After giving Rosyth a beating and Benson one as well, neither of them had been spared, and Ivan had let out a breath of anger. However, this was merely the interest; the debt of a life was not so easily repaid.
It was only because he was within the city walls that he didn’t dare to make a bigger scene; otherwise, he would have taught them both a more profound lesson.
When Ivan returned to the apothecary lab, his mood wasn’t as pleased as before.
“Still not easy.”
Focusing on the grey-black threads atop the azure amber in the glass container, he shook his head slightly. The responsibility was significant, and the journey long; he needed to proceed with caution.
A single successful potion brew only proved a chance of success, and that chance was quite low.
Should he use the last level of the Light of Wisdom?
A thought flashed through Ivan’s mind and was immediately dismissed by him. The success rate of the Ocean Blue Potion wasn’t insurmountable; it merely required more frequent brewing. With practice comes a higher success rate.
The cost of the Ocean Blue Potion was within an affordable range, and he was only short a dozen or more Experience Points from advancing to level 3. There was no need to consume a precious instance of the Light of Wisdom.
After coming to terms with his thoughts, Ivan began the second brewing of the Ocean Blue Potion, diligently accumulating experience.
He didn’t forget to visit the medical hall every day; he needed to earn money to withstand the cost of private apothecary experiments.
Bat’s Eye Medical Hall.
Ivan and Justine were chased out of the apothecary lab because Old Orio wanted to brew a more valuable potion.
Suddenly, Justine said, “I know what Mr. Orio is doing.”
Ivan guessed, “Could it be the Mountain Monster Potion you submitted?”
“Hmph.”
Justine felt bored with his retort but also confirmed that his guess was correct.
Curiously, Ivan asked, “Is the Mountain Monster Potion also a Breathing Secret Medicine?”
“I’ll ask you a question too.”
Seeing Ivan nod, she finally answered the previous question, “No, it’s a type of nutrition potion, exactly suited for use with the Breathing Secret Medicine. It’s said to have been passed down by sorcerers, definitely no worse than yours. I’m asking you, do you have some kind of highly efficient learning method?”
Justine had started learning apothecary from Old Orio and could now only be considered as just getting the hang of it. What made her feel downcast was that despite working harder than this person, her efficiency didn’t compare to his, which made her appear quite clumsy.
After thinking for a moment, Ivan said, “Does talent count?”
“Hmph!”
Hearing his answer, Justine huffed loudly, nearly twisting her nose in irritation, and decided she didn’t want to bother with him anymore.
Ivan was happy with the peace and quiet.
Time ticked away, and when Old Orio opened the door to the apothecary lab, Ivan eagerly went in.
When he came out again, his pocket contained an additional potion.
The Mountain Monster Potion, as Justine had said, was indeed a special and rare nutrition potion. Old Orio had explained that when used in conjunction with the Breathing Secret Medicine, it could bring about greater medicinal effects, although how much it specifically enhanced was unknown.
The price Old Orio had set was not cheap; it was only slightly less than the Gushing Potion, costing 4 Gold Coins. The average person certainly wouldn’t be willing to use it, considering that for an additional gold coin, one could buy a low-grade Breathing Secret Medicine.
Ivan had wanted to persuade Old Orio to give him a discount, but the old man wouldn’t budge. In the end, Ivan had to purchase one with 4 Gold Coins, nearly emptying his pockets again.
…
Several days went by in a blink of an eye.
Ivan’s routine was always regular and always fulfilling; he had successfully brewed two more Ocean Blue Potions, with his Apothecary Skill Experience Points increasing by 2.
That morning, he took the second Ocean Blue Potion and pulled out yet another potion.
“This potion’s color is odd and unusual.”
Inside the small glass bottle, the liquid looked like distinct droplets of blood or like blood-colored insect eggs, somewhat unsettling to look at and quite different from the potions he was used to seeing.
Trusting in Old Orio, after feeling enveloped in a sensation akin to being surrounded by seawater, he gritted his teeth and poured the Mountain Monster Potion into his mouth.
He felt the sensation of tiny bubbles bursting continuously, accompanied by the raw taste that filled his mouth.
Suppressing the urge to vomit, he pursed his lips and swallowed the liquid medicine.
“Ugh—ugh—ugh.”
Ivan coughed a few times, which finally relieved the nauseating taste in his mouth.
After practicing the Gushing Breath Method consecutively, he noticed the differences; his stomach wasn’t very hungry, and if it weren’t for his body truly being exhausted, he felt he could have gone through the process a few more times.
“So that’s how it is,” he mused. “It’s said that the Intermediate Breathing Method can stimulate the stomach and enhance digestive capabilities, thereby improving the efficiency of nutrient absorption, and the Mountain Monster Potion directly supplies nutrients, indeed remarkable.”
Having truly experienced its benefits, he began to covet the recipe for the Mountain Monster Potion.
It wouldn’t be easy to get from Old Orio, so he had to think of a way to acquire it from Justine.
The effects of the Ocean Blue Potion lasted for three days, and during these days, Ivan’s strength improved by a small step.
Strength: 2.6, Agility: 2.0, Body Constitution: 2.6, Spirit: 1.4
The Mountain Monster Potion must have been effective; the second Ocean Blue Potion decreased slightly in potency, boosting his body constitution by 0.5, strength by 0.3, and agility by 0.3. Catching up strength in body constitution pleased him greatly.
In the backyard, Beaman, who was at the same place, sensed something unusual.
“Ivan, come and try out your punching power.”
It was always like this in the Marichadon family, with Leider and Paul rarely home for a day in a month, while Beaman would occasionally stay for a few days; it was the three youngest siblings who truly lived at home.
Due to the different training content and duration, the younger siblings Peggy and Sean would end their training early and leave.
“Be careful.”
Facing his brother’s invitation, Ivan shouted lowly, gathering most of his body’s strength into his right fist, punching as if shattering rocks.
Beaman’s expression grew slightly solemn as he adjusted his stance and blocked the incoming punch.
“Thump.”
Using stillness to counteract movement, Beaman’s body remained steady.
Only he understood the changes that had occurred, and he couldn’t help asking, “You didn’t gather blood energy, did you?”
“No,” Ivan glared and said, “Can’t gather it.”
The Gushing Breath Method was a fundamental one, with the downside being that blood energy was diffused throughout the body, leaving no time during combat to concentrate it on a certain part—in comparison to the family’s intermediate Goliath Frog Breathing Method, it was two major levels behind.
Beaman paid no attention to his complaint and thoughtfully assessed, “Based on that strength, your power is around 2.5 on the graduated scale, more than half to a 2nd Class knight’s page—good lad, you sure kept quiet about it before.”
Without realizing it, his supposedly uneducated brother had caught up in strength, which gave him an unreal feeling.
Yet, he felt happy for Ivan.
“Well done.”
Ivan spoke seriously, “You have a part in this, thanks to the support you gave me before.”
Beaman waved his hand dismissively, “Haha, that was just a little help, not worth mentioning.”
Immediately after, he realized something from his brother’s words and stared wide-eyed at Ivan in disbelief.
“You can’t mean—the Breathing what’s it?”
As he spoke, he pointed toward the apothecary lab not far away.
After advancing to a 2nd Class page, the lower Breathing Secret Medicines almost lost their effectiveness, and mid-grade secret medicines were always scarce and priceless, difficult to find, especially for someone without status.
Ivan nodded slightly, whispering, “Exactly what you’re thinking—the modified Whirlpool Potion, intermediate quality.”
“Gulp.”
As the breeze passed by, the sound of an involuntary gulp was distinctly audible.
At that moment, Beaman’s face changed faster than ever before, reflecting the turmoil within.