Chapter 154

As the sun set, in the laboratory on the second floor of the workshop, Luo En stared with full concentration at the distillation apparatus in front of him.

Following the last drop of clear amber liquid into the crystal bottle, he let out a long sigh of relief and carefully sealed the bottle.

"Finally finished," Luo En said softly, lifting the bottle to the light to inspect it: "Lava Droplets, perfectly restored formula."

The liquid in the bottle exhibited a peculiar fluidity under the light, as if miniature flames were leaping within it, which was precisely the manifestation of its activity.

Li Liya stood to the side, her face full of joy and a sense of accomplishment: "Teacher, we succeeded!"

"Indeed, thanks to your help," Luo En smiled, his eyes flickering with a look of appreciation.

Over this period, Li Liya's progress in the field of potion-making had been beyond imagination.

Her "Diligence Makes Up for Lack of Talent" trait had shown astonishing potential under continuous effort, especially her intuitive judgment of potion formulas, which was able to help Luo En a great deal.

It was also she who proposed a special stabilizer, solving the problem of excess impurities in the Lava Droplets.

"Reverse-engineering this formula was much more difficult than I imagined."

Luo En looked at the thick experimental records on the table: "The sample Andre brought from the royal family had already aged, and most of the active ingredients had degraded."

He flipped open the record book, pointing to a complex molecular structure diagram on one page:

"The biggest problem is here; the core active ingredient ratio was completely unbalanced, causing our first three attempts to produce unstable reactions."

Li Liya nodded; she clearly remembered that during the second experiment, the entire laboratory was almost swallowed by a sudden burst of flame, and if it hadn't been for Luo En casting a spell to control it in time, it might have caused serious consequences.

"But now, not only have we restored the formula, we have even carried out a certain degree of optimization."

Luo En said with satisfaction: "Theoretically, the efficacy of this version of Lava Droplets should be about twenty percent higher than the original, and the stability is also higher."

He gently shook the bottle, and the light spots in the liquid flowed along with it, forming a peculiar vortex state.

"Next, we need to conduct testing," Luo En turned his gaze toward Li Liya:

"Go notify Ailan, and have her help prepare the backyard; I am going to conduct the first experiment tonight."

Li Liya bowed and left, her face unable to hide an excited smile.

This was her first time truly participating in her teacher's important research, and the results were remarkable.

That sense of accomplishment far exceeded any praise she had ever received for her appearance.

Luo En once again confirmed every detail of the formula records.

As the key potion for the third stage of the "Corona Breathing Method," the complexity of the Lava Droplets formula far exceeded his expectations.

The biggest challenges during the restoration process came from three aspects:

First, the sample Andre brought had been stored for too long, and its activity had dropped significantly.

He had to use multiple extractions and concentrations to barely separate enough active ingredients for analysis.

Second, the core ingredient of Lava Droplets—Sun Essence—is an extremely rare material, derived from the heart crystal of a special fire-attribute creature.

Luo En had to use the Red Blood Dragon bloodline he had replicated to extract essence blood as a substitute; this process was both energy-consuming and time-consuming.

Finally, the stability of the potion liquid had always been a difficult problem.

The original formula clearly considered the uniqueness of the royal bloodline, but for others, this ratio could lead to severe internal organ burns.

Thanks to Li Liya's inspiration, they added a neutralizer derived from an ice-elemental creature to the formula, perfectly solving this problem.

"Theoretically, this bottle of improved Lava Droplets should be able to increase the efficiency of bloodline activation by about 30%."

Luo En muttered to himself while making final adjustments in his notes.

Night fell, and the training ground in the backyard was surrounded by a special protective array.

Luo En sat cross-legged in the center of the field, with that bottle of shimmering Lava Droplets placed in front of his chest.

He took a deep breath, removed the stopper, and carefully drank a mouthful.

The moment the potion entered his throat, a shocking heat flow surged through his entire body like magma.

Every blood vessel felt as if it were burning, and every muscle was trembling.

Luo En gritted his teeth and began to adjust his breathing rhythm according to the requirements of the third stage of the "Corona Breathing Method."

"Inhale, nine beats; hold breath, five beats; exhale, seven beats."

As the breathing deepened, the heat flow within his body gradually changed from chaotic to orderly.

He could clearly feel that the bloodline energy was wandering through his body along with the breathing rhythm.

Every time it passed through an important acupoint, it left a trace of warmth.

This was the essence of the third stage of the "Corona Breathing Method"—"Bloodline Smelting."

Through a specific breathing rhythm, the activated bloodline energy is guided to circulate within the body, gradually remodeling and strengthening the physical body.

Compared to the second stage, the third stage focuses more on internal qualitative change rather than external manifestation.

If the second stage is awakening the bloodline, then the third stage is mastering the bloodline, making it completely merge into oneself and become a part of the body.

Luo En felt the dragon-head core within the Chimera bloodline become exceptionally active under this cultivation.

That crimson energy surged within his body like a living thing, and every impact caused his physical fitness to obtain a small but certain improvement.

"Lava Droplets are indeed effective."

Luo En confirmed in his heart while carefully feeling the changes in his body.

Compared to ordinary cultivation, the auxiliary effect of Lava Droplets was very obvious.

The flow of bloodline energy was smoother, and the energy conversion rate was also significantly improved.

Most importantly, it greatly reduced the discomfort during bloodline activation, allowing him to maintain a high-intensity cultivation state for a longer time.

After a full two hours of cultivation, Luo En finally opened his eyes and exhaled a breath of turbid air.

That breath turned into a wisp of red mist in the air and dissipated.

【Bloodline Activation Experience +1】

【Current Progress: Bloodline Activation (Entry-level 45/100)】

"Progress is very smooth, faster than I expected."

Luo En was quite satisfied with the results of this cultivation: "At this rate, I should be able to reach the proficient level within about two months."

He could vaguely feel the surging of his own blood energy; after bloodline activation reaches the proficient level, he might obtain a trait related to the "Life Burst" of bloodline knights.

Luo En stretched his body, feeling the residual heat flow in his muscles.

Lava Droplets were indeed a rare auxiliary potion, not only accelerating bloodline fusion but also reducing physical discomfort after bloodline activation.

"I should notify Andre; he seems to be in a bottleneck period of bloodline fusion recently," Luo En thought.

The next day, when Andre pushed the door and walked into the workshop, Luo En was guiding Li Liya in blending an improved refreshing potion.

"It seems I came at a bad time?"

Andre wore his signature elegant smile, forcing himself not to let his gaze linger on Li Liya.

Luo En looked up at the visitor and let Li Liya put down the silver spoon in her hand:

"It just finished; you came at the perfect time."

Li Liya saw the visitor and immediately bowed in greeting: "Your Highness Andre."

Andre waved his hand: "There is no prince here; just call me Andre."

He turned to Luo En, a hint of teasing flashing in his eyes:

"I say, you are living quite well; even the most beautiful flower among this year's probationary apprentices has become your 'private assistant'."

Luo En just chuckled at the words and didn't take the bait: "Li Liya, help us prepare some tea and snacks."

"Yes, Teacher," Li Liya replied and retreated, but a blush had already appeared on her face, clearly having understood Andre's implication.

On the way to the tea room, she couldn't help but look back to steal a glance at her teacher's reaction.

However, she only found that his expression was as usual, and he was discussing something with his friend, clearly not taking the previous joke to heart.

A trace of disappointment welled up in her heart, and she felt ashamed for having such a mindset.

"What am I thinking..." Li Liya gently patted her burning cheeks:

"Teacher is so good to every member in the workshop; I shouldn't have such inappropriate thoughts."

But as she brewed the fragrant black tea, the image of Luo En earnestly teaching her involuntarily appeared in her mind.

That focused gaze, the patient explanations, and the appreciation occasionally revealed due to her progress...

These details were like warm sunlight, quietly melting the solid ice that had built up in her heart for years, making her crave more recognition and attention.

"What on earth is wrong with me..."

Li Liya sighed softly, placed the prepared tea and snacks on an exquisite tray, tried hard to calm her heartbeat, and walked back to the reception room.

"How is it inside the school recently?" Luo En asked, looking at Andre's exhausted expression.

"A complete mess," Andre shook his head:

"After Oliver defected, the enforcement team has been searching the peripheral forest almost every day, but there are no clear clues yet."

"What about those people in the pursuit squad?"

Andre's expression became solemn:

"All missing; it is presumed they were killed. Their final report mentioned that Oliver had already 'half-awakened' and displayed some kind of terrifying ability."

The tea fragrance permeated the air; Li Liya entered softly, placed the tea and snacks in front of the two, and then quietly retreated to the side.

Andre thanked her politely and picked up the teacup to take a sip.

"This tea is good, the aroma is unique," he praised, looking at Li Liya: "You must have specifically practiced tea-making skills."

Li Liya bowed her head in thanks: "Thank you, this is my improved formula, adding some special herbs."

Andre smiled and nodded, then looked at Luo En:

"You really know how to enjoy life; the workshop is in perfect order, the tea and snacks are exquisite and delicious, and there is such a thoughtful and beautiful assistant..."

Luo En shook his head slightly, noncommittal, and turned the topic back to business:

"Did Oliver's defection have any impact on the school?"

Andre's expression immediately became serious:

"Quite a lot. The most direct one is the upgrade of security measures; all apprentices' outings are strictly restricted. Secondly, the investigation into the 'Abyss Eye' organization has been fully launched, and several suspected contacts have already been arrested."

He paused, his voice lowering:

"The most saddening thing is the loss of personnel. A member of that pursuit squad, Norris, you should also know him..."

Luo En's gaze froze: "Norris? The intermediate apprentice who was on duty in the enforcement team, under Senior Holte?"

"Yes, that's him," Andre nodded, a trace of sadness flashing in his eyes:

"Although he was cold and strict on the surface, he was actually very caring toward newcomers. When I first joined the enforcement team as a peripheral member, he secretly taught me various rules and details."

Luo En remembered that enforcement team member who had helped him several times when he was still living in the probationary dormitory area, and he also felt a slight sense of regret in his heart.

The cruelty of the extraordinary world appeared particularly real at this moment.

"Everyone has their own fate," he could only say in a low voice, then noticed the bandage on Andre's arm: "What happened to your arm?"

Andre touched the bandage somewhat awkwardly:

"Actually, this is the reason I came to find you; I was bitten by Marcus after he had completely mutated..."

"Hurry and uncover the bandage and let me see!"

Luo En's tone suddenly became somewhat anxious.

Andre hesitated for a moment, sighed softly, and slowly unwound the bandage.

When the last layer of cloth was removed, Luo En's pupils contracted sharply.

The wound had already begun to rot, and the surrounding skin presented an unnatural black-purple color, like ink seeping into paper.

The most worrying thing was that those black patterns were slowly but clearly spreading upward, already approaching his shoulder.

"Damn it!" Luo En stood up abruptly: "How could you drag this out for so long? This is clearly a manifestation of spiritual corruption becoming physical!"

Andre looked at his own wound in shock: "I thought it was just an ordinary wound, and my bloodline power would be able to repair it soon..."

"Would an ordinary wound turn black like this?"

Luo En cursed in a low voice, then turned to Li Liya: "Prepare the laboratory; we need to perform a minor surgery."

Li Liya immediately took action, her expression professional and calm: "Which instruments and potions are needed?"

"A full set of scalpels, number three to seven bone-etching agents, restorative active potions, and..."

Luo En quickly listed a long string of items; Li Liya kept them all in mind and quickly went to prepare.

"How serious is this?" Andre's face had already turned pale.

"Quite serious," Luo En said bluntly:

"Marcus is clearly already in a state of severe corruption, and his saliva and blood both carry strong corrupting substances. After you were bitten, you only treated it simply, and the corruption has already seeped into your bloodline."

He signaled for Andre to follow:

"What needs to be done now is to excise the tissue that has been deeply infected, and then use a special potion to purify the wound. The surgery is a bit painful, but dragging it out will only make it worse."

The laboratory was soon ready.

Ailan also joined in; her vines were very suitable for fine operations and were Luo En's capable assistants.

Andre lay on the special experimental table; Luo En had already put on white sterile gloves, and Li Liya was responsible for handing over instruments on the side.

"This will be very painful."

Luo En warned, while injecting a paralyzing agent into Andre's arm:

"But I must ensure your consciousness is clear so that I can observe the real-time reaction of the corruption."

Andre gritted his teeth and nodded: "Go ahead, I can endure it."

The surgery began; Luo En first used the special technique he mastered after his elemental perception advanced, using a light-beam scalpel to slice open his skin, revealing the discolored muscle tissue underneath.

The corruption was even more serious than he had imagined; the black liquid had seeped in very deeply, almost reaching the bone.

"Begin excision."

Luo En signaled for Ailan to fix the wound, then picked up a special scalpel radiating purifying light and began to clear away the corrupted tissue.

Every cut was extremely precise; he had to excise all the corrupted parts without damaging healthy tissue.

This was a job that required extremely high spiritual power control and anatomical knowledge; fortunately, Luo En was fully prepared in both aspects.

Despite the analgesia, Andre couldn't help but let out a low groan of pain.

The physique brought by dragon blood allowed him to endure more pain than ordinary people, but this kind of corruption excision directly targeting the deepest part of the flesh was still an unimaginable torture.

"Hold on a little longer," Luo En focused on the work in his hands, his hand holding the knife not slowing in the slightest:

"The worst part is already over."

With the excision of the last piece of corrupted tissue, the wound looked alarmingly large.

It was almost twice its original size, revealing bright red muscle and stark white bone.

"Now is the critical part," Luo En picked up a bottle of golden potion; this was his specially made composite purifying potion:

"This will eliminate the residual corruption and promote the regeneration of healthy tissue."

He poured the potion into the wound; the golden liquid immediately reacted violently with the residual black substance, emitting white smoke.

Andre groaned in pain, but soon gritted his teeth and persisted.

The entire process lasted nearly an hour; finally, the wound was completely cleaned and coated with a special regenerative ointment.

"Done," Luo En breathed a sigh of relief and helped Andre bandage the wound:

"The corruption has been cleared, but because it was dragged out for too long, it will leave a permanent scar."

Andre smiled weakly: "Compared to death or mutation, what is a scar? Thank you, Luo En; you saved my life once again."

Luo En shook his head: "You are too careless; if this kind of injury were dragged out for a few more weeks, the corruption would have seeped into your core bloodline, and even a formal wizard wouldn't be able to save you then. Fortunately, you weren't stupid enough to not know to come find me..."

He walked to a cabinet on the side and took out three bottles of Lava Droplets:

"This is the improved version of Lava Droplets I just developed; the effect is better than the original. Take them, follow the instructions to take them, and it will accelerate your bloodline growth."

Andre looked in shock at those bottles of liquid shimmering with golden-red light: "This... this is too precious!"

"After bloodline activation reaches a certain level, it should be able to repair those permanent damages."

Luo En said calmly: "Besides, I just replicated it according to the formula; the cost is not too high."

He knew that Andre had been financially strained recently due to his huge appetite after bloodline awakening, and he didn't want to increase his burden.

"I... I don't know how to thank you," Andre's voice was somewhat choked:

"Not only did you save my life once again, but you also gave me such precious potions..."

Luo En smiled and suddenly started joking:

"When you become king, remember to grant me a marquis title or something; that would also be considered bringing glory to the ancestors of the Ralph family."

Andre was stunned for a moment, then immediately said earnestly:

"Not just a marquis; if I really have the chance to sit in that position, I promise you that the Ralph family will become a hereditary Grand Duke of the kingdom, with a status second only to the royal family."

Luo En looked at the determination in his friend's eyes and couldn't help but sneer:

"Too much wealth and status will instead cause the family members' hearts to swell; I only hope the Ralph family has a protective umbrella and lives steadily."

He paused and added half-jokingly:

"Perhaps we can arrange for my eldest brother's descendants to marry into your branch; that would be even more secure."

Andre smiled and shook his head: "You are always able to say such monumental things so easily."

He looked at the sunset outside the window, his eyes revealing an unprecedented determination:

"But I am serious, Luo En. I once felt that the throne was too far from me, but now..."

The blonde youth clenched his fists:

"With a genius like you always helping me, I have already begun to believe that it might not just be an unreachable dream."

Luo En did not answer, but quietly picked up the tea that had already gone cold and took a sip to moisten his throat.

Everything he was doing for Andre now was done while it didn't affect himself.

How the future will turn out, no one can predict.

But one thing is certain; he believes he can make it to the end, even if it might take a very long time...

(End of chapter)