Wizard: My skills can be upgraded indefinitely.

The three of them walked back the way they came.

The buildings lining the street cast long, thin shadows in the sunlight.

But Adele's steps were a little lighter than when she arrived.

It was noon when we returned to 12 Golden Oak Street.

Old Finn was organizing accounts behind the counter in the front hall when he heard the door open, but he didn't even look up.

The withered fingers fiddled with the abacus beads, making a crisp clinking sound.

"You're back?" His voice was hoarse, as if he were talking to himself.

"Hmm," Adele responded without saying anything more, and walked straight to the courtyard.

Old Finn raised his head, his cloudy eyes sweeping over the temporary badge on Ian's chest, then looking at the black bird peeking out from his shoulder.

He twitched the corner of his mouth, as if he were smiling, or perhaps he was making a helpless self-deprecating remark.

Then he lowered his head and continued fiddling with the abacus.

Ian didn't pay any attention.

He walked into the courtyard and stood under the half-withered old golden oak tree.

The quack flew down from his shoulder and landed beside the tree roots, scratching at the fallen leaves with its little paws, seemingly still angry.

Ian crouched down and reached out to rub its little head.

"Are you still angry?"

"Gah!" Gah raised its head, its heterochromatic eyes filled with grievance.

"They look down on you!"

"I know," Ian said calmly.

"Then why don't you...?"

"Because strength isn't something you can just talk about."

Ian interrupted it, gently stroking the feathers on its back with his fingers.

"Today they look down on me, but in the future... I will make them fear me."

Gaga tilted her head and looked at him.

Then it nodded its little head vigorously, and a tiny spark ignited in its heterochromatic eyes.

"Yeah! Ian, you're the best!"

Ian smiled and stood up.

He looked at the heavy metal door opposite the courtyard, the runes on the door shimmering faintly in the sunlight.

That was his battlefield.

Adele emerged from her room, holding a neatly folded piece of parchment.

She walked up to Ian and handed him the parchment.

"This is the current inventory list of materials in the workshop."

Her voice was soft, but her eyes were serious.

"Take a look and see what's missing, I'll go and get it right away."

Ian took the parchment and unfolded it.

The top is filled with a dense list of the names, quantities, and quality grades of dozens of materials.

Most of them are common Tier 1 potion ingredients, with varying quality and limited stock.

He quickly scanned the documents, his fingertips tapping on a few items.

"These are of too low quality and not pure enough."

He then pointed to several other items, "These are out of stock."

Adele frowned slightly. "I know about the workshop all these years..."

"It's okay," Ian interrupted her.

He took a quill pen from his dimensional ring and quickly wrote lines of text on the back of the parchment.

The scratching sound of the pen tip gliding across the paper was particularly clear in the quiet courtyard.

Adele watched quietly.

Old Finn had somehow arrived at the courtyard entrance, leaning against the doorframe, a pipe between his withered fingers.

The smoke rose slowly, obscuring the expression on his face.

But those cloudy eyes, through the smoke, fell on the pen in Ian's hand.

After Ian finished writing, he handed the parchment to Adele.

"This is my list of materials."

Adele took the paper and glanced at the words on it.

Her pupils contracted slightly.

"These materials... have very high quality requirements, and some of them..."

"I know," Ian nodded, "but you just said that you'd get whatever you're missing."

He paused, then added, "A week."

Edel looked up at him.

"A week?"

"Yes." Ian's voice was calm, yet carried an undeniable certainty.

"I will produce a batch of finished products in a moment."

"What finished product?"

"Starlight Potion"

Adele's breath caught in her throat for a moment.

She stared at Ian, her eyes filled with surprise, doubt, and a hint of anticipation.

"Starlight Potion...is it really as effective as you say?"

"It's even better than you think," Ian replied confidently.

Don't underestimate this first-tier potion; the sheer size of the wizarding world means they are among the most affluent and high-end consumers.

Adele was silent for a moment, looking down at the list in her hand, her fingers tightening slightly.

Then she looked up and took a deep breath.

"it is good."

Her voice was soft, yet resolute.

"A week later, there will be a small-scale exchange of supplies within the family, which all heirs must attend."

"I will bring your medicine with me then."

She paused, her eyes sharpening.

"As initial proof of my 'resource capabilities'."

Ian nodded. "That's enough."

Adele said no more, put away the list, turned and strode quickly toward the front hall.

She needed to prepare the ingredients immediately, hoping to produce a large quantity of potions and become an instant sensation; time was of the essence.

Old Finn was still leaning against the doorframe, smoke slowly rising from his pipe.

He watched Adele's hurried departure, then glanced at Ian standing in the courtyard.

Then he looked away, turned around and walked back to the front hall.

They didn't say anything.

But Ian could sense a subtle scrutiny in those cloudy eyes.

Only Ian and Gaga remained in the courtyard.

Ian walked to the metal door and took out the key that old Finn had given him from his dimensional ring.

Insert the key into the lock and turn it.

With a click, the door opened.

A musty smell wafted over, a mixture of herbs, metal, and a faint hint of dust.

Ian stepped inside.

Inside the door is a sunken space with steps extending downwards.

The walls were inlaid with luminous crystals, the light dim, barely illuminating the way ahead.

The quack perched on his shoulder, its little eyes warily scanning its surroundings.

At the end of the steps was a heavy wooden door.

Pushing open the door, a breathtaking view unfolded before my eyes.

This is an underground laboratory of about fifty square meters.

In the center was a large, black stone workbench, on which various utensils were placed: crucibles, flasks, distillation apparatus, grinding bowls...

The walls are lined with rows of storage cabinets, with labels on the doors indicating the names of the materials used.

In the corner, there was a small energy furnace. The fire had been extinguished, but there were still burn marks on the furnace wall.

Ian walked to the lab bench and ran his hand across the surface.

The fingertips feel cool to the touch, and there is no dust.

Old Finn has indeed been taking care of this place; although the equipment is old, it is still in working order.

He opened the locker and checked the materials inside one by one.

The quality varies greatly, and some have been stored for too long, resulting in a significant loss of medicinal properties.

But most of them... are barely usable.

Ian sat down at the lab table and took out several materials he carried with him from his dimensional ring.

Then, he closed his eyes.

Within the sea of ​​consciousness, the pale golden crystallized core slowly rotated.

The 10% progress in elementalization made his senses extremely sharp.

He can "hear" the most subtle energy flow inside materials and "see" the changes in medicinal properties at different temperatures.

The special effect "Insight" of [Basic Potions] begins to operate under the drive of mental power.

Ian opened his eyes and raised his right hand.

With fingers loosely clenched, five pale golden threads appeared above the palm.

The filaments twisted like living things, then suddenly extended, precisely coiling up several materials on the lab bench.

The grinding bowl flies up automatically, and the material falls into it.

The fine filament begins to rotate, causing the material inside the grinding bowl to grind rapidly.

It is not a brutal crushing, but a meticulous decomposition that follows the texture and energy flow of the material.

Every trace of medicinal properties has been perfectly preserved.

Every impurity is precisely removed.

Gaga squatted in the corner of the lab table, her little eyes wide open.

It looked at the golden filament in Ian's hand, and then at the material in the grinding bowl that was gradually turning into fine powder.

Then it tilted its head, its heterochromatic eyes full of curiosity.

"Ian, what is this?"

"The Wizard's Hand," Ian said calmly.

"But I made some slight improvements."

He paused, then added, "I call it [Wizard's Hand - Deep Enchantment]."

Imbue with spirituality, control with precision.

This is his improvement of basic sorcery, based on his understanding of the rules of the stars through the Seed of the Stars, within the Protoss ruins.

Although it's only a prototype, the effect... has already far exceeded expectations.

Grinding complete.

The powder fell into the flask, and Ian pressed down with his left hand, a gentle fire magic condensing in his palm.

It's not about direct heating, but about precisely controlling the temperature so that the flames envelop the flask like flowing water.

The temperature curve was clearly presented in his mind.

35 degrees... 50 degrees... 70 degrees...

Every step is precise down to the millimeter.

time flies.

The only sounds in the laboratory were the faint hiss of the burning flames and the soft gurgling of the materials as they fused in the solution.

Ian was completely focused.

His movements were fluid, precise, and without any unnecessary actions.

It is like a sophisticated metalworking machine, yet it possesses a certain indescribable spirituality that transcends mere machinery.

Four hours later.

The laboratory door was pushed open.

Old Finn stood in the doorway, holding a wooden tray with simple food and water on it.

He had only intended to deliver some food, but when he opened the door and saw the scene in front of the lab bench, he stopped in his tracks.

His thin, bony fingers tightened slightly, and the edge of the tray creaked softly.

What did he see?

The young wizard whom he considered "from a remote island and of no use" was sitting in front of the experimental table.

With his right hand clenched loosely, five pale golden threads danced in the air as if they were alive.

Simultaneously controlling three flasks, a distillation apparatus, and a mortar that is automatically grinding.

A gentle flame floats in the palm of his left hand, splitting into three streams that precisely envelop three crucibles at different temperatures.

Ian's face showed no signs of fatigue or strain.

His gaze was focused and calm, as if he were doing something extremely simple.

But old Finn knew it was by no means simple.

Simultaneously controlling five energy filaments, precisely processing five different materials, and maintaining three different flame temperatures...

This requires a level of mental control far exceeding that of an ordinary level two wizard.

Even... many second-tier potion masters can't do that.

Old Finn's breathing quickened slightly.

He stood there silently, watching quietly.

Two more hours passed.

Ian finally stopped what he was doing.

The five golden threads slowly dissipated, and the flame in the left hand also quietly went out.

He stood there silently, watching quietly.

Two more hours passed.

Ian finally stopped what he was doing.

The five golden threads slowly dissipated, and the flame in the left hand also quietly went out.

On the lab table, twelve crystal bottles are neatly arranged.

The liquid inside the bottle is a deep, starry blue, with tiny silver specks slowly swirling within, like a miniature galaxy.

An improved version of Starshine Potion.

Ian picked up one, held it up to his eyes, and examined it carefully.

The purity... is several percentage points higher than the highest purity he achieved in Anoria.

This is an enhancement brought about by the elementalization of spiritual power.

His keen sense of rules allows him to remove impurities more accurately and preserve the medicinal properties more perfectly when processing materials.

He put down the crystal bottle and turned around.

That's when they saw old Finn standing at the door.

"Finn the Wizard." Ian's voice was calm, showing no signs of fatigue.

Old Finn was silent for two seconds, then stepped into the laboratory.

He placed the tray on a corner of the lab bench, his gaze falling on the crystal bottles.

Withered fingers reached out and picked up a [something].

Hold it up to your eyes, facing the light.

The starry blue liquid flowed under the light of the crystal, and the silver specks inside rotated slowly as if they were alive.

Old Finn's pupils contracted slightly.

What did he see?

The purity is... terrifyingly high.

He had seen countless Tier 1 potions in his life, and had also refined quite a few himself.

But I have never seen such a...perfect finished product.

It contains almost no impurities, its medicinal properties are extremely pure, and its energy fluctuations are stable and surging.

This goes beyond what can be described as "high purity".

This is... a work of art.

Old Finn's fingers trembled slightly.

It wasn't excitement, but a deep-seated shock.

He slowly put down the crystal bottle and looked up at Ian.

The indifference and scrutiny that had been in his cloudy eyes were gone.

Instead, a complex emotion arose.

Surprise, doubt, and a hint of... indescribable admiration.

"You…" Old Finn began, his voice hoarser than usual, "How did you do that?"

Ian did not answer directly.

He walked to the lab bench, picked up a quill pen, and quickly wrote a few lines on a blank piece of parchment.

Then he handed it to old Finn.

"This is an improved method for processing 'evening primrose' and 'stardust sand'."

Old Finn took it and glanced at the writing on the paper.

His pupils contracted again.

What's recorded there isn't just a simple set of steps.

It involves precise analysis of the material's energy pathways, redesign of temperature curves, and accurate timing for impurity removal.

Every detail points directly to the core issue.

Each improvement increases the retention of medicinal properties by at least 5 percentage points.

This is no longer just a "skill".

This is... a profound understanding of the essence of potions.

Old Finn raised his head and looked at Ian; this time, his eyes had completely changed.

"You... are not a first-tier potion master."

His voice was soft, yet carried a certain certainty.

Ian smiled, neither confirming nor denying.

"Miss Adele needs samples of this medicine in a week."

He paused and looked at old Finn.

"The workshop's material inventory needs to be replenished, the quality needs to be improved, and the equipment... also needs to be updated."

Old Finn was silent for two seconds, and then... he slowly nodded.

"I understand." The answer was brief.

This stubborn and aloof old wizard felt both pity and helplessness towards Adele.

At this moment... a choice has already been made.

He will do everything he can to help Ian.

For Edelweiss, and also for... this terrifyingly young yet unfathomable potion master before me.

Old Finn turned around, ready to leave.

He stopped at the door and turned around.

"The Wizard Marcus".

His voice was still hoarse, but there was a hint of respect in his tone.

"From now on, you'll be in charge of the workshop."

After saying that, he pushed open the door and went out.

The laboratory fell silent again.

Ian stood there, watching the figure disappear through the doorway, a slight smile playing on his lips.

A bird flew over and landed on his shoulder.

"Ian, that old man... seems to have accepted you, huh?"

"A very clear understanding." Ian nodded and reached out to rub its little head.

"But this is just the beginning."

He looked at the twelve vials of Starlight Potion on the lab table; the starry blue liquid flowed under the light.

He also plans to take advantage of the potion workshop to further improve the [Earth Bear Potion].

"If... the effect can reach the second tier..."

Ian felt a surge of heat in his heart, but he quickly regained his composure.

He still lacks some knowledge in improving second-tier bloodline potions and needs to broaden his knowledge of advanced potion science.

For now, a level one meditation potion is enough.

A week later, there will be a family-wide exchange of supplies.

He will make everyone remember this name.

Ian Marcus.

"This...is really just the beginning."