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Chapter 11: High Apprentice Holt
Chapter 11: High Apprentice Holt
"Watch out—some herbs' attributes undergo transformation over time."
Madame Ellen spoke while flipping through her ledger. "What you learn from books won't always apply directly in practice."
Luo En nodded and began examining the pile of medicinal ingredients.
Using his 【herb identification】 ability, he could sense the unique "resonance" each material emitted.
"This one..." He picked up a glass vial containing silver powder after brief contemplation. "According to theory, this should be moon-dew flower powder. But this dull color doesn't match the book descriptions."
"Good observation", Madame Ellen raised her head. "Did you notice the faint purple residue around the bottle's mouth?"
Luo En inspected it again. "Did it react with other herbs?"
"Exactly." Madame Ellen set down her ledger. "Pure moon-dew flower powder should be brilliant silver. However, it's extremely sensitive to energy fluctuations. Yesterday a supplier brought in some violet-crystal grass—we didn't separate them properly." She gave him a probing look. "So what would you do with this contaminated powder?"
Luo En considered the question. "First, reseal it immediately to prevent further contamination. Then..." He recalled the Basic Alchemy Manual, "Since it reacted with violet-crystal grass, we could still use it for potion-making. The purity might be lower, but the properties would be gentler."
"Not bad." The old witch's eyes glinted with approval. "Looks like you're not just memorizing books—you're thinking independently."
Luo En carefully set the vial aside and continued organizing other ingredients. Gradually, he noticed hidden patterns among these seemingly chaotic materials.
For instance, glowing herbs often carried faint stardust-like energy, while heat-emitting ones emitted rhythmic pulses reminiscent of the solar energy described in his Solar Corona Breathing Technique.
"I see now..." He murmured thoughtfully.
Through direct contact, textbook knowledge was transforming into practical experience. Previously obscure descriptions now felt vivid and tangible.
"Huh?" Luo En suddenly spotted a small bottle pushed into a dusty corner.
Despite the grime on its glass, he could see faint starlight flickering inside. Just as he reached to examine it, Madame Ellen's voice cut through:
"That area hasn't been cleaned in ages. Seems you found something interesting."
"Is this... stardust liquid?" Luo En carefully wiped the bottle. "Books say this ingredient stabilizes spiritual energy fluctuations."
"Correct." Madame Ellen took the bottle, holding it to the light. "But this has been here too long—the potency's almost gone." She noticed his disappointed expression. "What? You're interested?"
Luo En didn't hide his thoughts. "Yes. My apprentice evaluation in three months will determine if I stay here. I need to strengthen my spiritual energy quickly."
"I see." Madame Ellen gave a knowing smile. "No wonder you applied here. This shop does offer excellent access to rare materials." She returned the bottle to the shelf. "But true advancement requires understanding, not just external aids. Relying too much on enhancements could lead to catastrophic consequences."
Luo En fell silent, recalling how recent meditations had sharpened his spiritual perception.
At that moment, the shop bell chimed as the door opened, carrying in dry leaves.
"Welcome—" Madame Ellen's greeting halted abruptly.
Luo En turned to see a tall figure at the entrance.
The visitor wore a gray-blue robe bearing a pin with a deep blue gemstone—distinctive insignia of a High Apprentice. Lowering his hood revealed youthful features with a slightly pallid complexion.
"Madame Ellen." The man inclined his head. "I heard you received a new shipment of moonwort?"
"Yes, Holt apprentice." Her tone remained neutral, as if intimately familiar with this high-ranking initiate. "All harvested three days ago during the full moon."
She glanced at Luo En. "Continue your work. Don't ask questions. Don't draw attention."
Luo En nodded silently, resuming his sorting. Yet he sensed the shop's atmosphere had suddenly thickened.
The High Apprentice, clearly a regular, began slowly pacing the aisles. His robe rustled without wind, and every herb-container quivered subtly as he passed.
While organizing ingredients, Luo En observed from the corner of his eye. This rare opportunity to study a High Apprentice up close might reveal valuable insights.
Using his 【herb identification】 sensitivity, he noticed Holt pausing slightly before certain herbs—ordinary materials that nonetheless produced subtle "resonance" when touched.
"Quality is excellent." Holt finally selected several bottles, then produced a complete Mana Stone from his robe. "I'll take all these."
Luo En's breath caught. Unlike apprentices' fragmented stones, this complete Mana Stone radiated pure, concentrated power.
Suddenly, the star grass he was holding emitted a faint glow, mirroring the Mana Stone's energy.
Holt froze mid-step, turning sharply toward Luo En. Though his expression remained hidden, the piercing gaze sent chills down Luo En's spine.
"Interesting..." the High Apprentice muttered. "This star grass still retains active properties. How exactly did you manage that?"
Luo En steadied his heartbeat, maintaining composure. "Just following textbook methods—sealing it with crystal salt powder, sir."
"No", Holt interrupted. "Ordinary preservation techniques couldn't achieve this. This grass was harvested days ago. Maintaining such vitality means you've aligned with its 'rhythm' intuitively."
Luo En blinked. He had indeed sensed this herb's unique pulse during sorting—similar to his morning meditation's spiritual fluctuations. Subconsciously, he'd arranged it similarly.
"Very impressive. What's your name?"
Before Luo En could answer, Madame Ellen interjected:
"This is my new assistant. Still just a candidate apprentice."
(End of Chapter)
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