Chapter 99: Taking a Feather from Every Passing Goose

In alchemy, a funnel is a special product created when the formation itself judges that the refinement of a potion has reached a certain degree. That threshold, of course, is when the magic crystal core, medicinal herbs, and various elements have successfully fused into the potion that is required.

Seeing the funnel already formed, Lolin calmly picked up a crystal vial on the table whose stopper had long since been removed, aligned its mouth beneath the lower opening of the funnel, and then, with his spiritual force, controlled the opening of the formation. The shimmering body-strengthening potion surged down into the crystal vial in a flash. After five vials had been filled in succession, the alchemy formation finally dispersed.

The amount of potion ultimately produced in refinement depended not only on the alchemist’s skill, but also greatly on the quality of the materials. When Lolin refined body-strengthening potion in the Temple of Mishus, he had produced six vials at once, whereas here there were only five. Since Lolin’s skill had not changed much in this process, it was obvious that the materials in the Temple of Mishus had been considerably superior to those here.

After collecting the potions, Lolin released a strand of dark magical power. On the stone platform, the residues left from the magic crystal cores and herbs used in the refinement were instantly erased by the surging black light, and the surface became spotless once more.

Then Lolin flicked his fingers and began drawing an alchemy array on the cleaned stone platform again, preparing to refine a second batch.

"This... how is that possible? Not only did he draw the alchemy formation unbelievably fast, but his potion refinement is also flawless. Could it be that while cultivating three kinds of magic, he can still practice potion alchemy so much? Otherwise, how could his technique be so skillful?" Simon clearly could not accept how swiftly Lolin had completed a successful round of potion alchemy.

At that very moment, a sharp crack rang out. It turned out that while Simon was momentarily distracted, the formation lost control and collapsed with a thunderous crash. Immediately, a chorus of regret rose from the surroundings. In truth, Simon’s refinement had gone extremely smoothly this time; if he had held on a little longer, this attempt would very likely have succeeded. But because his mind had strayed, he had unfortunately lost this hard-won success.

Potion refinement is an exceedingly intricate and delicate process. A moment’s carelessness can bring about a devastating disaster. That is why, when every potion alchemist first learns alchemy, their teacher’s opening warning is always the same: never be distracted while alchemizing.

Staring at the charred remnants of the magic crystal core and herbs, Simon stood dazed for quite some time before finally sighing. He used dark magic to clear away all the residue and dirt, then took a deep breath and began drawing the alchemy formation once more. For a potion alchemist, one essential quality is the ability to endure failure; one’s mental resilience must be formidable. Simon had achieved very good results within three years, and that was directly related to his tenacious character.

In fact, even counting this attempt, Lolin had only practiced alchemy five or six times. He had not, as Simon imagined, secretly practiced countless times in the background. The reason Lolin’s potion alchemy had become so formidable from the very start had to do with something that truly exists in the field of alchemy, though it seems somewhat elusive: talent, possessed only by a very few.

Lolin had already shown extraordinary talent for formations when he condensed the undead space and deduced that six-pointed star array of one thousand and twenty-four strokes. Later, when he practiced potion alchemy in the Temple of Mishus, even the great master Mishus himself had been full of admiration for that talent.

Throughout history, there have indeed been a tiny number of people with exceptional aptitude in potion alchemy. Mishus himself was one of them, and Lolin, recognized by him, was undoubtedly another. Such gifted potion alchemists usually began at a very high level. Lolin had only refined a few times, yet his technique was already more skillful than Simon’s, even though Simon had been refining for three years.

As time passed, Lolin completed his third potion refinement. Of the three attempts, only the second had failed, while the first and third were successful. After he had poured the final batch of potion into the crystal vials, he discovered that Simon was standing beside him, and that there was still one set of alchemical materials untouched on his own stone platform.

"Simon, weren’t we having a contest? Why aren’t you refining potions and why have you come over beside me?" Lolin asked in confusion.

Hearing this, Simon could not help but give a wry smile. "Do you really think I still need to continue?"

After a closer look, Lolin understood. It turned out that after Simon’s first attempt failed, his second refinement had succeeded. However, when he prepared for a third attempt, he discovered that Lolin had already succeeded for the third time!

Before the contest, they had agreed clearly: within one hour, whoever succeeded in refining the most times would win. If both achieved the same number of successes, then the one who used less time would be the victor.

Because Lolin had succeeded on both his first and third attempts, even if Simon were to succeed on his third, the two would still have the same number of successes, and Lolin would have taken far less time than he did. The winner would still be Lolin. So Simon simply gave up on his third refinement.

With a wave of his hand, Simon said, "Someone, bring over one hundred sets of herbs for refining three-star potions!" Since he had lost, he naturally accepted the result without complaint, and without the slightest hesitation he ordered the attendant to fetch the herbs.

"Heh heh, Simon, these... the alchemical potions I refined, could I take them with me?" Lolin asked, rubbing his hands together.

Simon waved a generous hand. "Take them. Anything you refined is yours."

Lolin quickly gathered all ten vials of potion, then his gaze fell on the stone platform where Simon had just worked. Clicking his tongue, he said, "Well, Simon, look, this set of unused herbs would be a waste if left here, wouldn’t it? Why not give them to me so I can refine them? And those few potions you made, I assume you don’t care much about them either, so could you give those to me as well?"

"You..." Simon was momentarily choked by Lolin’s words. He had not expected this fellow to be such a relentless pickpocket. Then, with a laugh that was half rueful and half helpless, he waved a hand. "Fine, fine. Take them all, take them all."

Hearing this, Lolin beamed and collected everything. Then his eyes fell straight back onto the stone platform used for the refinement just now. At the Temple of Mishus, one matter after another had come up, so he had forgotten to bring back an alchemy stone platform. Now that he saw several of them placed in the room, he could not help wanting to take one away.

Seeing this, Simon hurriedly spread out both hands to protect the platform, afraid that Lolin would carry it off as well. He said in exasperation, "Lolin, this stone platform cannot be given to you. If you want one, I can sell it to you a little cheaper, three hundred gold coins apiece!"

Lolin stroked his chin, then took out the fifteen vials of alchemical potion he had just put away and said, "These fifteen vials of alchemical potion, by your purchase price, would be fifteen gold coins each. Then these fifteen vials make two hundred and twenty-five gold coins. Hmm, since we’re classmates, why not sell me one at a discount? Besides, if you count your shop’s selling price, twenty gold coins per vial, then these fifteen vials come to exactly three hundred gold coins. What do you say?"

Simon was left dizzy and dazed by this meticulous miser. The potions he had just given Lolin were now being brought out again to trade for an alchemy stone platform. This guy was truly... In the end, with a look of helpless amusement, he pinched his nose and sold the platform to Lolin.

At that moment, a female attendant also brought over the one hundred sets of herbs. Lolin did not stand on ceremony; with a sweep of his arm, he stored them all into the undead space.

The female attendant nearby looked at Lolin with an odd expression. She had never imagined that a "rich man" who owned a spatial ring would be haggling with the young master over a mere set of herbs and an alchemy stone platform.

Lolin paid no attention to how the female attendant viewed him. What he needed to do now was make full use of the resources at hand and strive to rapidly improve his alchemy.

Next, Lolin took out the first- and second-tier magic crystal cores he had obtained in the Maya Mountains, as well as the more than ten bottles of alchemical potions he had refined in the Temple of Mishus, and said, "Simon, exchange all of these for crystal vials for me. Charge whatever the proper price is."

Lolin also knew that the shop had to make money to cover its daily expenses. He had already taken quite a few advantages before, so this time he did not try to be clever.

Simon nodded and instructed the attendant to handle it. A moment later, several attendants brought over more than five hundred crystal vials in total. Lolin said nothing and stored them all into the undead space.

Afterward, Simon ordered all the attendants to leave. He pulled over a chair and motioned for Lolin to sit down. "Lolin, besides you and me, do you know any other potion alchemists at Port Academy?"