stjorthotic Chapter 41 The First Potion Test
Chapter 41 The First Potion Test
Karin's words were like a pebble thrown into a calm lake, creating ripples in the crowd and causing a stir in the audience.
Most of the reserve apprentices were pale and bewildered, the punishment for their previous failure still fresh in their minds.
The punishment they received prevented most of them from taking on any other commissions for several days. Afterwards, they either had to work twice as hard to earn it back or go hungry for a few meals.
Apprentices like Rufus, who come from wizarding families or consider themselves quite talented, have their eyes shining, seeing it as a golden opportunity to be taken in as a personal apprentice by their mentor.
Being accepted as a personal apprentice by a mentor meant that they could eat the finest food every day, just like Li Ang, and not only could they eat it themselves, but they could also treat his little follower, Lottie, to it.
Li Ang's actions have been observed by the reserve apprentices, and he has unknowingly become a role model for a better life in their hearts.
At this moment, Li Ang's heart was filled with peace. The cold-dispelling potion was recorded in "Basic Magical Potions" and belonged to the category of moderately difficult beginner potions.
For Li Ang, who has now begun developing his own potions, refining them is simpler than drinking water.
Ellie and several of her wizard followers began distributing materials: a few Firefeather Grass plants with fiery red leaves, a small section of Warm Ginger Root, and Stone Root Grass powder, which they already knew well, along with Crystal Sand.
Primary potions are usually made by combining one main ingredient with one auxiliary ingredient, along with stabilizers and purifiers.
Li Ang's muscle-building drug, on the other hand, requires two main ingredients and four auxiliary ingredients, making it incredibly difficult to develop.
Having received the materials, the apprentices also took out their refining tools.
As Li Ang pulled out the practice crucible that had been distributed when he joined the sect, Rufus couldn't help but curl up his lips slightly, with a hint of disdain.
What a foolish idiot, wasting all his money on food and drink! Doesn't he know that for a potions-making wizard, a good cauldron is the most important thing?
He took out a crystal crucible made entirely of white crystal. Using this kind of crucible to refine potions would greatly improve their purity.
The matching stirring rod was also made of pure silver; he had clearly gone to great lengths to outdo Li Ang in this assessment.
The apprentices around had never seen such high-end goods before, and whispers of amazement and envy immediately arose.
Hearing the surrounding chatter, Lufas slightly raised his chin, a confident smile playing on his lips, and gave Li Ang a defiant glance.
However, Li Ang completely failed to notice Rufus's provocation, which rendered Rufus's attempt futile, like throwing a wink at a blind man.
"The assessment begins, with a time limit of one hour." As soon as Instructor Edwin's voice fell, the entire classroom instantly fell silent, with only the faint sounds of fuel being lit and ingredients being added to the pot remaining.
Li Ang remained calm and composed. With a slight thought, he quietly activated the [Water Creation Spell], drawing the purest magical water into the crucible.
His mental connection with the [Standard Practice Crucible Lv2] gave him a complete understanding of the situation inside the cauldron.
He skillfully added the materials, his mental energy guiding the medicinal properties along the wooden stirring stick, the whole process flowing smoothly and with an almost artistic ease.
Meanwhile, Rufus, accompanied by members of a long-established wizarding family, displayed a unique elegance and composure, with every step of his operation being textbook perfect.
Lottie, taking advantage of her own strengths, extended her index finger, and a faint but steady orange-red flame leaped from her fingertip into the fuel compartment at the bottom of the crucible.
She continuously provided mental energy to the flame. Although this method consumed a great deal of mental energy, it allowed for more precise control over the temperature and also enhanced the efficacy of fire-attribute potions.
Time passed second by second, and in Li Ang's crucible, the liquid gradually turned a translucent light red, while the magical vortex slowly rotated within it. This was a sign of success and excellence.
He poured the potion into the crystal bottle and was the first to complete the test.
Immediately afterward, Rufus also finished refining. He glanced at Li Ang, his eyes filled with disbelief.
Lottie was the third to finish. She let out a long sigh of relief, her face pale from the exhaustion of her mental energy.
In the end, three more reserve apprentices narrowly completed the refining process before the deadline.
"Alright, time's up. Everyone, stop what you're doing," a servant in charge of timing announced loudly.
Then, the two mentors began to check the results one by one.
They first picked up Li Ang's potion, examined it carefully against the light, and then gently sniffed it, exchanging a surprised look.
Edwin's mentor rarely praised him:
"High purity, perfect blend of medicinal properties, internal and stable heat, excellent quality, and the fastest speed."
Next was Rufus's turn, and Instructor Karin nodded:
"It benefits from the use of equipment, but the handling itself is impeccable, the efficacy is good, and the quality is excellent."
The third person to be checked was Lottie, and Edwin looked at her with satisfaction:
"Not bad. You've managed to use your strengths and know that using magical fire to refine potions can be twice as effective, which doesn't disgrace the Polk family's name."
After a slight pause, Instructor Edwin continued:
"Although the potion contains some impurities, the magical vortex within it is more stable due to the resonance of the fire element, resulting in good quality."
The other three apprentices who successfully refined the potions all produced qualified potions.
The results were unsurprising: Li Ang came in first, Rufas second, and Lotti third.
After the assessment, Instructor Edwin glanced at Lufax and nodded slightly.
"Felder's boy, you have a solid foundation. You'll be working with me from now on."
Rufus's face immediately lit up with excitement, but he still maintained an elegant bow:
"Yes, Professor Edwin."
The other three, who had just passed the qualifying test, were taken in by their mentor Karin and became her personal apprentices.
After finishing the assessment, Li Ang returned to his dormitory, where he neatly stacked the three heavy books he had borrowed, ready to return them.
He had copied down all the key information in the book; now all he lacked was a method to combine the medicinal properties.
Therefore, he wanted to find some more theoretical books about the fusion of different medicinal properties, hoping to find inspiration for fusion from them.
After browsing through the crystal display cases in the library for a long time, he finally settled on a book titled "The Theory of Drug Conflict and Fusion Balance".
After finding it and flipping through a few pages, I felt it might be helpful, so I went through the borrowing procedures.
Li Ang, carrying the newly borrowed books, was preparing to return to his dormitory when he passed a corner of a corridor on the fourth floor.
A staggering figure nearly collided with him.
The man was tall and wore a somewhat dirty servant's uniform. He was struggling to carry a huge sack.
The two looked up at the same time, both of them startled.
"Kavi?" Li Ang frowned slightly.