Chapter 91

The entire exam room was so quiet that the slight buzzing of the magic crystal lamps could be heard, and everyone held their breath waiting for the final result.

"There were twenty-seven candidates participating in this potion master certification exam. After a comprehensive evaluation of the three links..."

Ma Genusi paused for a moment, scanning the nervous faces of everyone: "Only two candidates passed the certification standard."

Low sighs and disappointed murmurs spread in the exam room, and several elderly candidates even turned pale, clearly this was not their first failure.

"First is... lizardman Ba Zha Ke, the grade is qualified, obtained the professional potion master certification, the rating is 'qualified'."

In the corner, an old lizardman whose scales had begun to lose their luster stood up slowly.

His fingers and claws were bent and deformed due to handling herbs for many years, and his eye sockets were deeply sunken.

The lizardman was stunned in place, seemingly because the joy came too suddenly, and he didn't react for a while.

After being stunned for a while, Ba Zha Ke bowed deeply to the examiner, his whole body trembling slightly with excitement.

Then, Ma Genusi's gaze fell on Luo En, the corners of his mouth rising slightly:

"Secondly is... primary apprentice Luo En Ra Er Fu from the Black Fog School."

All eyes in the exam room focused on Luo En in an instant, with surprise, disbelief, and undisguised jealousy.

"The grade is qualified, obtained the professional potion master certification, the rating is—'excellent'!"

The exam room instantly erupted into a buzzing discussion, like a group of bees that had been disturbed.

"'Excellent' rating?"

"Are you kidding? This kid looks no more than fifteen or sixteen!"

"'Excellent' rating? I have participated in the exam five times and haven't even received the most basic 'qualified' rating..."

A candidate with white hair was so surprised that the test tube in his hand almost fell. He maintained a stiff smile, but couldn't suppress the extreme imbalance in his heart.

Ma Genusi waved his hand to signal silence:

"The certification results have been determined. Please don't be discouraged by those who failed. There will be opportunities next year. Now the exam is over, please stay to receive the certificate, others can leave on their own."

Most of the candidates packed their items in frustration and prepared to leave, only Luo En and Ba Zha Ke remained in the exam room.

Ma Genusi walked to Luo En and personally handed him a certificate badge with a magic anti-counterfeiting seal.

"Young man." The old man stroked his white beard, his tone not containing too much probing, seemingly just a simple compliment:

"I have been a potion examiner in the school for decades, and I have rarely seen talent like yours. Especially that bottle of 'sobering' potion, the quality is beyond my expectations."

Luo En took the certificate badge respectfully: "Thank you for your recognition, Master Ma Genusi."

Ma Genusi narrowed his eyes, looking at him with deep meaning: "By the way, I have a question I want to ask you, is Lady Ailan your mentor?"

Luo En was slightly stunned: "Yes, how did you see it?"

The old man revealed a kind smile and signaled Luo En to come to a small lounge next to the exam hall with him.

After the two sat down, Ma Genusi opened his mouth:

"Hehe, that silver tree root extract usage method is very special, this is Lady Ailan's signature technique. Not to mention, the precise rhythm you had when refining—that is her unique style."

His gaze became distant, as if he had fallen into memories:

"More than a hundred years ago, I had a short period of working with Lady Ailan. At that time, she was one of the most dazzling geniuses in the entire Crystal Spire, and we even thought she had hope of advancing to a Great Wizard..."

Luo En was surprised by this past event: "Sorry, I didn't know the lady had such a past."

"She rarely mentions those glorious pasts in front of her students."

The old man's voice was low and powerful: "It can be seen that Lady Ailan has poured a lot of effort into you."

Luo En lowered his head modestly: "I just try my best not to live up to the lady's teaching."

"Your modesty is commendable, but sometimes excessive modesty is a kind of arrogance."

Ma Genusi chuckled and looked at him keenly:

"Alright, you should have other things you need my help with, right?"

Luo En was stunned, seeing the old man in front of him showing an appearance of listening attentively, he stopped saying any polite words of paving the way and went straight to the point:

"Yes, Master Ma Genusi. Actually, after passing the potion master certification this time, I also want to apply to the school for an independent workshop for refining potions."

While speaking, he took out a letter that had been prepared long ago:

"Trouble you, this is Lady Ailan's recommendation letter, I hope it can be helpful for the application."

"Since you have become a professional potion master, you do need an independent workshop now."

Ma Genusi nodded and took the letter, opened it and read it for a while, the corners of his mouth rising slightly: "And it's a warm recommendation from an old friend, I understand."

He closed the envelope, his gaze falling on Luo En again:

"Applying for an independent workshop requires the approval of the school's high-level officials, and the process usually takes about two weeks. But for the sake of Lady Ailan, plus your outstanding performance today..."

A trace of encouragement for young people flashed in Ma Genusi's eyes:

"I will exert some influence in it, and it should be able to shorten the time to about two days. I think, with the potential you have shown, the school will not refuse such an excellent young man like you."

"Thank you very much for your help, Master Ma Genusi." Luo En said sincerely, which was much smoother than he expected.

"You're welcome, this is also for the future of the school."

Ma Genusi smiled: "When you enter the workshop, let me evaluate the first batch of potions."

"Of course, that is my honor."

He knew the old potion master's implication, this was to accept him into the potion master circle within the school, and of course he would not be so ignorant as to refuse.

After politely saying goodbye to Ma Genusi, Luo En was stepping to the door and preparing to leave...

Those candidates saw this young potion master coming out of Ma Genusi's place, and they all lit up, returning one by one, surrounding him.

"Apprentice Luo En, I am Kang La De, and I own a fief of my own in Snow Pine City."

An old man with white hair took the lead, his face full of smiles, but his eyes flashed with complex light:

"Your refining skills are truly breathtaking! There is a special mineral vein in the area of Snow Pine City near the Black Fog Jungle, which produces a rare mineral called 'Star Crystal Stone', which is of great benefit to potion refining. If you are interested, we can establish a long-term cooperative relationship."

He said while taking out a small bag of sparkling crystals, the enthusiasm in his eyes difficult to hide the jealousy in his heart.

This teenager, who was less than one-third of his age, actually obtained the potion master certification he had dreamed of but could never reach.

"Master Luo En." Another man of the sub-species snake race with blue skin squeezed forward, he pushed Kang La De aside with force:

"I am the Shaman-Fog Shadow of the Hydra Tribe. Our tribe has lived in Twilight Lake in the east for generations. There are many rare aquatic plants there, especially 'Dream Spirit Flower', which is said to enhance the spiritual amplification effect of potions."

"Don't listen to this blue-skinned monster, their tribe's plants are all poisonous!"

A female potion master with a graceful figure took the opportunity to interject. She had a charming face, but the wrinkles at the corners of her eyes revealed her actual age:

"I am Ge Lei Si, an independent potion master on the southern edge of the Black Fog Jungle. I have cooperation with many nomadic tribes and can obtain the freshest animal materials. Especially the heart of the 'Blood Moon Wolf', which is a top-grade material for refining body strengthening potions!"

Luo En dealt with this sudden enthusiasm politely, but he saw clearly in his heart that the real thoughts of these people were nothing more than wanting to take the opportunity to establish contact with a promising potion master and seek benefits for themselves.

But he did not refuse. In a place like the Black Fog Jungle, interpersonal networks and resource channels are equally precious.

These potion masters who are jealous but have to be superficially complimentary can just become windows for him to understand external information.

"I appreciate everyone's kindness." Luo En said warmly:

"I am very happy to establish contact with everyone and exchange potion insights. However, after just passing the certification, there are still many things to deal with, and I hope there will be opportunities for in-depth exchanges in the future."

Just then, the lizardman Ba Zha Ke, who received the "qualified" rating, walked over slowly, and the crowd automatically made a path for him.

Unlike the affectation of others, what flowed in the eyes of this old lizardman who had experienced the vicissitudes of life was sincere admiration.

"Potion Master Luo En." Ba Zha Ke's voice was low and hoarse:

"I come from the Snake Scale Swamp in the southeast, which is the ancestral home of our lizardmen. I have been studying potions for more than forty years, but I have never seen a young man with such talent as you."

He paused, his eyes under the scaly eyelids slightly red with excitement:

"If you don't mind, I can provide you with some materials unique to the swamp in the future, such as 'Abra Life-Taking Vine' and 'Blue Lamp Heart Grass'. They grow in the depths of the swamp, and only we lizardmen know the exact location."

Luo En could feel the sincerity in the old lizardman's words and bowed slightly to him: "It is my honor to associate with an experienced potion master like Mr. Ba Zha Ke, and I look forward to future cooperation."

Ba Zha Ke nodded with relief, a certain relief flashing in his eyes:

"Forty years of persistence have finally been rewarded. I am satisfied to be able to obtain the potion master certification in my lifetime. And you, a young man with talent like a brilliant morning star, your future achievements will surely far exceed ours."

As more candidates joined the conversation, Luo En gradually learned about the distribution of forces around the Black Fog Jungle:

The half-orcs and goblins wandering around are the most numerous among the aliens, and they are also the foreign invasive species in this region.

They have strong enough reproductive ability, and they have no extraordinary profession of their own, so they are kept in captivity by the Black Fog School and can be directly caught as experimental materials and slaves when needed.

Snow Pine City in the north of the Black Fog Jungle is one of the important towns in human territory, bordering the dwarf city-states, so it can obtain many excellent mineral materials;

Twilight Lake in the east is the territory of snake people and other aquatic races, where there are many types of aquatic plants, but most of them have a certain degree of toxicity;

The south is a loose nomadic alliance composed of multiple beast tribes. They worship the blood moon and conduct hunting rituals regularly, and are extremely obsessed with various extraordinary organs of magic beasts;

The Snake Scale Swamp in the southwest is the settlement of lizardmen. It is hot and humid, but there are many rare materials that only grow in specific environments;

It's just that coincidentally, everyone avoids talking about the Black Bay side in the west of the Black Fog Jungle, as if some taboos are hidden there...

In the short exchange, Luo En not only obtained a large amount of geographical and material information, but also established an initial interpersonal network.

When the crowd finally dispersed, he had a few more slips of paper with contact information in his hand, and a few small bags of material samples given to him as "meeting gifts."

Ma Genusi watched all this from not far away, he stroked his beard:

"Hehe, in some occasions, reputation can indeed exert more effect than strength, but it is also easier to attract danger. But this kid's words... shouldn't need too much reminder from me."

(End of chapter)