Chapter 764: Chapter 724: Magic Potion (Part 2)

He paused for a moment.

"But this is just the first step."

"A true Magic Potion Master not only follows recipes to make potions. They create recipes, improve upon them, adjust processes according to subtle differences in materials, and find directions for improvement even in a cauldron of failed waste liquid."

His gaze swept across the room once again.

"This course does not teach you how to follow a recipe. That would be wasting your time and mine."

"This course teaches—when you encounter a new material, how to determine what it can do; when faced with an incomplete recipe, how to complete it; when you want to create a new magic potion, how to design its refining process." 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺

The audience was silent for a moment.

The twenty young wizards sitting below were all excellent alchemists, at the very least skilled at refining various level 1 potions.

They were already proficient at making potions following recipes.

They had also somewhat involved themselves in the improvement and optimization of recipes, but not to the level Duke could commercialize directly.

Nowadays, most of the magic potion recipes generally available to wizards are very mature, having undergone numerous iterations.

It’s actually not easy to make truly beneficial improvements to these recipes, at least it isn’t easy for most people present.

Duke, however, did not feel much pressure due to having ample knowledge related to improvements, thanks to the gifts from the Skill Tree.

Felix didn’t give them much time to digest before diving right into the main topic.

For the next two hours, he lectured on the core concepts of magic potion refining.

Duke gained a lot of knowledge during this period that he hadn’t mastered or fully understood before.

For instance, the material’s active threshold, which refers to the energy limit each material can withstand. Exceeding this limit leads to disintegration, while below this threshold, the potion’s power cannot be released.

Also, energy matching during the refining process, as different materials have different energy structures, forcing them to merge can cause conflict. It’s essential to find their resonance point.

And the starting point of creation, all new recipes begin with ’what if I replace this with that.’

The more you ask, the closer you are to creation.

Felix lectured while effortlessly pulling out various materials from the medicine box for demonstrations.

Some materials Duke recognized: Silvermoon Grass, Moonlight Moss, Nightmare Beetle’s wing sheath.

Some he had never seen before: a black mineral emitting a faint sulfur smell, a branch resembling transparent glass, and a small bottle of viscous liquid emitting a faint blue glow.

With each demonstration, Felix would explain the characteristics of the material, its function in the refining process, and what would happen if mishandled.

On one occasion, he placed a small piece of Moonlight Moss on an alcohol lamp to heat, and the moss quickly melted into a puddle of silvery liquid, emitting a cold glow.

"See? This is the process of releasing Moonlight Power. But if you heat it too fast, it will become like this—"

He took another piece of the same moss and burned it with higher temperature.

The moss instantly charred, releasing a pungent smoke, and the puddle of liquid turned into a lump of black charcoal.

"Its active properties have been destroyed, the energy wasn’t released, all wasted."

He set the charcoal down and brushed off the ash from his hands.

"This is why processing materials needs to be precise. A degree or a moment’s difference, and the result differs greatly."

Duke listened intently.

Many things Felix talked about were consistent with the knowledge Duke already had, but more systematic and in-depth.

Previously learned knowledge simply told him "this is correct," while Felix explained "why this is correct."

Throughout the afternoon, Felix explained the core concepts of magic potion refining at a rapid pace.

Material’s active threshold, energy matching resonance points, variable control in the refining process, failure review methods...

Each point of knowledge was like a brick, building the unfinished theoretical structure in Duke’s mind.

When the sunlight outside started to slant, Felix paused his demonstrations.

"Today’s lesson ends here."

He set down the blackened glass rod, his gaze sweeping across the room.

"This course lasts for four weeks, and the class time may vary, mainly due to needing to coordinate with other teachers to avoid schedule conflicts."

"After four weeks, there will be an assessment."

Everyone in the audience sat up straight simultaneously.

Felix pulled out a stack of parchment from beneath the podium, but didn’t distribute them, just waved them in his hand.

"Assessment location: Seventh District Magic Potion Laboratory. Time: Third day after the course ends, 8 AM."

He paused.

"Assessment content—"

He slapped the stack of parchment onto the podium.

"Each person draws a question."

Someone couldn’t help but ask, "What kind of questions?"

Felix glanced at that person and a slight smile appeared on his lips.

"A problem, which needs you to solve."

He picked up the top parchment and read aloud:

"For example, refine a potion that allows the taker to see in the dark for one hour."

Then picked up the second sheet.

"Refine a potion that temporarily enhances spiritual perception without harming the user."

Third sheet.

"Refine a potion that rejuvenates wilted plants within half an hour."

He set the parchment down.

"Every question is a problem that needs solving. What you have to do is refine on the spot a potion that can solve the problem based on this question."

"Materials are your choice, recipe self-created, process self-defined. Of course, the questions by then will be more complex, not as trivial as those on this pile of parchment."

His gaze swept across the room, and on that old face appeared an expression almost of anticipation for the first time.

"It’s not about making potions by the recipe; it’s about creating potions. All potions must meet the standards of level 1 potion, not just a potion with some simple effects."

The classroom was silent for a moment.

Then someone softly inhaled.

Cecilia tightened her grip on the silver pipette, her fingertips turning white.

Edmond’s brows furrowed, then relaxed.

In the corner, Morris slightly raised his eyelids, and something seemed to flash in his hollow eyes.

Duke’s brows furrowed slightly as well.

Create potions.

Not improvement, not imitation, but starting from scratch, designing a brand new potion based on a question.

This was full of uncertainty, each person’s question was randomly drawn, and luck was also a factor.

Felix seemed satisfied with everyone’s reaction. He put away the stack of parchment, placing it back into the worn medicine box.

"There are three criteria for evaluation."

"First, existence of the product—as long as you can hand over a bottle of potion in the end, no matter the effect, it’s considered a pass. Passers earn 80 contribution points."

"Second, completion level—how much your potion can solve the problem. Solving thirty percent earns thirty points; fifty percent, fifty points; fully solve, one hundred points. This contribution count is calculated separately, with no upper limit."

"Third, actual effect—after refining, test on the spot. The better the effect, the higher the score. This is determined by me personally, with contribution points ranging from 50 to 200."

"The sum of these three criteria is your final score for this course."

Someone raised their hand.

Felix nodded.

The hand raised was Cecilia, her voice clear yet carried a tinge of restrained tension: "Lord Felix, if... if we fail, what happens?"

Felix looked at her.

"If you fail, the basic 80 pass points are gone, and the registration fee is non-refundable."

He paused.

"However—if you can accurately identify the reason for failure, analyze where the problem lies, you may apply for a retest."

He glanced around the room.

"As I said, failure is normal. What’s abnormal is failing without knowing why."

No one raised further questions.

Felix picked up that shabby medicine box, glanced at everyone one last time, and then left the classroom.

The room remained silent for a long time.

Then Edmond exhaled a long breath and leaned back into the chair.

"Create potions..." he murmured, "I’ve never even written a recipe myself."

Cecilia didn’t respond, only looked down at her silver pipette, lost in thought.

In the corner, Morris slowly stood up.

He didn’t speak to anyone, just quietly headed toward the door, his thin figure stretched long by the twilight.