Chapter 520: The Ring Upgrade Is Imminent

"What's hard about it?" Gao De raised an eyebrow, answering instinctively: "One is demonization—before mixing a potion, you must release the medicinal properties of the raw materials, precisely controlling them to align with the potion’s requirements.

The other is mixing, causing the combined medicinal properties of multiple ingredients to transform into the final desired form.”

He stopped mid-sentence.

The difficulty of the first step lies in that a single raw material possesses multiple medicinal properties.

Yet mixing a potion usually requires only one of them—you must accurately identify the property you need and 'charge' it.

For example, even the lowest-grade material, Snake Tooth Grass, has seven or eight medicinal properties, but preparing a Chuji Spider Venom Potion requires only one of them—the “toxic” property.

Higher-grade materials can possess dozens, even hundreds of medicinal properties; accurately distinguishing and demonizing them demands an extremely high level of skill from a alchemist.

The second step, mixing, requires the alchemist to concentrate their spiritual force, observe the changes in medicinal properties, and understand the current state of the potion—what’s still missing to reach completion."

At the same time, they must possess absolute knowledge of the materials’ natures, knowing precisely how much to add to compensate for the missing property and drive the potion toward its final form.

Hard?

Absolutely hard.

But perhaps, for Flora, it wasn’t that hard.

Because she possessed a certain innate talent.

“So, just like this, like this, and then like that, like that, and it’s done?” Flora pressed on.

Gao De nodded slightly.

“So, Lady Flora can discern all medicinal properties in the raw materials and precisely sense the state of the semi-finished potion, knowing exactly how much raw material to add to complete it, correct?” He already knew the answer, but confirmed it again.

“Isn’t that simple?” Flora stared up at him.

“It’s only simple for Lady Flora—for others, it’s not.” Gao De sighed.

Where could you argue with talent?

He knew Flora wasn’t showing off—she genuinely didn’t understand why it was hard.

Like how swimming is simple for fish—they can’t comprehend why some creatures are land-dwellers?

Not just animals—even humans, once they’ve learned a skill, often can’t imagine what it’s like to not know it. The classic example is riding a bicycle.

“Why?”

“Because Lady Flora is exceptionally intelligent.”

Gao De looked at Flora and smiled gently.

Yet somehow, facing Gao De’s smile, Flora felt a chill down her spine—as if something bad was about to happen.

"If I gave you a finished potion and a variety of raw materials, could you determine which kinds of raw materials you need and in what quantities to recreate it?"

Gao De thought for a moment, then couldn’t resist asking.

“Maybe.”

“Maybe?”

“Because Lady Flora hasn’t tried yet.”

“Precise… then try it next time.”

“Fine.”

Seeing the child wasn’t paying attention to his question, instead craning her neck to stare down the crowd’s flow, Gao De temporarily dropped the topic.

After all, he’d brought Flora out to have fun—less work, more heart-to-heart.

He gently brushed aside colorful ribbons drifting through the crowd and led Flora away from the noise toward the market’s center.

The crowd grew thicker.

Around the corner, three street performers in shell-decorated tunics danced around a brass hand drum, their flute melody leaping like ocean waves.

Several little girls with seaweed braids held up seahorse-shaped candies made of sugar glaze, bouncing to the rhythm, their shell-shaped bells tinkling at their hair tips.

The air floated with mouthwatering aromas.

On an iron rack around the corner, fried fish balls with crispy shells bubbled in hot oil, emitting enticing sizzles.

Nearby, a woman in a starfish apron pressed dough into shell-shaped cookies, dusting them with colored sugar powder ground from edible petals.

“If Lady Flora wants anything or wants to eat something, tell me,” Gao De sidestepped a passing lavender wreath and whispered to Flora.

“What’s that?” Suddenly, Flora said, gazing in one direction.

Gao De followed her sparkling gaze.

A crowd surrounded a stall built from driftwood; paper lanterns strung on ropes bore patterns of swimming fish, and dried seaweed strands hung above, swaying gently in the sea breeze.

It was a model-boat stall.

People bought simple thin wooden pieces from the vendor, then, under the vendor’s and adults’ guidance, assembled basic boat models, wrote their wishes on them, and set them adrift in the river.

Somewhat like lanterns from his past life.

“Let’s go take a look.”

Gao De led Flora over and found that, besides raw materials, the stall displayed many finished, intricately crafted boat models.

“Mage!” Flora glanced around, scanning the boat models until her gaze locked onto one, pointing at it and turning back to Gao De.

It was a boat model made of light brown wood, its surface polished to a smooth finish.

Vivid vines curled along the hull, dotted with colorful flowers, meticulously arranged to intertwine and cluster as if growing together.

The sail was made of pale green fabric; beneath the stern hung a tassel of dried lavender blossoms.

Gao De understood at once.

“Vendor, how much for this boat model?” He stepped forward.

The vendor, an old craftsman, looked up at Gao De, then at Flora perched on his shoulder, instantly recognizing him as a mage. His expression turned solemn. “Mage, excellent taste—this model took me a full day to make, but…”

He paused, hesitated, then spoke honestly: “These models aren’t for sale—they’re given away.”

“Oh? How’s that?” Gao De raised an eyebrow.

Seeing Gao De didn’t seem annoyed, the vendor relaxed and hurried to explain: “Riddles. Answer three correctly in a row, and you may choose any one of these models.”

“Riddles are free—each clue relates to the sea. I can give one hint per riddle, but only one chance. If you fail to answer three correctly, you must buy a boat kit from me. What do you say, Mage?”

“Interesting,” Gao De smiled. “Go ahead.”

Hearing someone would attempt the riddles, the crowd gathered closer, drawn by the spectacle.

The old craftsman thought a moment, then spoke: “First riddle: Born without parents, yet wears a flowered robe, swims in schools through the sea, teeth sharper than steel blades.”

The onlookers, hearing the clue, instinctively pondered the answer.

The first riddle was an appetizer—easy.

Gao De didn’t even need to think—the answer came instantly.

“Shark.”

“Mage, quick reflexes!” the old craftsman praised.

Flora’s lips curled upward.

Among the crowd, others smiled too—they’d guessed correctly.

“Mage, continue?”

“Continue,” Gao De nodded.

“Listen to the second riddle: A thing strange in form, naturally fears the sun, unexposed it’s hard and firm, exposed it weeps in tears.” The craftsman smiled again.

This riddle was harder than the first.

The crowd frowned, deep in thought.

Gao De smiled.

Without the sea restriction, this might’ve been tricky—but knowing the answer must relate to the sea made it easy.

“Kelp.”

“Mage, truly well-traveled and sharp-witted—I’m certain the third riddle won’t stump you,” the craftsman said, smoothly complimenting Gao De.

In truth, he hoped Gao De would answer all three—so he could gift the boat model.

“Ask the third.”

The craftsman thought again, then recited: “Has a head but no neck, body cold as ice, has wings but cannot fly, has no feet yet walks.”

Everyone present began thinking.

Gao De knew the answer the moment he heard the first line.

But he didn’t answer immediately—instead, he turned to Flora, whose eyes sparkled.

“Hmm?” Flora looked puzzled.

“This is the boat model you want—you should contribute your own wisdom, shouldn’t you, Lady Flora?” Gao De gently prompted.

“Maybe… maybe?” Flora fell silent a moment, then muttered softly.

“Then let Lady Flora answer this one?” Gao De looked at her.

Flora widened her eyes, then whispered after a long pause: “I didn’t understand.”

“Lady Flora can ask the vendor for a hint—you have one chance.” Gao De reminded her.

The child’s eyes lit up as she turned to the old craftsman.

The craftsman smiled again. “Though it has no feet, it has many hands.”

Flora looked up at Gao De.

“Need another hint, Lady Flora?”

“Yes!”

“It has eight hands.”

“Eight hands?”

It also spits out black sap.

“Black sap.” Flora continued staring at Gao De, her eyes clear as water.

With this hint, everyone around had already guessed the answer and now watched the scene before them with smiles.

Gao De felt a bit helpless.

“We usually call this black sap ink.”

“Ink.” Flora’s gaze finally changed.

“It’s an octopus!”

“Vendor, is my Lady Flora’s answer correct?” Gao De looked up at the old craftsman.

“Of course it is.”

“With just a slight hint, Lady Flora guessed the answer—truly brilliant!” Gao De clapped.

“Indeed. This riddle isn’t simple; answering it is no small feat,” the old craftsman added.

“Really?”

“Really.”

Flora smiled in satisfaction.

The old craftsman lifted his head and exchanged a smile with Gao De.

Then he handed Flora’s chosen boat model to Gao De with both hands.

—Though it was only a model, to Flora it was a massive object, and only Gao De could take it.

“This boat model was won by Lady Flora’s own wit,” Gao De remarked.

“Yes.”

“Then will Lady Flora set it free?”

“Set it free?” Flora hesitated.

“I think you should. Because it was won by your own wit, it holds greater meaning—your wish will surely come true.”

“Yes!” The little one nodded eagerly.

Gao De borrowed a pen from the vendor.

“What wish would Lady Flora like to write?” he asked softly.

Flora gazed at the floating lantern boats on the river, her eyes bright as if studded with stars.

“Lady Flora wishes that one day Phoenix will be as lively as this place.”

Gao De looked down at Flora’s earnest face and felt a soft warmth rise in his chest.

He nodded and wrote “Great Prosperity in the Northwest” on the boat’s side, then added “Flora” beneath it after a moment’s thought.

“It would be even more meaningful if Lady Flora could write it herself,” Gao De returned the pen to the vendor and added, “With a little time to learn writing, Lady Flora could do it herself.”

“But I think Lady Flora has already thought of this—she’s just been too busy with work and had no time. Once she has a little more leisure, she’ll surely find time to learn.”

“Is that what Lady Flora thinks?” The little one looked uncertain and confused.

“Yes. Someone as brilliant as Lady Flora must think so.”

“Yes!”

In the back-and-forth, Gao De had already knelt down and placed the boat model by the riverbank.

The river’s surface had become a floating river of stars, countless lantern boats carrying wishes drifting downstream.

He had Flora place her fingers on the boat’s edge, and together they let go.

The boat drifted slowly with the current.

The vines hanging from it gently brushed the ripples on the water.

“Where will it drift to?” Flora stared far ahead, eyes wide, as if trying to see its destination.

“All wishes eventually drift to their destined faraway places,” Gao De replied.

As the festival drew to a close, Flora still felt reluctant to leave, but the crowd was already dispersing.

Gao De took her back to Walmart Magical Materials Store.

Upstairs, their luggage was already packed. Gao De slung it onto his back and silently activated “Astral Teleport.”

The temperature plummeted.

The air grew cold and crisp.

The familiar scent of the Northern Lands washed over him.

As always, the first thing Gao De did upon returning to the Northern Lands was to check Yggdrasil’s status.

【Yggdrasil】

Rank: Second-Rank Magical Plant (171/5568 Moon)

Growth Bonus Coefficient: 4.04

Astral Teleport: 0 (29/45 days)

Enlightenment: 0/0

Lifespan: (1/16704 years)

Domain Expansion (Land Transformation): 85 mu

Height: 22 feet

Land Mana Concentration: 50–77 (Basic Spirit Land)

The Sacred Tree remained in a rapid, stable growth phase.

Sixteen more days remained until the next Astral Teleport charge completed.

That meant Gao De would stay in the Northern Lands for at least sixteen days.

In fact, in his own estimation, his stay might well exceed sixteen days.

Because this return to the Northern Lands held many tasks.

First, the harvest he brought back this time far surpassed any previous one—he needed time to process it.

Second, Gao De planned to complete his Second Circle advancement in the Northern Lands!

(End of Chapter)