekly income of five hundred contribution points. After deducting costs, his net income would be around four hundred contribution points.

That was enough to support his daily cultivation and purchase some less expensive resources.

Three days later, Luo Lin returned to Grey Tower General Store.

When Mason saw him, a rare smile appeared on his face.

"Your potion is quite effective."

"Though it can't compare to [Greater Stamina Potion], its low price is its advantage."

"I tested it. At fifty-five contribution points per bottle, it should sell very well."

"This is the payment for the first ten bottles."

Mason spoke directly, transferring Luo Lin two hundred and fifty contribution points at the same time.

The deal was complete.

Luo Lin had gained his first stable order income.

At the same time, he did not abandon his other avenues.

Although Frack had monopolized the Moonlight Moss tasks, Luo Lin discovered that the task hall occasionally posted sorting tasks for other obscure materials.

These tasks either offered low rewards or were difficult to process, so few people showed any interest in them.

Relying on [Efficient Scholar] and his professional material-processing ability, Luo Lin began selectively accepting these tasks.

Although the rewards for these delayed tasks were not as good as Moonlight Moss, small gains added up. Moreover, they allowed him to come into contact with different materials and enrich his knowledge of [Basic Magical Botany].

At the same time, he also began paying attention to the academy's long-term commissions.