Wizard: My skills can be upgraded indefinitely.

The day after the exchange meeting ended.

In the evening, the shadow cast by the old golden oak tree in the courtyard of No. 12 Golden Oak Street stretched long and thin.

Ian sat on a stone bench under a tree, fiddling with an empty crystal bottle in his hand.

The traces of starry blue remaining on the bottle wall shimmered faintly in the twilight.

Gaga squatted on his lap, her little head tilted, her eyes fixed on the light spots on the bottle wall, as if deep in thought.

"Ian," it whispered.

"Are we... going to be targeted by a lot of people?"

Ian's fingers gently traced the surface of the bottle. A cool sensation travels through your fingertips.

"Mmm." His voice was very soft.

Just then, footsteps came from the front hall, more than one.

Ian looked up.

Edel walked out of the corridor, followed by two people.

A witch dressed in a deep purple robe with silver trim, who looked to be around thirty years old, with a gentle face and clear eyes.

Her upper body proportions were exaggerated, but her steps were steady and her back was straight.

The other was a young girl in a gray apprentice robe, with her head down, holding a dark wooden box in her hands.

Old Finn followed behind them, his back hunched, a pipe in his hand, smoke rising slowly in the twilight.

His gaze fell on Ian, his expression carrying a hint of warning.

Edel walked to the center of the courtyard and stopped.

She looked at Ian, her eyes showing a hint of nervousness, but her expression remained calm.

"Ian, this is my fifth sister, Ashia Just."

She stepped aside, making way for the purple-robed witch behind her.

Aisha stepped forward half a step, placed her right hand on her chest, and performed a standard family salute.

His movements were fluid and natural, displaying the precise habits unique to alchemists.

"Good day, Wizard Marcus."

Her voice was gentle, but Ian sensed that beneath her gentle exterior lay a solid and profound spiritual power.

"At the initial stage of Level 2, the foundation is solid."

What Ian was concerned about was the mixed scent of various potions emanating from her.

This is because he has been immersed in the laboratory for many years, and even his mental energy has been tainted by the smell.

Ian stood up and nodded slightly.

"Miss Ashia."

The squeaky bird flew off his knee and landed on his shoulder, its little eyes watching Aisha warily.

Aisha's gaze lingered on Gaga for a moment, a hint of surprise flashing in her eyes.

But she quickly looked away, and a gentle smile returned to her face.

Please forgive my intrusion in visiting.

She looked at Ian, her tone carrying just the right amount of apology.

"I heard that my sister has recruited a highly skilled potion master, and I can't contain my curiosity. I'd like to come and exchange ideas with him."

Her words were polite, but the meaning behind them was clear.

This is to probe the bottom.

Adele's eyes narrowed slightly as she looked at Ian, her lips moving as if she wanted to say something.

But Ian had already nodded.

"Please come in." He then stepped aside to let people into the laboratory.

A glint of light flashed in Aisha's eyes. Without hesitation, she stepped into the laboratory.

The apprentice carrying the wooden box followed closely behind her, his steps as light as a cat's.

Edel and old Finn followed them inside.

The lights were already on in the laboratory.

Crystals are inlaid on the wall, emitting a soft white light that illuminates the entire space.

On the experimental table, the traces left from last night's refining process have been cleaned up.

But the crisp, starlight-like scent in the air remained strong.

The moment Aisha stepped into the laboratory, her steps faltered almost imperceptibly.

She took a deep breath and closed her eyes.

Two seconds later, she opened her eyes again and looked at Ian, without the previous vague scrutiny.

"This aura..."

She muttered to herself, her voice filled with barely suppressed surprise.

"I've never heard of Starshine Potion, but its purity... is ridiculously high."

Aisha walked to the lab bench and gently ran her fingers across the cool, black stone surface.

The touch of my fingertips revealed the extremely subtle temperature differences left over from last night's flames.

Those are marks left by uneven heating of the stone when different crucibles are heated at different temperatures.

Ordinary people wouldn't be able to sense it, but Aisha could.

Her fingertips lingered in one spot for a moment, then slowly lifted.

"Seven crucibles, heated simultaneously."

She looked up at Ian.

"The temperature curve should have at least three gradients, with an error of no more than two degrees above or below."

Her voice was soft, but every word was like a hammer blow, striking the silent laboratory.

Adele stood in the doorway, her breathing slightly rapid.

Old Finn leaned against the doorframe, smoke slowly rising from his pipe, his cloudy eyes fixed on Ashia with a complex expression.

Ian's face remained expressionless; he simply nodded.

He had read Aisha's information on the spaceship and knew that she was also a highly talented potion master.

Aisha stared at him for a full three seconds, then suddenly laughed.

It was a genuine laugh from the heart, filled with a sense of excitement and awe.

"very good."

She took a deep breath and turned to look at the apprentice holding the wooden box.

"Take the things out."

The apprentice stepped forward, placed the wooden box on the lab table, and carefully opened the lid.

The box was lined with dark blue velvet, on which were neatly stacked a dozen or so thick rolls of parchment.

The paper roll was bound with silver thread, and its surface was branded with intricate magic potion symbols.

Aisha picked up the top roll and gently unfolded it.

The parchment was covered with neatly written text and diagrams.

It includes analytical diagrams of material energy pathways, design formulas for temperature curves, guidance on timing for impurity removal, and even deductions for alternative solutions to certain rare materials.

Every line of text reveals a systematic, rigorous, and deeply ingrained mastery of potion science.

Ian's gaze fell on the charts.

Within the sea of ​​consciousness, the pale golden crystallized core trembled slightly.

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

He could "see" the profound understanding of the essence of the potion hidden behind those charts.

That's... a knowledge system that only second-tier potion masters can access.

Ashia pushes the parchment toward Ian.

"These are some of the notes I've compiled over the years."

Her voice was calm, but her eyes were serious.

"From the first to the second order, basic theory, material processing, formula improvement, and even... the edge of certain forbidden techniques."

She paused, then added, "It's not available in stores."

Ian didn't take it immediately; instead, he looked up at Ashia.

"If there's anything you need to say, talk to Adel."

His voice was direct, without any beating around the bush.

Ian will not have direct contact with any forces; this is his bottom line.

Adele was taken aback, then gave Ian a grateful look.

A hint of appreciation flashed in Aisha's eyes. "I enjoy dealing with people who keep their promises."

She withdrew her hand, her fingertips tapping lightly on the edge of the lab bench, and looked at Adele.

"First, I need the exclusive supply rights to the Starlight Potions and Bloodline Potions you refine."

"Prices will be 20% higher than market prices, with a minimum of one hundred Starshine Potions and fifty Bloodline Potions per month."

"Second..." Her eyes deepened.

"At certain crucial moments, I need my sister Edel... to be on my side."

Her words were vague, but the meaning was clear.

Alliances with limited scope, alliances based on shared interests.

Adele's pupils contracted slightly.

She looked at Ian, her lips pressed tightly together, her fingertips unconsciously digging into her palm.

Ian was silent for two seconds, then looked at Adele.

"What do you think?" He handed the decision back to the other party.

Adele took a deep breath and looked at Ashia with a complicated expression.

There was vigilance, weighing of options, and a deep-seated sense of anticipation as a glimmer of hope finally appeared.

Fifth Sister.

Her voice was a little hoarse, but very firm.

"Can you promise... you won't drag me down with you?"

Aisha laughed, a laugh tinged with a bitter self-mockery.

"Sister Adele, do you think I... still have the right to drag anyone down with me?"

She pointed to the silver badge on her chest that represented fourth place, her eyes dimming for a moment.

"My eldest brother is staring at me, my second brother is staring at me, and even that idiot third brother wants to kick me while I'm down."

"The only reason I'm still alive is because they haven't had the time to deal with me yet."

Her voice was soft, yet it pierced the air like an icicle.

The laboratory was deathly silent.

Only the crystal lights cast a steady halo on the wall.

Looking at the weariness and resentment hidden deep in Ashia's eyes, Adele felt as if something had squeezed her heart.

She recalled her struggles outside, the torment on her way back, and the mocking looks she received in the lobby yesterday.

Then, she nodded slowly, her tone resolute.

"it is good."

A light suddenly shone in Aisha's eyes.

She took a deep breath and took out a palm-sized silver contract scroll from her sleeve.

Complex runes flowed across the surface of the scroll, emanating a faint contractual aura.

"Verbal agreements are too vague; let's make a written contract."

She spread the reel out on the lab table, bit her fingertip, and dripped a drop of bright red blood.

The blood fell into the center of the scroll, and was instantly absorbed by the runes, which then glowed faintly.

Without hesitation, Adele also bit her fingertip and made a blood oath.

The light flickered three times and then slowly went out.

The contract is established.

Aisha put away the reel, a gentle smile returning to her face, and a hint of relief in her eyes.

She pushed the wooden box toward Ian. "This knowledge of potions is yours."

Ian reached out and took it, his fingertips touching the cool surface of the parchment.

He felt a slight surge of excitement; his hard work in refining the medicine over the past few days had not been in vain.

He understood what the knowledge contained in these notes meant.

That is the ladder to a higher level, the key to improving medicine and broadening horizons.

Aisha turned to leave.

As she reached the laboratory door, she suddenly stopped and turned around.

His gaze fell on Ian, and his eyes became meaningful.

"The Wizard Marcus".

Her voice was very soft, so soft that only a few people nearby could hear it.

"The waters of Ister City run deep. Potions masters are certainly valuable, but in such a crucial period as the competition for clan leadership..."

She paused, a cold smile curving her lips.

"It's easy for 'accidents' to happen."

After saying that, she didn't linger and turned to leave with her apprentice.

The footsteps faded into the distance in the corridor, eventually disappearing with the sound of a door being pushed open.

The laboratory fell silent again.

Adele stood there, watching the figure disappear through the doorway, lost in thought.

Old Finn straightened up from beside the door frame and slowly exhaled a puff of smoke.

"Miss Ashia...has a past grudge against Edmund."

His voice was hoarse, like sandpaper being rubbed.

"Three years ago, a subsidiary family of her mother's lineage was secretly wiped out by her elder brother's men over the ownership of a mine."

He paused, his cloudy eyes looking at Ian.

"Her visit this time is less about forming an alliance and more about... finding a way out for herself."

Ian remained silent, his fingers gently tracing the parchment scrolls inside the wooden box.

He looked up at old Finn. "I understand."

After Edel saw Ashia off, old Finn didn't linger. He finished his last puff of cigarette and turned back to the front hall.

Silence returned to the courtyard.

Ian sat down at the lab table and opened the wooden box.

Rolls of parchment were laid out under the light, densely covered with text and charts, like a vast ocean.

He was completely absorbed in it.

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

The 10% progress in elementalization has boosted his thinking speed, comprehension ability, memory capacity, and so on to a terrifying level.

He quickly scanned the notes.

From a systematic review of first-order fundamental theories to an in-depth analysis of the energy dynamics of second-order materials.

From the precise design of the temperature profile to the timing of impurity removal.

Even... certain forbidden techniques involving the modification of bloodline potions.

Each line of text was like a key, unlocking the tightly closed doors in his mind.

Countless inspirations burst forth, collide, and recombine in my mind.

Possible improvements to [Starlight Potion]...

If a trace amount of "Void Crystal" powder is added, its spatial properties can be used to stabilize the medicinal properties, which may increase the purity by another five percentage points.

No, perhaps we could try using "Stardust Sand" and "Dark Moon Vine," a variant of "Evening Primrose," as substitutes, utilizing the principle of yin and yang to further eliminate impurities...

There's also the upgraded [Rock Bear Potion] and [Earth Bloodline Potion] fusion and improvement...

Both of these potions originate from the same source, with their core ingredient being the essence blood of earth-attribute magical beasts.

If we use the "Earth Resonance" property of the [Rock Bear Potion] as a base, and incorporate the other effects of the [Earth Bloodline Potion]...

In terms of materials, his [Bloodline Purification Technique] will break through its limits again in a very short time, provided there is sufficient essence and blood.

The high-purity blood essence refined through three breakthroughs... used to create bloodline potions...

Ian's eyes grew brighter and brighter.

The fingertips tapped unconsciously on the lab table, making a crisp "knock-knock" sound.

In my mind, recipes are being rapidly deduced, optimized, and reconstructed.

With the panel's unparalleled feedback function, the results of each deduction are clearly presented.

As one flawed path after another is rejected, the direction of integration becomes increasingly clear.

He now... only needs enough first-tier or higher magical beast essence blood.

Bloodline potions made from this blood essence will be of far superior quality to those crudely made products on the market.

Even... Ian looked up at Gaga, who was perched on his shoulder.

The little guy seemed to sense his gaze, tilting his head and looking at him with curiosity in his gray eyes.

"Ian, what's wrong?"

Ian reached out and gently rubbed its little head.

"quack."

His voice was soft, yet it carried a certain barely suppressed excitement.

"We might... not have to wait for the Eternal Shadow Remnant."

Gaga's little eyes suddenly widened, "Really?!"

"Hmm." Ian nodded, his eyes deep.

"As long as we collect enough blood essence from first-tier, or even second-tier, bird-type magical beasts."

"I used the Bloodline Purification Technique, which I had broken through three times, to refine the blood essence to the highest purity."

"After you take it..."

He paused, then said, word by word, "You are very likely to break through to the second tier directly."

Gaga was stunned, its little paws gripping Ian's shoulders tightly, its eyes shining with an unprecedented light.

The light was blazing and yearning, carrying a long-suppressed expectation.

"Ian..." Its voice trembled slightly.

"Can I really...do I?"

Ian looked at it, and a firm smile slowly curved his lips.

"If I say it's possible, then it definitely is."

He reached into the wooden box and pulled out a scroll of notes about the improvement of bloodline potions, then spread it out under the light.

The parchment, covered with densely packed charts and formulas, gleamed with the light of the crystal.

"Based on this knowledge..." His fingertips brushed over the words, his eyes sharp as knives.

"And my [Bloodline Purification Technique], and..."

A panel no one has ever known before!

He looked up at the deep night sky outside the laboratory window.

In the heart of East City, the crystal ball atop the Time Trace Tower illuminates a large portion of the city's night sky.

Beneath the calm surface, turbulent undercurrents surge.

And he has already grasped the key to breaking the deadlock.

"Gaga, we... will have everything."

Inspired by Ian's confidence, Gaga nodded vigorously, nuzzling his cheek with her little head.

"Ian, I believe in you!"

Ian looked away and returned his gaze to the notes on the lab table.

Under the light, his gaze was focused and calm.

Like the brightest star in the night sky.

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