Chapter 107

Luo En stared at the crucible in front of him with intense focus, carefully controlling the heat.

Refining Sunflame Essence is far more demanding than ordinary blood-Qi potions; not only are the materials special, but every step of the refining process requires absolute precision.

"The dosage of red phosphorus grass powder must be double that of an ordinary blood-Qi potion, yet it must be added in three separate stages, with twelve breaths between each..."

Luo En muttered the key points of the formula under his breath.

Even with the professional skills and experience of a potion master, refining this advanced potion remained a challenge.

The liquid in the crucible changed color with the addition of each ingredient, shifting from the initial pale yellow to orange-red, and finally to the current dark red with a faint golden sheen, looking much like molten metal.

"Ordinary blood-Qi potions can only promote blood circulation and enhance muscle vitality, but Sunflame Essence is more than that..."

As he carefully stirred the potion, he recalled the notes Ma Genusi had left beside the formula:

"The uniqueness of Sunflame Essence lies in its ability to activate the 'yang energy' within the body, providing extra assistance to those practicing yang-attribute techniques—something ordinary blood-Qi potions cannot achieve."

Xiang Ailan stood to the side, her vines gently extending to carefully hand over a small vial filled with Starfire Stone marrow.

"Thank you, Xiang Ailan." Luo En took the vial and offered a grateful smile.

He opened the cap, letting the shimmering crimson liquid inside drip slowly into the crucible; each drop made a faint "hiss" upon contact with the potion, releasing a small puff of golden steam.

"Starfire Stone powder is a material not used in ordinary blood-Qi potions; it guides the energy to transform into a yang nature."

Xiang Ailan's vines spelled out a few words in the air: "Should the heat be increased?"

Luo En carefully observed the state of the potion and shook his head slightly:

"No, the current temperature is just right. Too high would destroy the activity of the Sun-Day Orchid, and too low would prevent the Starfire Stone powder from fully integrating."

Although he was refining it exactly according to Ma Genusi's formula, Luo En still incorporated his own understanding into the details.

For example, the way he cut the Sun-Day Orchid rhizome—he did not use the traditional cross-cut, but instead used a diagonal cut, which better preserved the yang energy within.

There was also the specific technique he used to stir the potion while the Starfire Stone powder was being added.

Although this was not written in the formula, as a professional potion master proficient in pharmacology, he understood that this tiny change could make the distribution of yang energy more uniform.

"The final step..." Luo En took a deep breath and picked up the volcanic lizard heart powder.

The moment the heart powder touched the potion, the liquid in the entire crucible suddenly began to boil, emitting a heart-palpitating "hissing" sound, and the golden light became even more dazzling.

Luo En did not panic, instead maintaining a steady rhythm of preparation; his right hand continued to stir, while his left hand guided the energy flow with a specific gesture—this was also his own improvement, never written in the formula.

A few minutes later, the boiling gradually subsided, the potion stabilized, and it finally presented a stunning, flowing gold, shimmering as if it were liquid sunlight.

[Potion Master profession special effect triggered!]

[Sunflame Essence refining successful! Effect slightly higher than the original formula.]

[Potion refining experience +2]

"Success!" Luo En looked at the bottle of perfect Sunflame Essence in front of him with joy, his heart filled with a sense of accomplishment.

He carefully filled several crystal bottles he had prepared in advance; each bottle emitted a faint golden glow, as if it contained a small piece of sunlight.

"Ordinary blood-Qi potions lose their effectiveness after about ten days, but this Sunflame Essence can maintain its activity for at least a month, though you will still need to check their status when you have time."

Luo En explained to Xiang Ailan at his side, while placing labels on each bottle.

Afterward, he poured the remaining dregs into a special small basin:

"Xiang Ailan, these dregs should have plenty of nutrients for you; you can absorb them."

The tree spirit nodded gently, her roots extending toward the pile of dregs that emitted a faint golden light.

This was not the first time.

In the last few potion refining sessions, Luo En noticed that Xiang Ailan seemed particularly fond of absorbing the remaining dregs, especially those containing plant essences or residual energy.

What surprised him even more was that after absorbing these dregs, Xiang Ailan seemed to be undergoing some subtle changes.

At first, these changes were subtle—her vines became deeper in color, her branches tougher, and her roots extended further.

But gradually, the changes began to become obvious.

Her originally light green skin became more lustrous, and her vines became more flexible and powerful.

Xiang Ailan's figure began to slowly transform toward a human shape; the tree trunk part, which was originally just a rough outline, gradually formed soft contours approaching those of a female.

Her branches were no longer just simple plant tissue, but began to form textures similar to hair and a dress, with emerald green leaves interwoven together like an exquisite green gown.

Luo En watched Xiang Ailan absorbing the dregs, lost in thought.

Those vines would glow slightly when they touched the dregs, as if performing a kind of energy conversion.

The magic power fluctuations on her body were also much stronger than when she first arrived, no longer a weak, passive existence, but becoming active and rhythmic, like a silent song of life.

"Perhaps this is what Ma Genusi meant by that sentence before he left?"

Luo En recalled the old potion master saying: "Treat it well, and it will reward you with more."

He recalled the content he had looked up in the library regarding the bloodline origin of the tree spirit race. According to legend, the ancestors of the tree spirits originated from the "Forest Nymphs" of the Age of Gods.

They were a type of extraordinary creature with divinity, known as "fairies of the forest"; although their combat power was not high, they possessed many incredible innate abilities.

Forest Nymphs could communicate with plants, perceive the pulse of the earth, and even foresee the future related to nature.

In some ancient books, Forest Nymphs were described as the kin of the Earth Mother Goddess, responsible for maintaining the balance and vitality of the forest.

If these legends were true, then the changes happening to Xiang Ailan might be a return to the form of her ancestors?

"Xiang Ailan, how... how do you feel?" Luo En asked tentatively.

Xiang Ailan raised her head, and those originally calm, waveless eyes seemed to have a hint of liveliness; her vines spelled out letters in the air:

"Very warm, like bathing in the sunlight."

This answer was longer than ever before and more emotionally rich.

Luo En nodded slightly, more convinced of his guess.

Xiang Ailan was undergoing some kind of metamorphosis, and the energy in the potion dregs was the catalyst.

"If these potion dregs can produce such an effect, then those more adaptive bloodline stimulants..."

However, her recent changes had also become slower and slower; perhaps energy stimulation at the level of dregs could no longer have much effect on her.

It stood to reason; if the tree spirit's own bloodline concentration were high enough to be easily stimulated, the slave merchant wouldn't have let him pick up such a big bargain.

However, at least this metamorphosis proved that the tree spirit had deep bloodline potential to be tapped...

Luo En's thoughts raced, and he had already begun to conceive a plan.

Tomorrow, he planned to go to the teaching area to sign up for new courses.

After all, the gains from working behind closed doors were always limited, and the systematic teaching provided by the school could help him master new knowledge faster.

"Alchemy Practice" and "Elemental Affinity" were the two courses he was most interested in.

Thinking of this, Luo En refocused his attention on the work in front of him.

There were still several client orders for potions that needed to be completed today; time waited for no one.

………………

The next morning, Luo En arrived at the school's teaching area early.

The building complex here was much more magnificent than the dormitory area, with groups of towering stone towers and suspension corridors connecting various buildings, forming a spectacular sight.

He held the course list he had organized earlier and walked toward the registration office.

The center of the teaching area was an octagonal hall, where sunlight spilled through the stained glass of the ceiling, forming colorful beams of light.

In the center of the hall was a huge three-dimensional star map, and around it were the registration desks for various courses.

When Luo En walked to the registration area, he unexpectedly saw a familiar figure—Huo Erte, the regular customer who had often come to the herb shop during his time as a candidate apprentice, and also one of the leaders in the Law Enforcement Team.

At this moment, he was standing in front of the "Advanced Elemental Studies" registration desk, handing over magic stone fragments.

He was wearing the standard dark gray uniform of the Law Enforcement Team, with a special badge representing authority pinned to his waist, and his whole person exuded an introverted and powerful aura.

Noticing Luo En's gaze, Huo Erte turned his head, his sharp eyes narrowing slightly, then a flash of surprise crossed them, which then turned into a look of approval.

"Potion Master Luo En," he took the initiative to walk over, the corners of his mouth raised in a polite smile, his voice low and steady: "I heard you recently became a professional potion master; it seems the news is true."

"My lord Huo Erte." Luo En responded politely, nodding slightly: "Long time no see."

Huo Erte's gaze lingered on the potion master badge on Luo En's chest for a moment, then swept over his overall magic power fluctuations, as if making some kind of assessment.

"You shouldn't address me so respectfully anymore."

Huo Erte said softly: "You are already a professional potion master, and as far as I know, you were personally assessed and passed by Master Ma Genusi. In the school system, our status is now equal."

This direct change in attitude surprised Luo En a little, but he quickly realized that in a place like the Black Mist Forest, strength and ability were the keys to everything.

Huo Erte was clearly an extremely rational and pragmatic person.

"Okay, I would like to sign up for the 'Alchemy Practice' and 'Elemental Affinity' courses."

Luo En changed his tone and went straight to the point: "Does senior Huo Erte have any understanding of these courses?"

"What a coincidence, I just graduated from the 'Elemental Affinity' course not long ago."

Huo Erte said, taking the initiative to lead Luo En toward the registration desk, his tone carrying a rare gentleness:

"If you intend to broaden your knowledge, these two are indeed good choices."

They arrived in front of the "Alchemy Practice" registration desk, and the apprentice in charge of registration raised his head, looking a bit tired.

"Name, authority rank?" the apprentice asked mechanically.

"Luo En Laerfu, professional potion master." Luo En handed over his badge.

The apprentice's attitude immediately became respectful:

"Potion Master Luo En, according to the discount regulations, the tuition fee for 'Alchemy Practice' after the discount is thirty-five magic stone fragments for one month. Do you have any special requirements?"

"No special requirements, thank you." Luo En replied, while taking out the prepared magic stone fragments.

Just then, Huo Erte suddenly spoke: "Arrange him in Instructor Tang Pusen's class."

The apprentice looked at the Law Enforcement Team badge on Huo Erte's chest with some hesitation, then nodded: "Instructor Tang Pusen's class... Okay, I will make this arrangement."

When they walked away, Luo En looked at Huo Erte in confusion: "Instructor Tang Pusen?"