novelraw Chapter 963: Sequence Potions
Chapter 963: Sequence Potions
Professor Haig received word that Lu Li would be participating in the Level 2 mysticism trial.
While breathing a sigh of relief, Professor Haig also began to worry whether Lu Li could pass the Level 2 trial.
Earning the additional ten academic credits was difficult—at least, that's what most students thought.
For Lu Li, however, he only needed to pass the Level 1 trials for the remaining subjects and then raise his mysticism and alchemy to Level 2 to meet the requirements.
Alternatively, he could complete his theory of humanity directly.
But the first option would be an unnecessary waste of time, and the second wouldn't satisfy the professors.
In the end, Lu Li didn't dismiss the complex sentiments of the professors, who, out of goodwill, wanted him to remain at the Crown Level.
As for Professor Haig's expectations, Lu Li planned to raise all the other preliminary subjects, except divination, to Level 2, and mysticism to Level 3, earning the twenty academic credits needed for an elite course promotion.
"The Level 2 mysticism trial will begin in three to five days," the gatekeeper informed Lu Li.
The Level 2 mysticism trial required time to prepare.Typically, all Level 2 trials across all disciplines shifted from theory to practical application. This meant that written exams were gone; the mysticism trial involved contact with anomalies, the alchemy trial involved brewing potions, botany required identifying herbal crops, and the In-Between was a unique case—since humans couldn't set foot in the In-Between, its Level 2 trial was half theory, half practice.
The Level 2 mysticism trial might send students out to search for anomalies or uncover anomalies hiding among people.
Of course, all of this would take place under the protection of the gatekeepers.
Over the next few days, Lu Li shuttled between the Crown Level and Professor Kris's alchemy study, refining his theory of humanity while also practicing how to brew basic potions.
Bubble, bubble—
The steaming crucible gradually dried, and a slightly viscous liquid was poured into a glass bottle.
Professor Kris, reclining on her side on a bed, covered by a thin velvet throw that accentuated her beautiful and graceful figure, set aside her book and fixed her narrow eyes on the potion Lu Li had just created.
"A sixty percent success rate."
This was the fourth basic potion Lu Li had brewed.
His success rate was remarkably stable, as if it were coming off an assembly line. The amount of spare materials had also decreased from five sets to two, with only one spare set remaining.
Pure rationality and memory allowed Lu Li to memorize every step; the only thing preventing him from improving his success rate was the quality of the alchemical ingredients.
Unfortunately, this success rate was limited to basic potions; if he were to delve deeper into alchemy, he would need the aid of divination, which involved intuition and inspiration.
"My dear, I think you're ready to take the alchemy trial."
"And pass consistently?"
"Not quite. Sometimes, the exam requires you to add extra ingredients while maintaining the success rate. That takes true alchemical skill."
"How do I avoid failure?"
Professor Kris stretched, a seductive moan escaping her crimson lips.
"Why not try Sequence Potions? You'll immerse yourself in the 'wonderful' process of brewing them..." her alluring voice lingered on the word.
Sequence Potions are the part of potion-making that truly touches the core of alchemy.
After all, even commoners could brew basic potions once they mastered the technique.
"Which one?"
"Try the Potion of Silent Breath, sequence 369."
Lu Li recalled the contents of the Complete Guide to Sequence Potions (Excluding the First 50 Sequences). The Potion of Silent Breath allowed its user to breathe without making a sound. He nodded, took a piece of parchment made from some unknown material, wrote down more than ten alchemical ingredients as described by Professor Kris, and tossed the parchment into the furnace.
The complexity of Sequence Potions was evident from the alchemical ingredients alone—and this was just a simple, late-sequence potion.
Knock, knock, knock.
A knock soon came at the door of the alchemy study. When Lu Li opened it, he found only two wrapped portions of alchemical ingredients and the lingering scent of damp earth.
He laid out the ingredients, cleaned the crucible, adjusted the flame, and added the ingredients in the correct order.
Lu Li followed every step, consulting both the Complete Guide to Sequence Potions (Excluding the First 50 Sequences) and the Guide to Brewing Sequence Potions. But when he added the sixth ingredient, Ji Baiyu, the viscous mixture in the crucible suddenly ignited like alcohol and quickly burned to ash.
The first attempt at brewing had failed.
It was also Lu Li's first failure.
Failing to brew a Sequence Potion was common due to their complexity, but Lu Li, who had scrupulously followed every step, couldn't understand the reason for the error.
"My dear, you need to try a different method. Coldness isn't suited for true alchemy. You need to become hot..."
"Use inspiration?"
"You could put it that way."
Lu Li cleaned the crucible again and replaced the spare materials. Before beginning his second attempt, he took the Book of the Apocalypse from his pocket and placed it beside him.
Listening to Professor Kris's guiding whispers, Lu Li picked up the first ingredient...
"Touch it, feel it, pour your strong emotions into it..."
...
"Mmm..."
"...Mmm..."
"Mmm...!"
Slap—
Lu Li lowered his copy of "Belfast Today," his calm eyes turning toward Anna, who was hard at work in the kitchen.
"Did the food bite you?"
"The book said... you have to put your emotions into it... then the food will be tastier!"
Anna puffed out her cheeks, straining.
"I'm going to pour my love into the meat broth—ah... I-I mean, I want the pot... the food... mmm... to be more delicious!"
Stammering out her explanation, Anna blushed, shyly cried out, "Don't bother me while I'm cooking," and slammed the kitchen door shut.
Do ghosts blush?
After a brief glance at the figures bustling along Sailor Street outside the window, Lu Li looked away.
...
When the final alchemical ingredient was added, the potion in the crucible cast a red reflection on Lu Li's once again placid face.
"Did the brewing succeed?"
Picking up the Book of the Apocalypse, Lu Li poured the strangely colored potion into a vial. This Potion of Silent Breath seemed slightly different from the one described in the book...
"Almost."
"What do you mean, 'almost'?"
Lu Li looked up at Professor Kris, who was now sitting up.
"The method was correct, but the brewing failed."
The velvet blanket slipped from her body. Professor Kris, dressed in a loose robe and exuding a sweet, milky scent, walked over to Lu Li, dipped a finger into the potion, and brought it to her lips.
"Failure is normal. Sequence Potions are more difficult than you think. Many middle-course students haven't mastered brewing them yet..."
Hmm... an interesting failed sample. Would you like to taste your own creation?
"It's not considered a failure?"
"If the goal was sequence 369... you still failed. The effect of this failed sample is to increase the user's lung capacity, which is somewhat similar to the Potion of Gills, sequence 332."
"My dear, you have an unexpected talent... Are you sure you want to give up alchemy? It may not be as direct as mysticism, but alchemical potions can help you in more comprehensive ways."
"Can all Sequence Potions be bought with shillings?" Lu Li asked at that moment.
"Usually, yes."
"Then there's no need."
Click—
There was no knock; the door was simply pushed open.
"Mother, Lu Li," Claire looked at Lu Li standing before the crucible, then at her mother, who was leaning toward him.
"Did I interrupt something?"
"It was already over. Right, my dear?"