Inside the laboratory, Lynn focused intently as he began his work.
His hands moved fluidly across the experiment table, each motion precise and swift, exuding a rhythm unique to him like a master craftsman meticulously sculpting his masterpiece.
Every stir, every application of heat, every carefully measured drop of reagent reflected his confidence and composure, honed through countless practices.
The liquid in the beaker began to emit a faint glow, its color gradually shifting from deep brown to warm amber, as though a miracle was quietly unfolding.
Lynn's gaze remained steady, his heart as calm as still water.
Long before accepting his mandatory mission, he had already maxed out his progress as an apprentice potion master, making him a fully qualified official potion maker.
After returning, he repeatedly practiced, ensuring every detail was executed flawlessly.
Although this was his first attempt at refining the completed potion, his actions were already exceptionally skilled, with hardly any hesitation.
The scent of herbs grew richer in the laboratory. On the workstation, several beakers were arranged, most containing auxiliary ingredients, but the most crucial one was a beaker holding the amber-colored main potion.
Refining an official potion especially one related to a full-fledged wizard was far more challenging than before, requiring complex and rare materials.
Yet, none of this was unfamiliar to Lynn.
His hands moved swiftly across the experiment table, his movements so precise and fluid that he seemed like a veteran potion maker with years of experience.
If any official potion master were standing beside him, they would be shocked beyond belief, unable to imagine that such an accomplishment was achieved by someone who had only been with the Furnace for just over a year!
One bottle after another of auxiliary ingredients was carefully added, and Lynn's concentration deepened.
Inside the most critical beaker, wisps of mist rose as the amber potion released a rich medicinal fragrance. The air was thick with an aroma that seemed to instantly enhance one's mental acuity.
Finally, he added the last portion of the supplementary reagent.
Lynn took a deep breath, gathering all his mental strength to observe the final transformation within the beaker.
Each time the potion's properties fluctuated, he immediately made precise adjustments using his mental force.
Repeating this process nearly a hundred times, he at last completed the final step!
"It's done! Amber Heart!"
Lynn gazed at the beaker before him with satisfaction.
Inside, the amber potion gleamed with a mesmerizing glow. The potent herbal fragrance was almost intoxicating; merely inhaling it seemed to create the illusion of one's mental strength soaring beyond human limits.
This potion, known as "Amber Heart," was the auxiliary elixir that Lynn had been refining.
Its purpose was to assist third-level apprentices in breaking through to become official wizards by temporarily enhancing their mental strength, forcibly pushing them past their natural limits to approach the terrifying mental threshold of a full-fledged wizard.
This moment was crucial. If the breakthrough was successful, one would advance to an official wizard and recover from the strain caused by forcing the body to exceed its limits.
However, if the breakthrough failed, once the potion's effects faded, the user would suffer severe backlash. The damage inflicted by forcibly surpassing human limits was immense if not fatal, it would at least leave one permanently crippled.
Lynn exhaled deeply, feeling a great weight lift from his heart as he stared at the glowing amber potion.
This critical step had succeeded!
Now, as long as he sold the potion, he could earn enough battle merits to break free from the Furnace's master-servant contract and regain his freedom.
Yet, Lynn did not rush out of the laboratory just yet.
His eyes shifted toward the two remaining brown potion bottles on the table, his mind racing with thoughts.
He had prepared three sets of materials, assuming that his first attempt might fail once, or even twice. To his surprise, he had succeeded on the first try!
This meant that by replicating his first attempt, he had a real chance of obtaining three bottles of the incredibly valuable Amber Heart!
Suppressing his excitement, Lynn calmly reflected on the refining process he had just completed.
He identified a few minor mistakes small, but crucial. If he could avoid these in the next attempt, he might be able to improve the potion's quality even further.
Never underestimate even the slightest improvement. Sometimes, the success or failure of breaking through to an official wizard depended on just that narrow margin!
Lynn's eyes gleamed with determination.
He knew that when his own time came to advance, he would also need Amber Heart's assistance. Naturally, he would keep the highest-quality bottle for himself.
Thus, he had to take advantage of his current momentum and peak condition to refine an even more perfect Amber Heart!
With that decision made, Lynn swiftly retrieved another set of materials from his spatial tool, filled the workstation once more, and threw himself into the second round of refining.
The laboratory was soon filled with the invigorating scent of herbs.
An hour later, Lynn stepped out of the room, his face barely able to hide his excitement.
Inside his spatial tool, three bottles of Amber Heart were neatly arranged, each radiating an enticing amber glow and an intoxicating herbal scent that seemed to seep into the very soul.
More importantly, each bottle was better than the last!
Lynn had already decided he would keep the best-quality bottle for his breakthrough.
The other two could be sold to obtain the resources and battle merits he urgently needed.
Taking a deep breath to compose himself, he adjusted his mindset and headed toward the Furnace's trade outpost.
The Furnace Outpost
The outpost had once been the residential area for apprentice soldiers.
However, after the Furnace was transported to this place, many apprentices chose to return to the Furnace itself for residence, turning this outpost into a dedicated area for handling battle merits and mission assignments.
Now, only apprentices who needed to exchange battle merits or receive missions would come here.
"Much busier than half a month ago..."
Lynn murmured as he scanned the bustling crowd at the outpost.
He pulled his hood lower, carefully making his way inside.
"I need to find an apprentice who needs auxiliary potions. They're likely gathered near the warehouse storage area..."
His gaze settled on a corner of the outpost where apprentices typically exchanged battle merits and collected resources.
Most of those seeking items in exchange for battle merits would be there.
Lynn's plan was simple if he priced his potion slightly lower than the Furnace's official rate, his chances of making a sale would skyrocket.
However, just as he approached the warehouse, a familiar voice suddenly rang out.
"What?! All the auxiliary potions are sold out?! How long until the next batch?!"
It was a female voice, high-pitched with frustration and disbelief.
Lynn paused for a moment, turning toward the sound with a hint of confusion.
The voice seemed familiar, but he couldn't immediately recall who it belonged to.
"How could they fail to stock even something this essential?!"
The woman's voice rang out again, still carrying a tone of anger and urgency.
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