Chapter 1524
Chapter 1524: Section 1525: The Heat Wave Chapter 1524: Section 1525: The Heat Wave Ashliea Comprehensive College, a corner of the experimental zone.
The iron door of the sealed underground basement, with a creaking sound, was finally pushed open. The light from the outside world shone into the dark chamber, also illuminating the bloodless, pale faces one after another.
Vannerson's eyes sparkled as he looked at the center of the laboratory, at the metal suspension tube filled with the mysteries of the Reformist School and Mechanical Alchemy.
Inside the suspension tube, the new batch of potion base was dripping drop by drop.
Once the dosage was sufficient, they could attempt to refine the innovative version of the Bloodline Nourishment Potion.
After much speculation on his part, Vannerson was certain that as long as the potion was successfully concocted, its effects would absolutely rival Witch's Soup by Selyan!
Of course, that wasn't the most important part.
The reason why Selyan's Witch's Soup had become one of the essential potions for Bloodline Apprentices was not just because it was the one with the lowest cost amongst similar potions, but because it also had the best effects.
This time, Vannerson used the technique of the Reformist School to refurbish the Bloodline Nourishment Potion, and the materials spent were even cheaper than those for Selyan's version.
To Vannerson, this would be a tremendous success. As long as the potion was born, it would certainly replace the current Bloodline Nourishment Potions, serving as a significant slap in the face to those from the traditional school.
The thought alone was exhilarating.
Vannerson truly hoped that the potion would emerge soon, but now that it was at the final step, he could only wait patiently.
It was estimated that it would take about another two days.
Taking advantage of this moment, Vannerson planned to go see Vice Dean Sherry, starting the new course with the Bloodline Nourishment Potion.
He turned back to look at the handful of assistants in the laboratory, and though the half-month ordeal hadn't been too much for him, the assistants each had a pale complexion, which made him shake his head repeatedly: “To become an Alchemist, a good physical foundation is essential. You've only endured half a month, and you're already like this. If we were to conduct longer experiments next time, could you withstand it?”
The group of assistants lowered their heads in silence.
Vannerson sighed, “The potion we are refining right now is precisely the Bloodline Nourishment Potion. How about this, once the refinement is done, apart from reserving what we need for experiments, you guys can divide the rest. At least, bring your physical condition up first.”
After speaking, Vannerson, amid the surprised looks of his assistants, said, “I'm off to see the vice dean. The potion still needs two more days to complete the final step. Keep a close watch and make sure there are no mistakes.”
With that, Vannerson left the underground laboratory.
Looking around the experimental zone, Vannerson furrowed his brows.
The half-month experiment had not led Vannerson to any profound ruminations, but why was the experimental zone so quiet today, with only chirping birds and insects to be heard instead of the usual sounds of failed alchemy experiments, like strings of firecrackers exploding?
Vannerson walked out with confusion and did not see a single person along the way.
Only when he exited the experimental zone did he see two figures strolling ahead, seemingly in conversation. He paused for a moment, as if something dawned on him, his eyes and expression suddenly bursting with joy.
“Master Midora? Master Gurosyro?” Vannerson called out excitedly and quickly approached.
Midora turned around, seeing the handsome junior approaching swiftly, and a smile unconsciously formed at the edges of his lips. Midora, who also leaned toward the Reformist School, held great admiration for Vannerson, the Reformist School Alchemist.
“So it's Vannerson,” Midora said with a smile.
Gurosyro also nodded to Vannerson.
Vannerson respectfully saluted the two Alchemy Masters; Midora was a predecessor he greatly respected, and Gurosyro, despite leaning towards Metallography, as the former “Controller of Moon Silver”, was also one of the oldest and most weighty members of the Research and Development Institute.
“I heard you've been working on a new potion recently, have you had any results?” Midora asked.
Vannerson nodded and quickly described the potion he had been concocting, meanwhile, eagerly looking at Midora, hoping to get guidance and validation from the Master of Magic Potions.
After listening to Vannerson, Midora muttered softly, “A Bloodline Nourishment Potion to replace Selyan's Witch's Soup?”
A slight hesitation appeared in Midora's eyes as he glanced at Gurosyro.
Gurosyro, however, furrowed his brow, clearly full of doubt regarding what Vannerson had said.
“Why don't you talk about your refining philosophy and the process,” after contemplating for a moment, Midora said.
Vannerson nodded and quickly laid out some key points of the refinement process, particularly emphasizing that the cheapest materials had been used during the process.
After Vannerson finished speaking, Gurosyro directly shook his head, “The idea is mistaken, the direction is wrong.”
After speaking, Gurosyro, without waiting for Vannerson's response, said to Midora, “I'm heading to the experimental zone first. I reckon my few disciples are still engrossed in their experiments. If they don't go and sign up for the courses soon, there will be no spots left.”
Having said that, Guxiluo turned around and left.
Vannerson initially responded to Guxiluo's rejection with discontent and confusion, but the words Guxiluo uttered as he left stunned him: what was Guxiluo making his disciples do… poach a class? Whose class would they poach?
Which class was it that not only was Guxiluo not averse to, but he even sent his disciples to poach?
“Guxiluo was right,” said Midora, pulling Vannerson back from his reverie.
“The Witch's Soup of Celiane has existed for so many years; it must have its reasons to exist. Your nurturing potion was misguided from the start.”
“What you should be thinking is not how to replace the Witch's Soup of Celiane, but how to improve it and maximize its effects,” Midora shook his head, “Disputes between factions are understandable, but you can't ignore the strengths of the other. This is purely spiteful, and I see no innovation at all.”
Vannerson's face turned rather unsightly, but he dared not retort against Midora and instead weakly said, “But the materials are much cheaper.”
“The only cheap aspect is the cost of the materials. Have you considered the during-refinement process? The price of filtration equipment? The high-order techniques used in refining? Using high-level skills to refine a low-level potion… sigh.”
Midora went on, “Replacement, in the end, is merely substitution. Of course, if you can find a simpler method, substitution might be acceptable. However, this shouldn't be the objective of alchemy.”
“The essence of innovation is to discard the old for the new, with the emphasis on creating something new. Therefore, Guxiluo's assessment of you is correct; your initial purpose was flawed, and thus, the direction you chose was certainly mistaken.”
After hearing Midora's words, Vannerson felt a cold sweat on his back. Indeed, his initial intent in creating this potion was out of spite, aiming to prove innovation by replacing the Witch's Soup of Celiane. But once he truly fell into this vicious cycle, he completely forgot that in order to demonstrate innovation, what was needed was creation, not replacement.
Had it not been for Midora's insight, he probably would have continued to go around in circles.
Although Vannerson was prideful, he was not obstinate, especially since the person imparting these earnest words was the Magic Potion Master he respected the most.
Vannerson's expression went from pale to contemplative, and after a long moment, he lowered his head and expressed his gratitude, “I understand now, replacement is not the goal; the true aim is innovation.”
Midora actually had high hopes for Vannerson, so he gave him a few more pointers before leaving.
Since the blood-nurturing potion had to be started from scratch, Vannerson decided not to open a class on it. He planned to return to the lab and seclude himself again.
But halfway there, something suddenly occurred to him. He had forgotten to ask, why even Master Guxiluo would have his disciples poach a class, and who was teaching it?
Vannerson hesitated, wondering whether to ask Vice Chancellor Sherry about it.
Just then, a teenager adorned with skull accessories all over his body ran past Vannerson, whose eyes lit up, and he quickly grabbed the back collar of the youth's shirt.
“Hey, who is that? Let me go!” In the midst of the shaking, the young man dropped to the ground.
He turned back in anger, only to pause for a moment in surprise, “Mr. Vannerson?”
“Glenn, where are you rushing off to in such a hurry?”
Glenn straightened his somewhat disheveled collar, intending to lose his temper, but the person in front of him, Vannerson, was not only an Alchemy Mentor of Ashliea but also a powerful Official Wizard. He pinched his nose and replied, “I'm off to poach a class.”
“You don't even like alchemy, what class are you poaching?” Vannerson inquired curiously.
“Whether I like alchemy or not is irrelevant; it's my idol's class, and I will attend!” As long as he was not in front of Angel, Glenn spoke the word “idol” without any barriers and with great assertiveness.
“Your idol, who is that?” Vannerson was curious about which figure a teenager would admire. Most importantly, who had the capacity to teach at Ashliea?
“My idol, of course, is Wizard Pat!” Glenn hesitated, then somewhat confusedly said, “Mr. Vannerson, you don't know? The news of Wizard Pat's class was already spread through the school administration this morning.”
Glenn had a good relationship with Melisa, and since Melisa was Rosen's daughter, Glenn had been in the know early on; the Sky of Truth was not wrong, Angel had indeed advanced. Hence, without any hesitation, he could call out “Wizard Pat.”
“The class wars start today; I don't know how many spots will be available… no more talking, I need to go first.”
With that, Glenn turned and ran off like a gust of wind.
Vannerson stood dumbfounded for a long while before it dawned on him who “Wizard Pat” was.
“He actually became a Wizard already?” Vannerson's expression turned more solemn. He had mixed feelings towards Angel. He had always thought that he might be the first alchemist to enter the Research and Development Institute, but unexpectedly, Angel appeared midway through.
Vannerson had always felt a sense of aversion towards Angel, as if someone was stealing his limelight. Although he understood that it was just his psychology at play, as he and Angel had no personal acquaintance or material competition.
Shaking his head, Vannerson made up his mind to return to the lab. However, after half a step, he hesitated once more and turned to follow the direction where Glenn had departed.
Almost everyone had vanished from the research area, probably due to Angel's class.
Moreover, if an old-generation Alchemy Master like Guxiluo had decided to send his students to the class, it must mean that Angel truly had something noteworthy to offer.
Vannerson then decided he would take a look for himself.