Inside the Nightshadow Fortress, an overwhelming aura of negative energy lingered in the air, filling the surroundings with a bone-chilling cold.
Lynn followed closely behind, moving swiftly through the ancient fortress alongside his team.
He hadn't expected to run into his enemies, Riley and his companion, in this place. Fortunately, they had temporarily parted ways.
Though there was no immediate danger, Lynn remained on high alert, raising his guard to the highest level.
As they proceeded, they encountered very few living guards. Instead, they had to deal with magical beasts, golems, and various traps.
Fortunately, everyone on the team was highly vigilant, skillfully avoiding the lurking dangers.
At last, they arrived before a heavy stone door.
The squad leader stood in front of it, his eyes gleaming with excitement as he whispered,
"This should be the potion vault mentioned in the documents! No need to say more just make sure your storage artifacts are filled to the brim. You all get what I mean…"
With that, he took out an object resembling an identification token from his pocket and placed it into a recess on the door. Then, he began chanting a spell in a low voice.
The eerie cadence of the wizard's incantation reverberated in the air, causing the heavy stone door to tremble slightly. Dust drifted from the cracks.
"Clunk!"
With a deep rumble, the massive stone door slowly swung open, revealing the scene inside.
Before them lay a neatly arranged storage chamber, lined with rows of shelves, each containing numerous compartments designed for potion storage.
Although wartime efforts had led to many potions being requisitioned for military use, the remaining stock was still immensely valuable.
In fact, to the squad, the remaining potions were even more enticing!
That was because the potions taken for war were mostly for healing or short-term combat boosts.
What remained were the truly precious potions those that could enhance cultivation, strengthen one's realm, and accelerate one's progress in power.
Excitement flickered in the eyes of the squad members, and Lynn was no exception.
He rushed inside eagerly, his heartbeat quickening at the sight before him.
Having worked in the alchemy garden ever since entering the Furnace, he had managed to acquire potions through internal channels, though only in limited quantities.
Even with discounts, potions that enhanced cultivation remained prohibitively expensive.
A single bottle might have noticeable effects, but true improvement requires long-term accumulation.
High-grade potions that directly boosted power were even more exorbitantly priced far beyond what Lynn could afford.
Although his talent allowed him to achieve results comparable to potion-assisted growth through sheer effort, he had rarely used potions due to their high cost.
Yet now, standing before this vault brimming with rare potions, he could hardly contain his joy.
"A zero-cost shopping spree! And on my home turf, no less!"
Lynn's heart surged with excitement. This potion vault was nothing short of a treasure trove.
Moreover, having maxed out his progress in the "Introduction to Potion Processing" course at the alchemy garden, he was well-versed in potion classification and effects.
As the saying goes, "A chronic patient becomes a good doctor." Though Lynn's knowledge surpassed that of other apprentices, they weren't entirely clueless.
After all, they frequently purchased and used potions themselves, and over time, they had naturally gained some understanding.
"That area is for third-level wizard apprentices competition there will be fierce."
Lynn noticed that many apprentices had already swarmed toward that section.
Instead of joining the fray, he decided to prioritize potions that could enhance the mental power of second-level wizard apprentices like himself.
After all, that was still his current stage.
"Tears of the White Sun great for improving cultivation efficiency at my level. Taking it!"
"Mindy's Affection boosts mental power for second-level apprentices. A must-have! Taking it!"
"Ocean's Secret is useful for both second and third-level apprentices. Not missing out on this one! Taking it!"
The storage artifact provided by the squad had about three cubic meters of space ample room to store a large number of potions.
Lynn wasted no time and swept every suitable potion for second-level apprentices into his storage artifact.
After all, these were valuable to him, meaning others would prioritize them too. The sooner he took them, the better.
Once his storage artifact was nearly full, he glanced toward the third-level apprentices' section.
However, by the time he arrived, most of the potions there had already been snatched up.
Still, Lynn wasn't discouraged. Instead, he turned his attention to a special shelf.
Some apprentices had stopped there before, but most ultimately gave up and moved on.
The potions on this shelf were valuable, but they were mostly unfinished products requiring further processing.
Since many apprentices lacked alchemical knowledge, they couldn't recognize the true worth of these potions.
"Better to grab something I understand."
With that thought in mind, Lynn carefully examined the shelf.
"This one… judging by its sheen and color, it's likely a healing potion containing Three Tailed Butterfly Flower. No doubt about it taking it!"
"This one's color and form suggest it's a poison… better not risk it."
"This one should be an acceleration potion just one step away from completion. Must take it!"
Leveraging his knowledge of potion-making, Lynn identified several valuable unfinished potions.
Although they required further refinement, their potential was enough to excite him.
After all, not only were these potions rare, but once fully processed, their effects would be extraordinary.
Meanwhile, the other apprentices had almost finished looting whatever they could. The tension in the air was palpable.
At that moment, the squad leader shouted, "Pack up! We're leaving now!"
Lynn's heart tightened at the order. He knew they couldn't afford to waste more time.
Sweeping his gaze over the remaining potions, he searched for any hidden gems.
Suddenly, his eyes locked on a set of bottles on the second shelf.
Three small vials of grayish-brown liquid sat there, appearing utterly unremarkable at first glance.
Initially, Lynn dismissed them like everyone else.
But then
A flash of realization struck him like lightning. His pupils contracted sharply, his gaze turning razor-sharp.
He stepped closer, inspecting the vials with intense focus.
The next moment, his heart pounded violently as shock and exhilaration surged through him.
"Could this be…?"
He recognized these potions!
They were the very ones required for third-level apprentices attempting to break through to official wizard status detailed in the final chapters of "Introduction to Potion Processing."
"Even if they're unfinished, their value is astronomical!"
Lynn's breathing quickened. His fingers trembled slightly as he whispered to himself, his eyes filled with greed and excitement.
"No hesitation. Taking them now!"
Without a second thought, he removed some lesser potions from his storage artifact to make space and swiftly secured the three precious vials.
His heartbeat thundered in his chest, his palms slick with sweat.
There was no room for doubt these potions were far too valuable.
If anyone else realized what they were, it would spark a fierce battle, potentially turning the entire potion vault into a warzone.
Lynn quickly concealed the vials, stuffing them into his storage artifact and even the pockets of his robe. As he moved, the clinking of glass vials echoed softly.
He wasn't the only one his teammates were also frantically stuffing their pockets and storage tools with as many valuable potions as they could.
With their haul secured, the team hurriedly exited the potion vault, navigating the complex corridors of the Nightshadow Fortress.
But just as they were about to make their escape
A crushing pressure descended upon them as if a massive boulder had fallen from the sky.
Everyone's expressions changed drastically.
The air thickened with overwhelming negative energy. The suffocating presence was so heavy that it felt as though the entire space had been swallowed by a chilling, oppressive gloom.
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