Wizards: Starting with Synthetic Gems

Chapter 17 Side Effects

Locke used ordinary water to practice the mana centrifugal extraction method, practicing for an entire afternoon.

The reason I stopped practicing wasn't because I had learned it; after all, it's something that requires practice.

While talent for learning certainly plays a role, there is also time for practice.

The longer you practice, the more proficient you become, and the better you will be.

However, since Ald had already opened his wooden box and the frost runes on it had become ineffective, there wasn't enough time left for Locke to practice the mana centrifugal extraction technique.

In a secluded classroom at Aurelian Academy, Locke held two mixed blood liquids spinning rapidly. Then, a gray tinge suddenly appeared inside the originally bluish liquid.

As time passed, the gray blood in the medicine bottle increased while the blue liquid decreased, but in the end, the blue blood did not completely disappear and some remained.

Professor Old became excited, his body trembling, his eyes fixed on the vial in Locke's hand.

That gray blood is the pure magical bloodline essence within the stone crab.

Locke breathed a sigh of relief, wiping the cold sweat from his forehead. This was his third attempt, and his last chance.

But luckily, he succeeded on his last attempt.

"It can't really be called mastering it; I was just lucky this time, and the extracted blood contained a lot of impurities," Locke thought to himself. "I still need to practice mana centrifugation extraction every day."

But ultimately, I did succeed.

This was a rare experience.

Unfortunately, opportunities are limited on Corfu, and from now on, I can only practice with some river water at most every day.

But that would be very slow.

Locke glanced at the ring on his right hand; the deep blue gem he was wearing must have lost its effectiveness.

The deep blue gem acts like an external filter, forcibly filtering out its own magical fluctuations.

However, as he became a third-class wizard apprentice, this magic fluctuation filter seemed to be insufficient, and it was no longer possible to use a thumb-sized deep blue gem for half a month.

Just now, I was so focused on channeling my magic power that I actually destroyed the deep blue gem in my hand. A deep blue gem whose special structure has been damaged is, in principle, just an ordinary sapphire with no special value.

At most, its color and luster are just a little unique.

Locke pondered, 'But if I stack multiple deep blue gems together, I can increase the strength of the mana fluctuation filter through quantity, and it can still keep up with my magical level.'

Locke focused his attention on Olde, and he never let his guard down.

At this moment, Ald could no longer contain his excitement and pounced over, snatching the stone crab's bloodline essence.

“Yes, yes, no problem. Locke, thank you…”

"Although there are many impurities, it's still hard on you. It's not your fault."

Old took out a stand, firewood, and a small crucible from the box, placed a piece of quartz and a rainbow rose from the box into the crucible, and poured in a bottle of alcohol.

Locke had already read the recipe for the Stone Crab Bloodline Modification Potion. He knew that after he extracted the Stone Crab Bloodline Essence using the mana centrifugal extraction method, he had already completed the main part of the potion.

After all, this medicine is just a simplified version.

The most difficult part was actually the three Stone Crab Bloodline Separation Potions given to Ald by his formal wizard mentor. The moment Ald successfully extracted the Stone Crab Bloodline using these potions and the mana centrifugal extraction method, the main body of the Stone Crab Bloodline Modification Potion was already complete.

The remaining materials and refining processes are merely for modifying the medicinal properties, making the consumption safer.

Nevertheless, Locke still saw the warning note in the alchemy notes that Ald had given him—this was still a life modification technology that had only been used on experimental subjects, and the technology was not mature, so it was not recommended that wizard apprentices use it on themselves.

Soon, Old obtained a small tube of gray medicine from the crucible. He extracted it with a syringe, and then, ignoring Locke standing next to him, he directly inserted the syringe into a vein in his arm.

Old grinned, as if he had achieved great satisfaction. Locke saw that when he lifted his clothes, his withered arm, almost devoid of color and flesh, resembled a dried stone in a coffin.

Even at the base of Ald's arm, there were already some signs of decay.

But after receiving the Stone Crab Bloodline Modification Potion, his arm rapidly swelled up like a balloon, his skin turned grayish, like a layer of stone skin, and muscles seemed to grow on his arm. The rotten parts were also covered up due to petrification.

Ald took a deep breath, as if someone who was about to suffocate was finally able to breathe normally again.

Olde smiled, and seemed more relaxed. "I think this way I can last a few more years."

"The bloodline of the stone crab gave me a powerful physique. Moreover, the stone crab is a creature that can still eat and move normally even when 90% of its body is dead and rotten."

"Its life characteristics are enough to enable me to do more things."

Ald looked at Locke gratefully. "Congratulations, Locke, this is your first successful potion concoction. Although you didn't do it independently, it still proves that you have a great talent for this."

"I didn't have much hope that you would succeed."

"I will tell Tungus the record of this refining process, so that Tungus can record it in the annals."

“This is a huge plus. Very few aspiring wizards from indigenous backgrounds have successfully undergone a bloodline modification, around the 0.3 ring level, before boarding the wizard ship.”

Locke looked at Ald in confusion. "0.3 rings?"

Ald was observing the changes in his own body, and he was in a rather happy mood. "Hmm. That's a method for calculating the power of spells."

"In the wizarding world, the classic first-circle spell Fireball is considered a first-circle spell. The classic trick Fingertip Flame is considered a 0.1-circle spell. Your Vine Hands' standard strength is approximately 0.2-circle."

That's why I said I didn't expect you to succeed.

“Generally, this level of bloodline modification requires at least a second-class wizard apprentice to achieve.”

Locke said, "I just stumbled upon it by accident."

Ald nodded, because Locke wasn't refining it independently this time.

Moreover, the main part was actually completed by his formal wizard mentor. The two of them merely copied the steps designed by the mentor and used the pre-packaged potion to complete this bloodline modification.

Ald said wearily, "Alright. I don't know why, but I suddenly feel very tired. This may be one of the side effects of the Stone Crab bloodline modification."

“Starting tomorrow, you will come to this classroom once a day at noon. I will teach you how to explode your skull until the day our deal is completed.”

Old rubbed his forehead. Locke noticed that two dark circles had suddenly appeared under his eyes, and his pupils had also begun to change due to the modification of the Stone Crab bloodline, becoming narrower and longer.

Locke became wary. 'That bloodline modification is far too immature.'

'I don't know what kind of side effects Ald is experiencing.'

'Can he really hold on until my skull explodes after he finishes teaching me?'

'Well, I only have three months left before leaving Corfu. I'll just have to see how things go. If I learn how to perform skull-explosion, great; if not, oh well.'

Locke thought to himself, 'Learning the mana centrifugal extraction method and successfully refining a bloodline modification potion is already an unexpected bonus.'

Locke didn't want to spend too much time with Old, a potentially unstable element, so he nodded slightly, turned around, and quickly left.

After Locke left, Olde squinted and looked in the direction of his office.

His physical body has now been strengthened, allowing him to live longer.

It doesn't matter. This academy is full of ordinary noble families who, in order to curry favor with him, willingly abandon their useless children as pawns.

(End of this chapter)