Once immersed in work, time seemed to slip away unnoticed.
Lynn rapidly advanced in his apprenticeship as a potion master, mastering a new potion every day.
Though the quality of his potions was somewhat lacking, they were still complete and functional.
From being a novice who could only brew " Rejuvenation Overnight " to now possessing expertise in multiple potions, his progress was nothing short of remarkable.
A month had passed since the last gathering.
Today was Lynn's day off.
Sitting at the desk by the window in the dormitory of the potion garden, he gazed out at the blue sky and white clouds.
A gentle breeze filtered through the window, carrying a refreshing scent that lifted his spirits.
His desk was cluttered with an assortment of potions, varying in size and color, their rich fragrances mingling in the air.
Just then, a soft knock came at the door.
"The door's open, come in," Lynn said without turning his head.
The door creaked open, and a familiar figure stepped inside it was Remi.
"Lynn, the final payment from the last batch of clients has been settled. Including the deposits from the new batch, the total comes to..."
As he spoke, Remi retrieved a spatial artifact one that Lynn had specifically provided him for carrying goods.
One by one, shimmering magic stones emerged from the artifact, soon forming a small mountain on the table.
Lynn glanced at the pile of magic stones and nodded in satisfaction.
He had once been accustomed to trading with points, but ever since he began planning his escape from the Furnace, he realized that the Furnace's points were worthless outside. Thus, he switched to magic stones instead.
After all, magic stones and points held equal value within the Furnace, yet a heap of tangible magic stones was far more visually striking than a cold, digital number.
Besides the stones, neatly arranged packages contained carefully categorized potions and alchemical ingredients.
Lynn swiftly scanned the magic stones with his mental power, taking out a portion according to a 9:1 split and handing it to Remi.
Since the last gathering, Lynn had been inspired by that miserly alchemist and realized he could profit by crafting rare but useful potions.
With his talent, he could work harder than others.
Thanks to his guaranteed success rate, even if the potency of his potions was slightly inferior, they were still highly practical.
In comparison, hiring another potion master would require not only a high payment in magic stones but also multiple sets of ingredients to account for failed attempts.
Lynn simply "outworked" the competition, cutting potion prices in half and requiring only three sets of materials per batch, significantly reducing costs for clients.
Of course, he was aware that demand for rare potions was limited; otherwise, they wouldn't be considered "rare" in the first place.
But since he needed money now, he would seize the opportunity while he could.
Lynn also knew he was disrupting the "unspoken rules" of the trade, so he recruited Remi, a first-level apprentice, as his frontman. Remi handled customer outreach, business negotiations, and potion deliveries.
With Remi acting as a buffer, other potion masters might not even find out who was undercutting them before Lynn moved on.
Thanks to his talent, their "cost-effective potion service" quickly gained traction, and within days, they had a stable clientele.
Their partnership followed a 9:1 split each benefiting in their way.
Remi enjoyed the ease of earning magic stones and was grateful to Lynn, while Lynn avoided the hassle of dealing with clients and focused entirely on potion-making and cultivation.
After settling the earnings, Lynn stored the potion materials and said, "Come back in three days."
Remi nodded, but as he turned to leave, a faint, complex emotion flickered in his eyes one even he hadn't fully realized.
He recalled how Yara had once advised him to hold onto Lynn's coattails during the apprentice trials.
He never expected that day to come so soon. Now, all he had to do was talk, and magic stones flowed into his hands effortlessly.
Though one-tenth of the earnings meant little to Lynn, as a first-level apprentice, any extra income was a huge advantage for Remi.
After seeing Remi off, Lynn carefully stored the ingredients but didn't immediately start brewing.
Most of the potions had been made while "slacking off" at work. Now, it was time for his cultivation.
"Right now, potion-making takes up more than twelve hours of my day. Eating, resting, and other necessities take another ten hours or so, leaving me less than an hour for spell practice..."
Lynn shook his head. He was pushing himself to the limit, converting nearly all his time into magic stones, which he then used to purchase arcane knowledge.
Of course, everything has its pros and cons.
By dedicating his time to earning money and acquiring knowledge, he had almost no time for actual cultivation.
Mental training was manageable most of his sleep could be replaced with meditation, as long as he took a full rest occasionally.
However, practicing spells and studying arcane knowledge required focused effort.
Lynn had to carve out specific times to study or dedicate his full rest day every seven days to spell practice and other supernatural learnings.
...
Salam Grand Duchy, Greenwood Province, Emerald Isle Forest
From a bird's-eye view, the Emerald Isle Forest resembled a floating green island atop the land, hence its name.
At ground level, however, the forest looked drastically different from usual.
Towering trees stretched toward the sky, their massive trunks resembling the arms of giants.
Lush green leaves intertwined to form an impenetrable canopy, completely obscuring the sky.
Even under the blazing sun, no rays of light could penetrate the dense foliage, leaving the entire forest shrouded in perpetual twilight.
Despite its abundant greenery, the forest exuded an unsettling aura.
There was no gentle spring breeze, only an oppressive weight hanging in the air.
The swaying treetops, vibrant and verdant, seemed to emit an eerie presence like gaping, hungry maws awaiting their prey.
Even from a distance, the shadows sent a chill down one's spine, as if stepping beyond the treeline meant never returning.
At the forest's edge, the Furnace had established an outpost, where elite forces were stationed.
A series of spell marks encircled the Emerald Isle Forest, forming a protective barrier.
Apprentices stood beyond the enchanted markings, their expressions a mix of awe and fear.
To them, this verdant expanse was no longer a thriving ecosystem but a monstrous entity, lying in wait.
Suddenly, a spell mark flickered, and a rope woven from pure mental energy extended into the forest's depths.
Moments later, it was violently yanked back now holding a bloodied severed limb.
This grim scene repeated itself, again and again, sending waves of terror through the onlookers.
High above, a black-robed figure hovered in midair, his pale eyes gazing down at the Emerald Isle Forest.
From his vantage point, the lush canopy below resembled rows of gaping maws, waiting to devour the unwary.
The Lord of the Furnace turned his gaze skyward, his pallid eyes narrowing.
A silver-white light suddenly shimmered, and a figure stepped forth.
Clad in immaculate white robes, the man's middle-aged face radiated authority, his sharp eyes filled with piercing insight.
His presence rivaled that of the Lord of the Furnace perhaps even surpassed it.
"It seems this place has devoured the traitor from my Whiteheart Tower..."
His words were soft, but they carried an overwhelming pressure.
At that moment, his identity became unmistakable he was none other than the Master of the Whiteheart Tower, who had returned to this world in pursuit of a fugitive!
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