Is the closed beta test of King of Loque over? The official release is here!

Murong Sha stopped skewering the food, raised her head, her blue eyes calm as still water, and spoke in a measured tone.

"Don't panic."

She glanced in the direction Mo Fan had left outside the market, her calm voice carrying a sense of certainty.

“We still have Mo Fan.”

Upon hearing this, Murong Jiao turned around, her almond-shaped eyes filled with anxiety and dissatisfaction.

"Where did Mo Fan go? Why isn't he back yet?!"

She puffed out her cheeks, her tone both anxious and angry.

"It's infuriating! Everyone else has seven people working, but we only have three! And he just left with a 'I have a special idea' and ran off! What special idea could be more important than having an extra pair of hands to help with the work?!"

Murong Sha did not respond.

She gazed at the path leading deep into the tribe in the distance, her eyes flickering slightly.

She believed that Mo Fan wouldn't make baseless accusations.

But at this moment, they really can't hold on much longer.

-

at the same time.

Inside the medicine hut, the aroma of herbs was so thick it was almost palpable.

Mo Fan stood in front of the workbench, in front of him were ground powder, chopped berry scraps, and several used mortars. A thin layer of sweat beaded on his forehead, but his hands moved without the slightest hesitation.

last step.

He mixed the powdered cinnamon with two other dried and ground medicinal herbs in a specific ratio and repeatedly ground them with a stone pestle. As the powder was ground, it gradually blended together, changing from light brown to a deep ochre red, and a strong and complex aroma rose from the stone mortar.

Spicy, sweet aftertaste, with a warm woody finish.

Mo Fan stopped and leaned closer to smell it.

It became.

He poured the powder into an empty medicine bottle, the bottle still bearing faint traces of where the medicine had been previously filled. Then, he turned to the other side of the workbench.

There, in a slightly larger stone bowl, was a bowl of thick, dark red liquid.

This is something he spent even longer developing—using the juice of the Fiery Fruit as a base, adding an extract of Sour Vine to neutralize the spiciness, then adding ground Star Point Ma to provide a layer of numbing and aromatic flavor, and finally thickening and flavoring it with a resin called "Honeywood".

The entire process was less like drug manufacturing and more like a sophisticated chemical experiment.

Chapter 225 Pandonog Official Pharmacist

The dosage of each ingredient was determined by Mo Fan through repeated trial and error based on the pharmacological knowledge he had learned from Elder Mu Yuan during this period.

He dipped a bamboo stick in the sauce and put it in his mouth.

The tip of the tongue first experiences a warm stimulation, followed by a sweet and sour aftertaste, and finally leaves a lingering numbing fragrance that stays in the mouth for a long time.

Mo Fan let out a breath.

"It's finally done."

He carefully poured the sauce into another medicine bottle, the liquid in which was viscous and clung noticeably to the sides of the bottle.

Two bottles are placed side by side on the worktable. One is powder, the other is sauce.

They may look unremarkable, but Mo Fan knew perfectly well that these two things were the real nuclear weapons in today's barbecue competition.

The other two teams can copy the package deals, the pricing strategies, and the sales pitches.

But they can't take this.

Because they lacked pharmaceutical skills, Elder Muyuan's herb bank, and the pharmacological knowledge accumulated over this period.

This is the real technological barrier.

"Oh? You're done?"

Footsteps sounded behind him. Elder Mu Yuan had stood up from the stone bench in the corner at some point and walked unhurriedly to the control panel.

His cloudy eyes stared at the two bottles, his nostrils twitching as if trying to discern the scents within.

"This is the potion you made, the one that can be used for everyday purposes...?"

Mu Yuan's tone was a little strange, emphasizing the word "medicine" as if he was unsure whether to use it.

“That’s right, Mr. Kimoto.”

Mo Fan picked up the first bottle, uncorked it, and turned the bottle opening toward Mu Yuan.

"This is barbecue seasoning. It's made primarily with senna, combined with roasted bitter bud seeds and dried, ground rock salt flowers. Sprinkled on grilled meat, it can mask the gamey smell of the meat while enhancing the caramelized aroma during grilling. The higher the temperature, the stronger the aroma."

Mu Yuan leaned closer and sniffed it, raising an eyebrow slightly.

Mo Fan picked up the second bottle.

"This is a barbecue sauce. The spiciness and base flavor are provided by the 'bursting fruit', the 'sour vine' neutralizes the spiciness and adds layers, the 'starry sesame' is responsible for the numbing and fragrant finish, and the honeywood resin is used as a thickener to allow the sauce to coat the surface of the food without dripping."

He paused, then added, "Some people don't like a dry texture, especially with vegetarian skewers. They lose a lot of moisture during the later stages of grilling and become tough. But if you brush on this sauce, it not only locks in the moisture but also gives the vegetables, which are not easy to flavor, their full flavor."

Mu Yuan didn't say anything.

He took the sauce bottle from Mo Fan, held it up to his eyes, turned the bottle, and watched the dark red liquid inside slowly flow out.

Then he picked up the powder bottle, poured a little into his palm, rubbed it between his fingertips, and brought it to his nose to smell it.

The silence lasted for a long time.

So long that Mo Fan thought the elder was about to scold him for "wasting resources".

however--

"Wait for me a moment."

Mu Yuan put down the bottle, turned around and walked towards the wooden stairs inside the hut, his steps a little faster than usual.

Mo Fan stood there, somewhat bewildered.

I heard sounds of something being rummaged through upstairs, the creaking of wooden crates being opened and closed, and the rustling of fabric being pulled back.

About half a cup of tea later, Mu Yuan's footsteps came down the stairs.

He walked up to Mo Fan and stopped.

Then extend your hand.

In the palm of my hand lies a badge.

The badge was small, about two fingers wide, and shaped like a unfolded leaf. Mo Fan couldn't tell what the material was; it looked neither like metal nor wood. What he saw was a layer of shimmering emerald green, as if it were a fresh leaf just picked from a branch, still carrying the vitality of dew.

"In accordance with the tradition of Pandonog pharmacists."

Mu Yuan's voice became serious, completely different from the somewhat irritable and helpless old man he had been before.

"A pharmacist apprentice, if he can independently create his own potion—"

He paused for a moment and looked at Mo Fan.

"That means he has officially become a Pandonog pharmacist."

"And now."

Mu Yuan pushed his palm toward Mo Fan.

"You've passed."

Mo Fan stared at the badge for a moment, stunned.

"...Teacher Mugen, but what I made isn't exactly a potion," he said truthfully. "It's just seasoning at best."

Mu Yuan's lips twitched, as if he were about to laugh or sigh, before finally turning into a short hum.

"No. You're right about one thing."

His voice lowered, carrying a hint of wistful reminiscence.

"Pharmacology isn't just for combat. It's equally important for daily life. I've been a pharmacist for decades, and all I've thought about is how to heal wounds, detoxify, and strengthen the body... but I've never considered that these things can also help people eat better and live more comfortably."

Mu Yuan looked at Mo Fan, a glimmer of light flashing in his cloudy eyes.

"Therefore, I acknowledge your achievements."

"Take it. This badge is yours."

Mo Fan remained silent for two seconds.

Then he reached out and took the emerald green leaf badge.

The moment I touched it, a warm sensation spread through my fingertips, like holding a small ball of sunlight.

At the same time, a familiar notification sound rang in my mind.

[Ding! You have obtained a special job change item—the Pandonog Formal Pharmacist Badge.]

[Pandonog Official Pharmacist Badge (Personally bound, non-tradeable; possessing this badge grants the holder the status of an official Pandonog Pharmacist.)]

[Title Obtained: Pandonog Certified Pharmacist]

[Pharmacist (Entry-level) → Pandonog Pharmacist (Junior)]

[Pandonog Pharmacist (Junior): Masters Pandonog's unique pharmaceutical techniques, enabling the creation of mastered medicines using similar materials.]

[Potions already mastered: Pandonog HP Potion, Pandonog PP Potion, Pandonog BBQ Seasoning (unnamed), Pandonog Sauce (unnamed)]

Mo Fan looked at the information on the panel, his breath catching in his throat slightly.

Certified pharmacist.

The significance of this title goes far beyond the two lines written on the panel. It signifies that he has transitioned from an "apprentice" to a "formal practitioner" in the pharmaceutical industry.

The road ahead is now clear and bright.

"Thank you very much, Professor Muyuan." Mo Fan carefully put away the badge and said earnestly.

Mu Yuan then said: "Give these two potions I made for you names."

Mo Fan was taken aback, then thought for a moment: Let's call it Spicy Powder and Honey Sauce.