Ron carefully examined the material before him. Activating his [Herbal Identification] ability, he attuned himself to the subtle rhythm it emitted.
"Your sensitivity is impressive," Mrs. Ellen commented, noticing his intense focus. "Most people can't perceive the rhythm within this material on their first attempt."
Ron didn't hide his surprise. "Its frequency fluctuation feels similar to the runes used in Basic Meditation for mental power... but it's more…"
He paused, trying to find the right words. "It's more fluid, without that lingering sense of stagnation."
"A very accurate description." Mrs. Ellen nodded with satisfaction. "That's precisely why Stardust Liquid can stabilize mental power—it offers an ideal 'rhythm template' that allows mental energy to flow more naturally."
She then poured some moon crystals into a specially made mortar. "Today, I'll teach you how to make a simplified version of Stardust Liquid. It doesn't match the full effects of the real thing, but it's far easier to produce."
For the next two hours, the old witch taught Ron each detail of the brewing process with great care. Every step—from the angle of grinding ingredients and managing heating temperatures to the control of energy fluctuations—required exact precision.[Magical Potion Brewing Experience +5]
[Current Progress: Magical Potion Brewing (Beginner 20 / 50)]
[Basic Potioneering Experience +3]
[Current Progress: Basic Potioneering (Proficient 12 / 100)]Finally, after meticulous effort, Ron successfully brewed a bottle of liquid that glowed with a faint silver light.
"The color's a bit lighter than usual, but overall, it's a success," Mrs. Ellen remarked, lifting the bottle up to inspect it under the light. "This Simple Stardust Liquid will maintain its effect for around three days—enough time to complete a full spell experiment."
She handed the bottle to Ron. "But don't overuse it. Prolonged use can lead to mild dependency. Save it for when you're on the verge of a breakthrough."
Ron solemnly accepted the potion. "Thank you for your guidance, Madam."
"No need to thank me." Mrs. Ellen waved him off. "I'm simply curious about that late apprentice's research. If you ever manage to perfect it, let me see the results."
Once the day's work ended, Ron left the herbal medicine shop with the silver-glowing potion in hand.
But today's gains were more than just a single potion. What mattered more was the insight he had gained into Magical Potion Brewing—especially on how to guide energy fluctuations.
As he walked back to his dormitory, Ron repeatedly went over Mrs. Ellen's teachings in his mind:"In Magical Potion Brewing, the most important factor isn't the materials themselves but rather achieving energy harmony between them…"The concept reminded him of the structure of meditation. Whether it was mental power operation or potion material fusion, both appeared to follow a common law.
Back in his room, Ron sat down to organize his notes. His attempt at brewing Simple Stardust Liquid had deepened his understanding of mental power significantly.
The idea of an "ideal rhythm" gave him newfound inspiration.
After finishing his notes, he picked up his training wooden sword and began practicing the Corona Swordsmanship technique. Each swing matched the rhythm of his breathing, becoming increasingly fluid with each motion.[Basic Swordsmanship Experience +3]
[Current Progress: Basic Swordsmanship (Beginner 28 / 30)]Later that evening, Ron took out the Basic Meditation Method again. His experience with potion brewing had sparked fresh insights into mental power operation, and he was eager to test them through meditation.[Basic Meditation Begins]In the space of his consciousness, he tried to replicate the fluid rhythm he had felt from the Simple Stardust Liquid. Although he couldn't completely reproduce it, even the attempt brought him meaningful progress.[Basic Meditation Experience +3]
[Current Progress: Basic Meditation (Beginner 51 / 100)]"Over halfway there…"
Opening his eyes, Ron glanced at the numbers on his panel, a flicker of anticipation in his heart. With his current pace and various profession bonuses, reaching Proficient level in Basic Meditation within a month was entirely within reach.
With that motivation, he carefully organized his notes and materials, preparing to rest. Tomorrow promised to be another intense day, and he needed a strong mental state to handle it.
However, Ron's mood dipped.
He had tossed and turned the entire night, unable to fall asleep as scenes from the incident with Darrend kept playing through his mind.
Among the two merged souls within him—one a young man who had just stepped into society before transmigrating, and the other an aristocratic young master—neither had experienced such brutal life-and-death situations before.
In the heat of the moment, adrenaline and tension dulled his reaction. But alone in bed that night, the image of Darrend's twisted, struggling form—his dying whimpers filled with resentment and pain—haunted Ron's thoughts.
During the confrontation, Ron had even sensed eyes watching from the shadows.
After several rounds of body tempering and advancement, his senses had sharpened considerably. He could detect the faint presence of life in the rooms along the corridor. The other candidate Apprentices, those who arrived in the same batch as him, had hidden behind their doors—peeking out through cracks, silently observing the deadly battle.
It wasn't until Holt arrived with the enforcement team that they dared to come out and be inspected.
"Heh. Just like the survival rules of the Black Mist Forest."
Ron chuckled coldly. The weak always chose to hide in the shadows, waiting for the strong to determine the outcome before latching onto the winner. This strategy wasn't rare here—it was the norm.
By the time he wrapped up his daily duties at Mrs. Ellen's shop and completed his regular training, dusk had arrived.
Walking into the public dining hall, Ron immediately noticed a shift in atmosphere.
Normally, the place wouldn't be very crowded at this hour. But today, it was full.
Even stranger, the candidate Apprentices who usually sat in isolated groups were now gathered together, their eyes often drifting in Ron's direction.
"Is that Ron? I heard he killed that mutated Darrend single-handedly…"
"They say he used only a wooden sword…"
"And he's even working in the herbal shop in the market district. Lord Holt personally…"
Whispers flooded Ron's ears.
Expressionless, he carried his tray to a secluded corner seat.
Just then, a tall, thin young man approached, tray in hand. "Ron, mind if I sit here?"
Ron looked up and recognized him as one of the apprentices from the same intake. Though he couldn't remember the man's name, he nodded slightly.
Before he could respond, two more people walked over.
"Ron, I heard you acquired Darrend's experimental spell set. Any chance you'd let me take a look?"
"I've got some magic stone fragments here. Would you be willing to give me a few tips…"
Ron set down the piece of black bread in his hand and responded with a frosty tone. "Sorry, I'm very busy right now."
He stood up with his tray, intending to leave.
But more apprentices began to gather around, their voices overlapping with requests and questions.
Just as his patience was about to snap, a familiar voice rang out from the side.
"Move aside."
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