Chapter 89: Trait Advancement [Enhanced Memory]

Chapter 89: Trait Advancement [Enhanced Memory]

The chief examiner sat at the center—an elderly man with a long white beard, his gaze piercing like an eagle’s. It was immediately clear he was an experienced potion master.

Luo En instantly recognized him—Magnus Clau, one of the most senior alchemy mentors within the School.

"Welcome to the Potion Certification Examination", Magnus declared, his voice thunderous and vigorous despite his age.

"I am Chief Examiner Magnus. Today, I will be joined by two assistant examiners to evaluate your performance."

He briefly outlined the assessment process: "The exam consists of three segments—written theory, material identification, and practical potion-making. Only those who pass all three sections will earn the Potion Master Certification."

An assistant began distributing the theory papers. Luo En quickly scanned his copy.

The questions covered all aspects of Basic Alchemy, ranging from foundational knowledge to advanced problems requiring deep analysis. Thanks to his recent rigorous studies, he found most topics within his grasp.

Luo En began answering with calm composure, his thoughts crystal clear. Each question flowed from his pen as if guided by divine inspiration.

"Alchemy’s four core principles—explain and provide examples."
"Contrast the reactions of Starlight Grass and Moonshade Bloom at varying temperatures."
"Why must the Clear-Minded Elixir be brewed in a sealed container?"

As he tackled one question after another, Luo En felt his knowledge interweaving into a cohesive web. Scattered fragments of learning now fused into a unified whole, each answer filling him with exhilaration.

During the exam, he was stunned to recall every page of the Basic Alchemy Manual, including tiny footnotes and diagrams. This near-photographic memory allowed him to navigate the test with effortless precision.

Two hours later, the theory segment concluded. Luo En reviewed his answers once more before submitting the paper. A premonition flickered in his mind—something transformative was coming.

Next was the material identification phase.

Each examinee was led to a worktable displaying twenty substances. Their task: correctly identify each material’s type and quality within thirty minutes, while detecting counterfeits.

Luo En stood before his table, inhaled deeply, and focused his spirit. Thanks to his [Herb Identification] skill and the [High-Speed Identification] trait gained after reaching proficiency, he could discern authenticity and quality at a glance.

He began identifying materials with practiced precision. The moment his fingers touched a substance, torrents of information flooded his mind through specialized perception.

This Silverlight Mushroom was harvested too long ago—its potency has diminished.
This Dragon Blood Leaf is genuine but poorly preserved, weakening its effects.
This so-called stardust crystal is actually processed quartz powder—utterly counterfeit.

As he worked, Luo En noticed his knowledge extended beyond [Herb Identification]. He could cross-reference these materials against obscure archival records he’d read before. Scattered fragments of past learning now formed a complete cognitive map.

"Time’s up!" the invigilator announced. "Cease identification immediately."

Luo En exhaled softly and glanced at his answer sheet—scrutinized countless times, every detail verified. He felt certain of his results, especially the counterfeit cases he’d unmasked.

Other examinees displayed mixed reactions—some confident, others anxious or dejected.

"Luo En apprentice, come here", Magnus suddenly called, beckoning him to the examiners’ table.

Luo En’s pulse quickened as he approached. "Master Magnus."

"Your judgment on Material Eighteen intrigued me", Magnus said, his eyes gleaming with curiosity.

"Half the candidates believed it was Moonshade Orchid root, but you identified it as counterfeit Dawnshade Grass. Explain your reasoning."

Luo En paused briefly, then replied, "True Moonshade Orchid root has seven concentric rings on its cross-section and emits a faint sweetness when crushed. Material Eighteen has only five rings and a bitter scent—hallmarks of Dawnshade Grass."

Magnus nodded impassively. "Continue."

"More crucially", Luo En added calmly, "the silver stripes on genuine Moonshade Orchid roots shift with lunar phases. Since today is the first quarter moon, authentic samples should have left-leaning patterns. Material Eighteen displays fixed right-leaning stripes—a clear sign of artificial dyeing."

A flicker of surprise crossed Magnus’s face before his stern expression returned. "Who taught you material identification? Your attention to detail is rare."

"I worked at a potion shop for a time. The shopkeeper taught me foundational methods." Luo En answered truthfully. "The rest I refined through practice."

"Potion shop", Magnus mused, narrowing his eyes. He seemed to reach a silent conclusion. "You may prepare for the next phase."

The practical potion-making segment was the exam’s pinnacle.

Staff provided each candidate with a semi-private workstation equipped with basic potion-making tools and common ingredients.

Approaching Luo En, Magnus handed him a slip. "These are the three potions you must brew: Wound-Healing Potion, Spirit Stabilizer, and the Clear-Minded Elixir."

Luo En’s pupils contracted slightly at the last item. The Clear-Minded Elixir was notoriously difficult—even active Potion Masters rarely succeeded in brewing it flawlessly.

This was clearly beyond standard curriculum, like a final exam question designed for prodigies.

Luo En met Magnus’s gaze. The old master’s eyes held a faint, probing smile.

"Difficulties?" Magnus asked, voice laced with subtle provocation.

"None, Master Magnus", Luo En replied steadily. "I’ll complete them to my fullest ability."

"Good", Magnus nodded. "You have four hours."

Luo En swiftly planned his workflow.

The Wound-Healing Potion was simplest—complete it first. The Spirit Stabilizer required slow simmering, so he’d start it after the first potion. The Clear-Minded Elixir demanded absolute focus—save it for last.

He retrieved his Silver Wing Separator, preparing materials for the Wound-Healing Potion. The rare precision tool drew murmurs of astonishment from other examinees. While such instruments could enhance technique, improper use often backfired. Proficient handling itself was a mark of mastery.

Unfazed by the whispers, Luo En immersed himself in his work. Every movement flowed with practiced grace, each step executed with flawless precision.

The Wound-Healing Potion soon gleamed in a perfect amber hue, exuding a faint herbal fragrance. He bottled it to cool while preparing ingredients for the Spirit Stabilizer.

"He finished a potion in half an hour!" A candidate from the neighboring station peeked at his actions and whispered in amazement. "And it looks high-quality too. Who exactly is this kid?"

The spirit stable agent potion required a more complex brewing process - it needed slow simmering at precise temperatures while maintaining constant, even stirring.

Luo En applied the specialized techniques he'd learned from Mentor Madame Ellen, adjusting the sequence of several steps in the traditional formula to make the potion-making process far more stable.

Just as he completed the spirit stable agent, a strange sensation suddenly surged through his mind.

A familiar semi-transparent notification appeared before his eyes:

【Basic Alchemy (Proficient) Experience Points +1】

【Breakthrough! Basic Alchemy (Proficient 100/100) → Basic Alchemy (Proficient max)】

【Additional Trait Upgraded:

High-Speed Memory → Omniscient Comprehension

(Superior Memory → Perfect Recall;

Knowledge integration ability increased, learning efficiency enhanced;

"When knowledge volume increases, comprehension will slightly rise."

At the moment of breakthrough, Luo En felt his mind become exceptionally clear, as if a persistent haze had suddenly been swept away by a strong wind.

All the knowledge he'd previously acquired - whether chapters and passages from the Basic Alchemy Manual, the practical experience Madame Ellen had personally imparted, or even those scattered potion recipes - now reorganized within his mind in an unprecedented way.

It was as if countless disjointed puzzle pieces in his consciousness had spontaneously assembled into a complete picture.

He could now clearly perceive the intrinsic connections between various ingredients, understand the mechanisms behind different reactions, and even predict potential transformations under varying conditions.

"Is this the difference of reaching mastery?" Luo En marveled internally.

An hour later, the spirit stable agent was completed, presenting an extremely satisfying deep blue color. Silver specks of light floated across its surface, proving its energy was exceptionally active.

Magnus periodically patrolled among the candidates, but whenever he passed Luo En's workstation, he would linger longer, observing the young man's operations.

In the final two hours, Luo En began tackling the most challenging potion - the Lucidity Elixir.

This potion required extreme precision; even the slightest mistake could render the entire batch useless.

Now, after achieving breakthrough in Basic Alchemy, Luo En felt his understanding of potion brewing had reached an entirely new height.

He no longer followed procedures mechanically, but could see through appearances to grasp the essence, comprehending the principles behind each step.

Using the Silver Wing Separator, Luo En first extracted the purest Stardust Pollen. Then, following Madame Ellen's advice, he added three drops of Moon Dew to enhance stability.

Next, he slowly blended the other ingredients while carefully controlling the flame to maintain optimal temperature.

While other candidates were still somewhat clumsily working on their second potions, Luo En had already entered the final stage.

With his newly gained perspective from mastery-level alchemy, he suddenly noticed a subtle flaw in the traditional recipe.

"If I add Silverroot extract at the final stage, the effect will be more stable and long-lasting..." he mused inwardly. "It could also make the color more uniform, improving the potion's overall quality."

Though Madame Ellen had indeed mentioned Silverroot's properties, this application to the Lucidity Elixir was entirely Luo En's own innovation.

He took a small vial of Silverroot extract from his side and added a single drop at the potion's completion, gently stirring three times.

The potion's color immediately became more uniform, shifting from pale blue to a clear sky-blue, emitting a refreshingly pleasant aroma.

To his delight, Luo En also realized that while the original formulation's effect had been calculated to last four hours, his modification should extend its duration to at least five hours.

A semi-transparent notification appeared before his eyes:

【Successfully Improved an Existing Potion Recipe √】

With this, only one advancement requirement remained - independently creating three advanced potions. This was actually the easiest requirement to fulfill, something he could complete on his own later.

"I've finished all three potions." Carefully transferring them into prepared crystal vials, he began meticulously checking for any imperfections.

"Time's up!" The supervising Demon-Eyed Vine descended automatically, its voice playback system activating: "Please stop all operations immediately and submit your finished products to the staff."

"Please stop all operations immediately and submit your finished products to the staff."

Luo En neatly arranged his three potion vials on the tray, glancing at the surrounding candidates.

Most wore expressions of fatigue and tension. About a third hadn't even finished their second potion yet.

"This child actually completed all three." The Lizardfolk beside him murmured in astonishment. "And from just a glance, their quality seems impressive."

Magnus and the two other examiners began inspecting each candidate's work individually.

Their evaluation was extremely rigorous, not only examining the potions' appearance and scent but also testing their efficacy and stability through samples.

When Magnus reached Luo En's workstation, his expression became particularly focused.

He first carefully examined the three potions, then retrieved a set of specialized testing tools for deeper analysis.

"Wound Healing Potion - exceptional purity, evenly distributed active components, excellent malleability."

He nodded toward Luo En, offering a low appraisal: "Candidate Luo En, your foundational skills are remarkably solid. You must've practiced for at least three years."

Though Magnus' expression remained calm on the surface, he inwardly marveled:

"This child doesn't look older than fifteen or sixteen. For someone so young to reach this level... Elder Ai Lun has indeed found a treasure."

Next came the spirit stable agent. Magnus placed a drop on a special crystal plate.

The plate immediately glowed blue, displaying complex energy patterns across its surface.

"Stability exceeds expectations. Decay period extended by nearly thirty percent."

Magnus' pale eyebrows lifted slightly. "A most insightful modification."

Finally came the Lucidity Elixir, the most difficult potion in this examination.

Magnus carefully placed a drop on a black stone tablet.

The potion spread rapidly, forming a perfect circle with sharply defined edges.

Even more astonishingly, faint starlight patterns shimmered on the liquid's surface, like constellations in a night sky.

After a brief silence, Magnus turned to Luo En: "This starlight reaction... What did you add to your formulation?"

Luo En replied calmly: "I added a drop of Silverroot extract at the final stage, Master Magnus. It stabilizes the potion's energy structure, prolonging its effects."

"Silverroot extract?" Magnus' voice carried surprise. "That's not in the standard formulation. Who taught you this modification?"

"I discovered it through experimentation, though some guidance from teachers was involved."

Luo En answered cautiously, deliberately avoiding mentioning Madame Ellen. "Through multiple trials, I found this additive significantly enhances effect stability."

The admiration in Magnus' eyes became even more pronounced.

While he suspected such advanced refinement likely came from Madame Ellen's teachings, for someone this young to fully master such techniques was truly remarkable.

The old potion master had already made his judgment:

This young man's skill level was already approaching many veteran potion masters. He simply lacked the experience to independently develop new formulations.

Given a decade or so, becoming an outstanding potion professor seemed almost inevitable.

Magnus exchanged a meaningful glance with the two assistant examiners before continuing to evaluate other candidates' work.

As the inspections continued, the examination hall's atmosphere grew increasingly tense.

Many candidates wore expressions of disappointment, clearly having failed to meet the standards.

Finally, all evaluations were completed. Magnus returned to the examiner's seat, conferred briefly with his colleagues, then stood to address the hall with solemn expression.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end