Orion sat alone in his dimly lit room, his back resting against the cold wooden wall. His sharp blue eyes flickered with unreadable emotions as he let out a quiet sigh. The weight of his father's unexpected summons lingered in his mind, like a puzzle yet to be solved.
"Why now?" he thought, his fingers tapping rhythmically on his knee. His father, Viscount Theo Vale, had never shown any real interest in him. If anything, he had been indifferent—watching from a distance, unconcerned whether Orion succeeded or failed. So why did he suddenly want to meet?
Orion closed his eyes briefly before shaking his head. "I'll know when I meet him tomorrow," he muttered under his breath. There was no point in overthinking it now.
His gaze then shifted towards the wooden table at the corner of his room, where four spherical jars sat neatly, covered in soft velvet cloth. His steps were slow and deliberate as he approached the table.
In Eldora, every person who received a Blessing during the ceremony was granted cultivation resources. The amount was strictly not determined by their blessing rank—Bronze, Silver, and Gold all received four jars. This system was meant to provide everyone with an equal initial push, ensuring that talent alone was the deciding factor in a cultivator's future.
Reaching out, Orion pulled off the velvet cloths one by one, revealing four transparent spherical jars filled with golden-yellow liquid as thick as honey. A rich, floral scent filled the air, both calming and refreshing.
"ManaGold."
A standard resource, used to help beginners harness mana from the air. It cleansed the body, made one more adept at absorbing energy, and slightly strengthened the physique. For most novices, this was a valuable treasure.
But Orion only scoffed. "Such an impure state of ManaGold…" His fingers brushed against the jar as he exhaled sharply.
In his past life, ManaGold had been regarded as the lowest-tier resource, something used only by the poorest of cultivators who could afford nothing better. Even back then, he had never once relied on it.
"It seems not only has the overall level of cultivation dropped over the years… but even alchemy standards have deteriorated."
His mind churned with thoughts before he finally turned away from the jars. Moving toward his bookshelf, he pulled out a blank parchment and an ink pen, swiftly writing down a list of herbs. His handwriting was sharp and elegant, a habit ingrained in him from his past life.
Opening his door, he stepped outside and noticed a young maid walking down the corridor.
"You," he called.
The maid flinched slightly, then hurriedly turned toward him, bowing. "Yes, Master Orion?"
"I need you to bring me these herbs from the market," he said, handing her the parchment. "And an alchemy pot as well."
The maid hesitated for a moment, her eyes flickering with curiosity. Alchemy? Her master had never shown any interest in alchemy before. When had he learned?
Still, she nodded obediently. "Right away, Master."
Orion watched as she walked away before closing his door and returning to his table. He picked up the four jars and carefully placed them beside him as he took a seated meditative position on the floor. Closing his eyes, he steadied his breathing.
The air around him was filled with latent mana—a silent force, unseen yet ever-present. He focused, trying to pull that energy into his body, guiding it through his meridians.
Minutes passed. Then an hour.
When he finally opened his eyes, he exhaled deeply. There was a faint refreshing sensation within his body, but…
"Too slow."
At this rate, it would take years just to advance to a decent level. The absorption process was inefficient, and without proper refinement, the mana was far too weak.
Just as he was lost in thought, a knock came at his door.
"Come in," Orion said calmly.
The same maid entered, carefully carrying a small black cauldron-like pot with intricate rune engravings along its surface. A small burner was attached underneath, designed to hold a fire mana crystal.
"Master, where should I place this?" she asked.
"On the floor here," Orion instructed.
She set it down gently before handing him a small pouch. "Here are the herbs you requested."
Orion nodded. "Good work."
The maid beamed, her expression brightening. "It's my duty, Master. No need to thank me." She bowed once more before excusing herself.
As soon as she left, he sat down and opened the small pouch, examining each herb carefully.
The quality was decent—not the best, but acceptable.
Orion, then turned his attention to the alchemy pot, inspecting its design. The fire mana crystal embedded beneath the burner glowed faintly—an unrefined red stone, capable of generating heat when supplied with mana. It was commonly used by Apprentice-level alchemists, as true alchemists could manipulate fire directly without needing an external source.
Taking a deep breath, Orion channelled his little mana in his body into the fire - crystal. Instantly, heat surged from the burner as flames flickered to life, casting warm shadows across the room. His body trembled slightly, sweat forming on his forehead.
"Even such a small thing drains my mana… I need to get stronger."
Suppressing his exhaustion, Orion grabbed one of the ManaGold jars, uncorked it, and poured the golden liquid into the pot. One by one, he emptied all four jars.
Within minutes, the thick liquid began to boil, releasing an even stronger floral fragrance into the air. The scent was soothing, but Orion remained focused.
"Time for the second step."
Reaching into the pouch, he retrieved a bright blue leaf that emitted a faint cold mist—Frostleaf, a common alchemy herb known for its cooling properties.
He then pulled out more herbs Bitterroot – Used to dissolve impurities., Fire Orchid Petals – Enhances mana absorption., Cloudgrass – Stabilizes potion structure., Spirit Thistle – Strengthens meridians, Crimson Lotus Seed – Boosts body refinement.
With precise movements, Orion added them one by one, carefully watching for any reactions.
The boiling mixture began to change, shifting from golden-yellow to a deep amber hue. Small ripples formed at the surface, the pot gently vibrating as energy swirled within.
Orion watched intently; his hands steady.
Orion inhaled deeply, controlling his mana flow carefully.
Alchemy required absolute precision.
Too much heat? The mixture would burn.
Too little? The herbs wouldn't blend properly.
This was a test of control.
Minutes passed. Then—
A soft hum resonated from the pot. The vibrations ceased. The alchemical process was complete.
He exhaled in relief. "Phew… finally."
Lifting the lid, he peered inside. Nestled at the bottom were eight crystallized pills, their surface smooth and golden-yellow, exuding a faint warm glow.
He picked up one, inspecting it. Denser. More concentrated than liquid ManaGold.
"Still… this is only a mediocre level pill." Orion sighed.
For a moment, he recalled his past life—his past life father, constantly urging him to study alchemy. Yet back then, Orion had only cared about the sword, ignoring his father's words.
"If only I had listened…"
But there was no point in dwelling on regrets. What mattered was now.
Still, this was far better than the liquid form.
One ManaGold pill equalled three jars of liquid ManaGold.
He glanced toward the window. The moon hung high in the night sky.
"It's already night."
Realizing it was dinnertime, he freshened up and descended the stairs. Celia, Sera, and Elara were already at the dining table, waiting for him.
"Orion!" Celia smiled. "Come, sit."
As he joined them, Elara pouted and asked in cute voice. "Brother, you disappeared all day! What were you doing?"
Orion chuckled. "Just cultivating."
Dinner passed in a warm atmosphere.
Afterward, he returned to his room.