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Chapter 18: Potion Brewing - Stimulant Potion
Chapter 18: Potion Brewing - Stimulant Potion
At dawn, the Black Mist Jungle still lay shrouded in a thin veil of mist, but Luo En had already arrived at the Herbal Medicine Shop.
He gazed at the weathered wooden door, his mind swirling with thoughts. The harrowing images of Luo Ke and Ai Mi Li kept replaying in his mind. Everything that had happened in these past few days had kept him tossing and turning through sleepless nights, but they had also solidified his determination to grow stronger.
He glanced at the sky. Half an hour earlier than the agreed time. This caution had become second nature—he dared not gamble on the consequences of being late.
The bronze wind chimes by the door clinked softly in the breeze. Though the shop remained shut, Luo En faintly sensed Madame Ellen's unique mana fluctuations.
Taking a deep breath, Luo En gently knocked on the door.
Almost immediately, Madame Ellen's signature raspy voice called from inside: "Come in, little one."
As he pushed open the door, a wave of peculiar scents engulfed him.
After these days of familiarity, Luo En could now identify most of the medicinal ingredients' properties. He recognized the crispness of Moonwort, the pungency of Snake Tooth Grass, and other unnamed but distinctly potent aromas.
"You arrived even earlier than our appointment", Madame Ellen remarked from behind the counter. Her eyes, glowing with an eerie green light, flickered with faint approval. "Seems you're not a lazybones after all. That's good."
Luo En mimicked the noble's etiquette he'd learned from memory: "It is my honor to receive your guidance, madam."
"Cut the useless flattery", the old crone waved dismissively, her gaze sharpening like a hawk's. "Let me check your homework first."
Luo En nodded and replied promptly: "Yes, madam. I've reviewed the section about Stimulant Potion in Basic Alchemy Manual three times and taken detailed notes."
As he spoke, he pulled out a thick notebook from his robe. It was filled with meticulous records of ingredients' properties, reaction patterns, and even subtle observations.
Madame Ellen flipped through the pages idly, her eyes gradually brightening: "Interesting. You didn't just copy the textbook—you added your own interpretations. The idea of connecting spiritual energy perception with ingredient properties is quite innovative."
She snapped the notebook shut, her piercing gaze locking onto Luo En: "Come with me. Today's lesson will be demanding."
Leading Luo En through a narrow corridor, Madame Ellen brought him to the potion-making chamber deep within the shop. Unlike last time, the workbench was already arranged with various tools and ingredients—clearly prepared with care. A bronze cauldron sat atop a special furnace, blue flames dancing beneath it.
"First, I'll teach you to brew the most foundational Stimulant Potion", Madame Ellen began, gesturing toward the ingredients on the table. "Though this potion is common in the market, crafting a perfect one isn't easy. Each ingredient must be measured precisely and added at the right moment."
Moving to the workbench, Luo En used his [Herb Identification] ability to examine the materials. Fresh Moonlight Grass leaves still bore dewdrops, their edges shimmering silver under the obsidian-blue flame. Carbon Breath Grass stems exhaled faint blue smoke—a sign of active potency. Other unnamed ingredients with unique scents were neatly arranged in glass dishes.
"Every ingredient has its own 'rhythm'", Madame Ellen continued. "A true potion master must understand not only their properties but also their resonances."
Her words stirred Luo En's thoughts. He recalled his recent insights while practicing the Solar Corona Breathing Technique—both spiritual energy, breathing methods, and medicinal ingredients seemed to follow specific patterns.
"You've already grasped some concepts?" Madame Ellen keenly noticed his expression shift.
"Yes", Luo En nodded. "Like that Starlight Grass yesterday—when I positioned it in a certain way, I felt its inherent rhythm."
"Good", the old crone smiled faintly. "Every true potion master seeks this balance of 'rhythm'."
She pointed at the materials: "Now, show me your understanding."
Taking a deep breath, Luo En began brewing, relying on his intuition rather than strictly following the textbook. As he worked, he entered a strange flow state. Each ingredient seemed to emit its own "voice", and his task was to harmonize these voices.
"Interesting", Madame Ellen interrupted. "You're using spiritual energy's rhythm to guide the fusion?"
Luo En hesitated slightly. "You mean—"
"Keep going. Don't answer me", she cut him off. "Let me see how far you can push this."
He nodded and resumed his focus. When the final ingredient joined the cauldron, the potion transformed—its murky liquid clarifying into a delicate amber hue. Luo En sensed the energy fluctuations within the cauldron had reached a subtle equilibrium.
"Indeed", Madame Ellen murmured. "Your perception of spiritual energy is truly exceptional. This method of applying its rhythm to potion-making isn't something ordinary alchemists could conceive."
Scooping a portion with a silver spoon, she added, "It's still crude, but you're heading in the right direction."
Suddenly, footsteps echoed from outside the shop.
"Looks like we have a customer", Madame Ellen's tone shifted. "Go organize the shelves while pondering today's lesson. In this world, every force follows specific laws. The key lies in perceiving and applying them."
As she turned to leave, she glanced back at the cauldron: "This batch isn't flawed, but it's mediocre. Bottle it up and do as you wish—sell it or keep it."
Luo En's heart lifted. Sure enough, unexpected gains came from hard work.
After thanking Madame Ellen and bottling the potion, he paused at the doorway, gazing at the still-steaming cauldron. Since merging with the original soul in this world, his progress had far surpassed ordinary limits. While the golden core abilities played a vital role, his unique [Dual Soul] talent was equally crucial.
"Two souls, two mindsets", he mused silently, fingers tapping an unconscious rhythm on the table. Recalling the interface description of [Dual Soul]: "Enhanced Insight; Double Casting when spiritual energy reaches a certain threshold."
Initially, he'd fixated on the latter's power, neglecting the former's subtleties. Now he understood—the dual souls allowed him to perceive the world's supernatural laws from an entirely new perspective.
Closing his eyes, Luo En felt his spiritual energy flow. No longer a formless mass, it now resonated with distinct melodies, each current a symphony of refined notes. This perception stemmed from his [Dual Soul] ability.
The Earth soul's understanding of music and art fused with this world's native soul's instinctive grasp of supernatural forces through the [Dual Soul] bridge. This fusion let him grasp the "rhythms" of various powers faster than others. Alchemy, meditation techniques, breathing methods, and even spell construction—though seemingly disparate fields—shared underlying patterns differentiated only by their harmonic rhythms.
"Like a musician fluent in multiple instruments..." His [Dual Soul] granted cross-disciplinary rhythm comprehension, letting him connect seemingly unrelated domains. As for the rumored Double Casting ability—perhaps that, too, would awaken in time.
(End of Chapter)
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