Wizard:Start as a Potion Master

Night had fallen on the training grounds in the heart of the castle.

Su Nan stood in thought, frustrated by the inability of his Superior Werewolf Deacon, Wolf Three, to pinpoint the exact locations of the two "invisible intruders" within his territory.

Earlier that day, the wolf packs had scoured the land again, yet no trace of the rumored wizard relic was found. Su Nan had also ventured into the secret realm to search for the relic cluster, but his efforts yielded nothing.

Before he exited the secret realm, Orr the Guardian had asked him, "What if the cultist lied to you before his death?"

Tonight, under the full moon, the castle stood quietly bathed in silvery light.

"Was it a lie?" Su Nan shook his head. "No. Before his death, I used my Superior Hearing to monitor his heartbeat and my Superior Smell to assess his scent. There were no signs of deceit."

"Deceiving the heightened senses of a Superior Werewolf like Brom isn't possible unless someone has undergone rigorous and relentless training in concealment. Even a short lapse in training would betray them to a werewolf's senses."

Su Nan issued a second command to the wolves. "Search all rivers within the territory, including natural underground caves and hidden waterways."

Meanwhile, on the castle rooftop, the ten gargoyle statues placed on their pedestals earlier that afternoon began to stir.

In the moonlight, an ethereal silvery magic surrounded the castle, entwining with the gargoyle statues. From the hollows in the statues' chests, ten vials of Sacrificial Stone: Gargoyle Potion glowed with a faint green light, forming cores of magical power. As the transformation progressed, the hollows in the statues' chests were gradually sealed with plaster.

Su Nan realized that this protective enchantment was a form of white magic.

The distinction between white and black magic often came down to intent. White magic lacked malicious intent, while black magic inherently carried malice.

For instance, the Werewolf Curse Potion was steeped in malice because it defied the natural laws of life and death. Everything born must die; all that is formed must decay; all that rises must fall. Su Nan's creation of the werewolves' triple-layered immortality, tied to the full moon, was a blatant violation of these principles.

In contrast, the Sacrificial Stone Potions were purely protective, which aligned them with white magic.

As the ten gargoyles completed their transformation, they spread their pristine plaster wings and began to soar gracefully over the castle, lending an otherworldly beauty to the moonlit scene.

The AI provided the stats for the gargoyles:

> [Gargoyle]

Strength: 1

Speed: 2

Constitution: 1

Racial Ability 1: Flight

Racial Ability 2: Immunity to Mental Damage

Racial Ability 3: Plaster Body (Different weaknesses than flesh, but not particularly strong.)

Sacrificial Stone Ability: Reconstruction

Weaknesses: Blunt Force, Strong Acid

Though these stats were unimpressive, their flight capability and use as expendable units made them highly effective.

Each gargoyle had a hollow interior capable of holding one or two potions. If destroyed, the resulting explosion of the potions could serve as a self-destruct mechanism. Their reconstruction ability also meant they could likely be revived.

Under the full moon, Su Nan shifted into his Superior Werewolf Leader form. As his magic connected with the ten gargoyles and the angelic fountain statue by the castle gate, a surge of power coursed through him, linking them through a network of magic.

"AI," Su Nan commanded, "begin testing the programming for the new wolf pack system."

> [Understood. Please issue explicit commands to the gargoyles and Angel Soldier Statue at intervals of 30 seconds for five cycles. Then reduce the interval to 20 seconds for another five cycles. Finally, shorten to 10 seconds per cycle, continuing until the interval reaches 0.5 seconds.]

This test was designed to measure the response and synchronization speed of the new wolf pack system.

Su Nan issued commands through the wolf pack network, and the gargoyles and Angel Soldier Statue executed them flawlessly. He could even sense that their magic could be redirected to himself or any unit within the network as needed.

This new system was an upgrade to the original wolf pack network, achieved by programming the AI to continuously enhance its functionality. With this improvement, all potion-enhanced units could now be integrated into the network.

Su Nan wondered if wizards in traditional magical worlds had similar systems for managing their constructs.

Reverting to his human form, Su Nan ordered the gargoyles and Angel Soldier Statue to return to their positions. To celebrate, he consumed a vial of Flame Claw Potion, granting him fiery claws when in werewolf form. This pseudo-spell ability could be activated or deactivated at will.

He also drank a Special Edition Mental Potion (+2), causing the moonlight to condense into photon particles that shot into his soul, amplifying his Mental Power. In the darkness, a faint silvery glow enveloped him.

> [Your Mental Power has increased to 19.]

Without needing the AI's notification, Su Nan could feel the significant increase in his Mental Power. For a fleeting moment, he envisioned a starry sky stretching infinitely around him, hiding countless secrets.

Whispers brushed against his ears, faint and ethereal:

> "Even the smallest ant gazing at the sky can glimpse the stars deep within the void."

"The true enemy of truth is not ignorance, but the refusal to debate and discuss."

"Do not let the dust and chains of the earth bind you. Your exploration lies in deeper realms."

The vision faded, and the whispers fell silent.

"My Mental Power nearing 20 has triggered some intriguing phenomena," Su Nan mused.

"When I previously approached 20 using the wolf pack network, my magic began to semi-materialize."

"Orr once told me that the distinction between a First-Class Wizard Apprentice and a Second-Class Wizard Apprentice isn't just about Mental Power but also the acceptance of one's inner self—understanding who you are, your aspirations, and your field of study. This is the First Inner Zen."

"It's the foundation of one's magical path and the first true construct of one's magic."

"This is why wizards place so much importance on the secret realm. Those unable to achieve Inner Zen or with insufficient willpower often rely on the secret realm to physically confront their inner selves. But that method apparently carries hidden dangers."

It seemed Su Nan needed to spend time in the secret realm to reflect. However, he intended to complete his current potion projects and develop new formulas first.

After all, his Mental Power hadn't yet reached 20, the minimum requirement for achieving true Inner Zen.

Su Nan entered the secret realm from his castle and sought out Orr to discuss his visions. Orr, being the most knowledgeable entity Su Nan could access about wizards, listened intently.

In the barren landscape of the secret realm, Orr regarded Su Nan with surprise. "Taming your inner self? Understanding your essence?"

"Su Nan, even two thousand years ago, only a fraction of wizards pursued such self-reflection. For most, understanding oneself is incredibly difficult."

"Those who successfully tame their inner selves to discover their magical essence find it harder to fully adopt the paths of other wizards or apprentices. Their unique magic precludes them from following established paths."

"Two thousand years ago, most wizard apprentices followed their mentors' paths. They used secret techniques in the secret realm to forcibly shape their inner selves, aligning their magic with their mentors' teachings."

"Carving your own path is admirable, but it is arduous. The results might not surpass those who follow established methods, and they could even fall short."

"Of course, legend has it that the most powerful wizards—the ones who reached the pinnacle—were those who forged their own magic."

Su Nan sighed and joked,

"That's nice for them. At least they had magical inheritances to rely on."

"As for me, I don't even have a mentor yet."

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