The Once High-Spirited Noble, Now Bowing His Head in Resentment

"What potion?"

"Withered Wood Potion," Leo said.

Hearing the name of the potion, Sally frowned. "The Withered Wood Potion is a potion from the Melee Mage Discipline. Although its difficulty is at the level of a Starter Potion, it is definitely among the harder ones within that category."

"Moreover, the required materials are rather expensive."

"Danville, are you certain you want to choose the Withered Wood Potion?"

"I'm certain."

"Very well. You can come to me for Magic Stones to purchase the potion materials, but I can only provide three Magic Stones. When you brew it, I will observe, record, and evaluate from the side."

"Yes, Wizard Sally," Leo said.

The Withered Wood Potion was not some precious potion that needed to be kept secret.

Besides, with Sally watching from the side, Leo could avoid some unnecessary mistakes.

Afterward, Leo returned to his room.

Leo only had one set of materials for the Withered Wood Potion.

That meant he had to succeed in a single attempt.

If he failed, he could only choose another, simpler potion.

Of course, success also came with many benefits.

[Withered Wood Potion]

Quality: Inferior

Effect: Activates cells and strengthens physical power.

Cost: 10 Refinement Points

Superior Codex: Elementary Potionology

"Consumes 10 Refinement Points."

[Withered Wood Potion]

Quality: Ordinary

Effect: Activates cells and strengthens physical power.

Cost: 50 Refinement Points

Superior Codex: Basic Potionology

Judging from the Refinement Points required, the difficulty of brewing the Withered Wood Potion was considered among the lowest tier.

What Sally had called comparatively difficult was likely in comparison to the other potions of the same tier.

Leo immersed himself in studying the process of the Withered Wood Potion.

Mentor's Office

Sally pushed the door open and entered.

Wizard Tesla was writing something at his desk. Without even raising his head, he asked, "Wizard Sally, how are the three new students doing today?"

"Chris and Molly are passable. They can't be called terrible, but neither can they be called outstanding."

Sally said with a smile, "But Danville gave me a great surprise as always. The Fish-Fragrant Herb he selected was of perfect quality."

Tesla's pen paused. The corner of his mouth curved upward as he said, "That is quite good. Since I obtained a perfect-quality Fish-Fragrant Herb twenty years ago, over all these years, only Wizard Nova and Danville have obtained one of perfect quality."

"Even if his talent in Potionology does not surpass Wizard Nova's, it should be no worse than mine."

Sally's smiling expression suddenly changed. Her entire face became as expressionless as a playing card. "Talent is not judged solely by 'success on one attempt.'"

Hearing this, Tesla merely smiled. "Indeed. There are also many whose talent in Potionology only reveals itself later. Among such people, those no weaker than me are as numerous as the hairs on an ox."

Tesla's words eased Sally's expression considerably.

Tesla chuckled inwardly.

Sally's talent in Potionology truly did not fall short of his.

And because of that, Sally had always remained bitterly fixated on the fact that she had not obtained a perfect-quality Fish-Fragrant Herb.

Tesla said, "The annual tuition payment eliminates quite a few people. Some Gatherings may bring dozens of people here, only for all but one or two to be eliminated in the end."

"From the current situation, Leo has a high chance of staying. As for Chris and Molly, that will depend to some extent on how they perform in their disciplines."

Tesla suddenly sighed. "But Danville is rather different from the Prossians I have seen so far. In the past, many Prossians who came to the Tower of Dawn could not settle down to study a discipline. They preferred fighting and killing instead."

"For Danville, a Prossian, to actually have the patience to study Potionology and possess considerable talent for it is truly far beyond my expectations."

Sally had arrived at the Tower of Dawn four years ago. By then, Prossians had already become a rare sight at the Tower of Dawn, so she could not understand Tesla's sentiment. "Even if Prossians generally have that sort of temperament, there will always be one or two who are different."

"Perhaps," Tesla said.

Just as Tesla finished speaking, a crisp knock sounded, followed by a hoarse female voice from outside the door.

"This is Fula."

"Please come in, Wizard Fula," Tesla said.

After the door opened, a tall Wizard dressed in white robes walked in.

She wore a clown mask.

"Wizard Sally, Wizard Tesla, I have a question regarding my research. I hope to hear both of your opinions."

Fula described her issue. "It concerns an advanced spell derived from the Airflow Flight Spell I am researching. I have some questions about the structure of this spell."

After Fula finished explaining her problem,

both Sally and Tesla revealed troubled expressions.

Fula said, "It seems neither of you can answer this question. My apologies for disturbing you."

After Fula left, the office fell silent for a moment. Then Wizard Tesla sighed. "Wizard Sally, compared with problems concerning new students, problems concerning graduate students are the hardest to resolve."

"With our level, it is simply difficult for us to be as all-encompassing as Mentor Esmond. Many of the questions those graduate students raise are beyond our ability to answer."

At the mention of this issue, Sally also had a headache. "Whether Mentor Esmond can return or not, we can only hold things together for this year. If we want to change mentors, that will have to wait until a year later."

Tesla said, "That is true."

Tesla suddenly said, "By the way, Wizard Sally, of the two Wizard Seedlings you sent to the Uriel Gathering, one joined a knight order."

Sally said coldly, "I have no interest whatsoever in how they fare after leaving the Esmond Gathering."

Several days passed.

Leo, sitting on his bed, finished meditating.

When Leo opened his eyes, streaks of sharp light flashed within them.

Over these past few days, Leo's spiritual energy had risen to 8 points. He was drawing ever closer to the goal of condensing a Spiritual Seed.

He estimated that once his Intermediate Meditation Method reached ordinary-quality mastery, his spiritual energy should reach 10 points.

Just after he finished meditating, a knock sounded outside the door.

"Leo, it's me."

Chris's booming voice rang out.

Leo opened the door and asked, "Chris, what is it?"

Chris said, "Leo, do you want to go to the market with me to buy herbs?"

Leo asked, "Have you already decided which potion to brew?"

"That's right. I plan to brew a Basic Recovery Potion."

Leo nodded slightly upon hearing that. The Basic Recovery Potion truly was one of the simplest potions to brew among the entry-level potions.

Leo pondered briefly, then said, "I'll go with you. I also want to buy some herbs."

Leo still had several Magic Stones in hand. He planned to buy materials for brewing some simple potions.

He only had one set of materials for the Withered Wood Potion. If the brewing failed, Leo could only switch to another potion.

Therefore, Leo planned to purchase the materials for a simple potion in advance.

Thinking of this, Leo sighed inwardly.

In the end, it still came down to Magic Stones.

If Leo had sufficient Magic Stones and bought several more sets of Withered Wood Potion materials, he would have several more chances to try brewing it.

Leo returned to his room to pack a few things, then went out with Chris.

Along the way, Chris was especially excited.

"Leo, do you think the lady at the counter will still remember me when we get there?"

Leo said, "She doesn't even know your name, does she?"

Upon hearing that, Chris's dark face grew even darker. "Can't you let me keep up appearances, Leo?"

The two soon arrived before the Woodpecker Hut.

However, just as Chris was about to walk inside, he suddenly stopped and turned to look toward one side of the Woodpecker Hut.

More than a dozen young people clad in silver-white armor were gathered there.

A piece of cloth hung beside them, bearing the words: "Emergency Magic Stone Hunting Mission."

Chris said in surprise, "Leo, look! Isn't that John?"

Hearing this, Leo instinctively looked over and discovered that one of the young men was indeed John.

Chris raised his hand. "John!"

John on the other side also spotted Leo and Chris. He instinctively looked at the badges on their chests.

When he saw the bronze color displayed on Chris's badge, a surge of jealousy rose in John's heart.

But when he saw the silver color displayed on Leo's badge, along with that number 7, his gaze dimmed. He subconsciously turned his head away, avoiding their eyes.