Wizard: Surviving in the Steam Age with Points for Demon Hunter

Chapter 38 Potions Knowledge Tree

Potion science is defined as the use of materials with extraordinary properties, in specific proportions, through special techniques to continuously fuse and interact, ultimately forming the desired extraordinary potion.

As a unique and well-established support profession within the wizard class, potion-making involves a vast amount of knowledge.

Over the long course of research and evolution, modern wizards have divided potion science into five branches: materials science, pharmacology, compatibility studies, alchemy, and toxicology.

Materials science primarily studies the properties, classifications, formation methods, collection, and storage methods of various extraordinary materials.

Pharmacology is about understanding the effects of different magical potions on users, as well as their side effects; it's somewhat similar to conducting clinical trials.

Compatibility studies are relatively more complex, mainly studying the interactions between different potions and the appropriate combination of formulas when making potions.

Alchemy, on the other hand, explores how to refine and prepare pure, extraordinary properties, removing those parts that are prone to contamination and distortion.

At first, Wayne was puzzled as to why alchemy was placed under the branch of potions.

But after reading the contents of "Introduction to Potions - Basic Theory of Potions", he realized that alchemy was only a very small branch of alchemy.

Alchemy in the conventional sense has higher requirements and requires a wider range of knowledge than potion-making.

As for the last one, toxicology... it's the opposite of pharmacology in terms of research direction. It mainly focuses on how to utilize the pollution characteristics of extraordinary materials to create poisons that accelerate pollution or distortion.

Having read this, Wayne had a basic understanding of potions.

The categories are divided into very fine details, and the corresponding learning and research will consume more time.

However, these were still acceptable. He became frustrated when he saw the equipment and materials that might be needed to make potions.

Precision balance, crucible, isolation array, protective suit...

Each item costs over 1 gold pound, especially the Isolation Array, which requires 5 gold pounds to purchase.

Unconvinced, Wayne opened "Potion Recipes (Apprentice Edition)" and looked at the three potions listed: Enlightenment Potion, Healing Potion, and Mental Defense Potion.

Leaving aside the extraordinary materials required, the essential equipment for making these potions includes crucibles, precision balances, protective gloves, and material mixers...

These things together would cost around 7 gold pounds.

Next, he opened "Materials Science (Apprentice Edition)" and, referring to the formula, found those extraordinary materials.

The results were very encouraging—

For example, the Enlightenment Potion requires the essence of vengeful spirits, the brains of black toads, and the tentacles of an octopus from the Sea of ​​Cordoba, with each set of materials costing 15 shillings.

The selling price of the finished product is divided into three grades: low, medium, and high, depending on the quality of the potion. A low-grade Enlightenment potion sells for 18 shillings. After adding labor costs, it is equivalent to breaking even.

Wei En couldn't help but swear, "Are you robbing me?"

Forget 5 gold pounds, all the money he had combined was only enough to buy the base of the isolation array...

but,

He knew perfectly well that he couldn't afford not to buy these things.

Let's take the most expensive isolation array as an example.

When handling those extraordinary materials, some polluting properties will be released. Without the protection of an isolation array, one can only rely on one's own strength to withstand it.

He was fine with the kind of parchment in the González language, as his mental strength was enough to suppress it.

But if they encounter a contamination like the Source of Despair, most apprentices will die a horrible death.

"Looks like I can forget about trying to make potions today..."

Wayne sighed helplessly, then finished reading the rest of the potion-related knowledge.

Given his current mental level, remembering this information shouldn't be difficult for him.

However, if he had a choice, he would rather not remember.

Especially when learning about compatibility studies and alchemy, the research equipment needed for those experimental environments—each piece of it was astronomically expensive…

"No wonder potions are so expensive. Even without considering the losses during production, the initial investment alone is beyond what most people can afford."

Wayne now envies the wizard apprentices who are selected to study within the school, envying their access to the school's potion lab.

[You have successfully completed the study of the basics of Potions, unlocking the Potions knowledge tree. Evaluation: Poverty has limited your development; poor stranger. Special Rewards: Survival Points +3, Resilience Level +1.]

[Note: Potions was a groundbreaking invention; its emergence altered the course of destiny to some extent, but also brought misfortune in others.]

At this point, the panel indicated that the Potions Knowledge Tree had been activated.

Wayne glanced at them, then, too lazy to look any further, put away the rolls of parchment.

A knowledge tree without a single recipe, unable to even add points, what's the point of looking at it?

After tidying up his desk, Wayne turned on the "typewriter" and began uploading intelligence for the day.

I believe that the information we have gathered from today's investigation into the missing persons case in the slums will be enough to earn us more money.

He now feels like he's gone mad; after survival point anxiety, he's now suffering from gold pound anxiety syndrome.

Especially after seeing the costs associated with potion-making knowledge, their thirst for money intensified.

"August 10, 1578 (Gregorian calendar), sunny."

"Today, I risked great danger to infiltrate the Laos district of the Caster city-state to investigate the cause of the missing persons. Unfortunately, I witnessed the battle between the city-state's secret investigation department and the Thousand-Faced Claire of the Eternal Life Society..."

Out of caution, Wayne did not reveal that he had joined the Secret Investigation Division, but instead reported the entire intelligence gathering operation from a third-person perspective.

Just as he never explicitly told Lacey and the others that he was a wizarding apprentice, he always kept something in reserve.

"...After overcoming numerous difficulties, the missing 326 people were found deep within Laos. It was confirmed that these people had been sacrificed by the Cult of Despair and had become mummified corpses."

"in addition,"

At this point, Wayne pondered for a moment and decided not to report the information about the resurrected coffin of Taboo Item 034.

Firstly, the news about the forbidden object is too significant; secondly, the progress of reviving the coffin has already reached 20%, and after being spread by different schools of thought, the progress may reach 40%.

Furthermore, he was very worried that after reporting it, the liaison officer would directly assign him the task of investigating forbidden items.

If you can't even avoid them, why would you actively go for them? Wouldn't that make you brain-dead?

"There's still no information on the Dawn Church's chosen ones. I'll do my best to investigate, but given the Dawn Church's power in the city-state of Caster, I'm afraid..."

"Death is not the end of the journey of knowledge – Respectfully submitted by Wayne Loft, intelligence officer of Castel City."

Wayne described in detail the tyranny of the Church of Dawn and explained the difficulty of investigating the mission of the Favored Ones.

He tried to move the liaison officer with such writing, hoping she would grant him a few more days' grace.

It should be possible...

(End of this chapter)