Wizard: My skills can be upgraded indefinitely.

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A few days later, in the Potions Department, at the core laboratory.

Ian placed the Starshine Potion into a specially made isolation box, then turned and left.

"It's time to announce the results."

He muttered to himself, his eyes steady.

Pushing open the laboratory door, the corridor was quiet, with only the faint sounds of a few apprentices tidying up equipment in the distance.

He carried the box and walked slowly toward Hermann's office.

Just as I reached the corner near the archives, I bumped into Blake.

The guy was also carrying several thick rolls of parchment, as if he had just come out of the archives.

Upon seeing Ian, Blake paused, his face immediately showing a mixture of jealousy and disdain.

"Tsk, isn't this our busy man?"

Blake glanced at him sideways, his gaze sweeping over the crystal box.

She curled her lip. "What 'new achievement' have you come up with this time? It's not another low-level, unremarkable thing, is it?"

The bespectacled witch next to him looked somewhat embarrassed and gently tugged at Blake's sleeve.

In the corridor, several wizard apprentices and a first-level wizard passed by and stopped to look at what they heard.

Ian didn't stop walking, nor did he even look away, treating Blake as if he were invisible.

In the instant they brushed past each other, he casually flicked his left hand.

A wisp of imperceptible silver spiritual energy from his fingertip silently wrapped around the rolls of experimental data that Blake was holding.

"Sizzle!"

A slight tearing sound rang out, and the parchment in Blake's arms inexplicably crumbled into countless fingernail-sized fragments.

Among them, several key drug formulation sketches that had clearly not been backed up were secretly pulverized by Ian the moment they landed.

"You...my data!"

Blake was taken aback at first, then his face turned angry and he stared intently at Ian.

These data are auxiliary records of pollution neutralizers that he spent half a month compiling.

Before the crystal could even be entered, everything was destroyed!

Just as he was about to move to stop Ian, a sudden sense of alarm struck him, and he couldn't bring himself to take the next step.

Ian turned his head slightly, his gaze falling on Blake's face, which was contorted with anger.

His voice wasn't loud, but it reached everyone present clearly.

"Potion research emphasizes focus and rigor."

With distractions in your mind, your hands will naturally become unsteady. These data... it seems you don't truly understand their importance.

Having said that, he ignored the stunned Blake and turned to continue walking.

The few wizard apprentices watching fell silent, their gazes towards Ian now filled with awe.

The first-level wizard glanced thoughtfully at the dusty remains of the sketch on the ground.

"Precise control of mental energy projection, instantly eroding specific material structures... His mastery of mental energy is probably more than just the initial stage of level one."

Blake has really messed up this time.

Ian walked to the door of Herman's office and knocked.

"Enter."

Hermann's slightly hoarse voice came from inside.

Ian pushed open the door and went inside.

The office was small, filled with books and scrolls, and the air was filled with the smell of herbs and parchment.

Herman was hunched over his desk, rapidly annotating a lab report with a quill pen.

He looked up and saw Ian. He put down his pen and rubbed his temples.

"Wizard Marcus, what's the matter?"

"Wizard Herman, there has been some initial progress in improving the meditation potion, and I would like to ask you to take a look."

Ian stepped forward, placed the crystal box on the table, and opened it.

Hermann's gaze fell on the azure blue potion, and he raised an eyebrow slightly.

He extended his thin, bony fingers, not to touch it directly, but to sense it from a distance.

A moment later, a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes.

"The first-order mental fluctuations... are very stable, and the energy structure... is quite interesting."

He looked at Ian. "You did this?"

"Yes, it's an experimental improvement based on the [Concentration Potion] framework, which I call the [Starlight Potion]."

Ian nodded, his tone calm.

"It primarily enhances the efficiency of mental energy condensation and attempts to incorporate properties that gently stimulate activity."

Three have been successfully refined so far, and this is one of them.

Hermann did not comment immediately; he stood up.

He took out a palm-sized rune crystal plate from the cabinet behind him.

He carefully placed the Starshine Potion in the center of the plate.

The runes on the crystal plate lit up one by one, emitting a soft light that enveloped the potion.

A few seconds later, the light faded, and several lines of fine silver characters appeared on the edge of the crystal plate.

Herman leaned closer to take a look, and the surprise in his eyes turned into seriousness.

"Estimated improvement in condensation efficiency...78% to 85%?"

Activity activation... quantifiable? And a slight tendency towards rule-based resonance guidance?

He looked up at Ian, his face showing shock that deepened his wrinkles.

Is this... the true genius potion master? This isn't just a simple improvement, it's an upgraded potion!

He himself is a potion master, but he can't upgrade a meditation potion in such a short time!

No wonder… Alyvia was so eager to introduce him to the Potions Department.

"How did you do that? The framework of the [Concentration Potion] is too rigid. Increasing the drug's activity can easily destroy the main effect of concentration, and the energy conflict is difficult to reconcile."

Hermann also attempted to improve the situation, but failed.

"We tried introducing a bit of a 'resonance-guided medium'," Ian replied rather vaguely.

"During the Demon Hunt, we came into contact with some special spiritual materials, which gave us some inspiration. The specific mixing method is still being optimized, and the stability needs more testing."

He didn't mention Banshee's Tear Crystal, nor did he mention Abyss Soul Contract or the character panel.

The truth is mixed with necessary concealment.

Herman stared at him for a few seconds, then suddenly laughed.

The smile was somewhat complex, containing both admiration and other meanings.

"Okay, very good." He sat back in his chair, tapping his fingers on the table.

"The progress is faster than I expected, but Wizard Marcus, you know the value of this thing, don't you?"

"Understood. So only these few have been successful so far. The materials for the remaining batches are scarce, and the success rate is low."

Ian then added, "We can't mass-produce it for now, and I even have to use it sparingly myself."

He needs to project an image of "breakthrough, but not yet mature, and costly."

This way, one can demonstrate value and attract Hermann's attention and protection without immediately becoming a target of public criticism.

Hermann nodded, seemingly accepting the explanation.

"Regarding the materials, you can write an application for me. The Potions Department offers special subsidies for valuable research and development."

As for the success rate... we'll have to keep working on it." He paused, his tone becoming more serious.

"Don't reveal the specific data about this to anyone for now. I'll keep an eye on things within the Potions Department for you, but..."

He looked at Ian with a serious expression.

"Those eyes outside won't close just because you've achieved some success."

On the contrary, they might be keeping a closer eye on him. I've spoken to Julian, but that guy... humph.

Hermann snorted and said nothing more, but his meaning was clear.

"I understand, thank you, Wizard Herman," Ian said, preparing to take his leave.

"Wait," Herman called out to him.

He took out a dark blue metal plate from the drawer, about half the size of his palm, with an emblem of crossed medicine bottles and test tubes etched on it.

"Take this; it's the core access pass for the Potions Department."

Some texts on the deeper theories of first-order potions, as well as some texts on second-order and forbidden materials, are located in the lower layers.

Go and take a look more often; it will benefit your future research.

Ian took the metal plate; it felt heavy and slightly cool to the touch.

Thank you.

As Ian left Herman's office, he felt a little lighter.

The piece of metal in his hand was a tangible benefit for him.

At least within the Potions Department, Herman is on his side for the time being.

This is enough.