Wizard:Starting from Synthesizing Gems

Witch Sophia sat at her desk with her hands clasped, looking at Locke as she said, "My good student, what do you desire?"

"Any reasonable request, I can grant you this once."

Locke pondered for a moment. He already had a Meditation Method, and this favor clearly wouldn't be enough to exchange for an advanced version.

As for other academic matters, even if he didn't make requests, Mentor Sophia had already arranged everything for him. All he needed was to follow the established path of learning.

Thus, Locke thought of the materials he'd recently acquired. From beneath his Wizard robe, he produced a vampire's heart. "Mentor, this is a vampire's heart. I'd like you to brew me a vial of Crimson Echo Potion."

The Crimson Echo Potion was a concoction that even a First Class Wizard Apprentice could brew, not quite reaching the level of a true Magic Potion.

Yet it ranked among the most challenging of apprentice-level potions.

Its effects were remarkably potent, capable of maximally accelerating a wizard apprentice's advancement at their current level.

If brewed by Witch Sophia, its efficacy could be enhanced further while significantly reducing side effects.

For Potion Masters, publicly available formulas were merely standardized recipes.

Every Potion Master possessed their own brewing techniques and secretly adjusted proprietary formulas.

This was something Locke had observed while serving as Witch Sophia's assistant.

Witch Sophia glanced at the vampire heart in Locke's hand and remarked, "The Crimson Echo Potion would indeed suit you well."

"The primary ingredients for Crimson Echo Potion, besides an intermediate vampire's heart, require 10 grams of Blood Moon Epiphyllum, 15 grams of juice from Twin Serpent Cypress Fruit, and then a single tear from a female mermaid to balance the properties—otherwise the side effects would be too severe."

Locke gave Witch Sophia a puzzled look, as the publicly known Crimson Echo formula made no mention of mermaid tears.

Witch Sophia explained calmly, "The female mermaid's tear is my own minor innovation. It helps minimize the potion's side effects."

"It also slightly enhances efficacy, increasing the original 10% mental energy boost to 15%—a five percentage point improvement."

Witch Sophia continued, "Very well, I'll brew it for you. I'll supply the remaining ingredients myself."

"Locke..." Witch Sophia hesitated momentarily before saying, "Your thoughtfulness is noted."

"But for now, you need only focus on your studies."

"The greatest comfort for a Wizard Mentor is seeing their student grow rapidly under their guidance, becoming a wizard capable of standing independently."

Witch Sophia picked up the certification documents between her thumb and forefinger. "Take this—my certification. You can bring the Super Mandrake Vine to the Chimera Market. You'll need this document."

"If you have time, you can set up a stall yourself to sell it. If not, you may consign it to a Magical Plant shop."

"I recommend the latter option. Our time as wizards is precious. Moreover, some things are best left to professionals. Trying to sell the Super Mandrake Vine yourself might not fetch the best price," said Sophia the Witch.

"By the way, remember to keep the original strain of the Super Mandrake Vine in your possession," she added.

"Sometimes, magical plants cultivated through grafting can degenerate or mutate over time. If you don't retain the original strain, things could become quite troublesome later."

Sophia continued, "It serves as the benchmark for defining what a true Super Mandrake Vine is."

"If future generations of the Super Mandrake Vine show signs of degeneration, you can still use seeds from the original strain to reverse the decline."

Locke nodded. "I understand, teacher."

"This pot of Super Mandrake Vine isn't the original strain—that's kept in my house. Consider this one a small gift from your student."

In truth, he didn't actually have an "original strain." He could simply synthesize a fourth-level Mandala Vine whenever needed and declare it as the original. The difference was negligible.

Sophia didn't refuse. A faint smile curved her lips as she said, "I'll prepare the Crimson Echo Potion for you in a few days."

"I have work to attend to now, Locke."

Locke stepped out of her office. "Goodbye, teacher."

Leaving Sophia's wooden cottage, Locke headed straight back to his residence in Inverted Alley. There, he retrieved thirty pots of Super Mandrake Vine he had synthesized during his spare time over the past year.

This quantity was plausible, given the expected rate of cultivating new magical vines through grafting and Growth Element Gel.

Locke ordered two Gray Dwarves to push a wooden cart, covering the thirty pots of Super Mandrake Vine with a black cloth before leaving Inverted Alley. He followed the street to the neighboring Chimera Market.

At his chest, Locke wore three badges: one marking him as a Second-Class Wizard Apprentice, another certifying him as a Breeder Assistant, and the last identifying him as an Enforcement Wizard Apprentice. Thanks to these, he passed through the market's barrier entrance without any hindrance.

A few in the Chimera Market even gave him second glances—after all, he was relatively young among Breeder Assistants.

Rows of shops lined both sides of the market: Magic Potion Shops, Alchemy Item Shops, Transportation Tool Shops, Magical Pet Shops, and even a Spell Model Specialty Store that resembled a library at its entrance.

With its vast variety and quantity of shops, this was the largest wizard market in the vicinity.

Not only did wizards from Lilith's Cottage frequent it, but practitioners from other schools also accessed the street through various means.

In the distance, Locke spotted a stretch of the street where numerous wizard apprentices had set up temporary stalls.

The Chimera Market was divided into two sections: the formal shops along the streets and the makeshift stalls where wizards sold excess or unused magical resources.

Hum~

Locke heard a prolonged, peculiarly rhythmic sound. He looked up to see a circular plaza ahead where streaks of light fell like meteors. Within these luminous trails, figures materialized from illusion into solid form.

Locke knew this was one of the seven grand teleportation arrays established in the Chimera Market. These long-distance teleportation arrays, requiring massive amounts of Magic Stones for each activation, represented the pinnacle of magical technology from the Alchemy Studies school - painstakingly constructed by Formal Wizards over considerable time.

This was the crystallization of alchemical magic!

It allowed Wizards from distant regions to reach the Chimera Market via teleportation. These travelers likely came for the Lilith's Cottage Potion Auction - the largest Magic Potion resource auction in the surrounding area.

Even ordinary Wizard secret realms couldn't match the Potionology resources available here, attracting many visiting Wizards. After all, as the dominant Potionology force in the region, Lilith's Cottage drew Wizards specializing in Magic Potions from afar, despite the arduous journey, whether to gather resources or further their studies.

Locke paused before a plant magic shop on the street. Looking up at the storefront, he saw its name - [Lijin's Secret Language Magical Plant Shop] - artfully displayed using Magical Moss and Magical Flowers.

"Stop here," Locke commanded.

The two Gray Dwarves immediately halted. This being their first time in such a Wizard-dense location, their faces had turned deathly pale, their skin completely drained of color as they trembled in terror.

Only by occasionally glancing at Locke - their master - could they alleviate this soul-deep fear, an instinctual legacy from generations of Spell-induced servitude.

"Great Wizard master, your command... is our divine oracle."

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